Dao Equaling the Heavens
Chapter 621 - 123: The Beginning of Great Harmony_2

Chapter 621: Chapter 123: The Beginning of Great Harmony_2

In the blink of an eye, nine months had passed.

Xie Yunnan conducted a random re-examination of the research submitted by her subordinate cultivators.

She arrived at a rural village, with earthen walls and thatched roofs, domesticated animals and dogs running freely, and the people barely clothed.

A group of villagers gazed from afar at Xie Yunnan, who appeared like a Heavenly Immortal, their eyes full of awe and fear. This fear was not so much due to the cultivators themselves, but more from the fear of the unknown.

It turns out that people could be so fair-skinned and dressed so luxuriously.

They were also two-legged people, yet seemed to be of a different species altogether.

This bizarre gaze made Xie Yunnan very uncomfortable, not because of the villagers, but because her long-held worldview was clashing.

Since she could remember, the world Xie Yunnan knew was one of prosperity and peace. She only traveled to big cities and famous towns, always encountering fellow cultivators.

Those who could settle in big cities or reside in cultivator dwellings were not ordinary people. Their attire naturally wasn’t lacking, and many even dressed more brightly than the cultivators.

Therefore, Xie Yunnan never doubted the prosperity of the era.

But the people before her lived too shabbily, like a group of savages.

Though there was no famine, no war, humans are not just beasts who live on a mouthful of food.

Suddenly, Xie Yunnan felt that Universal Unity was necessary, at least to let the people live like humans.

The teachings of sect elders were not entirely correct.

"Commander Xie, the review of the surrounding thousand miles is complete."

A cultivator arrived via Sword Control, cupping his hands and bowing, "In the area of Fengxian County, Xuanhuang State, eighteen cities, one hundred and seventy towns, thirteen thousand villages, totaling thirty million people have all been documented."

"And they have all reached the minimum living standards required by the Jade Palace, not a single famine, nor any war or bandit disaster in a hundred years."

"The people are living in peace and happiness."

Xie Yunnan found this a bit harsh to hear.

The Xuanhuang State was under the feet of the Immortals; if it was like this here, what about other places?

She said, "Do not write the words ’peace and happiness’ in the report, write that the people of Fengxian County are scantily clad and illiterate."

Her subordinate showed a look of difficulty, subtly suggesting, "Commander Xie, this is the territory of the Daoist Sect, directly under the Three Pure Elders, what you are doing might be inappropriate."

"So what? Do we have a subordinate relationship with the Three Pure Elders, or can they command us?"

Xie Yunnan seemingly did not recognize the hint, speaking firmly, "We take our orders directly from the Jade Palace, not from the Three Pure Daoist Sect."

Half a day later.

An elder from the Upper Pure Sect found Xie Yunnan, holding a report that should have been submitted, he pleaded with a bit of supplication:

"Commander Xie, I implore you to add a sentence about the people living in peace and happiness. I am willing to gift you a thousand top-grade spirit stones and a magic treasure of the Body Integration Realm."

A thousand top-grade spirit stones, that’s about the salary of her master as a Venerable for fifty years.

Could mere mortal citizens really produce such wealth?

Xie Yunnan shook her head and refused, "If the elder doesn’t mind, I could take it to the True Martial Palace for you."

The elder’s face turned grim immediately, his aura of the Body Integration Realm revealed unmistakably, he lashed out, "You, junior, don’t think that just because you have some background you can do whatever you please, if you really investigate further, your Broken Sword Mountain won’t escape either."

"Besides, do you really think that by exposing a small person like me, you could change the world?"

He seemed to question and answer himself, spitting, "All crows under heaven are just as black, in a hundred years everything will return to how it was. At most, I will retreat to the second line, or sit for three hundred years, I still have eight hundred years of lifespan."

Xie Yunnan remained silent.

Having worked at the True Martial Palace for over a decade, she was naturally aware of the punishments for cultivators.

Cultivators below the True Monarch could still be managed, with Nascent Soul limits only lasting a thousand years, through hundreds of years, a lifetime would then end.

People don’t start life as a Nascent Soul, the time spent in cultivation easily takes up half, for a genius it’s a third, for a Heavenly Pride it’s a quarter.

Once one reaches above Returning to Void, everyone possesses an exemption from death.

Moreover, the other party hadn’t committed any fatal mistakes.

For instance, causing mass deaths among the people intentionally.

He just didn’t do well enough, just ’unintentionally’ let the people live a bit harsher.

Is it really justified for a great power to accompany in death just over not letting the people eat well?

The elder from the Upper Pure Sect waved his sleeve and left.

He was not foolish enough to attack Xie Yunnan and bring himself to a certain death.

Three days later, the report Xie Yunnan submitted fell like a stone into the sea, receiving no response at all.

This was expected.

Just as she thought about contacting Gu Wen to report directly to the heavens, another message arrived.

The new calendar year was approaching, with all things renewed.

The new laws were about to be announced, with rumors of corruption charges carrying a maximum penalty of death.

Thus, many great powers began to surrender, suddenly filling the headquarters of the True Martial Palace.

Because the new laws were not retroactive.

Just as Xie Yunnan thought they had dodged another bullet, an ’issue’ arose in the True Martial Palace.

The Law Enforcement Grand Elder, responsible for cases, disappeared. Since cases involving those above the Returning to Void Realm need his hand, self-surrender cases were directly halted.

-----------------

Jade Palace.

Yun Miao and Huayang walked in together.

Above the majestic palace, a Daoist in a Chixiao Emperor Robe sat upright, leaning his right hand against his chin, holding a Jade Scroll in his left, occasionally yawning.

"What brings you here, honored uncles?"

Gu Wen asked knowingly.

Yun Miao said, "I have a request, regarding the matter of the new law."

Gu Wen shook his head and said, "The new law cannot be changed, as this is my authority as one of The Three Pure Ones."

"We certainly do not wish to change the new law, but now that the elders within the sect have confessed, could there be some leniency?"

Yun Miao played the emotional card with a bit of plea: "Please order a speedy trial to avoid dragging it into the first year of the New Calendar. They have all shed blood for the Daoist Sect; there is no need for utter eradication."

Huayang said, "Half of the sect elders have been detained, I am personally willing to vouch for them to surrender all their illicit gains."

Gu Wen remained silent, as if he had heard nothing.

Huayang understood and continued, "At least one million top-grade Spirit Stones, equivalent to a hundred years’ tax, that’s enough to hurt them. If you’re still not satisfied, we could raise it to one and a half million, but that would force many to sell their assets and breed resentment."

Gu Wen said, "I will appoint a temporary Law Enforcement Grand Elder."

"Thank you."

Huayang and Yun Miao left the Jade Palace without any unnecessary words.

There was nothing to discuss between them, what Gu Wen intended to do was completely opposed to their path, so silence was better than a thousand words.

As soon as they stepped out of the door, a voice came from behind.

"Honored uncles, you can refine the Dao Fruit, Master won’t trouble you."

Yun Miao turned back and asked, "What’s the condition?"

"You need to seclude yourselves at least fifty years."

"In fifty years, will Taiching and Upper Pure Sects still exist?"

"They naturally will."

Approaching the New Calendar First Year.

The Daoist Sect underwent massive changes, with its power structure reshuffled and half of the elders falling from grace.

Venerables Huayang and Yun Miao announced a hundred-year seclusion, seeking the opportunity to become Immortals.

From then on, Three Pure Mountain was left with only one voice.

——————————

First Year of Datong.

A large copper bell appeared atop Jade Emperor Peak, crafted personally by an Immortal, its sound could spread across the world.

Dong!

The heavy chime resounded, sweeping across the universe, seeming to open a new Chapter in history.

"Datong Calendar, Datong Bell, you really enjoy these ceremonies."

Li Yunshang stroked the large bell while Gu Wen stood three steps away, holding a Jade Scroll containing reports from Xie Yunnan and others.

It was essentially a survey of the middle and lower levels.

"What do we do next? Rectify the Taoist Soldiers to deal with the problematic Sword State and Buddha State, or eradicate corruption?"

"Spend money."

Gu Wen casually replied, "Any excellent governance lies in spending money correctly, and any excellent leader is adept at using money well. Our aim shouldn’t be to topple anyone, but to cultivate the soil for Universal Unity."

"We can’t rely on the Three Pure disciples, their interests decide their thoughts. The Three Pure Daoist Sect, no matter how great, is still a sect."

Li Yunshang asked, "So what do we rely on?"

"On this."

Gu Wen clenched his fist, a smile at the corner of his mouth: "Universal Unity emerges from the fist."

The greatest benefit of cultivation is that personal strength is enough to alter the objective environment.

Many times, achieving something doesn’t require an astonishing plan or strategic wit.

But rather the power to sweep away all obstacles.

Gu Wen was no stranger to wielding power, using it came naturally to him. It’s unlikely he could achieve Universal Unity, but to make the people prosperous was quite simple.

How long that prosperity lasts depends on fortune.

First Year of Datong.

The world remained tranquil, the internal power structure in Xuanhuang State changed frequently, but it was nowhere near as intense as the previous Universal Unity events.

Out came various innovations and unrealistic demands.

In his spare time, Gu Wen mastered the forty-eighth principle of the Great Tao.

A year passed in the blink of an eye.

News arrived that the whereabouts of the Heavenly Corpse Demon had been discovered.