Secluding himself for cultivation and focusing his mind, it felt as if only a brief moment had passed,

But in reality, more than a month had gone by.

Fortunately, he had finally succeeded in taking this crucial step.

The portals of Lei Jun's private mansion slowly opened.

Outside, it was morning.

The rising sun cast its light across Lei Jun as he stepped through the doorway.

Embracing the surging vitality of dawn, Lei Jun felt peaceful inside and couldn't help but smile.

He headed to Master Yuan Mobai's residence, just as Yuan Mobai was preparing to leave for the Celestial Master Hall.

Meeting Lei Jun head-on, the young man in a purple robe grinned, "Chongyun succeeded."

Lei Jun said, "I owe it to Master's instruction."

Yuan Mobai smiled, "It was mainly about you—no teacher dares promise all disciples could advance so quickly."

Lei Jun sincerely repeated, "I owe it to Master's instruction."

"Chongyun, your mindset has always been steady—never anxious or impetuous, like a stream that flows unceasingly. As your teacher, I won't nag you about 'keeping up the good work' or 'don't be complacent just because things went smoothly.'"

Yuan Mobai walked first, Lei Jun followed at his side and slightly behind, "Just one thing, I hope you'll achieve even greater accomplishments in the future."

Lei Jun said, "Thank you, Master, for your blessing."

He first accompanied Yuan Mobai to the Celestial Master Hall to meet Tang Xiaotang, Yao Yuan, and Shangguan Ning.

At their current stage, Lei Jun and his master no longer needed to hide their progress.

Everyone had already speculated during his previous seclusion.

It was just that now, with the news confirmed, both Yao Yuan and Shangguan Ning couldn't help but feel moved.

"If you count the days, it's only been nine years since Chongyun received his Talisman-bestowed rank," Yao Yuan remarked.

Lei Jun said, "Yes, Master."

Yao Yuan and Shangguan Ning exchanged a glance.

Even without considering how quickly Lei Jun advanced from the Third Heavenly Layer to the Fourth shortly after being Talisman-bestowed,

just looking at the time spent cultivating through the Fourth and Fifth Heavenly Layers, he took less than ten years, which was astonishing enough as it was.

Moreover, Lei Jun hadn't just perfected all five Tao Palaces—he'd also crossed the Heavenly Moat Tribulation between the Fifth and Sixth Heavenly Layers in one go.

His speed left Zhang Jingzhen, Lin Shan, Ke Sicheng, and the others far behind.

Even Li Zhengxuan, at the same stage back then, hadn't progressed so quickly.

*Never mind Yao Yuan and Shangguan Ning—even Yuan Mobai, who had watched Lei Jun's journey step by step, understood all the details best.*

*At this moment, he too felt a flood of emotion.*

"Besides Jingzhen, our sect may soon have another Upper Three Heavens Cultivator," Shangguan Ning now smiled and said, "Chongshan works hard at cultivation, but is still far behind you, Chongyun—I suspect you'll be the one to surpass him soon."

Yao Yuan nodded as well, "Absolutely!"

The only one still somewhat calm was Tang Xiaotang. She joked with a grin as she looked at Lei Jun, "So, are you going to unload your Hall of Steward duties and focus entirely on charging toward the Seventh Heavenly Layer?"

Lei Jun said, "Zhang has accumulated for years—how could I compare now? To reach the Seventh Layer, a deep foundation is needed for everything to fall into place.

We're short on hands in the mansion right now, so I should still do my part.

Plus, my duties in the Hall of Steward are just as much a way to temper and hone myself—being able to break through to the Sixth Layer realm so quickly this time, previous training played its part."

Tang Xiaotang just waved her hand, "Suit yourself."

Yao Yuan and Shangguan Ning both looked at Lei Jun with approving eyes.

Elder Shangguan felt a subtle change in her heart.

She glanced at Celestial Master Tang Xiaotang, then back at Lei Jun.

Tang Xiaotang's talent and power were impeccable, but her temperament and methods meant there was always controversy about her leading as Celestial Master.

As for this Lei, at least among Middle Three Heavens Talisman-bestowed Taoists, his qualities were impressively broad and outstanding.

His cultivation talent didn't seem as dazzling as Tang Xiaotang's, but he advanced quickly and step by step, each move solid.

*If it once seemed too early to think about, now, some possibilities had to be considered ahead of time… Elder Shangguan pondered deeply.*

Lei Jun then openly began his third Talisman-bestowed advancement, receiving the "Supreme Pure Three Caverns Five Thunders Mantra Tag," or the "Five Thunders Talisman" for short.

Normally, there was a substantial gap of years between the second and third Talisman-bestowed advances, and Lei Jun certainly hadn't reached that mark yet.

But, first, the mansion desperately needed people, and this was a special case; second, Lei Jun had been accumulating high merit, so both Tang Xiaotang and Yuan Mobai, as well as Yao Yuan and Shangguan Ning, all agreed to make an exception for him.

With the new mantras bestowed, Lei Jun swapped out his talisman disc, and was also given the fifth scroll of the True Formula of the Great Way Scripture.

His Taoist office and rank jumped past the fourth tier and straight to the third, marking his threefold Talisman-bestowed Elder status at the Sixth Heavenly Layer.

Celestial Master Tang had little interest in routine affairs, but she did enjoy Talisman-bestowed rituals and transmitting mantras—she personally led Lei Jun to the Talisman-bestowed Court and the Altar of Wanfa Sect, conducting a string of ceremonies.

News spread throughout Dragon Tiger Mountain, and everyone felt the same million emotions as Yuan Mobai and the three high elders.

For the Celestial Master Mansion—still reeling from earlier inner strife—youthful geniuses consistently rising up inspired everyone, drawing more young people inside and beyond the mansion to look to Dragon Tiger Mountain.

Later, Lei Jun returned to the Hall of Steward and resumed his duties as the Elder on watch.

His personal approach and style remained unchanged from before.

But the other disciples in the mansion grew ever more awed, sensing Elder Lei's authority deepening day by day.

During the year that followed, Lei Jun stayed consistent, diligently handling matters in the Hall of Steward while relentlessly advancing his own cultivation.

The Celestial Master Mansion finally entered a rare stretch of peace, steadily restoring itself.

The following summer, Lei Jun finished his three-year term at the Hall of Steward and finally handed off his responsibilities.

He already knew where he was headed next.

Edict Hall, Elder on watch.

The same role Zhang Jingzhen had held before.

Zhang Jingzhen was about to enter seclusion, preparing to break through to the Seventh Heavenly Layer.

The relatively idle position at Edict Hall was given to Lei Jun as an investment in his further cultivation by the mansion's leadership.

"The mountain is finally settling down, so I've decided to travel down for a bit."

Yuan Mobai briefed Lei Jun, "First, I'll visit the affiliated sub-sects and communicate with our brothers and sisters—second, the missing Celestial Master Robe remains a major problem."

Lei Jun asked, "Is there any new lead regarding the Celestial Master Robe?"

Yuan Mobai said, "There's some word from the Great Southern Mountain in the Southern Widernes, but nothing confirmed—just worth a shot."

He'd already experienced many similar things in his early days searching for the Celestial Master Seal.

Lei Jun nodded, turning over the matter of the nine-colored radiance that hinted at a clue for the Celestial Master Robe—he could give it to Master Yuan Mobai, or, now that Edict Hall was a quiet posting, go down south and try his own luck. But the Southern Widernes Lands were not peaceful; going there might be risky…

*He was just shaking his head inwardly, when suddenly a sphere of light flashed in his mind, with writing appearing,*

[Supreme treasure's trail lost, misfortune lurks in Tiannan, peril splits east and west, be aware and avoid.]

Lei Jun couldn't help but feel a slight stir inside.

With another flash, four lots manifested in the sphere:

[Neutral lot, stay at the mountain gate, cultivate quietly, nothing gained or lost, no danger, no aftermath, peace.]

[Neutral lot, travel to the Southern Wildernes, skirt the two major peaks of the Great Southern Mountain, storms roll but no harm comes, nothing gained or lost, peace.]

[Moderately unlucky lot, travel to Lonely City Ridge on the western side of Great Southern Mountain, encounter ambush and danger, every step a deadly trap, your fate hangs by a thread—be extremely cautious, ominous.]

[Worst lot, travel to Chaoyang Peak on the eastern side of Great Southern Mountain, face major peril, no hope of survival, catastrophic misfortune!]

Lei Jun read through all four lots, and couldn't help but arch his brow.

One moderately unlucky lot and one worst lot.

*Didn't look like natural disaster, more like man-made trouble?*

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