Heavenly Dao Engine
Chapter 1405 - 1405 797 Reality Problems

Chapter 1405: Chapter 797: Reality Problems Chapter 1405: Chapter 797: Reality Problems Chapter 0797: Real-world Problems

After cleansing the entire Capital City, Qi Tian had the barriers surrounding the city removed by the glaze sand. As soon as the blockade was lifted, those cultivators who had miraculously survived Qi Tian’s purge fled from the Capital City like rats crossing the streets, swearing never to set foot in Great Zhao Nation’s Capital City ever again.

In the past few days, they had witnessed scenes akin to hell. Had their luck not held up, they would have perished there. Good fortune inevitably runs out, and if Qi Tian were to go on a similar rampage next time, indiscriminately slaughtering all, they would have no chance to escape. It was best to flee this accursed place as soon as possible.

Qi Tian did not try to stop these people from fleeing. Having killed over ten thousand individuals, the rage within his heart had been fully vented. He believed that this massacre was enough to serve as a warning to the world: they should think twice before causing trouble in Great Zhao Country, lest they invoke his wrath.

However, with his anger dissipated, Qi Tian now had to face two very practical issues. One was that the throne of Great Zhao could not remain empty indefinitely—someone had to take up the position. He bore no interest in becoming the emperor and had never conceived of usurping the Zhao family’s throne. His intention was to select a capable and wise individual from amongst the imperial kin to be emperor. In principle, he could decide this matter on his own, but Qi Tian did not wish to do so. He planned to convene the civil and military officials of Capital City, along with the imperial family members, to discuss this matter at the palace and determine the most suitable candidate for emperor. The other issue was that by killing the cultivators gathered in Capital City, and with the majority of the survivors having fled, only a handful remained. Relying on such a meager number of cultivators to maintain imperial authority and ensure the security of the royal house and Great Zhao Country was impossible. Qi Tian also needed to resolve this.

During his absence, the Cultivation World of Capital City had become a den of iniquity. Previously, with three great Master Mansions imposing order, no one dared to cause trouble here. But now, the Imperial Master Mansion had relocated out of Capital City. The other two Master Mansions suffered a heavy blow when he had assisted Prince Zhao in his bid for the throne, and afterwards, when he left for the Imperial Family Secret Territory, foreign cultivators began to invade Capital City. While there were cultivators from these two Master Mansions who stood against the intruders, they were too few to resist, and most ended up being killed by these outsiders. The rest who betrayed the Master Mansions to join the invaders were also killed during Qi Tian’s purge of Capital City.

Now, a power vacuum had emerged among the cultivators of Capital City, and it could even extend to the whole of Great Zhao Country. This issue, if not properly resolved, could be even more serious than lacking an emperor.

If Qi Tian were to stay in Great Zhao Country, no problems would arise. But his departure was only a matter of time. Originally, he intended to leave after meeting once with Prince Zhao; however, he could only delay his departure, waiting until all problems were resolved.

He could only send a Message Paper Crane to Xiao Xiaowu, Mansion Master of the Imperial Master Mansion, to inform him of the events in Capital City and inquire whether Xiao Xiaowu was willing to establish a branch mansion or a stronghold here. This would, at the very least, ensure that Great Zhao Country would not be without cultivators to deter outsiders for some time. Of course, Qi Tian made it clear that if Xiao Xiaowu was unwilling, it was no matter—just to return Guan Xun to him, and he would have Guan Xun take charge of Capital City.

Once the message was sent, Qi Tian did not know when Xiao Xiaowu would reply. He simply brought out a chair and placed it in front of Wumen, quietly waiting for the civil and military officials who had caught wind of the situation to come see him.

Qi Tian had killed so many in Capital City, and the news had already spread throughout the entire Capital City—there was no one who didn’t know, including these officials. Over the past few days, they had all been hiding at home, trembling with fear, unsure of what their future held.

Qi Tian did not send anyone to notify them, nor did he have Gao Jinmei fly her sword over Capital City to make an announcement. He simply sat in his chair, patiently waiting for the officials to come, which was also a test for these ministers.

The basic professional duty of these officials, stipulating loyalty to their sovereign as part of receiving their stipends, was one thing: even if they did not regard the Great Zhao Emperor as a father figure, they should at least show concern for the emperor’s life or death. At the very least, now that Zhao Song was still nominally the Great Zhao Emperor and the slaughter in Capital City had ceased, it was only right for them to come to the palace to inquire. If they were unwilling to do even this, then they need not continue in their roles. Qi Tian would not indulge them.

Recognizing that these officials were worldly people and that even those among them who were cultivators generally had low cultivation realms, which limited their courage, Qi Tian was quite generous and allowed them a two-day deadline. He would sit outside Wumen and wait for them for two days. If they came within this period, they would be retained in their positions. If not, they could retire and return to civilian life.