https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-289-Elder-Lei-s-Taoist-Name-Part-1-/12587187/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-290-The-Eighth-Heaven-Divine-Court-Part-1-/12587189/
Chapter 289: Elder Lei's Taoist Name (Part 2)
Chapter 289: Elder Lei's Taoist Name (Part 2)
"
Lu Jinduan said, "Now, we'll have to see when he can reach the Eighth Heaven realm."
Xu Duan said, "Unless he stagnates for too long at the tribulation between the Seventh and Eighth Heavens, he should be able to do so within ten years."
Lu Jinduan sighed softly, "Ten years is not far away. I presume that by then, his Yin Thunder Dragon will be even more perfected?"
"Indeed." Xu Duan nodded, "No matter what, our Dao Sect has produced a lot of talented individuals. As for the Human Realm Country, they cannot go against the heavens."
"Well said, Brother Xu." Lu Jinduan agreed.
Lu Fang, sitting across from them, had his attention fixed on Lei Jun as well.
Seated beside him was Shangguan Sheng, who had come to observe the ceremony as a representative of the Tang court.
"This Lei Daoist carries even more weight within the Celestial Masters' Mansion," Lu Fang said softly.
Shangguan Sheng nodded slightly, "At the very least, he's on par with his master, Yuan Daoist. The only uncertainty now is how long Tang Celestial Master will remain in this position."
Lu Fang lowered his voice even further, "The two of them are too close in age. Do you think they will end up competing with each other?"
Shangguan Sheng replied, "As of now, it doesn't seem like it."
"That's good," Lu Fang continued, "For the time being, it's best for the Celestial Masters' Mansion to maintain stability."
This generation of Dragon and Tiger Mountain cultivators was truly exceptional, with not only Xu Yuanzhen and Tang Xiaotang but also Lei Jun and Chu Kun rising rapidly.
If this trend continued, even the Tang imperial family would have to pay attention to their development.
However, aside from the noble families, the current situation in the Tang Empire, both domestically and internationally, was extremely complex.
In such circumstances, the Tang imperial family, including the Shangguan and Lu clans and other martial arts nobles, hoped for the Celestial Masters' Mansion to maintain its current stability, regardless of their intentions in the past.
The three major sacred sites of the Dao Sect showed signs of forming an alliance.
The Tang imperial family was well aware of this development.
To be precise, Xu Duan, Lu Jinduan, and the others had no intention of hiding their plans from the court.
The Tang imperial family's reaction was to turn a blind eye.
In the past, they might not have been so lenient.
But now, not only had their attitude towards the noble families softened, but they also seemed more accommodating towards the Dao Sect.
Even if the three major sacred sites of the Dao Sect joined forces, their primary target would be the Human Realm Country.
Moreover, the Buddhist sect in the Western Regions had been seeking to expand their influence into the Central Plains of the Tang Empire in recent years.
While they maintained a harmonious relationship with the Dao Sect on the surface, their true intentions might be different.
Therefore, Shangguan Sheng and Lu Fang were quite calm as they watched Xu Duan and Lu Jinduan arrive at Dragon and Tiger Mountain.
Their attention remained on Lei Jun, who was presiding over the ceremony.
"The Mysterious Void Thunder Ancestor manifestation, the Yin Thunder Dragon..." Shangguan Sheng muttered to himself as he recalled the mysterious thunder he had witnessed in the East China Sea, "Back then, I should have realized it, but in the end, I underestimated this Lei Daoist. He's even stronger than I imagined."
He suddenly laughed at himself, "Perhaps it was my own reluctance to believe that Lei Daoist was stronger than expected, and by such a large margin."
Lu Fang added, "Lin Chi, Qi Shuo, and Tao Zhun are all exceptional cultivators, each with their unique strengths. Yet, they were no match for Lei Daoist. With such prowess, there are few cultivators at the Seventh Heaven realm across the entire world who can compare to him."
Shangguan Sheng sighed softly.
Lu Fang asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"
Shangguan Sheng sighed again, "It's a pity that Lei Daoist currently has no intention of marrying."
Lu Fang nodded slightly.
He had heard that the Tang imperial family once considered marrying a princess into the Dragon and Tiger Mountain sect.
Regardless of whether Lei Jun would eventually become the Celestial Master, he was already a more promising prospect than Li Zhenxian.
Unfortunately, nothing came of it.
"In matters of the heart, there's no room for negotiation," Lu Fang said, "Aside from Lei Daoist, Yuan Daoist and Tang Celestial Master are also unmarried."
"Indeed, I just find it a pity," Shangguan Sheng replied.
Lu Fang finally shifted his gaze from Lei Jun, "Speaking of which, are there any outstanding disciples among those who participated in the initiation ceremony from the Celestial Masters' Mansion this time?"
Shangguan Sheng replied, "Yes, that one."
He gestured towards the girl who was performing the ring-breaking ritual with Luo Haoran in the ceremony field, "That one."
"What's so special about her?" Lu Fang asked, taking a closer look.
Shangguan Sheng explained, "As far as I know, it's only been about two years since she was brought to Dragon and Tiger Mountain to become a disciple."
Lu Fang was surprised, "Oh?"
He looked more closely at the girl in the field.
Qin Caiwei's expression was excited, but she forced herself to remain calm as she meticulously performed the ceremonial rituals.
"She obtained the qualifications for the initiation ceremony in just two years?" Lu Fang was intrigued, "I remember the last person who achieved this speed was..."
"Lei Daoist."
Shangguan Sheng nodded, "The previous disciple who obtained the qualifications for the initiation ceremony in just two years is now Lei Daoist."
Lu Fang thought for a moment, recalling the roster he had seen earlier, and matched the name with the girl, "I remember, her name is Qin Caiwei, right?"
"Correct," Shangguan Sheng confirmed.
"What's her background?" Lu Fang asked.
"According to the information we have, she comes from an ordinary family," Shangguan Sheng replied.
Lu Fang watched Qin Caiwei with interest, "She's risen to prominence in no time."
Lei Jun was well aware that he had become the center of attention at the initiation ceremony.
However, he feigned ignorance and remained calm and composed.
After the initial, middle, and final offerings were completed, and the formal ceremony was concluded, Lei Jun, as the high-level Daoist priest presiding over the ceremony, steadily performed the rituals of sending off the deities, returning the offerings, restoring the incense burner, and exiting the hall. Finally, he bowed to the ancestral masters and bid farewell.
Everything else proceeded as usual.
On the other hand, Lei Jun himself had been continuously improving his cultivation during this time, and his path to immortality was nearing perfection.
As he presided over the initiation ceremony again, he offered prayers to heaven above, and his heart was filled with new insights as he communed with the heavens and the earth.
It was as if he had established a closer connection with the heavens and the earth.
He looked up at the sky.
Above the celestial canopy, the Thunder Palace in the Upper Clarity Heaven remained unchanged, and purple lightning danced across the sky.
But this time, Lei Jun felt as if he could see even more profound and majestic thunderbolts converging in the higher layers of the clouds.
Was this the Divine Thunder of the God of Thunder as mentioned in the Daoist scriptures?... Lei Jun's thoughts were lively and agile, but his heart remained calm.
Communing with the heavens and the earth did not distract Lei Jun; instead, it made him feel more in tune with nature as he presided over the ceremony.
He did not think too much and simply embraced the natural flow, quietly contemplating while simultaneously performing the ceremonial rituals.
Pairs of masters and disciples retreated, and Lei Jun, carrying the roster of disciples, headed towards the ancestral mausoleum in the back mountain to pay respects to the ancestral masters once more before submitting the roster.
And so, the initiation ceremony presided over by Lei Jun for the first time came to a successful conclusion.
Afterward, he returned to the Celestial Masters' Mansion.
There, Celestial Master Tang Xiaotang was entertaining the guests who had just attended the ceremony.
Lei Jun also came to pay his respects.
Naturally, the host and guests enjoyed themselves immensely.
Finally, Lei Jun unabashedly announced, "I, a humble Taoist, bow to the heavens and our ancestral masters. Inspired and enlightened, today I bestow upon myself a Taoist name.
Although I am blessed by the God of Thunder, I do not wish to reach for the heavens, so I shall take a half-step back and call myself 'Xuanxiao' (Mystic Thunder).
All of you here today are fellow Taoists, and I humbly ask you to be my witnesses."
Taoist names are usually given to Dragon and Tiger Mountain disciples when they are initiated into the sect.
As for Taoist names, they are mostly chosen by Taoist cultivators who have achieved a certain level of success in their cultivation, either through their own communion with the heavens or through acclaim from the outside world.
For example, Yuan Mobai gave himself the name 'Yuli Daoren' (Solitary Recluse), also known as 'Yuli Zi' (Solitary Son).
On the other hand, Tang Xiaotang never gave herself a Taoist name.
She preferred to be addressed as 'Celestial Master'.
With Lei Jun's current cultivation level and his status as a high-ranking elder of the Celestial Masters' Mansion, his choice of a Taoist name would be a cause for celebration, and he could invite his fellow Taoist friends to witness the occasion.
However, Lei Jun did not make any special arrangements, so he simply made the announcement after the ceremony.
The guests present congratulated Lei Jun one after another.
Celestial Master Tang Xiaotang, sitting in the seat of honor, smiled and said, "You could have just called yourself 'Shenxiao Zi' (Thunder God's Son), and no one would have objected."
Lei Jun also smiled. "Unfortunately, I was born too late, but by leaving some room for improvement, I hope to carry on the legacy and achieve even greater heights."
Yuan Mobai, standing by his side, maintained his usual gentle smile, which seemed even brighter at the moment.
Most of the other guests also associated Lei Jun's choice of Taoist name with his creation of the 'Xuanxiao Wulei Falu' (Mystic Thunder Five Thunder Talisman Technique) and the 'Xuanxiao Leizu Faxiang' (Mystic Thunder Ancestor Law Image).
Shangguan Sheng and Lu Fang exchanged a glance.
"Xuanxiao Daoren, Xuanxiao Zi..." Shangguan Sheng murmured.
Lu Fang nodded slightly.
The two of them couldn't help but think back to when Lei Jun had displayed his 'xuan lei' (mystic thunder) in the East China Sea and how they had witnessed his 'Xuanxiao Leizu Faxiang' (Mystic Thunder Ancestor Law Image) in the Southern Wilderness.
It seemed like a twist of fate had brought them together.
Shangguan Sheng and Lu Fang quickly regained their composure, their expressions returning to normal as they congratulated Lei Jun together: "With the appearance of Xuanxiao Zi, all impurities shall be purged. Congratulations!"
The older and more experienced elders of the Shu Mountain, Xu Duan, and the Chunyang Palace, Lu Jinduan, also congratulated him: "Greetings, Fellow Xuanxiao. We are honored to be in your presence."
In their hearts, they felt that Lei Jun was indeed much more humble and amiable compared to Tang Xiaotang.
The Taoist name 'Shenxiao' (Thunder God) was often associated with the Taoist ancestors mentioned in Taoist scriptures.
Usually, later generations of disciples would rarely choose such a name.
However, there were always exceptions.
The current Celestial Master, Tang Xiaotang, was one such exception.
She had created the 'Shenxiao Chunyang Falu' (Thunder God Pure Yang Talisman Technique), and she didn't seem to mind the association.
Lei Jun had no objections or concerns, and since he had already created the 'Xuan Lei' (Mystic Thunder), he might as well continue down this path.
Moreover, in the eyes of the older Xu Duan and Lu Jinduan, Lei Jun's choice seemed much more agreeable than Tang Xiaotang's.
The other guests also congratulated him one by one.
Lei Jun returned their greetings.
Afterward, most of the guests gradually took their leave, and Dragon and Tiger Mountain gradually returned to its usual peaceful state after the grand ceremony.
Apart from Ji Chuan of the Shu Mountain Sect, the Chunyang Palace also had a representative who stayed behind, Long Tao, one of the elders of the Chunyang Palace, who, like Ji Chuan and Chu Kun, had attained the Sixth-Heaven realm.
Like Ji Chuan, he intended to find a suitable place in the mountains outside the main peak of Dragon and Tiger Mountain to establish his own cave abode.
While he would not enter the core area of Dragon and Tiger Mountain, it would still be convenient for him to maintain contact and interact with the sect.
Chu Kun was in charge of helping them with the arrangements.
In the following days, Lei Jun returned to his usual quiet and peaceful life, continuing his cultivation at his own pace.
As winter turned to spring, time flew by.
There were no other disturbances on Dragon and Tiger Mountain.
However, the eldest senior sister, Xu Yuanzhen, who often wandered outside, finally returned to the mountain.
Her return was not to settle down and focus on her cultivation but to bring back some items that had caught her interest, which she then took into the Upper Clarity Heaven Thunder Palace Cave Heaven to research and refine with the help of the unique environment within.
Xu Yuanzhen did as she pleased, and everyone was used to her eccentricities by now.
On the other hand, Tang Xiaotang was extremely curious about what Xu Yuanzhen was currently working on, so she frequently went to check on her and offer her 'comfort and support', only to be repeatedly shooed away by Xu Yuanzhen, who found her visits annoying.
As time passed, Lei Jun's intuition about a certain matter became stronger and more pronounced.
By the time autumn arrived and the weather turned colder, half a year had passed since the beginning of the year when Lei Jun had presided over the initiation ceremony.
He was now forty-nine years old.
In the late autumn, Wang Guiyuan also returned safely.
"Senior Martial Brother, what is this?" Chu Kun looked at the item Wang Guiyuan had brought back with a pleasant surprise.
It resembled the ashes of a burnt object, but it had condensed into a sphere that resembled a spirit stone.
The stone sphere seemed to be a sleeping or dying star, silent and unmoving.
Only when stimulated by spiritual power did it shine with a light that resembled both starlight and fire, as if it were a burning heavenly flame.
"Tian Jin Chen Hai (Heavenly Ashes of a Dead Star)," Yuan Mobai smiled, holding one in his hand as well.
Wang Guiyuan said, "I was quite lucky this time, and I happened to come across a bit of good fortune. I didn't return empty-handed."
He smiled and said, "The quantity is not much, but it's not too little either. There are six of them."
Yuan Mobai said, "One is already rare, let alone six."
"Thank you, Senior Martial Brother," Lei Jun said, holding one of the stone spheres in his hand.
It was customary for them to share their resources without much ado, so Lei Jun accepted the item without further ado.
As for where Wang Guiyuan had obtained such a great bargain, Lei Jun and Chu Kun did not inquire further.
For Chu Kun, who possessed the Stellar Saint Body, this was undoubtedly a treasure.
It could also be used by Lei Jun, Yuan Mobai, and Xu Yuanzhen, who cultivated the Stellar God Art.
With six Heavenly Ashes of Dead Stars, apart from Lei Jun, Yuan Mobai, Xu Yuanzhen, and Chu Kun, there were even two left over to be contributed to the sect's treasure pavilion to accumulate merit.
For Lei Jun, these treasures could also be used for another purpose.
They could aid him in cultivating a new divine ability in the future.
However, that matter could wait for now.
For the time being, he needed to focus on the task at hand.
Lei Jun finally decided to seclude himself from the outside world and focus solely on his cultivation.
The time was ripe, and the opportunity had presented itself.
It was time for the final sprint.
PS: 7k for 2 chapters
(End of Chapter)
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