The wise often doubt, and thus they are bound to be troubled by many confusions.
As Chongyuanzi was lost in his thoughts, Tianyidejun smiled and said, “Assistant City Lord, why don’t you help me forge something as well? I only have a low-grade earth-element Saint Artifact…”
“Sure!”
Before Tianyidejun could finish speaking, Shui Miao readily agreed.
Tianyidejun disliked trouble and was easygoing by nature. Seeing Shui Miao’s willingness, he quickly handed over the low-grade Saint Artifact.
Shui Miao scanned the artifact with his spiritual sense and immediately realized it was a very complex and ancient low-grade Saint Artifact. Inside it contained hundreds of various arrays, chaotic and disordered. Undoubtedly, although the artifact’s quality was not high, it was extremely versatile, perfectly matching Tianyidejun’s position. As the overseer of Hou City, he had the most administrative duties and frequently needed to use Saint Artifacts.
The more numerous and chaotic the arrays were, the more difficult it was for the artifact to evolve into a Supreme Saint Artifact.
However, this posed no challenge to Shui Miao. He simply disassembled these arrays and forged multiple Saint Artifacts from them.
In a short while, Shui Miao forged six Supreme Saint Artifacts.
Five of them were refined by separating the original arrays, while the sixth was an earth-element offensive Saint Artifact.
Even a kind-hearted person needed powerful weapons for self-defense, and Shui Miao thought Tianyidejun’s possessions were too scarce.
Exchanging one low-grade Saint Artifact for six Supreme Saint Artifacts was indeed a very profitable deal.
Feeling the attributes, power, and functions of the six artifacts, Tianyidejun was astonished and delighted. He immediately thanked Shui Miao profusely, saying that Hou City owed him a huge favor. Tianyidejun was easygoing, sincere, focused only on fulfilling his duties, and willingly cooperated with others.
Toward someone so amiable, Shui Miao naturally reciprocated with equal courtesy.
With a thought, Shui Miao commanded his Tianji Zunzhe puppet to personally escort Tianyidejun back.
Inside the grand hall, only Shui Miao and Chongyuanzi remained.
Chongyuanzi, with a complex mood, was still lost in thought, but he had already been moved by what had just transpired.
Shui Miao glanced at Chongyuanzi and suddenly smiled, saying, “When I first started cultivating, I heard how upright, incorruptible, and righteous the Thunder Sect’s Dharma Sovereign was. But now that I’ve met you in person, I feel somewhat disappointed. What are you thinking? Could it be that our efforts to reform the order of the Three Realms are wrong?”
Seeing Shui Miao’s sincerity, Chongyuanzi opened up as well, saying, “But your methods are wrong, and I don’t even know your true intentions.”
“Methods… hehe…”
Shui Miao smiled as he shook his head. “I’ve noticed that our ancestors were too refined and elegant. The descendants they educated became overly concerned with appearances, fond of comfort, and content with the status quo, eventually turning into docile sheep who could be bullied and slaughtered at will. They forgot that in ancient times, the reason Confucianism was emphasized was merely because those in power wanted an easy way to control people’s minds, so they developed Confucianism as a tool to brainwash the masses. Confucianism itself is good and can make people more refined, but don’t forget—we live in a harsh and brutal world. In such a cruel environment, when facing enemies, if you still insist on maintaining a refined and courteous demeanor, then you’re just an idiot.”
Shui Miao’s words were very direct.
Most people would find such words hard to accept.
Especially old-fashioned traditionalists, who would strongly resist such a wolf-like ideology.
Chongyuanzi frowned and asked, “Why are you telling me all this? What does it have to do with me?”
“Of course, it has to do with you. You want to reform the Three Realms in your own way, but have you succeeded after all these years? Have you seen how countless beings suffer? You stay in the First Heaven all day long—what have you actually done? I’ve only been here for a short time, yet I’ve already brought changes. If you merely feel uncomfortable, that’s understandable, but why won’t you cooperate? You even considered self-destructing to take us down with you. Do you really want to see beings continue to suffer without taking any action?”
Shui Miao genuinely wanted to persuade Chongyuanzi. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have spoken so earnestly.
“Who exactly are you?”
Chongyuanzi’s heart was shaken. How could this be? He actually knew what I was thinking!
Shui Miao became somewhat impatient, “Does it really matter who I am? Isn’t the welfare of all beings more important in your heart?”
Shui Miao was losing his patience and decided to cultivate some young people who shared his vision and determination.
It was truly difficult to communicate with such a short-sighted old fossil.
“…”
Chongyuanzi fell silent.
After a while, to Shui Miao’s surprise, Chongyuanzi suddenly sighed, “Fine, I’ve never gambled in my life, but today, I’ll take a gamble.” Saying this, Chongyuanzi took out his Thunder Saint Artifact.
Shui Miao merely sensed the arrays before directly forging a new Supreme Saint Artifact.
Shui Miao’s forging speed far exceeded Chongyuanzi’s expectations.
When Chongyuanzi realized that Shui Miao had long been thoroughly familiar with the Thunder Sect’s arrays, he was deeply ashamed.
Earlier, he had harbored petty suspicions that Shui Miao had been spying on the Thunder Sect’s arrays.
Turns out, he had been projecting his own petty thoughts onto a noble person…
Precisely because of this, Chongyuanzi’s heart knot was finally untied.
Not long after, the Tianji Zunzhe puppet returned together with Xingtian Fazun, and Shuitianyi also returned. Wenchang Dijun, having devised two plans inside the Tower of Time, emerged and presented his ideas to everyone.
According to Shui Miao’s proposal, the plan initially focused entirely on benefiting all beings in the Three Realms, but as it progressed, things became increasingly difficult. The pressure on Heaven grew heavier. Human nature is lazy, and beings who had become used to comfortable lives could no longer endure even the slightest hardship. They often caused trouble and gradually became more and more degenerate. Unless a balanced approach of rewards and punishments was adopted, with moral education as the top priority, Wenchang Dijun specially compiled an educational plan.
However, this education plan was still heavily influenced by Confucianism, which Shui Miao disliked.
The second plan was based entirely on Wenchang Dijun’s own thoughts.
Seeing this plan, Shui Miao was immediately deeply attracted!
This plan was very complex yet extremely detailed and precise. Confucian principles were applied where appropriate, while a more aggressive approach was used elsewhere. There was no significant hierarchy, and special attention was given to the mortal world, emphasizing talent cultivation. All these ideas were excellent!
Without hesitation, Shui Miao immediately decided to adopt this plan.
Everyone praised the plan enthusiastically, especially Chongyuanzi, who, seeing Shui Miao accept this excellent proposal, felt relieved at once, realizing that Shui Miao was truly wholeheartedly committed to the Three Realms’ welfare.
The atmosphere was warm and harmonious, and the future looked promising.
Shui Miao decided to seize the moment and immediately begin implementing the reforms according to Wenchang Dijun’s plan.
At once, Shui Miao used the Tianji Zunzhe puppet to appoint Wenchang Dijun as the chief official in charge of the reform, assigning Chongyuanzi, Tianyidejun, and Xingtian Fazun to fully assist him.
After finalizing all the details, everyone was in high spirits when two female officials suddenly flew in.
“Reporting to the Yin-Yang Forging Saint King, something terrible has happened! The Holy Mother is engaged in battle with a group of powerful enemies!”
“There are too many enemies, their origins unknown. The Holy Mother is barely holding on and sent us to seek help!”
The newcomers were indeed female officials of Shuitianyi’s Holy Mother, both high-ranking and low-ranking.
“Could it be the Demon Race?”
With a thought, Shui Miao immediately vanished with the Tianji Zunzhe puppet, appearing above Yuan City.
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