Dust

Duanmu Ren was taken aback after hearing this.

Hu Yueqiu's question, though seemingly simple, is actually extremely difficult to answer.

How to distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil, is an ultimate problem that has existed since ancient times.

Duanmu Ren has thoroughly studied Daoist scriptures and even believes that this problem has permeated the long history of the cultivation world, and there is still no clear answer to this day.

In High Antiquity times, people ate raw meat and drank blood. Morality had not yet been established, so there was no distinction between good and evil, only the naked law of the jungle.

In the Middle Ages, the [Human Emperor] ruled the world with morality, rewarding the good and punishing the evil, and wanted to create a world of great harmony.

In reality, it was only through overwhelming power that they were able to drive this forward.

Ultimately, their efforts failed.

In the late ancient period, when the Immortal Dao ruled the world, they simply abandoned morality and used the most impartial and righteous Heavenly Dao to uphold justice and punish evil, promote good and eliminate wickedness.

First, they established the Heavenly Court, then built the Thunder Palace, and later delegated power to the Daoist sects. They tried all sorts of methods.

Now that the Old Method have been driven out of the Central Continent and are huddled in the Southern Edge Continent, barely clinging to life, it is clear that they have also failed.

The New Method is unconventional, disregarding morality and the will of Heavenly Dao, allowing Spirit Root to be randomly generated among mortals.

Upon closer examination, this method is not only fair, but it also takes the concept of immortals emerging from mortals to its extreme, practically signifying the spread of the Dharma throughout the world and the attainment of the dragon-like status of everyone.

Immortals descend from mortals, so cultivators should naturally cherish mortals.

Everyone has the opportunity to cultivate immortality, so naturally they can seek out and practice their own thoughts of righteousness and evil.

Ultimately, this will lead to a universal morality that can be accepted by the majority of people in the world.

Unfortunately, the adults who implemented the New Method clearly underestimated the evil in human nature.

The infanticide spree that occurred when the New Method were first enacted has caused harm for a thousand years.

The Azure Cloud Sect, which relocated to the Southern Edge Continent, had an Elder surnamed Lin who was at the Foundation Establishment, who was refining human puppets and consuming Blood Qi.

One can know the whole leopard from a single spot.

The New Method cultivators of the Central Continent are clearly not clean either.

Even the Human Emperor, the Immortal Lords, and the great masters of the New Method couldn't answer this question, let alone someone like myself, a mere minor cultivator?

Duanmu Ren snapped out of his reverie, shook his head, and sighed, "I don't know."

Hu Yueqiu was clearly ignorant and fearless, unlike Duanmu Ren who had thought things through so thoroughly. She didn't seem to take the issue seriously at all, and with a slight frown, she said softly, "Thank you, Senior Brother. I'll think about it myself."

After bidding farewell to Hu Yueqiu, Duanmu Ren didn't rush back to the provincial capital but went to see Li Jiabao first.

Li Jiabao was watching a live stream by a beautiful woman. He deliberately chose one with few viewers and tipped it several hundred yuan, thoroughly enjoying the emotional value provided by the female streamer and laughing happily.

Seeing Duanmu Ren approach, Li Jiabao hurriedly put down his phone. He wasn't too disappointed to learn that Hu Yueqiu had declined to appear on the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala, only regretful. "If she had really gone, it would have coincided with the National Day holiday, Supreme Mystery Sub-Courtyard might have become a huge hit!"

Previously, Rejuvenation Valley Pharmaceutical frequently made headlines, received news interviews, and was inspected by leaders, seemingly poised for meteoric rise.

Li Jiabao stole the show, his face almost cramping from laughing so hard.

Later, a paper verified that Isatis Root Lung-Clearing Oral Solution can not only treat pneumoconiosis, but also has an effect on cardiopulmonary failure in the elderly.

It was even hyped up as a miracle anti-aging drug, and could be resold for ten or even a hundred times the profit.

Li Jiabao still had some bottom line. He started limiting the daily supply and required customers to show their medical records before drinking the beverage on the spot.

Unexpectedly, this not only failed to completely stop the resale, but also brought more trouble.

Li Jiabao encountered all sorts of monsters and demons, and suffered various forms of coercion and enticement.

Unfortunately, Duanmu Ren failed to appear at this crucial moment, forcing Rejuvenation Valley Pharmaceutical to halt production.

The once-popular miracle drug gradually disappeared.

Even after experiencing several ups and downs, Li Jiabao couldn't help but sigh and lament, and could only return to a state of complacency, spending his days watching live streams and short dramas.

Upon receiving the invitation from the Mid-Autumn Festival Gala production team, Li Jiabao felt like he was about to rise again!

Unfortunately, the little girl who practiced swordsmanship every day refused to go, wasting a great opportunity.

Duanmu Ren sighed and said, "Are you really going to spend your whole life lying down, watching short dramas and female anchors every day?"

Li Jiabao, always aware of his role as a puppet and a front man, gave an awkward smile and said, "Um... it's not impossible."

Duanmu Ren frowned, deciding to also help Li Jiabao sort out his understanding of cultivation theories. After a moment's thought, he said, "You've met my godfather, right?"

Li Jiabao nodded.

That bureaucratic old Deng was like someone who stepped right out of the news; he left a very deep impression on me.

Duanmu Ren was unaware of Li Jiabao's unspoken criticism of his godfather. "He once told me a theory that there are billions of people in the world, but those who can truly be counted as people number no more than a million, or even fewer."

Li Jiabao felt uncomfortable hearing this. He glanced at Duanmu Ren and said with a sneer, "I know, everyone else is just cattle and horses, consumables, right?"

"No," Duanmu Ren shook his head, correcting him, "It's actually dust."

Li Jiabao was stunned for a moment after hearing this, then laughed in exasperation.

So, in some people's eyes, ordinary people aren't even worthy of being considered cattle or horse feed, they're just dust.

Ignoring Li Jiabao's reaction, Duanmu Ren continued, "The truly powerful hold power, wealth, and information. Their breath, their food, their conversations, their walks—all stir up dust on the ground."

Some dust is trampled underfoot and can never rise again.

Some dust particles briefly rose into the air before quickly falling back to the ground.

"Some dust particles are lucky; they can land on a person and travel a long way or climb very high, but they can also be swept off and fall back to the ground at any time."

Li Jiabao disliked this theory intensely; it was too blatant and hurtful. With a hint of inexplicable anger, he asked, "And what about you?! What are you?"

"Me?! Of course, I'm just lucky dust." Duanmu Ren didn't care about Li Jiabao's tone and said seriously, "You're different. You have the chance to be a human, you just haven't realized it yet."

"Me?!" Li Jiabao was flattered and somewhat bewildered.

A true peasant, a landless farmer who didn't finish junior high school, a former supermarket owner who got divorced in middle age, a universally acknowledged puppet and white glove, was actually not dust, but a person?!

"That's right." Duanmu Ren nodded to confirm again, and said with some envy, "You even have the opportunity to choose what kind of person you want to be."

Li Jiabao was completely confused and shook his head, saying, "I don't understand."

Duanmu Ren chuckled and then rephrased, "You can't touch Rejuvenation Valley Pharmaceutical or Supreme Mystery Sub-Courtyard. But apart from that, you can do whatever you want."

"As long as you don't commit murder, arson, raise a flag, or rebel, regardless of success or failure, at worst you'll be safe and sound, have enough to eat and wear, and can even continue watching short dramas and tipping female streamers. You'll never be trampled underfoot and never be able to rise again."

"You are now truly a superior person."

Li Jiabao remained silent, staring at the two tourists not far away.

The two were probably a couple, running and playing around, their light footsteps creating a gust of wind that stirred up fallen leaves and countless specks of dust, which tumbled and danced in the sunlight before slowly settling down.

Duanmu Ren said no more, patted Li Jiabao on the shoulder. "Think it over carefully. This kind of life is precious, you shouldn't waste it."

On his way back to the provincial capital, Duanmu Ren received a call from his godfather.

Autumn is deepening and the weather is turning cooler.

The godfather seemed to have lost his vitality as well; his voice, no longer clear and strong, was instead dry and weak. "Duanmu, your destination has been decided. After the training course ends, you'll be able to work in the provincial capital."

Duanmu Ren wasn't surprised; after dragging it out for so long, his godfather had finally given in and admitted defeat. He smiled and said, "Thank you, godfather. I'll be prepared."

"Hehe, I knew it wouldn't be difficult for you." The godfather spoke gently, then sighed and said, "The weather's gotten colder lately, and I haven't been feeling well either. Do you have any medicine left...?"