Qingxu Temple, the document room adjacent to the Taiqing Hall's side hall. This place differed from the main hall's solemnity, more resembling an efficiently operating command center. The walls were no longer ethereal murals but hung with various annotated maps—distribution maps of sect industries, spiritual vein flow charts, regional power relationship diagrams, even a newly drawn map monitoring demonic energy residue areas. The room was filled with a mix of faint ink fragrance and spirit plant refreshing incense, replacing the usual sandersmoke.
Mu Qingfeng sat upright behind a wide rosewood desk, jade slips and paper documents piled high almost submerging him. In his hand, he grasped a wolf-fur spirit brush, its tip faintly glowing as he quickly annotated opinions on regulations regarding outer disciple monthly allowances. His movements were steady and precise, without the slightest hesitation, as if the complex data and clauses had long been organized in his mind countless times. Since Temple Master True Immortal Xuan Xuan, due to unrecovered injuries and needing more time for closed cultivation to stabilize his realm and respond to potential developments, the burden of the sect's daily affairs increasingly fell upon this chief true disciple's shoulders.
Initially, he only relayed Temple Master directives and handled non-urgent miscellaneous matters, but quickly, several core elders discovered that this usually gentle, jade-like, and amicable senior brother demonstrated astonishing meticulousness and capability when handling specific affairs. "Senior Brother, these are the details Elder Ming Jing submitted regarding trade exchanges with the East Sea Dragon Palace, involving exchange ratios for items like water-repelling pearls and deep-sea dark iron. Please review." A deacon disciple respectfully presented a jade slip. Mu Qingfeng took the jade slip, his spiritual sense scanning it briefly.
After contemplation, he wrote several lines on a blank spirit paper beside it: "The Dragon Palace's first proactive gesture of goodwill shows substantial sincerity. However, our sect faces resource scarcity after the war, and regular spirit material exchanges may strain our capabilities. We can propose primarily trading our unique 'Heart-Clearing Demon-Purifying Talismans,' 'Sweet Rain Spring-Return Pills,' and some low-grade purification artifacts—this is unique to our sect, higher in value, and can showcase our sect's character. For specific ratios, please have Elder Ming Jing negotiate detailed terms with the Dragon Palace envoy.
Our bottom line is as follows." His instructions were clear and organized, considering both sect interests and allied relations, while also proposing constructive alternative solutions. That deacon disciple's eyes lit up as he read; he quickly noted everything and retreated with a bow. Just after handling this matter, another disciple responsible for sect internal affairs hurried in: "Senior Brother, the new batch of recruited outer disciples has completed initial screening, totaling three hundred seventy-one persons. Here are the name lists and preliminary aptitude assessments.
Please decide on final quotas and assignment destinations." Mu Qingfeng took the name list but didn't immediately flip through it. Instead, he asked: "During this recruitment, did you pay special attention to disciples with firm hearts who lost family in the demonic disaster?" That disciple paused, then replied: "Reporting to Senior Brother, as per your previous instructions, we did pay attention. Those marked with stars on the list are all such individuals, about forty-some people." Mu Qingfeng nodded before beginning to flip through. He read extremely quickly, his gaze sweeping across names and brief comments.
He occasionally paused, marking a name with his brush, or writing "Spirit Planting Garden," "Artifact Refining Workshop," "Mountain Patrol Guard," and similar designations in the assignment column. He didn't simply allocate based on aptitude levels, but comprehensively considered each disciple's character traits, past experiences, and actual needs across the sect. "This one called Stone, both parents died in the demonic disaster, his disposition is resolute and enduring. Assign him to the Cold Iron Mine for half a year's tempering, to forge his will.
If he performs well, he can transfer to inner disciples." "This girl Lin Xiaoxi, her family practiced medicine for generations. She treated many among the refugees, showing benevolence. Assign her to the Pill Hall as an apprentice." "Zhao Mang, quite strong, straightforward in personality but values loyalty. Send him to the Mountain Patrol Guard first, under Instructor Wang for strict training." As he annotated, he instructed the internal affairs disciple: "Notify Hall Master Tang at the Technique Transmission Hall that after this batch of disciples formally joins, the first heart-nurturing guidance lecture shall be conducted personally by him.
Stabilize their minds without fail, guide them toward proper cultivation. Additionally, those marked with stars shall receive inner disciple standard monthly allowances, continuing for one year, as compensation." That disciple's heart was shaken—Senior Brother had even considered these details! Not daring to slacken, he quickly agreed. An entire morning, Mu Qingfeng in this document room handled over a dozen matters large and small.
From resource allocation to personnel appointments, from diplomatic strategies to internal compensation, he was like a tireless precision artifact, organizing countless sect affairs in perfect order. No fatigue showed on his face, only a meditative calm. Occasionally when his brow furrowed in thought, the natural decisiveness of one in power would flow from his features. Just past noon, Temple Master True Immortal Xuan Xuan's figure silently appeared at the document room's entrance.
He hadn't startled anyone, merely standing quietly there, watching Mu Qingfeng writing rapidly, his eyes showing complex, indescribable expressions. There was satisfaction, expectation, and also a trace of imperceptible loneliness. He clearly knew that this disciple of his, whether in heart, ability, or loyalty and sense of responsibility to the sect, had already possessed the potential to lead a sect. The current delegation of power was both due to his own condition and intentional tempering.
Qingfeng needed to quickly become familiar with and control the entire sect's operations, so that in future storms, he could truly bear the flag of Qingxu Temple. Mu Qingfeng seemed to sense something, raised his head, saw the Temple Master, and quickly rose to bow: "Master." True Immortal Xuan Xuan waved his hand, walked to the desk, casually picked up several processed documents and glanced through them, nodding slightly: "The handling of border friction with Liyang Sect—using both favor and threat, the measure was well-calibrated. The internal disciple compensation arrangements were also thorough. Qingfeng, you've done well." "Masterpassreputation, disciple merely does his best." Mu Qingfeng's attitude was humble.
"This is notpassreputation." True Immortal Xuan Xuan looked at him, speaking solemnly: "The position of Sect Master requires not only profound cultivation. One must observe minutiae, weigh pros and cons, harbor compassion, yet also possess iron-willed decisiveness. These, you are mastering step by step." Mu Qingfeng was silent for a moment before speaking softly: "Disciple understands the responsibility on his shoulders. However. sometimes I worry whether my abilities are lacking, disappointing Master and the sect's expectations." "Doubt breeds wisdom, fear leads to careful action.
Having such thoughts is good." True Immortal Xuan Xuan patted his shoulder: "Remember, you are not alone. Xiao Qi outside deters the crowds, Liu Yun inside rectifies discipline, the elders assist, countless disciples follow. What you must do is become the core binding all this together, guiding the direction Qingxu Temple advances." Mu Qingfeng took a deep breath, the final hesitation in his eyes fading, replaced by even more resolute light: "Disciple shall certainly not disappoint Master's entrustment!" True Immortal Xuan Xuan nodded with satisfaction, said no more, and turned to leave. He knew some roads ultimately must be walked by disciples themselves.
Mu Qingfeng sat back behind the desk, his gaze sweeping across the mountain of documents. To him, these were no longer tedious burdens, but responsibilities he must bear—the present and future of Qingxu Temple. He lifted the spirit brush, dipped it in special spirit ink, and began reviewing the next report on resource applications for repairing the mountain-protecting formation's core nodes. His calligraphy was steady and powerful, his annotations insightful yet meticulous.
Outside the window, the sunset's afterglow passed through the window lattice, falling on his focused profile, gilding it with a faint golden radiance. He was no longer merely a dependable Senior Brother, but like a nascent form preparing to shoulder a sect's rise and fall through administrative labor and strategic planning—truly moving toward the sect's power center. His path to sect leadership had none of Tang Xiaoqi's legendary brilliance, nor Liu Yun's iron-blooded decisiveness. It was quietly paved through these daily tedious affairs, through balancing interests of all parties, through the faith of protecting sect legacy.
He walked this path silently, yet it was destined to have far-reaching influence.