Hermit in the Mountains

The ancient city of Hanzhong, the city lord's mansion.

Liu Yunzhong put down his teacup, looked at Zhuge Yanqing, and asked calmly, "Second brother, what do you think of the establishment of the Myriad Paths Palace?"

After a moment's thought, Zhuge Yanqing offered his guess: "Brother, the internal structure of the Longevity Sect has changed."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yunzhong suddenly became interested. "Oh! Tell me more."

Guan Shanyue, standing to the side, was busy munching on a bright red apple. He didn't want to use his brain; following instructions was much simpler.

Zhuge Yanqing used an analogy: "Brother, you've seen the announcement issued by the Wandao Prefecture, haven't you?"

"One announcement clearly states that Wandao Mansion has taken over the full management of the virtual world and Wandao City."

"Dean Zhang will serve as the head of the Wandao Prefecture."

"Doesn't it resemble a group company setting up an independently operating subsidiary?"

"I suspect that Lord Zhang has a high degree of decision-making power in Wandao Prefecture. He can probably make decisions on his own, except for matters of principle."

"We should congratulate the establishment of the Myriad Paths Prefecture in the name of the City Lord's Mansion."

"We need to further deepen our relationship with Lord Zhang."

"At the same time, the Longevity Sect was established as the state religion in the name of the City Lord's Mansion, and the Dao Seed was legally recognized as the only orthodox cultivation method of the government."

"Our entire population practices Taoism and cultivates its methods, and we rightfully regard the Longevity Religion as our national religion."

The hidden meaning behind Zhuge Yanqing's words about the Longevity Cult can be summed up in three words: "clinging to powerful figures."

Since the establishment of the Myriad Paths Palace in the virtual world, only cultivators with Dao Seeds can use the virtual world announcements.

He felt uneasy, as if something big was about to happen.

Something even bigger than the arrival of the spiritual energy tide or the expansion of the blue planet is about to happen.

but,

All of this was just his feeling and speculation; there was no evidence whatsoever.

All he could do was move closer to Zhang Yuanfu's thighs; if they could befriend him, they could obtain more useful information.

If Hanzhong can develop a method for cultivating the Daoist seed among all its citizens, then Hanzhong will become one of the core source regions of the Longevity Sect's fortune.

At that time, Hanzhong may be included in the area covered by the Changsheng Sect's fortune, then things will be stable.

Liu Yunzhong saw the urgency in Zhuge Yanqing's eyes. He knew his second brother well; he was usually as calm as a mountain.

What could have caused his second brother to become so anxious?

Why resort to a one-size-fits-all approach, using administrative orders to force ordinary people and cultivators to follow the path of cultivation?

Why would you so openly and unequivocally promote the Longevity Cult as the state religion? Aren't you afraid of offending the sect leader?

Countless questions lingered in his mind, but he did not voice them.

His second brother rarely hides anything from him, unless it's something uncertain.

"Yes, Second Brother will take full responsibility for this matter."

After saying that, Liu Yunzhong looked to the side and said, "Third brother, assist your second brother in carrying out this matter."

"If anyone has a different opinion, let them see how big your fist is."

Upon hearing that force could be used, Guan Shanyue's eyes lit up, and he patted his chest, "Don't worry, brother, I guarantee I'll complete the mission."

Zhuge Yanqing never expected his elder brother to support and trust him so much.

Establishing a state religion and comprehensively cultivating the Taoist path involves the interests of countless people.

Despite the fact that these three brothers firmly hold absolute power in Hanzhong, they are not immune to the influence of the government.

Hanzhong is a complex network of top-tier powers, forming a vast web of interests where a single move can have far-reaching consequences.

The sects and cults from other worlds have considerable influence in Hanzhong.

The core of Hanzhong is composed of three forces: the City Lord's Mansion, the local faction of Blue Star, and the otherworldly forces.

It is further subdivided into major aristocratic families, hermit sects, martial arts cults, independent cultivator alliances, and the Hundred Arts Alliance.

Hanzhong has ten cities with a population of 300 million, 70% of whom are cultivators (mostly those who cultivate Dao seeds or refine Qi).

Managing cultivation forces is several orders of magnitude more difficult than managing technological societies or mortal kingdoms.

In a mortal nation, if an ordinary person commits a crime, as long as force is used to suppress or arrest them, they will have a sense of awe for the law.

In the world of spiritual practice, the binding force of laws is equivalent to nothing.

You must possess force to have equal legal binding force.

If a cultivator commits a crime, he can simply flee Hanzhong; the world is a vast place.

Cultivators possess immense power and master various techniques such as magic, escape, and secret arts, rendering human wave tactics completely ineffective.

Capturing a cultivator who is determined to escape will require a significant investment of resources.

Sending law enforcement personnel of the same rank wouldn't necessarily guarantee a victory.

Sending out several law enforcement officers of higher levels would be too costly.

There aren't that many high-level cultivators to send out.

Law enforcement officers will not use their trump cards unless absolutely necessary; they also consider their own interests.

If the enemy runs away, the mission will fail.

If you anger the enemy and escape alive, you will harbor resentment and dare not seek help from the organization that issued the order, nor will you dare to cause trouble for someone who does your job.

How much is the monthly salary? Why risk your life?

With his elder brother's support, Zhuge Yanqing felt much more at ease. "It's been almost a year since the last plan was launched."

"Big brother, haven't you received a notification from the sect leader yet?"

He truly tried every possible means to enhance Hanzhong's cultural heritage.

A local temple and a branch of the Wanjie Money Exchange indirectly brought more than 100 million people to Hanzhong in just one year.

The ancient city of Hanzhong is now enjoying a prosperous atmosphere where no one picks up lost items on the road and the city is brightly lit at night.

Hanzhong, Zijin, and Chang'an are the only three cities outside of Wandao City that possess both a Land God Temple and a Myriad Realms Bank.

Countless ordinary people, low-level cultivators, and cultivation forces are unable to enter the City of Myriad Paths, so they will settle for second best.

The reward is amazing!

For this reason, countless forces that followed the path of fortune built temples of humanity throughout the year.

According to incomplete statistics, tens of thousands of humanitarian temples have appeared across the country.

They are all desperately trying to win over the common people and recruit cultivators.

They all want to protect the people, improve their livelihoods, and enhance their fortune, all vying for that 0.03% reward.

Upon hearing this, a look of disappointment flashed in Liu Yunzhong's eyes, and he shook his head helplessly.

He wasn't sure if Hanzhong could make it into the top three this time.

Intelligence gathered from various regions indicates that Hanzhong's population ranks only ninth, less than half the size of the most populous region.

With a population of 800 million, the eighteen cities of Zijin have always been ahead of all other cities.

The name "Huaguo" (华国) no longer exists, but the ancient city of Zijin (紫金古城) seems to show signs of once again inheriting the legitimacy of the Yanhuang lineage.

Liu Yunzhong suddenly asked a question, "Second brother, what if we could make it into the top three this time? I mean, if."

"Is there any hope of relocating the main branch of the Liu family in Luoyang to Hanzhong, merging the two families in the north and south?"

"The current situation is better for collaborative development; investing in separate channels will only lead to ruin."

Zhuge Yanqing paused for a few seconds, then said, "Brother, I'm afraid the main branch in Luoyang won't accept it."

He put it very tactfully.

How could the main vein bow down to a branch vein?

Besides, the main branch is also developing well.

The Liu family of Hanzhong only needed to propose the idea of ​​merging.

The main vein of Luoyang can, in turn, demand that its branches be incorporated into the main vein, thus naturally occupying the legitimacy.

However, he could only think these words to himself.

Liu Yunzhong was well aware of the difficulties involved and the potential conflict between the main lineage and its branches.

Time is of the essence!

In ancient cities across the country, many powerful figures are also discussing the Nine Dragons Plan and the Ten Thousand Dragons Plan.

The reward bestowed by their headmaster was so tempting that no one could resist.

Some people even thought of building a City God Temple as their optional reward.

The Earth God Temple and the City God Temple together form the core of the main city, ensuring the protection of gods and spirits.