Worldwide Awakening: My Soul Kinds Are Lost-Chapter 469: Golden Mountain, Silver Mountain, The Mountain of the Great Family_1
The entire vast state machinery, coordinated with Wang Linchi’s extensive memory banks, worked intensely to fortify all of Dajing. This was to prevent any issues that might arise among the Spirit Masters.
If the Spirit Masters dared to rebel, they would be exterminated without delay. Wang Linchi indeed had no need for them.
When problems with the civil service examination system were made public, disturbances did occur, but they were swiftly suppressed.
Almost ninety-nine percent of Spirit Masters hailed from the Great Families. Compared to the general populace, their numbers were pitifully small. Due to both internal and external pressures, the Spirit Masters had no outlets to vent their complaints and frustrations.
The civil service examination system vanished for unknown reasons. The Court wouldn’t hesitate to generously reward anyone providing clues about its disappearance. However, if individuals merely sought to vent their frustrations or stir chaos, they couldn’t blame the Court for dealing with them harshly.
The one currently in power was Wang Linchi, not Emperor Jing. He didn’t concern himself with balance or political machinations; he would simply use his vast wealth to overwhelmingly crush any opposition.
You either kneel and prosper together, or you risk being eliminated—there was no third option, nor room for compromise.
The problems with the Spirit Masters and the civil service examination system persisted for about three months before gradually subsiding. Those who should have accepted their fate did so. As for those who refused—what could they do?
If Wang Linchi couldn’t solve this problem, what could they possibly achieve?
Of course, a good number of people contemplated turning to Shamanism; after all, it offered power, regardless of its source.
However, these individuals faced a dilemma. The Demon Gods were excessively ruthless and bloodthirsty, casually demanding human sacrifices. More importantly, Wang Linchi had exterminated them. If anyone wished to serve the Demon Gods, they would have to resurrect them under Wang Linchi’s watchful eye, an endeavor that would be far too costly. This, coupled with the risk to their lives and the need to supply their own provisions, made the plan unfeasible.
As for becoming Demon Gods themselves, no one seemed to have discovered a way. They were constrained by preconceived notions: first, that Demon Gods were animals, and second, that no established method existed. Attempts to experiment usually ended in failure.
Ascend to godhood after death? They’d already be dead, so why should they help others achieve it?
After the turmoil surrounding the Spirit Masters passed, their numbers in Dajing dwindled. Wang Linchi, however, showed no reaction.
As far as he was concerned, everything was already set in stone.
Regarding the civil service examination system, Wang Linchi had never intervened publicly, maintaining absolute control from behind the scenes. The matter was akin to a pile of excrement; any involvement would inevitably leave a stain.
During this period, Wang Linchi also researched the Devil, quickly incorporating it into his own system and transforming it into the brain for a game character.
He didn’t integrate it directly. Instead, through a series of experiments, he dissected the Devil. Then, by Spirit Master means, he further synthesized an entirely new Devil—one born from himself—which he subsequently fashioned into a brain. For both raw materials and the manufacturing process, he relied on his own resources, not the original old Devil.
Once its purpose was served, the Devil lost its value and was quickly destroyed by Wang Linchi.
Although Wang Linchi did preserve some precious materials, and the Devil was indeed precious, it was a living entity with the potential to recover and even parasitize humans. Even if it was ill-suited to the environment and might easily die, it remained a significant threat.
Naturally, he resolved the issue as directly and swiftly as possible.
He simply used the mental monkey to kill it.
It should have died long ago. If not for Wang Linchi protecting it, it wouldn’t have survived until now, only to be killed by him.
Wang Linchi looked at the report in his hand. Everything is back on track, he mused. The next step is to conquer the surrounding nations. The rest is just about further enhancing my reputation. The matter of the Spirit Masters had completely calmed down, and any subsequent issues would just be minor incidents.
So Wang Linchi decided to move on to the next step—territorial expansion.
Zhang Lin walked in. "The King’s idea is quite good," he said, "but will it be that easy?"
He carried an armful of petitions and placed them on Wang Linchi’s table.
"What wouldn’t be easy?" Wang Linchi asked in return.
"I wonder, how does His Majesty intend to deal with the Shamans?" Zhang Lin began. "If they revert to worshiping the Demon Gods, then our Dajing could..." Before he could finish, Wang Linchi tossed him a pastry, stuffing it in his mouth.
"Kill them, that’s all," Wang Linchi stated. "Haven’t we consistently been suppressing such faiths?" He knew exactly what Zhang Lin was getting at.
Zhang Lin suspected that the disappearance of the civil service examination system had something to do with Wang Linchi.
However, this matter truly had nothing to do with Wang Linchi. By the time he arrived, the Calamity of the Last Law had already annihilated the system.
"Tell me honestly," Zhang Lin said in a low voice after swallowing the pastry, "do you truly know nothing about the civil service examination?"
"I don’t know," Wang Linchi grumbled. "Why would you think this has anything to do with me?" I had no reason to destroy the civil service examination system’s core mechanism, he thought.
"Then what was the reason?" Zhang Lin pressed. Given Wang Linchi’s status as the foremost Spirit Master, it’s impossible that he’s uninformed.
Wang Linchi sighed. "Fine, I’ll tell you."
As he spoke, Wang Linchi produced a cup and filled it to the brim with water.
This left Zhang Lin somewhat perplexed.
"This cup represents our world," Wang Linchi explained, "and the water in it signifies the Spirit Masters. Do you understand?"
"You’ve said this before; it’s a metaphor," Zhang Lin replied, still not quite grasping the point.
"Very good. This represents us and the world a few months ago." As Wang Linchi spoke, he gestured, and the cup instantly broke in half. He removed the upper portion, and the water spilled out, leaving only half a cup. "This," he said, indicating the remaining half, "is the current situation."
When he finished speaking, Zhang Lin’s pupils contracted.
He understood what Wang Linchi meant.
"Is it because Heaven and Earth no longer allow it?" Zhang Lin exclaimed, understanding instantly.
"Precisely. That’s why it was wiped out in a single day." Wang Linchi gazed into the distance and continued, "As of now, I am no longer the foremost Spirit Master who achieved three top honors. Because Heaven and Earth have cut off our Way of the Spirits, my cultivation has dropped to the same Realm as yours."
"Before long, you too will sense it. What Heaven and Earth intend is complete eradication, not just a halving."
For a moment, Zhang Lin was speechless.
"How could it come to this... how could it..." he muttered, then a thought struck him. "What about the Shamans, then? They..."
"I’m not aware of their circumstances," Wang Linchi said, continuing his deception. "After all, I am a Spirit Master, not a Shaman. A Spirit Master whose path has been truncated by Heaven and Earth."
"If Spirit Masters cease to exist in this world, how should our Great Families position ourselves?" Zhang Lin was stunned. This cuts us off at the roots!
"Are you still worried about this?" Wang Linchi scoffed. "I’ve built mountains of gold and silver for you. I don’t ask you to make these mountains any larger. Just protect what you have, and you’ll remain top-tier among the Great Families in this world."
Zhang Lin’s confusion vanished, replaced by a glint in his eyes. "What the King says is right. I was mistaken. With gold and silver in hand, why worry about our Great Families being cut off?"
"Keep this matter to yourself," Wang Linchi instructed. "Don’t let anyone else know, or it will cause chaos throughout the land."
"Rest assured, Your Majesty, I have it well in hand." Zhang Lin would certainly not disclose this. Knowing this secret gives me a crucial head start. To reveal it would be to nullify my own advantage. Why would I engage in an act so detrimental to myself and unhelpful to others?
As for stopping Heaven and Earth from severing the Spirit Masters, Zhang Lin had no such thought. Wang Linchi himself couldn’t do it, let alone him. Such an act of defying Heaven—what if a bolt of thunder struck him down, leading to a death by heavenly retribution? His lifelong good name would be ruined.
Zhang Lin, though not as extreme as Wang Linchi in his pursuit of fame, would not truly disregard his own reputation.
"Your Majesty," Zhang Lin asked, wanting to know how long this advantage would last, "do you know when the other Spirit Masters will begin to notice these changes in themselves?"
"I’m not entirely sure either," Wang Linchi replied. I haven’t researched it, so how would I know?
"In that case, there’s no way to prepare in advance," Zhang Lin said with a sigh of helplessness. Of course, any talk of ’preparing’ is just for show, to appease Wang Linchi and maintain appearances. If I were to bluntly ask about profiting from this, my intentions would be far too obvious and unseemly.
"Why prepare?" Wang Linchi said lightly. "It’s not like anyone is going to die. At worst, you and I just become commoners." He then added, "Prepare yourself. We’re about to wage war on other countries. This is a major undertaking."
Waging war was, ultimately, a matter of logistics. Thus, he needed the help of the Great Families, which meant he needed sufficient benefits as bait to lure them into his plans.
