Chapter 642: The Matter is Settled, Resuming Cultivation

Chapter 642: Chapter 122: The Matter is Settled, Resuming Cultivation

Wang Ping’s proposal was quickly passed. There was one main reason for this: war was profitable for everyone present. For example, Wang Ping could sell special ‘Power Pills,’ while they could craft corresponding defensive equipment.

To this end, Liu Shibin even proposed banning Entering Cultivators from participating in the war, and this was quickly passed and formed into a formal resolution.

Just as the resolution was being formed, Hua Yun Daoist of the True Yang Sect looked around at everyone and said, “Secular power should not be overly influenced by the Cultivation Realm. Therefore, I propose a ban on the Emperor cultivating, as well as a ban on any sects or prominent families not registered with the Daoist Palace from having Cultivators at the Entering Realm or above.”

Monk Mingxin immediately chimed in, “I agree. The chaos of the late Xia Dynasty cannot be repeated. Without the Cultivation Realm’s help, even if secular power becomes corrupt, the spiritual fabric won’t fall into disarray. In the future, even if a dynasty falls, we won’t need to pay it too much mind. We just need to let things run their natural course.”

Jiangcun glanced at Wang Ping, then looked to Hua Yun and said, “Blind prohibition will only lead to more terrible things. Some matters require guidance.”

“Then what is your brilliant idea, Fellow Daoist?” Hua Yun asked, clasping his fists.

“Brilliant is too strong a word. I just have a few thoughts. All people under heaven have the right to pursue immortality. If we blindly block their path to long life, it will lead to the spread of Evil Cultivators and allow madmen like ‘First Day’ to take advantage of the void.”

Jiangcun spoke very slowly, as if he were thinking as he laid out his ideas. “We can follow the example of the Vajra Temple and have the various sects recruit disciples with aptitude from the Mortal World every five or ten years, rather than only selecting from the descendants of prominent families. This will prevent those families from growing too powerful and also keep the Cultivation Realm from completely severing its ties with the mortal plane.”

“Furthermore, the seats of our Seventh Council should be more open to Loose Cultivators and Qi Cultivators from the Mortal World. We cannot possibly monitor the state of the world at all times, but these Qi Cultivators can. They are constantly watching the changes in every region.”

“As for restricting the Imperial Family’s cultivation, I think that is an excellent point. The Emperor is the Venerable of the Human Path, able to decide the fate of the world with a single word. If that is combined with cultivation, the world will never know peace. Moreover, an emperor remaining on the throne for too long leads to an over-concentration of power, which easily breeds tyrants and causes the common people to suffer.”

“Also, we can recompile books on the Human Dao to edify the masses, and we can guide the Emperor in governing the nation. After the Shangjing City incident, I studied many books on the Human Dao. Among them, Daoist Zhonghui’s doctrine of ‘Balance’ is the most suitable for an Emperor. But this is not enough. I read in Daoist Zhonghui’s biography that he once debated philosophy with someone, and his opponent proposed a moral standard of ‘goodness’.”

The ‘Daoist Zhonghui’ he spoke of was Saint Zhonghui, enfeoffed by the Xia Imperial Family, and also Wang Ping’s senior brother, Liu Zixiu.

“Daoist Zhonghui refuted this at the time, arguing that human nature should be balanced and not overly fixated on a moral standard of ‘goodness.’ His line of reasoning is very applicable to everyone present, but not to mortals. I personally feel that mortals cannot comprehend the true Dao of Balance, so we should guide them toward goodness and establish a moral standard of ‘goodness’.”

After confirming Jiangcun had finished, Monk Mingxin nodded again and said, “I agree. Using goodwill to stabilize the spiritual fabric of mortals is worth a try. Although the evil in human nature cannot be eradicated without cultivation, it can be suppressed with goodwill.”

At this moment, Yu Lian spoke within Wang Ping’s Spirit Sea, ‘Mortals are, for the most part, inherently kind and simple. But human nature is too complex; their goodwill is easily devoured by malice. This Jiangcun fellow has some interesting ideas, but the effect probably won’t be that significant. Because what the common people care about most is filling their bellies!’

Wang Ping completely agreed with Yu Lian’s words. However, a moral standard of ‘goodness’ could indeed be promoted. It might not be very useful at first, but once it becomes a part of history, people will subconsciously use it to define themselves.

The rest of the discussion was much more harmonious. Jiangcun was also recommended by the group to be in charge of compiling the new Human Dao doctrine. Afterward, everyone except for Wu Quan and Jiangcun took their leave.

After seeing his guests off, and before returning to the Mountain Peak Dojo, Wang Ping looked at Wu Quan, who seemed at a loss for words, and said, “Fellow Daoist, do you plan to remain in your position as the chief administrator of the Mozhou Road Daoist Palace, or are you going to plot for a Third Council seat?”

“This humble Daoist feels the chief administrator position is more suitable for me at present!” Wu Quan replied with a cupped-fist salute. In reality, within the Daoist Palace’s current system, the status of a chief administrator was slightly lower than an ordinary Third Council member, but they could directly mobilize the resources of an entire road. Moreover, after stepping down, a chief administrator could immediately run for the Third Council.

Wang Ping looked at him and said softly, “Rest assured, in this little corner of the world in the south, we are still the ones who call the shots. But since we’re the ones setting the rules for this game, we have to abide by them openly. Do you understand?”

“Understood!”

Wu Quan nodded, glanced at Jiangcun beside him, and said with a clasped-fist salute, “I’ll also return to Mozhou Road to make some preparations. Fellow Daoist, please attend to your own affairs.”

With that, he walked toward the Ascension Platform.

Jiangcun watched Wu Quan’s back and said via voice transmission, “He’s aiming for the Fourth Realm. He’ll probably clash with Zhi Gong Daoist. When the time comes, how will you choose?”

Wang Ping smiled without answering, looking at Jiangcun and asking in return, “Where is the person I wanted?”

He was, of course, referring to Yue Ziyu.

Jiangcun gave an embarrassed smile. “He got away. The man is very clever. But don’t worry, he’s no Zi Luan; he can’t erase his own tracks. It’s only a matter of time before the people I sent catch up to him.”

Hearing this, Wang Ping let out a breath. He looked up at his Dao Field, then at the now-empty plaza. Having spent this time standing on high and surveying the surrounding scenery, he suddenly felt that some things were no longer important.

He looked at Yu Lian, who had crawled out of his sleeve to lie on his shoulder, and reached out to gently stroke her little head. “After you catch him, lock him up for a few hundred years, and then let him go.”

Jiangcun looked at Wang Ping in astonishment. “Why the sudden generosity?”

Wang Ping smiled and asked, “If you have something to say, say it now. I’m about to enter seclusion to cultivate. After that, you won’t be able to find me even if you need to.”

Hearing this, Jiangcun gave up on the idle chatter and asked directly, “Didn’t that Saint of a senior brother of yours leave behind a disciple? With his help, my work compiling the Human Dao doctrine would be twice as effective with half the effort!”

An image of Zhang Xinghuai appeared in Wang Ping’s mind. He shook his head and said, “Back then, the True Monarchs decreed that no Cultivators above the Second Realm could participate in the conflict over the Divine Artifact. In a fit of anger, my grand-disciple returned to Zhonghui County Town to become a doctor. I lost track of him after I came out of seclusion, but I suspect he won’t get involved in what you’re doing.”

“Why?”

“He no longer engages in scholarship!”

“Why?”

“Because he discovered that scholarship was useless. So, he went and established the Datong Marquisate in the Northwest. A pity that in the end…”

Wang Ping shook his head, not finishing his sentence. Then, without waiting for Jiangcun to react, he transformed into a streak of light and flew toward the Mountain Peak Dojo.