Lei Jun silently focused on his breathing technique, circulating energy throughout his body as five qi seas resonated simultaneously. The shadow of a purple-gold Lingzhi swayed in response.

A vast amount of spiritual energy continuously absorbed and refined by Lei Jun transformed into true energy within his qi seas. The small bottleneck he faced earlier was easily overcome, much faster than expected.

A sixth qi sea was formed!

Lei Jun opened his eyes and exhaled deeply. His cultivation level had advanced from the fifth to the sixth layer of the Qi Refining stage.

According to Lei Jun's understanding, the current cultivation world was traditionally divided into nine major realms, also known as the Nine Heavens. Though the characteristics of each stage varied depending on a sect's practice, the overall structure adhered to this division.

For instance, the Daoist Alchemical Sect referred to these realms as Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Alchemy Furnace, Golden Core, Nurturing, Dao Embryo, Nascent Soul, Infant Transformation, and Great Ascension, from lowest to highest.

The Tianshi Mansion, where Lei Jun belonged, was the ancestral home of the Talismanic Branch of Daoism. Here, the Nine Heavens were referred to as Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Altar, Primal Talisman, Dao Palace, Dao Seal, Tongtian, Divine Court, and Great Ascension.

Each major realm could be further divided into sub-levels, varying in number.

For example, the first realm, Qi Refining, was broken down into twelve sub-stages known as the Twelve Layers. The second realm, Foundation Establishment, had four sub-stages: Initial, Middle, Advanced, and Perfection.

Tianshi Mansion, as the sacred ancestral site of the Daoist Talismanic tradition, possessed unparalleled foundational methods.

Despite being a new disciple, Lei Jun's cultivation had already reached the fifth layer of Qi Refining. However, recently, he had noticed a slowdown in his progress.

This was due to the fact that as one’s cultivation level rose, the challenges became more formidable, often requiring greater time investments. Additionally, the spiritual resources Lei Jun could access were limited. Although Tianshi Mansion was vast and resource-rich, extensive resource allocation typically began after a Daoist apprentice successfully completed the initiation and became a true disciple.

Fortunately, the purple-gold Lingzhi provided Lei Jun with an unexpected advantage.

"But this is just a single resource. Once I pass the initiation and become a formal disciple, I’ll receive comprehensive support in all areas," Lei Jun noted as he ended his practice session. "I must strive to participate in the initiation as soon as possible, leave the Daoist Children's Academy, and move up to the main estate."

The purple-gold Lingzhi shadow in his dantian dispersed into thin strands of golden light that spread throughout his body, lying dormant but ready to gather when needed.

An Upper-Moderate Omen and a Fifth Grade opportunity... Lei Jun nodded thoughtfully. What was the Moderate-Moderate Omen Sixth Grade opportunity at Lingzhi Platform?

The next morning, he attended the routine morning lecture.

After the session, Lei Jun and a few other surviving apprentices were granted permission to visit injured peers.

“Junior Brother Lei, you didn’t go to Elder Du’s abode for the selection, and it saved you from the disaster!” exclaimed a fellow apprentice.

Rumors spread quickly within the academy:

“Did you hear? The spiritual vein at Lingzhi Platform suddenly revived yesterday!”

“Is it related to Elder Du’s altar?”

“If there was a way to revive the platform, why wasn’t it done earlier?”

“Maybe it was accidental…”

A fellow apprentice nudged Lei Jun. “Senior Brother Lei, have you heard? Not only did the spiritual vein revive at Lingzhi Platform, but a new pure gold Lingzhi also sprouted!”

“A pure gold Lingzhi?” Lei Jun’s interest piqued.

“Yes!” The apprentice nodded vigorously. “They say that the resurgence of the spiritual vein, after years of being dormant, resulted in a reversal of spiritual energy, leading to the emergence of the pure gold Lingzhi. Whether it will happen again is uncertain.

Long ago, before the platform’s damage, a purple-gold Lingzhi was said to have appeared, which was even superior!

Still, the revival of the Lingzhi Platform is already a major event, and the birth of the pure gold Lingzhi is an added blessing. We shouldn’t expect too much more.”

Lei Jun acknowledged, “That makes sense.”

“I also heard something else.” Another apprentice chimed in, “The newly born pure gold Lingzhi was taken by one of our senior brothers in the eighth academy!”

The group gasped, “Really?”

The apprentice gestured animatedly. “Yes! It was Senior Brother Chen Yi. I’m sure of it!”

Rumors spread that Chen Yi, a young apprentice in the eighth academy, had coincidentally been at Lingzhi Platform during the revival and snatched the pure gold Lingzhi.

One injured Senior Brother Zhang, with a mix of envy and frustration, muttered, “It’s unfair! We were injured by the altar explosion while he walked away with such a fortune!”

Lei Jun murmured in agreement.

Someone else commented jealously, “Can such a rare resource be privately taken? Won’t the estate reclaim it?”

The apprentice shrugged. “Apparently, the estate declared the occurrence a spontaneous stroke of fortune. Whoever encountered it was deemed lucky, and they wouldn't pursue it. Besides, it seems Chen Yi consumed the Lingzhi on the spot!”

Everyone sighed, “That lucky guy really hit the jackpot!”

Lei Jun cleared his throat. “It’s getting late, and Senior Brother Zhang needs rest.”

The group slowly dispersed.

As Lei Jun walked away from the infirmary, he pondered.

Was Elder Du’s grand ritual an unforeseen incident that revived the Lingzhi Platform?

And Chen Yi’s timely presence—pure chance?

If he knew Elder Du would stir things up like that, would he have chosen the Lingzhi Platform instead of Elder Du’s estate, seeking the purple-gold Lingzhi’s image?

Quality-wise, the purple-gold Lingzhi surpassed the pure gold Lingzhi.

Regardless of luck, the difference between a Fifth Grade and Sixth Grade opportunity was significant.

Lingzhi Platform’s revival could have produced a supreme purple-gold Lingzhi.

Yet, there was a balance of fortune and misfortune. Though the platform was restored, the essence of the purple-gold Lingzhi, just as it formed, was shattered by lightning.

Thus, only a lesser pure gold Lingzhi remained on the platform.

The essence of the purple-gold Lingzhi, intertwined with the lightning, spread into a luminous burst and ended up back at Elder Du’s estate.

The lightning masked the spiritual energy of the essence, which in turn neutralized the lightning’s ferocity.

As the lightning dissipated, the essence of the purple-gold Lingzhi re-emerged and, just before being detected by others, was conveniently found by Lei Jun.

Lei Jun set aside his thoughts and completed his academy duties diligently. At night, back in his private residence, he resumed his practice, patient and steady.

The essence of the purple-gold Lingzhi continually turned into spiritual energy, nourishing his body and advancing his progress.

Days passed.

True energy roared through his body like a mighty river, soon carving out a seventh qi sea.

He reached the seventh layer of the Qi Refining stage.

“Good, very good.”

The following day, the instructor glanced at Lei Jun and nodded approvingly. “Your progress is faster than expected.”

Previously, the instructor felt regretful.

This young man, Lei Jun, had commendable determination and a good sense of awareness, but his bone structure was average.

Not terrible, but middling at best.

However, this was the Tianshi Mansion—the sacred site of the Talismanic Branch of Daoism—home to numerous exceptional talents.

The instructor himself was a true disciple of Tianshi Mansion.

What others might consider top talent was commonplace here.

Moreover, Lei Jun started late.

Most young apprentices in the academy had spent a few years there and were only 14 or 15.

Lei Jun was already 18 when he began his cultivation.

Now, the instructor realized he had underestimated Lei Jun.

Lei Jun replied, “I started late and was already older when I began cultivating, so I can’t afford to slack off.”

The instructor’s approval grew. “Diligent effort is key. Though you won’t be ready for next year’s initiation, you might make it for the one four years from now.”

In this world’s Tianshi Mansion, the initiation ceremony for apprentices to become true disciples occurred every three years.

To participate, one needed to achieve the complete stage of the first realm, or the twelfth layer of Qi Refining.

The apprentices’ training methods only covered the foundational Qi Refining phase. Only after initiation and becoming a true disciple would they receive the teachings needed for the second realm, Foundation Establishment.