Chapter 251: Life 73, Age 47, Martial Grandmaster Peak
The leadership council spent a month talking to their people to work out ways of choosing new elders that were considered broadly acceptable by nearly everyone. Once they were done, they requested my presence at a council session to discuss the matter.
After guiding me to my seat at the head of their horseshoe-like table, ShouLi got down to business.
“Patriarch, certain members of the clan have recently been agitating for changes to our leadership structure. After a series of lengthy discussions, we have agreed to implement a new system to address their concerns. We would like your blessing to move forward with these changes, and we would like your assistance in implementing them.”
As I had been spying on their meetings, I already had a good understanding of what they would ask for, but I refrained from mentioning this. I simply smiled and gestured for ShouLi to continue.
“What do you have in mind?”
“First, we feel that a new rank needs to be created for certain members of the clan. We would like your consent and support in raising a few people to be deacons. Where the clan’s disciples would be focused only on their personal cultivation, and where the elders would mainly be concerned with the clan’s management, the deacons would be a transitional step. This would be for those who are ready to step back from focusing only on their own power and are willing to spend more time helping others.”
I nodded. “That’s simple enough. I will provide you with the necessary tokens to make this official.”
ShouLi dipped her head. “Thank you, Patriarch. We have also each developed new methods for choosing elders connected to our respective divisions. Each year, there will be a contest to replace one of the inner elders and all of the outer elders who report to them.”
I furrowed my brow in feigned confusion. “The deacons and elders will fight, and the strongest will become the new inner elder?”