The very act of appointing Meng Qi as Grand Minister of Civil Affairs already carried implications of promoting the worthy and capable, for he was neither of noble birth nor recommended by officials. Hence, after King Chen formally announced the decision, officials such as Gong Yang Zeng, the Grand Minister of Works, and Tian Heng, the Grand Minister of Justice, openly expressed their opposition. However, King Chen remained resolute, showing no sign of wavering, and forced the decision through.
Then, he beckoned Meng Qi forward to announce and explain the new national policies as the Grand Minister of Civil Affairs.
Meng Qi took a light breath, quickly reviewing the previous discussions and his own considerations, before calmly stepping out from among the officials and standing below the palace steps.
Just as he was about to speak, another official stepped forward—Tian Guang.
He first bowed to King Chen, then turned to Meng Qi. “I have a question for the Grand Minister.”
His tone lacked respect, much like most of the nobles present.
Meng Qi deliberately glanced back at King Chen, who gave a slight nod, signaling him to use his eloquence to handle the challenge, persuade more nobles, and follow the same approach he had used to convince King Chen himself. Meng Qi smiled and replied, “Please speak freely, Master.”
At this moment, Tian Guang stood less than five paces from Meng Qi, their spiritual energies subtly entangled.
Tian Guang stared directly at Meng Qi and slowly asked, “Have you heard of the recent events in the southern state of Wu?”
Meng Qi paused slightly and replied, “I would like to hear the details.”
In his perception, King Chen also seemed puzzled, likely because the Tian family, closely related to the state of Chu, had received exclusive intelligence from that region.
Tian Guang smiled faintly and continued, “The King of Wu selects talents without regard for status, heavily relying on a commoner named Wu Hao. He abolished the feudal system, introduced the system of stipend fiefs, established commanderies and counties, and rewarded military achievements. This caused fierce opposition, leading Wu into internal war and external invasion. Within ten days, this news will spread widely. I wonder, Grand Minister, what is your view on this matter?”
What was his perspective? Meng Qi could only gasp in astonishment—was this the cadence set by a Legalist sage? Or had some other cycle bearer drawn the Legalist faction as a lucky pick during their mission?
But to be so direct and leave no room for compromise at the outset—no wonder they faced fierce backlash!
Meng Qi exchanged glances with Jiang Zhiwei and the others, sensing that Wu Hao was very likely a Reincarnator, probably backed by a small team.
This was not unusual. After surviving the first deadly mission, the Master of the Six Dao had mentioned that it was entirely possible to encounter other teams during non-factional conflict missions. Whether to cooperate, fight, or simply ignore each other depended entirely on one’s own choices.
Wu was separated from the states of Chu and Tang by several not-so-small countries. Meng Qi had no interest in provoking Wu Hao, and he believed Wu Hao, caught in internal and external crises, likely felt the same.
To draw such a favorable lot as the Legalist school and still end up in such a mess was simply outrageous… Meng Qi couldn’t help but grumble inwardly. If it weren’t for the King of Wu being one of the few strongest martial cultivators in the world, a half-step Law Body cultivator wielding a mighty divine weapon, and supported by many loyal experts, Wu Hao’s reforms would have already failed. Yet here they were, barely holding on and gradually gaining the upper hand.
Perhaps they had dared to do this precisely because of the King of Wu’s strength?
And was the King of Wu doing this in pursuit of unifying the world, seeking the path to forging his Law Body through human governance?
Upon hearing this news, King Chen’s expression subtly changed. Was Tian Guang using the events in Wu to advise or even warn him?
As these thoughts raced through Meng Qi’s mind, Tian Guang took a step forward and asked gravely, “Grand Minister, what is your view on this?”
He had abandoned his earlier calm and composed demeanor, now appearing aggressive and confrontational.
Meng Qi quickly sorted his thoughts and was about to respond when he suddenly saw a crimson glow emanating from Tian Guang’s entire body, and a sense of danger surged in his heart.
The crimson glow rapidly gathered in Tian Guang’s right hand, forming a blade-like strike aimed straight at Meng Qi!
This sudden attack occurred in an instant, catching everyone off guard—even King Chen, a Grandmaster, failed to react in time.
Would he dare to attempt assassination right in the middle of a court assembly?
Even if successful, he would surely fall under King Chen’s wrath and face certain death!
To sacrifice one’s life for this act—what determination!
Tian Guang’s body seemed to shrink slightly, his eyes filled with a martyr’s resolve, his expression firm. With incredible speed, his palm blade slashed toward Meng Qi’s left chest.
Dang!
A metallic clashing sound erupted. Meng Qi stood firm and unshaken, the spot struck on his chest emitting a faint golden glow—completely unharmed!
Unharmed? Tian Guang’s eyes widened in shock!
His “Secret Blood Transformation Palm” passed down from a mysterious master was supposed to reduce the victim to blood upon impact!
Though he did not dare to claim it could defeat top-tier experts, how could Su Mo, who had never shown such strength, be unaffected?
Yet Tian Guang was a decisive man. In an instant, he suppressed his shock, his inner scenery vibrating, his acupoints retracting inward—he was about to self-destruct, seeking mutual annihilation.
At that moment, Meng Qi shifted his shoulder, twisted his waist, and rammed his chest into Tian Guang’s hand!
Peng!
Tian Guang was sent flying backward, bones cracking as he crashed into a pillar reinforced by secret techniques. When he finally hit the ground, his right arm hung limply, his chest caved in, and blood gushed from his mouth like he had been struck by a mighty divine hammer.
The Eight-Nine Mystical Art allowed every part of his body to become like a divine weapon!
At the third heavenly stage, Meng Qi’s remaining weak spots were few—only the front and back yin points and the brow center. Even the mouth cavity was somewhat vulnerable, as a direct hit could allow force to penetrate into the internal organs, which were relatively soft compared to muscle and skin.
Of course, once Meng Qi achieved the Immortal Primordial Law Body, his entire body would become transparent and unified inside and out!
“Reckless child!” Before King Chen could act, Tian Heng struck Tian Guang with a palm, his expression one of shock and horror.
Tian Guang accepted the blow calmly, his eyes fixed on Meng Qi:
“You are the descendants of fallen immortals, disrupting the rites and the noble-commoner hierarchy. You will surely meet a bad end!”
“You are the descendants of fallen immortals, disrupting the rites and the noble-commoner hierarchy. You will surely meet a bad end!” Though Tian Guang died by his father’s hand, his voice echoed throughout the hall, filled with passion and conviction, making Meng Qi feel as though he were the one acting in righteousness, sacrificing himself for the nation!
Hmph! A foolish relic of the old order, crushed beneath the wheels of history! Meng Qi muttered inwardly.
Silence fell over the grand hall, so quiet that even a pin drop could be heard. The events had unfolded too quickly for most experts to even process.
Yet Tian Guang’s dying cry pierced their ears, stirring a quiet sorrow within them—sympathy for a kindred fate.
Tian Heng stepped forward, bowed deeply, and apologized for failing to discipline his son properly.
Though furious, King Chen could not afford to implicate the entire Tian family, so he merely dismissed Tian Heng from his position as Grand Minister of Justice, promising a thorough investigation.
Then, he left Tian Guang’s corpse lying there and allowed Meng Qi to continue his previous task.
Under the dual pressure of the corpse and the king’s fury, the nobles’ imposing demeanor was completely suppressed. For now, they could only stand there in stunned silence, listening to Meng Qi announce the new policies while casting strange glances at him.
He had actually used his chest to counter Tian Guang’s palm strike?
And struck him so hard that he looked as if hit by a divine weapon!
Truly a human beast!
Seizing the opportunity presented by this sudden incident, Meng Qi heightened his imposing presence, aiming to overawe the nobles into a temporary retreat. He hoped that once the benefits of the policies became evident, matters would proceed more smoothly.
One by one, the new policies were announced—most of them already familiar to the nobles. But at the end, Meng Qi declared solemnly, “The King has ordered: Any who collect tolls at checkpoints shall be killed without guilt!”
“Killed without guilt?” The court officials and nobles could not hide their shock.
What kind of bizarre decree was this?
Soon, they regained their senses. Some realized their secret schemes might no longer work, while others angrily stepped forward: “Grand Minister, if this law is enacted, the state of Chen will descend into chaos! What if unscrupulous individuals assassinate checkpoint guards and falsely accuse them of collecting tolls?”
Meng Qi was prepared. He replied loudly, “The vast majority of checkpoints will be abolished, leaving only those at border strongholds and city gates. These guards must avoid private contact with merchants, and without such contact, there will be witnesses. If all witnesses are dead, the truth will still be clear enough?”
He paused and added, “In the past, the law stated: ‘Bandits may be killed.’ This is the same. How such matters were resolved before is how they shall be resolved now.”
In this world, it was not uncommon for guards to double as bandits, looting merchants. Whatever methods had been used to distinguish such cases in the past could still be applied.
As the opposing officials voiced their objections one after another, Meng Qi calmly countered each argument. The nobles, their momentum subdued by the earlier incident, provided no further resistance. Consequently, the new policies were smoothly enacted.
Most of the nobility chose to retreat for the time being, temporarily dismantling their checkpoints while secretly plotting to seek opportunities for disruption.
…
A month later.
A Chu merchant caravan entered Shangying City. Though not numerous, their auras were strong, and the tracks left by their carriages were deep, indicating valuable cargo.
Of course, the most precious items were stored in the leader’s Juzi Ring. If an Exteriorscape expert were present, those goods would be handled by them, as they could fly freely, avoiding trouble more easily. However, given the current state of Shangying, with its mixed crowd and diverse goods, even Exteriorscape experts preferred to conduct transactions here, albeit secretly to avoid paying market taxes.
“It’s been months since I last came here. Shangying has become much livelier,” the leader remarked, looking left and right at the bustling streets filled with crowds and caravans, rivaling the capital of Chu, Anjiang.
His son laughed, “Eight or nine out of ten are here because of the no-toll policy. I don’t know what King Chen was thinking, cutting off his own revenue. But it benefits us—this trip will save us over half the usual cost!”
His father stroked his goatee, “‘Those who collect tolls shall be killed without guilt’… King Chen must have deeper intentions…”
As they moved forward, he noticed that Shangying’s goods had more than doubled compared to before, and he began to suspect the true reason behind the toll abolition.
It seemed similar to their own strategy of thin profits with high volume, and King Chen’s gains might go beyond mere tolls.
Indeed, Su Mo of the Mohist school was a man of great talent!
“Father, all the inns are full!” His son returned from ahead.
“Full?” The leader frowned.
His son nodded gravely, sighing, “Trade along the Chen route has increased several times over. Where would there be spare rooms?”
Several times over… the leader increasingly sensed something unusual about the toll abolition.
As he was about to speak, an old man approached with a flattering smile: “Esteemed guests, this humble old man has a courtyard you may temporarily use.”
Really? The merchants were surprised—were even commoners now operating inns?
“Thank you, old sir. Please show us the way. If it’s clean and tidy, we can discuss the price,” the leader said solemnly.
“Of course.” The old man happily led them into a nearby street, entering a modest courtyard. Though not large and with few rooms, it was neatly kept, causing no aversion.
“The guards can stay in the courtyard. The remaining rooms should suffice…” his son whispered after inspecting the place.
The leader nodded and handed the old man a small gold ingot: “Traveling is inconvenient with copper coins. Please don’t mind this as a deposit. We’ll settle the rest upon departure.”
The old man took the gold, smiling joyfully, and said, “Allow this humble old man to have someone appraise it first.”
Appraise it? The merchants were surprised. Did ordinary citizens now casually involve officials?
The old man rushed out and pulled over a patrolling Qi-opening expert on the street, requesting him to verify the gold’s authenticity, and the man politely obliged.
The leader followed behind, eyes wide in astonishment. Normally, officials were mostly nobles who held their posts by birth, doing their jobs carelessly, day by day. Yet what he saw in Shangying was completely different—not only were the guards proactive in catching thieves, but they even took responsibility for unrelated matters!
Was this the result of promoting the worthy and capable?
After settling the merchants, the old man returned to the woodshed where his family temporarily resided.
Looking at the small gold ingot, his son was momentarily stunned: “This… this actually works…”
He had always opposed turning their home into a temporary inn.
The old man chuckled, “Guidance from the Grand Minister himself—how could it be wrong?”
To accumulate blessings, Meng Qi spent his spare time doing good deeds, such as offering advice to commoners on how to seize profit-making opportunities during his inspections.
Sighing, the old man added, “Since the Grand Minister came, our lives have improved day by day. Even the Gao brothers, who used to beg for a living, now know to collect horse grass in the wild to supply inns. Now, at least they don’t go hungry for three days after one meal.”
“They say in the streets that the Grand Minister is a sage incarnate, calling him Master Mo and Master Su,” his daughter-in-law chimed in.
…
Inside a certain room, Meng Qi and others were surrounded by faint black, white, and golden lights.
Since the successful implementation of the new policies, merit and moral energy had begun to accumulate upon them—Heaven had responded!
“Only a few more days until we return,” Zhao Heng sighed.
“The nobles have grown quieter, but they are likely secretly conspiring, gathering strength for a fierce counterattack,” Meng Qi remained vigilant.
Though the saying “A scholar dies for one who knows him” might be exaggerated, King Chen’s trust had inspired Meng Qi and his companions to lay a solid foundation before seeking an excuse to leave—such as feigning serious injury requiring treatment, leaving Bai Song as the new Grand Minister to maintain the reforms.
…
“My son has finally returned home,” “Grand Minister of Works” Gong Yang Zeng said with a faint smile to the person before him. “Have the Immortal Elders of the Golden Light Cave made their decision?”
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