Cultivation: Fortune by Lots

Although the position of Celestial Master was vacant, the ceremony, overall, began smoothly and concluded successfully... except that the promising candidates who should have appeared at the ceremony were unfortunately few.

For Lei Jun, however, everything proceeded without a hitch.

After emerging from the Altar of Wanfa Sect, he examined his talisman.

The initial Talisman-bestowal at the Celestial Master Mansion granted the "Supreme Trinity Grand Power Mantra Talisman," commonly known as the Grand Power Talisman.

Lei Jun's Taoist rank was seventh grade.

Customarily, after the Talisman-bestowal at the Longhu Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion, Taoist ranks and offices were divided into seven grades, starting from the seventh, with the first grade being the highest. Those bestowed with the Grand Power Talisman encompassed both the sixth and seventh grades. Lei Jun and the others all began at the seventh grade; whoever among them first cultivated to the Fourth Layer of Heaven Original Talisman realm would be promoted to the sixth grade.

Further advancement required passing corresponding assessments. Only those who successfully passed were eligible for an additional Talisman.

The second Talisman-bestowal, termed a promotion, granted the "Supreme Unity Alliance Talisman," commonly known as the Alliance Authority Talisman, covering the fourth and fifth grades. A fundamental prerequisite was to reach the Fifth Heaven Layer in the Talisman Scriptures lineage. Theoretically, a Taoist from the Celestial Master Mansion who had reached this stage and received a Talisman could officially leave the mountain. He could then start his own sect, spreading the influence of the Dragon Tiger Mountain Ancestral Court.

Thus, a cultivator merely at the Fifth Heaven Layer who passed the assessment was bestowed a fifth-grade Taoist rank and office. Those who established their own sect and presided over a territory were bestowed a fourth-grade Taoist rank and office. Depending on their own wishes, Longhu Mountain inheritors who left the mountain to establish their own lineage could continue to wear the deep red Taoist Robe or switch to a blue one.

Higher still, the third Talisman-bestowal, referred to as an addition, granted the "Supreme Pure Three Caverns Five Thunders Mantra Tag," commonly known as the Five Thunders Talisman. One of the basic conditions was to attain the Sixth Heavenly Layer Tao Seal realm of the Talisman Sect and be granted a third-grade Taoist rank and office.

Then, the fourth Talisman-bestowal, called an elevation, granted the "Supreme Pureness Three Caverns Scripture Talisman," also known by the more familiar name, "Three Caverns and Three Realms Scripture," or the Three Realm True Scriptures Talisman. The basic condition was to achieve Seventh Heavenly Layer cultivation, stepping into the domain of the Upper Three Heavens, and be granted a second-grade Taoist rank and office. In this world, it was customary to refer to Taoist Sect masters with Upper Three Heavens cultivation as High Merit Masters; their Taoist Robe and Vestment robe were purple.

As for the final, fifth Talisman-bestowal, it was the promotion to the "Supreme Pure Great Cavern Scripture Talisman," commonly known as the Supreme Pure Talisman, bestowing a first-grade Taoist rank and office. This was exclusive to the Celestial Master and not conferred upon others. The Celestial Master's Robe was also unique; he wore a Nine-colored Pari Robe.

Generally, there were stipulated time intervals between these Talisman-bestowals that could not be easily bypassed. Only under exceedingly special circumstances, where an individual had accumulated substantial merit and virtue and passed complex assessments by the three masters, could a rare exception be made. Among Lei Jun's generation, only Xu Yuanzhen and Li Zhengxuan had, up to that point, received an additional Talisman without meeting the stipulated time limit.

...Tang Xiaotang was an exception among exceptions. In a situation rarely seen throughout history, the Celestial Master Mansion had broken almost every precedent for her. Otherwise, she would still have been in the Tao Boy Court, reciting Taoist Scriptures and precepts.

"Generally speaking, one must hold at least a fifth-grade Taoist rank and office to establish a separate residence on the mountain," Wang Guiyuan explained to Lei Jun. "Junior Brother, you don't need to move for now, but you can redecorate this place."

So, establishing a separate residence requires at least Fifth Heaven Layer cultivation... Lei Jun nodded slightly.

Truthfully, he was quite satisfied with his current dwelling. Located near his Master Yuan Mobai's residence, he had no concerns about being disturbed.

However, as Wang Guiyuan had mentioned, now that Lei Jun was a Talisman-Instructed Disciple, his benefits in all aspects had vastly improved compared to his time as a Transcension Ritual Disciple. Although the house itself would not be renovated, the interior furnishings and items could all be replaced according to Lei Jun's wishes. In this world, furniture and utensils crafted from different materials inherently possessed varying nourishing effects. With Lei Jun spending extended periods indoors, these subtle influences would, over time, naturally accumulate into a significant difference.

Previously, he would collect medicinal herbs from the mansion for his own medicinal baths. Now, having successfully received his Talisman, the mansion had specially prepared a bathing pool for him. This pool was entirely constructed from Yin-Yang Warm Jade, a material of limited production from the mountains. Its nurturing effects surpassed any medicinal bath he had used before and were long-lasting. As for other Spiritual Objects and Spiritual Medicines aiding cultivation, they were even more plentiful.

The numerous Magic Artifacts distributed during the Talisman-bestowal ceremony were not merely ceremonial items. The two most critical treasures, the talisman and scriptures, needed no further elaboration. The Magical Sword, Commanding Flags, and Token—these three Magic Artifacts were not primarily for combat. Instead, Lei Jun could hang them nearby during his cultivation to help him gather Global Spiritual Qi and enhance his practice. If he wished to refine his own Dan Medicine or Magic Artifacts, hanging these three treasures indoors could help dispel baleful influences and increase the success rate. As for the Tablet, its use wasn't limited to presenting memorials to the heavens. During regular cultivation, this treasure could help one better preserve their spirit during visualization and nurture their spiritual nature. This included the special Taoist Robe and Taoist Crown for Talisman-bestowed Taoists, which also aided cultivation and provided a degree of protection.

The Torture Ghosts Stick and Heavenly Canopy Ruler, however, were two potent Magic Artifacts for assisting cultivators in combat. For Lei Jun, however, they were not as useful as the previously mentioned items.

If he wanted to strike someone, he had more suitable tools at hand...

What Lei Jun anticipated more was that, after becoming a Talisman-Instructed Disciple, the quality of the daily Talisman Brush, Talisman Ink, Talisman Paper, and other such items he could receive from the mansion would all be upgraded. Talisman Paper, for instance, would change from the basic yellow paper to the superior Vermilion Cloud Paper. Talisman Ink would upgrade from basic Cinnabar to the superior Abyssal Crystal. The Talisman Brush would also be upgraded from the basic Crow-quill Brush to the superior Azure-quill Brush.

Of course, if Lei Jun could procure even better raw materials himself, he could use those instead. For example, the Vermilion Peak Pen that Yuan Mobai had used in the past was superior even to the Azure-quill Brush. But Lei Jun could receive some Azure-quill Brushes for practice. As for Talisman Ink, he was very familiar with Green Stone Ink, which was a grade above Abyssal Crystal once ground.

However, this was not an immediate priority. To master these superior Talisman Crafting materials as if they were extensions of his own limbs, Lei Jun planned to first elevate his cultivation realm.

More than half a year had passed since Lei Jun reached the Perfection of the Third Heavenly Layer Altar Stage. After this period of continuous accumulation and preparation, and with the aid of the Yuanxin Calming Jade, Lei Jun resolved to formally challenge the Heavenly Moat Tribulation, the barrier to the Fourth Layer of Heaven.

Lei Jun sat cross-legged, his mind calm and breath regulated, in quiet meditation. His essence, qi, and spirit had all reached their current peak. Within his body, on the Tao Foundation Altar, the three-tiered virtual altar—octagonal at the base and round on top—shone brilliantly. Above the Altar, an illusory Star River flowed, resplendent and dazzling.

As Lei Jun's thoughts stirred, his Spiritual Soul seemed to separate from his physical body once more. This time, however, his Spiritual Soul did not exit his body through his crown. Instead, Lei Jun's Spiritual Soul descended, sinking into the Tao Foundation Altar within his own body, and then settled upon the three-tiered Altar.

In Lei Jun's consciousness, it was as if he had stepped onto a real Altar. He ascended the steps, making his way to the summit of the third, circular tier. Standing atop the Altar and gazing upwards, he saw the stars arrayed in their constellations, filled with the mysteries of nature and the universe—a truly captivating sight.

His Spiritual Soul clear and mind bright, Lei Jun, as if in his physical body, once again sat cross-legged atop the virtual altar within himself.

As time passed, Lei Jun suddenly felt the starry sky above begin to revolve. An attractive force seemed to emanate from it, beckoning his Spiritual Soul to ascend. Lei Jun did not resist, allowing his Spiritual Soul to rise from the Altar's peak into the vast Void. In his consciousness, the true universe seemed to manifest, and his ascending soul felt irresistibly drawn into it.

Suddenly, he felt a chill. It felt like an autumn wind, bleak and chilling, against thinly clad garments. But Lei Jun instantly knew this was not true cold; it was an assault on his Spiritual Soul.

The Heavenly Moat was before him. The tribulation had arrived.

Though his Spiritual Soul had not left his body, he still felt the Yin Wind blowing, like a drowning person who had lost the protection of their boat. This was because the Yin Wind originated from within Lei Jun himself. This was the Heavenly Moat Tribulation one had to overcome to break through from the Third Heavenly Layer to the Fourth.

When advancing from the Second Heavenly Layer to the Third, Yin Fire had arisen from within. Now, it was Yin Wind, also originating from within himself. This was why, in this world, cultivators undergoing Tribulation Crossing could not be aided by others; they had to rely solely on themselves.

Passing this trial meant reaching the Original Talisman realm and gaining a lifespan of four hundred years. Failure meant, at best, being crippled by qi deviation; the more likely outcome was death, one's Dao vanishing.

Lei Jun's Spiritual Soul continued to gaze upwards, not looking down. Without looking, he knew that his Altar and Altar Field were currently being ravaged by the Yin Wind. If he could not overcome this tribulation, both his Spiritual Soul and physical body would be annihilated by the Yin Wind.

"The righteous path is singular; harness the primal and return to the true essence," Lei Jun chanted calmly, his voice resonant. His Spiritual Soul remained seated upright in the Void, allowing the Yin Wind to buffet it. The Yin Wind blew relentlessly, but Lei Jun's Spiritual Soul did not disperse. The two seemed locked in a stalemate.

At this moment, in the external, real world, as Lei Jun sat meditating silently with eyes closed and legs crossed, a piece of white jade held between his palms suddenly flashed. Its radiance was gentle, like a fine, ceaseless stream, bringing tranquility to the observer's heart. The light enveloped Lei Jun's entire body. Under its embrace, the Yin Wind that had been assailing his physical form finally began to subside.

CRACK!

The white jade between Lei Jun's palms fractured and then crumbled to dust.

Although the Yuanxin Calming Jade had vanished, the radiance around Lei Jun's body did not diminish. A serene smile suddenly touched his lips as he opened his eyes. Influenced by his Mana, his figure hovered in mid-air, unfalling. Below him, an altar quietly formed, supporting his body. Upon the Altar, a new brilliance emerged.

On Lei Jun's internal virtual altar, an illusory talisman of profound mystery, encompassing myriad phenomena and reflecting the heavens and earth, had condensed.

"Success," Lei Jun smiled.

Behind him, streams of light outlined a massive, shimmering Spirit Talisman, fully nine feet tall and four feet wide. It signified his successful breakthrough from the Third Heavenly Layer to the Fourth, the Original Talisman realm.

Having successfully condensed his own Original Talisman, Lei Jun bid farewell to the Lower Three Heavens and joined the ranks of Middle Three Heavens cultivators.

So, what comes next... Lei Jun's eyes sparkled with vitality.

He did not pause his progress. All his mental focus converged, delving deep into his Spiritual Soul.

Lei Jun returned to the Cave Heavens generated by the Celestial Master Seal. Walking across the Altar Field, he arrived before the quiescent, three-tiered True One Altar.