Chapter 193: 192. The Sixth Heaven, the Dao Seal!

Chapter 193: 192. The Sixth Heaven, the Dao Seal!

Wang Guiyuan was taken aback by Lei Jun's question, and then he laughed, "Where did your thoughts go? That's the Upper Clarity Thunder Palace Cave, who wouldn't want to enter if they could?"

Lei Jun leaned back slightly, looking his fellow sect brother up and down.

Wang Guiyuan held his teacup and smiled, "My cultivation realm is sufficient, but my potential is almost depleted, far inferior to you and Chu, my junior brothers. That's why I haven't been able to receive the talisman."

"However, there's no need to worry about me. Everyone has their own fate and opportunities in cultivation; we can't force it. As cultivators, we should go with the flow of heaven."

"I see..." Lei Jun remained unconvinced, "Can you hide from the Upper Clarity Thunder Palace Cave, Senior Brother?"

Wang Guiyuan, who had just taken a sip of water, nearly spat it out.

He looked at Lei Jun with a helpless smile, "Junior Brother, your words are getting more and more outrageous!"

Lei Jun spread his hands, "I just feel that it's a bit of a waste that Senior Brother can't cultivate higher-level Taoist techniques. You're not like our junior sister."

Their master, Yuan Mobai, had mentioned this before.

"Everyone has their own fate and opportunities, it's not a waste, not a waste at all," Wang Guiyuan smiled.

He paused briefly before choosing his words carefully, adding, "If all goes well, I'll consider trying again during the next initiation ceremony six years from now."

Lei Jun's eyes narrowed at this suggestion.

Although King Wu was already finished, the fame he had brought to Wang Guiyuan might still have some influence...

Hearing Wang Guiyuan's words, Lei Jun remained silent.

As his senior brother said, everyone had their own fate and opportunities in cultivation.

This initiation ceremony proceeded smoothly from start to finish.

Apart from Lei Jun's senior and junior brothers, who drew much attention, there was another disciple who caused quite a stir during the ceremony.

Xu Rui.

Disciple of Li Zhengxuan.

When he was first accepted as the head disciple of the Young Celestial Master, his roots and comprehension were extraordinary. It had been eleven years since he entered the palace and received his initiation.

By all standards, he qualified to participate in this year's initiation ceremony.

However, after the recent internal strife in the Celestial Master's Mansion, his identity had become rather delicate and controversial.

Xu Rui himself maintained a peaceful mindset, diligently cultivating with a calm attitude, going with the flow.

Before the initiation ceremony, there had been suggestions to postpone Xu Rui's initiation by at least one term to observe him for a few more years.

In the end, it was Tang Xiaotang and several high-ranking elders who made the decision to allow Xu Rui to participate in the initiation.

So, just as his initiation into the palace as Li Zhengxuan's disciple had drawn much attention back then, his initiation now also sparked no small amount of discussion.

Li Zhengxuan was deceased, but his name had not been removed from the Celestial Master's Mansion's records.

Thus, Xu Rui was still considered his disciple.

However, since Li Zhengxuan had passed away, someone else would have to impart the teachings in his stead.

Such situations were not uncommon in the various sects' histories.

Usually, one of Li Zhengxuan's fellow disciples from the same lineage would be chosen to impart the teachings and skills.

Since Xu Yuanzhen was not on the mountain, and Zhang Jingzhen would be focusing on breaking through to the Seventh Heaven, the responsibility of teaching Xu Rui fell to Fang Jian.

Given Fang Jian's background, this, too, became a topic of private discussion.

However, as it was arranged by the new Celestial Master, Tang Xiaotang, there were no more objections within the mansion. Those outside the mountain also chose to wait and see.

For the Celestial Master's Mansion, which was currently recovering from its depleted vitality, the outside world was more concerned about whether Longhu Mountain could produce more Upper Three Heavens cultivators in a short period.

After the initiation ceremony, Lei Jun's work focus returned to the daily complex and trivial affairs of the Executive Hall.

In addition, he studied pill refinement with his master, Yuan Mobai, and continued his own cultivation.

After this period of nourishment, Lei Jun could feel that his essence, qi, and spirit were gradually reaching their peak state, ready to break through.

One day after the start of summer, Lei Jun bid farewell to his master, Yuan Mobai.

Yuan Mobai arranged for someone to temporarily take over Lei Jun's duties at the Executive Hall.

Lei Jun then began his next seclusion.

As an elder, according to the relevant regulations, Lei Jun could also establish his own private retreat outside his residence within the mansion.

However, Lei Jun had no particular demands in this regard. He was used to living in his original courtyard, so he never made any changes.

Until this seclusion, he finally established his own private retreat in the mountains.

Leaving Guangu behind to watch over the small courtyard, Lei Jun entered his new retreat to begin his seclusion.

Inside the cave mansion, a three-layered altar was set up, with lamps burning continuously and incense billowing.

At the top of the altar, countless delicate and exquisite spirit talismans resembled sparkling stardust, enveloping the four directions and making the top of the altar appear as if it were covered by a brilliant galaxy.

Amidst the radiance, Lei Jun strode forward, treading the steps of the spirit diagram, holding a tablet in his hand, and chanting aloud.

From his soul to his physical body, he established a tight connection with the heavens and the earth, as if becoming a part of nature itself.

Above Lei Jun's head, five Daoist palaces appeared amidst the flickering light, each occupying one of the four directions, suspended in mid-air.

In the Southern Dragon and Tiger Palace, a solar qi emerged.

In the Northern Xuanming Palace, a lunar qi emerged.

In the Western Spirit Official Palace, a lesser yin qi emerged.

In the Eastern Xuan Tan Palace, a lesser yang qi emerged.

The Central Three Purities Palace, on the other hand, maintained balance between yin and yang.

Streams of spiritual qi merged with Lei Jun's power, eventually forming a square, illusory seal above his head.

As Lei Jun took the final step of the spirit diagram, he stood still.

The moment he stopped, his soul escaped his body, flying into the air to merge with the square, illusory seal.

In that moment of fusion, Lei Jun's consciousness wavered.

The scene before his eyes seemed to transform.

A phantom door appeared, lightly opening before him. All it would take was a single step forward, and he would easily attain the Sixth Heaven of the Taoist Talisman Sect.

Lei Jun dared to face this heavenly tribulation because he was confident.

Everything before him seemed to validate this confidence.

Yet, Lei Jun did not rashly take that step.

His mind was calm and focused, quietly contemplating.

After a long while, the scene in Lei Jun's consciousness—the open door—suddenly changed.

Countless identical doors appeared.

When there was only one door before, taking a reckless step forward would not have led to a smooth path but an irreversible abyss of failure.

The tribulation between the Fifth Heaven and Sixth Heaven was not as straightforward as the previous yin fire and yin wind tribulations. Instead, it was a complex weave of intertwined thoughts, a true test of discernment between the real and the fake.

Now, countless identical illusory portals appeared, and for cultivators, the real challenge was just beginning.

To distinguish the true from the false and retain what was genuine was the only way to advance further.

Lei Jun seemed to have no more doubts as he directly took that first step, entering one of the portals.

His initial choice was correct.

From the outside, the illusory grand seal floating above his physical body's head shone brightly, seemingly solidifying.

But it wasn't over yet.

The tribulation at the gateway between the Fifth Heaven and Sixth Heaven was an extremely long one.

Within Lei Jun's spiritual consciousness, after stepping into the illusory portal, he continued onward, finding himself in an environment reminiscent of the True One Altar, surrounded by countless floating Taoist essences, each more wondrous than the last.

Perhaps he could draw some reference from the True One Altar?

This thought had barely formed when Lei Jun dismissed it.

And as he did so, the path before him widened, as if in response to his newfound understanding of the tribulation.

Lei Jun now had a deeper comprehension of the tribulation between the Fifth Heaven and Sixth Heaven.

This tribulation was meant to test him against the interference of various distracting thoughts.

To some extent, it corresponded directly to the five Taoist Palaces that formed the foundation of his Taoist techniques.

It was the foundation for reaching the Sixth Heaven, but it was also the source of internal evil and obstacles.

One had to overcome the thoughts of obsession with shortcuts and quick methods born from the Southern Dragon and Tiger Palace.

One had to overcome the thoughts of dependence on various treasures and spiritual objects born from the Eastern Xuan Tan Palace.

One had to overcome the thoughts of obsession with power, leading to disregard for other factors and resulting in rashness and blindness born from the Western Spirit Official Palace.

One had to overcome the thoughts of indulgence in pleasure and laziness born from the Northern Xuanming Palace.

One had to overcome the thoughts of arrogance and complacency, leading to carelessness and neglect born from the Central Three Purities Palace.

Cultivators often reminded themselves to be vigilant and overcome these distracting thoughts, but they would invariably resurface when one least expected them.

The more one trusted in their foundation and abilities, the more likely these thoughts would take root and become obstacles to cultivation.

The so-called inner evil and mental barriers originated from within oneself.

As Lei Jun calmed his mind and extinguished these distracting thoughts, he suddenly felt his spiritual consciousness becoming clear and serene.

Looking back at the real world, he saw that the five Taoist Palaces he had painstakingly refined had completely disappeared, leaving only a Taoist seal floating above his head.

The seal was pristine white, like a translucent jade, with strands of Taoist essence converging within it. It did not flaunt its power outwardly, but it was nonetheless wondrous.

In appearance, it resembled the Celestial Master Seal, yet it held a unique charm.

It incorporated Lei Jun's personal understanding and insights into Taoist techniques.

But as Lei Jun's thoughts turned, the seal changed once more, becoming identical to the Celestial Master Seal.

And as his thoughts shifted again, the seal returned to its original form.

"It must be related to the connection between my spiritual soul and the Celestial Master Seal..." Lei Jun's thoughts raced.

His spiritual soul returned to his physical body, but the seal remained suspended in mid-air.

In response to Lei Jun's thoughts, the seal flashed, and countless spiritual talismans appeared, with the four directions of the world's energy converging.

With the completion of the Taoist seal, the world of Taoism was set in motion.

Lei Jun had reached the Sixth Heaven of the Taoist Talisman Sect.

A single Taoist seal, connecting the heavens and the earth, commanding the myriad spirits!

In any cultivation path, the Sixth Heaven was a crucial gateway, bridging the lower and upper realms.

For the Taoist Talisman Sect, the completion of this Taoist seal was a culmination and summary of all the previous cultivation efforts.

More importantly, through this seal, cultivators could establish a deeper connection with the heavens and the earth, creating a bridge for further communication.

From here on, a new path unfolded, laying the foundation for the ultimate goal of ascending to the heavens.

In the Taoist Talisman Sect, the Sixth Heaven was known as the Taoist Seal, and the Seventh Heaven was referred to as Ascending the Heavens.

As the name suggested, the Taoist Seal was the key and the promise of unlocking the path to ascending the heavens.

This realm was different from the previous ones, where one had to craft the Four-Faced Primal Talismans in the Fourth Heaven or construct the Five Taoist Palaces in the Fifth Heaven.

In the Sixth Heaven, there were no further subdivisions.

The path forward was to continuously refine and perfect one's Taoist seal, accumulate spiritual power, and prepare for the eventual ascension.

In the cultivation world, it was customary to refer to the lower three heavens as the realm of practicing techniques, the middle three heavens as the realm of studying the Dao, and the upper three heavens as the realm of attaining supernatural powers.

For the Taoist Talisman Sect, the Taoist Seal was the seed of supernatural powers.

Thus, the path ahead was to nurture this seed, awaiting the day it would successfully sprout.

"Hu..."

Lei Jun exhaled slowly.

The tangible Taoist seal shone with a lustrous light and slowly descended, merging with Lei Jun's body.

His thoughts raced as he calculated the time that had passed.

It felt like only a short while had passed during his focused seclusion, but in reality, it had been over a month.

Fortunately, he had successfully taken this step.

The gates of Lei Jun's private residence slowly opened.

Outside, it was morning.

The rising sun bathed Lei Jun, who stood in the doorway, in its warm rays.

Facing the vibrant and uplifting morning sun, Lei Jun's heart was at peace, and a smile appeared on his face.

He went to Yuan Mobai's mansion, and as fate would have it, Yuan Mobai was just about to leave for the Celestial Master's Hall.

Seeing Lei Jun, the youth in purple robes smiled and said, "Well done, Zhongyun. You've succeeded."

"It's all thanks to Master's guidance," Lei Jun replied.

Yuan Mobai smiled gently. "It's mostly due to your own efforts. I can't guarantee that all my disciples will progress as quickly as you."

Lei Jun sincerely repeated, "It's all thanks to Master's guidance."

"Zhongyun, your mental state has always been stable, neither impatient nor rash. The flowing water never stagnates, and I won't tell you to keep working hard or to not become complacent because of your smooth journey so far," Yuan Mobai said as he walked ahead, with Lei Jun following by his side. "I'll only say this: I look forward to seeing you achieve even greater heights."

"I appreciate your kind words, Master," Lei Jun responded.

He accompanied Yuan Mobai to the Celestial Master's Hall, where they met with Tang Xiaotang, Yao Yuan, and Shangguan Ning.

At this point, Lei Jun and his master no longer needed to conceal their cultivation progress.

Everyone had their suspicions about Lei Jun's seclusion, and now that the moment had arrived, Yao Yuan and Shangguan Ning still couldn't help but feel emotional.

"It's been nine years since Zhongyun received his talisman," Yao Yuan remarked.

"Yes, Senior Brother," Lei Jun acknowledged.

Yao Yuan and Shangguan Ning exchanged a glance.

Even without considering how Lei Jun had quickly advanced from the Triple Heaven to the Quadruple Heaven shortly after receiving his talisman, the amount of time he spent cultivating the Quadruple and Quintuple Heavens, two major realms, was astonishingly short—less than a decade.

Moreover, Lei Jun didn't just stop at perfecting the Five Taoist Palaces of the Quintuple Heaven. He also overcame the tribulation between the Quintuple and Sextuple Heavens.

With such speed, he had left not only Zhang Jingzhen, Lin Shan, and Ke Sicheng far behind but also Li Zhengxuan during his time.

Even Yao Yuan and Shangguan Ning, let alone the two of them, couldn't help but feel impressed, as Master Yuan Mobai had witnessed Lei Jun's remarkable journey firsthand and understood the details of his progress better than anyone else.

"Aside from Jingzhen, our sect may soon have another Upper Three Heavens cultivator." Shangguan Ning smiled at that moment. "Although Chongshan cultivates diligently, he pales in comparison to you, Chongyun. I believe you'll surpass him soon enough."

Yao Yuan nodded in agreement. "Indeed!"

The only one who remained relatively calm was Tang Xiaotang. With a playful smile, she looked at Lei Jun and asked, "So, now that you've reached this stage, do you want to step down from your duties at the Executive Hall and focus solely on preparing for the Seventh Heaven?"

"Senior Sister Zhang has been accumulating her power for many years. How can I compare to her now? To reach the Seventh Heaven, one must accumulate experience and strength gradually, allowing things to unfold naturally." Lei Jun replied, "The mansion is currently short-staffed, and I will do my best to contribute. Moreover, my work at the Executive Hall has been a form of tempering and accumulation for me. My previous training played a significant role in helping me attain the Sextuple Heaven so quickly."

Tang Xiaotang waved her hand dismissively. "It's up to you."

Yao Yuan and Shangguan Ning looked at Lei Jun with appreciative gazes.

A thought crossed Elder Shangguan's mind, and she glanced at Tang Xiaotang before turning back to Lei Jun.

While Tang Xiaotang possessed impeccable talent and strength, her personality and style as the Celestial Master were not without controversy.

On the other hand, this Lei Jun, at least among the middle three heavens disciples who had received their talismans, was exceptionally well-rounded and outstanding in all aspects.

Although his talent in cultivation seemed less dazzling than Tang Xiaotang's, he advanced steadily and rapidly, one step at a time.

If they had thought it was too early to consider such possibilities before, now they had to start contemplating them... Elder Shangguan pondered deeply.

Lei Jun then underwent his third talisman enhancement without any hesitation, receiving the 'Talisman of the Five Thunderbolts' from the 'Three Grottoes and Five Thunderbolts Scripture' (also known as the 'Five Thunderbolts Scripture').

Normally, there would be a significant gap between the second and third talisman enhancements. Lei Jun, of course, didn't meet the requirement in terms of time.

However, given the current shortage of personnel in the mansion and Lei Jun's accumulation of merit and virtue, exceptions were made. Tang Xiaotang, Yuan Mobai, Yao Yuan, and Shangguan Ning all agreed to waive the requirement for Lei Jun.

After receiving his enhanced talisman, Lei Jun exchanged his talisman plate and was granted access to the fifth volume of the 'True and Orthodox Great Dao Scripture'.

Furthermore, his position and rank in the sect would be elevated directly from a fourth-grade to a third-grade Daoist priest, corresponding to his status as a Sextuple Heaven Elder who had undergone three talisman enhancements.

While Celestial Master Tang Xiaotang wasn't particularly interested in handling daily affairs, she found pleasure in performing rituals like talisman enhancements and transmitting scriptures. She personally accompanied Lei Jun to the Hall of Talismans and the Altar of Myriad Methods to complete a series of rituals.

When the news spread, everyone in Longhu Mountain, from the top to the bottom, shared the same sentiment as the three high-achieving elders, feeling deeply moved and inspired.

For the Celestial Master's Mansion, which had been through internal strife and was in a state of recovery, the emergence of young prodigies like Lei Jun was a great source of encouragement and a magnet for attracting more young people to join the mountain sect.

Later, Lei Jun returned to the Executive Hall and resumed his duties as the guardian elder.

His work attitude and style remained consistent with his previous performance.

However, the disciples of the mansion now held him in even higher regard, feeling that Elder Lei's authority and prestige increased day by day.

For the next year, Lei Jun maintained his routine, diligently handling the affairs of the Executive Hall while focusing on his personal cultivation.

During this period, the Celestial Master's Mansion finally enjoyed a rare period of tranquility, allowing it to recover and rebuild its strength.

The following summer, three years after taking up his post at the Executive Hall, Lei Jun stepped down from his position as planned.

His next destination had already been decided.

He would be the guardian elder of the Pavilion of Edicts.

This was the position previously held by Zhang Jingzhen, who was now preparing for her seclusion to break through to the Seventh Heaven.

By assigning Lei Jun to the relatively less busy Pavilion of Edicts, the higher-ups of the Celestial Master's Mansion were expressing their hopes for his further advancement in cultivation.

"The situation on the mountain has finally stabilized, so I've decided to descend the mountain for a while."

Master Yuan Mobai instructed Lei Jun, "On the one hand, I'll be visiting various branches and connecting with fellow disciples. On the other hand, the loss of the Celestial Master's robe remains a significant concern."

"Master, does this mean there's new information about the Celestial Master's robe?" Lei Jun asked.

"There are some leads from the Great Southern Mountains in the South Wilderness, but they're not confirmed. It's more of a gamble," Yuan Mobai explained.

He had experienced similar situations in the past during the search for the Celestial Master's seal.

Lei Jun nodded, his mind contemplating the rainbow light associated with the clue about the Celestial Master's robe. He considered whether to hand it over to Master Yuan Mobai or to take advantage of his less busy schedule at the Pavilion of Edicts to venture south together. However, the South Wilderness was not a peaceful place, and such a journey might be risky...

As he was silently shaking his head, a light sphere appeared in his mind, and words began to form:

> The trail of a supreme treasure leads to peril in the southern heavens. Beware of the dangers that lie in the west and the east.

Lei Jun's heart stirred slightly as he read the message.

With the flickering of the light sphere, four fortunes appeared:

> Moderate Fortune: Remain in the mountain sect, cultivate with a calm mind, and maintain your current state. There will be no gains or losses, no risks, and no future troubles.

>

> Moderate Fortune: Venture to the South Wilderness, avoiding the eastern and western peaks of the Great Southern Mountain. You will encounter ups and downs but will ultimately be safe. There will be no gains or losses.

>

> Moderate-Low Fortune: Venture to the western segment of the Great Southern Mountain, to the Solitary City Peak. You will encounter ambushes and face grave dangers at every step. Your life will hang in the balance, so exercise extreme caution.

>

> Low Fortune: Venture to the eastern segment of the Great Southern Mountain, to the Sun-Facing Peak. You will encounter a significant threat, and there will be no way to escape. Extreme danger!

As Lei Jun read through the four fortunes, his eyebrows raised slightly.

One moderate-low fortune and one low fortune.

It seemed less like natural disasters and more like man-made dangers.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end