“Of these thirty-two outer peaks, twenty are used to train multi-spirit root disciples who passed the external examinations, while twelve belong to those of you with single or dual spirit roots.”
Receiving the collective gaze of the disciples, True Monarch Chanxi smiled slightly. “Do you still remember the martial uncles who guided your cultivation when you first entered the sect?
“In those early, ignorant days, they were the ones who guided you through the gates of cultivation.
“The fastest among you have already established your foundations, and even the slowest have broken through to Qi Refining level ten.
“Today, eight years later, it is your turn to take over their positions.”
Gu Ningyun and Wen Xuan exchanged a look, their hearts shaking.
The memories of Senior Sister Yang and Senior Brother Lu teaching them classes felt as if they were just yesterday.
In the blink of an eye, eight years had actually passed. Was it really time for them to take over?
“There are a total of 693 formal disciples in your class. Among you, 186 have already reached Foundation Establishment, and 507 are in the Qi Refining stage.
“Disciples in the Foundation Establishment stage will be paired up based on your rankings in the inner disciple promotion competition to serve as the Head Pavilion Master and Deputy Pavilion Master of a pavilion.
“For example, first-place Gu Ningyun and second-place Wen Xuan are grouped together;
“Third-place Ling Hanbai and fourth-place Zhu Zijin are grouped together, and so on.
“Among them, Gu Ningyun and Ling Hanbai will serve as Head Pavilion Masters, while Wen Xuan and Zhu Zijin will serve as Deputy Pavilion Masters.
“The Head and Deputy Pavilion Masters will jointly manage their pavilion and all the abodes under it. If any disagreement arises between the two, the Head Pavilion Master's decision will prevail.
“The groupings and corresponding lists of Head and Deputy Pavilion Masters can be found on your disciple identity jade tokens, under the Governing Peak's New Disciple Training Department platform.
“In the platform's lottery interface, the names of all seventy-two pavilions under the twelve outer peaks have been entered.
“Now, please verify your groups and positions. The Head Pavilion Masters will be responsible for drawing the lots.
“Whichever pavilion you draw, that is where you will take office.”
Before Gu Ningyun could even move, Wen Xuan leaned close to her shoulder. “Ningyun, draw quickly! Let's see where we're going to work like beasts of burden.”
After spending so much time with her, Wen Xuan and the others had also begun using these Blue Star terms.
She couldn't help but chuckle. She squeezed Wen Xuan's hand. “Lend me some of your good luck, sister.”
Sending her divine sense into the lottery interface, countless words flashed past in a blur before finally solidifying into a line of blue text: Fuyao Peak, Songyue Pavilion.
In the next instant, Gu Ningyun's identity jade token grew warm.
She flipped it over to look at the back. The reverse side, which previously only bore the sect emblem, slowly revealed a line of small, sharp characters:
Appointment | Fuyao Peak | Songyue Pavilion | Head Pavilion Master
On the back of Wen Xuan's identity jade token, it read:
Appointment | Fuyao Peak | Songyue Pavilion | Deputy Pavilion Master
At the same time, their appointment details appeared on the New Disciple Training Department's platform.
Appointment List
Outer Peak | Pavilion | Head Pavilion Master | Deputy Pavilion Master
Fuyao Peak | Songyue Pavilion | Gu Ningyun | Wen Xuan
Haoyu Peak | Hengguang Pavilion | Ling Hanbai | Zhu Zijin
Qingzhuo Peak | Guanxin Pavilion | Jun Luo | Si Puyu
Wuwang Peak | Guizhen Pavilion | Jiang Yao | Mu Chenze
Piaomiao Peak | Tianque Pavilion | Fu Mingzhi | Qin Xiaosheng
Huiyan Peak | Wuyin Pavilion | Xi Caixuan | Shao Yuqi
...
Once all ninety-three groups were confirmed, True Monarch Chanxi continued, “Under the twenty outer peaks for multi-spirit root disciples, there are a total of 4,800 abodes.
“Each abode has an Abode Master.
“The names of these abodes have all been entered into the platform's lottery interface.
“Now, the 507 disciples in the Qi Refining stage, please check your identity jade tokens and begin drawing.
“Whichever abode you draw, you will take office there as its Abode Master.”
Drawing lots on the platform did not take long. Once the list of abodes was announced, True Monarch Chanxi glanced in the direction of the New Disciple Training Department. “Junior Sister Ye.”
Ye Tingran, the Head of the New Disciple Training Department, stepped forward with the disciples of her department, distributing a blue jade tablet to each of them.
Gu Ningyun accepted it with both hands. Following Senior Sister Ye's explanation, she refined and bound it to herself.
The jade tablet was only about the size of three adult palms. It was entirely a pure, solid blue and seemed to share the same origin as the identity jade tokens.
On its back, the cloud-patterned sect emblem of Xiaoyao was engraved.
Over the years, Gu Ningyun had seen this jade tablet in the hands of her senior brothers and sisters many times.
Now that she had bound it, she finally learned the true identity of this jade tablet: the Deacon Jade Tablet.
Once bound, Gu Ningyun held the Deacon Jade Tablet horizontally in her hand. With a thought, a white light screen emerged on its front surface, displaying black characters.
There was no need for divine sense; the light screen could be operated and clicked using only spirit energy.
On the leftmost side of the jade tablet, three options were listed vertically: Personal, Notifications, and Platform.
The Personal interface mainly displayed her current identity and appointment information.
There were currently only two notifications in the Notifications interface. The first one read:
“To all Peak Masters, Elders, Pavilion Masters, Abode Masters, and Deacons of the inner and outer peaks:
“As heaven and earth bear witness to the Dao, the sect passes on its heritage.
“The disciples of Xiaoyao's Class 11,680 possess intelligent minds, spiritual natures, and outstanding talents.
“Presently, 206 disciples have broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage and are qualified to succeed to the positions of outer peak Pavilion Masters.
“Following deliberations by the various departments of Governing Peak, it is hereby decreed:
“Effective today, Gu Ningyun is appointed as the Head Pavilion Master of Songyue Pavilion on Fuyao Peak, and Wen Xuan is appointed as the Deputy Pavilion Master of Songyue Pavilion on Fuyao Peak, with full responsibility for all matters concerning the twenty external abodes under Songyue Pavilion;
“Ling Hanbai is appointed as the Head Pavilion Master of Hengguang Pavilion on Haoyu Peak, and Zhu Zijin is appointed as the Deputy Pavilion Master of Hengguang Pavilion on Haoyu Peak, with full responsibility for all matters concerning the twenty external abodes under Hengguang Pavilion;
“Jun Luo is appointed as the Head Pavilion Master of Guanxin Pavilion on Qingzhuo Peak, and Si Puyu is appointed as the Deputy Pavilion Master of Guanxin Pavilion on Qingzhuo Peak, with full responsibility for all matters concerning the twenty external abodes under Guanxin Pavilion;
“Appointing...
“...
“From the date of this notification, the Pavilion Masters and Deputy Pavilion Masters must complete their handovers and assume their duties within one month.
“Governing Peak Peak Master's Hall
“Publicized on this day.”
Glancing at the signature at the bottom, Gu Ningyun turned to her identity jade token and sent her divine sense into the public bulletin board of the Governing Peak platform.
Right at the very top was indeed the announcement of their appointments as Pavilion Masters and Deputy Pavilion Masters.
The second notification was the public announcement of the Abode Masters' appointments.
Just as her divine sense exited the platform, she received a message from her master: “Disciple, I have received your appointment notification.
“Managing twenty abodes under a single pavilion is quite a challenge for you all, but it is also an excellent opportunity for training.
“Complete the handover process with the previous Pavilion Master of Songyue Pavilion. If there is anything you do not understand, feel free to ask me or your first senior brother at any time.”
“Master, how did you find out so quickly?”
Could it be that her master had been too free lately, staring at his Deacon Jade Tablet all day?
“I happened to be handling peak affairs on my Deacon Jade Tablet when I saw the notification issued by Governing Peak.
“Besides, where do you think the Deacon Jade Tablets in your hands came from?”
“Eh? Were these also refined by our Spirit-Attuning Peak?”
“Naturally. I will teach you all about this in the future.”
After a brief chat with her master, she put away her identity jade token and returned to her Deacon Jade Tablet.
The second notification concerned the appointments of the 507 Qi Refining stage disciples to their respective external abodes. Gu Ningyun clicked to take a quick look before turning her attention to the final section: the Platform.
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