Shennong Dao Master
Chapter 170 - 2: Li Fire Taoist School, Borrowing the Dao to Proceed_2

Chapter 170: Chapter 2: Li Fire Taoist School, Borrowing the Dao to Proceed_2

"Godfather, I have asked someone from Zong Shichang’s place to assist. Henceforth, Zheng’er will go there daily for martial training. You don’t have to worry about it," Zhao Xing said.

Zhao Ruide nodded. Mrs. Cai opened her mouth but did not say anything eventually.

Though she was reluctant to see her son endure hardships, witnessing Zhao Xing’s glory over the past month slowly changed her mind.

Who wouldn’t want their son to achieve great things?

Only Zhao Zheng disagreed with this arrangement. "No way, brother! How can you do this to me? I oppose it!"

"Your objection is invalid. Eat your meal!"

"Sigh..."

.....

February twenty-fifth.

Chen Shijie stepped down from his position, and Xue Wenzhong temporarily took over as the head of Agricultural Supervision.

Chen Shijie left all his properties in Gucheng, including that piece of Tianyuan Pear Garden, to Gui Niang.

At this moment, people realized that Chen Shijie had a beloved in Gucheng.

Yet, no one dared to covet the Tianyuan Pear Garden.

Not only because of strict laws but also due to the respectable reputation Chen Shijie had accumulated in Gucheng over the past five years.

Additionally, Chen Shijie had connections in the county, ensuring that no one dared to harbor ill intentions despite his significant wealth.

Of course, the most crucial point was that Chen Shijie left behind the Guardian Grassman that once protected Zhao Xing.

.....

February twenty-sixth, Mao Hour.

Zhao Xing shouldered a bamboo box and left his home in Kangping Square.

Upon reaching the Chen Mansion, a Cloud Flying Boat was already waiting at the training grounds.

Chen Shijie maneuvered the Cloud Flying Boat around Gucheng three times in the dark of night, then headed straight for Dayuan Prefecture.

.....

Dayuan Prefecture, located in the southern part of Pinghai State, was also the superior institution of Nanyang County, governed by a third-rank official.

Li Fire Taoist School had established a branch in the eastern part of Prefecture City.

As one of the Seventy-two Taoist Schools of Great Zhou, the Li Fire Taoist School only set up branches in Prefecture Cities.

Even so, the school’s branches were widespread across the Nineteen States, with an influence that radiated throughout Great Zhou.

Traveling from Gucheng to Prefecture City by Cloud Flying Boat took only half a day.

Upon entering the city, the three headed straight to the Li Fire Taoist School branch.

"The predecessor of the Li Fire Taoist School was the Li Fire Sect, once prominent, ranked ninth in the Divine Sect," Chen Shijie explained.

"Following the collapse of the old sect system, the Li Fire Sect aligned with Great Zhou and ceased to consider itself a sect, renaming to Li Fire Taoist School."

"The Grand Ancestor became the honorary dean of all Taoist schools, gradually assigning his descendants to hold important positions in various schools thereafter."

"Today, the vice-dean of the Li Fire Taoist School is the Imperial Family member, Ji Changkong. He is the Emperor’s cousin, having been ennobled as Prince Li Yang five hundred years ago."

"The dean of this branch in Dayuan Prefecture, Ji Qingshan, is also an Imperial Family member. Although quite young, he’s only two hundred and one years old, a nephew of the Emperor."

"Two hundred years old is considered young?" Zhao Xing asked, feigning surprise.

"In the Third Grade Realm, two hundred years old is indeed young," Chen Shijie explained, "Counting the lifespan extension and Gathering Essence Level, one can live up to five or six hundred years in the third-rank."

"Their life is only one-third spent. Isn’t that considered young?"

"That is true."

...

The Li Fire Taoist School sprawled over five thousand acres, with Spirit Mountain and Spirit Lake present within the school.

The Seventy-two Taoist Schools of Great Zhou had a unique admission process. Most of them established Dao Child Institutes, enrolling only children under the age of ten.

There were specialized personnel patrolling various places, scouting for children with promising talents and qualities.

These institutes were divided into inner and outer institutes, with each having different levels of hierarchy.

Students with outstanding performance in local Study Palace Academies could advance to various levels within the inner institutes for further learning.

To ensure sects’ alignment with the court, the Grand Ancestor instituted a system allowing Daoists from the Seventy-two Taoist Schools to become officials directly upon graduation, akin to guaranteed job placement.

In the old sect system, the bond between master and disciple was profound, often surpassing blood ties. A master’s relationship with a disciple was like that with a son, hence the saying, "A disciple is like a son to his master."

Disciples were forbidden from betraying their masters and switching allegiances.

However, in the modern Taoist schools, though respect for teachers and the Dao still prevailed, titles have changed, becoming simply teachers and students.

Teachers were not responsible for students’ personal futures, only for fulfilling the court’s educational mandates. Students were no longer confined to learning from a single teacher and faced no accusations of betraying the sect.

Nonetheless, some schools retained ancient traditions, practicing formal master-disciple relationships.

Unless it involved something like ’cleaning the portal’—killing students for insubordination—everything followed the laws of Great Zhou, and the court did not meddle in personal affairs.

...

The entrance archway of the Li Fire Taoist School was grand and ancient.

Entry required proper credentials, so Zhao Xing, Chen Shijie, and Long Xiao waited at an entry point for someone to escort them.

"The teachers at the Taoist school are divided into five levels: Hundred Arts Master, Preaching Master, Doctor of Governance, Vice-Dean, and Dean," Long Xiao explained.

"The Marquis is acquainted with a Doctor of Governance at the Dayuan Prefecture branch. He will send someone to guide us inside." Long Xiao introduced.

The relationship between the Divine Might Army and Li Fire Taoist School seemed amicable. It wasn’t long before a youth in a yellow robe flew out to meet the three, landing before them.

He held half of a jade pendant identical to the one in Chen Shijie’s hand.

"Are you Long Xiao and Mr. Chen Shijie?" the yellow-robed youth asked.

"Indeed."

"My teacher has sent me to escort you to the Li Fire Altar." The yellow-robed youth glanced at Zhao Xing. "Hmm? Why is there an extra person? And a cat?"

"He’s also with the Divine Might Army."

"Can it withstand the True Monarch’s Dao?" The yellow-robed youth eyed the Mountain Cat with doubt. Being a lower institute student, his perception was limited and could not discern the cat’s grade.

"This is an Exotic Beast Mountain Cat, an eighth-grade." Chen Shijie briefly explained. "Do not worry about it."