Chapter 791: Conferring the Daoist Title
Chapter 791: Conferring the Daoist Title
Seven days later.
The county yamen.
“This student pays his respects to the esteemed master! ”
Gan Yu mingled among the numerous child scholars, bowing to the county magistrate dressed in crimson official robes.
Among the child scholars with him, there were both children with braided hair, as well as teenagers like himself, and even middle-aged individuals, and old men whose temples had prematurely grayed.
Striving for fame with white hair was certainly not an empty boast!
This county magistrate's surname was Xu, and he was a *Jinshi* scholar. His face was like jade, with a flowing three-strand beard, and he appeared to be around thirty or forty years old. His appearance was dignified, possessing a truly official bearing.
County Magistrate Xu, having excelled in the *Jinshi* examination that year, merely lingered for two years before being selected for an official post in Qingxi County, serving as a Ninth-Rank Assistant Magistrate. Three years later, he was promoted to County Administrator, followed by County Commandant, then County Assistant. . . ultimately reaching the position of Seventh-Rank County Magistrate. He endured for over a decade, truly experiencing the sweetness after bitterness.
“Cough, cough. . . ”
County Magistrate Xu's complexion was somewhat pale, as if he were unwell. At this moment, he raised a hand.
Gan Yu immediately felt a gentle force surge, lifting him up. As he looked at County Magistrate Xu, who resembled a sick ghost, a sense of awe immediately rose within his heart.
“You are all learned scholars. I am recruiting talent for the Dao Court this time. . . You must remember to be loyal to the Dao Court above all, and if you can become officials in the future, do not shame yourselves before the common people below. . . ”
County Magistrate Xu gave a few words of admonition, looking at the expectant gazes of some individuals, then suddenly smiled: “Enough. Seeing your expressions, you’ve been impatient for quite a while. I shall personally confer the Daoist titles upon you all. . . ”
As he spoke, the yamen runners around them bowed and retreated.
Inside the hall, there seemed to be a lingering scent of incense and divine power, hazy and indistinct, carrying a hint of mystery.
Gan Yu, with a glance from the corner of his eye, suddenly felt that County Magistrate Xu's appearance was somewhat similar to the City God statue he had seen when he went to the City God Temple to pray. He couldn't help but quickly lower his head, concealing the shock in his eyes. . .
“Awaken! ”
County Magistrate Xu did not say much more to the child scholars, forming a hand seal with a single hand.
Within his body, a crimson 'Seventh-Rank Qingxi County City God' divine position suddenly burst forth with a brilliant crimson light.
A crimson light, like a flying bird, carrying a talisman that transformed into spiritual light, shot straight out from the top of his head.
“Ah! ”
Divine might like a mountain!
All the child scholars present turned completely pale, prostrating themselves on the ground.
Immediately after, a clear cry of mandarin ducks was heard. Above County Magistrate Xu's head, crimson divine power transformed into the shape of mandarin ducks, circling a Daoist title talisman.
This Daoist title talisman was also entirely crimson, as if forged from beautiful jade, within which a line of divine text astonishingly read—‘Supreme Dao Court Alliance Authority Secret Talisman’!
Under the infusion of crimson divine power, this Daoist title talisman instantly separated into several points of light, transforming into numerous gray-white ‘Supreme Child Spirit Official Talismans’!
However, compared to the Child Talismans Fang Xi had seen, these talismans clearly lacked a hint of divine charm/essence, giving one a sense of falseness.
County Magistrate Xu's expression was solemn: “City God Xu Xinjì, recruiting talent for the nation, Heaven and Earth, truly bear witness! ”
In his hand, a copper seal appeared, precisely the official seal of a Seventh-Rank County Magistrate!
County Magistrate Xu held the official seal in both hands, and in the void, an illusory image of a City God golden seal seemed to emerge, merging into the official seal.
*Clack! *
He stamped the official seal beneath each of the numerous Child Talismans.
The crimson divine power seemed to transform into ink paste, flashing and disappearing instantly on the Daoist title talismans.
*Buzz! Buzz! *
Each of those Child Talismans rumbled, instantly becoming awe-inspiring with divine might, and plunged into the brows of the respective child scholars.
Gan Yu's body trembled, and after a brief meditation, he felt as if an extra talisman had appeared within his Sea of Consciousness.
At the same time, having previously consumed a spiritual item, he had already laid a solid foundation. At this moment, he could even sense an inexplicable spiritual aura emerging in the void, causing a feeling of hunger and thirst within his heart.
Unconsciously, he sat cross-legged, drawing a wisp of spiritual energy into his body.
“Qi Induction? ”
County Magistrate Xu saw this scene, and couldn't help but nod slightly: “To achieve this step immediately after receiving the Daoist title, he is indeed a good seed. . . ”
What was more crucial was that Gan Yu was young enough, and still had time to strive on the path of imperial examinations.
As for those old white-haired gentlemen, their hopes were slim. . .
A moment later, all the child scholars recovered from their strange state, a hint of joy appearing on their faces.
The Dao Court's laws were strict and severe, with Dao Laws suppressing the spiritual energy of the world!
Without a Daoist title talisman, even if one could painstakingly absorb some, it would ultimately be nothing but the moon in water, or a flower in a mirror.
But now, with the conferring of a Daoist title, it was a direct step onto the Dao!
It was equivalent to ascending to heaven in a single step!
County Magistrate Xu coughed again, as if the previous conferring of Daoist titles had been no small burden on him. Seeing that Gan Yu had also regained consciousness, he then said in a deep voice: “With the Child Talisman granted, you can henceforth absorb the spiritual aura of heaven and earth, strengthen your bodies, and even cast spells. . . This is a grace from the Dao Court; you must remember it at all costs. If there are any disloyal or unfilial individuals in the future, I will personally seize their souls, and they shall endure all manner of purgatorial suffering. . . ”
As he spoke these words, his voice was chilling, causing Gan Yu to shiver involuntarily.
He knew in his heart that County Magistrate Xu was speaking nothing but the truth!
...
Somewhere in a distant mountain forest.
Inside a cave dwelling.
Fang Xi sat cross-legged, with a roasted wild rabbit and stream fish prepared by Mei Changkong placed before him. . .
Both pieces of game were roasted until golden and fragrant, placed on a dining plate made of large green leaves, with fruits for accompaniment beside them.
Inside a bamboo tube, there was boiled water.
In this wilderness, to achieve this was quite remarkable.At this moment, Mei Changkong was absent, having gone to find food for himself.
Fang Xi opened his eyes, and nodded with slight satisfaction.
At the same time, he was recalling the scene of Gan Yu being conferred the Daoist title just now.
“So, that's how Daoist title talismans are split from a higher-grade Daoist title talisman? ”
“No. . . what is split off is merely a superficial fake! ”
“The true key lies in using the seal, to request the witness and recognition of Heaven and Earth. . . ”
Silently pondering all that had happened before, Fang Xi gained a deeper understanding of the operation of the Divine Dao.
“With such layers of control, the ultimate Son of Heaven can indeed strip officials below of their divine positions with a single word, and even decide their life and death, truly achieving 'Heaven's Mandate in one's mouth'! ”
“What if one has no Daoist title talisman, only a divine position? ”
“And even. . . where did the divine positions between Heaven and Earth originally come from? Could they also have split off from a certain divine position? ”
Fang Xi felt that he seemed to have touched upon one of the Heavenly Court's deepest secrets. . .
...
Earthly Immortal World.
Trapped Sky Island, Kyushu School.
Inside the cave dwelling, Fang Xi was dressed in a green long robe. This magical robe was as smooth as silk, yet very breathable, with numerous miniature formations inscribed on its surface.
Just this one magical robe was enough to rival the entire fortune of a Return to Void cultivator.
For Fang Xi, such enjoyment was nothing out of the ordinary. At this moment, with his hair disheveled, he sat very languidly before a desk.
On the desk, six talismans were laid side by side.
From the Ninth-Rank 'Supreme Dao Court Capital Merit Official Talisman', to the Eighth-Rank 'Supreme Dao Court Big Dipper Secret Talisman', and even the Day and Night Roaming God divine position, and finally, the most conspicuous 'Ninth-Rank Qingxi County City God Temple Reward and Punishment Court Martial Judge'. . . At this moment, all of them had lost their divine properties, lying quietly on the desk, just like ordinary talismans.
“Indeed, the laws of heaven and earth are different, so they cannot be used immediately? ”
Fang Xi muttered, and picked up the Martial Judge divine position, examining it carefully.
Divine Dao decrees were naturally far more precious than the Dao Court's conferred Daoist titles.
This Ninth-Rank divine position was even rarer than an Eighth-Rank Daoist title talisman, and even the divine text was several times more complex and profound!
“After observing for this period of time, my Dao of Talismans has steadily entered the seventh-rank level. . . ”
“After all, after advancing to Void Amalgamation, it's always easier to raise the ranks of the Hundred Arts of Cultivation. . . ”
Fang Xi muttered, and picked up the divine position of 'Qingxi County City God Temple Duty Roaming Inspector General', his Divine Consciousness entering it.
After researching for this period of time, he finally made some discoveries.
At this moment, with a thought of his divine sense, he passed through the divine text, reaching the core of the divine position, and obtained several divine arts.
For example, 'Spirit Summoning Talisman', 'Heavenly Sight and Earthly Hearing Art', 'Wind Manipulation Art', and so on.
These were all divine arts; as long as one refined the divine position of the Day Roaming God, it was equivalent to receiving a baptism, allowing one to learn them instantly.
Not only that, as long as divine power was consumed, they could be cast instantly.
“Once I modify them, and gather incense and faith in the Earthly Immortal World, I should be able to reactivate the divine positions. . . ”
Fang Xi pondered: “The issue is that most divine positions are bound to a specific location. . . Once outside their domain, their divine might greatly diminishes. . . It's a bit troublesome. ”
However, this trouble was actually relatively simple to resolve: one merely needed to carry a Cave-Heaven Treasure with them, and relocate a large number of believers inside it.
Fang Xi had lingered in that Dao Court world for so long, yet had not discovered the existence of any Cave-Heaven Treasures. It seemed that such Cave-Heaven Treasures were either nonexistent there, or extremely rare.
'But this is also normal. In lower realms like the Human World, Cave-Heaven Treasures are inherently extremely rare. . . ''As for carrying believers with me, that's just a temporary solution. I can also have the people of the Kyushu World research it, for example, by installing some high-power incense and faith signal towers or similar devices, to extend the scope of divine positions. '
Technology is constantly advancing.
Especially with a Void Amalgamation Dao Lord, plus Return to Void experts, and a group of Divine Transformation elites, the current technology of the Kyushu World could completely crush the Kyushu World of the Nascent Soul cultivator era.
“Daoist title talismans are formed by splitting, and divine positions might be the same. . . ”
“And even, all divine positions in the world might eventually converge upon that one individual. . . the Source of Myriad Gods! ”
The more Fang Xi researched, the more unfathomable he found that Heavenly Emperor.
At this moment, he picked up the Martial Judge divine position.
Although the Divine Dao decree formed by this divine position had lost all its brilliance, it was still dazzlingly bright, as if carved from excellent jade, with faint crimson blood patterns within.
And when his divine sense entered the interior of this divine position, besides the various divine arts, there was even more knowledge.
For example. . . how to collect the incense and faith of the common people, and refine 'Incense Money'!
This money was the currency circulating among deities, capable of replenishing and converting divine power. . . Its value far exceeded gold and silver.
In addition to this, after becoming a deity, one could also combine the divine texts they had comprehended, with their divine position, to refine a Divine Dao artifact of authority.
This item could be a proclamation, a pagoda, a cauldron. . . but most commonly, it was an an official seal!
“Generally speaking, Ninth-Rank deities found it difficult to create such divine artifacts. . . Only upon reaching the Seventh-Rank did one have a greater chance. ”
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