The ritual concluded, and after the grand ceremony, Zhang Xiongtai officially became Zhang Jingzhen’s disciple.

Lei Jun and Yuan Mobai assisted Shangguan Ning on the sidelines during the ceremony.

Several promising seeds emerged at this year’s Transmission Ceremony, but the one that attracted the most attention was Zhang Jingzhen’s leading disciple, Zhang Xiongtai.

On one hand, his talent was extraordinary. Normally, he wouldn’t have needed four years to participate in the Transcension Ritual. It was just that the previous Transmission Ceremony occurred when he had been in the Tao Boy Court for only a year. The timing was rather tight, so he was held over until this year’s Transmission Ceremony.

On the other hand, it was due to his identity. His master, Zhang Jingzhen, was the only High Merit Elder taking on a disciple at this Transmission Ceremony. Moreover, both teacher and student hailed from the Tang Imperial Court. This naturally led to much speculation.

The guests who came to observe this year’s Transmission Ceremony all focused their attention on Zhang Xiongtai.

Lei Jun and Yuan Mobai, on the other hand, were relatively calm. Compared to what Zhang Xiongtai did before entering the sect, they were more concerned with what he would do after becoming a disciple. As long as he was a proper disciple of the Celestial Master Mansion, his past identity would gradually fade away. At least, Zhang Xiongtai’s conduct in the Tao Boy Court over the past four years was seen by Lei Jun and his disciples, and there was nothing to criticize.

If Lei Jun had any curiosity, it was how someone of royal lineage ended up with a name... that was so thought-provoking. However, as long as the individual harbored no ill intentions, Lei Jun mostly wouldn’t pry too deeply. He believed Zhang Jingzhen had her own sense of propriety. This was the disciple she had connected with, and it was her duty to teach and be responsible for him.

Lei Jun’s junior brother of the same lineage, Chu Kun, did not participate in this year’s Transmission Ceremony. According to him, he had gone traveling. Where he traveled was something he could explain himself. Whatever Chu Kun said, Lei Jun would believe. But his trip seemed a bit too long. Fortunately, by the end of January, Chu Kun returned safely.

"Are you all right?" Lei Jun asked when the brothers met.

Chu Kun smiled and shook his head, "No major issues, Senior Brother, don’t worry."

Lei Jun walked around Chu Kun a few times, nodding repeatedly. "So you’ve completed the consolidation of the Dao Mark Realm of the Sixth Heavenly Layer? It looks like you just need to prepare for the Heavenly Moat Tribulation between the Sixth and the Seventh Heavenly Layer."

Lei Jun himself took about five years to advance from the Sixth Heavenly Layer to the Seventh Heavenly Layer. Chu Kun still had to prepare for his Tribulation Crossing, but he had completed the accumulation for the Sixth Layer of Heaven Dao Seal Realm in about six years; his cultivation speed was undoubtedly very fast. The current suspense was when he would pass the final Heavenly Moat Tribulation.

Lei Jun was able to advance from the Sixth to the Seventh Heavenly Layer so quickly thanks to several fortunes, including the Immortal Spirit Primordial Seed that Chu Kun had given him. Chu Kun also had one set aside for himself. Yet, the Heavenly Moat Tribulation was still tough.

Chu Kun said, "Mm, the accumulation is complete, but oh, how difficult it is to cross that final hurdle?"

Lei Jun said, "It won’t defeat you."

Considering Chu Kun’s current pace of progression, Lei Jun guessed that his junior brother must have other extraordinary talents beyond just the Constellation Holy Body. However, it seemed that Chu Kun was following a path similar to his and Xu Yuanzhen’s, enhancing his Innate through the Acquired.

"I’ll take your auspicious words, Senior Brother," Chu Kun said with a smile. While speaking, he took out a Taoist Miniature Bag and handed it to Lei Jun. "Mission accomplished. On my journey, I took a detour to visit home and managed to collect the items you were looking for."

Upon opening the Miniature Bag, it contained a large amount of paper. The papers were not only full of Spiritual Energy, but the Wenhua Qi even formed shimmering strands of treasure light that danced around the numerous sheets. The Vast Integrity Qi, characteristic of Confucian cultivation, emanated from them.

"Oh? So much Vast Integrity Paper?" Lei Jun accepted it.

He had previously asked Chu Kun to keep an eye out for high-quality Confucian Paper, but there had been no luck for two years. Chu Kun, however, had clearly kept it in mind. This time, he had finally found an opportunity. Vast Integrity Paper was indeed one of the finest kinds of Confucian Paper, with the Literary Splendor Talent contained within almost solidifying into substance.

Lei Jun thanked Chu Kun and put away the Miniature Bag.

After dealing with the mansion’s affairs during the day, Lei Jun spent the evening at his own estate. He took out the large quantity of Confucian Vast Integrity Paper from the Miniature Bag and arranged them in front of him. Then, Lei Jun brought out other items: the Jade Sea Vermilion Brush, Chu Clan’s Confucian Ink, and the Moonlight Inkstone. Together with the newly acquired Vast Integrity Paper, the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were finally complete. Furthermore, they were all treasures originating from the Confucian Sect, brimming with Literary Splendor Talent.

When the four Spiritual Treasures came together, they spontaneously resonated harmoniously, even without Lei Jun’s spellcasting. Even the Moonlight Inkstone obtained from the Scholarly Cultivator Wang Feng, when placed among them, did not seem out of place.

Lei Jun quietly observed these writing implements. After a while, he put the items away one by one.

The basic materials were now essentially ready. The only thing lacking was to find a suitable foundational Spiritual Object to carry them.

If Lei Jun were a Confucian Cultivator, with the four treasures at hand, he could have begun his calligraphy and painting immediately. The Vast Integrity Paper itself was a natural foundation suitable for carrying the other three Spiritual Objects. Unfortunately, although Lei Jun had spent recent years diligently studying the Confucian cultivation of this world, he was, after all, not a Confucian Practitioner. If he were to force it, it wouldn’t be entirely impossible, but it would inevitably lead to a muddled combination of Taoist Dharma Essence and Confucian principles. Approaching it from the perspective of a Daoist Cultivator, to keep things clearly distinct, he would need another Spiritual Object to serve as the base.

Jade... Lei Jun pondered.

He checked his own collection and then visited the Treasure Pavilion in the mansion, but there was no suitable choice for the time being. Lei Jun wasn’t discouraged. He simply made a mental note and planned to look out for opportunities in the future.