Chapter 653 410: Taiyi Pavilion (Part 2)

Although the conditions here are humble, the three of them seem to live quite comfortably. Duan Rong thought about it for a moment and understood. If one had been imprisoned in the cramped tower for two or three years and then came out to see the conditions in the tent, it would probably feel like heaven. He wasn't very affected because he had only stayed one night in that cramped tower.

Over the past few days, Duan Rong spent his nights gathering all the necessary information.

Inner Sect Disciples who come out of the Tower Forest must first go to the Taiyi Pavilion on the bi-monthly ancestor worship days to pay homage to the sect's ancestors.

The so-called ancestors of past generations are actually the elders of the Taiyi Sect's Elder Hall through the ages.

As long as you can enter the Elder Hall, after death, you can be enshrined in the Taiyi Pavilion and enjoy perpetual worship from future disciples.

After worshiping at the Taiyi Pavilion, there is the master-disciple ceremony in the Dragon Fish Hall.

Compared to the cumbersome formalities and ceremonial show at the Taiyi Pavilion, the master-disciple ceremony in the Dragon Fish Hall is extremely important to them.

Because not every Inner Sect Disciple can successfully find a master. Or rather, most Inner Sect Disciples actually have no master.

These Inner Sect Disciples, whom no one is willing to take as students, can only be listed under the Internal History Department, Ministry of Communication, Ministry of Rites Decision Department, and other offices to accept tasks assigned by them, and receive cultivation resources allocated by these departments.

If they perform exceptionally well in these departments, there remains a small chance of successfully finding a master within, though the probability is very slim. Essentially, those who do not succeed in finding a master on the ancestor worship day have very little chance later.

Within the sect, besides the elders of the Elder Hall, those qualified to take disciples in the Dragon Fish Hall include the hidden elders within the sect and the stewards who have achieved cultivation in various hall gates.

These form three tiers.

To become a disciple of an elder from the Elder Hall means endless prospects, with various resources and opportunities at their disposal.

The hidden elders within the sect, although rarely showing their influence, have the same significant authority in the sect. To become their disciple is akin to leaping over the dragon gate.

In fact, some hidden elders hold even more authority than some elders from the Elder Hall.

Lastly, there are the stewards from various hall gates. To become a disciple under them allows access to some resources. Though not as abundant as the former two tiers, it is significantly better than being listed under various departments as an Inner Sect Disciple. At the very least, one has a master, receiving guidance in cultivation, and care in resources. While it might not be the best, it is certainly better than most.

Most Inner Sect Disciples coming out of the Tower Forest hope to become disciples under the stewards of various halls.

As for the elders of the Elder Hall or those hidden elders, they are not something average individuals dare to hope for. These people tend to be selective and do not easily accept disciples.

Five days later.

Duan Rong and three other Inner Sect Disciples coming out of the Tower Forest arrived at Cuiwei Peak a day early.

Cuiwei Peak is where the Taiyi Pavilion, Elder Hall, and Dragon Fish Hall are located—considered the core area of the sect.

Cuiwei Peak is not very tall, rather a low mountain, but it's lush and verdant, with an aura of charm and beauty when viewed from afar.

Duan Rong and his companions, by the previous evening, were already at a separate courtyard below Cuiwei Peak.

In that courtyard, the historian and attendants of the Internal History Department responsible for ceremonies kept them busy all night.

They bathed and changed early, donning heavy ceremonial robes worn by many before them. Then, the attendants began teaching them the numerous formalities of the next day's worship at Taiyi Pavilion. It wasn't until dawn when they managed to catch a quick nap.

Afraid of wrinkling their robes, they could only lean against the pillars to doze off. But shortly after, the attendants pulled them up, and before the crack of dawn, they were already hungry, standing at the grand and majestic stone steps of Cuiwei Peak.

They raised their heavy-lidded eyes to see the distant stone steps in the dim light, layer upon layer, like a heavenly ladder leading straight to the mountain top. At its end, a grand and magnificent hall lay like a giant beast.

By the time daylight was fully upon them, the ceremony began at the appointed auspicious hour, but Duan Rong and his companions had already been standing dryly at the base of the stone steps for nearly an hour.

To the sound of horns, Duan Rong and his companions performed the ritual of three kneels and nine bows, then began climbing the steps, reaching a platform where they offered incense with more kneeling and bowing. They continued onward, dragging the heavy hem of their ceremonial robes up the stone steps...

Halfway through the rituals at Taiyi Pavilion, the Dragon Fish Hall nearby was already fully seated.

The old attendant, who had long guarded the Dragon Fish Hall, was shocked at this marvel.

What was happening today?

The major elders of the Elder Hall, and even some hidden sect elders who hadn't shown themselves for years, were all present.

This old attendant, having guarded the Dragon Fish Hall for over twenty years, had never encountered such a scene.

"Could something have happened?" The old attendant worried internally.

With so many elders and hidden elders present, he dared not delay, immediately directing the younger attendants to set up tables and serve tea.

Watching the younger attendants fetch tea from the cabinet, the old attendant quickly shouted, "Not there!"

"Do you even see who came? You're taking tea from there? Last year's old tea, anyone can drink that? The jars at the bottom of the standing cabinet have new tea from this year, how many times have I told you?"

The younger attendants, flustered, finally managed to serve the tea under the old attendant's guidance.

Seeing everything mostly settled, the old attendant took a breath and walked over respectfully, "May I ask for what reason the honorable elders and masters have graced the Dragon Fish Hall today?"

"You old rascal, what are you playing dumb for? We are here to take disciples!"

"Indeed!"

The old attendant was dumbfounded, looking around in surprise. "All here to take disciples?"

"Go collect the posts!" an elderly woman with a face full of wrinkles and white hair suddenly shouted.

"Yes, yes, yes. My apologies!"

The old attendant was taken aback, realizing these folks were all here for disciples!? Normally, this is indeed the custom since the Dragon Fish Hall is where the master-disciple ceremony takes place. But in his twenty years here, he had never seen such a gathering. He thought something might have stirred up causing this many people to show up!

Turned out, all night long, they were all indeed here for disciples!

The old attendant went around collecting the post cards from these elders and hidden elders. Holding a thick stack of cards, he bowed in the center of the hall before leaving for the back hall.

Sitting at the desk in the back room, he wiped the sweat from his forehead with a cotton cloth, cleaned his hands, and opened the topmost card from the stack in front of him.

This card contained the names of the Inner Sect Disciples selected by the elders and hidden elders for their tutelage.

The old attendant glanced at the seal on the card, finding it to be Elder Ge Rusong's card from the Elder Hall.

Not only was Ge Rusong an elder of the Elder Hall, but also the Chairman of the Ministry of Communication, holding significant power and position.

If one were chosen by him, it would nearly guarantee a swift rise, offering chances to partake in important sect affairs.

Beneath the seal were conditions laid out by Ge Rusong! While it wasn't necessary, considering Ge Rusong's identity itself was a hard-to-refuse opportunity.

Yet, within Ge Rusong's card were five detailed additional conditions, each enough to make the old attendant's heart skip.

Swallowing his saliva, he finally looked at the name at the bottom of the card.

The name was somewhat unfamiliar to him, as if he had never heard it before.

"Duan Rong?!"

The old attendant remained stunned, wondering who this Duan Rong was, to warrant such efforts from someone like Ge Rusong!

Thinking of it anew, he still found no impression of the name. So, he set down Ge Rusong's card and picked up the second one.

It was from Yang Sixuan, Chairman of the Ministry of Rites Decision Department!

The old attendant's eyes widened in shock.

"Also Duan Rong?!"

He opened the third, fourth, and successive cards...

With a rustling sound, all the cards were spread open before him.

"My goodness gracious!"

"All for this Duan Rong!?"

Who in the world is this person, to attract such competition from sect elders and hidden sages, all vying to accept him as a disciple!

And the conditions, each more generous than the last!? Unbelievable!