Not long after Jiang Renzhen brought Yao Li aboard the flying vessel, rain began falling from the sky again. It continually battered the vessel's spiritual barrier, making the scenery beyond impossible to see clearly.
During the flight, Yao Li asked about the Heart-Merging Society. Only then did she learn that it had originally been an academy society established in Celestial Xia proper. All those eligible to participate were outstanding students taught by the masters of Academies across the land. Though it wielded considerable influence, it generally operated in the Upper Layer, and thus remained unknown to ordinary people.
Recently, however, the society had noticed that the remote region of Eastern Court was flourishing, and that its Academies had produced many talented individuals. They had therefore come here in hopes of establishing a branch society and selecting suitable members to join them.
Yao Li asked curiously, "What does the Heart-Merging Society mainly do?"
"What does it do?"
Jiang Renzhen glanced at her and said meaningfully, "Little sister, it seems you still do not understand. Those who understand should understand."
She drew a breath, her eyes gleaming with a strange light. "Put simply, our Heart-Merging Society possesses much knowledge—profound knowledge. This is something only a small number of people can grasp, and only they can comprehend. And once all these people unite..." She swayed her delicate wrist from side to side. "They can influence the course of Celestial Xia."
Yao Li said, "But isn't the course of Celestial Xia guided by the Jade Capital and the Profound Court?"
Jiang Renzhen gave a tinkling laugh. "Sister Yao Li, you are mistaken. Cultivators never interfere in the specific affairs of governance. Governance must rely on the officials of every prefecture and continent. Yet the vast majority of Celestial Xia's administrative officials come from the