Chapter Summaries

Lei Jun worked as a Dao child at the Celestial Master Mansion, where he learned basic cultivation and completed assignments while waiting to become a Daoist. When Elder Du announced a selection of Dao children, Lei Jun received a mysterious omen warning of an imminent calamity and advising him to stay away from the crowds.

• Lei Jun cut Talisman Paper with fellow Dao children and reflected on the initiation he needed to become a true disciple.
• Senior Brother Zhang returned from an assignment near Clear Stream after wasting an Evil-warding Talisman on thieves disguised as demons.
• Dao children heard that Elder Du was opening the altar and selecting Dao children, and they hurried to investigate.
• A Light Sphere appeared in Lei Jun's mind and offered three possible fortunes, warning that joining the selection could bring a deadly calamity.

Lei Jun chose the Upper Middle Auspicious Sign and skipped Elder Du’s selection to finish his work, but an explosion at Elder Du’s Separate Mansion injured and killed disciples. While helping search for the wounded, Lei Jun found a spirit mushroom’s purple-gold radiance, and its energy gathered in his Dantian during meditation.

• Lei Jun chose the Upper Middle Auspicious Sign and stayed behind to finish his quota at the Talisman Paper Building instead of joining Elder Du’s selection.
• An explosion at Elder Du’s Separate Mansion sent thunderfire across the mountains and damaged the Spirit Mushroom Platform.
• Lei Jun learned that disciples had died or been injured, then helped the Yellow-robed Daoists treat the wounded and search the mountains.
• Lei Jun found purple-gold radiance intertwined with azure lightning, touched it, and absorbed the spirit mushroom phantom.
• Lei Jun meditated in his courtyard and watched the spirit mushroom phantom gather again in his Dantian.

Lei Jun used the Purple-Gold Spirit Mushroom’s essence to advance from Qi Refining Fifth Layer to Sixth and then Seventh Layer. After hearing rumors that Chen Yi had collected a Pure Gold Spirit Mushroom at the revived Spirit Mushroom Platform, Lei Jun continued his lessons and cultivation, while his Instructor recognized his rapid progress and told him he could aim for the Ordination Ceremony four years later.

• Lei Jun absorbed the Purple-Gold Spirit Mushroom’s spiritual energy and broke through to Qi Refining Sixth Layer.
• At the Sickbay Courtyard, Dao children told Lei Jun that Chen Yi had picked and eaten a Pure Gold Spirit Mushroom after the Spirit Mushroom Platform’s spirit vein revived.
• Lei Jun reasoned that the Purple-Gold Spirit Mushroom essence had been scattered near Elder Du’s Cave Abode and concealed by the Azure Lightning before he found it.
• Lei Jun kept studying and cultivating until he opened his seventh Qi Sea and reached Qi Refining Seventh Layer.
• The Instructor praised Lei Jun’s progress and said he still had a chance to participate in the Ordination Ceremony four years later.

Lei Jun reflected on the urgency of cultivation and learned why Chen Yi was attracting hostility after consuming a Pure Gold Spirit Mushroom. Wang Guiyuan then delivered a letter from Elder Yuan, who had emerged from seclusion but left to survey a newly opened Blessed Grotto Heaven.

• Lei Jun considered how cultivators aged and weakened without breakthroughs, and resolved to seek more opportunities to advance before next year's Ordination Ceremony.
• The Instructor praised Xu Yuanzhen for bringing Lei Jun to Celestial Master Mansion and advised him to balance cultivation with rest.
• Senior Brother Zhang told Lei Jun that Dao children were targeting Chen Yi because he had consumed a Pure Gold Spirit Mushroom wanted for Immortal Pill refining.
• Lei Jun ignored the dispute around Chen Yi and continued focusing on cultivation.
• The Instructor introduced Wang Guiyuan, Elder Yuan's disciple, who explained that Elder Yuan had emerged from seclusion and left to survey a Blessed Grotto Heaven.
• Wang Guiyuan gave Lei Jun a letter Elder Yuan had written for him.

Lei Jun weighed Elder Yuan’s offer of discipleship while continuing his cultivation under Wang Guiyuan’s guidance. When a theft at the Dao Child Courtyard triggered a mountain search, the Light Sphere revealed that joining the pursuit could bring an opportunity or a deadly trap.

• Lei Jun read Elder Yuan’s letter offering a possible master-disciple bond, while Wang Guiyuan told him he could wait for the Celestial Master to emerge from seclusion before deciding.
• Lei Jun sought Wang Guiyuan’s guidance and advanced to the Qi Refining Eighth Layer over the following months.
• After a theft at the Dao Child Courtyard, instructors ordered the Dao children to search the mountain for the fleeing culprit.
• Lei Jun’s team guarded North Mountain as its two True Disciples disagreed over whether to hold their position or split up and pursue the fugitive.
• The Light Sphere warned that the pursuit concealed another truth and offered three signs, including a Sixth Grade Opportunity for pressing ahead and death if Lei Jun changed targets midway.

Lei Jun joined Gao’s search party and pursued a thief while an accomplice attacked the Dao Child Courtyard. After the group split up amid a disturbance in the mountains, Lei Jun confronted the fleeing thief, killed him with a Thunderstrike Talisman, and seized his protective scale.

• Lei Jun joined Gao’s search party, while Wang Guiyuan learned that Gao had taken others to investigate the suspected accomplice.
• Lei Jun’s group found clues that the thief had escaped a checkpoint, then saw lightning near the Dao Child Courtyard and realized an accomplice had drawn the searchers away to attack it.
• Gao gave Lei Jun a Thunderstrike Talisman and returned to block the accomplice, while Lei Jun continued pursuing the original thief.
• After a powerful tremor shook the mountains, Lei Jun spotted the fleeing thief and caught up with him.
• The thief attacked Lei Jun, but Lei Jun overpowered him and struck him with the Thunderstrike Talisman.
• The thief’s Jet-Black Scale shielded him from the lightning but drained his strength; he died after accusing Lei Jun of serving the Li Family for a Celestial Master position, and Lei Jun caught the falling scale.

Lei Jun helped pursue a thief who died after his Jet-black Scale shielded him from a Thunderstrike Talisman, then examined the scale and learned it was a Dragon Horse Scale. The next morning, Wang Guiyuan warned Lei Jun to value caution after revealing that Junior Brother Gao and other disciples had met with disaster on Dragon Tiger Mountain.

• Lei Jun watched the thief's body drift downstream and later learned that fellow disciples had recovered it along with the stolen Pill Furnace.
• The Dao children returned to the courtyard, where they heard the First Courtyard had been set on fire and were questioned by True Disciples about the thief's accomplice.
• Lei Jun activated the Jet-black Scale and recognized the image it revealed as a Dragon Horse, but he worried that the protective treasure would not improve his cultivation.
• Wang Guiyuan told Lei Jun that Junior Brother Gao and other disciples had suffered an incident on Dragon Tiger Mountain, then urged him to put safety before hot-blooded courage.

Lei Jun learned that the recent murders and theft on Dragon Tiger Mountain stemmed from lingering factional strife, then continued cultivating amid further incidents in the Dao Child Courtyard. After reaching the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, he drew a Supreme Good Fortune Sign directing him to join disaster relief at Green Cloud Ripple River Beach for a Third Grade Opportunity.

• Wang Guiyuan told Lei Jun that a third traitor had stolen a sect treasure and killed Junior Brother Gao and others, linking the theft to an earlier internal conflict and Spirit Mushroom Platform’s restored spiritual energy.
• Lei Jun heard that Chen Yi had injured three Third Courtyard Dao children outside the mountain, and later learned that the three had ambushed Chen Yi and received harsher punishments than he did.
• Lei Jun continued his lessons and cultivation through the summer and opened his ninth Qi Sea, attaining the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.
• At the Hall of Affairs, Lei Jun found only ink-making and disaster-relief assignments available, while the Light Sphere offered him three sign fortunes.
• Lei Jun received a Supreme Good Fortune Sign urging him to go to Green Cloud Ripple River Beach for disaster relief and promising a Third Grade Opportunity.

Lei Jun chose disaster relief at Green Cloud Ripple River Beach, avoiding a brawl at the Talisman Ink Workshop that ensnared Chen Yi and other Dao children. While patrolling the river beach, he saw a familiar Jet-Black Thundercloud vanish and greeted the woman who appeared as Eldest Sister.

• Lei Jun chose the disaster-relief assignment at Green Cloud Ripple River Beach, and Zhang Yuan joined him.
• Taoist Priest Luo explained that some former Dao children who lost hope of cultivation left the mountain to manage the sect’s businesses.
• Dao children arriving at the river beach reported that a fight between Chen Yi and First Courtyard disciples had grown into a mass brawl, sending those involved to the Discipline Office.
• Lei Jun connected the fight to the growing conflict between Li Surname disciples and those of Other Surnames, and realized that his choice to avoid the Talisman Ink Workshop had kept him clear of it.
• A Jet-Black Thundercloud appeared over the river beach and quickly vanished, leaving a woman in a Light Purple Daoist Robe before Lei Jun.
• Lei Jun smiled and addressed the woman as Eldest Sister.

Xu Yuanzhen used Heaven Abyss Pure Dew with Lei Jun’s Purple-Gold Spirit Mushroom Essence and Dragon Horse Scale, transforming his ordinary foundation into a Hidden Dragon Spirit Body. The chapter left Lei Jun newly empowered and with fresh hope for the upcoming Ordination Ceremony.

• Xu Yuanzhen arrived at the disaster relief camp, donated Heaven Abyss Pure Dew, and instructed Daoist Luo and another True Disciple to use it against miasma and plague.
• Xu Yuanzhen recognized Lei Jun’s Purple-Gold Spirit Mushroom Essence and Dragon Horse Scale, then used some of her Heaven Abyss Pure Dew to help him combine their spiritual power.
• Lei Jun’s body absorbed the three forces, and a dragon shadow entered him as he awakened a Hidden Dragon Spirit Body.
• Lei Jun tested his cultivation and found that spiritual energy now flowed into his body and refined into True Qi with almost no obstruction.
• Lei Jun thanked Xu Yuanzhen and realized that following the Supreme Good Fortune Sign had brought him the chance to undergo this transformation.

After returning from Green Cloud Ripple River Beach, Lei Jun cultivated rapidly and completed the Qi Refining Twelve Story Building before the end of November. Wang Guiyuan then told him that his master had returned and summoned him, leaving Lei Jun to consider his upcoming Chuan Du Initiation and choice of lineage.

• Xu Yuanzhen left for the mountain, and Lei Jun stayed at Green Cloud Ripple River Beach to help with disaster relief until the next batch of dao children arrived.
• Lei Jun returned to the Dao Child Courtyard and heard that Chen Yi and the others remained confined for the Talisman Ink Workshop brawl.
• Lei Jun formed his tenth Qi Sea that night and reached the Qi Refining Tenth Layer.
• In October, Lei Jun advanced to the Qi Refining Eleventh Layer, surprising Wang Guiyuan with his progress.
• At the end of November, Lei Jun opened all twelve Qi Seas and completed the Qi Refining Twelve Story Building.
• Wang Guiyuan told Lei Jun that his master had returned and summoned him, then led him to a mountain Cave Abode.

Lei Jun was encouraged to seek the Contemporary Celestial Master as his personal master after awakening the Hidden Dragon Spirit Body. His Sign Fortune warned that choosing the renowned master could bring an opportunity entangled with future consequences, while aiming for a higher chance could lead to hardship.

• Yuan Mobai praised Lei Jun’s talent, and Xu Yuanzhen admitted she had brought him to Dragon Tiger Mountain because she found him pleasing to the eye.
• Wang Guiyuan praised Lei Jun’s comprehension and will, then discussed the Hidden Dragon Spirit Body’s potential to transform into stronger cultivation physiques.
• Xu Yuanzhen noted that the Celestial Master had not emerged from seclusion and asked Lei Jun whether he wanted to try to become his personal disciple.
• Lei Jun considered the advantages of being the Celestial Master’s personal disciple while Yuan Mobai silently encouraged him.
• Lei Jun’s Sign Fortune presented two choices: choose a renowned master and gain a Fourth Grade Opportunity, or pursue a chance to ascend in one step and face a rugged path.
• Lei Jun wondered whether the warning about cause and effect meant the Contemporary Celestial Master would fall from power or suffer disaster.

Lei Jun chose Yuan Mobai as his master and met Tang Xiaotang, the legendary Dao child who had waited nearly ten years to become the Celestial Master's Personal Disciple. The chapter ended with the Celestial Master failing to emerge from seclusion as scheduled, disappointing Tang Xiaotang and raising questions about his condition.

• Lei Jun asked to enter Yuan Mobai's lineage, and Yuan Mobai accepted him as a disciple.
• Wang Guiyuan and Yuan Mobai discussed Tang Xiaotang's long wait to become the Celestial Master's Personal Disciple, and Xu Yuanzhen said she had emerged from seclusion two days earlier.
• Xu Yuanzhen took Lei Jun to the First Courtyard, where the Instructor complained that Tang Xiaotang had rewritten the lesson plans with more advanced material.
• Tang Xiaotang met Lei Jun, called herself his Senior Sister, and announced her plan to become a True Disciple, surpass Xu Yuanzhen, and become the next Celestial Master.
• Lei Jun wondered whether the Celestial Master might remain in seclusion, but Tang Xiaotang insisted he would emerge as scheduled.
• A month later, the Celestial Master did not emerge from seclusion for the New Year.

The Celestial Master remained in seclusion as the Dao children prepared for their Chuan Du Initiation, leaving Tang Xiaotang waiting for her master and Lei Jun focused on cultivation. After Xu Yuanzhen was summoned to discuss Tang Xiaotang’s future, Tang Xiaotang returned with golden hair, eyebrows, and eyes.

• Wang Guiyuan explained that several accomplished Dao children had petitioned to become the Celestial Master’s direct disciples, while Tang Xiaotang resolved to keep waiting for him to emerge.
• Chen Yi looked toward the Supreme Clarity Thunder Mansion Grotto-heaven and vowed to reach it, as Lei Jun also set his sights on further cultivation.
• On the Tenth Day of the First Month, Lei Jun and the other Dao children went to the Main Mansion to prepare for their Chuan Du Initiation and submit their petitions.
• Yuan Mobai took Tang Xiaotang and Wang Guiyuan to the back courtyard to seek a solution to Tang Xiaotang’s missing Transmission Master.
• Wang Guiyuan summoned Xu Yuanzhen to discuss Tang Xiaotang’s future cultivation, while Lei Jun remained behind to meditate.
• Tang Xiaotang suddenly returned with pale-gold hair, eyebrows, and pupils that glowed faintly.

Tang Xiaotang abandoned the attempt to become the Celestial Master's direct disciple and chose to keep cultivating as a Dao child, while rumors swirled about Chen Yi seeking similar special treatment. The Ordination Ceremony began with the disputes apparently settled, though private speculation about Chen Yi's motives remained.

• Xu Yuanzhen told Tang Xiaotang that she would receive the Three Realms True Scripture Talisman despite skipping the Chuan Du Initiation, and Yuan Mobai urged her to focus on cultivation.
• A young Daoist told Li Ying to study under him and his father, Elder Ziyang, and said he intended to quietly curb Chen Yi and Shangguan Hong's ambitions.
• The mansion's Dao children resumed their studies: Li Ying followed Elder Ziyang, Shangguan Hong studied under the Celestial Master's Fifth Junior Sister, and Chen Yi studied under Elder Yao.
• Rumors spread that Chen Yi wanted Tang Xiaotang's special treatment, and Tang Xiaotang challenged him by citing her Immortal Body.
• Wang Guiyuan revealed that Chen Yi possessed a Limpid Sky Spirit Body and had proposed making a contribution to the mansion, but the elders denied his request.
• Lei Jun and Wang Guiyuan discussed the rumors, and the Ordination Ceremony began as scheduled.

Lei Jun completed his ordination ceremony and became a true disciple of the Celestial Master Mansion, receiving the Taoist Name Chongyun and a magical artifact from Yuan Mobai. He prepared to move into the Main Mansion and begin studying the True Orthodox Dharma before attempting Foundation Establishment.

• Lei Jun and Yuan Mobai performed the ordination rites, including dividing the Silver Rings and breaking the Written Contracts.
• After the ceremony, Lei Jun changed into Taoist robes and prepared to leave the Dao Child Courtyard for a residence near Yuan Mobai and Wang Guiyuan.
• Yuan Mobai bestowed the Taoist Name Chongyun on Lei Jun.
• Lei Jun received his Ordination Certificate, the first volume of the True Orthodox Dharma scripture, and the Golden Bamboo magical artifact.
• Yuan Mobai told Lei Jun to move into his new residence the next day and said he would transmit the Dharma to him and Wang Guiyuan the day after.

After the Chuan Du Initiation, Lei Jun moved into the Main Mansion as Yuan Mobai’s direct lineage disciple and received supplies for cultivation. Yuan Mobai began teaching him the True Orthodox Dao scripture, while Wang Guiyuan explained the path from Transmission Disciple to talisman conferral; Lei Jun resolved to focus first on Foundation Establishment.

• Lei Jun moved his belongings from the Dao Child Courtyard to the Main Mansion, where Zhang Yuan and the other young dao children treated him with new deference.
• Wang Guiyuan offered to arrange servants for Lei Jun and delivered the cultivation supplies provided to new Transmission Disciples.
• Lei Jun read the True Orthodox Dao scripture, used the supplied pills and paste to cultivate, and began filling his twelve Qi Seas with True Qi.
• Yuan Mobai taught Lei Jun the foundations of the Dao, and Wang Guiyuan explained how talismans borrowed the power of heaven and earth.
• Wang Guiyuan described the duties and privileges of Transmission Disciples and Talisman Conferral Taoist Priests, including Elder Liu’s work with Azure Pine Stone Marrow.
• Lei Jun agreed to concentrate on cultivation and aim for the Second Heaven Foundation Establishment Realm before pursuing other techniques.

Lei Jun steadily cultivated for a month and broke through from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment, with his Hidden Dragon Spirit Body easing the first Heavenly Moat. After Yuan Mobai confirmed Lei Jun’s calm state of mind, he began teaching him talisman crafting.

• Wang Guiyuan warned Lei Jun not to rush his breakthrough, and Lei Jun assured him he understood.
• Lei Jun followed his daily cultivation routine for a month, using medicinal baths, pills, incense, and Nurturing Spirit Jade Discs.
• Lei Jun condensed his True Qi into Magic Power and achieved Foundation Establishment without encountering a dangerous tribulation.
• Lei Jun reflected on the lifespan limits and advancement windows facing Foundation Establishment and Altar Realm cultivators, then settled his mind.
• Yuan Mobai praised Lei Jun’s peaceful state of mind and set up a Ritual Altar to begin teaching him the Talisman Scripture and talisman crafting.

Lei Jun learned to make spirit talismans under Yuan Mobai’s guidance and successfully completed his first one. Yuan Mobai explained how to choose Natal Talisman Arts, and Lei Jun chose the Spirit Invocation Talisman as his First Art before the Light Sphere warned him against choosing the popular Golden Barrier Talisman as his Second Art.

• Yuan Mobai taught Lei Jun the rituals and techniques for making spirit talismans, and Lei Jun successfully made his first talisman.
• Lei Jun practiced making more talismans, gradually improving his success rate while learning that his current cultivation limited him to three per day.
• Yuan Mobai explained the rules for cultivating Natal Spells and said Lei Jun could choose two Natal Talisman Arts at his Second Heaven cultivation.
• Lei Jun chose the Spirit Invocation Talisman as his First Art, following the choice made by Yuan Mobai and his Senior Brother.
• As Lei Jun considered the Golden Barrier Talisman for his Second Art, the Light Sphere offered three fortunes: Wind Riding promised a Seventh Grade Opportunity, another talisman brought no gains or losses, and Golden Barrier concealed danger.

Lei Jun cultivated the Spirit Invocation and Wind Riding Talismans, then accepted a Night Wind Stone from Tang Xiaotang to strengthen his Wind Riding art. He also heard that Li Ying and Shangguan Hong had been punished, though he suspected their situations differed.

• Lei Jun inscribed the Spirit Invocation and Wind Riding Talismans on his Dao Foundation and tested their effects with the Golden Bamboo Shoot.
• Wang Guiyuan praised Lei Jun’s combat talent and approved his choice of the Wind Riding Talisman after hearing his concerns about the Golden Barrier Talisman.
• Lei Jun continued cultivating and studying talismans until his resources ran low, then went to the Treasure Pavilion for supplies.
• Tang Xiaotang gave Lei Jun a Night Wind Stone that could improve his Wind Riding Talisman, and he accepted it.
• Lei Jun heard that Li Ying and Shangguan Hong had been punished for damaging spirit herbs and trespassing in a forbidden area, respectively, and noted that their cases had been handled differently.