am-books Chapter 467 - 354: After an Old Friend_2
Chapter 467 - 354: After an Old Friend_2
Chapter 467: Chapter 354: After an Old Friend_2
Huh, if I won’t die, what’s the point in striving?
The Longevity Dao Fruit misled me! (crossed out)
...
“The year 1778 of the Heavenly Emperor’s calendar.
Today marks the 3,000th anniversary of the Mysterious Primordial Sect’s founding, and a sect celebration is being held.
Such a short history is hardly worth celebrating. Even the Supreme Elders must be in attendance. We’ve just spent a huge sum to select an Oiran, and the festivities will continue for half a month—what a waste of silver!”
...
Noon.
The sun is blazing.
The main hall of the Mysterious Primordial Sect.
Zhou Yi is seated at the top, flanked by two Golden Core True Monarchs on each side.
Beneath them, over a thousand disciples, arranged neatly according to seniority, cultivation, and rank, bow to the Supreme Elders to the sound of the jade chime.
Many disciples are seeing Zhou Yi for the first time. They are unfamiliar with this elder who is rarely seen, knowing him only through the praise recorded in the sect’s scriptures.
Phrases like ‘exceptional talent’, ‘hiding his light under a bushel’, ‘acts with caution’, ‘righting the overturning waves’...
Zhou Yi, wearing the Heavens-reaching Jade Crown and dressed in the Great Purple Taoist Robe, sits with dignity, his gaze sweeping over the bowing disciples, which unwittingly brings some past events to his mind.
Lifting his head to gaze into the distance across the Nine Continents, he wonders about the well-being of old acquaintances.
“Rise.”
Zhou Yi reveals a smile and says, “When I first joined the sect, there were only my master and four disciples, so poor that we didn’t even have a protective formation. Later, when my eldest and second brother passed away, there were only a large and small cat or two left.”
“In the blink of an eye, four or five hundred years have passed. To see such grandeur truly gratifies me!”
Upon hearing this, the disciples in the hall look up to Zhou Yi with admiration. Their ability to embark on the path of immortality can be said to depend entirely on the strength of the Mysterious Primordial Sect.
The laws of the Heavenly Court are strict and prohibit the private transmission of cultivation techniques.
Commoners who are fortunate enough to have a Spirit Root don’t know which way to turn. Thankfully, the Mysterious Primordial Sect took the initiative to descend the mountain and accept disciples. Otherwise, they would have to live and die in ignorance as mortals.
First, cultivate the techniques to improve memory, then later join the Daoist academy for study—far more advantageous than the grueling study of a commoner.
Once you make it onto the Immortal Register, you’re a bona fide cultivator, and you can slowly queue up for the vacant divine positions.
Of course, the Mysterious Primordial Sect wouldn’t dare to send all their disciples to the Daoist academy—that would be slapping the Heavenly Court in the face—only those with superior talent have the chance to make it onto the register.
Newly advanced Golden Core, head of the sect, Tong Xuan True Monarch says,
“Ancestor, the younger generation has already had your achievements carved into a stone stele at the entrance of the mountain gate so that disciples can see it clearly as they pass by. In the future, we will also erect a statue outside the Mystery Element Hall to enjoy the offerings of incense from the disciples!”
Zhou Yi looks deeply at Tong Xuan and nods slightly.
Half a month later.
The sect’s grand competition had concluded.
Zhou Yi personally awarded the top ten, congratulating and encouraging each one.
The disciples had never seen such a genial and approachable Supreme Elder. They were so excited they could hardly contain themselves. Upon hearing the words “practice diligently and protect the sect,” they itched to grab their flying swords and throw themselves into battle against demons and fiends.
Seeing this, Zhou Yi felt a wave of emotion.
“The cultivators of Dongsheng Divine Continent have much purer hearts than those from the Nine Continents!”
The celebration concluded.
Just as Zhou Yi was preparing to retreat for cultivation practice, he received a message from Tong Xuan. Riding his light, he arrived at the Mystery Element Hall to find the other three Golden Core Supreme Elders present, though their expressions were somewhat grim.
“Grandmaster, we have summoned you here to make a decision,” said Tong Xuan. “Our sect currently has five Golden Core cultivators, and there will be more in the future. It is time to restore the ancestral system and change the Golden Core members to elders, making the Nascent Soul Daoists the Supremes.”
“You make a good point.”
Zhou Yi instantly understood why the three Golden Cores’ expressions were somewhat dark.
In theory, Supreme Elders held a higher status than the Sect Leader. Even with Tong Xuan’s advancement to Golden Core, the rank remained the same.
Elders were below the Sect Leader and took orders directly from Tong Xuan.
Moreover, Supreme Elders had nothing to do but focus on their cultivation with the support of the sect, whereas retiring to an elder position would mean overseeing various halls and being responsible for punishment, alchemy, teaching scripture, and other matters.
In other words, their status had diminished, and they now had to handle sundry affairs; how could they be in good spirits?
After pondering for a moment, Zhou Yi said, “I agree with this in principle. In the future, when we have more Golden Cores, the sect will not be able to support so many Supremes. However, whether to implement it, we must first seek the opinion of my senior sister.”
A flicker of joy passed through Tong Xuan’s eyes as he produced a token with the character “Rain” on it and said, “The grandmaster Xuan Yu has already agreed to the restoration of the ancestral system. Do any of my senior brethren have objections?”
The three Golden Cores bowed and accepted the command: “We will strictly adhere to the grandmaster’s decree!”
“Senior brethren, there’s no need to worry. Even if you change to elder status, the allocation of Spiritual Objects and resources will not decrease.”
Tong Xuan gave a hard blow followed by a sweet date, observing their expressions gradually recover before continuing, “The most important halls in our sect at the moment are the Law Enforcement Hall and the Treasure Hall. Which senior brother is interested in taking charge?”
The three Golden Cores were not fools; they all turned to look at Zhou Yi, allowing the highest in seniority to choose first.
Zhou Yi said, “My natural lifespan is not much longer, and I am unsuitable for the hectic duties of such halls. I shall go and guard the Scripture Storage Hall instead.”
Tong Xuan hesitated for a moment but could not persuade him otherwise.
The three Golden Cores showed signs of delight and each took charge of the Law Enforcement, Treasure, and Teaching Halls, their combined power nearly rivaling that of the Sect Leader.
“I shall go to the Scripture Storage Hall to assume my duties now.”
Zhou Yi gave Tong Xuan a look, thinking that the young fellow was still far from matching wits with him. He immediately transformed into a beam of light and disappeared from view.
Several days later.
Yang Jin arrived at the Scripture Pavilion to borrow books and upon entering, saw an old Daoist with white hair.
His hair was unkempt, his blue Daoist robe stained with wine, and he lay sprawled on the table, soundly asleep and reeking of alcohol, with a jar of Spiritual Wine cradled in his arms.