The official date for the ceremony was January 15. However, the formalities began on the night of the 14th.

Lei Jun didn’t know much about initiation ceremonies of Daoist sects back on Blue Star, but here, in the Tianshi Mansion’s Daoist Children’s Academy, memorizing the steps of the initiation ceremony was essential for every young apprentice.

On the 14th night, the ceremony unfolded in four steps:

First, they performed the Water Purification of the Altar, washing the venue with clear water to dispel dust and drive away evil.

Senior elders like Yuan Mobai donned purple robes and performed this, allowing the flowing water to envelop the starry sky, creating a protective boundary around the altar.

Next came the Stargazing Prayer, where they lit lamps under the night sky, and the flickering lights echoed with the celestial stars.

Then, they prepared the Altar and summoned the Masters. Masters and disciples together built a ritual altar, setting up seats for the founding ancestors of Daoism in the center, left, and right areas.

Finally, they performed the Preliminary Prayer. This was essentially a reverent preview, a respectful address in anticipation of the ceremony.

On the 15th, the formal part began.

Incense was lit in ten directions, with spells chanted as they burned. The sound of drums, bells, and chimes resonated, and the presiding master held a censer to perform the final preparatory rituals.

Although Lei Jun and the younger apprentices were merely following the ritual’s steps, the sequence of ceremonies was a real test of patience. Fortunately, their training at the Daoist Children’s Academy had well-prepared them.

When the preliminary preparations ended, the true initiation ceremony began, already late into the night of January 15.

Guests of honor began taking their seats around the altar, casting appraising looks at the new generation of true disciples. Among them were high-ranking cultivators with impressive cultivation levels.

Lei Jun even noticed officials in attendance, as his current world was governed by the powerful Tang Empire, ruled by emperors who were also cultivators. The influence of prominent families and the rise of various Daoist Holy Lands had complicated relationships across the realm.

For a young apprentice like Lei Jun, those observing eyes were distant. His focus was solely on following the prescribed rituals.

The formal ritual was divided into three parts: First Offering, Mid Offering, and Final Offering.

The First Offering involved tea and wine, where disciples recited prayers to pay homage to heaven, earth, and the ancestors.

The Mid Offering was the core segment. Disciples and their masters stood opposite one another, and the presiding master recited the Ten Precepts. Then came the ceremony of the Silver Ring and Document Breaking, symbolizing a pledge to be unbreakable.

The rings were specially crafted silver circles about 2.4 inches in diameter, marked by skilled masters.

The Document recorded the titles of ancestors and basic information about each disciple.

Lei Jun’s personal details were accurate; however, his origin was obscure since he had crossed over from another world, and Xu Yuanzhen, who had brought him to the mountain, filled in this information. It went unquestioned by officials, and Lei Jun himself rarely mentioned it.

During the ritual, Lei Jun and Yuan Mobai carefully penned official documents to honor heaven and the ancestors, after which they placed their rings and documents.

The breaking of the ring and document symbolized the unbreakable bond between master and disciple, with the pledge, “Break the ring, shatter the document; forever loyal, never to betray.”

The Final Offering involved closing rituals, where they sent off the deities, restored the altar, and exited the hall.

The presiding master then offered thanks to the ancestral masters. The ceremony concluded, and Lei Jun, along with other disciples, exited the hall with their respective masters.

Yuan Mobai beckoned Wang Guiyuan over, who then handed Lei Jun a set of ceremonial robes and a box.

With the ceremony complete, Lei Jun was ready to bid farewell to his title as a young apprentice. He would soon move from the Daoist Children’s Academy at the foot of the mountain to reside and cultivate in the Tianshi Mansion’s main residence on the mountainside, where spiritual energy was abundant.

The Dao Palaces were built into the mountain, with numerous private residences along its outer edges. Lei Jun chose a residence near Yuan Mobai’s, next door to his fellow disciple, Wang Guiyuan.

For now, Lei Jun changed into his new attire: a yellow Daoist robe with a dark Daoist crown, marking his transition from apprentice to Daoist.

He recalled some Tianshi Mansion disciples in red robes, representing the next milestone in initiation.

After changing, Lei Jun joined Wang Guiyuan to visit Yuan Mobai’s residence.

“In this generation, you belong to the ‘Chong’ generation,” Yuan Mobai said warmly.

“Typically, disciples’ Dao names incorporate a character from their given name. However, during today’s ceremony, I was inspired to give you the name ‘Chongyun’—meaning ‘High Clouds.’ May you someday reach the Three Caves of Dao and attain the path to true wisdom.”

“Thank you for the Dao name, Master.”

Lei Jun kept a calm expression, though he thought wryly, High clouds, as in deeply hidden thoughts… is Master subtly teasing me?

The rule in this world was that followers entering Mount Longhu’s Tianshi Mansion first joined as apprentices. Only after initiation could they officially become Daoists, receiving a Dao name, teachings, and Daoist tools from their master.

Lei Jun opened the box, finding his formal initiation documents and the first volume of the True Canon of the Dao of Righteousness—the official entry manual of the Talismanic Branch of Daoism at Tianshi Mansion.

Finally, he found his Daoist tool.

“Master…” Lei Jun looked at the black, gold-tinged short rod about a foot and a half long.

“Other disciples have tools like talismans, rulers, or swords. But this one is...?”

Lei Jun instinctively gave it a swing, finding it surprisingly easy to handle.

“This is from a rare golden bamboo I found years ago at the Upper Qing Thunder Altar,” Wang Guiyuan explained. “Master chose this just for you after much consideration.”

Yuan Mobai smiled.

Lei Jun looked at it with a hint of amusement.

Could this be the Fourth-Grade Opportunity mentioned in my fortune?

After securing the rod, Yuan Mobai said, “After today’s ceremony, you’ll move into your new home tomorrow, and the day after, I’ll begin teaching you the foundation techniques.”

He gave Lei Jun a knowing look. “It’s time to prepare for Foundation Establishment.”

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