Hall Discussions

The Four Seas Dragon Palaces had all arranged for outstanding younger dragons to come to Mount Sumeru and become disciples. The people from the Northern Sea Dragon Palace were only the first batch. The Western Sea Dragon Palace was nearby, so they should be arriving at Mount Sumeru soon as well. As for the Southern Sea and the farthest Eastern Sea Dragon Palaces, they would probably need quite some time to arrive.

Speaking of accepting disciples, after Mount Sumeru opened its gates, Jieyin and Zhunti divided the disciples they accepted into several categories.

The first category was direct disciples. They had deep karmic ties, exceptional aptitude, and pursuits similar to those of the two of them. They would inherit the two teachers' legacies and were also the disciples they valued most.

The second category was inner disciples. They had fairly deep karmic ties and decent aptitude. They could glorify the sect and help it branch out and flourish. The two teachers valued them quite highly as well.

The third category was outer disciples, also called registered disciples. They had shallow karmic ties and average aptitude. They were generally used to spread the sect's ideals and expand its influence, so they would not receive much attention.

There was also another category: those who had happened to hear them preach. Although such people would call them their teachers, the other party would not truly acknowledge them. It was like when Old Ancestor Hongjun preached the Dao three times. Apart from the six disciples he personally accepted, none of the others who heard him could be considered his disciples. The two sides had merely completed a transaction through fortune: the masses acknowledged Old Ancestor Hongjun's status as the Dao Ancestor, aided his ascension with their own fortune, and repaid him for his kindness in preaching.

At this time, within the Western Teachings, the direct disciples were Jiang Yun, Medicine Master, Maitreya, and Ksitigarbha. The inner disciples included Mahasthamaprapta, Sunlight, Moonlight, Kinnara, Fajie, Vajragarbha, and around ten others. All the remaining disciples were outer disciples.

The dragon disciples sent by the Four Seas Dragon Palaces to become disciples would basically all be registered disciples. Jieyin would wait until the people from the Western Sea Dragon Palace had arrived, then arrange a suitable time for them to enter the hall together and formally become disciples.

To increase the enthusiasm of these ordinary disciples, Jiang Yun made a suggestion to Jieyin and Zhunti: they should introduce a points-based evaluation system within the Western Teachings. If some outer disciples with less outstanding aptitude made extraordinary contributions to the sect and accumulated enough points, they could be granted treasures that refined their innate foundations, while also being accepted into the inner sect. This would open a path for ordinary disciples to rise, make them more invested in the sect's development, and ensure a steady influx of fresh blood.

Because of this matter, Jieyin and Zhunti pulled Jiang Yun into a discussion about their ideas for the Western Teachings' internal institutions.

After hearing Jiang Yun explain the structure of the offices, the two of them realized that the Western Teachings currently had only established disciple ranks based on how much they valued them. They had not set up any concrete administrative structure. Such a sect was too loosely organized.

Using the organizational structure of the offices as a reference, they decided to establish corresponding institutions within the sect as well.

First was the Scripture Hall. This was the most important institution, without exception, as it housed the entire sect's inheritance.

There was no need to establish a Transmission Hall within the sect. There were very few direct and inner disciples, and the two teachers' sermons and guidance in the Grand Hall were enough to cover them. As for the remaining registered disciples, the direct and inner disciples would be responsible for teaching and transmitting the Dao to them!

The Mission Hall and Exchange Hall were the same. For missions like the First Five-Year Plan, the two of them would assign them to the direct disciples, who would lead the inner disciples in completing them. They would handle everything that was needed.

As for the Enforcement Hall, this was a very important institution. Disciples who damaged the sect's merit and fortune would need to be caught through the Enforcement Hall's daily inspections and dealt with promptly. This concerned the stability of the Western Teachings.

In addition, based on Jiang Yun's suggestion regarding the promotion of ordinary disciples, they would establish a Personnel Hall specifically for this purpose. It would record ordinary disciples' contributions to the sect, investigate their backgrounds, and conduct promotion assessments. Those who passed the assessment could be arranged for promotion.

Finally, a General Affairs Office was established at the Dao Field on Mount Sumeru to coordinate the offices at the various future nodes. It would serve as an internal institution, with the offices established at every level under its jurisdiction. At the same time, a Foreign Affairs Office was established, temporarily placed under Jiang Yun's responsibility with the Mysterious Turtle of the North Sea assisting him. It would handle external affairs, such as its first task of managing the upcoming negotiations with the dragon clan and reaching an alliance as soon as possible.

The General Affairs Office would initially be managed by Zhunti. Based on the manual Jiang Yun had compiled about the construction experience of the Spirit Bamboo Mountain node, he would train the disciples currently within the sect. Once several direct and inner disciples reached the Golden Immortal Realm, they would be sent to establish the corresponding first-level nodes in the east and south. As for the west and north, after discussing it with Jieyin, he decided to hand the Western node to the Western Sea Dragon Palace for cooperative construction, while Jiang Yun would be responsible for building the Northern node. Zhunti would personally follow up on the progress of the Western node, while Jiang Yun would have full authority over the Northern node. He could have the Northern Sea Dragon Palace assist him, making this the first cooperative attempt between the two sides.

After they finished discussing these matters, Jiang Yun remembered that when they had been at Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain, the Great Immortal Zhenyuanzi had invited them to visit Wuzhuang Temple five thousand years later, when the fruits of the Ginseng Fruit Tree ripened, to taste the fruit and discuss the Dao.

Now, there were only a little over a thousand years left before the Ginseng Fruit matured. After subtracting the time needed for the journey, the time remaining was not particularly long.

"Teacher, Uncle-Master, there are now only a little over a thousand years until the Ginseng Fruit matures. It would be unwise to advance the construction of the Western and Northern nodes at this time. Let us wait until we return from tasting the fruit and discussing the Dao at Wuzhuang Temple before beginning construction on those two nodes!" Jiang Yun said.

"We can make preparations first. Once the people from the Western Sea arrive, you can arrange for discussions with the Western Sea and Northern Sea Dragon Palaces. We will begin taking action after returning from Wuzhuang Temple," Zhunti replied.

"On this trip to Wuzhuang Temple, which junior brothers do you and Uncle-Master plan to bring along?"

"Besides us, the Three Pure Ones will also be participating in this trip to Wuzhuang Temple. Our group should not be too large. Your Uncle-Master and I plan to bring only the four of you direct disciples with us." After Jieyin answered Jiang Yun's question, he turned to the Mysterious Turtle of the North Sea and asked, "Fellow Daoist Mysterious Turtle, would you be interested in coming with us?"

Although the Mysterious Turtle of the North Sea lived in the North Sea year-round, he had still heard of the famous Ginseng Fruit Tree, one of the ten greatest supreme Innate Spiritual Roots. Since he had the good fortune to be invited to see it this time, he naturally would not refuse.

"I have also heard of the Ginseng Fruit Tree. Since it will mature this time and I have the good fortune to go see it, I certainly will not refuse."

"Excellent. Five hundred years from now, we will set out for Longevity Mountain together. Jiang Yun, go inform your junior brothers."

"Yes, Teacher."

Jiang Yun answered and withdrew from the Grand Hall, preparing to inform his fellow junior brothers.