Chapter 1222: Thirty
Qi Xuansu had just turned 30.
Back in the 41st year of the Jiushi Era, he had been 25 years old and a seventh-rank Daoist who had arrived alone in Jade Capital, where he joined the Tiangang Hall and began his ascent within the Daoist Order.
Now, in the 45th year of the Jiushi Era, Qi Xuansu had become a second-rank Taiyi Daoist and firmly established himself among the upper echelons of the Daoist order, with a faction of his own.
Qi Xuansu had advanced five ranks in 5 years, nearly one rank per year. Such a rate of promotion was truly astonishing within the Daoist Order.
If Qi Xuansu could successfully enter the Nine Halls next year and assume the position of Chief Deputy Hall Master, it would mean that he stood a chance of becoming an Omniscient Sage before the age of 40, making him the youngest Omniscient Sage in the entire Daoist Order.
There were still two major thresholds to cross from Mansion Master to Hall Master, and then to Hall Master of one of the Three Great Halls. Even if it took ten years to cross one threshold, it should not be overly difficult to become the Hall Master of one of the Three Great Halls by 60.
By any measure, Qi Xuansu would be a strong contender for the position of eighth-generation Grand Master.
Although, in theory, any Omniscient Sage was qualified to compete for the position of Grand Master, the candidates were almost always drawn from among the Three Great Hall Masters. Nearly every Grand Master had presided over one of the Three Great Halls. Some had even rotated through all of them.
At 30, it was typical for one to establish a family and career.
Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu’s marriage was set. All that remained was for both of them to return to Jade Capital for their wedding ceremony. Qi Xuansu would return as early as next year, while Zhang Yuelu might be a bit later, perhaps by half a year or a full year.
However, given their circumstances, even after becoming Daoist companions, they were destined to spend little time together. If they were both stationed in Jade Capital, they could still live together. But once Qi Xuansu took up a post as a Mansion Master, they would then be separated across vast distances.
This was the downside of being evenly matched, as neither could truly yield their career for the other.