Western Affairs

In Chaoge City, Feng Xue strolled along the streets. Although the existence of the City God Temple had harmed the interests of many people, because King Zhou had ordered them to be addicted to the Virtual World, these spineless guys didn't dare to really fight against the Heavenly Court, which could manage the affairs after death.

What? Someone with backbone?

The last person with backbone seems to have killed himself by banging his head against a wall.

However, Feng Xue did not intend to interfere in such matters. The rise and fall of dynasties had their own cycles, and the fact that this world still adhered to the feudal system was a rather unhealthy structure. Even if he could help the Great Shang prolong its national fortune, without thorough institutional reforms, the situation of strong feudal lords and weak kings would not change.

However, even with the help of the Nine-Tailed Fox, Feng Xue did not intend to start with King Zhou. Putting aside whether this King Zhou, who was obsessed with 2D, could be persuaded, the problem was that top-down reform could never be thorough.

Only by overthrowing all the feudal lords and kings can a unified empire be achieved.

Of course, he wouldn't immediately jump to a parliamentary system or a constitutional monarchy. As for going any further, that would be rebellion against himself. Wouldn't a unified monarchy with the divine right of kings be just as good?

As Feng Xue played with the precious jade in his hand, which was engraved with the eight characters "By the mandate of Heaven, may your life be long and prosperous," his eyes suddenly lit up. He immediately locked onto an old man selling sieves, which was exactly the place he was heading back to Chaoge from the East Sea.

Of course, this sieve was a real sieve, nothing strange or unusual. It's just that the old man neither called out to attract customers nor put up Tag. When people asked him, he was indifferent, so naturally, he didn't have much business.

In fact, Feng Xue originally thought that Jiang Ziya had already descended the mountain, but it was only after the death of Taiyi Zhenren triggered the Heavenly Court's wet item screening mechanism that he realized that this person destined to be a god had just descended the mountain.

(The original story's timeline is completely messed up, so this version follows the order of the story in the book: Nezha's lotus incarnation comes first, and then Jiang Ziya descends the mountain.)

But this is fine too. Seeing the old man's slightly swollen shoulder, I chuckled inwardly, but stepped forward and asked:

"Fellow Daoist, I see that you cultivate a path beyond the mortal world. Why have you fallen so low as to sell a sieve? Have you encountered any difficulties?"

Jiang Ziya initially didn't want to talk to anyone, but upon hearing the words "fellow Daoist," his face immediately turned bright red with embarrassment. However, upon looking up, he felt that although the person appeared young, he exuded the air of a superior being, which secretly startled him. Although he had not achieved cultivation, he had seen many immortals in Kunlun, but only the one in the Jade Void Palace had given him this feeling.

But what kind of person is Yuanshi Heavenly Venerate? There are only a handful of great cultivators in the world who can be compared to him. How could it be such a coincidence that we encountered one?

Jiang Ziya sighed inwardly, thinking that this was probably due to his own low cultivation level and mistaken identity. But even if the other party wasn't a great cultivator, they were certainly extraordinary, so he dared not be negligent and could only say:

"I have cultivated immortality for forty years, but have failed to attain enlightenment, therefore I have descended the mountain."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ziya felt a wave of embarrassment, but to his surprise, the other party frowned slightly and uttered a statement that astonished him greatly—

How could this be?

"Every word I have spoken is true, and I dare not speak presumptuously." Jiang Ziya thought to himself, "Could this great cultivator be here to make fun of me?" But for some reason, he felt that the other party's tone was sincere and not fake, so he immediately responded.

Upon hearing this, Feng Xue made a Magic Seal, and Jiang Ziya immediately felt a gentle breeze blow past him. Before he could say anything, the Senior Expert immediately said:

"I see. You've gone down the wrong path. What a waste of your talent."

"What makes you say that, senior?" Jiang Ziya frowned upon hearing this. Although he had failed in his cultivation, he still held the Chan Sect in high regard and immediately retorted:

"I am a Chan Sect of the Heavenly Venerate Palace of the Jade Void Palace, and I cultivate the righteous path. How could I have gone astray?"

Upon hearing this, Feng Xue was not angry, but calmly replied:

"What you say is true. All things in heaven and earth can be the Dao, and there should be no distinction between the right path and the wrong path. However, the Dao and people also depend on fate. If you have a pure Yin body and try to cultivate the moderate and peaceful Dao, you will naturally achieve less with more effort. It's not that the Dao is bad, it's just that it's not suitable for you."

"Does Senior mean that I am not suited for the path of the Jade Void Palace?"

Jiang Ziya asked with some suspicion, but Feng Xue shook her head and said:

"Your statement about cause and effect is incorrect. The Way of the Jade Void Palace is the Way of the Primordial Heavenly Venerate. It can only be said that that Way is not suitable for you, but how can you say that you are not suitable for that Way?"

"Please teach me, senior!" Jiang Ziya was somewhat of a fan of immortality. Although he had already left the mountain, he still couldn't forget about cultivation (in the original story, he often wanted to return to the mountain to cultivate immortality). When he heard this Senior Expert's insight, he immediately grasped at a lifeline and hurriedly asked for more information.

Upon hearing this, Feng Xue's smile remained unchanged. She simply waved her hand slightly, and the original Chaoge Street immediately twisted and transformed into a Tea Room. Flames leaped from a small stove on the table, and the water in the kettle on it was boiling like longan, clearly freshly boiled.

Feng Xue picked up the teapot, poured water into it, and waited for the aroma of tea to fill the air before adding a cup for Jiang Ziya.

Jiang Ziya was immediately flattered and hurriedly accepted the tea with both hands. Ignoring the fact that the tea was scalding hot, he thanked Feng Xue for offering the tea and took a sip. He found the tea to be fragrant and a surge of spiritual energy flowing into his throat, instantly making him feel comfortable all over. Even the redness and swelling on his shoulders from carrying the load subsided a bit.

"This tea is even better than the spiritual tea of the Jade Void Palace!" Jiang Ziya was greatly surprised. He had even more doubts about Feng Xue's identity. Feng Xue, on the other hand, did not care much about Jiang Ziya's reaction to drinking the Phantom Object tea. As the saying goes, the setting is everything. Although Phantom Object with the setting of "[the best tea in the world]" is a common commodity in the Tower of Babel, it will definitely be a rare treasure if the right world is chosen.

Of course, this wasn't purely for showing off. Seeing that Jiang Ziya had already begun to provide his [Senior Expert] with [knowledge], Feng Xue felt relieved and said:

"The Tao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Tao. It is an ineffable principle, and it is naturally difficult to pass it on. I have also heard of the Chan Sect's tenet, which is to select the best and not accept those who are not exceptionally talented. Since you have been able to enter the sect, you must be exceptionally talented. So how could you have achieved nothing in forty years?"

"That's right!" Jiang Ziya suddenly felt enlightened. It was common knowledge that Jade Void Palace only accepted geniuses. Now that he had entered the sect, how could he possibly be a good-for-nothing?

The fire of cultivation that he had managed to suppress suddenly surged again, and his gaze towards Feng Xue became so intense it was almost spitting fire.

Seeing this, Feng Xue simply waved her hand and said:

"Besides cultivation, are you skilled in any of the following: herb gathering, alchemy, medicine, divination, astrology, or unorthodox arts?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ziya was somewhat excited, but he restrained his urge to boast and told the truth:

"While I cultivate in Kunlun, I also do some herb gathering and alchemy."

"In that case, do you know the medicine?" Feng Xue asked again after hearing the answer.

Jiang Ziya nodded:

"Nature."

As soon as she finished speaking, Feng Xue took out a small booklet, placed it on the table, and said with a smile:

"Everyone has their own path, and mine may not be suitable for you. This book was written before I attained enlightenment. You can take a look at it in your spare time, and perhaps you can discover your own path."