Chapter 458: Chapter 458: The Dao Court Cultivators Are Too Intense

Lü Yang quickly left Zhao Xuhe.

’Goodbye, Senior Brother Zhao. We’re not a good match. After all, you’re destined to be cannon fodder in the All Heaven Department, so you’re not worthy of me anymore. Let’s just break up...’

’As for the Contribution Points you owed me from your sixth life, I won’t come asking for them in this one.’

’I’m just so magnanimous.’

As for a new host, Lü Yang first cast a spell to divine the karmic links before selecting someone from among the All Heaven Department Flag Officers present.

.......

"It’s finally over."

Watching the new batch of Warriors enlist, Xu An, a Little Flag Officer of the All Heaven Department, couldn’t help but sigh. "How many of these people do you think will survive?"

"You have the luxury to worry about them?"

Another Little Flag Officer laughed at his words. "We’re about to be sent out to Dongting Lake. We might not even live as long as these Warriors!"

"Not necessarily."

Xu An shook his head. "I heard that batch of True Dragons has already been warned by a big shot in the Court. They’re supposed to behave and help the Court administer Dongting Lake. We’re just going over to make a show of it. It looks dangerous, but it’s actually a cushy assignment... Otherwise, why would Lord Liu be going?"

Although Xu An’s rank was low, he wasn’t stupid.

If Dongting Lake were truly a deathtrap with no hope of survival, Households Commander Liu would have stayed far away. Why would he volunteer to be transferred there?

Just as he thought this, he was about to say more.

But at that exact moment, a Splendid Light descended from the title of [All Heaven Department Flag Officer] above his head, and a line of golden text appeared in his vision:

[Warning, Little Flag Officer Xu An. It is now "Drill" time. Please proceed to the training grounds immediately.]

[Failure to arrive at the training grounds within the time limit to participate in the routine "Drill" will result in a preliminary punishment by lightning strike, in accordance with the Immortal Dao Law.]

"Damn it!"

Seeing this, Xu An’s expression changed drastically. He didn’t dare chat with his colleague any longer. After a hasty goodbye, he directly summoned his Flying Light and shot off.

A Little Flag Officer of the All Heaven Department held a Seventh Grade official rank, with a Cultivation at the Late-phase of Qi Refining, which was enough to ride a Flying Light. Unfortunately, Xu An was not proficient in this art. As a result, he was a moment too late. Just a few steps from the training ground, he watched in despair as his time ran out.

BOOM!

The next second, a bolt of lightning descended directly from Heaven. The intense pain sent Xu An crashing to the ground, convulsing, puffs of hot air escaping his mouth.

Lü Yang, possessing his body, was stunned.

’What the hell was that?’

Daily quests, and if you fail, you get electrocuted?

Lü Yang once again searched Wu Taian’s memories and finally found the relevant information in an obscure corner. This was, astonishingly, a restriction that came with an official position in the Dao Court.

’An Official Position is power, but it is also responsibility.’ 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

’Every official position in the Dao Court comes with corresponding [Duties], which are tasks that must be completed every day. Failure to complete them results in punishment by the [Immortal Dao Law].’

For example, as a Little Flag Officer in the All Heaven Department, Xu An had three duties he had to complete every day: [Drill], [Patrol], and [Report].

These duties filled up almost all of his time.

This was the Dao Court’s method of governance: keep people busy. When they were exhausted from work, all they would know was eating and sleeping, making it naturally difficult for them to cause any trouble.

Furthermore, all punishments received by Dao Court officials for [Dereliction of Duty] were recorded by their official positions. Every nine years, the Dao Court would conduct an "Official Examination," tallying up the officials’ records of [Dereliction of Duty]. Those with poor performance would be demoted or even stripped of their rank, while those with excellent performance would be promoted.

"Hahaha, late again, Xu An?"

"If this keeps up, you’re going to fail the Official Examination in a few years. Forget being a Little Flag Officer, you’ll probably end up demoted to a Warrior."

"Get lost, don’t jinx me!"

Facing the taunts of several colleagues, Xu An, who had just recovered from the lightning strike, stood up and retorted irritably, "My future is bright, dammit!"

If his predictions were correct, this trip to Dongting Lake would allow him to rack up some achievements one way or another.

Although the main credit would surely go to Households Commander Liu, as long as he could get a small piece of the pie, it would be more than enough to erase the few demerits he had for being late to drills.

Soon, the drill ended.

Next was [Patrol]. Xu An didn’t dare to delay. He gathered a few of the Warriors under his command, left the Government Office, and began to patrol the entire city.

And Lü Yang, attached to him, got a real look at the Dao Court’s environment.

He watched as Xu An rode his Flying Light, casually circling the "commoner district" in the outer city. After ensuring there were no large-scale violent incidents, he moved on.

There were many similar "commoner districts."

As the name implied, the residents were all mortals without any Cultivation, Common People whose only value was to be ruled by the officials of the Dao Court.

After flying past these "commoner districts," Lü Yang soon felt a surge of rich Spiritual Qi wash over him. They had clearly arrived in the inner city. The environment here was completely different, with vast landscapes held within, containing mountains, rivers, pavilions, and rows of Cave Mansions. It was like a paradise on earth.

This was the "Cultivator Area."

Every time he witnessed this sight, an inexpressible pride would swell in Xu An’s heart, because his own Cave Mansion was located in the core of this "Cultivator Area."

Not only was the Spiritual Qi abundant, but the area was also under the special purview of the [Immortal Dao Law].

Under the blessing of the [Immortal Dao Law], not only was the speed of Breathing Spiritual Qi far greater than in other remote backwaters, but even one’s innate Enlightenment could be enhanced!

He had put in a great deal of effort back then to buy this Cave Mansion here.

Although it had saddled him with a mortgage for over a hundred years, it was undoubtedly worth it. Thanks to this place, the female cultivator he had been dating recently had started to discuss marriage.

As long as he could provide a betrothal gift, the two of them could officially become Dao Companions.

In time, when his children were born, they wouldn’t have to struggle as he did. If they showed some promise, they might even be able to establish a small family clan.

The good days were still ahead!

Thinking of this, Xu An grew even more excited about his upcoming assignment to Dongting Lake. His ability to gather the betrothal gift depended on this official trip!

However, Lü Yang, who was possessing him, fell silent.

’This is truly...’

Lü Yang felt an indescribable strangeness in his heart.

The Dao Court’s rule was remarkably complete. The entire East was under a single kind of Order, and the efficiency with which it utilized personnel had reached an almost extreme level.

In short, it was an endless grind.

After all, [Dereliction of Duty] was punished with lightning strikes, and failing the future Official Examination could even lead to a reduction in one’s Cultivation. This forced all Dao Court Cultivators to voluntarily join the grind.

’...I’ve underestimated the Dao Court!’

In that instant, Lü Yang was filled with emotion. As expected, none of the Four Great Forces were pushovers. The Dao Court Cultivators might be individually weak, but their strength lay in stability and order.

Because the Official Position was the foundation!

If you couldn’t win one-on-one, then you could fight three-on-one, five-on-one, or ten-on-one! It didn’t matter if people died. As long as the Official Position remained, there would always be someone else willing to step up.

’From this perspective, the Dao Court’s war potential is actually the strongest among the Four Great Forces. It’s just that they haven’t projected that power because the [Immortal Dao Law] only covers the East. But by the same token, it is extremely difficult for outsiders to stir up trouble in the East. It’s practically an iron fortress!’

Unless you integrated into it.

Only by integrating into the Dao Court’s system and working from within would it be possible to influence it. Otherwise, any attempt would be like an egg smashing against a rock, crushed by the Dao Court.

This was also why Lü Yang had chosen Xu An.

’Dongting Lake, the True Dragon Race... If I’m not mistaken, this must be the True Dragon Branch secretly sent into the East after the Dragon Monarch began cooperating with the Dao Court.’

This was his chance!

A chance to obtain a clean identity, allowing him to openly join the Dao Court and start Seizing Power, all in preparation for obtaining the [Fruit of Celestial Fire]!