My Demonic Cult's Holy Maiden

The bell rang, and the head instructor returned to the academy.

The academy has six halls: one is the Hall of Sages, where the head of the sect resides and where the memorial tablets of previous heads of the sect are enshrined; another is the main hall, which enshrines the statues of the Taoist patriarch and the Three Pure Ones.

The remaining four halls were institutions established by Qi Yu for the future development of Taoism.

In the past, Taoism was too fragmented, and the leader had to do everything personally.

At that time, the number of Taoists was small, and the leader could manage the situation if he worked hard.

However, the Taoist sect that Qi Yu planned to establish would have a much larger number of members than just a hundred.

To this end, other institutions were established to handle specialized matters. Qi Yu always believed that everyone has their own expertise and that he was not omnipotent.

It was originally established to protect the academy and the Taoist court, and later to maintain Taoist order and uphold its rules.

Without rules, nothing can be accomplished; this is essential for any force to grow.

Next came the Jiaoshu Hall, which was established to oversee the next generation and manage various matters related to the establishment of Taoist academies, such as tuition fees and subsidies.

The injection of fresh blood is always of paramount importance.

Then came the Heavenly Palace, which guided Taoist believers, provided faith guidance to believers throughout the world, and distributed elixirs to believers to save lives.

As things developed, Qi Yu planned to establish Taoist temples in various prefectures and counties.

Finally, there is the Zhechong Hall, which is in charge of Taoist revenue. After all, without money, nothing can be done. Taoism cannot develop without money.

Even with the assistance of the Great Qing Dynasty, the Great Yun Dynasty cannot help Taoism forever.

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime!

Qi Yu had already figured out a way to make money: he would start with martial artists.

The Hall of Sages, the Main Hall, the Hall of Judgment, the Hall of Teaching, the Hall of Heavenly Rule, and the Hall of Defenders—these are the six halls of the academy established by Qi Yu.

With the help of the Great Qing Dynasty, the academy has gradually begun to operate.

However, the number of people accumulated was still too slow, so Qi Yu unleashed his ultimate move.

The simplified version of "Treatise on Marrow Cleansing" consists of three chapters. Qi Yu printed the first chapter, "Tempering the Body," into a book and distributed it, casting a wide net across the entire continent.

The martial arts manuals have always been strictly controlled by various major forces and would never be circulated.

Once someone outside their faction learns their techniques and is discovered, they will face relentless pursuit and extermination by that faction.

Therefore, ordinary people have no access to martial arts manuals. Even the martial artists in martial arts schools only learn the most basic martial arts techniques, which at most make them stronger, but they will not achieve anything significant.

Qi Yu's public release of the "Treatise on Marrow Cleansing," a text that could only be practiced by Taoist disciples, undoubtedly caused a huge stir. Countless people, regardless of age or gender, bought a copy to read.

While Qi Yu made a fortune for the academy, he also made a brilliant move that instantly propelled him to the top.

The number of Taoist believers is already huge. Qi Yu is using this base to recruit disciples. The "Treatise on Marrow Washing" is the bait.

Qi Yu used an open strategy. Only the first part of the Marrow Cleansing Treatise was made public, and the purpose of the first part was simply to strengthen the body, find the feeling of Qi, and comprehend true Qi. Those with exceptional talent might be able to follow their feelings and temper a few bones.

Those who can successfully sense the Qi, condense true Qi, and temper their bones are generally geniuses.

This is exactly the kind of talent Qi Yu wants!

If these people want to learn more advanced techniques, or the remaining part of the "Treatise on Marrow Cleansing," they must apply to the academies under the jurisdiction of the academy.

Qi Yu did not actively recruit new disciples, but waited for them to come to him.

Qi Yu was harvesting leeks, and the "Treatise on Marrow Washing" was the sickle used for harvesting.

Other forces usually choose their disciples based on chance, so only a small number of them are able to become martial artists.

There are actually many true geniuses who have not yet been discovered.

Many talented ordinary people are thus buried in obscurity.

The Taoist text "Treatise on Marrow Cleansing" is the best proof of aptitude; the higher one's talent, the more one's bones are tempered.

……

Qi Yu's move caught all the forces off guard, leaving them helpless.

Qi Yu is using an open strategy!

He capitalized on the common people's desire to become martial artists to select disciples, expand his influence, and build his power among the populace.

After all, which power would offer cultivation methods to ordinary people, even if it were Taoism?

And it's a core technique!

The *Xi Sui Lun* (Treatise on Marrow Cleansing) is the core practice of Taoism. The authentic *Xi Sui Lun* can only be practiced by the successor of the sect's leader.

Qi Yu was using the faith of Taoism in the hearts of the people to harvest talent; the "Treatise on Marrow Washing" was the sickle.

Even though Qi Yu only provided a portion of the "Treatise on Marrow Cleansing," it did not hinder Qi Yu's gains.

They could foresee that a large number of talented people would be recruited by Qi Yu and converted to Taoism.

Of course, other forces could also follow Qi Yu's example and make their own sect's techniques public, but the effect would not be as obvious as that of Taoism.

After all, not every power can compare to Taoism.

Taoism's prestige reached its historical peak under the promotion of both the former and current leaders, Qi Yu, to the point that it was no exaggeration to say that it was a household name.

Because Taoism has a deep-rooted reputation among the people, ordinary people are more willing to believe in Taoism, which has a good reputation, compared to other forces.

That's the power of branding!

Qi Yu is currently using the Taoism brand to recruit talent.

This is a harvest that only Taoism can achieve; other forces cannot learn it.

The only school of thought with a broad popular support is Confucianism, which has the potential to achieve this.

Only Confucianism can rival Taoism in terms of public support.

In other words, only a brand like Confucianism can employ this kind of exploitative approach.

However, Confucianism is currently in dire need of revitalization, and Qingyun Academy, which represents Confucianism, has also closed its doors entirely. Their dean, Yang Xun, is already preparing to break through to the level of a sub-sage.

And all of this is thanks to Qi Yu!

He restored the broken lineage of Confucianism, giving it a new path to advancement.

The Confucian school owes Qi Yu a great debt of gratitude, which cannot be repaid with just a few words or a few gifts.

……

In the Lin family mansion in the capital city of the Great Yun Dynasty, Sun Guyuan looked at the first part of the "Treatise on Marrow Cleansing" in his hand and couldn't help but feel a little emotional.

The previous coach really had a sharp eye!

Qi Yu transformed Taoism into an impregnable fortress with just one move.

Even if they could get there now, destroy the academy, or even slaughter all the Taoist disciples, including Qi Yu.

But that still couldn't stop the rise of Taoism!

Qi Yu's move was extremely ruthless!

After disappearing for half a year, it reappeared, but with such a big commotion.

Qi Yu is indeed a rare genius, not only in terms of his own talent, but also in his cunning.

He is indeed a formidable opponent!

Moreover, Qi Yu has now become a force to be reckoned with, and is no longer someone they can easily manipulate.

Six months ago, in the battle at Changsheng Temple, Qi Yu single-handedly held off more than thirty grandmasters, and even managed to injure Li Muchen, Nan Yutian, and Lin Shaolong. This ability is unparalleled throughout history.

What frightened him most, and even seemed unbelievable, was that Qi Yu had overcome the poison of the datura flower.

He did not come looking for them, nor did he go to the Western Regions to buy datura flowers.

He truly overcame the poison of the datura flower through sheer willpower.

At this moment, Qi Yu instilled fear in everyone; mentioning him evoked deep apprehension and a sense of powerlessness.

If I had known this would happen, wouldn't it have been better to have just killed Qi Yu back then?

Perhaps it's not too late now!

If Ruoxi can break through to the level of a sub-saint, it's not impossible to kill her!

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Chapter 53 Advantages outweigh disadvantages

On the second day after Qi Yu took over the academy, he was invited to the palace by the Great Qing Empress.

After washing up, Qi Yu, dressed in a light blue Taoist robe and wearing a Taoist topknot, entered the palace.

Empress Daqing seemed to have just finished washing up, and was strolling in the Imperial Garden, accompanied by eunuchs and maids, dressed in a plain-colored palace dress.

Led by the eunuch, Qi Yu arrived before the Great Qing Empress.

Qi Yu bowed in greeting, but did not kneel.

Now that he is the head of the sect, his every move represents Taoism, so it is impossible for him to kneel and bow to the Great Green Empress.

The Great Qing Empress didn't seem to care, waving her hand dismissively with a nonchalant expression.

"Would the Chief Instructor like to accompany me for a walk?"

Qi Yu nodded but didn't say anything; he had to give her this much face.

Empress Daqing dismissed the palace maids and eunuchs who followed her and strolled with Qi Yu in the imperial garden.

As she walked, the Great Qing Empress turned her head, her phoenix eyes slightly shifting, and looked at Qi Yu.

"Qi Yu, you're really a surprise!"

She addressed him as Qi Yu, not the leader, meaning he was referring to Qi Yu, not the leader.

Qi Yu smiled and said, "Your Majesty, are you regretting letting the wolf into the house now?"

The rise and strengthening of Taoism is something that no power wants to see, including the Great Qing Dynasty.

Perhaps the court meetings these past few days have been discussing Taoism, and the empress, who introduced Taoism to the Great Qing Dynasty, has been under the most direct pressure.

They cooperate with Taoism, but the prerequisite for cooperation is that the strength of both sides is roughly equal.