Cultivation: Fortune by Lots

As the illusory path to Connecting Heaven rose higher, Lei Jun’s connection with the natural world became increasingly close. All kinds of natural mysteries were revealed before his eyes, one by one. Contemplating and understanding these natural mysteries and principles captivated Lei Jun, making him reluctant to depart from this state. This process also continued to help him accumulate his cultivation and strengthen the foundation of his Mana. The various Tao Containments in the first six volumes of the True Formula of the Great Way Scripture seemed to become fully integrated, as if pierced through and connected by this path to Connecting Heaven.

The orthodox True Inheritance of Taoist Scriptures at the Celestial Master Mansion, accumulated over generations, was already quite comprehensive. Even with the high Comprehension of Lei Jun and Tang Xiaotang, they rarely found themselves needing to innovate upon this fundamental Taoist scripture. On the contrary, as their cultivation gradually improved, looking back at the initial volumes of the True Formula of the Great Way Scripture often yielded new insights and further gains.

Now, as Lei Jun’s connection with the natural world grew even closer and more harmonious, he further refined his existing knowledge. Consequently, with a more solid foundation and propelled by the Rising Dome Liuhua, the path to Connecting Heaven ascended and extended upwards even faster. This positive cycle and feedback significantly accelerated Lei Jun’s cultivation speed.

Lei Jun mused, Hmm, this Rising Dome Liuhua really is effective. He had a good grasp of his own cultivation progress.

When Chu Kun had asked him earlier, he estimated that he was about five or six years away from completing all the accumulation for the Heaven-connecting Realm and the path to Connecting Heaven achieving complete perfection. After that, he still needed to prepare for the Heavenly Moat Tribulation between the Seventh and Eighth Heavenly Layers; it was uncertain how long he would need to pause for it, but it would undoubtedly consume several more years. Therefore, under normal circumstances, he would be well past his fiftieth year by the time he ascended to the Eightfold Heaven Realm.

Lei Jun himself was not overly concerned about this. After all, his Immortal Root Bone and Serene Comprehension were already established. Furthermore, he was still far from the two-hundred-year mark relevant to his current cultivation phase, so it wouldn’t affect his continued progress.

However, with the aid of the Rising Dome Liuhua, the remaining cultivation process within the Seventh Heavenly Layer’s Heaven-connecting Realm would be accelerated by nearly twofold. Lei Jun currently estimated that it should take about three more years. And now that he had the Eight Scenic Winds, the danger and difficulty of the Heavenly Moat Tribulation between the Seventh and Eighth Heavenly Layers would be greatly reduced.

Considering the time, if nothing unexpected happened, might he be able to reach the Eightfold Heaven Realm before turning fifty? Not bad at all. No harm if he can’t make it. It’s even better if he can. Since there’s a chance, he might as well give it a shot.

But I mustn’t keep thinking about it all the time, otherwise, I might lose my mental balance and fall during the Heavenly Moat Tribulation between the Seventh and Eighth Heavenly Layers, Lei Jun joked to himself.

Despite these thoughts, he remained calm and unhurried. In the following days, he maintained his own pace, cultivating tranquilly and progressing one step at a time. His days were well-structured, balancing effort and repose. Aside from cultivating, he fulfilled his duties as the High Merit Elder, assisting Shangguan Ning, Zhang Jingzhen, and others in handling internal affairs of the mansion, and incidentally—no—scratch that. He also nudged his only great disciple to take her cultivation seriously.

Lei Jun even had the time to go to the Tao Boy Court and deliver sermons, nurturing the ’budding flowers’ of the Celestial Master Mansion. Unlike many others, he didn’t enter strict seclusion, cutting off all communication to focus solely on cultivation. Instead, for the current Lei Jun, this rhythm of cultivation perfectly suited his state of mind and present needs. His path to Connecting Heaven continued to soar upwards, growing more refined with each passing moment, his progress unceasing.

Meanwhile, in the Celestial Book Universe, it had been a long time since everyone was present. Recently, however, a rare occasion arose where all seven gathered. The atmosphere among them, however, was considerably more relaxed than before. Although true trust was still elusive, the barriers and wariness between them were clearly less pronounced. During this time, while group gatherings were infrequent, ’private chats’ among them occurred often. Now, gathered once more, Taiyin Yueyao no longer needed to act as the host tasked with livening the atmosphere; the seven conversed much more casually.

Yueyao herself got straight to the point: "It’s rare for us all to be here. May I inquire if any friend has precise information on Chen Donglou of Mount Shu’s whereabouts?"

Fire Guardian Shen Qubing muttered, "That’s a tall order. Finding this Elder Chen is no easier than locating individuals like Fu Dongsen from the Mortal Tao Country. The Mount Shu Sect can likely only leave him messages; they probably can’t contact him directly, can they?"

Yueyao replied, "I have no intention of being his enemy; I simply wish to make his acquaintance."

Hearing this, Lei Jun lowered his gaze, his thoughts turning inward. He would never directly divulge any information regarding Chen Donglou. There was no need to expose such a good alias himself. Lei Jun was uncertain whether his control over the Dark Side of the Celestial Book was completely identical to Taiyang Riyao’s control over the Heavenly Book Main Chapter. If they were the same, then although Taiyang Riyao could access the identities of others, and perhaps even the content of their private chats to some extent, she wouldn’t be able to determine everyone’s exact whereabouts or what they did after leaving the Celestial Book Universe. Though he couldn’t be absolutely certain, Lei Jun had no intention of readily exposing his own secrets.

Regarding the mysterious "Chen Donglou," everyone claimed to have no clues.

Taiyin Yueyao didn’t receive the answer she sought, but the atmosphere didn’t grow awkward. At that moment, Taiyang Riyao interjected with a question: "Does anyone have information concerning the Xumi Vajra Sect in the Western Regions?"

Lei Jun became thoughtful upon hearing this question.

Meanwhile, Age Star Muyao, the Future Maitreya, spoke calmly, "I wish to purchase a substantial quantity of Soul-Sealing Stones. Does any friend happen to have a surplus?"

Riyao replied, "I have some. Do you have the information I’m looking for?"