Starting Immortal Cultivation from a White Dog

The faces of those disciples who were originally expected to win the championship instantly drained of color. Looking at Wu Tian and then at their own pitiful kill count, they couldn't even muster any jealousy.

The gap is too big, so big that it's despair-inducing, leaving only awe and longing.

Wu Tian remained calm, simply stepping forward and bowing respectfully: "Bai Fengxian, thank you for your promotion, Pavilion Master, and for the cultivation of the family." His voice was clear and melodious, neither humble nor arrogant.

At this moment, Bai Yuehua, the Fengyi Pavilion Master who had not spoken, stepped forward and her gaze fell on the woman in front of her.

"No gift."

She raised her hand in a gesture of support, and then said, "Bai Fengxian, your performance this time was truly amazing. The family has always been generous in rewarding true talents. The position of the head of Tingfeng Tower carries great power and responsibility. I hope you will work diligently in the future and live up to today's promotion."

She paused slightly and turned her head to indicate.

A servant in blue robes standing nearby immediately stepped forward, holding a jade box about a foot long and a long, narrow brocade box.

Bai Yuehua personally opened the jade box. Inside, a dark purple velvet cloth covered the inside, and a scroll that was neither silk nor paper, and which shimmered with a faint glow, lay quietly.

"This is a rubbing of the original painting 'The Image of the Primordial Goddess of the Taiyin Wind Mother.' Although it is not the original painting, it still contains a trace of true meaning and charm, which will greatly benefit your understanding of the true method of the Wind Mother. You should cherish it."

She closed the wooden box and then pointed to the brocade box.

The servant in blue opened the brocade box, revealing a long, sheathed sword inside. The sheath was a deep turquoise color with subtle, dark scale patterns, and the hilt was simple and cool to the touch.

Bai Yuehua did not draw her sword, but said, "The Azure Light Blade is forged from top-grade Azure Iron Essence mixed with hundreds of spiritual materials. Its blade is sharp and its blade is compatible with the Wind Phase Blade, making it perfect for you to use."

"Thank you for your generous gift, Master. I will certainly cultivate diligently and do my best to repay my family."

Wu Tian bowed again and accepted the jade box and brocade box handed to him by the steward with both hands.

After he stepped off the stage, Bai Yuehua's voice resounded throughout the hall once again, "Bai Fengxian is exceptionally talented and possesses outstanding strength. She has been promoted to the position of Pavilion Master because her strength and potential far exceed the ordinary scope of this assessment. Therefore, Bai Fengxian will not participate in the regular first-place selection for this assessment."

Upon hearing this, the oppressive and resentful atmosphere in the audience suddenly froze. In particular, the female disciple who was originally ranked second showed an excited expression on her face.

Bai Yuehua continued, "Based on actual hunting results, the person ranked second will be promoted to the position of Pavilion Master."

Her gaze landed precisely on a woman in purple below the stage. "Bai Qing Shu, you have hunted down five demons, including one great demon, and performed the best among all the disciples. As is customary, you are promoted to head of the Lingxi Pavilion and bestowed with the middle volume of the 'Wind-Fixing Mantra'."

"Bai Qingshu, step forward to receive your appointment."

Bai Qing Shu's previously dim eyes suddenly lit up, filled with joy and surprise. She quickly suppressed her surging emotions, stepped forward, and bowed deeply: "Disciple Bai Qing Shu thanks the Pavilion Master for his grace! Thanks to the family for their cultivation!"

His voice trembled slightly with excitement. Although the position of Pavilion Master was not as prestigious as that of the Tower Master, it was still a real promotion and a significant allocation of resources.

Bai Yuehua nodded slightly, signaling the steward to hand over the reward to Bai Qingshu. After the steward withdrew, she surveyed the entire room and said, "The assessment is now over. The positions and rewards obtained by the rest of you will be handed over and collected by the stewards within three days. You may leave now."

"Bai Fengxian, come with me."

Bai Yuehua, the head of Fengyi Pavilion, spoke up. Fengyi Pavilion was originally responsible for the promotion of many disciples in the family and the etiquette and rules.

At this time, if a title of Lord of the Tower is to be conferred, she will naturally be needed to handle the matter.

At the edge of the assessment area, Wu Tian bowed slightly to Bai Yuehua, then walked towards the Azure Scale Golden-Eyed Beast and climbed onto it.

Clouds gathered beneath Bai Yuehua's feet, and she rose into the air, saying, "Follow me."

As soon as he finished speaking, he transformed into a soft white light and flew forward.

Wu Tianyi gripped the beast's belly, and the Azure-Scaled, Golden-Eyed Beast's four hooves rose amidst the rising clouds, following closely behind like a streak of azure lightning. One rode the clouds, the other the beast, and they swiftly departed amidst the complex gazes of the people in the hunting grounds.

The road winds its way along the road, and after a quarter of an hour, the city wall of Fengxian County comes into view.

The city gate guards respectfully stepped aside upon seeing Bai Yuehua Yunguang and the Azure-Scaled Golden-Eyed Beast. The two entered the city, crossed the streets, and arrived at Tingfeng Tower.

Dozens of people were already lined up neatly in the square in front of Tingfeng Tower, waiting.

The woman at the head of the group was wearing a crimson brocade dress with dark cloud patterns.

She was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with her hair tied up high, a gold hairpin with pearls dangling from the side, and a bright red flower on her forehead.

Her face was bright and beautiful, her eyebrows and eyes were exquisitely beautiful, and the corners of her eyes were slightly upturned. Her eyes seemed to be both angry and happy when she looked at them. Her figure was also slender and graceful. Her scarlet brocade dress was well-tailored, which outlined her full breasts and her slender waist. The tips of her shoes, which were adorned with tiny silver bells, were faintly visible under the hem of the dress.

She stood there seemingly casually, yet she naturally became the focus of the entire room. Behind her, several female deacons, two rows of brightly armored guards, and numerous maids and servants all held their breath and bowed their heads in utmost respect.

Bai Yuehua descended from the clouds, and Wu Tian reined in his horse.

"Fengxian, please have the servants settle the mount," Bai Yuehua said, nodding slightly as her gaze swept over the woman in the crimson dress.

As Wu Tian landed, a maidservant came over to help him lead his mount away. He slapped the Azure-Scaled Golden-Eyed Beast on the head and threatened, "Let her go. Stay quietly in the pen and don't disturb anyone else."

"If you disobey me, I'll skin you alive."

The Azure-Scaled Golden-Eyed Beast nodded with a low growl, its fierce appearance completely gone.

After dealing with the ferocious beast, Wu Tian said to the maidservant who was waiting nearby, somewhat trembling, "Lead it to the beast pen and provide it with spiritual food and clean water on time. There's no need to get too close."

The maidservant cautiously stepped forward to guide the beast. Two streams of white vapor spewed from the nostrils of the Azure-Scaled Golden-Eyed Beast, frightening the maidservant so much that her legs went weak and she almost fell to the ground. The sheer pressure emanating from this ferocious beast was enough to overwhelm any ordinary person.

"You better behave yourself!"

Wu Tian slapped the Azure-Scaled Golden-Eyed Beast on the head again. His fair and delicate hand was heavier than an iron hammer, making the beast's eyes go black and its hooves go weak. It dared not be fierce anymore and obediently followed the maid away.

After he had made the arrangements, Bai Yuehua brought him to the front of everyone.

"Listen up, everyone of Tingfeng Tower! Today, we have Bai Fengxian, the pride of the Bai family, who is exceptionally talented, has achieved outstanding results in the assessment, and has even gained the recognition of the Azure-Scaled Golden-Eyed Beast as her master. With the joint recommendation of this seat and Bai Yueshuang, the Pavilion Master of the Patrol Pavilion, she is now exceptionally promoted to the position of the new Pavilion Master of Tingfeng Tower."

"From this day forward, you shall be in charge of the seal and bear the responsibilities of the building manager. You shall all assist him wholeheartedly. Any negligence will be punished according to the family rules."

The entire hall fell silent. The woman in crimson robes was the first to gracefully bow, her voice soft yet clear: "Your subordinate, Yun Jin, on behalf of everyone at Tingfeng Tower, pays respects to the Tower Master and congratulates you on your promotion." Her bow jolted the crowd behind her awake, and they all bowed in unison, their voices echoing: "Greetings, Tower Master! Congratulations on your promotion!"

Wu Tian's gaze lingered on the woman who called herself Yun Jin for a moment, then he stepped forward and said calmly, "Get up, all of you. In the future, we will need everyone to work together to handle the affairs of the building."

He looked at Yun Jin, "Manager Yun, please arrange for everyone to return to their places. Later, please compile and submit a list of all personnel in the building, details of the properties, historical accounts, and established practices."

"Yes, Master." Yun Jin stood up, a perfectly timed smile playing on her lips, her eyes sparkling. Her skirt swayed slightly with each movement, the silver bells jingling softly, exuding an air of capable elegance. She quickly assigned tasks, and the crowd dispersed in an orderly fashion.

Bai Yuehua personally brought him here to take office, naturally to support him, but whether he can hold onto the position of the sect leader afterward depends on himself.

"The steward of Fengyi Pavilion will come to hand over the seal and jade book to you later, and clarify the responsibilities of your annual salary. Yun Jin is an elder of Tingfeng Tower, with outstanding abilities and familiarity with both internal and external affairs. She can be a great help to you, so I will not stay any longer."

"Respectfully seeing off the Pavilion Master, Fengxian will remember your teachings." Wu Tian bowed as he saw him off.

After watching Bai Yuehua leave, Wu Tian said to Yun Jin, who was standing to the side, "Lead the way, I need to familiarize myself with the layout of the building first."

"Please follow Yun Jin, Master." Yun Jin smiled and led the way. Her steps were light and graceful, her waist swaying, and her crimson skirt was like a spreading rosy glow.

Wu Tian let her lead the way and said, "Tell me about the situation at Tingfeng Tower."

Yun Jin stepped aside and said, "Yes, Master."

"The Listening Wind Pavilion has eight floors, which is named after the wind coming from all eight directions, and the idea of ​​listening to the subtle and knowing the obvious."

She spoke clearly and familiarly, “The first floor is the main hall, side halls, and the place where the stewards handle daily affairs, welcoming and seeing off guests, and dealing with the general affairs of the building.”

"The second floor mainly consists of a study and a quiet meeting room, where you, the owner, can meet with visitors."

"The third floor is the archives, where you will handle most of your affairs and access files in the future."

"The fourth to seventh floors are the alchemy rooms, the artifact rooms, and the library, all protected by restrictive arrays, making them the most important areas in the building."

She paused briefly, then raised her slender finger and pointed to the top of her head: "This eighth floor is the exclusive domain of the master, including the bedroom, bathroom, private quiet room and viewing platform. Not only is the essence the most concentrated, but the array protection is also the most stringent. Ordinary people are not allowed to enter without permission."

As Wu Tian walked slowly alongside her, he asked, "How many people are currently in the building?"

Yun Jin replied with a smile: "Including guards, maids, stewards, and servants, there are currently a total of fifty-three people."

"Among them are sixteen guards, divided into two shifts, led by the two younger sisters Bai Zhi and Bai Wei, who are at the Refining Law Realm; and your personal maids, all of whom are at the Cauldron Forging Realm, specialize in the Dao of Cauldron Nourishing, and serve you daily, which is of great benefit to you."

Upon hearing this, Wu Tian's expression stiffened slightly. "Did I hear that right...? They're all women?"

Yun Jin's eyes sparkled, and her voice was soft and sweet, "Of course, the maids trained by our Bai family are famous throughout the entire Southern Frontier, known as the Jade Maidens of the Spirit Furnace. Even girls can enjoy them!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Tian's face stiffened slightly. He couldn't imagine what it would be like if he were served by those maids in his current female body.

He quickly banished the images from his mind and was about to speak when he heard Yun Jin say, "Of course, if you don't like maids and want to keep some male concubines, I can arrange that for you."

Upon hearing this, Wu Tian's face turned green, and he quickly tried to stop him: "No need, no need, it's fine as it is now, I... I don't like men."

Seeing his expression, Yun Jin couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle. "Don't worry, Master. I understand. Few women in our Bai family like men. It's driving the head of the family crazy."

"Your personal maids are Jin Ping'er, Yin Ping'er, Jin Shu, and Zhi Hua; in addition to them, there are more than thirty servants and miscellaneous workers in the building."

"I will temporarily assume the position of steward, with two deputy stewards assisting me." Her words were neither humble nor arrogant, clearly explaining her position while maintaining a proper demeanor.

"What about the properties within the building?"

Wu Tian asked casually, and before he knew it, they had reached the third floor. The scent of books and ink could be smelled in the corridor.

“Tingfenglou has three businesses under its name.” Yun Jin followed beside him. “Qingnang Pavilion in the city is mainly responsible for purchasing medicinal herbs and supplying them to Baoding Pavilion in the clan.”

"Jinling Pavilion is a shop that sells silk, women's clothing and ceremonial robes; there is also a Nongyu Pavilion that sells women's headdresses, hairpins, pearls and jade."

"Of these three businesses, the Qingnang Pavilion has the best revenue. After all, it is backed by the family and can directly supply the medicinal herbs it collects to the Baoding Pavilion. As long as enough medicinal herbs are collected each year, there will be a steady stream of income."

"As for Jinling Pavilion and Nongyu Pavilion, they mainly cater to ordinary women and cultivators, so their income is naturally insufficient, but it is more than enough to maintain the operation of the buildings and cover daily expenses."

“Now that you have taken over, according to custom, the other pavilion masters, hall masters, and even some of the pavilion masters and guest elders who are on good terms with you are probably already on their way,” Yun Jin added. “I have already instructed the front hall to keep an eye on the registration.”

"Okay," Wu Tian replied. "Let's go up to the eighth floor and take a look."

As he walked up the stairs, he peeked through the doors of the rooms on the fourth to seventh floors. The alchemy rooms and artifact rooms were faintly marked with arrays, and the library was filled with dense volumes—all important places. But when he reached the eighth floor, the view suddenly opened up before him.

This area is completely different from the layout of the floors below; it is an independent, spacious, and private space.

The first thing that catches the eye is an extremely spacious living room, with a floor paved with soft jade that is so shiny it reflects light. Several pillars are adorned with lifelike phoenix reliefs, each holding a pearl in its beak, their radiance shimmering.

To the left of the hall, a draped, moon-shadow-like gauze curtain separates a tranquil space, furnished with a rosewood carved daybed, dressing table, wardrobe, and other items. The elegant furnishings and the gauze curtain moving gently without wind reveal the bedroom.

To the right is a stone door engraved with dense incantations, behind which is the master's private meditation room.

Facing the stairs is an open archway leading to the bathhouse, where the steam from the jade pool and a faint fragrance can be faintly smelled.

The most eye-catching feature is at the other end of the living room, where a huge, arched floor-to-ceiling window occupies almost an entire wall, and a small viewing platform enclosed by a white jade railing extends out from in front of the window.

The bright window is made of a single piece of pure glass, polished to perfection, and at this moment it is letting the natural light into the room without any obstruction.

Wu Tian strolled through the hall, pushed open the carved wooden door connecting to the viewing platform, and went outside.

In an instant, a gentle breeze caressed my face, and my vision stretched to the horizon.

The viewing platform, though small, boasts an excellent location, overlooking the exquisite courtyard belonging to Tingfeng Tower. The artificial hills and springs, exotic flowers and rare herbs, winding corridors, and the figures of maids and servants in uniform—some sweeping, some standing guard, and some conversing quietly—are all clearly visible. (End of Chapter)