Taoist Academy.
At the entrance of the Administrative Office.
There were two rows of chairs, and many young people dressed in blue robes were sitting on them, all looking at the office expectantly.
Creak~
The door opened.
A little Taoist, wearing a long robe and looking a bit dejected, walked out.
"Taoist brother, how is it?"
"Sigh, assigned as the master of a Taoist temple!"
Despite being assigned as the master of a Taoist temple, the young Taoist didn't look happy at all.
Because it meant that this temple must be in a remote and desolate place where there is no sign of life within a ten-mile radius.
Hearing the words of this little Taoist,
Many Taoist practitioners who were waiting for their graduation assignments showed nervousness on their faces.
This so-called 'temple master' not only worked in a place where birds don't even poop, but also only received a few hundred dollars in special allowances as salary.
"Next one, Xuanqing, come in and listen to your assignment!"
Xuanqing stood up from his seat.
...
Entering the room.
Across a polished wooden desk, there was an incense burner, and a Taiji diagram hung on the wall.
This was a minimalist style office.
Behind the desk sat an old man with white hair and reading glasses. His hair might be all white due to his age, but his face was glowing, and he looked spirited.
"Birth name Su Chen, Daoist name Xuanqing, from Qinglin city, Liucheng county...Native place, Taoist scripture "The Supreme Profound Treasure of The Infinite Measure of the Uppermost Wonderful Scripture for Delivering People", "The Supreme Sensing Chapter". Average score 92."
Having said so much in one breath,
The elder Daoist grabbed a thermo cup on the desk and moistened his throat.
"Your scores are good, but all the famous temples are filled now. Do you want to wait or be assigned as a temple master?"
A hint of appreciation could be seen in the elder Daoist's eyes.
"Answering senior, I intend to start working as soon as possible!"
Xuanqing said calmly.
Hearing this,
The old Daoist priest couldn't help showing a surprised expression on his face.
For most of the graduated little Taoists, who wouldn't want to stay in the big famous temples, which are close to the city and offer welfare benefits comparable to civil servants?
"With your scores, if there is an opening in the famous temples, they will surely arrange you there first. Have you thought it through?" The elder Daoist asked once again for confirmation.
"I've made up my mind!"
Xuanqing's expression remained unchanged, and he nodded slightly.
"Sigh~" The elder Daoist sighed and took out a map from the drawer.
This map had densely arranged little dots, almost half of which were circled by a red pen.
These circled dots indicated the vacant temples at the moment.
Speaking of which,
The Taoist sects declined nowadays, and the population is distributed unevenly. The famous mountains are crowded while the remote temples are undervalued.
As a lone Taoist like Xuanqing, he didn't care much about welfare benefits. Having a place to stay was enough, which was in line with the teachings of Taoism.
Taking the map,
Xuanqing randomly pointed to a circle on the map without choosing.
"Senior, I choose this one."
"Changling Mountain Range, Qingping Mountain, Qingping Temple..." The old Daoist adjusted his reading glasses, looking somewhat surprised, "Your Taoist name contains 'Qing', and this temple also has 'Qing', quite a match!"
"Alright, the dean will personally issue the Lu card this afternoon, remember to arrive early!"
"Thank you, senior!"
Xuanqing bowed slightly, pinched a Yin and Yang Fish hand seal, and paid his respects.
...
The time came in the afternoon.
There were only a few people scattered in the Lu card issuing hall.
Clearly, most of the Taoists who graduated chose to change professions or wait for vacancies, rather than take up positions in those remote places where birds don't even shit.
"After the granting of the Lu card, you will become the master of a Taoist temple, and your words and actions will represent the Taoist School. I hope that you will follow the law, abide by morality, and don't do..."
The president who spoke was also an old daoist with white hair and beard, except that he wore a purple robe, representing the position of Heavenly Master in the Taoist School.
The opening remarks were over.
Entering the main subject, the granting of the Lu card began.
The ceremony was not complicated; first, they paid homage to the Three Pure Ones, then burned incense and recited the proclamation.
Finally.
The Heavenly Master and president personally sent out the utensils for granting the Lu cards to everyone.
These included: Lu card,daoyin,stamp,master's treasure,morning mace,imperial decree,ghost-beating stick,peach wood sword... and so on.
In addition, each person received four sets of clothes: two sets of green robes and two sets of yellow robes. The former were for everyday wear, while the latter were for conducting rituals.
Up to now, the development of the Taoist School includes various instruments and ceremonies, which are comprehensive and practical.
Eventually.
Xuanqing received his share.
The most noteworthy and important tool among them was the 'Lu card'
It was a rectangular jade card.
On its front, it engraved 'Taiji Palace selected Scholar, Left Judge of Wulei Institute, and concurrently manages the Thunderbolt Department.'
On its back, it engraved the two characters 'Xuanqing'.
The former represented the Daoist Officials who were granted the Lu card, while the latter represented their Daoist name.
It is worth mentioning that.
Daoist officials are ranked from the lowest to the highest, starting from grade nine (standard and associate), grade eight (standard and associate)... and so on.
All the way to the standard first grade - 'Serving as a senior minister in the Jade Palace of Divine Thundering under the Golden Canopy in the Nine Heavens, concurrently appointed as an inspector of the divine thundering jade government affairs, and in charge of all thundering affairs'
Generally speaking, newly granted officials usually start at the associate ninth grade as the 'Five Thunder Institute Right Judge'.
However, due to Xuanqing's direct appointment as the temple master, he was granted the standard ninth grade as the 'Left Judge'.
Although it may seem like a trivial second-to-last ranking, it would be a big deal to ordinary mountain and earth gods in mythology, who would have to respectfully salute and call out 'Greetings, Daoist priest Xuanqing.'
.....
Three days later.
Qingping Mountain, atop the Changling Mountain Range.
It took more than an hour to climb the mountain alone.
What appeared in front of the eyes was a gate built of green bricks and walls covered with green moss.
"No wonder no one wants to take on the role of the temple master in this remote Taoist temple, even if the academy offers it!"
Xuanqing wiped the sweat from his forehead, thinking to himself.
Pushing open the gate.
Creak~
The sound of an old, rural wooden door echoed.
After entering the Taoist temple, the sight was a small courtyard with a ground mixed with sand, stones, and mud, where weeds grew wildly.
Apparently, this temple had been abandoned for a long time.
"It seems...there's a lot of work to be done!"
Xuanqing shook his head.
As he would be living here for a long time in the future, he wandered around the Taoist temple to become familiar with the place.
After searching around.
He found that although the Taoist temple was small, it had all the necessary functional rooms.
"I didn't expect it to be a descendants' temple!"
Xuanqing exclaimed.
The so-called Taoist temples are divided into two types: one is a temple in the forest, and the other is a temple for descendants.
The former is similar to a public Taoist temple, while the latter is passed down from master to disciple, and temple property can be inherited.
Of course.
All land is now state-owned, so the idea of inheritance has long since vanished.
What's more surprising is.
Next to the well in the backyard, a hand-operated water pump can still be used.