Chapter 193
I heard you made a fortune a few years ago, are you married yet?
"Getting married? He's already taking a second wife, supposedly a female Daoist priest who practices bedroom arts. I reckon she's a 'juice-squeezing girl,' he'll have his hands full in the future."
"Get lost! You're all just jealous, blatantly jealous! I'm a man with an Internal Energy Level Eight certificate, and the law allows me to marry two wives. If you're so capable, go get a certificate too."
According to the laws of the Su State, any citizen whose Internal Cultivation reaches level eight can have a maximum of two spouses. Furthermore, for each level increase in Internal Cultivation, an additional spouse can be added—there is no upper limit for Spirit Transformation stage experts.
This law applies to both men and women, therefore there is no question of gender discrimination.
The stated reason is to encourage the strong to produce more outstanding offspring. After all, intelligence aside, the offspring of physically strong martial artists are often stronger than their peers. However, the real reason is the government's compromise with the strong.
In a society with significant individual differences, it is inherently unfair to grant the top-performing individuals the same rights as the bottom-performing individuals. The consequence of such forced constraints is resistance from the powerful.
Moreover, the greater the power an individual possesses, the weaker the legal constraints on them become, and sometimes it is inevitable that minor violations of the law will be turned a blind eye.
Of course, the so-called power refers to military force. Financial resources are not something the government would be wary of. Even if someone has billions in wealth, sometimes a toothpick can take their life. In comparison, the price to pay for killing a Spirit Transformation expert is far too high. If pushed too far, the other party can simply seek refuge abroad. There are plenty of countries willing to accept them. Property is external and can be confiscated, but one's own cultivation will not be confiscated.
Rather than allowing the powerful to trample on the law and weaken its authority, it would be better to increase their rights and make illegal acts legal. In a sense, this would enhance the authority of the law, and from a positive perspective, it would also motivate people to improve themselves and become stronger.
Suddenly someone asked, "Who do you think has achieved the most in our graduating class?"
"Achievements are hard to compare. If you're talking about who earns the most money, that's easy; just compare their net worth."
"If we're talking about academics, then of course it's our class monitor Xia Guanxue. He's now a Grand Academician, with level 13 Internal Cultivation —enough to marry six wives! It's said that he even received the title of Doctoral Chancellor when he was studying at the Grand Academician. It's a pity he couldn't come to the class reunion today."
The sacrificial wine represents the chief, because in ancient times the status of those responsible for sacrificing wine during sacrificial ceremonies was very high.
One person laughed and said, "He's very devoted, unlike you guys who are so fickle. He's only married one wife now, and I heard she looks a lot like his sister."
"Wow, is this guy a siscon? He's such a serious person, I never realized it before. He's been hiding it so well. I should have clung to him and called him brother-in-law back then."
"Then you should be glad you didn't do that. When Xia Guanxue was in college, he beat up quite a few men who tried to get close to his sister."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Suddenly, someone said, "If what you mean by achievement is fame, then I think Chen Shimi's achievement is the greatest. His novels have become popular throughout the entire Sea Continent, and they've even been adapted into animated films and TV series. Every year, he earns so much in royalties that his hands cramp up."
"That's right. My nephew, who's in elementary school, is reading his novels, and my niece, who's in middle school, also likes his books. Many young people call him 'Second God'."
"I've read a few of his books, and how should I put it? There's an indescribable sense of shame about it. If I were a student back then, I probably would have loved his books, but now I just can't get into them."
"They make money off young people, who represent the future and hope. As long as children are born, there will be people willing to read their books. You can't argue with that."
A small circle of girls.
Wow, your skin is so smooth, like a peeled egg! Tell me, how do you take care of it? What skincare products do you use?
"My family is dirt poor, we can't afford any beauty products. I've only managed to reach level seven of the Jade Countenance Art. This internal Internal Cultivation doesn't have any other effects, it just makes you look beautiful and healthy. It's said that if you reach level ten, you can stay young forever."
"You're ruthless. Level seven Internal Cultivation is enough to qualify you for a college degree, yet you're willing to switch to practicing the 'Jade Countenance Art.' Aside from its beauty and health Cultivation Body, this Internal Cultivation skill is no different from basic Internal Cultivation."
The Internal Cultivation manuals of the Su State are as numerous as hairs on a cow. Different Internal Cultivation manuals have different attributes, including strength, energy recovery speed, and special effects. However, at levels one to four, the differences are not apparent because the cultivation level is too low. Only at level five and above will their respective characteristics gradually become apparent.
If used in combat, Internal Cultivation like the Jade Countenance Art would require three times the amount of other Internal Cultivation of the same level. Therefore, unless a woman is particularly concerned about her beauty, no one would be willing to practice it. Besides, there are other Internal Cultivation with beauty effects, but they are not as effective as the Jade Countenance Art.
Do you remember that handsome male teacher from our school who was very humorous in his lectures?
"Of course I remember. Isn't that Teacher Deng Xiaoxian? The year we graduated, he was named one of the top ten outstanding teachers in the country. I remember one day, all the leaders of the education bureau came to listen to his open class. They said his classes were humorous, lively, and engaging, and that he should be promoted as a model teaching example. Unfortunately, it didn't work. His test scores couldn't compare to those of students Legalist Religion, and then he disappeared from the public eye."
"There's nothing we can do. Without reforming the education system, even the most engaging teaching methods are useless. However, the students do like him quite a bit; he's been voted the most beloved teacher by his students for several years now."
Every academic year, students at Tange Middle School vote for their favorite teacher. In the first few years, Ms. Yan Rou was the top choice, since there were more boys than girls. However, after Ms. Yan Rou got married, she lost many admirers, and the school transitioned from a one-woman show to a competitive landscape. Nevertheless, Ms. Yan Rou remains a formidable competitor, as many boys also have a taste for her.
Suddenly, a girl said, "The most popular teacher changes every year, and no one can guarantee who will win in the end. But the least popular teacher has been held by someone since the selection began, and hasn't been given up for a whole year. Sometimes I think he's pretty amazing to be able to do that."
This remark drew laughter from many people, but since everyone was a member of society, they knew to save face for others and be wary of eavesdroppers, so no one pointed out anyone by name; they simply understood each other implicitly.
"Don't speak ill of Teacher Murong like that. I think he's quite good, responsible, and highly skilled in martial arts. He just doesn't smile much and is a bit strict with his students, but he's extremely dedicated to teaching. If I have children in the future, I'll definitely try to get them into his class."
"That's true. We were both immature and rebellious back then, and we didn't want to be controlled, so we disliked him. But after entering the workforce and working for a few years, I realized that what he said actually made a lot of sense and was valuable life experience. Unfortunately, I realized it too late and suffered a lot as a result."
"Actually, putting everything else aside, Professor Murong is very magnanimous. Given his position in the school, he could have easily suggested banning the selection process to avoid losing face, but he has never done so. Just for that reason, I think when I look for a husband in the future, I should find someone as responsible as him."
"Wow, it's already seven o'clock! Everyone be quiet, turn on the TV! Our class monitor is about to appear! This is a historic moment, we can't miss it!"
A student quickly turned on the TV and tuned it to CCTV.
The scene showed a magnificent altar, lined with people on both sides, with a band playing solemn melodies. In the VIP section, one could also see many Spirit Transformation experts who rarely appeared in public.
"Welcome to our live broadcast of the Mohist Religion's Heaven-Worshiping Ceremony. Three months ago, the Mohist Religion's Xuan Master officially confirmed the passing of the 27th Holy Maiden due to illness. The selection process for a new Holy Maiden immediately commenced. After rigorous testing, four Saintess Candidate. They will now participate in the Heaven-Worshiping Ceremony, swearing their vows. The Primordial Lady of Benevolence and Mystery will decide who will succeed as the new Holy Maiden. The four Saintess Candidates are as follows..."
The so-called Primordial Lady of Benevolence and Mystery, whose full name is the Great Compassionate and Loving Goddess of Mercy of All Beings, is also known as the Goddess of Compassion in folklore. In this world where miracles exist, deities are recognized as beings, not superstitions. The selection of the Holy Woman by the Goddess of Mercy is, in a sense, to be free from worldly interference and to ensure the fairness of the election.
"The third Saintess Candidate, Murong Qing, hails from Tange City, Donghua Commandery. A disciple of the Jade Toad Heavenly Sect, she studied under Ling Huanxi, the Divine Spear of Ice and Snow. At the age of twenty-five, she advanced to the Nascent Spirit Transformation stage. She has participated in numerous international cases as a member of the Mohist Knight Guard, successfully apprehending thirteen super criminals. She also led a team to destroy the Crimson Eye Society's branch base in her home country. She is the most popular candidate among the public... This concludes the introduction of the four Saintess Candidates."
One of the girls couldn't help but exclaim, "Saintess Candidate, she's truly beyond imagination! And she's even Spirit Transformation! We actually had such an important person as a classmate, no one would believe it if we told them!"
"Yes, it's really too far out of reach. Although I thought our class monitor was amazing back in high school and would definitely have a bright future, I never imagined it would be this great... Once she's successfully chosen and becomes the new Holy Maiden, there won't be many people in the entire Su State with a higher status than her."
"That's not quite right. The Mystic Master and the Holy Maiden can only manage the affairs of the Mohist Religion and cannot interfere in politics. They may have high status, but they don't have real power. They are not as powerful as the Grandmaster, who has a voice in both political and religious circles."
"Don't even mention it. The position of Grandmaster has been vacant for over twenty years. I wonder what the higher-ups are thinking? Although there are rumors that a candidate has emerged, similar news comes out every year, so I don't know if it's true or not."
A girl stroked her chin. "Something feels off... Come to think of it, weren't there supposed to be four candidates for the Dark Maiden? Why were only three introduced? Did I accidentally miss some?"