The current Tianshi has left everyone waiting.

This first blow of the new year left Tang Xiaotang completely stunned.

"The Initiation Ceremony is on the fifteenth day of the first month, still half a month away," Wang Guiyuan comforted her.

"Right..." Tang Xiaotang snapped out of it, regaining her energy. "Maybe it’ll be tomorrow or the day after."

Lei Jun asked, "Senior Sister, if the Tianshi still doesn’t leave seclusion by then, will you still participate in this Initiation Ceremony?"

Tang Xiaotang’s eyes widened.

Lei Jun clarified, "I mean, if."

“There’s no ‘if’!”

The tall girl turned her back, and after a long while, she huffed, "...No, I’ll wait. I refuse to believe this!"

Clearly, Tang Xiaotang wasn’t the only one shaken by the Tianshi’s unexpected delay.

"Li Ying from the First Academy, Shangguan Hong from the Second Academy, and Chen Yi from the Eighth Academy..." Wang Guiyuan said nearby. "I heard their sponsors have already formally submitted their applications, requesting the Tianshi to initiate them and accept them as direct disciples."

Initiation refers to formally entering the Dao, pledging allegiance, and learning the methods of salvation under a master’s tutelage. The process involves paying respects to three key figures: the Initiation Master, the Sponsor, and the Overseer.

Typically, the Initiation Master is the direct master who introduces the disciple to the Dao. However, to become a direct disciple of the Tianshi requires a more elaborate process. And obtaining such a qualification isn’t easy. The candidates are far more prestigious than regular participants in the ceremony.

Lei Jun was familiar with the names Wang Guiyuan mentioned.

For example, Li Ying from the First Academy. No need to guess; she was a core member of the Li Family, the beloved youngest daughter of Elder Ziyang, a key figure in the Tianshi Mansion and the younger brother of the current Tianshi. In other words, Li Ying was the Tianshi’s biological niece.

While being the Tianshi’s direct disciple isn’t based solely on background and blood ties, Li Ying wasn’t just connected; her abilities were equally impressive. Over the years in the Daoist Children’s Academy, aside from Tang Xiaotang’s exceptional case, no one dared claim superiority over Li Ying.

Li Ying had already spent four to five years in the academy. She had skipped the Initiation Ceremony three years ago specifically to wait for her uncle, the Tianshi, to leave seclusion.

Meanwhile, Chen Yi of the Eighth Academy, who emerged as the academy’s most prominent figure last year, had a cultivation talent that matched his knack for stirring trouble. His rapid progress was undeniable.

But there was a minor issue—he didn’t get along well with the Li Family disciples. The two sides had engaged in numerous "friendly" physical exchanges over the past year.

"My master and the others aren’t that petty," Xu Yuanzhen remarked. "Even if they were, they wouldn’t take it out on a mere Daoist apprentice. But I suspect Tang Xiaotang and the others might end up disappointed this time."

Indeed, as the days passed, the Tianshi remained in seclusion.

At the foot of the mountain, in the Eighth Academy of the Daoist Children’s Academy.

In Chen Yi’s private residence, he stood ramrod straight, wearing the standard grey robe, and looked upward.

The mountain peaks stretched endlessly. Beneath the bright, clear skies, streams of spiritual light flickered across the scene.

A faint golden radiance intertwined, enveloping the entire mountain range. Distant thunder echoed continuously, not deafening but strangely calming.

Midway up the main peak stood a grand Dao Palace, a sprawling architectural marvel. This was undoubtedly the Tianshi Mansion itself.

But higher up, atop the main peak, hidden among swirling clouds and occasional flashes of treasured light, lay the fabled Upper Qing Thunder Altar, veiled like a celestial realm.

"Upper Qing Thunder Altar..." Chen Yi murmured to himself. "I must reach there as soon as possible. Only then can I ascend to greater heights!"

His gaze turned resolute.

Of course, he wasn’t the only one staring at the Upper Qing Thunder Altar.

In fact, it wasn’t just the few candidates vying to become the Tianshi's direct disciples.

Lei Jun was also watching the Upper Qing Thunder Altar. Though he had chosen a Middle-Moderate Omen for his fate this time and temporarily given up the competition for a direct disciple position, it didn’t mean that Lei Jun lacked ambitions after the Initiation Ceremony.

With Tang Xiaotang as an inspiring example, Lei Jun now cultivated with even greater determination than before awakening his Hidden Dragon Spirit Physique. His personal journey, and the experiences of others, had proven one truth—standing higher allows you to see more of the world.

---

### January 10th

On this day, Lei Jun and other Daoist apprentices participating in the Initiation Ceremony ascended the mountain to the Tianshi Mansion, located halfway up the peak.

Though the ceremony itself was still days away, they first needed to prepare by burning incense, bathing, and reciting Daoist scriptures.

As the grand day approached, the apprentices had to ready their offerings and vows for submission to their designated masters.

For Lei Jun, the process was relatively simple. He chose to apprentice under Elder Yuan. His sponsor and overseer were also arranged without issue. The overseer, like for all Daoist apprentices, was the current chief instructor of the Daoist Children’s Academy, while Elder Yuan coordinated the sponsorship with another Tianshi Mansion elder of equal standing.

Thus, Lei Jun’s offerings and vows naturally went to Elder Yuan.

For Tang Xiaotang, however, things weren’t as straightforward.

While her overseer and sponsor were both handled by Elder Yuan, her initiation master—her true mentor—remained an unresolved matter.

Who would accept her vows? Who would become her master?

"Don’t worry, we’ll go check together," Yuan Mobai said gently.

He accompanied Tang Xiaotang and Wang Guiyuan to the rear courtyard of the Tianshi Mansion in search of answers.

Lei Jun and Xu Yuanzhen stayed behind in Yuan Mobai’s courtyard. As Xu Yuanzhen casually began painting with a brush and ink, Lei Jun asked, "With Senior Sister’s talent and aptitude, won’t the Tianshi make an exception and accept her as a disciple whenever he emerges, even if it’s not during the Initiation Ceremony?"

Xu Yuanzhen replied, "She seeks much, and her mindset may be unstable, but it doesn’t hinder her cultivation progress. She is truly a remarkable figure in the Mansion."

Lei Jun grew curious at her words. Xu Yuanzhen’s remark implied that even if Tang Xiaotang’s mindset were perfectly stable, it wouldn’t drastically alter her cultivation progress. That truly made her unique—a figure worth noting.

It was hard to tell whether such a trait was praiseworthy or deserving of criticism.

"Senior Sister, are you painting... clouds?" Lei Jun asked, glancing at the paper. Rather than a painting, it looked more like random ink blotches, layered into an oppressive mass.

When connected, the ink blotches gave off a suffocating impression, akin to dark clouds overwhelming a city.

"Just playing around," Xu Yuanzhen said as she dropped her brush. She looked at the thick black clouds on the paper, nodded in satisfaction, and even smiled faintly—an unusual sight.

Lei Jun privately thought: You’re not inspired by the Tianshi’s delay and everyone’s dashed hopes, are you?

Xu Yuanzhen suddenly looked at Lei Jun as if recalling something.

Lei Jun was puzzled by her gaze.

She shook her head, then smoothed her hand over the paper, wiping away the ink clouds to reveal a blank sheet once again.

Xu Yuanzhen walked to the tea table, leaned on her elbow, rested her head, and closed her eyes for a brief nap.

Lei Jun looked back at the blank sheet, raising his brows in intrigue.

Just then, Wang Guiyuan returned with a message: "Senior Sister, Master and several other elders have requested your presence."

Xu Yuanzhen opened her eyes. "What is it?"

Wang Guiyuan replied, "It’s about Tang Xiaotang’s future cultivation."

Hearing this, it became clear the Tianshi still hadn’t emerged from seclusion.

Xu Yuanzhen stood up and left without a word. Wang Guiyuan nodded to Lei Jun and followed her.

Lei Jun shrugged and began meditating. He was perfectly calm and used the free time to continue cultivating, quietly focusing on his breathing and energy circulation.

No matter how intense the competition for the direct disciple positions became, it was no longer relevant to him.

After all, whether it was a smooth and prosperous path or a crowded, narrow bridge, he was no longer part of that scene.

Lei Jun meditated in peace for an unknown length of time when someone abruptly barged in.

He opened his eyes, surprised to see who had arrived.

It was Tang Xiaotang.

The tall girl’s features were as exquisite as ever, but now her long hair and even her brows had turned a faint gold. In the dim light, they shimmered softly with a golden glow. Her eyes, too, were golden, radiating a mysterious brilliance.