Chapter 95: Chapter 94: Conversation

Back in the temporary Quiet Chamber at Guiyun Residence, Lu Zhao sat cross-legged, his fingertips caressing the smooth, warm Jade Scroll from Li Xuerou.

He sank his Divine Sense into it, and countless details about the Ascension Ceremony flowed into his mind like a gentle stream.

The contents of the Jade Scroll were comprehensive, far surpassing the fragmented information he had gathered before.

It not only detailed the procedures and precautions for the Bixia Sect’s Ascension Ceremony over the years but also provided an in-depth analysis of the three Stewards in charge this time—Zhao Quzhou, Tian Bufan, and Yun Lanyi. It covered their temperaments, their ways of handling matters, and even went into specifics on how to phrase one’s responses when facing each of them.

’Zhao Quzhou is a pragmatist who despises ostentation and places great importance on whether a Cultivator’s foundation is solid... Tian Bufan, from the General Affairs Hall, is a shrewd calculator who highly values the potential contributions a Cultivator can make to the Sect... Yun Lanyi is cold and stern, a person of few words from the Precepts Hall who prioritizes rules and moral character above all else...’

Lu Zhao committed each point to memory. At a critical moment, this information could provide the slight edge needed to enter the Sect.

The final section of the Jade Scroll, the so-called "Key Answering Strategies," coincided perfectly with his own thoughts.

First, demonstrate value. One’s Cultivation Realm, Magical Combat prowess, and proficiency in any of the Cultivation Hundred Arts were the three core elements. Although the focus of the ceremony might differ slightly each time, the fundamental principles remained unchanged; it would almost certainly revolve around these three aspects. His Cultivation at the Eighth Layer of Qi Cultivation and his mastery of Puppetry were his greatest assets.

Second, declare one’s attitude. The Jade Scroll stated bluntly that the Bixia Sect possessed Magical Artifacts or Arrays similar to a "Heart Inquiry Mirror," designed to probe a Cultivator’s true intentions. Lies and deception would be easily seen through.

In this regard, the advice given by the Jade Scroll was surprisingly blunt: if asked why one wished to join the Sect, one could frankly state, "I came for the Foundation Establishment Pill." This might seem materialistic, but it actually aligned with the Sect’s underlying need to recruit "useful talents" rather than "secluded hermits," making one appear honest and without deceit. It even hinted at a tacit, ruthless understanding condoned by the Sect.

After carefully digesting the contents of the Jade Scroll, the last trace of apprehension Lu Zhao felt about the unknown dissipated. The road ahead was difficult, but at least the rules were clear. All that remained was to give it his all.

While Lu Zhao was contemplating how to join the Bixia Sect, a hundred li southeast of Bixia Marketplace, Cyan Mist Mountain was shrouded in clouds and mist, brimming with Spiritual Qi. Here, built into the mountainside, stood a magnificent hall with upturned eaves and interlocking brackets, shimmering with a faint Spirit Light. This was the General Affairs Hall, the administrative heart of the Bixia Sect.

Inside, the hall was deep and spacious, its high, vaulted ceiling supported by several massive Spirit Wood pillars. The scent of sandalwood smoke curled through the vast chamber, and the scrolls and Jade Scrolls piled high next to the desks exuded a silent, immense pressure.

A middle-aged man with sharp features, dressed in a profound Daoist robe, was bowing and reporting to an elder seated at the head of the hall. The elder had graying hair and a beard and wore a black Daoist robe. The middle-aged man’s tone was laced with worry. "Hall Master, for this Ascension Ceremony, are we truly going to accept so many Wanderers?"

"This number far exceeds previous years; it might be as high as two hundred... The other halls and palaces, especially the factions of those disciples with a chance at Foundation Establishment, will certainly have complaints. After all, once these Wanderers enter the Sect, they become potential rivals for the limited spots for the Foundation Establishment Pill!"

The elder at the head of the hall was none other than the Hall Master of the General Affairs Hall, Zhang Qiyue. Hearing this, he slowly set down the Jade Scroll in his hand, which recorded the material expenditures throughout the Sect. His sharp gaze swept over the middle-aged Steward, his voice low but filled with unquestionable authority. "Complaints? Heh, dissatisfaction? Then let them come and tell me, who is supposed to complete all these backlogged mandatory tasks for the Sect—the ones that are time-consuming, difficult, not without risk, and offer little reward?"

"Should we send those young Outer Disciples? The ones who only know how to bury their heads in bitter cultivation, who are clueless about the ways of the world, and who complain that even going down the mountain to make purchases is a waste of their time?"

He paused, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the smooth rosewood desk. "Do you think I want to recruit these older, more complicated Wanderers?" he asked, letting out a nearly inaudible sigh that carried a deep weariness.

"But we are slaves to circumstance! It is an iron law of the Sect that a disciple need only complete one mandatory task per year. As the Hall Master of the General Affairs Hall, I can’t just use my authority to hold a knife to their throats and force them to complete two or three tasks a year, can I? If I did, the desks of the Elder Ancestors would be piled high with Jade Scrolls of impeachment!"

Zhang Qiyue’s gaze suddenly sharpened, boring into the middle-aged Steward. "Lü Fang, if you truly have the ability to make those disciples willingly complete one extra mandatory task a year, I will immediately cut the recruitment quota in half! Can you do that?"

The middle-aged Steward, Lü Fang, flinched under that gaze, a fine sweat beading on his temples. "Hall Master... you must be joking," he stammered, his voice exceptionally faint. "I... I don’t have such skills..."

"Since you don’t have the ability, then don’t bring it up again!" Zhang Qiyue snorted, his tone turning cold. "Go back and tell those who are dissatisfied that my General Affairs Hall can, in fact, not recruit so many Wanderers."

"However, starting next year, the mandatory task quota for all disciples will be raised from one per year to two! Let them choose! Either they nod in agreement, and I’ll reduce the recruitment quota right now! Or, if they disagree, they can all shut their mouths! Know their place! And stop trying to test my limits!"

Lü Fang’s face went pale. He hurriedly bowed, his voice filled with unprecedented alarm and urgency. "Hall Master, please calm your anger! I... I had no intention of testing you! I would never dare! I was just... just relaying some of the chatter... I meant nothing else by it!"

"I’ll take my leave! Take my leave!" Before he could finish, he had already spun around in a panic. He stumbled toward the hall entrance with unsteady steps, the sleeves of his profound robe trembling slightly, betraying his extreme inner turmoil.

"Wait." Just as he was about to exit the hall, Zhang Qiyue’s voice rang out again. It was level, yet carried an intangible pressure. "The Ascension Ceremony will be held in one month. It will be presided over by three Stewards: Zhao Quzhou, Tian Bufan, and Yun Lanyi."

"As the Inner Sect Steward from the General Affairs Hall responsible for this matter, you are to cooperate fully with them. I don’t want to see any mistakes, and I certainly don’t want to hear any idle gossip about a ’lack of cooperation.’ Understand?" He bit out the last word with extreme emphasis.

Lü Fang’s body stiffened. He then gave a deep bow, his voice holding a barely perceptible tremble. "Rest assured, Hall Master! I will do my utmost to cooperate sincerely with Stewards Zhao, Tian, and Yun to ensure the ceremony proceeds without a single hitch!"

Watching the profound-robed figure vanish beyond the hall entrance like a bird startled by a bow, Zhang Qiyue finally seemed to cast off a heavy burden. He leaned back slowly against the wide, cold chair, gazing at the churning sea of clouds outside the hall. A trace of weariness and profundity flashed in his weary eyes as he murmured to himself, "The tree wishes for quiet, but the wind will not subside..."

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