Xiuxian: Start with the medicine boy

now!

At the Wendao Square, the sun had already passed its zenith.

After the conferment of titles to the Minister and six Deputy Ministers of the Spirit Vein Department, and the seven Nascent Soul cultivators, Cheng Buzheng did not stop.

Cheng Buzheng's gaze, as calm as a still well, swept over the thousands of cultivators in the plaza...
Everyone's heart tightened.

The number of ministerial-level departments far exceeds that of hall-level departments, their powers are more specific, and their interests are more directly related to those of the vast majority of lower-level cultivators.

Whether it's the output of spirit fields, refining resources, or the supply of elixirs?
Whether it's market management, task posting, or merit point exchange, everything is closely related to a cultivator's daily practice.

therefore!

The level of attention this moment received was no less than that for the appointment of officials at the highest level just now.

"South of Fire Island, young friend Lieyang, please step forward to receive your investiture."

The sound wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

From the crowd, a burly man with fiery red hair and a height of eight feet suddenly stepped forward.

His face was as red as a jujube, and his eyes were bright and piercing beneath his thick eyebrows. When he strode out, the ground seemed to tremble.

This person is none other than the island lord of Nanlihuo Island, the True Lord of Blazing Sun, with a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivation level, and is famous throughout the world for his "Nanming Lihuo Technique".

"Your subordinate, Lieyang, is here!"

The sound was like muffled thunder, making the surrounding air buzz.

Such a straightforward nature makes him stand out among the many calm and reserved cultivators.

Cheng Buzheng looked at the red-haired giant, a hint of consideration flashing in his eyes.

Lord Lieyang is upright and straightforward, and not good at political maneuvering. This might have been a disadvantage in the past, but it has become an advantage in Lingtian Department, where strict law enforcement is required.

More importantly, this person has practiced fire magic for over a thousand years and has a profound understanding of the earth fire and yang energy required by spiritual plants.

The Crimson Flame Rice from Nanlihuo Island is a unique delicacy in the Eastern Region.

"Young friend Lieyang is upright and honest, and he cultivates fire magic. He has a deep understanding of the earth fire and yang energy required by spiritual plants."

Cheng Buzheng spoke slowly, his voice carrying a rare hint of approval.

"I hereby appoint you as the Minister of the [Spirit Field Department], under the jurisdiction of the Spirit Source Hall, responsible for the planning, cultivation, protection, and output distribution of the association's directly affiliated spirit fields and medicinal gardens!"

These words sparked a low murmur of discussion in the square.

Although the Spirit Field Department is not as prestigious as the Law Enforcement Department or the Inspection Department, it controls nearly 30% of the Cultivator Association's resource output.

Spirit rice, spirit medicine, spirit tea, spirit fruit...

These are the foundation of a cultivator's practice.

Especially those high-level spirit fields, which are strategic resources.

The fact that Lieyang Zhenjun was able to obtain this position shows that Cheng Buzheng recognized his abilities.

"Thank you for your high regard, Chairman!"

Lord Lieyang grinned broadly, making no attempt to hide his joy.
"Your subordinate, Lieyang, obeys the order!"

We will definitely take good care of those spirit fields!

"Anyone who dares to touch a single herb of the association, I'll burn them to a crisp!"

These frank words made several familiar cultivators chuckle, and also eased the tense atmosphere a little.

A helpless smile flashed in Cheng Buzheng's eyes. This True Lord Lieyang was a bit straightforward, but he was absolutely reliable in getting things done.

He said no more and continued calling out names:
"Young friend Lingxiao, please step forward to receive your conferment."

A middle-aged monk with a calm demeanor and wise eyes stepped forward in response.

This man, dressed in a blue robe with an ancient jade pendant hanging from his waist, belonged to the foremost family of spirit plant growers in the Eastern Region.

The current head of Lingxiao Valley, True Lord Lingxiao.

"My subordinate is here!"

The voice was calm, yet it possessed a convincing power.

"I hereby appoint you as the Deputy Minister of the [Spirit Field Department] and promote you to a member of the department's committee."

Member of the ministry committee!
Everyone's hearts moved.

This means that True Lord Lingxiao not only assists True Lord Lieyang in managing the Spirit Field Department, but also has the right to vote in departmental affairs.

This is both an acknowledgment of his abilities and an arrangement to counterbalance the straightforward personality of Lord Lieyang.

"Your subordinate, Ling Xiao, receives the order."

Lingxiao Zhenjun bowed respectfully, his expression calm and revealing neither joy nor anger.

“Young friend Miaofa, please step forward to receive the title.”

A female cultivator, holding a jade bottle and surrounded by a faint medicinal fragrance, stepped forward in response.

She wore a light green dress, with a jade hairpin tucked into her hair. She was none other than the abbess of Miaofa Nunnery in the Western Regions, the True Lord of Wonderful Dharma.

Miaofa Nunnery is famous for cultivating spiritual herbs, and its unique secret method can shorten the maturation period of spiritual herbs by 30%.

"My subordinate is here!"

"I hereby appoint you as the Vice Minister of the [Spirit Field Department]."

"Your subordinate has a brilliant plan. Obey the order."

"···"

So far!

The appointments for the Lingtian Department's one director and six deputy directors are complete.

True Lord Lieyang is good at overall management, True Lord Lingxiao is good at planning and management, and True Lord Miaofa and a group of Nascent Soul cultivators complement each other and achieve great results.

Cheng Buzheng nodded slightly and moved on to the next department.

"Immortal Clan of the Supreme Emperor, is my young friend from Mount Taihuang still there?"

The moment the name was uttered, the atmosphere in the square became subtly tense.

The Taihuang Immortal Clan is one of the oldest cultivation families among humans, with a lineage that can be traced back to ancient times.

Although no Nascent Soul cultivator has ever emerged from their clan, their profound foundation is far beyond what ordinary weapon-refining immortal clans can match.

As a clan elder, Taihuangshan not only possesses late-stage Nascent Soul cultivation, but his weapon-refining skills are also unparalleled.

It is said that he once forged a near-spiritual treasure.

A fervent glint flashed deep in Taihuangshan's eyes.

The Refining Department was practically tailor-made for the Taihuang Immortal Clan.

If one can take charge of this department, not only will they be able to secure more resources for the family, but they will also be able to enhance the prestige of the entire family.

He stepped forward, bowed, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and spoke in a steady and powerful voice:
"My subordinate is here!"

"I hereby appoint you as the Minister of the [Weapon Forging Department], in charge of weapon forging for the Association."

"Your subordinate obeys the order."

Taihuangshan accepted the token with both hands, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

The token was entirely crimson with flowing fire patterns on its surface and felt warm to the touch; it was the emblem of the Weapon Refining Department.

"Young friend Chi Yan, please step forward to receive your conferment!"

A burly man with a full beard stepped forward in response.

This person is the sect master of the Crimson Flame Sect, the number one weapon-refining sect in the Northern Region, and the Crimson Flame True Monarch.

He cultivates fire-based techniques, and when refining magical artifacts, he can use his own true fire as a catalyst, so the power of the artifacts he refines is often half a percent higher than that of cultivators of the same level.

"My subordinate is here!"

"I hereby appoint you as the Deputy Minister of the [Weapon Refining Department] and promote you to a member of the department's committee."

"Your subordinate obeys the order."

“The Venerable Qingwei, please step forward to receive your conferment.”

An elderly man with a slender face, dressed in a gray Taoist robe, slowly stepped forward.

Although this person came from an ordinary sect, he had an extremely high talent for refining artifacts. He once repaired a damaged ancient treasure by himself, which made him famous.

"I hereby appoint you as the Deputy Minister of the [Weapon Refining Department]."

"Your subordinate obeys the order."

"···"

The weapon-refining department has also been established.

Taihuang Mountain represents aristocratic families, and various forces check and balance each other to ensure the fair distribution of weapon-refining resources.

The sunlight slowly moved westward...
Long shadows are cast on the square.

Cheng Buzheng's voice continued to echo in the square as one ministerial-level department after another was established.

Alchemy Department

【Talismans Department】

【Formation Department】

[Celestial Officials Department]

···
···
As the sun began to set and painted the horizon orange-red, the last deputy minister received the token.

Three hours.

From noon to dusk, all ministers and vice ministers finally completed their pardons.

Cheng Buzheng stood on the arena, the setting sun casting a golden glow on his silhouette.

He looked down at the thousands of cultivators in the square; these would form the framework of the newly established cultivator association and represent the future hope of humanity.

After a brief silence, he continued:

"As for the departments and bureaus below the ministerial level, you will select the best from the original three alliances."

Upon hearing this, the cultivators present were overjoyed.

They may not be able to influence the appointment of ministerial-level officials, but mid-level positions at the bureau and department levels offer tangible benefits.

Although Cheng Buzheng explicitly demanded "selection based on merit" and that the selection process must be approved by the Celestial Officials Department, having the power of recommendation meant that they could secure valuable opportunities for their sects, families, and disciples.

This is especially true for smaller, less established factions with incomplete traditions and limited resources...
This is simply a stroke of luck.

An elder from a small sect in the Southern Wilderness trembled slightly with excitement.

His sect has not seen anyone advance to the Nascent Soul stage for three hundred years. If he could obtain one or two positions in the newly established department and acquire cultivation resources, he might be able to break this predicament.

"We will definitely select the best talents for the association and live up to the expectations of our predecessors."

Thousands of cultivators responded in unison, their voices echoing across the Dao Asking Square.

However, the joyful atmosphere did not last long.

Cheng Buzheng, who was standing on the arena in the Asking Square, trembled slightly.

In an instant, a vast and overwhelming pressure swept out in all directions to suppress everything!

That was not a simple suppression of spiritual power, but a domain power that incorporated the power of laws.

The thousands of powerful figures in the plaza gasped simultaneously, with even the early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators feeling their legs go weak.
It felt as if an invisible mountain was pressing down on him, even slowing down the movement of his nascent soul.

The initial joy receded like the tide, replaced by a deep sense of awe and vigilance.

A cold voice echoed across the vast Daoist Square.
Every word struck the cultivator's heart like a heavy hammer:

"The right to recommend is not only a power, but also a responsibility."

If any of the younger generation recommended by you young friends breaks the rules, you will also bear joint responsibility.

Therefore, I hope everyone will think this through carefully.

Cheng Buzheng's gaze slowly swept across the entire scene, lingering briefly on the faces of several cultivators whose expressions had clearly changed.

Those men immediately broke out in a cold sweat, realizing that their previous thoughts had been seen through.

"The cultivation world is currently in chaos, with endless fighting, causing severe internal strife within our human race!"

Cheng Buzheng's voice turned cold.

"The establishment of the Monks' Association today is to end this situation."

If anyone thinks this is just a change of name to continue the struggle for power and profit, I wouldn't mind letting them know what the real rules are.

As soon as he finished speaking, the oppressive aura intensified.

Several Nascent Soul cultivators finally couldn't hold on any longer and knelt on one knee, their faces deathly pale.

Even a half-saint level expert felt a shock to their soul and had to use all their magic power to resist.

this moment!
All the monks understood—

This seemingly easygoing senior has an iron fist and an unwavering determination.

The Monks' Guild is not just another loose alliance, but a brand-new organization with strict rules and strong execution.

Three breaths later, the oppressive aura suddenly dissipated.

But the fear of having one's life and death in someone else's hands has been deeply imprinted in everyone's heart.

Seeing the solemn expressions in the eyes of the many cultivators below the arena, Cheng Buzheng softened his tone and continued:
"The establishment of the Cultivator Association today marks a new chapter for our human race."

Unifying the chaotic calendar is the first major task of this association.

From this day forward, it shall be collectively referred to as the first year of the Daoist calendar!

As soon as these words came out, the whole place was shocked again.

Unifying the calendar may seem like a small matter, but it is actually of great significance.

During the era of the three major alliances, each alliance and even the major sects had their own way of recording years.

Not to mention that each major sect has its own founding year.

The lack of a unified calendar system made official correspondence, historical records, and event tracing inconvenient.

More importantly, the calendar represents orthodoxy and order.

Cheng Buzheng's move was a declaration that the Cultivator Association was not only a power institution, but also a continuation of the orthodoxy of the human race.

After a brief silence, the Blazing Sun Half-Venerable was the first to react, and immediately bowed and said:
"The unification of the calendar by our predecessors is a great thing for our human race."

The chaotic calendar did cause a lot of inconvenience. After unification, there will be a basis for recording events, tracing events, and assigning tasks.

I second that!

The statement from this highly respected semi-saint who held immense prestige during the era of the three major alliances immediately triggered a chain reaction.

"I'll wait for the second opinion!"

"As it should be!"

"The first year of the Daoli era, excellent!"
From this day forward, our human race will have a unified calendar!

A chorus of agreement rose and fell, this time with less reluctance and more sincerity.

Many insightful people have realized the profound significance behind calendar unification.

This is the first step for humanity to truly move towards integration.

Cheng Buzheng nodded slightly, a barely perceptible smile finally appearing on his face:

"In that case, I'll leave the newly established [Cultivator Association] to you all."

I hope that, many years from now, when we look back on this day, the first year of the Dao Calendar will be the true starting point for our human race's transformation from decline to prosperity, from division to unity.

"I will heed the teachings of my predecessors!"

"This is our duty!"

The response was more unified and forceful than before.

Cheng Buzheng said no more, a thought flashed through his mind...

The figure on the arena vanished from reality, like a reflection in water scattered by the wind, disappearing into thin air without leaving any trace of spiritual energy.

The thousands of cultivators stood silently for a moment, confirming that Cheng Buzheng had left, before straightening up one after another.

Dusk had fallen, and the stars began to twinkle in the sky.

The spirit lamps in the square lit up one after another, emitting a soft and steady light that illuminated every thoughtful face.

"Everyone, Senior Cheng has set up the framework; now it's up to us."

The Blazing Sun Half-Saint turned to face the crowd, his voice calm yet powerful.

"Each department should return to its temporary post and within three days draft the organizational structure and personnel selection criteria, and submit them to the Xianguan Department for compilation."

"Yes!"

The ministers and deputy ministers of each ministry responded in unison.

“Furthermore,” the Blazing Sun Half-Venerable added,

"Although Senior Cheng did not say it explicitly, since it has been designated as the first year of the Dao Calendar, today is the first day of the first month of the first year of the Dao Calendar."

All official documents and records shall conform to this standard.

Everyone agreed again, each with their own thoughts.

The cultivators in the Dao Asking Square began to disperse in twos and threes, whispering about their experiences and insights of the day.

Many people clutched the tokens they had just received, their eyes filled with eagerness.

True Lord Lieyang walked side by side with True Lord Lingxiao, True Lord Miaofa, and seven other Nascent Soul cultivators!

At this time.

Lieyang stroked the Spirit Field Division token in his hand and grinned:
"Hehe, from now on we're colleagues!"
Fellow Daoists, we really need to discuss the matter of the Spirit Field Department carefully!

"···"

...(End of this chapter)