Pawn Crossing the River

There are still fifteen days before the election. During these fifteen days, Donghua Zhenren and Qingwei Zhenren launched the final sprint, both openly and secretly.

The forces behind them are even more impossible to stop, and undercurrents are surging.

Half a month passed in a flash.

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival, the world-renowned and long-awaited election of the seventh generation of Taoist masters finally arrived.

The election venue is located in Jinque.

This year's Lantern Festival celebrations have been temporarily cancelled, and everything makes way for the election and serves the election.

In order to maintain the stability of Taoism, the Grand Master is almost a lifetime system. Its significance is not comparable to the rotation of a few years. In the true sense, it has a far-reaching impact, at least profoundly affecting the direction of Taoism in the next few decades, or even decades after his death. It has been nearly a hundred years.

The importance of the election can be imagined.

Qi Xuansu got up early in the morning and changed into the most solemn dress, a black crane cloak embroidered with dark patterns, a white jade lotus crown, and a matching sword belt.

As she walked, not only her sleeves fluttered, but her sword belt also floated by itself, showing her immortal demeanor.

Xiao Yin also had a small outfit specially tailored for her, which was also packed. Although she did not participate in the voting and was not a member of the election committee, she had to go to the scene to watch the ceremony.

In fact, the voting process was not complicated.

Because it was not a general election of the Taoist sect, but the members of the Golden Palace nominated the Grand Master. There were a total of 36 Canzhi Zhenren plus 8 Pingzhang Da Zhenren, a total of 44 votes. Originally, there were three candidates, but with the nomination of Zhenren Cihang, there are now two candidates left. It is assumed that the two cannot vote for themselves, so there are 42 votes.

This number is a bit awkward, because there is a possibility of a tie. According to the specific situation, a second vote can be organized. If the second vote is still a tie, then a third vote will be held until the election is made.

Although this mechanism is not perfect and it may take a long time to elect the Grand Master, there has never been a precedent in the history of Taoism where a tie led to a second election, not to mention the third and fourth elections, or even the situation where the Grand Master could not be elected, so there is no motivation to modify this mechanism.

Because there are not many votes, the votes are cast on the spot, and then under the supervision of the two vice-chairmen of the Grand Master Election Committee, the chief of the Election Committee reads the votes on the spot, and finally, after confirmation by all members of the Election Committee, the candidates for the seventh generation of Grand Masters are officially announced.

The next step is for the spectators to congratulate the winner. If the loser is graceful enough, he will also congratulate, which is equivalent to recognizing the election results, and the winner will show humility to the loser.

If everything goes well, the first half of the election will come to an end, and then there will be a ceremony to announce it to the world, which is a bit like the emperor's enthronement ceremony. All guests will appear and congratulate the new Grand Master again.

The process is just such a process, and it is hard to say whether it can be followed in detail.

Qi Xuansu and Xiao Yin packed up, walked out of the house, and boarded the ox cart equipped by Jinque. Because the Taoist ancestor rode a green ox, oxen would be used to pull carts on some formal occasions, and the green divine ox was the highest standard. For this reason, the Taoist sect also specially raised a lot of exotic green oxen, which were majestic and powerful, and were specially used to pull carts on grand occasions.

Qi Xuansu enjoyed this top treatment today, and Xiao Yin followed suit and got on the car together.

There was no need to tell him, nor did the driver drive him. The green ox had its own spirituality and dragged the heavy carriage towards Jinque.

Along the way, Qi Xuansu saw that not only his ox cart, but also other ox carts were driving out from other streets of Taishangfang one after another, gathering into a convoy, leaving Taishangfang all the way and heading to Xuandu along Shangqing Street.

The spiritual officer in charge of guarding Xuandu had already received the news, set up a ceremonial guard, and let it go directly.

After entering Xuandu, more ox carts joined in. These were the Chanzhi Zhenren or Pingzhang Da Zhenren who lived in Xuandu. These blue oxen seemed to have rehearsed long ago, and they grasped the time exactly. In the end, they formed a long dragon, passed the eight halls and went to Zifu.

The only exception was Ziwei Hall, which was originally located in Zifu.

Xiao Yin was a little excited, lying on the car window, curiously looking at the surrounding scenery.

Jinque is not like other places. Qi Xuansu rarely comes here, let alone Xiao Yin. The farthest range of her activities in the past was near Xuandu. This was her first time to Jinque, so she was inevitably curious.

It was a bit absurd to say that Xiao Yin, as a non-human, actually entered the hall and came to one of the highest halls of Taoism. In the future, there is hope to go to another highest hall-Zixiao Palace belonging to the Grand Master.

This is something that many Taoists wish for.

Qi Xuansu was naturally not in the same mood as Xiao Yin. He was more concerned about the security situation of Yujing today. Beichen Hall had indeed responded, almost all of them were dispatched, which was also the advantage of Beichen Hall. Tiangang Hall had the largest number of people in theory, but it could not be easily mobilized. Ziwei Hall had the highest status and the greatest power, but it was more of a civil servant. When the order was stable, of course, it held the power. Once the palace changed, it was not enough. Instead, Beichen Hall, which had the responsibility of guarding Yujing, had the advantage.

Soon, the Golden Palace was in sight.

The Canzhi Zhenren and Pingzhang Dazhen people could go to the Golden Palace by car. In order to ensure that there would be no congestion, they had to suffer for others and could only go on foot. There were still a few people like Xiao Yin who could take a ride.

As for the members of the Grand Master Election Committee, they had arrived as early as last night to prepare the venue in advance.

At this time, many real people had gathered in the square outside Jinque, but they did not enter Jinque. They had to wait until the members of Jinque entered before entering.

The bullock carts stopped one after another, people kept getting off, and then the bullock carts left one after another.

Qi Xuansu led Xiao Yin out of the car and motioned Xiao Yin to go to the ordinary real person.

There is a clear boundary between ordinary real people and Jinque members, and Jinque members are also divided into two levels.

The first step is Cihang Master and eight Pingzhang Masters, a total of nine people, in front.

The second level is the remaining Shenzhi masters, including six masters in charge, a group of masters and masters in the palace.

Qi Xuansu is of course in the second echelon, with the real people in charge. On the left is Qi Jiaozheng, the official Wanmiao real person in charge of Shuzhou Daofu, and on the right is Yao Shu, who he worked with in the past.

At first glance, they are all acquaintances, Su Yuanzai from Xiangzhou Daofu, Li Ruoshui from Dijing Daofu, Zhang Jucheng from Jiangnan Daofu, Li Changlu from Qizhou Daofu, Ye Qingshuang from Luosuzhou Daofu, and Li Ruoshui from Kunlun Daofu. Wuji, Jing Tianming of Fenglinzhou Daofu, etc.

Some people work together, some are enemies of each other, in short, they all have dealings with each other.

It can be considered that the whole court is prosperous and all the virtuous people have arrived.

Everyone greeted each other, exchanged a few words, and then faintly divided into two camps.

Many real people maintain their own identities, and of course they will not gather together to make loud noises. They are all whispering to each other. There is no obvious expression on their faces, at most they are wearing formulaic fake smiles.

Many members of Jinque arrived and prepared to enter, but the two main leaders were nowhere to be seen.

In the general election, the candidates are the protagonists, namely Zhenren Donghua and Zhenwei.

The noble ones always arrive last.

At this moment, another bullock cart came from the east and west, but the pomp was bigger. In addition to the special treatment for coming alone, the number of green bulls and the surrounding honor guards were different from other Jinque members.

The two bullock carts drove toward each other, then stopped at the same time when they were about three feet apart, and the two candidates got off at the same time.

The two real people ignored the others and greeted each other first.

"Brother Pei Dao."

"Brother Li Dao."

No matter how undercurrents were surging under the table, the two of them still maintained their proper demeanor on the surface. After all, the two of them also represent the face of the Taoist sect. No matter who wins or loses, one will always become the Grand Master, and the other will most likely become the Deputy Master.

Master Cihang and Qi Xuansu came out to greet Master Donghua.

Among the many members of Jinque, Master Cihang and Qi Xuansu are not the ones with the highest status, but they have the most special status. One is a Taoist companion of Master Donghua, and the other is a disciple of Master Donghua. It is reasonable for them to step forward.

On the other hand, Master Qingwei seems to be a bit alone. After all, Master Qingwei's Taoist companion is not a member of the Taoist sect. Although Li Changge is a member of the Taoist sect, he is not a member of Jinque and has no right to participate in voting. Naturally, he cannot come at this time. Come to the side of Qingwei Zhenren.

As for the other people in Taiping Dao, they are qualified, but they are neither Taoists nor disciples, so they are neither fish nor fowl.

In this way, Master Donghua clearly has the upper hand.

Master Donghua first spoke a few words to Master Cihang. At this time, their identities were similar to those of Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu, while Qi Xuansu became the role of Xiao Yin.

In fact, what needs to be said has already been said. In the past fifteen days, Master Donghua and Master Cihang have plotted countless times. Their strong alliance of interests has made the two closer than a couple in love. Is there anything you want to say until now? The so-called speaking is just a gesture for outsiders to see.

After Master Donghua finished his brief conversation with Master Cihang, he turned to Qi Xuansu and said, "Tianyuan, this critical burden is on your shoulders today, and so are the people in the world."

Qi Xuansu said: "The Central Plains and overseas continents are carried on the shoulders of Master. It is not my turn to say the words 'all the people in the world'."

Master Donghua smiled: "I have done everything I can do. Today I am just waiting for the result. What can I do while sitting in the golden palace?"

Qi Xuansu said: "Master, please rest assured, I will do a good job."

"Very good." Master Donghua said no more, turned around and walked towards Jinque.

After Master Donghua and Master Qingwei, come Master Cihang and Master Zhangda, then come Master Shenzhi, and finally all Masters.

The sun shines on the golden tower, making it brilliant.

The honor guards raised their spears, their spear tips flashing with cold light.