CHAPTER 64: 62. LOWER THREE HEAVENS AND MIDDLE THREE HEAVENS

The waters of Tianxu River looked the same on the surface.

But Lei Jun, with his Water-Averting Golden Pupil, was extremely sensitive to changes in water veins.

Using the Water-Averting Golden Pupil, he discovered that deep within the river, the direction of the earth vein Spiritual Energy had shifted compared to before.

The humidity and water vapor around the mountain ridges surrounding the valley also fluctuated in certain areas.

The source seemed to lie in the overall change in the direction of earth vein Spiritual Energy here.

*Was this change caused by the Current Celestial Master and the Lin Clan Chief?*

*It didn’t quite add up...* Lei Jun wondered.

He was rather eager for the opportunity ranked Third-Rank this time.

However, recalling the "wait for the right time" mentioned in the best lot, Lei Jun continued to wait, patient and composed.

He worked at his own pace, his days always fulfilling.

Apart from patrol duty and personal cultivation, Lei Jun kept pondering Spirit Talismans.

One day, he made a fresh breakthrough.

A flash of azure light, a Spirit Talisman fluttered in Lei Jun’s hand, the Spirit Light swirling on the talisman paper, with faint sounds of thunder emerging.

But the glow vanished instantly, the thunder roar muffled and brief, both light and sound disappearing in a heartbeat.

The next moment, a droplet seemed to fall on the talisman paper.

It was dark-green, thick, and opaque.

Mysteriously gloomy and lusterless.

It resembled oil stains, or perhaps ink.

Yet as Lei Jun flicked his finger, the "oil ink" seemed to come alive, suddenly leaping up before hitting the ground, unfolding in midair.

The oil-stained ink, somber in color yet nimble in its flight, finally landed on the intended target, a rocky outcrop.

The rock was instantly corroded.

The oily ink crackled, spawning hundreds and thousands of electric arcs that danced across its surface.

Yet all was deathly silent.

Lei Jun nodded, "The first kind."

He switched to another Spirit Talisman.

When Lei Jun activated the second talisman, the sound of crackling electricity erupted all at once, dense as a flock of birds, sharp in pitch, unlike the first’s complete silence.

Yet the thunder light was turquoise, threads snaking about, not violent.

On the contrary, in those strands of turquoise thunder, it seemed a breath of verdant vitality was revealed.

It was as if spring thunder blossomed, all things awakening.

Lei Jun’s mind moved, and with a wave of his hand, the strands of turquoise thunder light gathered into a cluster, swaying in the air, undispersed.

Resembling a bamboo forest bent in the wind.

"The second kind."

Lei Jun nodded in satisfaction, choosing not to attack with the turquoise thunder, and with another wave, the lightning vanished.

Though he started out experimenting with Blazing Flame Talismans, in the course of the trials Lei Jun turned increasingly toward Thunderclap Talismans and achieved results.

He went on to craft several more Spirit Talismans, eventually concluding,

"The overall direction is probably right, but I really need earth or stone Spiritual Objects, which contain unbroken continuity and solid heaviness, to serve as the central foundation, or the base to bear the entirety of this vast idea."

Unfortunately, he hadn’t found a suitable earth or stone Spiritual Object in the vicinity of Mount Tianxu for the time being.

Lei Jun wasn’t in a hurry, set Talisman Skill matters aside for now, and patiently waited for that Third-Rank opportunity at Jiuzhou Ridge.

Early one morning, Lei Jun left the small courtyard where he stayed as a guest at Tianxu Sect, heading out to begin his new day of mountain patrol.

As he descended the mountain, he happened upon a colleague just returning from night patrol.

"Xia," Lei Jun greeted, and both of them exchanged the Daoist courtesy salute.

The newcomer was named Xia Qing, not a disciple of Tianxu Sect, but like Lei Jun, a true-inheritance disciple of Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master Mansion, away on travels, and since last year had happened to take temporary training at Tianxu Sect.

In appearance, she looked a woman of twenty or thirty, but her true age was certainly older, and she’d joined the sect well before Lei Jun.

Her mentor, Elder Xia, was not only Xia Qing’s distant clan uncle, but also a peer to Yuan Mobai within the Celestial Master Mansion.

Worth noting, this Elder Xia was married to Yuan Mobai’s second senior sister, the Current Celestial Master’s own younger sister, Elder Hong Yu.

The couple both served in senior positions at the Mansion, and had become a celebrated pair in recent years.

"Lei, be careful while patrolling." After exchanging greetings, Xia Qing looked at Lei Jun, hesitated, ultimately said nothing, only nodded politely, then resumed walking, brushing past Lei Jun.

Lei Jun called out, "Xia, you look like you’ve got something to say to me? Don’t mind, feel free to speak your mind."

Xia Qing paused again, pondering briefly, then asked,

"I didn’t mean to pry on you, Lei, but happened to pass by your place earlier and noticed you burning incense and praying a lot lately, are you focused on Talisman Crafting?"

Lei Jun nodded, "Yes, though I wouldn’t say I’m busy with it. Was there something you needed, Sister?"

"I might be speaking out of turn—Lei, hope you won’t take offense."

Xia Qing continued, "I’ve heard that you’ve crossed two tribulations and established your Altar all within five years; from this, your prodigious talent and ability are plain to see.

Lately, our sect’s faced some storms, so it’s natural that you’re uneasy and preparing extra Spirit Talismans for safety, but make sure not to neglect your personal cultivation because of it."

She sighed softly, "We remain here on Mount Tianxu instead of returning to Dragon Tiger Mountain to aid our sect, and at the end of the day, it comes down to our own cultivation realm falling short."

*She was indeed speaking rather intimately for acquaintances, but Lei Jun could tell it was out of goodwill, so he inclined his head,* "You’re right, Sister, I’ll keep your advice in mind. Thank you for your concern."

Xia Qing chuckled at herself, "Thank you for putting up with my nagging. Actually, compared to you, I’m the one who needs to work harder."

As far as Lei Jun knew, she’d reached Perfection in the third-layer Altar realm.

And back before she left the mountain for training several years ago, she’d already attained Perfection at the Third Heavenly Layer Altar.

She’d spent these intervening years preparing for the critical Heavenly Moat Tribulation to break through from Third Heaven to Fourth Heaven.

This step was crucial.

If one failed, not to mention failing the tribulation, just in terms of lifespan, Third Heaven cultivators remained capped at two hundred years, same as those at Second Heaven.

If one succeeded and entered the Fourfold Heavenly Origin Talisman realm, cultivator lifespans increased to four hundred years.

Not to mention longer life, the golden window for cultivation likewise expanded to a hundred years.

For young cultivators like Lei Jun and Xia Qing, it meant having far more opportunities to climb even higher.

Furthermore, advancing from Third Heaven to Fourfold Heaven signaled a huge leap in individual power as well.

Within Taoist Talisman Sect, the Fourth Heaven was called the Origin Talisman realm.

It corresponded in the Taoist Alchemy Cauldron Sect to forming the Inner Pill, in martial Body Refinement, to blood-based pill formation, in the Confucian Chanting Sect to developing a poetic heart, and in Confucian Classical Studies, to cultivating the Literary Gall...

Since ancient times, no matter the tradition or the path of cultivation, this had always been a pivotal point.

The cultivation world of this realm generally classified layers one through three as Lower Three Heavens, layers four through six as Middle Three Heavens, and layers seven through nine as Upper Three Heavens.

A Taoist Talisman Sect cultivator who formed their Origin Talisman had left behind the Lower Three Heavens and entered the cohort of Middle Three Heavens cultivators.

After chatting a bit, just as the two were about to part ways, a middle-aged Taoist passed by, "Xia, Lei, thank you both for your hard work lately."

Lei Jun and Xia Qing responded together, "Elder Zhong, you’re too polite."

The man was an elder of Tianxu Sect, clad in a deep red Taoist Robe, already a Talisman-bestowed Taoist.

"Although the demon persons of Yellow Sky Sect haven’t shown up these past few days, everyone still must remain vigilant," Elder Zhong cautioned.

Lei Jun and Xia Qing both nodded in agreement.

Xia Qing asked, "Elder Zhong, is there still no sign of Yellow Sky demon persons near Dragon Tiger Mountain?"

Elder Zhong shook his head, "No word so far. Everyone’s wondered why that group of outsiders hasn’t taken the chance to strike?

The more they act like this, the more likely their schemes are dangerous and deep-rooted. We must stay alert at all times."

He offered further encouragement to Lei Jun and Xia Qing, then departed.

Lei Jun also bid Xia Qing farewell, "Once this tribulation passes, Sister, I wish you success in your Talisman-bestowed ceremony and a place among the Heavenly Registry."

She, like him, was dressed in an apricot Daoist Robe—both were still transmission disciples.

Generally, transmission disciples in the Third Heavenly Layer Altar realm, after multiple rounds of testing, were eligible to apply for the Talisman-bestowed ceremony.

Unlike the transmission ritual, traditions required the Talisman-bestowed ceremony to be personally officiated by the Celestial Master.

With the Current Celestial Master in seclusion these days, people like Xia Qing who’d met the requirements had already been waiting several years.

"Our sect may be weathering hard times for now, but I believe the skies will clear soon."

Xia Qing’s face lit with a small smile, "Given your blazing progress, Lei, I believe you too will be able to join the Talisman-bestowed ceremony before long."

Lei Jun replied, "I’ll take your blessed words, Sister."

Xia Qing headed off to rest after her night shift, while Lei Jun began his new day of mountain patrol.

He walked his established patrol route twice, confirming all was normal, and then once more set out toward his point of interest: Jiuzhou Ridge.