Correcting Wrongs, Governing the Realm

Everyone praises the beauty of Jiangnan, with its majestic and imposing Jinling.

"More than four hundred powerful clans, one of them Yunlan, dominates half the country."

Ye Jinyu stood with his hands behind his back on the top floor of the Riverside Pavilion. The river breeze blew through the pavilion, making the silk books on the table rustle. Jia Ru and Yu Liang were serving him at his side, while Xu Feng was holding a thick list of names and reading them aloud one by one.

"The Jiangnan Zhu Clan has two members in the Purple Mansion Ruin Realm, who control six realms: two of the middle-grade and four of the lower-grade."

The Zhu Clan has been cultivating Daoist Dao Ginseng in their own Ruin Realm for over a century, passing down incomplete Cultivation Method to lure Rogue Cultivator into their trap.

Once he has cultivated to the Foundation Establishment, he will suppress and devour his foundation with his complete Cultivation Method.

The Dao Ginseng not only came from the natives of the Ruin Realm, but also from no fewer than a hundred rogue Rogue Cultivator lured in by Cangxuan.

"The Jiangnan Kong Clan, with one person holding the Purple Mansion, controls four realms within the Ruin Realm. The Kong Clan's methods are covert; they often set up 'Immortal Mansion Ruins' within the Ruin Realm, hiding incomplete Cultivation Method within them. Once someone with the fortuitous opportunity obtains them and cultivates to the Foundation Establishment stage, they then use the guise of 'recruiting talents' to actually Dao Devouring."

"The Jiangnan Zhou Clan, with one member of the Purple Mansion, controls three realms within the Ruin Realm..."

Xu Feng's voice was neither hurried nor slow; he read for a full half hour before closing the register.

"Young Master, this roster was only retrieved from the Yunlan Heaven Palace today. Among the more than two hundred Purple Mansion clans in Jiangnan, no fewer than eighty are involved in the Dao Devouring. Among them, the most notorious are the Zhu Clan, Kong Clan, Zhou Clan!"

Ye Jinyu turned around.

For the Cloud Mist Ye Clan, taking Jiangnan was merely a matter of issuing an imperial edict.

A single messenger and a short imperial edict were enough to pacify Jiangnan.

But while it is easy to acquire, it is difficult to govern.

No wonder our ancestors were so proud and noble, and they built the Yunlan Heaven Palace to cultivate in seclusion. The Ye Clan family has been an immortal clan for generations, and they are unwilling to leave the mortal world, turning their family into a nation.

Perhaps it was due to coercion and suppression by the Sima Clan, but in reality, the social atmosphere was difficult to cleanse. The world today is corrupt.

The deeper one's cultivation, the more one discovers the weight of destiny.

How can a clan or a family compare to a nation? Transforming a clan into a nation is imperative.

"How should we govern Jiangnan?" Ye Jinyu's gaze fell on the two men. "What can you two gentlemen teach me?"

Jia Ru straightened his clothes, stepped forward slowly, and gently touched the silk book on the table with his fingertip, and Zhu Clan's name lit up.

"Young Master, governing the people is not a matter of techniques, but of principles."

"Several generations of the Sima Clan True Lord delighted in the way of blessing and devoured living beings to support their families."

Now that Jiangnan has regained its peace and tranquility, the young lord should ensure that the people and cultivators live in peace, rectify the source of things, and correct the disaster of the Dao Devouring.

This is the proper and upright way to govern Jiangnan.

If this is done, it will win the hearts of the people and will also be a great achievement in eliminating the chaos caused by the Sima Clan.

At this point, Jia Ru paused, a faint smile appearing on his face.

Yu Liang glanced at him, understanding dawning on his mind.

This Zhu Clan once insulted Brother Jia; it seems they will be used as a model to be punished today.

Don't offend a ruthless strategist!

But this is actually really fun.

Yu Liang thought about it and decided to add fuel to the fire.

"Young Master, the evil of the Jiangnan Zhu Clan is the worst in Jiangnan."

"Not eliminating them would not demonstrate the young master's resolve. Moreover, the Zhu Clan shows no sign of restraint; just three days ago, they were still in the Ruin Realm..."

Ye Jinyu raised her hand, stopping Yu Liang from speaking.

His gaze fell on the Zhu Clan's name on the register, and his knuckles tapped lightly on the jade table.

It was an open secret that powerful families in Jiangnan cultivated Dao Ginseng and refined it into medicine.

In the past, the Sima Clan dynasty needed these powerful clans to maintain local stability, and the Ye Clan, unwilling to cause trouble, turned a blind eye to their actions.

But things are different now.

The slogan of the Great Peace Temple uprising was "To punish the wicked and secure the state."

What enabled them to incite rebellion in the Ruin Realm, gaining widespread support? It was the genocidal acts committed by these powerful clans within the Ruin Realm that provided the Great Peace Temple with a ready-made weapon.

"Mr. Jia," Ye Jinyu suddenly spoke.

"Exist."

"Tell me, why has the Ruin Realm under the Ye Clan's command remained as stable as a rock for the past half month?"

Jia Ru and Yu Liang exchanged a smile.

Yu Liang bowed and said, "It is precisely because of the young master's reforms back then."

Xu Feng followed up, adding, "That's right. Back then, the young master defied public opinion and implemented the Transport Commissioner system in the Ruin Realm under the Ye Clan's rule. This system unified the allocation of resources, selected local cultivators from the Ruin Realm to join the Transport Office, and provided them with Cultivation Method, spiritual materials, and a formal title."

Those from the Ruin Realm who possess cultivation talent can pass the examination conducted by the Transport Office to ascend to the Cangxuan, enter the Yunlan for cultivation, and be granted the status of a collateral branch of the Ye Clan.

"With a path to advancement and hope, they will not rebel," Yu Liang continued. "The Great Peace Temple can incite other clans in the Ruin Realm, but it cannot incite my Ye Clan."

Because those cultivators from the Ruin Realm knew in their hearts that the best outcome of following the Great Peace Temple in rebellion was to only get a share of the spoils from the ruins.

However, by pledging allegiance to the Ye Clan, one can ascend to the Cangxuan with dignity and enter the Yunlan for cultivation.

Ye Jinyu nodded slightly, his face neither blushing nor skipping a beat. His subordinate's flattery was simply a way to strengthen their relationship. This young master is indeed far-sighted.

He hesitated for a moment, then stood up.

"If that is so, then issue an edict to all the tribes in Jiangnan."

"The Ye family and all the ruins under its command are prohibited from swallowing Dao ginseng from this day forward."

Within three days, each family shall submit the register of Dao Ginseng in the Ruin Realm and the list of incomplete Cultivation Method to Yunlan for review. Those who fail to submit within the deadline shall be considered disloyal.

Jia Ru bowed and accepted the order, then asked, "What if there are those who outwardly comply but inwardly disobey?"

Ye Jinyu said calmly, "Kill."

The order sent shockwaves through Jiangnan.

Under the Ye Clan's oppressive power, most Lineage chose to submit.

The rosters flew into Zhong Mountain like snowflakes, and no one dared to step forward at this time.

However, some groups outwardly complied but inwardly defied the rules, secretly transferring and hiding the Daoist Dao Ginseng from the Ruin Realm in an attempt to slip through the cracks.

Zhu Clan was one of them.

So Jia Ru took action.

No sooner had Zhu Clan Dao Ginseng ginseng than the evidence was sent to Zhong Mountain.

That night, the moon was dark and the wind was high.

True Person Fengyi once again carried the Azure Nether Heaven-Suppressing Seal and shattered the Zhu Clan's mountain gate with a single sword strike.

The eight Ye Clan Purple Mansion surrounded the Zhu Clan family from all sides and captured all of their direct descendants.

The two heads of the Purple Mansion Clan attempted to resist, but were beheaded by Grand True Person Fengyi with a single sword strike!

All of the Zhu Clan's direct descendants, more than 1,220 male members, were executed.

"Pei Dao Ginseng, who concocts human medicine, and who swallows the foundations of his own sect, has committed heinous crimes and shall be executed."

This incident sent shivers down Jiangnan's spine once again.

In March, the Jiangnan region was peaceful, resembling a tranquil haven amidst chaos!

Sure enough, after the surgery was performed, the imperial edict was implemented with exceptionally smooth progress.

However, Ye Jinyu knew that prohibiting the Dao Devouring was only the first step; to gather fortune, much more needed to be done!

Currently, Yunlan has her own system for dealing with matters in the Ruin Realm.

But in the Jiangnan region, those wandering Rogue Cultivator and those poor students without roots need more than just a ban; they need a path forward.

A road that leads upwards.

Ye Jinyu also intends to win over the heart of the Cangxuan Rogue Cultivator!

Just then, a report of a rebellion in the Ruin Realm and the emergence of a Heavenly Mandate arrived on Ye Jinyu's desk.

Ye Jinyu was naturally furious!

This is a slap in the face to me, Ye!

Ye Jinyu then carefully examined the report.

The report mainly mentioned a cultivator from the Ruin Realm Lin Dong.

The Ruin Realm he resided in was called Wulang Realm, a medium-sized Ruin Realm under the rule of the Ye Clan.

Lin Dong was from the Wulang Ruin Realm. He was a Qi Refinement cultivator before, but in just three months, he had already reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage!

He also killed many of the Ye Clan's guards! The guards of the Purple Mansion failed to capture him!

Just three months ago, he was mediocre and relied on hard labor in the mines to earn meager amounts of Spirit Stone for cultivation.

He has a childhood sweetheart named Yanran, who is a cultivator with three Spirit Root and whose aptitude is much better than Lin Dong's.

The two once swore an oath under the moon to cultivate together, ascend to Cangxuan together, and enter the Ye Clan's Yunlan for cultivation.

The opportunity came sooner than expected.

The year the Transport Commissioner began, Lin Dong encountered ruins while mining in the Wulang Realm and accidentally obtained a wisp of mid-grade spiritual treasure, [Pure Spirit Bright Wind].

If one cultivates [Pure Spirit Bright Wind], one will not be a cultivator of mixed qi, and will have the opportunity to step into the Foundation Establishment!

Yanran looked pitiful and hoped that Lin Dong would give her this wisp of [Pure Spirit Bright Wind].

Lin Dong then gave it to him.

"Your aptitude is better than mine, which will give you a greater chance of passing the trial!"

Yanran accepted it while crying.

Holding Lin Dong's hand, she swore, "Lin Dong, once I join Yunlan, I will never let you down. In this life, I will only recognize you!"

Subsequently, Yanran stood out in the Ruin Realm assessment, ascended to Cangxuan, and entered Yunlan.

He was even granted the status of a collateral branch of the Ye Clan, embarking on the path to success that countless cultivators in the Ruin Realm dreamed of.

Lin Dong stayed in the Wulang Ruin Realm, continuing to work hard in the Ye Clan's mines to accumulate cultivation resources!

He had no complaints whatsoever; he believed that Yanran was definitely waiting for him in Yunlan.

At first, Yanran would often send pills and Spirit Stone, saying in her letters that she was doing well in Yunlan and that Lin Dong could focus on his cultivation while waiting for him to come to Yunlan.

Every time Lin Dong received a letter, he would read it several times before carefully tucking it under his pillow.

But gradually, the number of believers decreased.

Yanran said that she was busy cultivating in Yunlan and was about to Foundation Establishment, so she had no time to pay attention to the affairs of the Ruin Realm.

Lin Dong didn't take it to heart. Instead, he cultivated even harder, hoping that one day he could ascend to the Cangxuan with his Foundation Establishment cultivation and stand in front of Yanran.

Three years later, Yanran's letters completely stopped.

Lin Dong still did not give up.

He exchanged the wages from the mine for Cultivation Resources, and relying on low-grade spiritual energy, he managed to cultivate to the Qi Refinement Late Stage.

Although his foundation was as fragile as paper, he remained full of hope.

Finally, the opportunity arrived.

Yunlan established its rule over Jiangnan, bestowing grace upon the Ruin Realm.

Those who are loyal and devoted to the Ruin Realm under Yunlan's rule, who have worked diligently for more than twenty years and possess cultivation talent, are granted special permission to ascend to Cangxuan and enter Yunlan for cultivation.

This is a favor from the young master of the Ye Clan; the intention was to bestow a blessing!

Lin Dong naturally heard this news.

He was overjoyed, thinking he had finally gotten the chance to reunite with Yanran.

He spent all his remaining savings and even took out his family's ancient jade to bribe the Ye Clan cultivator.

The Ye Clan cultivators saw that he met the requirements, was loyal, and hardworking, so they reported him and granted him permission to ascend to Cangxuan.

But he ultimately did not ascend to the Yunlan.

Because Yanran returned the day before he was supposed to leave.

She returned to the Wulang Ruin Realm as an envoy from the upper realm.

With his Foundation Establishment cultivation, dressed in the blue robes of a collateral disciple of the Cloud Mist Ye Clan, he exuded a noble and elegant air, completely different from his former self.

Her name was being sung throughout the entire Wulang Ruin Realm.

The girl who used to travel around is now an envoy of the Cloud Mist Ye Clan and a member of the Cangxuan Clan.

Upon hearing the news, Lin Dong searched all the way to find her. He waited outside the Transport Commissioner Commissioner's Mansion for three days and three nights before finally seeing Yanran.

Lin Dong excitedly stepped forward.

Yanran stopped in her tracks.

She looked at the dusty, travel-worn man before her, whose cultivation was only at the Qi Refinement Late Stage, and her eyes flickered for a moment before returning to calm.

"It's you." Her voice was very faint, as if she were speaking to a stranger.

Lin Dong's smile froze.

"Yanran, it's me, Lin Dong." His voice was a little hoarse. "I'm about to ascend to Cangxuan and can enter Yunlan to cultivate."

We can finally be together.

Yanran remained silent for a moment.

"Lin Dong," she spoke, her tone calm to the point of indifference, "Do you know what the difference is between us now?"

Lin Dong was stunned.

"I am already a collateral disciple of the Ye Clan, a person of Cangxuan, and Foundation Establishment cultivator, as well as an envoy sent to the Ruin Realm," Yanran said, enunciating each word clearly.

"And you, a person from the Ruin Realm, are only at the Qi Refinement Late Stage, and your cultivation is still based on mixed Qi."

"Do you know what this means? Cangxuan's cultivation in one day is equivalent to that of the Ruin Realm in a year."

My Dao Path is still long, and you... there is already an insurmountable chasm between us.

The Ruin Realm is the Ruin Realm, Cangxuan is Cangxuan; they are distinct and cannot be placed side by side.

She paused, then took out a jade bottle and a bag of Spirit Stone from her Storage Bag and placed them in front of Lin Dong.

"These pills and Spirit Stone are my way of repaying you for the favors we did back then. From now on, there's no need for any further contact."

After saying that, she turned and left.

Lin Dong stood there, looking at the jade bottle on the ground, and suddenly felt incredibly ironic.

When he gave Qingfeng Lingming to her back then, she did not refuse.

When she made her vow, he hesitated.

Looking back now, that vow was nothing more than a joke made in my youth.

Her heart had already remained in Yunlan, in Cangxuan, and on that unseen chasm.

Then.

Lin Dong has gone mad.

Then, Lin Dong killed Yanran, rebelled against the Ruin Realm, and disappeared without a trace!

The report also included a line of smaller print: Lin Dong is suspected of having left the Ruin Realm and ascended to the Cangxuan!

Ye Jinyu closed the report on the table, a hint of panic in her eyes.

"Xu Feng!"

"Young Master." Xu Feng's figure appeared.

"Send more men. We must find Lin Dong and kill him on the spot! Don't give him any chance!"

"And all personnel within the Wulang Ruin Realm must be thoroughly investigated!"

Xu Feng didn't understand, but he still went to do it.