He evoked the stabilizing energy of spleen earth; now, he would use earth to command water.

The illusory palace was eroded by water stains.

But the water stains did not spread further.

At this moment, both forces were in a subtle standoff.

Lei Jun possessed deep mana, which was inexhaustible, and had no fear of the stalemate.

Yuan Mobai, watching from the side, smiled faintly.

His disciple was intent on traversing in a few years the distance others would take decades to complete.

If he were willing to settle for a few more years, he wouldn't need the Five-Element Tao Treasure Sand. He believed his own cultivation would suffice to overcome this challenge.

But now, once the situation stabilized, Lei Jun made a further move.

Lei Jun refined the shining Five-Element Tao Treasure Sand into his body.

As the radiance circulated, it did not immediately combine with the stabilizing energy of his spleen earth.

Instead, it first merged with his lung gold.

Lung gold circulated, energy was nurtured, and then it sank down to kidney water.

From kidney water, it shifted to liver wood, then liver wood transformed into heart fire.

And at last, it returned to spleen earth.

Gold generates water.

Water generates wood.

Wood generates fire.

Fire generates earth.

The five elements generated each other, mutually reinforcing and continuously accumulating, until they all transformed into the stabilizing energy of spleen earth.

Because of this, the illusory Tao Palace above Lei Jun's head became more stable, more solid, and more peaceful.

It was imperturbable by external forces and untainted by external evils.

The water stains and filth at the foundation of the palace began to retreat instantly.

After all the filth had vanished, Lei Jun let out a long breath.

His Three Pure Palace was officially established!

As the brilliance receded, the Tao Palace seemed to condense into a solid entity. It stood in the illusory mountain gate, in the central position, streams of Spiritual Energy from all directions encircling and moving around it.

Lei Jun had cultivated the Tao Palace, the Fifth Heaven Layer of the Taoist Talisman Sect.

He opened his eyes, and the sparkling Star River surrounding his body dispersed.

Upon seeing this, Yuan Mobai smiled.

Wang Guiyuan and Chu Kun were also overjoyed, and they came forward to congratulate Lei Jun together.

"At last, I've successfully taken this step," Lei Jun said with a joyous smile on his face.

He descended from the Altar and expressed his gratitude to his master, his senior martial brother, and his junior martial brother for their protection during the ritual.

"Lei, how does it feel?" Chu Kun asked curiously.

Lei Jun replied, "I still need to stabilize my cultivation further and adapt to the changes in my body."

Having successfully cultivated the Tao Palace realm, his physical body, from his internal organs outward, was clearly much stronger than before.

With the unity of internal and external, his physical body nourished his Spiritual Soul, and even his spirit became more vigorous.

Yuan Mobai waved his sleeve, and his disciples followed him out to the front hall for further teaching.

After finishing today's lessons, Lei Jun went back to his residence and carefully warmed and nurtured his mana, adapting to the changes in his body.

When he saw Master Yuan Mobai the next day, Yuan Mobai said, "Chongyun, are you ready?"

Lei Jun nodded calmly. "I am prepared, though whether I can pass still depends on the review by the Elders of our Sect."

Yuan Mobai said, "Then let's set off."

The master and disciple left the residence, heading straight for the High Merit Pavilion.

Lei Jun was going with his master this time because he was applying for early talisman enhancement.

Talisman enhancement, also called a second talisman-bestowing, had specific regulations and timeframes.

To make an exception, one had to pass the review of the senior tiers within Celestial Master Mansion.

Only those who passed could go to the Mansion's Talisman Bureau to receive the talisman enhancement.

Theoretically, Lei Jun could choose not to apply for early talisman enhancement.

But firstly, he had no interest in playing dumb. He had always gone with the flow, acting according to circumstances.

Secondly, in theory, without undergoing talisman enhancement, Yuan Mobai could not privately transmit to him the fourth volume of the True Formula of the Great Way Scripture.

Since that would impact Lei Jun's further cultivation, what would be the point of him striving to advance to the Fifth Heaven Layer?

Currently on the mountain, aside from Xu Yuanzhen, Li Zhengxuan, and the particular case of Tang Xiaotang, the other High Merit Elders were all in the Mansion.

Therefore, Lei Jun was simultaneously reviewed by several individuals.

The rapid pace of Lei Jun's cultivation progress astonished Li Song, Li Hongyu, Li Ziyang, Yao Yuan, and Shangguan Ning. For a Cultivator barely in his thirties to reach the Fifth Heaven Layer was an extremely rare occurrence, even within the Celestial Master Mansion, a sacred land of Taoist cultivation.

Especially considering Lei Jun only began to study Taoist Laws at the age of eighteen, it made his progress all the more surprising.

Even though Lei Jun had been Talisman-bestowed at an early age, his current state still exceeded the expectations of the High Merit Elders.

"In terms of cultivation realm, Lei certainly satisfies the requirements, but as for the time limit..." Yao Yuan's gaze swept over the others.

He wasn't questioning or objecting but rather consulting their opinion on whether to make an exception for Lei Jun.

Similar situations weren't unprecedented.

Without going too far back, the Mansion had already made many exceptions for Tang Xiaotang.

Even though Lei Jun's potential still fell short of Tang Xiaotang's, he had clearly outpaced many of his peers and fellow disciples of the same generation.

In the past, everyone said he was a promising seed among the younger disciples.

Now, it appeared that the seed had not only sprouted but was also growing vigorously.

Compared to other promising talents, Lei now clearly stood out from the crowd.

"Chongyun is quite good, but the rules that should be adhered to must still be followed," Yuan Mobai said. "However, doesn't the Mansion also have regulations stating that if a Talisman-Instructed Disciple has accumulated outstanding merits and virtues, they can also be granted an early advancement?"

Li Ziyang, Yao Yuan, and the others nodded. "Naturally."

Yuan Mobai then looked towards Lei Jun.

Lei Jun presented several Spirit Talismans.

The High Merit Elders didn't need to take them for close inspection. A glance was enough for them to understand.

These were several kinds of Basic Spirit Talismans.

However, they were categories not previously recorded in the Celestial Master Mansion Basic Spirit Talisman Scripture.

It was clear that much of the design originated from the Celestial Master Mansion's inherited Talisman Skills, following the same lineage.

Yet, there were many ingenious aspects to them, not something an ordinary person could invent.

Li Hongyu looked at Lei Jun. "Lei, did you acquire these from outside, or... did you come up with them yourself?"

Lei Jun replied, "These are my own humble contrivances. I ask the esteemed Elders for their guidance."

Li Hongyu shook her head. "They're already quite impressive."

Improving and innovating Basic Spirit Talismans isn't difficult for High Merit Elders.

But they often do it casually, with few taking the time to systematically research in large quantities.

They have High-grade Spirit Talismans and Divine Faculty Talismans to focus their attentions on.

For Lei Jun, who is still young and of relatively low realm, to achieve so much is commendable.

Undoubtedly, these Basic Spirit Talismans will benefit the future generations of true inheritors in the Celestial Master Mansion.

This time, Lei Jun didn't choose his Life-bound Talisman Skill, the Thunder Talisman.

Although he had personally advanced the Thunder Talisman into the Dark Five-Thunder Orthodox Talisman for himself, he still chose to withhold it this time.

What he offered instead were the Chain Blazing Flame Talisman, Flying Fire Talisman, and other Basic Spirit Talismans.

These were all preliminary experimental products he developed before his research into the Thunder Talisman.

Their power was already remarkable, arguably more powerful than the traditional Blazing Flame Talisman and Thunderclap Talisman of the Mansion.

Of course, there were pros and cons. Consequently, casting these required a huge expenditure of mana and mental energy for Cultivators of the Lower Three Heavens.

But in terms of quality, these were undoubtedly valuable creations.

This was something even the eldest and highest ranking Uncle-Master Li Song in the room recognized.

No one would suspect that Yuan Mobai had ghostwritten these to favor his own disciple.

His application was smoothly approved by the High Merit Pavilion.

Lei Jun had created new Basic Spirit Talismans for the Sect and contributed to the Talisman Scripture. Due to these substantial merits and virtues, he was specially permitted an early talisman enhancement.

Upon leaving the High Merit Pavilion, he went to the Talisman Bureau.

There, he received the talisman enhancement.

This talisman enhancement, also called a promotion, granted Lei Jun the "Supreme Unity Alliance Talisman," abbreviated as the "Alliance Authority Talisman."

His Taoist rank and legal position rose from the sixth to the fifth grade.

After the successful talisman enhancement, Lei Jun's various entitlements within the Mansion were correspondingly improved.

However, what he valued most was his Master Yuan Mobai transmitting new Taoist Laws to him: the fourth volume of the "True Formula of the Great Way Scripture."

Lei Jun's future cultivation would continue on the fast track, constantly sprinting upwards.

Overall, his talisman enhancement and promotion proceeded very smoothly.

Yet, as if ripples had disturbed a still pond, more people, unsurprisingly, began to pay even closer attention to Master Lei.

Within the residence of High Merit Elder Shangguan Ning, his disciple and nephew, Shangguan Hong, exclaimed in amazement, "Brother Lei's progress is way too fast, isn't it? Has it only been three or four years since he was Talisman-bestowed? He only advanced from the Third Heaven Layer to the Fourth Heaven Layer after being Talisman-bestowed, and now he's already at the Fifth Heaven Layer?"

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