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

"Your Majesty, at noon on August 3, a sudden earthquake struck Lingyue County, Zhenling Prefecture. Although it did not cause a large number of casualties, it caused the Lishui River to change course and flooded farmland. Prefect Song Junru of Zhenling Prefecture has requested the court to allocate funds for relief."

During the morning court session, Xie Cangrong sat upright on the throne, quietly looking down at the assembled officials, listening to their reports on recent events and their respective work, and offering solutions to any problems that arose.

Xie Cangrong narrowed his eyes and pointed to one person: "Minister Zheng, I remember Lingyue is your hometown, right? Go home and take a look! I appoint you as governor to go to Lingyue to oversee disaster relief and assistance."

A middle-aged official with a sturdy face stepped forward, his eyes slightly red, and respectfully said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, I obey your decree."

With those words spoken, the matter was closed.

Another minister stepped forward: "Your Majesty, news has come from the shores of the East Sea that three more floating ships have crossed the sea and crashed into the ocean."

Lieyang City isn't too far from the East Sea; from a higher vantage point, one can even see cloud ships crossing the sea. This isn't exactly a secret; many people already know it.

However, what no one knows is His Majesty's attitude toward this matter.

The envoys have been here for a month. Although there was the farce at Shiyu, overall the two sides have gotten along quite well.

During this period, some ministers who were pro-Immortal had already established contact with the other side.

However, Xie Cangrong's attitude towards them was always ambiguous, and he never made a clear statement.

The arrival of this second wave of cultivators may be an opportunity to change the relationship between the two sides.

"Oh?"

Xie Cangrong raised an eyebrow: "Another celestial messenger has arrived. I wonder what everyone's opinion is on this matter?"

The imperial court fell silent.

After a moment of silence, someone finally stepped forward: "Your Majesty, I believe..."

Overall, this meeting was not much different from the meetings held by the ministers when the news of the rain-seeking request arrived.

Some advocate for kinship with the immortals, while others advocate for their expulsion.

However, after a period of reflection, both sides' viewpoints became more mature and their arguments were well-founded.

However, overall, the pro-immortal faction still accounts for the majority.

Some of them acted out of personal desire, some out of national interest, and some represented Xie Cangrong's voice...

After a period of debate, the ministers were hoarse from talking, and they thoroughly laid out the matter, discussing all the possible advantages and disadvantages they could think of in the future.

Xie Cangrong listened quietly, his index finger lightly touching the throne. Only after no one spoke did he begin to say, "My ministers, the methods of cultivators can control clouds and rain, manipulate the seasons, strengthen the body, and prolong life... If they can be used by me, they will surely make the Great Xia Dynasty even more prosperous and powerful. I have no reason not to accept them."

Upon hearing this, some ministers who advocated expelling the monks frowned slightly.

Xie Cangrong has finally made his stance clear, which means there is no room for negotiation.

Stability and comfort are what most people in high positions of power pursue, but stability can corrupt one's will, which is clearly not what Xie Cangrong is pursuing now.

Xie Cangrong glanced at Qi Xiu and continued, "However... the concerns of the ministers are not without reason. Everything must have rules and regulations. Our Great Xia governs the country according to law. Introducing the power of cultivators will inevitably disrupt the legal system. I hereby order Minister Qi to revise new laws to regulate the behavior of cultivators. If cultivators violate the prohibitions, they will be punished without mercy."

Qi Xiu stepped forward and respectfully replied, "Yes!"

Xie Cangrong looked down at the assembled officials and continued, "Designate Lieyang City and Qingzhou as special jurisdictions to pilot the new policies and laws!"

"Establish a Department of Supernatural Powers to oversee matters related to the training, management, and capture of cultivators, with recruitment expanding downwards from the Lieyang Temple as the central hub."

"If the trial goes smoothly, we may consider incorporating cultivation into the imperial examination system in the future..."

"..."

Xie Cangrong has only now made public the matter that he began discussing in small meetings with key officials more than half a month ago.

The cultivator system is a completely new system, and it will inevitably have an impact on the Great Xia Dynasty.

The officials listened to Xie Cangrong's series of measures with varying expressions, and tried their best to accept them.

They were well aware that a new era was about to begin, and if they couldn't keep up, they risked being left behind by this ambitious emperor.

Just then, a young voice rang out. Behind the civil officials, a young official, not yet twenty years old, stepped forward and asked Xie Cangrong, "While the methods of cultivation are beneficial to the country, I wonder how Your Majesty plans to introduce them? Will you allow cultivators to reside there? Will you agree to the protection of the Immortal Alliance?"

The policies listed by Xie Cangrong are all internal, and they are all reform measures that Great Xia is taking in the face of the coming new era.

However, there are some very important prerequisites: How does one begin cultivation in the Great Xia Dynasty? How does one acquire the knowledge of cultivators? How does one acquire the cultivation techniques of cultivators?

How does one enter the era of spiritual practice?

That should be the key point.

Upon hearing this, several officials frowned.

There is no such thing as help without a reason. If the Great Xia wants to gain the power of cultivators, then it must make concessions and pay a price.

The official's words sounded fine, and the wording was carefully chosen. However, there was an underlying question that Xie Cangrong was prepared to make concessions, to unite with the Immortal Alliance, or even... to be incorporated into the Immortal Alliance and be at its beck and call.

Young people are often impetuous and speak without any tact.

Xie Cangrong smiled upon hearing this, showing no anger. Instead, he looked at the speaker with interest: "You are... Tang Yi, right? I have read your writings; they are spirited and sharp, truly a brilliant talent of our Great Xia!"

This man entered officialdom through the imperial examination in the second year of the Jingyu era and was once a renowned genius in his hometown.

His hometown was occupied by Xie Cangrong a long time ago. He did not suffer much from the chaos of the times and grew up smoothly, writing many poems and articles.

The country needs people to build it.

Before the country was settled, Xie Cangrong issued a decree to reform the imperial examination system, recruiting talents from all over the country and forming a talent selection network.

In the second year of the Jingyu era, Tang Yi, having passed the provincial examination, officially entered the capital to participate in the first imperial examination of the Great Xia Dynasty.

The sixteen-year-old prodigy was quite famous and riding high on his success.

Tang Yi was the youngest among the participants in the scientific expedition. He also believed that he was exceptionally talented and could easily win the top prize and realize his ambitions.

Unexpectedly, he was ranked last, not even as good as some mediocre talents, and was then transferred to a local post, far away from the central government.

He was only recently transferred back.

Today was the first time Tang Yi had met this monarch whom countless people admired and respected. He never expected that the other party would remember his name and his writings.

"Your Majesty flatters me."

He was the lowest in rank among these people; how could he possibly deserve such praise?

Xie Cangrong glanced at the man with interest, then addressed the assembled officials: "How do we bring them in? We'll negotiate, exchange, and trade with them... We'll learn and explore along the way."

"However, please rest assured, our Great Xia Dynasty has emerged from chaos, and we will never lose our dignity and backbone. In any case, I will never sell out our sovereignty, and my starting point will always be the interests of Great Xia."

"The Great Xia will always be the Great Xia of the Great Xia, not the Great Xia of the Immortal Alliance!"

"If they want to trample on us and plunder us, I don't mind taking up my sword again."

Xie Cangrong stood up and calmly swept his gaze over the assembled officials.

An invisible force seemed to be approaching them, and though his words were calm, they struck the ministers like a thunderclap: "I hope you all feel the same way."