https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-98-97-The-Grand-Initiation-Ceremony-Enlisted-in-the-Celestial-Bureaucracy/12586426/
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Chapter 99: The Fourfold Heavenly Seal and the Middle Threefold Heavenly Cultivation
Chapter 99: The Fourfold Heavenly Seal and the Middle Threefold Heavenly Cultivation
Despite the absence of the Grand Master, the grand ceremony commenced and concluded without a hitch.
...Aside from the disappointing absence of the expected star disciples.
For Lei Jun, everything went smoothly.
As he exited the Pavilion of Myriad Methods, he glanced at his Register Tablet.
The Heavenly Master's Mansion, for the first time, bestowed upon him the Taishang Sanwu Denggong Jinglu, also known as the "Denggong Register."
Lei Jun's rank within the Dao was the seventh grade.
Customarily, the Longhushan Heavenly Master's Mansion conferred seven grades of rank and official positions upon those who received the Register.
The seventh grade was the starting point, and the first grade was the highest.
The bestowment of the Denggong Register applied to both the sixth and seventh grades.
Lei Jun and the others all started from the seventh grade, and whoever among them first achieved the Fourfold Heavenly Seal realm would be promoted to the sixth grade.
To advance further, they would need to undergo corresponding assessments, and only those who passed would be granted an additional Register.
The second bestowment was known as the Taishang Zhenyi Mengwei Jinglu, or the "Mengwei Register" for short, and it covered the fourth and fifth grades.
One of the basic requirements was to attain the Fivefold Heavenly Palace realm of the Fu Lu tradition.
In theory, once a Heavenly Master's Mansion disciple reached this realm, they could officially leave the mountain, establish their own sect, and spread the legacy of the Longhushan ancestor.
Thus, those who solely attained the Fivefold Heaven realm would be assessed and bestowed the fifth-grade rank and official position.
Those who founded their own sect and led a faction on their own would be given the fourth-grade rank and official position.
Depending on the disciple's wishes, they could choose to leave the mountain and establish their own lineage, donning either the deep red Daoist robe or switching to a blue one.
Moving on, the third bestowment was called the Shangqing Sandong Wulei Jinglu, or the "Wulei Register" for short.
One of the fundamental requirements was to cultivate to the Sixfold Heavenly Seal realm, after which they would be granted the third-grade rank.
Subsequently, the fourth bestowment was known as the Shangqing Sandong Jinglu, or the "Three Caverns and Five Thunder Registers," and another more familiar name to the world was the Sandong Sanjiejing, or the Three Realms of the True Scripture.
The fundamental requirement was to attain the Sevenfold Heaven cultivation, stepping into the Upper Threefold Heaven domain, and they would be bestowed the second-grade rank and official position.
In this world, it was customary to refer to Daoist experts with Upper Threefold Heaven cultivation as High-Achieving Masters, and their Daoist robes were purple.
As for the final fifth bestowment, it was the promotion to the Shangqing Dadong Jinglu, or the "Supreme Purity Register," and it came with the first-grade rank and official position.
This was exclusive to the Heavenly Master and was not bestowed upon outsiders.
The Heavenly Master's ceremonial robe was also unique, adorned with a nine-colored rainbow drape.
Generally, there was a time interval between each bestowment, and it was not something to be taken lightly.
Only under extremely special circumstances, where one had accumulated immense merit and virtue and passed the complex assessments of the Three Grand Masters, would there be a rare exception.
Among Lei Jun's peers, only Xu Yuanzhen and Li Zhenghuan had received additional Registers ahead of the stipulated timeframe.
...Tang Xiaotang was an exception among exceptions.
In a rare and painful situation throughout the ages, the Heavenly Master's Mansion had bent almost every rule possible for her.
Otherwise, she would still be in the Daoist academy, memorizing scriptures and precepts.
"Ordinarily, you would need at least a fifth-grade rank and official position to establish another mansion on the mountain."
Wang Guiyuan explained to Lei Jun, "You don't need to move for now, but you can redecorate this place as you wish."
In other words, establishing another mansion required at least a Fivefold Heaven cultivation... Lei Jun nodded slightly.
Speaking of which, he was quite satisfied with the residence he currently occupied.
Located near his Master Yuan Mobai's mansion, he didn't have to worry about any disturbances.
However, as Wang Guiyuan mentioned, now that he had received the Register, Lei Jun's treatment had improved significantly compared to when he was just a transmitted disciple.
Although the house itself wouldn't be renovated, he could replace all the indoor furniture and decorations according to his preferences.
In this world, furniture and utensils made from different materials had distinct nourishing effects.
For Lei Jun, who spent most of his time indoors, the subtle influences would accumulate over time, naturally leading to noticeable differences.
Previously, he had obtained medicinal ingredients from the mansion to prepare his own medicinal baths.
Now, after receiving the Register, the mansion had specially prepared a bath for him.
The entire bath was crafted from a limited supply of Yin-Yang Warm Jade found in the mountains, providing more potent nourishment than any of his previous medicinal baths, and its effects lasted much longer.
As for other spiritual objects and elixirs to aid his cultivation, they were countless and exquisite.
The numerous magical treasures bestowed upon him during the bestowment ceremony were not merely ceremonial gifts.
The Register and scriptures were the two most crucial treasures, needless to say.
The magic sword, command flag, and command token were not primarily meant for duels with others; instead, they could be hung beside Lei Jun during his cultivation, helping him gather heavenly and earthly spiritual energy and enhancing his practice.
If he wanted to refine pills or forge magical treasures himself, hanging the magic sword, command flag, and command token indoors could help expel internal evil influences and increase his success rate.
As for the tablet, it wasn't only useful when submitting petitions to the heavens.
During his daily cultivation, it could aid him in preserving his spiritual sense and nurturing his innate spirit.
Even the Daoist robe and crown that were specially given to the registered disciples had the function of aiding their cultivation and providing a certain degree of protection.
The Ghost-Seizing Staff and the Tianpeng Ruler, on the other hand, were two powerful magical treasures useful for duels with enemies.
However, for Lei Jun, they weren't as useful as the previously mentioned items.
If he wanted to strike someone, he had more suitable items at his disposal...
What excited Lei Jun even more was that, as a registered disciple, the talisman brush, talisman ink, and talisman paper he could now receive from the mansion on a daily basis had also been upgraded significantly.
The talisman paper had been upgraded from the basic yellow paper to the finer Vermilion Cloud Paper.
The talisman ink had been enhanced from the fundamental cinnabar to the superior Profound Crystal.
Even the talisman brush had been swapped out for a higher-quality Green Glint Brush...
Of course, if Lei Jun could get his hands on even better raw materials, he was free to make substitutions.
For instance, the Vermilion Glint Brush that Master Yuan Mobai had used in the past was of even higher quality than the Green Glint Brush.
But for now, Lei Jun could make do with the Green Glint Brush for his daily practice.
As for the talisman ink, he was extremely familiar with the Azure Stone Ink, which was a grade above the Profound Crystal in terms of refinement.
However, there was no need to rush into things.
To wield these superior talisman-making materials with ease, Lei Jun decided to first enhance his cultivation base.
It had been over half a year since he had reached the pinnacle of his Triple Heaven Law Altar realm.
After this period of constant accumulation and preparation, coupled with the invaluable Yuan Heart Quiet Jade, Lei Jun resolved to take on the heavenly tribulation that stood between him and the Quadruple Heaven realm.
With a calm mind and serene qi, Lei Jun sat in meditation.
His essence, qi, and spirit had all peaked at their current highest level.
Within his Dao Foundation altar, the three-layered virtual altar with an octagonal base and a round top shone brilliantly.
Above the altar, a vision of the starry river of the cosmos flowed, dazzling and magnificent.
As Lei Jun willed it, his soul seemed to separate from his physical body once more.
But this time, his soul did not exit through the heavenly aperture at the top of his head.
Instead, Lei Jun's soul descended, sinking into his own body and landing within his Dao Foundation altar.
Then, it settled upon the three-layered altar.
In Lei Jun's perception, it was as if he had stepped into a real altar.
He climbed the steps and made his way to the top of the third layer, the round altar.
Standing at the apex of the altar, he raised his head to gaze up at the sky, where the stars and constellations whirled, filled with the mysteries of nature and the universe, captivating him completely.
With his soul clear and lucid, Lei Jun, like a true immortal, sat down cross-legged once more, right on top of the virtual altar within his own body.
As time passed, Lei Jun suddenly felt the starry sky above begin to rotate.
From it emanated a pulling force, drawing his soul upward.
Lei Jun did not resist, allowing his soul to ascend from the altar top and soar into the boundless void.
In his consciousness, it was as if he had entered the true universe, and his soul, irresistibly drawn, plunged into its depths.
Suddenly, he felt a chill.
It was like the autumn wind cutting through his thin clothes.
But in an instant, Lei Jun realized that it wasn't actual coldness.
Rather, his soul was being assaulted.
The heavenly tribulation was upon him.
Even though his soul hadn't physically left his body, he still felt the buffeting wind, like a drowning person who had lost their boat.
This baleful wind was emanating from within Lei Jun's own body.
This was the heavenly tribulation that one had to overcome to advance from the Triple Heaven to the Quadruple Heaven.
During his previous breakthrough from Double Heaven to Triple Heaven, he had faced the tribulation of Yin Fire that arose from within himself.
Now, it was the Yin Wind.
Also originating from within himself.
That was why, in this world, cultivators had to overcome tribulations on their own, as outsiders could not lend any aid. Everything depended solely on oneself.
If he could overcome this tribulation, he would attain the Yuanfu realm and enjoy a lifespan of four hundred years.
Failure, on the other hand, could result in anything from going insane to becoming a useless cripple, with the most likely outcome being instant death and the dissipation of one's spirit.
Lei Jun's soul remained steadfast, gazing upward without looking down.
He didn't need to look to know that his altar and Dao Field were also being ravaged by the baleful wind at this very moment.
If he couldn't overcome this tribulation, both his soul and physical body would be destroyed by the wind.
"The righteous path is undivided, absorbing the origin and returning to truth," Lei Jun intoned calmly, his voice carrying a mantra-like quality.
His soul remained seated in the void, unfazed by the relentless wind.
The wind howled on, but Lei Jun's soul did not scatter.
It seemed that the two forces had reached a stalemate.
At that moment, in the real world, the seated Lei Jun, with his eyes closed and legs crossed, showed signs of activity. The white jade between his palms suddenly glowed.
The radiance was gentle and soothing, like a flowing stream, endless and calming to behold.
The glow enveloped Lei Jun's entire body, and under its protection, the baleful wind that had been assaulting his physical form gradually subsided.
With a crisp crack, the white jade in Lei Jun's palms shattered, turning to dust.
Although the Yuan Heart Quiet Jade was gone, the radiance surrounding Lei Jun did not diminish.
He smiled serenely and opened his eyes.
Under the influence of his spiritual power, his body hovered in the air.
Beneath him, an altar seemed to form, supporting his body.
On the altar, a brilliant light appeared.
Within Lei Jun's virtual altar, a mystical talisman took shape, intricate and profound, encapsulating the essence of the universe and reflecting the heavens.
"Success," Lei Jun whispered with a smile.
Behind him, streams of light outlined a massive glowing talisman that stood nine feet tall and four feet wide.
It signified his successful breakthrough from the Third Heavy Heaven to the Fourth Heavy Heaven, the Yuanfu realm.
With the creation of his own Yuanfu, Lei Jun bid farewell to the Lower Three Heavens and stepped into the ranks of Middle Three Heavens cultivators.
"Now, what's next..."
Lei Jun's eyes sparkled with excitement.
He didn't pause in his journey.
With his full concentration, he directed his spiritual sense deep into his soul.
Lei Jun returned to the grotto that had been derived from the Heavenly Master's Seal.
Walking across the Dao Field, he arrived before the quiet three-layered True One altar.
PS: Today's three chapters with a total of 10,000 characters are complete. I'll continue tomorrow!
(End of Chapter)
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