Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 963 - 819: Divine Seal Perfection

Chapter 963: Chapter 819: Divine Seal Perfection

Not long after.

The main entrance of Gan Mansion.

Below the altar table, Gan Yu and his wives, children, and servants knelt on the ground.

In front, a stretch of auspicious clouds descended, with an angel slowly unfolding an imperial decree and reading aloud:

"By the Mandate of Heaven, the Son of Heaven decrees: Jinshi Gan Yu, loyal to His Majesty’s cause and a model of teaching in a region, is hereby granted the Eighth Rank Supreme Court North Dipper Secret Papyrus and appointed as the loyal and brave School Captain of Black Stone County in Panlong Prefecture, of the Eighth Rank. Let it be respected!"

The angel finished reading the decree and said in a high-pitched voice, "Lord Gan, receive the decree!"

Gan Yu wore a mixed expression, part smile and part tears, feeling some resistance inside.

But as someone who had already been ’bestowed with a talisman’, in the face of the imperial decree and angel that represented the emperor’s authority, he had no chance to resist and could only bow his head: "Your servant Gan Yu, accepts the decree with thanks."

Even if the court were to gift him a cup of poisoned wine causing him death, Gan Yu would still have to do the same.

And with this kowtow, a Taoist Record suddenly burst forth with brilliance, floating down and replacing the original Taoist Record within Gan Yu’s body.

Gan Yu stood up, with one thought in his heart: "Who wants to harm me?!"

If it were any other county, such a promotion straight from the Ninth Rank to the proper Eighth Rank, instantly raising a rank and two levels, he would need to bow and scrape to the person facilitating his promotion.

Although in officialdom people normally speak of making progress step by step, they look down upon those ’fortunate villains’ who take the elevator, facing a lot of resistance.

Yet, he did not aspire to hold a top-ranked position and be recorded in the annals of history.

Only those scholars with ambitions to become famous and powerful officials would care about this kind of evaluation, making progress step by step, striving for a solid foundation and a wide network of supporters.

But it was very unlikely for Gan Yu to ever reach the Fifth Rank in his life; a promotion was a good thing!

Being selected for an official position and obtaining a Godhood Position was already enough to make one overwhelmingly grateful.

As for consecutive rank promotions? That was an even greater blessing... After all, it’s difficult to enhance one’s Divine Rank, each rank representing a vast gap in power.

And gaps in power correspond to gaps in status and treatment!

Given how difficult it is to get promoted within the Taoist Court, a Jinshi ranking doesn’t count for much at all, with many just waiting until old age and death.

Moreover, actual positions are much lower than honorary ones, with very few of the same rank.

But Black Stone County in Panlong Prefecture?

Who doesn’t know that Panlong Prefecture is situated in Zhu State, where rebels have sprung up frequently over the past twenty years!

As a Jinshi, Gan Yu had access to government intelligence channels, and knew well that ever since the Mountain God of Black Cloud Mountain rebelled twenty years ago, each high-ranking official the court sent out to suppress the rebellion... ended in a crushing defeat!

From an initially appointed Fifth Rank Acting General to a later Third Rank Valiant General, and even to Commanders and Grand Tutors...

How many famous officials and generals with resounding reputations were brought down by Zhu State...

Many Jinshis from the capital had met the same fate in that bottomless pit.

If ten years ago, there were Jinshis willing to take a chance on an official position, by now, many would rather never hold office than go to Zhu State and die!

Why had this arduous task now fallen upon him?

Gan Yu wanted to cry but had no tears.

But it was still the same saying: once the imperial decree was issued, even if it ordered the slaughter of his entire family or extermination of his clan... with the awe-inspiring strictness of Taoist Law, Gan Yu could only humbly receive the decree and give thanks!

Now that he was promoted to School Captain, he had no choice but to go.

"I pray that the angel would honor me with his presence, allowing me as an officer to offer some humble wine in hospitality..."

Gan Yu steadied his mind, preparing to detain the angel to inquire further.

But the angel merely smiled slightly and said, "I have other official duties and cannot stay long. Lord Gan, take note, you must take office within one month, or you shall face execution for being late..."

Gan Yu looked at the departing figure of the angel, a chill suddenly going through his heart: "Official duties... Could it be that he has more decrees to announce... Is it that the Taoist Court is running short of officials?"

With this thought, a deep chill settled in his heart.

Just how brutal could the conflict in Zhu State be?

...

Zhu State.

Mei Changkong rode a Spiritual Instrument Flying Sword, slicing through a troop of soldiers with ease.

"Rebels, meet your death!"

A military officer roared, leaping into the air, his long spear lunging fiercely.

But in the next instant, as a talisman on Mei Changkong burned, it transformed into an exceedingly solid Rock Shield.

The spear struck the rock and immediately broke.

Mei Changkong, riding his Flying Sword, pierced through the officer’s chest, the cold Sword Qi violently destroying his Divine Soul.

"Kill... Kill the rebel..."

The officer’s eyes bulged in rage, but his breath eventually ceased.

"Haha, exhilarating!"

Mei Changkong, who looked somewhat younger after his Foundation Establishment, rode the Flying Sword, decapitated the remaining soldiers, and then rode the Sword Light away.

He had acquired the favor of a Mountain God, who granted him Spiritual Pills and elixirs, and he finally succeeded in Foundation Establishment ten years ago, then killed that villain Cao.

Since then, he had been content living as a rebel in Zhu State.

This world has a saying that ’the law does not elevate the elite’, even those Taoists with substantial cultivation cannot use their magics to bewitch the elite, let alone rebel.

Essentially, this is because they have taken shortcuts and have submitted to Taoist Law through their talismans.

Even if they possess capable Taoist magic, using it against high officials constitutes an act of insubordination, naturally not likely to end well...

But Mei Changkong was different; he did not receive a talisman, and cultivated the Immortal Path, free from the restrictions of the Taoist Court, a true bona fide rebel.

In recent years, with a sword he has become unfettered, killing many soldiers, truly giving the officials a cold fear.

Yet to Mei Changkong, it just felt thrilling.

Black Cloud Mountain, Mountain God Mansion.

Mei Changkong landed his Escape Light and saw Bai Tongzi coming out: "The Mountain God Lord has summoned you!"

His face turned solemn, "I will go right away."

Mei Changkong entered the interior of the mountain and saw a magnificent hall, which was completely different from the simplicity of twenty years ago, as if it had changed the whole heaven and earth.

A young mountain god dressed in blue court attire was sitting upright on the throne, his appearance majestic, with a layer of blue cloud above his head, clear as jade, which deeply struck Mei Changkong upon seeing it.

"Greetings to the Mountain God."

Upon seeing Fang Xi, he immediately performed a salutation.

"You have the scent of blood and resentment on you... Have you been slaughtering those government soldiers again?" Fang Xi opened his eyes and said indifferently.

"Those court soldiers dared to come to Zhu State, treating the Mountain God Lord with no regard, they should be executed..." Mei Changkong answered resolutely.

Fang Xi fell silent.

After a moment, he finally said, "Killing too many, the evil Qi is too severe; it’s not good for you."

The kneeling Mei Changkong straightened his back: "Mountain God Lord, the God Path is what concerns itself with merits, but what I practice is the Immortal Path... An Immortal Cultivator is unbounded; you can save thousands of lives, the heavens won’t reward you, and if you kill tens of thousands, there won’t be any punishment either... "

’...’

Fang Xi fell silent again, feeling that Mei Changkong seemed to have strayed from the path.

But it didn’t matter, he was just an experiment for the Immortal Path cultivation method.

’It’s just that I didn’t expect him to have the disposition of a sword practitioner...’

’Alas... Although the Immortal Path is unbounded, one cannot live in a vacuum. The Immortal Cultivators live in this world, drawing from the Heavenly and Earthly Fate for cultivation, and will naturally be affected by the world... The fortune and cause-and-effect rules of this world are indeed very strict.’

’Too much slaughter, I’m afraid there will be retribution...’

Above Fang Xi’s head, a Fortune Worm leisurely swam in the midst of the blue cloud.

Under his gaze, above Mei Changkong’s head, a radiance about three feet tall, like a long sword, emitted dazzling light.

This signified his sword practitioner’s nature and Foundation Establishment cultivation fortune.

Above the three feet of gleaming radiance, however, there was a mass of blood-red cloud, almost as if a layer of dark clouds were covering the sky.

The reason it hadn’t completely descended was firstly because of Mei Changkong’s own cultivation resisting it and secondly due to the favor of the Mountain God himself.

One could see a thin line of blue, like a fishing line, faint but ’fishing’ for that layer of blood-red Evil Qi, stopping it from descending.

This was the favor from Fang Xi.

If ever he no longer cared to pay attention and the thread of blue fortune broke, then solely relying on Mei Changkong’s own strength, it would be difficult to endure the backlash of this cause-and-effect fortune...

"Enough, you may leave."

He had given Mei Changkong a piece of advice and waved his hand for him to withdraw. After another moment of silence, he flicked his sleeve.

A divine force like jade green immediately sealed the entire hall.

Above his head, within the deep green cloud, a Taoist talisman entirely like green jade had purple Divine Text inscribed on it, boldly proclaiming—’The Third Rank Black Mountain Mountain God’!

Fang Xi was originally a fourth-rank Black Cloud Mountain Mountain God, but later boldly rebelled and seized Lianyun Mountain.

After that, he defeated the court’s armies one after another, gradually occupied Zhu State, and either killed or subjugated all the local mountain and earth gods, city gods, and other deities, unifying the ley lines of Zhu State. He occupied the most central part of the dragon vein, changing Black Cloud Mountain to Black Mountain, making it the center of Zhu State.

His own position as the Black Mountain Mountain God naturally ascended to the legitimate Third Rank!

"The divine force of the Third Rank of Divinity is a pure green, without any trace of gold... But this seems to be the limit of the faith and fortune of a single state," Fang Xi muttered to himself.

This Third Rank Godhood Position was sustained by the fate of Zhu State’s ley lines, having nothing to do with his own strength; it was purely the force of the God Path.

"Besides... the heterodox incarnation is also having a good time at Panlong Lake... Recently styling himself ’The Muddy Water Saint’, he has driven out the Lord of Panlong Lake and taken over the Dragon Palace in the process... He even caught quite a few Mussel Girls, Dragon Girls, and Bell Girls to play with..."

To be honest, even if the heterodox incarnation hadn’t cooperated, the God Path incarnation could have taken over Zhu State without much trouble, being called ’Muddy Son Saint’ would be more appropriate.

The most dangerous time was when the Supreme Rank Taoist Court’s Grand Teacher set up a Great Array.

Comparable to a Transcendent God Cultivator setting up an array, though the might of the God Path could kill even a Perfect Transcendent God in that trap.

But to the God Path incarnation already at rank six, it was no more a threat than a mayfly shaking a tree.

Since that time, the Taoist Court seems to have completely given up. Besides occasionally sending some low-rank deities to die, officers above the third rank no longer appeared.

’It looks like they’ve tacitly acknowledged the loss of Zhu State but can’t admit it, only sending unlucky ones yearly to make a show... Is that perhaps to also reduce some excess officials? Is this what they call dealing gladly with unpleasant things?’

’Indeed, with both danger and opportunity, where there is danger, there’s also chance... I am lightening the load for the Taoist Court, if they want to negotiate peace, they should at least promote me one more rank...’

Fang Xi thought somewhat playfully.

In fact, by now, he almost had no demands from the Taoist Court.

Dragging it out till now was only for another matter.

In his hand, a flash of blue light, and a seal appeared.

This seal was green and jade-like throughout, not revealing any hint of its former stone appearance, the very ’Lord Qingtong’s Treasure’!

After twenty years of continuous sacrificial refining by Fang Xi with green divine power, it gradually shed its deceiving surface as a divine object, revealing its true essence.

Even the cracks on it were healing, and now only a few traces remained.

"Once this seal is refined, I’ll directly become the father to the emperor!"

Fang Xi could sense that the seal was only a thread away from being completely refined.

He no longer hesitated, and divine power like a green waterfall fell from above, pouring into the Divine Seal.

On the green Divine Seal, the last crack healed, and abruptly, it rang with clarity, bursting forth with a brilliant light.

Thereafter, streams of profound information surged into Fang Xi’s Sea of Consciousness.

A look of astonishment appeared on his face!