Li Mu wondered if he was born to be busy. Taking advantage of his vacation time, he even facilitated the cooperation between the Fu-lu School and the court.
In the past, although the court had cooperated with the various sects, it was only at a superficial level. For example, the large sects allowed their low-level disciples to be stationed in local government offices to help the local officials govern their areas. The court gave the sects their territories and allowed them to recruit disciples in the vicinity of the power they belonged to, and so on.
This kind of cooperation on a deeper level rarely happened in the past.
The reason was naturally the distrust between the two sides. The power and strength of these sects were too strong, strong enough to threaten the rule of the court. Moreover, the court had absolute control over the 36 counties in name. The Four Sects and Six Schools' activities in the secular world were greatly restricted.
Because of this suspicion and distrust, the Great Zhou court had never had an official from the Four Sects and Six Schools. Even a minor official was required to not have a sect background, and the high level positions of these sects were not held by officials of the court.
Li Mu was probably the first person to hold both a high position in the court and a high level of a sect. With him as the middleman, it was most appropriate.
Li Mu did not tell the Empress anything else about the Fu-lu School. He only said that he intended to facilitate the cooperation between the Fu-lu School and the court. The court would pay attention to the talented disciples of the Fu-lu School, and the Fu-lu School would also send powerful elders as guests of the court.
The Empress was currently lacking manpower, and this was something to be happy about.
However, Li Mu did not hear the Empress's happiness.
She was like a salted fish as an Empress. She did not have the slightest bit of initiative, nor was she active in doing things. Her most active activity was to run to Li Mu's house to freeload food, and to help Li Mu with the spirit snail to check on him.
More than 100 times in three days. Not to mention a superior, even a girlfriend rarely did this.
Fortunately, Liu Hanyan was different from her. Otherwise, Li Mu would probably go crazy.
In the spirit snail, the Empress said calmly, "You can decide on this matter."
This could also be considered a national policy. From a certain point of view, it was Li Mu's duty as the censor of the Palace Secretariat. However, he still had to ask for the Empress's permission, so as to avoid the bad reputation of a favored official causing chaos in the government.
Li Mu sighed. The Empress didn't even care about collaborating with Fu-lu School. He didn't know what she cared about …
On the other side, the Empress no longer mentioned this matter. Instead, she asked, "When are you coming back?"
Li Mu replied, "I will do it as soon as possible."
The voice in the conch was clearly dissatisfied. "You said it would be quick more than a month ago. How quick is it?"
Li Mu explained helplessly, "This time, it's really as fast as possible. The shortest is three days, the longest is five days …"
After spending a few days with Liu Hanyan, she went into seclusion with Yuzhen Zi. Li Mu could have returned to the Fairy's Capital now, but the Seven Peaks' Disciple Competition was about to begin. As a second-generation disciple, he needed to attend.
The Empress was really too much. She didn't care about the country's affairs and urged him to go back to work so urgently.
This also affected Li Mu's enthusiasm. Great Zhou was her Great Zhou, and Li Mu was working for her. She couldn't always sit at the top and let Li Mu do all the work. She should at least give him some response. This way, Li Mu would have more motivation to do things.
Li Mu put down the spirit conch and heard a buzzing sound coming from outside the courtyard.
The Dao Bell was urging him from outside.
Li Mu put away the spirit conch and walked out of the door. He said, "Don't rush me. I'm coming …"
…
White Cloud Mountain.
Today was the day of The Ancestral Court of Fu-lu School's Seven Peaks Competition. The All-Peak Competition was held once every four years like the Talisman Dao Trial. There was only a month's difference in time.
In the past, the results of the Talisman Dao Trial would be a hot topic among the disciples of the sect. However, this year, after the trial ended, it didn't cause much of a stir.
This was because the trial left too many mysteries for the disciples.
First of all, the first place of the previous trial would immediately become a core disciple and receive great support from the sect. They could enjoy cultivation resources that ordinary disciples couldn't enjoy. For a long time after the trial ended, the first place of the trial would be the object of envy of all the disciples.
However, the identity of this year's first place was still a mystery.
It wasn't just the first place. After the trial ended, the first and second place of the trial completely disappeared as if they had evaporated into thin air.
Other than that, on the day of the trial, there was a strange phenomenon on Mount Baiyun. No one knew what was going on.
However, according to the ancient books, some disciples guessed that when the Sage-level Fu-lu was born, there would be a Heavenly Tribulation. The strange phenomenon on Mount Baiyun that day was very similar to a Heavenly Tribulation.
As soon as this was said, there were different opinions.
Some people said that the Sect Master drew the Sage-level Fu-lu. Some people said that the strange phenomenon was caused by the Sect Master's advancement to Transcendence. Some people said that the person who drew the Sage-level Fu-lu was the first place of the trial. However, the sect had never explained this, and this matter had never been concluded.
Before the grand competition, the disciples of the various peaks had already gathered around the main peak's square.
This grand competition was related to the honor of the participating disciples, and also related to the resources that each peak could obtain from the sect in the next four years.
The top three disciples of the grand competition would each receive a Heaven-level Fu-lu. The first place of the grand competition would also have the opportunity to become a direct disciple of the Sect Master and be promoted to a third-generation elder.
The top ten disciples of the grand competition would also receive an Earth-level Fu-lu and the opportunity to receive guidance from the Sect Master.
Therefore, every time the grand competition was held, the disciples of the various peaks would do their best to obtain the highest ranking. This was not only for themselves, but also for the honor of the various peaks.
Li Mu originally wanted to return to the Divine Capital as soon as possible so that the Empress wouldn't nag him all day long.
However, Xuan Jizi said that he had to participate in this grand competition. He could skip the disciple recruitment ceremony, but as the disciple of the Grand Elder and a second-generation disciple of the Fu-lu School, he had to show his face in front of the disciples of the Ancestral Court and the important figures of the Fu-lu School's branches.
For this reason, he even gave Li Mu a Daoist name, Ling Jizi.
In the Fu-lu School, not everyone had a Daoist name. The third-generation and fourth-generation disciples didn't have high cultivation bases, so most of them called themselves by their secular names. Generally, only after they advanced to the Dongxuan level would they consider giving themselves a Daoist name.
After all, Sect Master Xuan Jizi and Sect Master Yuzhen sounded more like experts than Sect Master Wang Ergou and Sect Master Chen Erniu.
Although Li Mu wasn't used to his new Daoist name, he didn't resist it.
As soon as Li Mu landed on the main peak's square, Han Zhe walked over from a certain direction and asked in surprise, "You haven't returned to the Divine Capital yet?"
Li Mu replied, "I'll leave after the grand competition."
"You'll participate in the grand competition?" Han Zhe was stunned for a moment, then a surprised expression appeared on his face. He asked, "You've also joined our Fu-lu School? Don't tell me you've also taken a Sect Master as your master?"
Li Mu shook his head and said, "No."
Han Zhe breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Which Elder is your Master?"
Li Mu replied, "Fu Daozi."
Han Zhe touched his head and shook his head. "I've never heard of him. Which peak is he from?"
Li Mu replied, "The main peak."
Han Zhe said enviously, "The main peak is good. The main peak is full of core disciples. You can have whatever you want. You don't even need to fight. I told you, with your relationship with Liu … Martial Uncle Liu, you won't do too badly after joining the sect."
Li Mu looked around and asked, "Why haven't I seen Junior Sister Qin today?"
At the mention of Junior Sister Qin, Han Zhe looked helpless and said, "Don't mention it. I told her to reflect on her mistakes behind closed doors."
Li Mu asked, "What's wrong with her now?"
"You still have the nerve to ask?" Han Zhe glared at Li Mu and said, "If you hadn't left first last time, I wouldn't have asked Junior Sister Qin to drink with me. With her alcohol tolerance, she got drunk after just a few glasses. Moreover, she liked to take off her clothes when she was drunk. Not only did she take off her own clothes, but she also took off my clothes. Fortunately, I woke up at the critical moment. Otherwise, I really don't know how to face Senior Brother Qin's soul in heaven. The Primordial Yang body that I've maintained for more than 20 years might have been lost …"
Li Mu looked at him sympathetically and said, "Yes, it's too dangerous. Anything can happen when a man and a woman are alone. You'd better protect yourself. If you lose your Primordial Yang, it will be a big loss …"
Han Zhe agreed and said, "I didn't expect Junior Sister Qin to be so bad at drinking. I won't drink with her anymore!"
While they were chatting, more and more people gathered in the square of the main peak, and the sound of discussion was endless.
"I wonder which peak's senior brother will get first place in the competition this time …"
"The reward for first place is too generous. Not only will you become a third-generation disciple, but you'll also get a heaven-grade Fu-lu."
"That's equivalent to having an extra life. I wonder how many people are eyeing those three positions …"
"Eh … why is there an extra seat in front?"
"What? Let me count. One, two, three … eight, nine, there's really an extra one!"
…
All the disciples looked at the square in front of them, stunned.
During the competition, the Sect Leader and the seven peak chiefs would watch from the front. Therefore, there would be eight seats in front of the square.
These eight huge seats were made of spiritual jade and had runes carved on them. They floated in front of the square, dignified and noble, showing the owner's identity and status.
The Sect Leader and the seven peak chiefs should have eight seats. This was the usual practice in previous years.
However, this year, there were nine seats in front of the square.
"Could an elder have advanced to the sixth realm?"
"I don't know. If an elder had advanced, how could the peaks not know?"
"Could it be that one of the grand elders has returned?"
"That's not very likely. The grand elders have been wandering outside for more than ten years without any news. Even if they have returned, they have never cared about the competition between the peaks …"
…
Han Zhe looked at the nine seats in front of him with a puzzled expression. He mumbled, "This year's competition seems a little different from the previous years …"
When he turned around to look at Li Mu, he seemed to have noticed something. He looked Li Mu up and down a few times before lowering his head to look at himself. He asked in confusion, "Why is your Daoist robe different from mine?"
Han Zhe's Dao robe had a blue base, while Li Mu's Dao robe was mainly white.
In the Fu-lu School, disciples of different levels wore Dao robes of different colors.
For fourth generation disciples like Han Zhe, their Dao robes were mainly sky blue. For third generation disciples, the elders of the peaks, their Dao robes were pale yellow. Only the Sect Leader and the peak chiefs would wear white Dao robes.
Before Li Mu could speak, Han Zhe suddenly seemed to think of something. He looked at him in surprise and said in shock, "Fu, Fu Daozi, isn't Fu Daozi the Taoist name of the Grand Supreme Elder who disappeared for a long time? You, you, you, you took the Grand Supreme Elder as your master?"
Li Mu did not deny it, which was equivalent to admitting to Han Zhe's words.
Han Zhe was stunned. "R-Really?"
Li Mu replied, "Really."
Han Zhe grabbed his hair and mumbled, "Let me straighten it out first. You're a second generation disciple and I'm a fourth generation disciple. Doesn't that mean I have to call you Grandmaster Martial Uncle?"
Li Mu nodded and said, "In theory, yes."
Han Zhe suffered a huge blow. Although he didn't want to compare himself to Li Mu, his former friend had now become his martial granduncle. Li Mu even had to bow to him when he saw him in the sect. This was something that Han Zhe couldn't accept.
However, he quickly realized something and raised his head to look at Li Mu. He asked, "You're my Martial Granduncle. Doesn't that mean you're Miss Hanyan's Martial Granduncle and Junior Sister Li's Martial Granduncle? Wait, your relationship is too messy. Let me sort it out …"
After counting with his fingers, he finally figured it out and said, "Junior Martial Sister Li is no longer a disciple of the Fu-lu School. But Miss Hanyan is Yuzhen Zi's disciple. You're Yuzhen Zi's Junior Martial Brother, so you're her Grandmaster Martial Uncle. You're your future wife's Grandmaster Martial Uncle. Then what's the seniority of your child? Is he the same generation as me or a generation older than me? Wait a minute, I'm confused again …"
Before Han Zhe could figure it out, a bell rang from above, indicating that the competition was about to begin.
Han Zhe glanced at Li Mu, then ran away like a wisp of smoke. Li Mu felt that it would be difficult to find him for a drink in the future.
As the bell rang, the disciples of the various peaks had already taken their positions outside the square. Several figures flew out from the Dao Palace of the main peak. Xuan Jizi and the heads of the various peaks each took a seat.
Even Yuzhen Zi, who was in a state of seclusion, came out and sat to the right of Xuan Jizi.
Of the nine chairs, only the one to the left of Xuan Jizi was empty.
The disciples of the various peaks gathered and began to discuss in low voices.
"That seat was originally Yuzhen Zi's. Why is Yuzhen Zi sitting to the right of the Sect Master this time?"
"Who else can sit to the left of the Sect Master? Even if there's a new Elder, he doesn't have the qualifications to sit there. Could it really be a Grand Elder?"
"That should be it. Perhaps one of the elders is interested in watching the Grand Competition of the Mountains …"
…
During the competition, the seats in front of the square were carefully chosen.
The Sect Master's position was the most revered. His seat was in the center of the square, while the heads of the various peaks sat on either side of him. Among them, the left side was the most respected.
Sitting to the left of the Sect Master was a position that was second only to the Sect Master. In the past, this seat had belonged to Yuzhen Zi, the head of Baiyun Peak.
However, today, Yuzhen Zi was sitting to the right of the Sect Master. Apart from the Grand Elder, the disciples couldn't think of anyone else who had a position more respected than Yuzhen Zi.
They looked at the seat with curious eyes. Most of the disciples and even the Elders had never seen the Grand Elder's true appearance since they entered the sect.
Outside the square, the disciples of the various peaks had already returned to their positions. Li Mu stood alone in one corner.
He originally thought that he only needed to show his face. He didn't expect Xuan Jizi to be so serious. Yuzhen Zi was Liu Hanyan's Master and half his mother-in-law. Li Mu still felt some psychological pressure to replace her position.
Of the nine seats in front, he was the only one who hadn't taken his seat. Li Mu slowly flew over the square and sat to the left of Xuan Jizi.
The disciples of the various peaks of the Fu-lu School, the Elders, and the important figures invited by the various sub-sects were almost all paying attention to that seat.
When Li Mu took his seat, the square was quiet for a moment. The next moment, it was in an uproar.
Countless people looked at that seat with a stunned expression.
"Who is this person?"
"Why is he sitting in that seat?"
"Could he be one of the Grand Elders?"
"Isn't he the one who scared the runway bell? Why is he sitting in the Grand Elder's seat?"
During the Talisman Dao Trial, Li Mu was always shrouded in fog in the image shown by the Dark Light Technique. Most of the disciples of the Fu-lu School didn't recognize him. Only those who participated in the Talisman Dao Trial with him could see his true appearance.
At this time, among the disciples of the various peaks, those who passed the Talisman Dao Trial were even more shocked.
"Isn't he the first place of this trial?"
"He finally appeared again, and he's sitting in that seat …"
"That's a seat that only the second-generation disciples can sit in. What qualifications does he have? Could it be …"
…
Xuan Jizi's figure slowly flew up from his seat. He stretched out his hands and pressed down. The noise in the square instantly stopped.
He looked back at Li Mu. Li Mu's figure also slowly flew up and stood beside Xuan Jizi.
Xuan Jizi looked down and said slowly, "The one standing beside me is the disciple of the Grand Elder, Martial Uncle Fu Daozi, Junior Brother Ling Jizi. From today onwards, every disciple of the Fu-lu School will see him as if they see me …"
Xuan Jizi's short words set off waves in the hearts of countless people in the square.
The disciples of the Grand Elder were the second-generation disciples of the sect and had the same status as the Chiefs.
However, not all the Chiefs could make the Sect Master say "see him as if they see me". This sentence had always been used on the future Sect Master. Even the current Peak Chiefs didn't have such qualifications.
The Sect Master's words were tantamount to announcing that the young man was the future Sect Master of the Fu-lu School in front of all the important figures of the Fu-lu School's sub-sect …
If he was only the disciple of the Grand Elder, then the Sect Master had no reason to say this. Because all the Peak Chiefs were the disciples of the Grand Elder.
There must be another reason why he could sit to the left of the Sect Master.
Xuan Jizi floated in the air and said in a dignified voice, "Junior Brother Ling Jizi is the champion of the Talisman Dao Trial this time."
As soon as these words were spoken, the doubts that had been in the hearts of countless people for a month were solved.
The champion of the Talisman Dao Trial this time was different from all the previous times.
There had never been a Trial Taker who was able to walk above the 50th step.
There had also never been anyone who was able to cause a phenomenon of heaven and earth during the trial.
The square was in an uproar again.
"So it's him …"
"That phenomenon should be caused by him …"
"He's the one who drew the Fu-lu Saint Rank!"
"No wonder he was accepted as a disciple by the Grand Elder. No wonder the Sect Master thinks so highly of him …"
"This is simply reaching the heavens in a single step …"
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