Cursed Mountains and Seas

Chapter 282 Strange Phenomenon from Heaven: Five-Colored Rat Demon, a Corrupt Official in the Country!

The rain outside had not yet stopped, and raindrops dripped from the eaves, like pearls of all sizes falling onto a jade plate.

Wang Cheng and Shen Yueye assumed the lotus pose, with the former making a yin-yang mudra with his hands behind the girl's slender waist, and the latter making a yin-yang mudra behind his neck.

The Yin and Yang energies of the dragon and tiger are constantly being released and released.

As the tingling sensation in his bones grew stronger, Wang Cheng could clearly feel the "Qi" that served as the bridge between "essence" and "spirit" flowing subtly within his body.

Unlike the Heavenly Qi of the Golden Toad, the Treasure Qi of the Worldly Market, and the Mysterious Origin Qi of Penglai Capital Water, which are mainly used to nourish a lamp of the heart, this is one's own Qi.

Human Qi? Primordial Qi? True Qi? Wang Cheng himself didn't know what it was.

There wasn't a single secret scroll or book in the world inside the walls that could answer his questions, and even the seemingly all-knowing [Rare Goods] remained silent.

This "qi" circulated within the two of them, carrying their breaths and connecting them into one.

In the end, not only their vital energy and inner light, but even their naturally compatible destinies such as "wealth" and "good fortune" resonated with each other, and the two felt completely relaxed and returned to their innate state.

Each of the senior and junior disciples received "Qi," and subtle yet profound changes began to occur from the inside out.

However, their "qi" is still very weak and has no power.

Without a systematic method of "cultivating both body and mind," one may never have the opportunity to achieve anything remarkable or attain a transcendent transformation.

However, if one obtains a more perfect method, it will be a seed that can grow into a towering tree, shaking the entire world inside the walls.

"Sex is our spiritual awareness, and life is our vitality."

Lamp oil is life, and lamp light is nature; without oil, the lamp cannot shine; without lamp oil, there is no light; only when the two are combined can one live long and see for a long time.

The so-called methods of cultivating both body and mind spread by the so-called 'immortals' outside the wall are nothing more than using elixirs to cultivate one's life force.

Forcibly achieving the state of cultivating both body and soul at the cost of transforming into various monsters that combine with marine life seems like a crooked path.

Although I have only just begun to understand life cultivation and have only obtained a little bit of 'true qi', I feel that the method of cultivation is nothing more than man following the earth, earth following heaven, heaven following the Tao, and the Tao following nature.

Those things that appear most harmonious and beautiful are naturally more in line with the Tao, and more dignified and upright.

Those ugly, deformed monsters among the Immortal Scoundrels don't look like they belong on the right path of cultivation at all.

Combined with the unusual incident that I unintentionally experienced in the courtroom when I took office as the "Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices".

Wang Cheng suspected that those "immortals" outside the wall who had only shown a glimpse of their existence might be like him, merely exploring an imperfect path to immortality.

Moreover, these pioneers most likely encountered some very serious problem.

The fact that our fifth-generation ancestor, Wang Bangyan, and his seven treasure ships and crew were trapped there may be related to this.

Wang Cheng subconsciously glanced at the talisman [Stabilizing Golden Hoop] that had previously shown unusual behavior in the money.

The third-rank divine official has opened three orifices, possessing keen spiritual senses and a vague premonition of his own fortune and misfortune, which becomes even more acute when the heavens favor him.

Sister Axiao once said that her family was favored by Heaven, and that good things might happen to them while they were at home.

As for what circumstances could possibly be related to the "Mind-Stabilizing Golden Hoop" that can calm the mind of a monkey?
In his mind, the most likely solution was this method that he had been seeking but could not obtain.

"Could it be that a ready-made method will float out of the sea in the form of the 'Three Thousand Abyss Treasures'? Or is someone else researching such a wondrous method? Where exactly does my opportunity lie?"

The typhoon that brushed past Donghai Kingdom gradually passed through Sifan Island and began to weaken slowly after entering the main island.

The sky over Pinghu Port was clear and cloudless.

As the golden light of dawn shattered the night, Yingzhou's only port to the outside world awoke anew, bustling with activity and gradually regaining its lively atmosphere.

Wang Cheng and Shen Yueye each changed their appearance and, like an ordinary young couple, slipped out of the palace hand in hand, already sitting in a small breakfast shop specializing in hometown flavors.

Looking at her senior sister across the table, dressed in an elegant ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) and silver satin embroidered shoes, completely covering her body, Wang Cheng smiled smugly.

The girl's beautiful eyes darted around, and she glared at him with annoyance. Still not satisfied, she raised her long leg from under the table and kicked his shin.

Her skirt swayed, revealing several pink hickeys on her fair insteps and calves that hadn't completely faded.

Although both of them were just beginning their cultivation and their physical enhancements were not strong, Wang Cheng possessed the Dragon Transformation Technique and the Giant Spirit Descent Technique. Even after completing his cultivation, he still managed to route his senior sister's army.

After keeping her occupied all night, she actually became even more radiant.

"The braised noodles are here, hurry up and eat!"

When they were in Yuegang, their day usually started with a bowl of steaming hot Xiangzhou braised noodles.

The food at this little restaurant is also very authentic. The golden noodles are soaked in a rich broth, paired with fresh mushrooms, squid, lean meat and other ingredients. Every bite is extremely delicious.

As the saying goes, "What the superiors like, the inferiors will follow even more closely." The dietary habits of Wang Cheng and the ruling class of the Five Peaks Banner under his command had begun to subtly change the entire Kyushu Peninsula.

"We've arrived! We've reached the Eastern Sea Kingdom!"

Suddenly, in addition to the Japanese laborers who had already begun their work on the dock, many familiar local accents could be heard. The two turned their heads to look.

A fleet of over a dozen large Fujian-style ships docked, and hundreds of people, mostly dressed in rags, disembarked with their families. They knelt before the gleaming golden statue of Prince Jing, which stood in the harbor, and wept bitterly.

"I thank Prince Jing and Prince Jinghai for saving the lives of my entire family."

"I will repay this life-saving kindness even if it means working like a cow or a horse for the rest of my life."

A few exaggeratedly even imitated theatrical lines, shouting, "Long live the Prince! Long live the Prince! Long live the Prince!"

After they calmed down a bit, the officials from the Ministry of Revenue of the Eastern Sea Kingdom stepped forward to maintain order, registering them one by one and adding them to the Eastern Sea Kingdom's household register.

“Fugui, there have been so many refugees coming from Dazhao lately.”

By bringing them to the Eastern Sea Kingdom, you not only solved their livelihood problem but also expanded our main ethnic group. You've done a great deed that benefits both sides and is of immeasurable merit.

Shen Yueye looked at her junior brother, her bright eyes sparkling.

Wang Cheng had already taken advantage of the continued momentum of "On Sea Power" to issue a recruitment notice to all port cities along the coast of Dazhao.

Those interested can go to Yuegang or take a merchant ship to Donghai Kingdom to report for duty. The fare will be reimbursed by Donghai Kingdom.

If merchants can bring refugees over, they can offset tariffs and port management fees, which is more cost-effective than spending money directly.

The two Five Temples Divine Treasure Flowers that Wang Cheng initially gave to Luo Wenlong were not given away for nothing to the Lord of the State.

He did not ask for any other material reward, only that the various prefectures and counties release the people.

This is not something that would trouble the emperor.

The signs of the late Zhao Dynasty were already evident. In those days, there were refugees everywhere who couldn't afford to eat, and every year people rose up in rebellion.

To the rulers, these people who had once "farmed" were the source of unrest, and they wished they could send them far away.

When they arrived in the East Sea Kingdom, they immediately divided the islands into nine prefectures according to their original administrative divisions, and then began to fill them with people.

A bookworm spirit dressed as a lady in green presided over the registration and cataloging, unfolded the three volumes of the original manuscript of "Water Margin", and summoned the world in the book to descend.

When "Water Margin" came into Wang Cheng's hands, it could only be used as a mobile warehouse, or rather, a public warehouse with seven other entrances and exits.

Its utilization rate is even lower than that of Fengzhou Shanren, and it cannot be used against the enemy in the short term.

The bookworm spirit has successfully taken up the job of "novelist," making this world in the book its new home and beginning to slowly develop it.

With the help of [Harmonizing Yin and Yang], I only needed to exchange a few words with those refugees to have a thorough understanding of their general situation, which I then recorded in the book.

Scholars, farmers, artisans, merchants, and soldiers all found their suitable career paths.

The literacy rate in the Daisho region was as high as 40%. Although this only included those who could write their own names, it was still a high-quality talent pool compared to the Japanese.

Otherwise, without enough readers, how could the novel and printing industries have flourished as they do today?

Even the most useless idlers among the migrants can become "plant people" to "climb" remote mountain villages at night, fundamentally replacing the local population.

These are no longer the first batch of refugees; everything is done in an orderly manner, and Wang Cheng doesn't need to intervene or direct them.

With a wave of his hand, detailed information about this group of people appeared before him and Shen Yueye.

As expected, the main reason they became refugees was land consolidation, with large landowners hiding their populations to avoid taxes, corvée labor, and land rent.

Although reality is somewhat cruel, it must be admitted that the stronger the land officials and gentry group is, the more displaced people there are, and the greater the benefits that the Donghai Kingdom will receive.

At this juncture, they have just managed to acquire the most valuable human resources, and these are mostly young and strong people; the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled simply cannot be mobilized.

Wang Cheng estimates that there are approximately six million refugees in the entire Dazhao Kingdom, accounting for one-tenth of the registered population.

But this only refers to the registered population, that is, the people who are required to pay taxes.

The actual population of Dazhao is likely between 1.6 million and 2 million, comparing the registered population with the unregistered population.

Then you'll find that it's really hard to say who the true master of the Great Zhao is.

With these refugees as a supplement, it's not a pipe dream that the dominant ethnic group could overwhelm the 150 million Japanese on the islands of Kugun. Given more time, it's something that can be accomplished sooner or later.

But by then, the entire Yingzhou should have fallen into his hands.

However, there is a problem.

Wang Cheng suddenly frowned.

He discovered another common factor in the experiences of this group of refugees, in addition to the common cause of land annexation.

A natural disaster called the "Five-Colored Rat Demon" is raging in many places!

The most learned men in the local gentry told them:
"Only when the emperor receives the mandate of heaven can he rule the human world. Under the influence of the interaction between heaven and man, if someone loses his virtue, then the way of heaven will send down strange phenomena."

The saying goes: "The five-colored rat demon is a national tycoon!"

(End of this chapter)