Chapter 529: Chapter 83 Departure to Sword State_2
Li Yunshang asked: “What if I don’t grant you permission to resign?”
Chi Yu Zi answered almost without hesitation: “Then please allow to retire.”
She didn’t beco the True Martial Demon Cleansing Venerable for power and status; she was just waiting for Gu Wen and Yu Hua to erge, staying in a relatively comfortable place.
Now that Gu Wen has erged, Chi Yu Zi no longer has a reason to stay in the True Martial Palace.
“You silly girl, really can’t grasp the opportunities given to you.”
Li Yunshang lightly tapped Chi Yu Zi’s head, growing fonder as she looked at her, but also feeling a sense of regret.
She turned to Gu Wen again and said: “I will arrange so people to accompany you at that ti. You can either let them follow you or act separately. In any case, you only need to ensure that you are in the sa city as they are.”
“Sounds pretty easy.”
Gu Wen stroked his chin, his mind as clear as a mirror.
From ancient tis to the present, investigating accounts has always been a deadly task, either resulting in being killed or destroying soone else’s sect.
The Pill Alliance oversees nearly sixty percent of the world’s pill production, which can be called “Immortal Storage,” crucial for most cultivators’ cultivation needs. In such places involving significant interests, the forces are often intricate and intertwined.
There’s also the Sword Casting Alliance, which concerns Magic Treasures, also involving widespread forces.
The Daoist Sect is a cultivation sect, and the greedy ones are also cultivators; both sides are equal, and the logic is the sa.
“Indeed, very easy.”
Li Yunshang said lightly, with a hint of coldness: “The Pill Alliance has an annual profit of about five million top-grade Spirit Stones, which translates to tens of millions of low-quality Spirit Stones. Even so, there’s still a ten percent shortfall unaccounted for.”
Ten percent?
Gu Wen gasped slightly.
Without weighing it, so much has already been found. How much more would be found if it were weighed?
He knew that the Jade Palace’s annual disposable finances were only fifty thousand top-grade Spirit Stones. Although the Daoist Sect cannot be compared to a conventional nation’s ruling logic, it is still a ruling apparatus.
Can a Pill Alliance’s annual embezzlent really match a nation’s finances?
Hard to say, after all, cultivators defy the heavens and never lack for extraordinary ans.
Huayang spoke beside him: “This matter is extensive. Master, there’s no need to rush. We can use a gentler approach. For example, first spread the word about the inspection, then say that those who confess will be treated leniently, and those who resist will be punished severely, with self-surrender resulting in only a century of imprisonnt.”
“This way, we can recover the embezzled funds to the greatest extent and reduce much resistance.”
A century of imprisonnt is not light for a grown person, but it’s not unacceptable either.
“Then what? Let them continue to commit offenses after they co out, letting the world know that the cri is not unforgivable and can be redeed?”
Li Yunshang asked rhetorically, and Huayang could not answer; his pragmatic belief was indeed so.
Many things are impossible to eradicate entirely, especially greed. Instead of replacing a batch destined to repeat the mistakes of their predecessors, it’s better to keep those who have been well-understood and knew their limits over the years.
He replied as he had consistently for eight hundred years: “Master, it has always been like this and will continue to be so. Everything has a balance; mortals gaining more is just because you side with mortals, but it never ans mortals have beco stronger.”
“Once any cultivator possesses even a breath of True Qi, they are no longer a mortal.”
Not to ntion cultivation, even mortals with gold and power are no longer common folk.
Li Yunshang’s expression turned cold, but before she could act, Gu Wen had already spoken up: “For the public good, select the wise and capable, uphold trust and harmony. Does Huayang Venerable think this is feasible?”
Huayang answered without hesitation: “The public good is difficult to achieve, but selecting the wise and capable should always be so.”
“Then is there anyone wise and capable today? Has it been accounted for the most part?”
“Only the capable have been selected, not the wise.”
“That’s the point; what the Master wants is to select the wise and remove pests. Once the wise are selected, the people’s lives will naturally improve.”
Huayang’s eyes showed a hint of surprise; he understood the implication without needing to think further.
The simple and straightforward answer, even old farrs in the fields could understand, but the rare and valuable part was the determination of the Master’s actions.
He feared the Master might seize the opportunity to push for Universal Unity again, which would undoubtedly improve the people’s lives but harm the interests of the cultivators.
This would inevitably cause rebellion, leading to instability in the world.
Rather than pursuing a society of great unity, Huayang preferred a stable world; as a cultivator, he felt that the current state was sufficient for the people.
They have enough to eat and wear, can read and write, and so can even practice cultivation.
Gu Wen is my kind, aligned with my views.
Huayang asked, “Dare I ask Yuqing Heavenly Venerate, how to select worthy individuals?”
“I have never governed so I am not very familiar, but people always seek higher ground. As long as the trics of governance achievents are the standards for promotion, if a mortal becos a Venerable step by step, then the people all over the realm will strive to emulate.”
Gu Wen shook his head. He rembered the selection of officials in past dynasties and modern tis included the important aspect of evaluating rit.
He did not understand, nor did he want to say much, as saying too much would create work for himself.
Governing the world is like being the Emperor; as long as the bureaucratic system functions without issues, even placing a dog on the throne would achieve the sa effect. The real difficulty lies not in the highest position, but in how to build an entire ruling apparatus.
The current Daoist Sect is actually quite qualified, and far superior to feudal dynasties.
Huayang frowned, “Will the cultivators of the world really accept a mortal as Venerable?”
“This is where the Daoist Sect must play its role,” Gu Wen said calmly, “In the vast world, all lands belong to the Emperor, and everyone within the sides of the ruler’s domain are subjects. Although the Daoist Sect is not a dynasty, it should surpass a dynasty.”
“We do not seek for cultivators to recognize a mortal Venerable, but rather to make everyone realize that the Daoist Sect has the authority to elevate mortals to Venerable.”
At these words, everyone present held their breath.
The concept of power solidified here, even causing these high and aloof great powers, who usually disdain worldly affairs, to develop a yearning for power.
Huayang’s eyes lit up upon hearing this, his breathing grew heavier, showing admiration in his eyes.
He cupped his hands and said, “Please, Yuqing Heavenly Venerate, step into the Jade Palace to govern the realm and bestow power upon all beings.”
Monts later, Huayang flew out through the gap that Yun Miao had created earlier.
The Three Pure Mountain trembled and shook. The disciples and elders, who were having their New Year’s feast, looked up anxiously, but Chi Yu Zi’s cold and majestic voice transmitted reassurance.
Gu Wen and the others were left to stay overnight; the palace transford by the Fox Fairy was large enough to accommodate a thousand people if desired.
At midnight, Chi Yu Zi walked quietly into Gu Wen’s quarters, carrying a jug of wine, only to bump into Li Yunshang as soon as he entered.
Master and disciple sat facing the candlelight, and when they saw Chi Yu Zi co in, they just cast a glance at him and continued their conversation.
Chi Yu Zi quietly sat down next to Gu Wen, drinking wine while listening.
Li Yunshang was discussing with Gu Wen the major affairs of the world, how to transform mortals into Venerable, and how to let power replace cultivation.
This involved various details, such as ensuring that low cultivation levels, even mortals, could execute significant territorial powers, requiring the allocation of a powerful cultivator to them.
Thus, they could only use people from the Daoist Sect, but mobilizing them also required sufficient benefits, otherwise it wouldn’t be sustainable.
Li Yunshang pondered deeply, took a strand of her hair, and said, “How about this?”
Qingcang Dao charm.
“A strand of master’s hair is indeed sufficient, but this again becos a system sustained solely by your power.”
Gu Wen shook his head in denial.
The distinction between heroism and personal heroism lies in the forr not being singular, while the latter perceives itself as destiny-driven.
Li Yunshang also realized this point and frowned, “Power requires cultivation to be executed, sothing that can make the great powers interested.”
Gu Wen retorted, “Master, you always like to get into minutiae; we’re not asking people to do this for a lifeti. If I offer hundreds of top-grade Spirit Stones, rely for a couple of months of accompanint, I believe most people would agree.”
Li Yunshang added, “But if it involves fighting, the price won’t be just that.”
“Fighting? Who dares fight a territorial official? At that ti, we can directly let the True Martial Palace handle it. Master, you should change your mindset a bit, don’t respect personal opinions too much, your heart should hold the Nine States.”
At this mont, Gu Wen appeared more like the master.
Chi Yu Zi listened on the side, not understanding the matter of governance and administration, nor was she interested.
She belonged to the reclusive type of cultivator who might do good or evil, but was never interested in the grand trends of the world, preferring to focus on matters directly related to herself.
Chi Yu Zi unknowingly fell asleep on the table.
At dawn the next day, Gu Wen gently shook her awake, saying, “Let’s go, it’s ti for us to set off.”
Chi Yu Zi rubbed her eyes and asked, “Where to?”
Gu Wen smiled and said, “Naturally to question the sword at Broken Sword Mountain, to challenge the Ten Thousand Sword Path list. Yu Hua said that soone who refines a Spiritual Treasure overnight can enter the top three of the Sword List and receive a Taoist Sword.”
“Do you need a Taoist Sword? Your Chopping Clouds is just gathering dust.”
“I don’t need it, but I must have it.”
A Daoist Sect Immortal Boat, styled like flowing clouds, slowly ascended, carrying the Jade Palace’s decree to Danqing State.
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