Wet viviparity

Chapter 890 Imperial Edict, Secret Plot Cave
Beneath the nameless cave.

Inside the rusty incense burner, three sticks of incense were nearly burned out, their smoke as thin as gossamer, weak and feeble. Instead of filling the ground with fragrance, the smoke was pressed down by the damp and cold air, accumulating into a thin, grayish-white haze, which smelled only of stale dampness.

The four walls have recessed niches, each containing a lamp.

The lamp wick was deliberately cut extremely short, and the dim yellow light could only illuminate a small area outside the niche, leaving most of the cave space in heavy shadow.

Several figures were in the dim light beside the stone platform under the furnace.

A dozen or so stalactites hung from the dome, their tips gradually condensing into water droplets. Occasionally, a "drip-drop" sound would fall into the stone basin below, a sound that was particularly startling to the ears of the group.

"For many years, the people of the Dao have been selected by the various branch altars themselves."

I truly didn't expect that Lord Lu would try to shake our very foundation right from the start.

Bo Gongyuan, the head of the Bo family, rested his elbow on the table, repeatedly twirling a dull jade bead between his two fingers, and said softly.

"This was expected."

Elder Yang Shuo of the Yang Clan lowered his head and stared at a cup of tea in front of him that had long since gone cold. The dim light reflected his tired and powerless expression. He said, "There are only a few True Persons and Yin Judges in the Three Peaks and One Prefecture, but there are dozens of branch altars. How can we take care of all the Daoist people who take the exam every three years? So this matter should be left to the next level."

The more steps involved in this process, even just one, the more opportunities we have to find a way to exploit the situation—this is one of our clan's strengths.

"hehe!"

The old woman from the Tong family sneered, "I guess the Upper House initially planned to have all the branch disciples go to Taiping Mountain to participate in the unified assessment, but because they were just beginning their Taoist practice, they had to rely on external methods such as the Jiama Talisman and the Yin Soldier Borrowing Passage to make the journey more difficult."

As for some branch altars located far away in the Central Plains and in remote, desolate places, they even have to dispatch high-ranking Taoist priests from the mountains to cross mountains and treacherous waters to fetch them. Such arduous journeys are not the original intention of the Taoist people's examination, hence this Taoist decree.

Shangguan Yun, the head of the Shangguan family, sat cross-legged on the ground, still weighing the pros and cons in his mind, and considering his position in this reform that was shaking the foundation of the clan.

After much discussion, everyone agreed that the decree was still acceptable and would provide some leeway for dealing with it in the future.

Before the decree was issued, they were nothing like this. They seemed eager to rebel against Taipingshan and form their own faction, displaying an intense determination that could not tolerate the slightest change. But when the decree actually came, their unshakeable bottom line was indeed shaken.

Shangguan Yun focused his attention on the heads or elders of the three major clans: Qian, Zhang, and Mi.

These three families are all ancient clans with a history of over several thousand years. Otherwise, how could they have become the three major Taoist merchants, controlling the Taoist property and talisman treasure cabinet businesses of Taiping Mountain?

Even though they have been suppressed, purged, and marginalized for decades, their foundation still far surpasses that of other clans. Therefore, their pride remains, and they have not formed an alliance with these clans, nor have they exchanged hostages. Their current silence, especially the silence of the Zhang and Qian families, is one of the reasons why the major clans have yielded their bottom line.

"A disorganized mess!"

Mi Gu, the current head of the Mi family, said without any hesitation.

He stared at the elders and heads of the Zhang and Qian families, breaking the silence in a rare move, and said, "Our ancestors have managed the family for so many years, and countless people have shed their blood for it. Are we going to hand it over with our bare hands today? Even if the chances of winning are slim, we should let the upper mansion know our courage."

"The world's trends are overwhelming and unstoppable; those who follow them prosper, and those who oppose them perish."

The head of the Qian family unfolded his folding fan and smiled at everyone, saying, "Let's not beat around the bush. Many of my Qian family members are cultivating at He Guan, and my family has always had a good relationship with Xiao Sheng. After this great calamity, my second master has been sent by the upper government to Lei Wen Da Ze to oversee the construction of a branch altar."

This time, everyone fell silent. Everyone knew that before Ling Xuzi rose to prominence, he had a close personal relationship with Master Qian. It was said that Master Qian had played a significant role in Ling Xuzi's ability to cultivate the Xuanming Star General.

"Is it worth trading such a small benefit for such a huge fortune?"

"There's no point in questioning whether it's worth it or not; the tide is irreversible, and all the struggle is in vain."

If any exceptionally talented members of the Qian family emerge in the future, they may be able to overthrow the current system. However, for now, the Qian family is only focused on protecting themselves, maintaining their relationship with Xiao Sheng, participating in this reform, and accumulating resources for power in the new era of Taiping Mountain.

"cabinet?"

Just as the head of the Qian family was about to leave, the old woman from the Tong family suddenly spoke up, making the head of the Qian family stay where he was.

Sensing the questioning looks from some people, the old woman of the Tong family said, "It was my unworthy son who said it. The little sage intends to establish the 'Jade Palace Council for Governance' to assist in managing all the affairs of the Dao in Tiannan. There are seven seats in total, with the chief being the 'Master of Scriptures,' the deputy being the 'Assistant,' and the remaining five being the 'Consultants.'"

These seven seats are all elected by cultivators of the fourth realm or above, and are for a term of one hundred years, and cannot be inherited.

All matters concerning the distribution of Taiping Mountain's Taoist property, negotiations with other sects and unorthodox schools, the transmission of true teachings and secret techniques, the exploration of secret locations, and the education of disciples, must be drafted jointly by the seven leaders, submitted to the Sect Leader and the Lesser Sage for final review, and then sent to the Three Peaks and One Prefecture for verification and implementation.

Everyone knew that the unfilial son mentioned by the old woman of the Tong family was Baicaozi, the head of the Xinglin lineage, and this news was most likely reliable.

Considering Xiao Sheng's nature of prioritizing cultivation above all else, one can imagine that once this method is established and operates smoothly, Xiao Sheng and the elders of the sect can peacefully go into seclusion, and the power in the sect will inevitably be replaced by the seven prominent figures.

Shangguan Yun thought to himself, "If I were to join the Little Saint's sect, I would surely be able to obtain a seat in the Council of the Emperor." He glanced at the Qian family head and the Zhang family elder out of the corner of his eye, and thought to himself, "If it weren't for the fact that we 'regional officials' were the most resistant, I estimate that this seat in the Council of the Emperor would have fallen to the Qian or Zhang families."

The Qian family has a good personal relationship with the second master of the Qian family and Xiao Sheng, while the Zhang family's situation is more complicated.

It's important to know that both Fei Zhangxian and Xiao Sheng are from the Zhang family. This is why the Zhang family has been largely preserved during repeated purges. After all, it's their own business if Fei Zhangxian and Xiao Sheng don't associate with the Zhang family, but their bloodline cannot be severed.

Thinking about this, Shangguan Yun realized something else entirely.

Although both Lu Zhenjun and Xiaosheng are known for their toughness and wisdom, and have always used iron-fisted methods, there is still a touch of leniency in their methods.

However, even if there is such a policy of appeasement, it is not the kind that can be shared equally among everyone. Instead, it is given to the person they deem most valuable, or rather, the "lackey."

Bo Gongyuan, the head of the Bo family, clearly sensed that everyone was thinking differently. Although the exchange of family hostages was intended to maintain stable relations, relying solely on such methods would indicate that everything was hopeless. Therefore, he said, "Summon Long Meizi back. Our Bo family is willing to grant him the 'Magic Treasure: Cooling Off Demons Map'."

Elder Yang Shuo of the Yang Clan said with a smile, "Then our Yang Clan will provide a Flame Talisman. With this talisman, we can send that old mountain ghost from Jieyan Mountain to come and help us."

Everyone chimed in with their own opinions, and soon it was Shangguan Yun's turn. He chuckled and lent out a treasured possession from his home, thinking to himself, "We dare to lend it, but Long Meizi might not dare to take it. What treasure can compare to Little Saint's Yuanpi Ruyi?"

Even the Crying Ancestor has been defeated by the Little Saint. Even if Long Meizi is the River God's son-in-law and has already been refined into an infant, what good can he do?

Even though Shangguan Yun had no high hopes for the future, she still felt powerless about her situation.

He personally tends to accept Xiao Sheng's goodwill, but the large family is not something he can decide alone. Now that the resistance in the family has the upper hand, he can only be a hardliner.

What was Master Yang's attitude?

Someone asked Yang Shuo.

Seeing that they had finally gotten to the main topic, everyone perked up.

"Our patriarch said to do one's best and leave the rest to fate, that's all," said Yang Shuo, an elder of the Yang clan.

"Even he said that, does he mean we should just offer our necks to be slaughtered?" Bo Gongyuan said, trying to keep his voice low.

Mi Gu's eyes were bloodshot. He slapped his lower body and said, "Are we really going to wait for the underworld judges sent by the Upper Palace to take the register and find some excuse to remove the members of each of my families from the Daoist ranks and banish them to the mortal world? At that time, a thousand years of hard work will be destroyed in an instant, and we will all be sinners against our families!"

He was breathing heavily, his chest heaving violently, and looked at Shangguan Yun, "Brother Shangguan, doesn't your clan secretly raise a group of faceless zombie puppets who specialize in stealth, espionage, and assassination?"

Shangguan Yun's face paled, and he hurriedly interrupted, "Master Mi, be careful what you say! How can you speak such shady matters?"

Bo Gongyuan of the Bo family said, "There is also the Tong family's aconite poison. I remember that when the Wang family was cleaning house four hundred years ago, they only borrowed a trace of the poison and mixed it into the tea to poison that old master of the fourth realm of the Wang family."

The old woman from the Tong family said in a shrill voice, "Although I am a member of the Tong family, the lineage of apricot medicine is not under my control. Now, my unworthy son, Baicaozi, has been bewitched by that little saint and is obedient to everything he says. How could he possibly lend out the aconite and heart-piercing miasma?"

The atmosphere inside the grotto grew increasingly frenzied, and all sorts of insidious schemes were proposed one by one.

The bronze incense burner seemed unable to bear the weight, and its body emitted a faint cracking sound. The flames on the wall, stirred by the intense spiritual energy of the crowd, swayed wildly, casting distorted faces onto the stone wall, like a chaotic dance of demons.

Shangguan Yun took a few deep breaths, feeling uncomfortable, and looked at the Qian family head, whose face was also frighteningly pale.

Even though the Qian family had clearly stated their position, the crowd still uttered the most insane and vicious words, obviously telling the Qian family that if they didn't join them, they would all be destroyed. They couldn't handle the Upper House, so they certainly couldn't handle the Qian family members.

At that very moment, the communication jade slips or sensing talismans in everyone's arms all glowed faintly without warning, and the fierce argument stopped abruptly, as if those words had never been spoken.

Shangguan Yun took a deep breath, suppressing the fear that had just been stirred up, and his primordial spirit sank into the bamboo slip.

A moment later, the color drained from his face, his fingers holding the jade talisman trembled slightly, and he murmured, "The first decree of the Treasure Pavilion Acting Master Lingxu Little Saint."

Bo Gongyuan, Yang Shuo, and others also hurriedly checked their respective messages.

"By imperial decree:"
With the southern regions newly pacified, everything awaits reconstruction.

Now, in the name of the acting head of the Treasure Pavilion, I sincerely invite fellow Daoists from all directions to discuss the reconstruction plan together.

The invitation is extended to fellow practitioners from various places including Yunyu Temple, Baiqin Mountain, and Taoxiu Cave in Zhongyunxiong Prefecture; Jinbi Water Mansion, Jiaomo Palace, and Nishen Tower in Nanpan River; Wuxian Sect, Nanlao Divine Mountain, and Xiaoshi Sacred Sect in Liling Mountain; Tianteng Mountain and Xiaozhu Jinting in Nanhuang; and islands and continents in the South China Sea.

It is hereby decided that on the winter solstice of the Jiazi year, at the Shengang Palace on Taiping Mountain, we will jointly discuss matters such as the reconstruction of various families and factions after the Tiannan Calamity, including loans and joint defense against calamities.

We hope all parties will set aside past grievances and attend this grand event.

(End of this chapter)