In the Great Hall of the North Pole Heavenly Emperor, sunlight gathered from the coffered ceiling fell on the statue of the North Pole Heavenly Emperor, reflecting golden glints that made the statue appear even more sacred and solemn.
Incense smoke curled from the altar, its wisps drifting and swirling, adding to the ethereal quality of the towering statue of the Northern Emperor.
At this moment, no one looked at the statue of the Northern Emperor; all eyes were on Yuan Zhifeng.
Even though the cultivators behind couldn't see him, they all pricked up their ears and listened attentively.
Yuan Zhifeng's voice was deep yet powerful. "Imperial decree: Zhou Wuji, a Daoist of the Jingyang Upper Court, is of pure virtue and profound learning, possesses exceptional beauty and insightful understanding of the true Dharma. Furthermore, he wielded a three-foot green snake to quell the barbarian rebellion, thus rendering meritorious service to the nation."
Upon hearing this, True Person Zhiyun raised his white eyebrows. Others might not understand, but he knew the weight of the words "meritorious service to the country".
This is an imperial edict from the emperor. The emperor's statement that Zhou Wuji rendered meritorious service to the country is an affirmation of Zhou Wuji at the highest level of the state.
Few figures in Daoism over the past century have received such high praise.
True Person Zhihua frowned slightly. The emperor himself was praising Zhou Wuji, which was a bit too much. It might not all be a good thing for Zhou Wuji.
Zhou Wuji was also slightly surprised. Was the emperor really speaking so sweetly? He liked hearing it, but he also felt it was a little too much.
Yuan Zhifeng continued reading, "Hereinafter bestows upon you the title of True Person Hongde' as a sign of high honor. Respectfully yours."
Some cultivators couldn't help but gasp in surprise upon hearing this. One person's voice was very low, but the many voices combined to create a clamor.
Zhiying True Person and Master Zhihua showed surprise, True Person Zhihua's expression was rather somber.
According to the imperial court's custom, only cultivators who have reached the Third Rank will be granted the title of True Person.
The title can be upgraded from Subordinate Fourth Rank mage to Third Rank True Person, but the difference is immense.
Zhou Wuji was still far from reaching the Third Rank cultivation, yet the imperial court directly bestowed upon him the title of True Person Hongde, a highly rare and exceptional promotion.
The title of Third Rank True Person signifies that Zhou Wuji has entered the upper Third Rank, and politically he is now on equal footing with other True Person.
However, a title bestowed upon True Person without the support of cultivation will also have many problems----
For Zhou Wuji, glory is immense, but it's not necessarily all good.
Abbot True Person Zhiyun also seemed to be deep in thought. He turned to look at the astonished crowd below and calmly said, "Silence."
The abbot's words calmed everyone down, and the hall fell silent instantly.
Yuan Zhifeng then read the last sentence, "Imperial Edict, September 16th, 24th year of Tianhong reign."
The imperial edict was read aloud to the public, and Yuan Zhifeng handed it to Zhou Wuji.
Zhou Wuji bowed and accepted the imperial edict, placed it on the incense table to offer incense, and then placed his Heavenly Pivot Token on it, which Yuan Zhifeng then used to perform the ritual in front of everyone.
The imperial edict shone brightly, and when the light faded, the title of Dharma Master Hongde on the Heavenly Pivot Token changed to True Person Hongde.
Zhou Wuji picked up the Heavenly Pivot Token and looked at the four titles True Person Hongde. He was somewhat bewildered: What is the Emperor doing?
Being granted a title by True Person is certainly prestigious, and comes with corresponding power and status, which he does like.
But he prefers the sword; he'd rather trade a True Person title for a sword.
For him, advancing to the Third Rank was not difficult. Obtaining the title of True Person was also a foregone conclusion.
Giving him a True Person title now is far less practical than giving him a precious sword.
He muttered to himself, "Could it be that Yin Le exaggerated his abilities too much, displeasing the old emperor, which is why he only gave him an empty title without any real benefits?"
Yuan Zhifeng glanced at the Heavenly Pivot Token in Zhou Wuji's hand, a smile spreading across his face. He cupped his hands in congratulations. "Congratulations, True Person Hongde."
Zhou Wuji returned the greeting, saying, "Your Majesty's favor is boundless and your imperial grace is immeasurable. I am unworthy of such kindness and virtue."
Zhichong Zhishan also offered their congratulations.
Zhou Wuji was quite familiar with both of them, especially Zhichong, who admired him greatly and had helped him before. Naturally, he felt a bit closer to him.
The Zhichong Chong was deeply moved. Two years ago, Zhou Wuji was only Sixth Rank cultivator. He admired the young Daoist's intelligence and competence and had helped him twice.
Unexpectedly, in just over two years, Zhou Wuji had already been granted the title of True Person Hongde's, and his cultivation level far surpassed Zhou Wuji's.
For him, the past two years have passed like flowing water, without any change.
The young Daoist priest before them had undergone a tremendous transformation.
Zhichong Chong Dao Ren Zhou Wuji's passing, he couldn't help but lament his own old age.
Fortunately, Zhou Wuji remained very respectful to him and did not change his attitude despite his own transformation, which greatly pleased him.
While offering his congratulations, Zhishan felt genuinely embarrassed. He had made things difficult for Zhou Wuji at Cloud Dragon Lower Court, though it was a minor matter, both he and Zhou Wuji were well aware of it, and a grudge had been formed between them.
As Zhou Wuji's status rose higher and higher, he became increasingly embarrassed.
Now that Zhou Wuji has become Third Rank True Person, he still treats him with respect and courtesy. Zhou Wuji remains indifferent, and compared to Zhou Wuji's attitude towards Zhichong, this distant and aloof demeanor is even more obvious.
Zhishan felt terrible, but he could only grit his teeth and bear it.
At this point, no one cared about Xiao Zhishan anymore; everyone was surrounding Zhou Wuji to congratulate him.
Even the usually taciturn Zhiying True Person publicly congratulated Zhou Wuji.
Zhou Wuji's progress was too fast. When he first entered the Upper Court, he was only a Fifth Rank and could only work as a steward in the Demon-Expelling Hall.
In just over a year, he has already become Third Rank True Person.
Yigeng, Wufeng, and others from the Demon-Expelling Hall, who were originally on equal footing with Zhou Wuji, could only watch from the crowd as Zhou Wuji received his imperial decree, enjoying immense prestige.
Even the Demon-Expelling Hall, Zhiying True Person, seemed to be on the same level as Zhou Wuji.
As old acquaintances of Zhou Wuji, they felt a mixture of envy and jealousy, but also lamented the vast differences between people, emphasizing that they should never be compared!
Zhou Wuji remained as humble and polite as ever, showing no change despite being bestowed the title of True Person".
After exchanging pleasantries, Yuan Zhifeng said, "His Majesty has also bestowed a special reward—"
Zhou Wuji remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was delighted. That's more like it! He'd given fame, and he should give profit too!
He also found Yuan Zhifeng despicable; he should have revealed such good news immediately instead of keeping it a secret.
Yuan Zhifeng took out a wooden box from his sleeve and handed it to True Person Zhiyun: "This is a letter personally written by His Majesty, a gift for the Upper Court."
Zhichong Zhishan came over and opened the wooden box. The two of them opened the scroll inside, which had eight large characters, each about a foot square, written on it, "The Big Dipper spreads the Way, the Seven Stars Hongde."
One side is inscribed with "By Imperial Decree of the Tianhong Emperor" and also bears the emperor's private seal.
Abbot Zhiyun bowed True Person Zhiyun, saying it was a gift from the Emperor. All the cultivators in the Upper Court were moved to tears, yet also filled with immense fear and trepidation.
"The emperor's handwriting is quite large, but it's rough, stiff, and rather mediocre."
Zhou Wuji harbored some resentment and couldn't help but criticize the emperor's calligraphy in his heart.
His Slender Gold Script reached perfection, truly establishing his own unique school of calligraphy, and his appreciation level naturally rose accordingly.
The large characters for "Emperor" are ancient, vigorous, and imposing, conveying a sense of imperial majesty. They are considered excellent large characters, though in terms of calligraphy skill, they are probably second-rate.
The emperor's personal calligraphy is naturally extremely valuable. For the Jingyang Upper Court, it is equivalent to receiving the emperor's formal approval, which is of extraordinary significance.
It's of little use to him, at most it adds some empty fame.
True Person Zhiyun was quite pleased and had the emperor's calligraphy engraved on a stone tablet, declaring Jingyang Upper Court the most orthodox Daoist school and the highest Daoist lineage in Jingyang!
True Person Zhihua, Zhiying True Person, and many other cultivators from the Upper Court understood this, and everyone was overjoyed.
After the imperial decree ceremony concluded, the title of True Person Hongde quickly spread throughout Jingyang City and to all sects of Daoism.
The fact that Fourth Rank cultivator was promoted to Third Rank True Person was extremely rare, causing a sensation from all sides.
The emperor also personally inscribed. "The Big Dipper spreads the Way, the Seven Stars Hongde."
The phrase "the Big Dipper spreads its teachings" refers to the lineage of the Northern Pole Sect, which is fine. The key is the last line, " the Seven Stars Hongde," which carries a double meaning!
This is equivalent to the emperor personally bestowing a title upon Zhou Wuji —what an honor!
Leaving aside the jealousy and resentment among the monks of Dragon Elephant Temple, even practitioners of various Daoist sects are not immune to jealousy.
From the prestigious Zhang Household Aristocratic Clan to the powerful Great River Gang, and even the small merchants and laborers, everyone in Jingyang City was talking about Zhou Wuji and the title of "True Person Hongde."
The news caused a sensation when it reached Chuyang Academy.
The number of worshippers at Jingyang Upper Court has increased several times over, with the main hall packed with worshippers every day.
The incense burner in front of the main hall is filled with incense smoke and billowing smoke all day long.
Soon after, the Upper Court erected a stone stele about ten feet tall in front of the mountain gate, inscribing eight large characters personally written by the emperor on it.
On the day the stone tablet was erected, almost half of Jingyang City came. The mountain road was densely packed with people, forming a long line, which was quite a sight.
The influence of Jingyang Upper Court and Zhou Wuji reached its peak during this process.
Zhou Wuji was not very happy. It was good to have more fame, but unfortunately, this matter did not suit his wishes.
He also received several congratulatory letters in the past few days, from Xie Lingyun and Leng Wuyou.
Cloud Dragon Lower Court Zhihe, Cloud Marsh Lower Court Zhi'en, and Prefect Li Duan all sent him congratulatory letters.
Xie Lingyun gave the most generous gift, a thousand taels of gold. The prefect gave ten bolts of brocade, Zhihe Zhi'en also gave some local specialties and spiritual items.
Even Lu Zhijing sent a congratulatory letter, but it was only a congratulatory letter.
Zhou Wuji couldn't accept congratulatory letters for nothing; he had to reply to them all.
Even more people came to visit him at the Heavenly Pivot Hall every day, including cultivators from various sects, famous figures and dignitaries from Jingyang City, and so on.
To be honest, it feels great to be admired by everyone, but it can be quite annoying to deal with.
On October 15th, someone from our hospital finally arrived.
Heavenly Pivot Hall, Zhou Wuji True Person Zhihua received Quan Zhiguang, the elder of the academy.
Quan Zhiguang was ninety years old, yet his hair and beard were all black, his eyes were bright, and he wore a magnificent purple-gold Daoist robe, holding a ruyi scepter in his hand, making him look like he was in his forties or fifties.
"Congratulations, True Person Hongde! This is a great honor for our Northern Pole Sect, thanks to His Majesty's personal calligraphy. Our sect leader is also very pleased."
Quan Zhiguang spoke, he had his disciple bring up a wooden box that was more than four feet long. He then took out a long sword with a black sheath from the box and handed it to Zhou Wuji.
"The sect leader knows your Swordsmanship is unparalleled, therefore he bestows upon you the Tianshu Sword— "