Chapter 778 - 388: Si Ming; Surveying the Heavens

Chapter 778: Chapter 388: Si Ming; Surveying the Heavens

Next, after first familiarizing himself with the situation regarding the Immortal Official positions, he began to speak to the Ring Spirit. "Ring Spirit, I want you to pull up candidates who meet my requirements based on their personnel files. I will then assign them to their respective positions one by one."

"Yes," the Ring Spirit replied.

But before that, he first had to establish a new functional organization—the Cabinet.

’It’s time to appoint my own people.’

After the Ring Spirit added a new "Cabinet" section, Cheng Zongyang added Luo Dingran, Li Yihuo, Li Xuejin, Zhou Zhendong, and others to it, forming the Civil Pavilion and the Martial Pavilion. They would handle all affairs concerning the Immortal Officials, while he remained behind the scenes.

’This Cabinet is essentially the Immortal Realm’s state council, or a secretariat of sorts.’

’After all, I have too few trusted personnel right now. I’ll gradually increase their numbers to ten in the future.’

’As for Zhou Zhendong, he’ll be in charge of the Martial Arts Realm in the future. With the others to assist him, that will be enough.’

Next came the appointments for the ministry-level Immortal Official positions.

Cheng Zongyang laid out the requirements for each post, and the Ring Spirit swiftly flagged the candidates who met them. It then pulled up their files for Cheng Zongyang to review and select from.

Cheng Zongyang didn’t make any final decisions, instead tentatively placing candidates into their respective positions. He would decide on them all at once later.

These positions were divided into four major departments: Human, Demon, Spirit, and Monster. Each major department was then subdivided into the same positions and management structures.

The four major departments of the Immortal Officials were functionally subdivided into various distinct branches. The other type of Immortal Officials, conversely, was organized under three major departments, which were then subdivided into four functional branches: one each for Humans, Demons, Spirits, and Monsters.

Therefore, the managers selected for these roles absolutely could not have personal biases. Otherwise, it would sow the seeds of future conflict. ’Of course, I wouldn’t make such a basic mistake.’

Gradually, this led to situations where for some positions only one person was a match, while for others, there were over a dozen.

However, this wasn’t an issue. All personnel appointments for both classes of Immortal Official were categorized accordingly.

A little over an hour later, every position had been filled. However, there were still quite a few people who hadn’t been selected.

He knew they were reserve talent that could also be appointed.

So, he began adding these reserve personnel to the lower-level sub-departments.

By the time all the personnel had been assigned and the decisions finalized, two days had passed.

"Ring Spirit, did you record my method for assigning personnel?" Cheng Zongyang asked.

"It has been recorded," the Ring Spirit replied.

"Good. In the future, if new lists come in, just assign them for me directly. It’ll save me from wasting so much time," Cheng Zongyang said.

"Certainly."

As for selecting the lower-level staff for the Immortal Officials, Cheng Zongyang didn’t concern himself with it. He left it to the leaders of their four functional departments to recruit and assign people on their own.

However, regarding Luo Dingran’s suggestion that the Immortal Realm should also contribute personnel to the Immortal Official ranks, Cheng Zongyang felt it was unnecessary for the time being.

Most people in the Cultivation Immortality Realm knew each other, and personal connections were rife. ’Although the Immortal Officials enforce the law, they lack discretionary authority. People are inherently selfish. Rather than make them agonize over choosing public duty over personal ties later on, it’s better to sever that possibility from the start. It would be better to have people from the Martial Arts Realm manage the Immortal Realm.’

’Besides, those officials are experts, masters of bureaucratic management. Handling these matters will be easy for them, and they won’t have to struggle with the complexities of personal connections.’

’In the future, once the Ring Spirit has control over the Martial Arts Realm, I can use people from the Immortal Realm to manage the Martial Arts Realm. The effect will be the same: direct enforcement of the law, with no need to worry about personal connections!’

’This kind of cross-jurisdictional management is best. It’s why many corporations and regional governments like to parachute in their executives.’

’People promoted from within will always have baggage. And while parachuting in leaders can be detrimental to unity among the subordinates, the Immortal Realm doesn’t need that kind of unity. I certainly don’t. They all serve me!’

With the positions settled, Cheng Zongyang began to study the Celestial Laws.

The content was vast. After the Ring Spirit processed it, Cheng Zongyang decided to use an "examination" method, running simulations with it.

Cheng Zongyang would present "case studies" and see if the Celestial Laws provided a corresponding method of handling them, letting the Ring Spirit issue a judgment.

For example:

"Zhang San and Li Si are husband and wife. In a fit of rage during an argument, Zhang San strikes his wife, Li Si, killing her. What is the verdict?"

—Celestial Law: Striking someone in a rage is a conscious, subjective act of assault. This constitutes manslaughter. There is no "accidental blow"; the sentence is death!

For example:

"Cultivator Zhang San and Cultivator Li Si are good friends, but both fall in love with a Female Cultivator, Zhao Wu. Zhao Wu is not a good person and uses her charms to turn the two friends against each other. She not only takes all their money but also incites them to fight, resulting in one’s death and the other’s serious injury. After an Immortal Official investigates, what is the verdict?"

—Celestial Law: The deceased cannot be prosecuted. The survivor acted with murderous intent and, despite being induced by an external party, is sentenced to death. Zhao Wu is morally bankrupt and utterly shameless; for inciting others to crime and scheming to seize their property, she is to be confined to the Celestial Prison for three years of torment, after which she will be executed.

...

Case studies like these were constantly being examined during the simulations between Cheng Zongyang and the Ring Spirit.

The Ring Spirit also flagged verdicts it deemed unreasonable for Cheng Zongyang’s review.

Cheng Zongyang, in turn, amended several articles.

For example, child protection.

He supported a law for their protection, but it was meant to protect the victim. Anyone who acted with subjective intent, malice, and without provocation would be automatically excluded from its protection and be subject to the standard Celestial Laws.

In addition, Cheng Zongyang added a new clause to all punishments: the convicted must enter the Reversed Celestial Spirit Illusion Array within the Celestial Prison to personally experience being tortured, killed, or beaten. ’Only then will the knowledge of their wrongdoing be seared into their very souls.’

Take the Female Cultivator Zhao Wu, for example. After he added this clause, her sentence became: confinement in the Celestial Prison to personally experience the Reversed Celestial Spirit Illusion Array for three years, followed by execution.

’This isn’t just physical punishment; their minds won’t be spared either! Mental punishment is what truly leaves a lasting impression.’

The research on the Celestial Laws took a relatively long time. In total, it took about half a month to condense them into a new, second edition of the Celestial Laws.

’If new situations arise in the future, I can compile them and incorporate them then.’

’It’s just like airplanes from my past life. Their comprehensive safety mechanisms were only developed after countless incidents and the loss of countless lives.’

’Therefore, these Celestial Laws couldn’t possibly be perfected in one go, becoming comprehensive enough to cover every possible case.’

Finally, the Ring Spirit condensed everything into three brand-new books. Cheng Zongyang also updated the Immortal Official system and the Celestial Laws within the grander rules of the realm, replacing the old with the new.

’Over three million Points vanished in an instant, but it was still within an acceptable range.’

Afterward, he went to Luo Dingran’s office.

"My Lord!" Luo Dingran, who had been handling matters related to the sacrifices, immediately rose and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Mm."

Cheng Zongyang placed three books, each as thick as a thumb, on the desk. "It’s all been formulated. You go and handle the implementation," he said. "Also, don’t worry about recruiting Immortal Officials from the Immortal Realm for now. We can address that in the future. The foundational staff for the Immortal Officials can be selected by their own functional departments. Everything else is recorded in here. You all can read it for yourselves.

I have already integrated these rules into the Realm of Ten Thousand Races, so everyone can assume their posts at any time. Here are the official tokens."

As he spoke, Cheng Zongyang took out two new waist tokens and handed them to Luo Dingran:

"This silver-white one is the Immortal Official Token, named ’Si Ming.’ It serves as identification for an Immortal Official, and its color changes depending on the position. It’s also a Teleportation Order. Once bound, it can transport the user to the Third Level of the Ninefold Immortal Palace. That is an independent space that will serve as the Immortal Officials’ base of operations.

The other, in aquamarine-gold, is the other type of Immortal Official Token, named ’Surveying the Heavens.’ It’s their form of identification, with the same functions as the Si Ming token. Their offices are on the Second Level of the Ninefold Immortal Palace. Additionally, these tokens contain official robes and weapons."

"When those people enter the Immortal Realm, the corresponding Identity Token will automatically appear in the personal space of their Ten Thousand Races Spirit Seal. Also, you can hand over matters concerning the Hall of Ten Thousand Races to someone else. I have already assigned you your new position. I’ve set up the overall framework; the rest of you can handle the details as you see fit. I won’t meddle further."

"Yes, My Lord!" Luo Dingran said excitedly.

’This means the Immortal Realm’s system is now completely established.’ He was also extremely curious about what position his lord had assigned him.

Cheng Zongyang, meanwhile, returned to his Cultivation Room, ready to break through to the Golden Core realm!