On the way to one of the door-half-open establishments, Qi Xuansu lamented that his situation was similar yet different from Yao Pei and Zhang Yuelu. Back when Zhang Yuelu was a fourth-rank Daoist, she was put in charge of hunting down cult demons in the Western Region. Meanwhile, Yao Pei, also at the fourth rank, was arresting felonious Daoist priests on Difei Mountain. But here he was, catching bawds in the Imperial Capital.1

The gap between them was clearly wide. If nothing changed, this gap would only grow wider in the future. However, Qi Xuansu still had a chance. Any discerning eye could see that something major might be brewing in the Imperial Capital. This was his opportunity. If he could seize it, he might just ascend to a higher position.0

The Daoist Order did have a tenure system, but it had also long accounted for special cases, like temporary ranks, or more precisely, position-based ranks.0

A position-based rank was not a true rank. For example, someone appointed as a second-rank Deputy Mansion Master would only be regarded as a second-rank Taiyi Daoist master while holding that post. Once they stepped down from that position, the rank would vanish with it, and they would...0