In Yuan Mobai's residence, Lei Jun began the ritual. His mentor, Yuan Mobai, quietly sat aside, watching his disciple perform the Star-stepping Spell on the altar. Apart from him, Wang Guiyuan and Chu Kun stood silently to one side.

Transcending tribulation was a matter that relied solely on oneself; it was difficult for others to provide assistance from the sidelines. However, as this was a rare experience, Yuan Mobai had specially arranged for Chu Kun to observe. Strictly speaking, Chu Kun was only there to experience the atmosphere, but he held his breath and remained silent, his expression solemn.

Generally, such events were rarely witnessed. For the person undergoing tribulation, having others watching nearby could inevitably affect their state of mind. For the young disciples observing, witnessing a predecessor fail their tribulation could leave a negative impression, impacting their own future cultivation.

Yet Lei Jun's mind was clear and his thoughts tranquil; he did not mind Wang Guiyuan and Chu Kun being present. Chu Kun, though solemn, also calmed his state of mind. He had already experienced the Heavenly Moat Tribulation between the First Heaven Layer and the Second Heaven Layer. Now, silently absorbing the atmosphere of Lei Jun undergoing an even greater tribulation, his body and mind felt as if they were undergoing a new refinement.

On the altar, as Lei Jun performed the Star-stepping Spell, specks of light shimmered like myriad stars, and a luminous mist transformed into a graceful Star River, enveloping the surroundings. When his figure and the third layer of the altar had completely vanished within this "Star River," Yuan Mobai and the other two knew that everything was about to formally begin.

Atop the altar, Lei Jun had stopped moving and now sat cross-legged. Above his head, four Original Talismans were arranged in the four cardinal directions, shimmering with a graceful radiance. Numerous profound Dao Patterns and talismanic inscriptions emerged on their surfaces.

The sounds of thunder and wind arose in unison. The Qingxiao Divine Thunder Evil and the Nine Earth Yin Wind Evil merged into a single current, weaving between the four Original Talismans.

The surrounding "Star River" remained, continuously enveloping Lei Jun. With his eyes closed, he silently focused his spirit and began to visualize.

After a short while, his spleen began to radiate Spiritual Energy. Mana from all over his body continuously converged towards his spleen.

Lei Jun's Mana was neither predominantly Yin nor Yang; it was perfectly balanced, gentle, and unceasing. Simultaneously, he focused his mind, visualizing his unwavering aspiration for the Tao since the beginning of his cultivation—a resolve neither cold nor overly fervent, but pure and harmonious, as vast and solid as heaven and earth, integrating all his essence, Qi, and spirit.

With this step, Lei Jun formally began to push open the gates to the Fifth Heaven Layer Tao Palace Realm of the Taoist Talisman Sect.

The True Inheritance of Dragon Tiger Mountain dictates that in the Tao Palace Realm, one cultivates the five viscera, refines the five elements, nurtures the five Qi, aligns with the five directions, and establishes the five palaces. Only when these five palaces unite does a complete Tao Palace form, preparing the cultivator to advance towards the Sixth Heavenly Layer. Therefore, the Tao Palace Realm itself can be divided into five levels.

These Five Palaces correspond respectively to the five viscera, the five elements, and the five directions.

Generally, male cultivators enter through the southern "mountain gate." The first palace they establish is the southern Dragon Tiger Palace, which begins with the heart, refining heart-fire and nurturing the Qi of the Sun. Following this, in order, are: the Central Three Pure Ones Palace, associated with Earth, which refines spleen-earth and nurtures the harmonizing, neutral Qi of Yin and Yang; the Western Spiritual Officer Palace, associated with Metal, which refines Lung Gold and nurtures the Lesser Yin Qi; the Eastern Mysterious Platform Taoist Palace, associated with Wood, which refines liver-wood and nurtures the Lesser Yang Qi; and finally, the Northern Mysterious Underworld Taoist Palace, associated with Water, which refines kidney-water and nurtures the Taiyin Qi.

For a Female Crown, the cultivation sequence in this realm typically starts from the northern "mountain gate." She would first establish the Northern Mysterious Underworld Taoist Palace, beginning by nurturing the Taiyin Qi. Next, she would establish the Central Three Pure Ones Palace to harmonize Yin and Yang, thereby maintaining balance and upholding equilibrium. After nurturing the Taiyin Qi and achieving central balance, the sequence proceeds with the Lesser Yang Qi, then the Lesser Yin Qi, and finally the Qi of the Sun, concluding with the southern Dragon Tiger Palace.

If Lei Jun still possessed his earlier Hidden Dragon Spirit Body, all his Mana would now transform into pure Yang energy, converging at his heart to be refined into heart-fire, like the sun ascending to its zenith at midday.

However, as his Root Bone Talent had transformed into the Yin Yang Sacred Body, Lei Jun's Mana no longer converted into the Qi of the Sun. Instead, it maintained a neutral and harmonious state, perfectly balancing Yin and Yang without deviation.

He was building his foundation from the ground up; the first Tao Palace he would establish was the Central Three Pure Ones Palace. He would first refine spleen-earth, nurturing the harmonizing central Qi, which would then support and circulate to the other four directions.

This way, when cultivating in the Fifth Heaven Layer realm, he would be able to establish the other four palaces much faster than others. However, the absolute prerequisite was successfully overcoming the imminent Heavenly Moat Tribulation before him.

The harmonizing, neutral Qi of Yin and Yang ascended above Lei Jun's head. His four Original Talismans separated, flying towards the four cardinal directions and plunging into this rising Qi. They seemed to become the primary framework for him to establish his Central Three Pure Ones Palace.

The neutral Qi of spleen-earth combined with Lei Jun's Original Talismans, gradually forming the embryonic outline of a Tao Palace.

But at that very moment, beneath this nascent Tao Palace, around its foundational area, some foulness suddenly appeared! It was as if the earthen foundation was seeping water.

The Heavenly Moat Tribulation arrived, right on schedule. This water-aspect tribulation was precisely the greatest hurdle for cultivators transitioning from the Fourth Layer of Heaven to the Fifth Heaven Layer.

It did not appear as overtly violent as the preceding Yin Fire or Yin Wind, yet it destroyed insidiously, in unseen ways. It spread relentlessly, seemingly impossible to dispel, impossible to resist, and impossible even to delay.

The cultivator could only watch helplessly, it seemed, as the strange seepage destroyed the foundation of their Taoist Laws, then spread further to corrode and destroy their physical body and Spiritual Soul.

Once this water tribulation manifested, it would not recede on its own. Even if the cultivator wished to halt their current cultivation, it was impossible. They had to face the adversity head-on.

Male cultivators had to ignite their heart-fire and the Qi of the Sun, relying on fire to extinguish water, thereby annihilating the water tribulation. A Female Crown, on the other hand, had to draw upon her kidney-water and Taiyin Qi, using water to master water, thereby subduing the water tribulation.

Lei Jun's newly formed Yin Yang Sacred Body offered various marvelous advantages in daily cultivation and in Duels of Magic against enemies. However, now, facing the Heavenly Moat Tribulation, he too had to rely on his own cultivation to overcome this water tribulation.

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