The Crown Prince was gradually coming of age, and the Qingzhou Ye Clan in the Tang Imperial Court naturally had its own inclination and choice.

So...

The two Ye Clans would never sail in the same boat.

This was a strict rule, unchanging through the ages and dynasties, ever since the Ye Clan split into branches.

The Jinzhou Ye Clan, therefore, must choose another target.

As far back as when Zhang Qilong was still in power, the Jinzhou Ye Clan had already begun frequent dealings with Prince Zhao's Mansion in Youzhou.

Now, those dealings could truly become closer.

Qingzhou, of course, required no further explanation.

Ye Yan's younger daughter was, in fact, intimately connected with the elder sister in the palace; aunt and niece by blood.

"Troubled times, only just beginning..." Ye Yan said, watching his younger daughter depart, his sigh lingering in the air.

......

Outside Dragon Tiger Mountain, the winds and waves began to rise.

Within Dragon Tiger Mountain, Lei Jun maintained his focus on cultivation.

Lin Shan, having been injured, had not returned to the mountain.

The Empress herself had inquired, and with the expert hands of martial physicians at Hui Tian Hall in the Capital, Lin Shan's wounds had already been stabilized.

On the Dragon Tiger Mountain side, since Yuan Mobai had already returned, Shangguan Ning found time to travel to the Capital City and discuss plans for rooting out the Yellow Sky Sect.

Within the Ancestral Courtyard of the Sect, Lei Jun devoted himself both to cultivation and his duty of standing watch at the Edict Hall.

His fellow disciple of the same sect, Chu Kun, had been visiting the Edict Hall quite regularly in recent days, almost every day without fail.

But, with so many books kept in the hall, Chu Kun had yet to find what he was searching for.

On this day, after Lei Jun's shift at the Edict Hall, and entrusting the night watch to two other talisman-bestowed Taoists, he prepared to return to his own residence.

Unexpectedly, just as Lei Jun was pondering whether to settle down and cultivate, or to head to the Great Elixir Room and begin alchemy, a sphere of light flashed in his mind,

[Hidden dangers often rise from tiny origins, fortune is so often born of carelessness, you plant a willow and shade grows, blessings come unbidden.]

Then two lots appeared before him,

[Moderately good lot, conduct a nighttime inspection of the Edict Hall, chance to gain a Fourth Rank Opportunity, with no risks or repercussions, auspicious.]

[Perfectly neutral lot, take no special action, and nothing will be gained or lost—peace.]

Lei Jun read over the lots, his brow lifting slightly.

*Would something unexpected happen at the Edict Hall tonight?*

He stayed vigilant, scrapping his plan to go to the Great Elixir Room for alchemy.

However, Lei Jun did not immediately return to the Edict Hall.

He waited until night had fallen, then quietly slipped back in.

This time, as the moderately good lot showed no danger, Lei Jun still concealed himself, and watched unseen.

*Was someone coming to steal something from the Edict Hall?*

*Or would something strange arise within the Hall itself?*

*As Lei Jun waited, many thoughts flickered through his mind.*

Though other disciples patrolled the hall at night, Lei Jun, hidden in the shadows, moved about with care and vigilance.

And yet, until midnight, nothing out of the ordinary happened.

Lei Jun was patient, neither hasty nor agitated.

His mana cycled through Yin and Yang, gradually turning into the swirling black-and-white dual Qi, drifting from his body before fading away.

He hadn't tried to manifest his spiritual soul or leave his body, but his senses sharpened, spreading out to envelop the whole Edict Hall.

After a while, something suddenly stirred in his mind.

*This sensation—why did it resemble the Water-Fire Yin-Yang Furnace in operation?*

Lei Jun, mildly surprised, followed this feeling to a remote corner deep within the Edict Hall.

There, arrestingly, he saw that one of the talisman-bestowed Taoists assigned to watch the hall tonight was actually sitting beside a cauldron furnace, quietly carrying out alchemy inside the Edict Hall.

This out-of-place behavior made Lei Jun suspicious at first.

He didn't reveal himself right away, choosing instead to observe patiently for a moment.

He soon realized that the talisman-bestowed Taoist harbored no ill intent; he was simply absorbed with practicing alchemy techniques inside the hall.

Lei Jun had lately been learning alchemy from Yuan Mobai, so he could tell the talisman-bestowed Taoist's skills were quite refined, his mind focused, his passion high as he repeatedly experimented with different methods.

The look of him—clearly the sort who liked to seize whatever time he could, wholly absorbed in his craft.

Yet, tinkering with a Water-Fire Yin-Yang Furnace in a place like the Edict Hall was truly taking things too far.

Lei Jun watched this intense concentration and hesitated inside.

*Could the hidden danger mentioned in the lot, growing from minor origin, refer to the risk of a fire in the Edict Hall?*

*If fortune sprung from carelessness, what did that mean here?*

*Was it about preventing a disaster—a fire, perhaps?*

Lei Jun again carefully checked the rest of the Edict Hall, but found nothing else.

The pill furnace had yet to malfunction, so Lei Jun resolved to wait a little longer, seeing if anything new—or anyone—would appear later.

But nothing happened.

In fact, what he got was a real fire hazard in the making.

That Water-Fire Yin-Yang Furnace suddenly grew unstable, the threat of explosion imminent.

This was no true Elixir Room—the Edict Hall lacked all manner of proper facilities, so an accident could happen any moment.

The talisman-instructed disciple, flustered, was just about unable to control the furnace when Lei Jun stepped forth just in time.

He pressed his hand firmly upon the cauldron furnace.

His mana far exceeded the other's—one touch, and the unruly furnace was instantly stabilized, unable to run riot any longer.

"Elder Lei..." The talisman-instructed disciple visibly relaxed at first, then gradually turned pale.

Lei Jun replied calmly, "It's good to make use of idle moments, and our Edict Hall is a quiet place. Still, it's inappropriate to bring a Water-Fire Cauldron inside—the books kept in here are the fruit of long generations in our sect. Even if not the true Taoist Scriptures, they're precious ancient tomes."

The other bowed his head, "Elder, your instruction is right. If you hadn't shown up in time, I'd have caused a disaster tonight that could never be fixed."

Lei Jun said, "To acknowledge your error and change is the greatest good, but the rules and commandments of the sect are not to be ignored. You know what's expected now?"

The talisman-bestowed Taoist bowed respectfully, "Yes, Disciple shall report to the Hall of Adherence to receive punishment."

Lei Jun replied, "No need to rush, attend in the morning instead."

All the while, he listened out for any other activity within or outside the Edict Hall, chatting a few moments with the disciple.

The two found themselves quite compatible when it came to discussion of the Tao of pills.

By sunrise, nothing else had occurred.

Lei Jun waved his hand, "Go on, and later, perhaps we'll exchange insights on Taoist Laws and alchemy."

The talisman-bestowed Taoist bowed and made his exit, heading to report to the Hall of Adherence.

Under the morning sun, Lei Jun turned and looked at the intact Edict Hall, *So... where's my Fourth Rank Opportunity?*

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