Free Web NovelChapter 316: Chapter 45: The World of the Divine Dao
Only after venturing deep into Yunjiang Road did Wang Ping finally understand what the Divine Dao truly was.
Here, it was nearly impossible to walk for hours without seeing signs of civilization. Farms and villages packed the land, and countless pavilions and storied buildings had been constructed. At a glance, it seemed as if tall buildings were everywhere.
Incense smoke always lingered among these tall buildings, dotted with streams of golden light, making one feel as if they were in a legendary Immortal Realm. The ones indulging here were not high officials or nobles, but the most common folk. They could freely enjoy delicacies and drink without restraint.
Five-spice powder was even hawked on the streets, and everyone, men and women alike, was addicted to it.
They had no need to worry about their health, as the Divine Dao Emperor guaranteed they would live to the age of sixty. Before then, they could indulge themselves wantonly. This wonderful life cost them nothing more than their faith.
However, maintaining such a wonderful life required a vast number of slaves. Over the two hundred years of this supposed golden age, laborers from all walks of life had become slaves, and their numbers had imperceptibly surpassed that of the common citizenry.
A new social system had even developed within the slave class, complete with its own hierarchy. The original commoners had become a new, incredibly numerous class of nobles.
Most of them had even forgotten how to farm, becoming nothing more than tools for the Emperor to control the nation’s destiny. ’But what use were such tools?’
The Court was not blind to the contradictions throughout the nation, so they implemented policies allowing for manumission. From time to time, stories of someone being freed would circulate among the lower-class slaves.
But this solution could never eradicate the underlying conflict. Freeing all the slaves was impossible; doing so would only require even more slaves to support the newly freed populace. It was a vicious cycle with no end in sight.
And the root of all this was the Divine Dao!
’Is this the golden age people speak of?’ Yu Lian communicated from within Wang Ping’s sleeve. She detested how the Inspiration Realm was now saturated with the spiritual essence of desire.
Wang Ping allowed his own emotions to merge with the desire-filled spiritual essence of the Inspiration Realm. As he felt the emotions he had long suppressed, a strange sense of release washed over him, and he found himself involuntarily walking into a small, roadside temple dedicated to the Emperor.
Though called a small temple, its construction was quite elaborate. The entrance featured exquisite, integrated dragon reliefs, their surfaces decorated with a layer of gold dust.
The temple’s interior was a cohesive whole. The ceiling was a network of interlocking mortise-and-tenon joints, all coated in thick lacquer. The surrounding windows were artfully placed, channeling sunlight to illuminate every corner perfectly.
Behind the incense burner were memorial tablets for the successive Emperors. To his surprise, flanking the Emperors’ tablets were others for the various True Monarchs. This astonished Wang Ping, who was familiar with the rites of the Daoist Scripture Hall. In those ceremonies, the placement of every True Monarch’s tablet was meticulously prescribed, let alone being positioned on the sides like subjects attending to their Emperor.
’Have these people gone mad?’
Wang Ping pulled his consciousness free from the overwhelming desire.
The presiding priest, who had been preaching to the people, noticed Wang Ping’s entrance. He immediately ended his conversation, walked over, and asked politely, "Daoist, are you here to offer incense?"
Wang Ping replied, "No, I was just curious and came to have a look."
The priest offered a humble smile. "We only receive believers here, so..." His words were polite, but his gesture was not, as he motioned directly for Wang Ping to leave.
Wang Ping was not angered. He performed a Taoist salute and politely exited the temple.
After he left the temple, Yu Lian communicated with him through his Spirit Sea. ’There’s a very strong consciousness in that temple, similar to a Second Realm True Spirit, but it isn’t physically real.’
’That’s the Divine Technique the Emperor uses to monitor the world!’
After replying, Wang Ping looked toward the end of the main road, where it began to ascend a mountain. A large city sat atop it, and from a distance, he could see well-ordered terraces carved into the slopes.
This had to be Qingyang Prefecture City of Yunjiang Road. A sixty-thousand-strong Iron Army was stationed here, its vantage point allowing it to survey the south. But that was a record from two hundred years ago. ’By now,’ Wang Ping thought, ’this Iron Army has likely been corrupted by a life of extravagance.’
Sure enough, at the Iron Army’s camp, there were only a few soldier-ruffians in civilian clothes gambling at the gate. Inside the barracks were fewer than two thousand men, all of them fast asleep. They had clearly been out carousing all night.
However, the city was not without fighting strength. Outside its walls was a large army from the Demon Race, with a Great Demon stationed among them. Furthermore, within the city’s grand sacrificial hall, several presiding priests could use Divine Techniques to easily eliminate ordinary Second Realm Cultivators.
’Do those Great Demons just watch as their own kind are sacrificed alive like animals every day?’ Yu Lian asked, unable to understand.
’It’s not just demons being sacrificed alive—it’s humans, too,’ Wang Ping retorted. ’Have you ever seen them hesitate?’
Yu Lian was silent for a long time. Not until Wang Ping had walked out of Qingyang Prefecture City did she speak again. ’A dynasty like this deserves to be destroyed. When do you think it will fall?’
Hearing this, Wang Ping turned to look back at Qingyang City. He then walked to the edge of the road to gaze out at the magnificent landscape below, his eyes falling on the slaves toiling in the terraced fields. He responded, ’Do you know what would happen if it were destroyed?’
’Whatever happens, it would be worth it. A civilization like this is utterly nauseating,’ Yu Lian answered decisively.
Wang Ping said no more.
「Half a month later.」
He finally crossed the undulating terrain of Yunjiang Road. Just as the lands around the Capital City came into distant view, a Puppet Bird landed on his hand.
This was the Puppet Bird Wang Ping and Xia Yao used to communicate. He glanced around before cautiously removing the message from a compartment in its belly and unrolling it. Xia Yao’s calligraphy was as brilliant as ever. The letter began with polite pleasantries before getting to the heart of the matter.
Xia Yao reminded him that as the Pacification Envoy of Nanlin Road, with the current situation so unstable and the relationships in the Capital City so complicated, some would welcome him, while others would not. Those who opposed him might resort to underhanded methods.
"Underhanded methods? Would they really dare assassinate a Pacification Envoy?" Wang Ping muttered to himself.
’Of course, I know what being the Pacification Envoy of Nanlin Road means in these turbulent times. That’s precisely why I’m traveling on foot to keep a low profile.’
Yu Lian responded to his muttering, ’You still need to be careful. Look at the people here; their consciousness and emotions are clearly abnormal. I think they wouldn’t just dare to assassinate you—they might even attack you openly!’
Just then, Wang Ping’s gaze shifted to his left, where a post horse was slowly approaching. One needed a certain status to ride a post horse on this road. A young man sat astride the horse, dressed in a light purple silk robe. A Jade Pendant and an identity token identifying him as a Minister of the Ministry of War clinked softly at his waist.
"Daoist, that’s a lively bird you have there. What’s your price?" the young man asked, cupping one fist in his other hand. His posture was polite, but his expression was arrogant, and his tone hinted at an intent to buy it by force if necessary.
