Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 961 Familiar Human Methods

Hou Sheng cast his ballot.

He switched from the tutelage of the Great Wisdom Dharma King to the tutelage of the Great Compassion Dharma King in a swift and decisive manner.

no way.

Although the Great Wisdom Dharma King was a relatively mild-mannered superior who was fair in his rewards and punishments, and occasionally bestowed some elixirs to nourish the soul or protective magical artifacts, he was also quite lenient towards his capable subordinates.

But... this newly emerged "Great Compassionate Dharma King" is far too cruel!

He had only hesitated a few times out of habitual loyalty to his former master, and had already endured several "kind lashes" from his "family."

The terrifying method of directly immersing the soul in a hellish illusion for repeated torment is beyond the imagination of ordinary cultivators, and far surpasses the pain of flesh and blood.

The torment inflicted on the very essence of the soul is so real it is despair-inducing, and is recognized as one of the most cruel punishments in the world.

Even if you want to find solace in your hometown, you can't.

For some reason, his hometown rejected him, leaving his family to wander in hell.

Moreover, this ruthless and merciful Dharma King still possesses an irrefutable moral authority at this moment.

"I have found the reincarnation of the Holy Mother."

At this moment, the "Great Compassionate Dharma King" sat upright, his tone carrying unquestionable majesty and reverence for the Holy Mother.

"Within ten years, the Holy Mother will surely restore all her cultivation, return to the main altar, and once again lead us to establish a true vacuum homeland."

“Hou Sheng, you are a smart man, you should understand what this means.”

Hou Sheng knelt on the ground, his body trembling slightly.

This means that the "Great Compassionate Dharma King" in front of him not only possesses the absolute power to make him wish he were dead, but also holds an absolute trump card that is enough to overturn the existing structure of the sect!
This is the supreme orthodoxy in doctrine, and the ultimate goal of all White Lotus followers' faith.

disobedient?
That would be to defy the Virgin Mary, abandon one's homeland, and be a heretic who severs himself from all believers!

Even if he died, it would be in vain, and no one would even utter a single sigh for him.

With both strength and righteousness in their hands, resistance is meaningless, and even hesitation seems foolish.

So, I'm sorry, Your Holiness the Great Wisdom Dharma King.

Your past kindness... I can only remember it in my heart, and hope that one day in that true "vacuum homeland" I can repay it.

Xu Xuan looked at the old man at his feet who had completely given in, nodded slightly, and was quite satisfied.

He felt that there were still quite a few "outstanding individuals" in the White Lotus Sect in the north, who knew how to assess the situation and were easy to manage.

The main reason was that the White Lotus sect members I encountered in the south before, whether it was Da Bao or Da Ci, were all fervent believers with unwavering will and would rather die than submit.

Or they might be like Lei Huan and Li Shaoweng, whose faith may not be so fervent, but who possess extremely strong personal ambition and initiative, and whose minds are cunning and difficult to subdue.

Now it seems... the forces directly under the Northern Headquarters may have a deeper foundation of strength.

However, the "mentality" and "integrity" of these grassroots backbone members are quite uneven, which is quite intriguing.

Xu Xuan sat upright in the armchair, tapping the armrest with his fingers.

We decided to first examine the true nature of this small White Lotus branch and see just how much these so-called "family members" really are worth.

"Summon all the brothers in the church here, I wish to see them."

Hou Sheng dared not delay and immediately bowed in agreement.

That night, in the dimly lit space inside the pharmacy, which had been expanded by magic, a few people gathered...

Xu Xuan's gaze slowly swept over them.

The one with the best cultivation was naturally the leader, Hou Sheng, a second-stage soul cultivator, who was standing anxiously with his hands hanging down.

The rest were ordinary followers who had never even reached the Heavenly Gate of Enlightenment. They had only learned some rudimentary illusion techniques and knew a few cult jargon, so they were considered "one of us".

They all looked misshapen and had cloudy, dull eyes.

Xu Xuan was speechless.

These people have extremely mediocre natural talents and abilities. Even if they practice evil methods that lead to quick success, they will probably never truly step into the path of cultivation in their lifetime.

Their gathering was less of a force and more of a mob, from which there was little to be gained.

He fell silent, and the invisible pressure he exuded made everyone present tremble with fear.

Then he turned to Hou Sheng and transmitted his voice:

"...Only this many people? You're using this kind of 'welcoming' to 'respectfully' welcome Prince Chen back? Aren't you underestimating that 'first uprising' king?"

"Or are you looking down on me?"

His tone was neither too light nor too heavy, yet it carried the pressure of an impending storm.

"Your Majesty, please calm your anger!"

Upon hearing that soft laugh, Hou Sheng's knees buckled, and he knelt down again with a thud.

He was truly terrified by this man's supernatural abilities and unpredictable temper.

The Dharma King's behavior was completely different from the rumored "compassion." Instead, he was more like a demonic tyrant, ruthless and merciless, which puzzled and terrified him.

Now that his life and death were entirely in the other party's hands, he could only lower himself even further and hurriedly explain, "Your Majesty, please understand! It is not that I have failed in my duties!"

“Three years ago, this place was indeed an important branch personally established by the Great Wisdom Dharma King. It had several Second Realm Incense Masters and more than a dozen First Realm elite disciples under its command. It was definitely not like it is now!”

"However... however, all the arrangements for 'Dazexiang' were completed a few years ago. The formation is solidified, the rituals are complete, and it is only waiting for the command from the main altar."

"Master Dazhi believed that having too many people left here would attract attention, so several months ago, he transferred most of his capable men back to the main altar." "Only I and these... these peripheral disciples responsible for daily guarding and keeping things under wraps were left here to maintain order."

Looking at the seven or eight oddballs in front of him, Xu Xuan's initial dissatisfaction gradually turned into silence.

Glancing at Hou Sheng, who was drenched in cold sweat, she felt a bit of "understanding".

Indeed, not everyone can build a business like Baoantang out of thin air in three years.

That being the case...

The frost on Xu Xuan's face melted instantly, as if a spring breeze had swept over him, and he even revealed a smile that could be described as "warm".

He spoke gently to the seven or eight trembling followers:

"We are all brothers, so there is no need to be so formal. I am very pleased to see you all today. I feel sorry for you brothers who are living in such hardship here."

He paused, his tone unusually warm and caring:

"Go home first, have a good meal and drink some good food, relax. Only when you are well-rested can you continue to serve the great cause of the Holy Church."

These words were like a warm current, instantly making the previously anxious lower-level believers feel flattered and grateful, almost to the point of tears.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty!"

"His Holiness the Dharma King is so merciful!"

"Waaah, Master Hou is right, our White Lotus Sect is indeed a warm and loving family!"

Everyone bowed in gratitude, feeling that although this Dharma King was imposing, he was so considerate and friendly to his brothers at the bottom of society. He was truly a good leader with a cold heart despite his cold appearance.

Hou Sheng knelt to the side, his lips twitching slightly, a subtle sense of unease rising in his heart.

Your Majesty, you weren't this "kind and friendly" when you tortured me with the hell of the soul before!
This discrimination is far too obvious!
But at this moment, he was in dire straits and dared not express the slightest dissent. Instead, he was even more eager to prove his worth in order to avoid experiencing that living hell again.

Before Xu Xuan could ask again, Hou Sheng stepped forward and said in a low, obsequious voice, "Your Majesty, although the followers here are not very useful, some of our 'friends' in this county and even Pei State are quite influential and may be of use to you. I will arrange it for you right away."

Seeing Xu Xuan raise an eyebrow noncommittally, Hou Sheng acted as if he had received a royal decree.

Soon, the interior of this seemingly unremarkable medical clinic welcomed its second "grand event".

The magistrate of Ji County, dressed in plain clothes, could not conceal his official authority as he entered in single file with several local gentry and wealthy households.

Unlike the previous followers, these people were all dressed smartly, looked shrewd, and without exception, they all carried heavy gifts.

The gold, silver, pearls, jade, antiques, and rare treasures were of considerable value, clearly indicating a deep understanding of the trade.

Upon entering and seeing the "Great Compassionate Dharma King" seated solemnly with an unfathomable aura, the crowd immediately plastered themselves with the most obsequious smiles, bowing and showering him with flattery. Their sycophantic pronouncements far surpassed those of the dull-witted followers.

"This humble official from Ji County pays his respects to His Majesty the Dharma King! I have long admired His Majesty's holy power, and to meet you today is truly an honor beyond measure!"

"His Holiness the Dharma King's presence in our county is truly an honor. We have prepared a small gift to express our respect, and we hope that His Holiness will accept it with pleasure!"

"If His Holiness the Dharma King has any requests, we will serve him faithfully!"

Looking at the scene of "all the wise men gathered" before him, and listening to the endless flattery around him, Xu Xuan gently gestured for Hou Sheng to accept the congratulatory gift.

He then glanced around and nodded in satisfaction.

The sycophantic county magistrate and local gentry before him were all blessed with good fortune, either by the accumulated virtue and auspiciousness of their families or by the protection of the dynasty's official rank.

Ordinary evil arts are indeed difficult to directly control one's mind; forcibly applying them is more likely to backfire.

The Holy Father knew this best; he himself had gone through several roundabout ways to kill the newly appointed magistrate of Qiantang County.

As for corrupting Song Qingtian, that's our achievement.

The White Lotus Sect was clearly well-versed in this principle.

Instead of using evil methods to control others, they meticulously weave a web of interests, power, leverage, and threats in a more "secular" way.

They used gold and silver to pave the way, lured people with power, and then seized on their shady secrets.

Evidence of embezzlement, crimes involving human lives, and even some unspeakable family secrets—if meticulously recorded, would be enough to keep these respectable people firmly in their grasp, making them willingly serve the sect, even more obedient than tamed hunting dogs.

The Holy Father felt a touch of "appreciation" for this professional rebel organization that had been operating for three hundred years.

He quietly planted an even more hidden mark deep within the souls of everyone.

At the same time, he took a heavy ebony box from Hou Sheng.

Upon opening it, one finds not gold or silver, but meticulously bound documents and jade slips recording images and sounds.

On a certain day of a certain month of a certain year, the county magistrate accepted bribes from someone and made a wrongful judgment; how a certain family head forced a tenant to death in order to seize land; and how a certain gentry had a secret deal with a certain evil person... No detail is too small, and the stories are presented with pictures and text, and even the confessions signed by the parties involved.

Of course, these were all minor incidents; the real dangers involved the secrets of power struggles at the top.

"Good heavens..." Xu Xuan sighed inwardly, "You guys figured out how to use the 'Records of Officials' so early on."

As expected of an established sect that has been professionally fighting against human dynasties for three hundred years, they are indeed shrewd in their ability to control the fate of secular elites.

After putting away the wooden crate, Xu Xuan cleared his throat, his expression becoming solemn and captivating.

He stood up, scanned the entire audience, and began his "speech".

"Fellow Daoists, fellow practitioners! Thank you for making the wise choice today, abandoning darkness for light, and joining our great and noble cause!"

His opening remarks were earth-shattering, directly criticizing the current imperial court, the righteous immortal sects, and even the rampant demonic path.

As a renowned scholar from Jiangnan, he naturally possessed an extensive vocabulary, ranging from the principles of justice and morality to the hardships of the people, from the corruption of dynasties to the hypocrisy of the cultivation world.

(End of this chapter)