Prefecture Academy
Immortal Rank Begins with Admission to the Prefectural AcademyContents
- 1Biodata
- 2Purpose and Training Philosophy
- 3Organization and Leadership
- 3.1Administrative Structure
- 3.2Known Officials
- 4Admission and Advancement Requirements
- 4.1Prefecture Examination
- 4.2Enrollment and Cultivation Milestones
- 5Grounds and Facilities
- 5.1East River Realm
- 5.2Notable Locations
- 6Instruction and Disciple Support
- 6.1Lectures
- 6.2Resources and Patronage
- 7Rules and Discipline
- 8Yearly Examination
- 8.1Mission Grades
- 9History and Major Events
- 9.1Jiang Yan’s Enrollment
- 9.2The Azurewood Tree God Incident
- 9.3Training Reorganization
Contents
- 1Biodata
- 2Purpose and Training Philosophy
- 3Organization and Leadership
- 3.1Administrative Structure
- 3.2Known Officials
- 4Admission and Advancement Requirements
- 4.1Prefecture Examination
- 4.2Enrollment and Cultivation Milestones
- 5Grounds and Facilities
- 5.1East River Realm
- 5.2Notable Locations
- 6Instruction and Disciple Support
- 6.1Lectures
- 6.2Resources and Patronage
- 7Rules and Discipline
- 8Yearly Examination
- 8.1Mission Grades
- 9History and Major Events
- 9.1Jiang Yan’s Enrollment
- 9.2The Azurewood Tree God Incident
- 9.3Training Reorganization
Biodata
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Prefecture Academy |
| Original Name | 府院 |
| Type | Prefecture-level Dao Academy within the Immortal Dynasty’s educational system 14. |
| Named Institution | East River Prefecture Academy, also called Donghe Prefecture Dao Academy 19. |
| Affiliation | Immortal Dynasty; the East River academy falls under Lihuo Commandery 86. |
| Location | East River Town in the East River Realm, a conquered plane shared by five Prefecture Academies 20 107. |
| Role | Trains future Seventh-Grade Dao Army recruits, particularly in survival behind enemy lines; also prepares disciples for logistical work 23 61. |
| Headmaster | Dean Brush Holder, head of the East River Prefecture Academy 104 105. |
| Standing | The strongest of the five Prefecture Academies stationed in the East River Realm, according to Jiang Chi 20. |
| First Mention | Discussed as a destination for Jiang Household disciples 6. |
| First On-Site Appearance | Jiang Yan enters the academy’s plane and reaches its grounds 18 19. |
Purpose and Training Philosophy
The Prefecture Academy prepares cultivators for the Immortal Dynasty’s campaigns against other planes. Seventh Grade is the minimum rank for Dao Army enlistment, and new recruits may be scattered behind enemy lines. The academy therefore emphasizes resourcefulness, caution, and survival rather than providing a sheltered cultivation environment 11 23.
Its harsh conditions are deliberate, not simply the result of insufficient resources. Dragonflame Daoist explains that threats such as Desire Corpse Daoist create urgency among disciples. Exceptional talents attract powerful masters and protection, while most others are expected to develop the skills needed to survive dangerous assignments 23 42.
- Combat path: Reach Seventh Grade and become eligible for planar warfare or the Commandery Academy entrance examination 12 23.
- Support path: Accept academy assignments involving logistical and cultivation-related work; Jiang Yunyao follows this route by refining Lustful Desire Qi 61.
- Further education: The Commandery Academy places greater emphasis on combat Dao arts and frees its students from the mundane concerns imposed at the prefectural level 23.
Organization and Leadership
Administrative Structure
Prefecture Academies follow the Ten Directions Jungle System, also used by higher-level Dao Academies. The academy head generally leaves routine administration to subordinate officials 14.
| Office | Responsibilities and Rank |
|---|---|
| Academy Head | Stands above the administrative hierarchy and often does not manage ordinary affairs directly. East River’s head demonstrates Fifth-Grade power 14 104 107. |
| Three Directors | The highest administrators beneath the head, overseeing administration, instruction, and the kitchen 14. |
| Five Masters / Five Lords | Senior authorities responsible for Quietude, the Hall, the Palace, the Scriptures, and Transformation. Prefecture-level holders are Sixth Grade 14 46. |
| Eighteen Heads | Specialized stewards managing individual areas. The weakest are Upper Seventh Grade; the Fire Head is Sixth Grade 14 41. |
| Regular Lecturers | Teach disciples at the academy; most are Lower Seventh Grade 41. |
Known Officials
- Dean Brush Holder — East River’s headmaster. Uses a writing brush and an Ink River to protect disciples and subdue the Azurewood Tree God 104 105 106.
- Green Fox High Person — Sixth-Grade Director of Lectures. Presides over Jiang Yan’s entrance examination, registers newcomers, and supervises the Yearly Examination 15 19 83 86.
- Blowing Fire High Person / Chuihuo — Sixth-Grade Fire Head and Jiang Yan’s master. Oversees the academy’s Fire Vein; is later described as nearing Upper Sixth Grade and a possible appointment as Director of Merits 41 46 107.
- Spirit Dharma High Person / Lingfa — An Ling’s master and one of the academy’s higher-ups 49 99.
- Treasury Master — Sixth-Grade official who discusses future training arrangements with Green Fox after the Yearly Examination 107.
Admission and Advancement Requirements
Prefecture Examination
Admission follows the Prefecture Examination, whose format changes from year to year. Recorded formats include individual matches, battles between two camps, and deployment into a newly conquered Small Plane to eliminate its remaining resistance 11.
- Donghe Prefecture administers twenty-three counties, which take turns hosting the examination. Jiang Yan’s examination is held in Rosyglow County 14.
- A member of the Five Lords normally presides. Green Fox handles Jiang Yan’s year because the academy’s other senior figures are occupied with planar affairs 15.
- Perfecting the body and establishing a cultivation method before the examination improve a candidate’s prospects. Strong results can also help secure a better instructor 6.
- Applicants must temper their bodies to near perfection before sixteen. The same requirement applies to residents of the East River Realm, despite its lack of lower-level Dao Academies 22.
- People unable to gain admission sometimes seek entry as a successful candidate’s servant or mount rather than as a disciple 13.
Enrollment and Cultivation Milestones
| Requirement / Milestone | Deadline or Threshold | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Register Law Power | On arrival, if already capable | A disciple deposits Law Power in the registration stele, which records their identity and Dao Path 19. |
| Qualify for full disciple status | Within six months of arrival | Newcomers must produce and register Law Power. Those who fail may remain without disciple status or return home, but cannot retake the Prefecture Examination 19. |
| Receive ordination | The next day for qualified arrivals; six months later for those who qualify afterward | Formally receives the Dao Register; Ninth-Grade disciples hold a White Register 19 21 22. |
| Reach Eighth-Grade Fangshi | Within ten years | Receives the eighth-rank Ink Register and may remain enrolled. Failure results in removal from the rolls 22. |
| Complete service and leave | Eighth Grade | Meets the minimum graduation requirement and may apply to leave the academy 12 107. |
| Apply to the Commandery Academy | Seventh Grade | Becomes eligible to register for its entrance examination 12 107. |
Grounds and Facilities
East River Realm
The East River academy is not located within the Dao Realm proper. Its entrance lies in a quiet plaza in Prefecture City, where pillars and a bell mark the gateway. Green Fox opens the passage with a Token 17 18.
- Shared plane: Five Prefecture Academies occupy the East River Realm. Jiang Chi estimates that their five towns together contain twenty to thirty million people 20.
- Native territory: The Scale Feather Clan initially retains half the plane as a training opponent for academy disciples 18.
- Dao Army presence: Military units guard and train within the plane; Jiang Yan encounters Hexia Prefecture soldiers upon arrival 18.
- Town population: According to Jiang Chi, only one or two residents in a thousand are academy disciples. Other inhabitants include former disciples and descendants of people relocated by the dynasty 20 22.
Notable Locations
| Location | Function |
|---|---|
| East River Town | The academy’s town-like settlement, with shops, inns, teahouses, taverns, markets, and pleasure houses 19 20. |
| Central Plaza | Arrival registration site containing the Law Power stele 19. |
| Preaching Plaza | Main venue for lectures, accessed through a screening barrier. Chimes announce the start of teaching 28 29. |
| Spirit Beast Road | Route used by mounted disciples traveling through the academy 28. |
| Blowing Fire Daoist Arena | Cultivation grounds outside town belonging to the Fire Head’s lineage, including a vast volcanic range created by Blowing Fire 41 44. |
| Fire Vein | A source of fire-related spiritual materials overseen by the Fire Head and closely associated with Uncle Flame Carp 46 49. |
| Spring Breeze Tower | Pleasure-quarter establishment where Jiang Yunyao carries out an academy assignment to refine Lustful Desire Qi 61. |
Instruction and Disciple Support
Lectures
The Preaching Plaza expounds two Daos every ten days. Newly admitted disciples first receive roughly half a month to settle in; lectures resume after the returning senior disciples finish their Yearly Examination 28.
| Lecturer | Subject or Instruction |
|---|---|
| Daoist Caiyun | Lectures on the Qi-Feeding and Method-Practicing Dao, answers cultivation questions, and teaches the Heart-Calming Incantation 29. |
| Jade Bottle Daoist | Lectures on curse-subjugation, explains that immortal-grade realms exist beyond First Rank, and offers instruction in a Gu-Eating Technique 34. |
- Lecturers impart Daoist techniques when new disciples arrive. These opportunities are deliberately not fully advertised, rewarding diligent attendance 29.
- Disciples can seek personal masters for guidance beyond public lectures, but acceptance is not guaranteed 30.
- Techniques Jiang Yan learns from academy lecturers include the Sun and Moon Worship Technique and Straw Effigy Technique 76.
Resources and Patronage
- Annual cultivation resources: Disciples receive resources at year’s end according to their cultivation realm 23.
- Personal discipleship: Joining a senior official’s lineage provides substantially greater support than ordinary instructor–student ties 42 47.
- Fire Head lineage benefits: Jiang Yan becomes entitled to an annual stipend, four Lishi, two Celestial Maidens, a grade-appropriate Dao-Protection Law Artifact, annual Dao Robes and Altar-Setting Implements, and one opportunity to explore the Fire Vein 46.
- Spirit-beast development: Dragonflame assures Jiang Yan that the academy will provide an opportunity to strengthen Jinbao’s thin Three-Legged Golden Toad bloodline 55.
Rules and Discipline
| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Wartime regulations | The East River Realm operates under the Immortal Dynasty Wartime Regulations 20. |
| Night curfew | Streets close after nightfall, and the Dao Army patrols outside town. A Command Tally is required for authorized night travel; violations can result in punishment or death 20. |
| Newcomer protection | Predation against new disciples is forbidden during their first month. Afterward, the academy generally ceases intervening in such dealings 20. |
| No killing in town | Killing is prohibited, though coercion and exploitation remain dangers 20. |
| Restricted senior intervention | In small training planes, the dynasty bars Seventh-Rank and higher cultivators from intervening unless native Sixth-Rank cultivators act first 18. |
| Restricted native territory | After the Tree God incident, disciples are forbidden to enter Scale Feather Clan territory until further notice 107. |
Yearly Examination
The academy normally sends disciples into Scale Feather Clan territory for one month each year. Missions test practical survival and become more dangerous with a disciple’s length of enrollment 20 86.
Green Fox transports Jiang Yan’s cohort aboard his Cross-Realm Warship. Before mission selection, he shows the newcomers a battlefield to demonstrate why the academy keeps weaker disciples away from full-scale warfare 83 86.
Mission Grades
Disciples below Seventh Grade select assignments from four floating jade walls in the Affairs Hall. Their missions are distinct from those assigned to the Dao Army 86.
| Mission Grade | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| D | Below Eighth Grade; enrolled for one to three years 86. |
| C | Any disciple below Eighth Grade 86. |
| B | Lower Eighth Grade 86. |
| A | Eighth Grade 86. |
History and Major Events
Jiang Yan’s Enrollment
Jiang Yan places fifth in his Prefecture Examination and travels to the academy with Green Fox. Having already cultivated Law Power, he registers immediately and receives ordination without waiting for the six-month qualification period 17 19 21.
His early experience exposes the academy’s division between ordinary disciples struggling in town and talented disciples supported by powerful lineages. After securing an introduction through Muling Daoist Boy, he becomes Blowing Fire High Person’s disciple and moves into the Fire Head’s cultivation grounds 40 42 44 47.
The Azurewood Tree God Incident
During Jiang Yan’s Yearly Examination, he and An Ling notice that missions in separate territories are proceeding suspiciously smoothly. They eventually infer that the assignments have helped gather materials used to summon the Azurewood Tree God 91 107.
The five academy heads intervene when the Fifth-Grade Tree God crosses into the realm. East River’s headmaster protects the scattered disciples with tributaries of his Ink River, then imprisons the Tree God. Disciples receive some of its valuable sap, and Green Fox personally rewards Jiang Yan with a hair capable of healing injuries and restoring Law Power 104 106 107.
Training Reorganization
Afterward, Green Fox and the Treasury Master conclude that the East River Scale Feather Clan can no longer adequately temper disciples. They discuss using the Three Gods Realm, although its two remaining Fifth-Grade beings and restrictions on interplanar campaigns could delay results for thirty to fifty years 107.
Green Fox anticipates that all five academies may temporarily stop admitting new disciples, but this remains a projected measure rather than an announced closure. The immediate order prohibits further entry into Scale Feather Clan territory 107.