Chapter 733 -735: Re-discussing Divine Enthronement, The Dust Settles
“Daoist, this Divine Dao examination is indeed commendable. Each family has its own quota, yet the capable rise while the incompetent fall, thus preventing the breeding of greed and corruption,” Tai Shang Zhenren said in agreement after hearing about Qin Muye’s Divine Dao examination system.
The interests involved were not an issue because the quotas for the Three Sects were fixed, and selection was based on ranking. After all, the ones who entered were their own disciples, and wasn’t it better to cultivate capable ones?
The leaders of the Kunlun Sect and the Penglai Sect naturally agreed, and the most affirming should be the Heavenly Dao, as if this endeavor succeeded, It would benefit the most.
“But who should preside over this grand examination?” the leader of the Penglai Sect brought up, obviously meaning that the Three Sects themselves were not suitable, as that could easily lead to internal problems. They needed to find a fair and impartial third party to handle it.
It was normal for the disciples within the sect to have personal relations, but that didn’t mean the Three Sects’ Sect Masters needed such relations in the Divine Dao examination. What they needed there were capable disciples, not ones with connections.
“Why not have me and the Heavenly Dao take charge? Lord of Heaven will set the questions and oversee the examination, while I will be responsible for the selection and order from all sides, and finally confirm the candidates. In this way, with our roles separate, there may be some oversights, but generally, there should be no major errors,” Qin Muye offered immediately.
Setting questions and overseeing the exam was definitely not something he could do, as his main purpose for using the pretext of the Divine Dao examination to re-discuss Divine Enthronement was to start a training class. To actually take charge of setting questions and overseeing the exam would be inappropriate, so he naturally gave up the idea without hesitation. Besides, it would be really tiring to take charge of those tasks.
The others naturally had no objections. If someone else took on the work while they benefited, how could they possibly speak out against it?
However, they also wondered why Qin Muye was willing to do this. Was there some benefit involved, or was it simply to please the Heavenly Dao?
There was no sense of crisis. Now that the matters of the Divine Dao had bound them together, and the Sect Masters of the Three Sects, having lived for so many years, had long since understood many things.
“Since that’s the case, let’s confirm the arrangements for the Divine Dao examination. After returning, the three of you Daoists should remember to notify the disciples within your sects to prepare in advance. Though the examination ranks by merit, if the score is too low…” Qin Muye left his words unfinished, as it was somewhat offensive to say more.
Low scores would embarrass the Sect Masters of the Three Sects and displease the Heavenly Dao, after all. These Divine positions were meant to recruit for managing worldly and divine public duties, and with such poor performance, how could they be deemed fit for the role?
“Understood, this matter is clear to us,” responded the leader of Tai Shang, who also quietly contemplated ways to get the sect’s disciples to study harder.
Since the Heavenly Dao was the one setting the questions, doing well not only meant securing a Divine Position but also an opportunity to impress in the presence of the Heavenly Dao—a prime opportunity indeed.
The same thought occupied the leaders of the Kunlun Sect and the Penglai Sect. This was an issue that truly required their attention, and they could not afford to disregard it.
Consequently, their thoughts turned to Qin Muye, who followed the Earth Immortal Dao and had the Divine Dao within him. Although inscrutable, his ability to propose this Divine Dao System signified he had a profound understanding of it.
So the three contemplated seeking Qin Muye’s assistance afterward, hoping that he could help their disciples perform even better at the right time.
But they suppressed that thought for the moment, as it was not a major issue. After all, considering everything, Qin Muye seemed generous and was not one to sweat the small stuff—there shouldn’t be any problem.
What they truly had to face now was the issue of the Divine Dao benefits for their disciples.
As Qin Muye remained silent, the discussions between the Sect Masters of the Three Sects and the Heavenly Dao gradually intensified.
They would have liked to shirk the task a bit longer, but seeing that Qin Muye wanted to perfect the Divine Dao System quickly, they gritted their teeth and got started.
Qin Muye had given them face and had offered thoughtful help. If they were to behave in a non-committal manner now, they might be looked down on by him.
Normally, discussing Divine Enthronement should have waited at least a millennium, but Qin Muye took them by surprise, bringing it up again in just two days.
And it seemed that a decision had to be made today; otherwise, Qin Muye was likely to start dragging his feet.
If the Chief Engineer started slacking, their plans for Divine Enthronement might be compromised. However, they could understand Qin Muye’s perspective, as everything had been settled, and to hesitate because of greed would make anyone wonder if they might be the next to experience such reluctance, especially since he was alone.
Unfortunately, these were only their guesses. In reality, Qin Muye internally wished they would drag it on as long as possible; it would have been best if they stopped talking and started fighting physically.
Regretfully, things did not go as anyone wished, because of the Divine Dao examination, the negotiations between the Sect Masters of the Three Sects and the Heavenly Dao normalized considerably.
In the end, just as Qin Muye had hoped, the Sect Masters of the Three Sects ceded ten percent of the Divine Dao benefits for their disciples to the Heavenly Dao, and in return, the Heavenly Dao agreed to grant the disciples a chance for Sudden Enlightenment during their term as compensation.
The term lasted for a hundred years, so essentially, cultivators could gain Sudden Enlightenment once every hundred years, which was an enormous blessing. After all, some cultivators might not experience such an epiphany in their entire lifetime.
Not everyone who becomes an Immortal is a chosen prodigy, some have worked their way up step by step.
Moreover, Sudden Enlightenment isn’t so easy to achieve, requiring not just one’s own comprehension but also the favor of the Heavenly Dao. That is to say, only if the Heavenly Dao took a liking to someone would it offer assistance, otherwise, they might never get the chance in their whole life.
This kind of opportunity was usually reserved for the Children of Destiny.
But now, the Three Sects’ Sect Masters had negotiated it as one of the benefits of the Divine Dao, of course, there were other benefits besides the hundred-year term’s Sudden Enlightenment, but compared to Sudden Enlightenment, they paled significantly.
After the discussion of this matter, it certainly wasn’t over yet. Since it had been decided, the construction of structures like the Heavenly Court, Underworld, and mortal temples etc., needed further confirmation.
Just that this task fell upon Qin Muye.
Fortunately, Qin Muye was well-prepared, bringing out a large number of blueprints, meaning you do the construction yourself, his helping with the design was already quite generous.
Beyond that, boundaries also had to be established, etc.
Take Earth Gods, for example, surely you can’t just take whatever land you wish?
Fortunately, they didn’t need to worry about these things, as the Heavenly Dao would arrange it, and disciples of the Three Sects would assist as well, needing only to build suitable structures in the appropriate areas.
Divine Decrees and Divine Positions also had to wait until these matters were settled, to be issued by Qin Muye, then scrutinized a second time by the Heavenly Dao, directly changing from wild gods with licentious worship to legitimate gods of heaven and earth.
Once all these had been agreed upon, the great matter of Divine Enthronement would be considered accomplished.
As for objections from below? That was simply impossible; this was to the benefit of everyone. There might be dissenters, but they would have to conform to the greater good.
Qin Muye, the Heavenly Dao, and the Three Sects’ Sect Masters, they were the greater good. As long as they spoke up, any opposition within the Three Sects, no matter how loud, would not matter. If someone genuinely opposed the Divine Enthronement, rest assured they would be dealt with first by those who stood to benefit.
The Three Sects had rules, but that didn’t mean they were without darkness. Suppression, exile, and other such issues were not uncommon.
Naturally, the Three Sects’ Sect Masters were aware of these incidents, but they did not intervene. Instead, they turned a blind eye, considering it a form of tempering for the disciples.
If some were worn down, it was of no consequence; the sects weren’t lacking in geniuses. They just needed to control the extent of it carefully.
For instance, overly egregious acts such as bullying the weak or underhanded tactics would be dealt with, but issues among peers or those of equal strength were generally not regulated too strictly.
“Now that the matter of Divine Enthronement has been settled, I wonder if any of my fellow Daoists still have objections?” Since it was Qin Muye who initiated, it naturally fell to him to conclude.
“No significant objections. Let us implement it as discussed today,” the Supreme Daoist Master was the first to speak up in agreement.
The leaders of the Kunlun and Penglai Sects naturally followed suit.
The Heavenly Dao simply took it for granted.
“Without objections, then I ask the three fellow Daoists to first complete the Heavenly Court, Underworld, and mortal temples. I will return to prepare some teaching materials. Presumably, the disciples of your sects are quite unfamiliar with the Divine Dao and might find it difficult to grasp it. They could do well to attend my training classes for some revision.”
“Of course, charging a fee, I presume the three fellow Daoists would not mind.”
When Qin Muye said this, the Three Sects’ Sect Masters thought his choice of words a bit odd but understood the gist. If Qin Muye was willing to teach, then spending some money was a small matter.
Besides, receiving teachings and solving doubts from a Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal was not something just anyone could experience. Even if there was a fee, there would be throngs of people clamoring to get in.