Only after unifying the world did I realize that immortals existed in this world.

"Your Majesty, I take my leave."

For the Great Xia, cultivation was still like a drifting cloud in the sky; information was scarce, and it could only be observed from afar, not touched.

After chatting with Xie Cangrong for a few more minutes, Qi Xiu took his leave.

Xie Cangrong simply waved his hand casually and said in a calm voice, "Go!"

Qi Xiu, as the Grand Secretary, was the head of all officials, holding a higher position than Liu Bingxuan. However, Xie Cangrong's relationship with him was rather bland and distant, focusing only on official business and referring to himself as "I," completely unlike the relaxed and casual interactions he had with Liu Bingxuan in private.

Qi Xiu bowed deeply and withdrew from Zhaolin Pavilion.

Blinding sunlight streamed through the clouds, causing Qi Xiu to squint slightly. A gentle breeze had dispelled the gloom, and the drizzle that had fallen for half a day had finally ceased. On the horizon, a rainbow arched across the sky.

He glanced in the direction of the emperor deep within the palace, let out a soft sigh, and slowly walked out of the palace.

As a top official in the imperial court, Qi Xiu held a high position and great power. His mansion was not bad, with pavilions and towers exuding an ancient elegance and exquisite decorations. But that was all. The courtyard was not adorned with gold and jade, and was rather plain. Any wealthy man could have renovated such a mansion, which was not quite in line with his status.

It wasn't that Xie Cangrong was stingy; it was just that Qi Xiu didn't want it.

The mansion was sparsely populated and rather deserted, with few servants.

After dismissing the servants, Qi Xiu entered the study.

The room was in disarray. Books were scattered everywhere, lying on the floor; unfinished manuscripts lay strewn about beside the inkstone.

He took on a big job from Xie Cangrong.

Although he appeared relaxed, he knew that this matter was actually extremely difficult.

What is the world of cultivators like?

What changes will occur after the Great Xia Dynasty accepts the power of cultivators? How much impact will it have?

What kind of regulations should be formulated to constrain this?

What kind of rules are needed to maintain stability?

What kind of system should be established for containment?

……

The road ahead is an unprecedented unknown, with too many contradictions and conflicts that are simply unimaginable.

Even he was at a loss for what to do for the time being.

"Splash splash~"

A gentle breeze swept through the room, causing the pages of several open books to flutter and rustle.

Qi Xiu awoke from his reverie, closed the window, and turned his gaze back to the desk.

A thick, open book lay quietly there, with four powerful characters on the cover: 【The New Laws of the Great Xia Dynasty】.

This book is the most important work of his life and his lifelong pursuit.

but……

Humans cannot predict the future, and the world's developments are beyond our expectations.

This law, which he poured his heart and soul into, will probably soon be unsuitable for the new Great Xia.

He lowered his eyes slightly, his fingertips gently stroking the book.

In a daze, the surrounding light was dim, with only the flickering candlelight illuminating a deeply lined, aged face.

His mother, her hair completely white, her old eyes glistening with tears, looked at him with heartbreaking sorrow: "My son... jade may be broken, bamboo may be burned, but a gentleman will not destroy his integrity. You are disloyal and unrighteous; how can I, your mother, live in this world?!"

Qi Xiu stood still, his face expressionless.

The stark contrast between this and the mother's heart-wrenching, tearful questioning creates a deathly silence.

In the next instant, light and shadow shifted, sunlight streamed into the dimly lit room, and the heartbroken mother vanished.

Instead, a dashing and spirited monarch, surrounded by a group of capable ministers and generals, walked from the direction of the sunlight, his smile confident and composed, and extended his hand to Qi Xiu: "Qi Xiu, I do not need your loyalty, you only need to be loyal to your ideals."

Qi Xiu gently shook his head, and the monarch's carefree smile vanished.

Past events are like fleeting smoke, gone in the blink of an eye.

The old mother and the monarch are nothing but illusions.

Back to reality, he found himself in his familiar, cluttered study. He put aside his past efforts and wanted to pick up his pen again.

He was not loyal to the monarch; he was loyal to his own ideals.

Therefore, he needs to continue forward to build rules that can withstand the arrival of the era of cultivation and establish laws suitable for the Great Xia Dynasty.

However, at this moment...

I don't know if it's because he's too tired, but it seems like he's having a hallucination.

He felt as if he had entered a mysterious and special state.

The legal text before me seemed to come alive, each character leaping, dancing, and flowing like ink-black fish! Ink dots intertwined with white paper, light and shadow flickering.

In the end, they all came together—

They formed a giant Chinese character for "law".

As if he were opening his eyes for the first time to observe the world, he vaguely felt as if he had touched something.

In that instant, he could only recall the words His Majesty had spoken to him meaningfully in the palace that day: "Perhaps... we have already embarked on the path of cultivation?"

……

"Knock knock knock~"

The morning bell tolls melodiously as the sun rises.

Inside the Hall of Supreme Harmony, civil and military officials, dressed in their official robes and holding jade tablets, stood solemnly. It was court assembly again, and Xie Cangrong sat on the throne, listening to the officials' reports.

Gong Qiao didn't come, and neither did Qi Xiu.

However, the officials did not object to this, which is quite normal.

Gong Qiao was in the research department. Although she held a high position and wielded considerable power, she did not concern herself with political affairs. Unless Xie Cangrong specifically summoned her to speak with the court officials, she would not attend court. She would report directly to the emperor on any needs or achievements.

As the Grand Secretary, Qi Xiu had a great deal of work to do. Xie Cangrong, out of compassion for his hard work, granted him a special exemption from regular court sessions. Important matters would be relayed to him, and for any urgent matters, he could go directly to the palace.

Several key ministers in the imperial court possessed this power.

Small matters are addressed in large meetings, while important matters are addressed in small meetings.

When it came to decisions truly concerning the foundation of the nation, Xie Cangrong had already secretly discussed them with his trusted ministers and confidants in his private chambers.

This court assembly was no different from the previous ones. The ministers presented their memorials one by one, explaining the important matters under their jurisdiction, and Xie Cangrong made his decisions accordingly.

The previous banquet for the monks and the rain-seeking ceremony in Shengzhou seem to have been forgotten.

Nearing the end...

"Report—"

Suddenly, a loud shout came from outside the hall: "Your Majesty, a report has come from Shengzhou."

"Oh?"

Xie Cangrong raised an eyebrow: "Announce."

Xie Cangrong naturally already knew what was being reported; announcing it in the main hall was simply to let all the officials know.

Upon hearing this, the messenger entered the main hall and, at Xie Cangrong's instruction, loudly reported: "Lord Zheng Yuanhe and the other envoys arrived in Changqi County, Shengzhou on July 13th, and were ordered to bring rain to relieve the disaster. The envoys went to various parts of Shengzhou to perform their rituals. Starting from July 14th, torrential rains fell for three consecutive days! Tens of thousands of people flooded the streets, bathed in the rain, sang joyfully, and bowed in unison to praise His Majesty's holy virtue."

Finally, the messenger put down the letter in his hand, and his voice echoed throughout the hall, reaching the ears of every minister: "The drought in Shengzhou has been relieved."

For a moment, an eerie silence fell over the court. The officials remained silent, their expressions shifting, each with their own thoughts.

Could it be... that there really are immortals in this world?

Xie Cangrong leaned back on his throne, surveying the assembled officials with interest: "Gentlemen, what do you think?"

The monks proved themselves.

Next, it's the managers' turn to make their statements.

Is it acceptance?

Or is it rejection?