Chapter 313: The State Preceptor's Fury
Da Chen National Daoist Institute.
The Nine-star Tide had ended, and the tumultuous National Taoist Institute had gradually stabilized.
During the Nine-star Tide, the passing of Xu Jin, the top of the autumn exam at the Taoist Institute, caused a huge stir, leading to endless discussions and sighs among countless disciples. However, as quickly as it came, it also passed.
In just over ten days, the National Taoist Institute had completely returned to calm. Those who had died, Xu Jin not being the only one, were consoled and rewarded, and after those duties were fulfilled, the majority of disciples resumed their regular lives of cultivation, practical training, researching Star Pattern, and rigorously practicing Star Skill.
Only Feiyan Academic Hall still lingered in remembrance of Xu Jin.
Even after more than ten days, the whole Feiyan Academic Hall remained lifelessly quiet, with Vice Academician Liu Feiyan taking several days of leave.
With the eldest sister Yang Miaozhen away at the Star Domain and the second sister Tang Chuo frequently mentioning their eldest brother, the hall was filled with mourning.
Inside the Pill Dawn Hall, the State Preceptor Cheng Yuxiao, unusually, brewed a pot of tea and enjoyed it leisurely on his own.
Seeing the Palace Master at ease, Elder Peng also happily took a seat opposite Cheng Yuxiao, picked up a cup of tea, and cheerfully asked, "Palace Master, how has that lad been doing recently?"
The matter regarding Xu Jin was something Elder Peng could not be kept in the dark about.
Currently, on the Da Chen side, the number of people who were aware of Xu Jin's feigned death was not small, including the State Preceptor, Elder Peng, Left Libationer Meng Yanhui, Kou Jing, and Ji Bang.
Elder Peng was someone who couldn't be avoided, as there were some matters that still required Meng Yanhui's involvement.
Initially, Cheng Yuxiao had planned to arrange for Xu Jin's father and Jiang'er in the Fifth-tier Star Domain guarded by Meng Yanhui's son, but the Star Domain guarded by the Meng Family became quite unstable during the Nine-star Tide and turned unsafe, so he had approached Ji Bang instead.
Kou Jing's involvement was an accident.
However, these four individuals were absolutely trustworthy in their own right, and the Great State Preceptor Cheng Yuxiao had personally placed a seal using the Nine Bright Chime, so there was no concern that news about Xu Jin would be leaked.
"Everything is well, he has been settled in the Da Chen Battle Zone and has recently devoted himself to cultivation."
"Right, how about Jiang'er, has she been settled properly? I'm not worried about that lad, but what concerns me the most now is my adoptive granddaughter; she hasn't cast her Star Skill yet, her cultivation level is still low, she's young, and her mind is heavy," said Elder Peng with a chuckle.
"Ji Bang has reported that all arrangements have been made, and from now on, a letter will be sent every month to ensure peace of mind..."
While they were talking, a flash of starlight passed outside the hall, heralding the arrival of Left Libationer Meng Yanhui.
Upon entering and sitting down at the tea table, Meng Yanhui took a sip of tea and then said somewhat helplessly, "State Preceptor, His Majesty still refuses to use the seal. He says he could confer a posthumous title on anyone, but he simply cannot confer one on Xu Jin. Ordinary people can seek revenge for kin, but how can he, the mighty Emperor of Da Chen, hold his nose and confer a title on the man who killed his own son? What kind of reasoning is that?"
After speaking, Meng Yanhui looked helplessly towards Cheng Yuxiao and asked, "State Preceptor, what should be done about this?"
The conferment of titles in Da Chen was drawing to a close.
This round of conferment was a joint acknowledgment of the merits from both the Lougong Battle and the Nine-star Tide.
During the Nine-star Tide, apart from the incident in Pill Sun County, Xu Jin's merits were not considered significant, but the merits he earned in the Lougong Battle were not something that could be rewarded with just an Unparalleled Achievement.
Not to mention the capture of a Fourth-tier Star Domain, even the five Third-tier Star Domain achievements could be considered five Miracle Merits.
However, in view of the current Qian'an Emperor, the State Preceptor Cheng Yuxiao only reported the capture of two Third-tier Star Domains in the war reports and requested the conferment of a First-class Marquis title for Xu Jin with two Unparalleled Achievements.
According to Dachen Law, the posthumous conferment goes up by one tier.
Therefore, the title requested for Xu Jin was that of a Third-class Duke of Dachen.
But Emperor Qian'an had been stalling on using the seal.
On this matter, even Cheng Yuxiao was helpless.
The imperial conferment is the privilege of the Emperor, and Cheng Yuxiao could not influence it at all.
Cheng Yuxiao gently put down his teacup, "No matter, Xu Jin does not lack this posthumous title! In the future, conferring a Prince title will likely be a trivial matter. Yanhui, inform everyone, the National Taoist Institute Secret Realm is convening. All Deans, Mountain Masters, Superintendents, and Star Patrol Guard Governors from the various states and counties of our great Da Chen National Taoist Institute are to participate."
"Understood."
Meng Yanhui stood up to carry out the order and immediately went to make arrangements.
Two hours later, inside the deliberation Secret Realm of the Da Chen National Daoist Institute, hundreds of Da Chen National Daoist Institute's high-level officials sat in council, including Left and Right Libationers sitting below the platform.
And on the entire raised platform, there was only one chair.
Right Libationer Song Bing looked around with some confusion; this session had come without any warning.
Suddenly, a stream of starlight fell, and the Great Chen Imperial Master Cheng Yuxiao arrived, prompting everyone to stand up and greet him.
"Ladies and gentlemen, time is precious, and I shall not waste words, so let me go straight to the point!"
"The Battle of Lougong, our Da Chen emerged triumphant as number one, and during the Nine-star Tide, we collaborated effectively to protect the country and the people, achieving outstanding combat results.
To further the future development of our Da Chen, I make the following adjustments."
"Academician Kou Jing is assigned to serve as the Right Military Adviser in the Da Chen Battle Zone at the Galaxy Battlefield. Right Libationer Song Bing is assigned to serve as the Right Military Adviser in the Da Chen Battle Zone for the Leopard Army, to assume office within three months..."
A series of reassignments were announced, surprising some and catching others off guard.
But the most surprised was Right Libationer Song Bing.
His expression turned gloomy in an instant.
This unexpected reassignment to the Galaxy Battlefield was a clear indication from the State Preceptor Cheng Yuxiao – a kick out of the National Daoist Institute.
He did not want to go to the Galaxy Battlefield.
If he were to break through to the Seventh Tier, he might consider going, but before that breakthrough, he was unwilling!
Yet he could not refuse this assignment!
He wondered if Emperor Qian'an could change this appointment?
Subsequently, Cheng Yuxiao announced a series of personnel appointments.