Chapter 775 - 387: Personnel Screening in Progress (Part 2)

Chapter 775: Chapter 387: Personnel Screening in Progress (Part 2)

When news of this grand recruitment was announced, every Martial Artist from the various nations and the Thirteen Royal Families was thrown into a frenzy!

The chance to enter the Immortal Realm and become an Immortal Official—the benefit of an Undying Body alone was enough to make all other perks and rewards irrelevant.

Thus, nearly every Martial Artist from all corners of the Martial Arts Realm swarmed to the National Capitals of the various countries and the royal capitals within the Royal Family territories!

And so, a massive registration drive for Immortal Official recruitment began.

The first batch of recruits would be the cream of the crop, so the requirements were set high.

In Immortal City, Li Xuejin, who was fully in charge of this matter, was constantly monitoring the registration status in the various designated areas.

The Spiritual Communication function of the Ten Thousand Races Spirit Seal allowed him to swiftly resolve any issues that arose on the ground. Fortunately, with the assistance of the Imperial Dynasties’ troops and the Royal Families’ manpower, things did not descend into chaos.

The various Royal Families also sent people to participate in the Immortal Official recruitment, but not a single one dared to try and use back-door connections. Otherwise, Immortal City would turn hostile.

Fairness and impartiality in handling all matters had always been Immortal City’s way of doing things.

Using connections to get ahead was simply not an option.

Hadn’t they seen? The captains and squad leaders appointed from within the Immortal Officials were all from the Cheng Family’s Earth Branch Lineage or the Immortal Martial Hall. These were individuals who had been tempered and trained in Immortal City, people whose backgrounds were thoroughly known. Which one of them had been "airdropped" into their position?

Even Cheng Zongyang’s own younger siblings had been trained from a young age, starting from the bottom and learning from Shopkeepers and other superiors. They weren’t just parachuted into positions for no reason.

As days went by and the Immortal Official recruitment process gradually stabilized, Luo Dingran sought out Zhou Zhendong in private.

"Steward Luo, what can I do for you?" Zhou Zhendong was very courteous toward Luo Dingran.

Luo Dingran was his younger cousin’s grand steward. Although their statuses were different, Zhou Zhendong had spent the last three or four years admiring and learning from Luo Dingran’s ability to control the bigger picture and his meticulous, detailed arrangements. Thus, his attitude was naturally one of respect.

"This isn’t an order. Let’s just discuss it normally."

Luo Dingran smiled. "Over the past three-plus years, I have more or less completed the three main tasks the Master assigned me. All that’s left is for the Immortal Official recruitment to conclude successfully, and then to repeat the process once in the Immortal Realm.

But there is one more matter. Although the Master never gave specific instructions, I’ve heard him mention it a few times. Zhendong, you are currently the one engaging with the various nations and the Thirteen Royal Families, serving as a kind of diplomatic envoy."

Zhou Zhendong nodded. "I just handle the minor details. The major decisions still require everyone’s deliberation."

Luo Dingran said, "Whether the tasks are large or small, they are all for the sake of the Master’s foundation. And it is precisely because of your area of responsibility that this task can only be done by you."

"What is it?" Zhou Zhendong asked, his expression turning serious.

"Establish Divine Temples!"

Luo Dingran’s expression grew serious as well.

"Divine Temples are something the Master has mentioned several times. Your job is to negotiate with the Royal Families of the various nations and the Thirteen Royal Families, and have them build Divine Temples everywhere. In every village, town, county, commandery, and prefecture! Every family and every Gang must have a Divine Temple and a Divine Statue! All other divine statues must be abolished!"

Zhou Zhendong frowned, though he was inwardly very confused. ’Whose divine statue?’

Luo Dingran shook his head, then took out a set of blueprints for the Divine Temple, a drawing of the Divine Statue, and a palm-sized, colored clay model of the statue itself.

However, when Zhou Zhendong saw the Divine Statue, he was taken aback. "Isn’t this Zongyang?"

Luo Dingran shook his head. "Take a closer look."

This time, Zhou Zhendong examined it carefully. He discovered that while the lifelike clay statue bore a spiritual resemblance, there were indeed some differences upon closer inspection. Furthermore, the statue’s pose left him scratching his head.

Its left hand held something that was either a pagoda or a palace, while its right hand was raised to the sky, a... Ring in its palm?

"This... this is?"

Luo Dingran shook his head. "Don’t ask too many questions. This is the clay model of the Divine Statue the Master left behind. It is the same statue that every household and every place in the Immortal Realm will worship. Right now, I am merely having this statue spread throughout the Martial Arts Realm."

"Then there has to be a reason for them to believe in it. Otherwise, they’ll just feign compliance. Worshipping it without belief is the same as not worshipping it at all, right?" Zhou Zhendong continued.

Luo Dingran smiled. "I’m not sure why news about the Divine Temples hasn’t reached this side yet, but I imagine the Master has been too busy with other matters to attend to it."

He handed a small booklet to Zhou Zhendong. "This is the reason. Take a good look, and you’ll know how to make them all believe."

"Done!" Zhou Zhendong took the items.

Luo Dingran added, "Tell the decision-makers of the various nations that as long as they can successfully implement the Divine Temples and ensure our Divine Statue is worshipped exclusively, you have the authority to agree to any reasonable conditions."

Zhou Zhendong listened and read at the same time, nodding repeatedly and committing Luo Dingran’s words to memory. He was simultaneously amazed that worshipping the Divine Statue had such incredible benefits.

"With this, you don’t even need the Royal Families’ help. If you just promote it among the common people, once they experience the benefits of worshipping the Divine Statue for themselves, you won’t have to manage it anymore. They’ll spread the word on their own and cast aside all other statues, won’t they?"

Luo Dingran said, "You’re right. The common people may be ignorant, but they are also the most pragmatic. They don’t care which god they’re worshipping. As long as it brings them benefits, it’s a good god!

Many commoners even worship several statues in their homes. It’s like casting a wide net—they figure there’s no harm in worshipping more than one.

Our Divine Statue will grant them benefits and effects, but we need time. The difference in speed between a spontaneous, grassroots adoption and a promotional campaign backed by the Royal Families and other major powers is obvious."ⅇ