Chapter 992: Nanyang
The next morning, Qi Xuansu had already sobered up. He first went to Ziwei Hall and happened to run into Lei Xiaohuan.
Qi Xuansu felt genuine closeness to his former superior, now turned colleague. Naturally, he offered his congratulations for Lei Xiaohuan’s promotion to Chief Deputy Mansion Master of Jiangnan Daoist Mansion.
The news that Lei Xiaohuan would succeed Bai Yingqiong as the Chief Deputy Jiangnan Daoist Mansion Master had already been made public. In a few days, she would formally assume office, partnering with the new Jiangnan Daoist Mansion Master, Zhang Jucheng. These past days, she had been busy clearing out her office at Ziwei Hall as she had many belongings to bring along.
The appointment was reasonable, since Lei Xiaohuan represented the Pei family under Sage Donghua. The frivolous and idle Pei Xiaolou had been disappointing, unable to advance his cultivation. So no matter how much his brother Sage Donghua tried to support him, it was futile. At best, Pei Xiaolou could only be a Deputy Palace Master. By contrast, Lei Xiaohuan had advanced vigorously these past years, having lingered at the Wuliang stage for quite some time, quietly building her foundation. Within a few more years, she would likely break through to the Zaohua stage.
Like Bai Yingqiong, Lei Xiaohuan was not certain she could reach immortality. But she could certainly become a Pseudo-Immortal. Thus, Sage Donghua decided to shift his support to his sister-in-law, leaving Pei Xiaolou to live as a carefree idler.
This was the Daoist Order’s rigid rule. Without sufficient cultivation, one could not command respect and thus could not climb to a high office. Since the Golden Tower Council was fundamentally a collective deliberation, individual strategic thinking was not so important, aside from special positions like the Grand Master.
Put plainly, if one could not command others, even grand strategies would be wasted, simply reduced to empty talk or armchair scheming. At most, such people were suited to be advisors.
Lei Xiaohuan showed little joy in gaining this promotion. She sighed and shook her head. “Well, this isn’t something to be happy about. You were there when the seven-person task force went to Jiangnan, so you know what the Jiangnan Daoist Mansion is like. To serve as Chief Deputy in such a place is no simple task.”
Qi Xuansu replied, “Precisely because it’s no simple task that the Earthly Preceptor chose you to assume the position. The Golden Tower Council also saw the complexity of Jiangnan, so they ordered a personnel change for new blood, not only replacing the Mansion Master and Chief Deputy, but several other Deputies as well.”
Lei Xiaohuan finally laughed. “You rascal, spouting nonsense so smoothly. Others may not know the reason for the personnel changes, but I’m sure you’re aware of Zhang Juquan’s matter.”
Of course, Qi Xuansu knew. He had even personally arrested some of those involved. But it was not something fit to speak out in the open.
So Qi Xuansu changed the subject. “Jiangnan is prosperous, being the empire’s granary. As they say, with wealth comes strife, and with abundance comes contention. Now, with the rift between the three Daoist sects widening, you must be cautious during your posting, Sage Lei.”