Chapter 457: Chapter 457: Entering the Dao Court

Although he planned to head to the Dao Court, Lü Yang wasn’t about to go skipping over there like a fool.

After all, the Dao Court had a closed-door policy and was extremely xenophobic. Ordinary Cultivators couldn’t even get close, and anyone who trespassed into the East would be executed on the spot as an invader.

This was especially true for Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

’According to Wu Taian’s memories, the Dao Court is suppressed by the [Immortal Dao Law]. The moment any Foundation Establishment Cultivator crosses the border, they are immediately pinpointed by the Dao Court.’

Thus, Lü Yang didn’t rush to restore his Foundation Establishment Cultivation.

He wasn’t worried. He had plenty of Foundation Establishment Cultivators in his Myriad-Soul Banner to act as Protectors. After entering Yu Suzhen’s body using [Reincarnated Spirit Child], he began to wait patiently.

Soon, Yu Suzhen woke up.

"Where am I...?"

Yu Suzhen looked around, her beautiful eyes filled with confusion. However, as Lü Yang activated [Puppet], she soon ’remembered’ her past.

’I’ve already taken care of that pathetic new disciple, and I’ve successfully broken through to the First Layer of Qi Refining.’

’This seems reasonable.’

Stepping off the Luo Bed, Yu Suzhen changed her clothes. A moment later, a knock came from the door. When she opened it, she found Liu Xin, who had been waiting for some time.

Lü Yang was already familiar with what happened next.

Liu Xin wanted to use Refining on Yu Suzhen, but she sensed something was wrong. She used a honey trap, then poisoned him, slowly driving him to his death.

After that came Yu Suzhen’s "Sea King" antics.

In the midst of this, Lü Yang effortlessly switched the host of his [Reincarnated Spirit Child] possession, moving instead to Zhao Xuhe.

’Yu Suzhen is a talented individual, but it’s a shame she has no background. She can only develop slowly within the Stain Sect. I’ll just use [Puppet] to monitor her progress later. Since I’m going to the Dao Court, I need to possess someone who has some status among the Stain Sect disciples and can leave the Sect whenever they want.’

Zhao Xuhe fit this description perfectly.

Lü Yang’s maneuver was executed in one smooth motion: possession with [Reincarnated Spirit Child], control with [Puppet]. And so, one morning, Zhao Xuhe had a sudden epiphany:

"Hah! I must go to the East!"

A great opportunity awaits in the East!

Driven by this powerful urge, Zhao Xuhe, who was originally supposed to head to the Northern Border, changed course and galloped toward the East, leaving a trail of dust in his wake.

......

「North, Qing Country.」

This place was situated in the far east of the North. Beyond Qing Country lay the Great Dragon River, a place that even Qi Refiners could not approach.

Although the world’s four regions—East, West, South, and North—were strictly supposed to be non-interfering, they all engaged in clandestine trade. For instance, back at the Sword Pavilion, Lü Yang remembered that the Ganhai Li Clan had amassed a great fortune by smuggling with the North, even managing to produce a Foundation-Stage Cultivator.

The same was naturally true for the East and the North.

Qing Country served as the transit point between the two.

This was especially true now, as Minor Metal had not yet targeted Qing Country in its quest for gold, so Qing Country maintained friendly relations with the North.

"A Demon Sect disciple? You want to defect to the East?"

The Cultivator from Qing Country wasn’t surprised by Zhao Xuhe’s directness. After all, a batch of talented individuals from the Stain Sect tried to defect every year.

"Go get in line over there."

Lü Yang: "..."

Looking at the bustling crowd in the direction the Qing Country Cultivator had pointed, Lü Yang felt a pang of grief. ’Is my Stain Sect really this unpopular?’

’What’s that? Qi Refiners don’t count as people?’

’Oh, never mind then!’

Under Lü Yang’s control, Zhao Xuhe unhesitatingly joined the line. After filling out a form and going through a screening process, he stepped onto Qing Country’s Teleportation Array.

In the next second, a white light flashed.

When he looked again, Lü Yang found the scene had changed dramatically. He and the other Cultivators from the North were standing in a vast, majestic plaza.

In the center of the plaza stood a middle-aged man in an Official Robe. His face was as handsome as jade, and he held a register, his expression solemn as he gazed at the crowd. A Splendid Light erupted from the top of his Skull, coalescing into an Official Position that hung over him like a canopy, shrouding him in its glow.

[Households Commander of the All Heaven Department]

A Fifth Grade Official Position, comparable to Foundation Establishment!

Lü Yang secretly made some deductions and learned that this official’s surname was Liu. Years ago, on the strength of his innate constitution, he had caught the eye of the All Heaven Department’s Governor and was recruited as an official.

In just a few short years, he had been promoted to Households Commander.

One had to understand that the Dao Court had been established for many years. It held examinations annually, producing countless Advanced Scholars, yet the number of Official Positions was limited. The resulting institutional bloat and bureaucratic redundancy were as severe as one could imagine. For Households Commander Liu to be promoted so quickly, it was no wonder many suspected he was the Governor’s illegitimate son.

Then, Households Commander Liu began to speak:

"You all possess Cultivation, and you have abandoned the darkness for the light. It is only right that you be placed in positions of importance. I am here by decree to recruit talent for the Immortal Country. Today, I shall bestow upon you the position of Warrior..."

As his voice fell, the [Households Commander of the All Heaven Department] Official Position above Households Commander Liu’s head blazed with Splendid Light. It then split into countless fragments that descended upon the heads of everyone present.

Immediately, a corresponding Official Position appeared above each of their heads:

[All Heaven Bureau Warrior]

Lü Yang, hidden within Zhao Xuhe, raised an eyebrow at the sight. Originally, Zhao Xuhe and the others had their own Cultivation, and all their Abilities were inherent to them.

But now, things were different. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Bound by the Official Position, Lü Yang could clearly feel the Cultivation that originally belonged to Zhao Xuhe being stripped away, bit by bit, by the Official Position above his head!

It might not be a problem right now, but in another ten or fifteen days, Zhao Xuhe would completely become a Dao Court Cultivator. His Mana would be entirely vested in the Official Position above his head. With a single thought, Households Commander Liu, who had granted him the position, could turn him back into a mortal with no more strength than a common man!

’This is quite insidious...’

Although the Dao Court wasn’t a hive mind of absolute Unity like the Pure Land, its control over its Cultivators was absurdly tight, leaving them no room to maneuver.

’And this position of Warrior... others might not know its true nature, but how could I not?’

If they had been true-blue Dao Court Cultivators, they would have been granted titles like "Child Scholar" or "Scholar," which corresponded to the Dao Court’s official hierarchy.

’But the All Heaven Department?’

’According to Wu Taian’s memories, the All Heaven Department reports directly to the Daoist Court Emperor. Although its status is high, once you enter it, your path to becoming a true official is completely cut off.’

The orthodox official path could lead as high as the First Grade, or even to a position among the Three Ministers, which was comparable to a Perfected Lord.

But in the All Heaven Department, even reaching the highest rank of Commander only got you a Third-Grade Official Position at Mid-stage Foundation Establishment Perfection. You wouldn’t even be a damn Great Trueman.

What kind of future was there to speak of?

’And this "Warrior" Official Position is the lowest of the low in the All Heaven Department, not even equivalent to a Flag Officer. To put it bluntly, they’re just cannon fodder the All Heaven Department recruits from the outside.’

Clearly, the Dao Court didn’t take these Cultivators from the North seriously at all.

They paid lip service to "recruiting talent" for the nation, but in reality, they were just "procuring materials." They were turning these people into cannon fodder and expecting them to be grateful for it!

At this thought, Lü Yang suddenly felt a peculiar sensation.

He looked up, toward the sky.

Although his current body had no Cultivation, his [Profound City Blessed Land] still existed. Borrowing the unique perspective it provided, Lü Yang soon saw the true state of the East.

’It’s completely different from other places...’

It was a great net.

A vast, boundless, and omnipresent net blotted out the sky, covering the entire East and connecting to every blade of grass, every Living Creature.

’The Heaven here is different from the outside world!’

Of the four regions of the world, only the Dao Court did not require the Refining of Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches or the mastery of Abilities. Its cultivation system was fundamentally different from all others.

And this was the reason why.

The Dao Court’s entire cultivation system—all Official Positions, Position, Mana, and Abilities—originated from this single great net: the [Immortal Dao Law]!