In Great Wei, there were twenty-eight provinces. The governors and magistrates of each region were almost all cultivators from the Confucian Sect.
Otherwise, not to mention suppressing the local immortal sects, they wouldn't even be able to control their own provincial armies. Once a rebellion broke out, they would become nothing more than useless decorations.
Among them, the larger and more prosperous provinces usually had governors whose cultivation reached the Third Grade of the Vastness Realm.
However, this "Third Grade" was often inflated, not achieved through genuine cultivation.
Officials appointed to these key provinces began at Fourth Grade, but if they achieved notable administrative success within three to five years, they could be promoted to a "False Third Grade."
The so-called Vastness Realm was known in ancient Zhou times as the "Incense Realm."
It meant that upon reaching this level, one became akin to a living deity, capable of forging a golden body, building temples, and gathering the power of incense and faith. Those who worshiped such a person could invoke his name and instantly be sensed, no matter the distance.
But this cause and effect worked both ways. If a person could gather enough of the people's faith and devotion, then even without any cultivation, they could ascend directly into the "Incense Realm."
That was what was called a False Third Grade.
For such cultivation, once the power of faith was lost, the person would immediately fall back into mortality.
And this so-called faith power was now referred to as:
"National Fortune."
That was why an emperor blessed by National Fortune, even if he had no cultivation, should still be regarded as at least a Third Grade cultivator.
The cooperation between the Imperial Court and the Confucian Sect was built precisely upon this mechanism of mutual benefit.
For that reason, the twenty-eight provinces did not have permanent officials in charge; instead, the Imperial Court sent true Third Grade cultivators on periodic inspections, to prevent anyone from accumulating too much faith power and advancing beyond the Third Grade.
And Lin Zaisi, the governor of Dragon Hollow Prefecture, was one who had ascended through this very system, a False Third Grade cultivator.
He was also the most crucial ally for Gu Yuandao on this mission.
To reach and control the dragon vein beneath Dragon Hollow Lake, the Sword Pavilion first had to be forced to compromise, and only then could mediation proceed through their trust.
Originally, that mediation was to have been carried out by Lin Zaisi.
Ascending through faith into a False Third Grade was no easy feat, it was proof that he had genuinely served the people and not simply occupied his position in idleness.
As governor of Dragon Hollow Prefecture, Lin Zaisi also maintained cordial relations with the Sword Pavilion.
Thus, having him act as intermediary was the best option.
However, since Emperor Yong'an suddenly decreed that Gu Yuandao and Gu Fangchen would determine the heir to the Northern Garrison Prince's seat through the "Seven Sects Rebellion," the task naturally fell to Gu Yuandao.
After all, no matter how close the relation, none was closer than a grandson or nephew.
Sending Gu Yuandao would certainly earn greater trust from the Sword Pavilion.
Lin Zaisi thought so too.
Moreover, he admired Gu Yuandao and was eager to meet this outstanding junior of his sect.
Although his reputation might suffer and his cultivation regress as a result, such sacrifice was necessary for the grand cause of Heaven's Equal Through Eternity.
"This Gu Fangchen, still incorrigible. He's once again bullying men and women in the Pleasure Quarters."
Lin Zaisi stood at his desk, frowning as he read the intelligence report before him.
"A scourge like that should've been executed long ago. The Northern Garrison Prince raising him to adulthood is already an act of immense mercy, yet he still seeks to usurp his rightful place. Truly an ungrateful wretch."
In his eyes, his junior's situation was pitiful indeed.
Switched at birth, yet through his own hard work, Gu Yuandao had reached such heights. Having finally been reunited with his father, now that false son still dared to covet the heir's title.
"Still, once the Seven Sects are subdued, the heirship will naturally return to my junior."
Lin Zaisi sneered, stroking his beard.
"His Majesty likely devised this trial merely to make it official, to grant my junior an achievement and put that brat Gu Fangchen in his place."
To Lin Zaisi, the outcome of the "Seven Sects Rebellion" was a foregone conclusion.
It was simply a gilding process for his junior, a mission to glorify him.
What could that wastrel possibly do?
For the Sword Pavilion, there were only two possible ways to resolve the sects' coercion.
Either allow a third party to intervene and prove that the "Demonic Sword" did not exist or was harmless.
Or, if they failed to do so, they would have to let the Confucians enter and investigate.
Otherwise, they would need to persuade or overpower the Seven Sects.
With the Dragon and Serpent Rising from the Land formation active and without Ning Songjun, the Sword Pavilion had lost its power to suppress the sects.
And Gu Fangchen, could he really strut into the brothels and bawdy houses he frequented and command the Seven Immortal Sects to leave?
The very thought of that scene made Lin Zaisi laugh aloud.
But just as the corners of his mouth lifted and he set the report aside, he suddenly saw a delicate, fair-skinned girl standing before him.
The girl was gazing curiously at the papers in his hand, looking fragile and innocent.
Lin Zaisi instinctively frowned and asked,
"Little girl, who are you? How did you get in here..."
His words stopped abruptly as realization dawned, this was the governor's manor.
No one could have wandered here by accident.
He immediately tried to activate his spiritual power, but found himself unable to move.
The girl smiled softly, clasping her hands behind her back as she took a few light steps toward him.
"My name is Lü Fuyi," she said gently. "But you can call me Yi'er."
Lü Fuyi?
Lin Zaisi stiffened. Of all the mighty names that flashed through his mind, none matched this one.
Yi'er glanced at the report in his hand.
"What are you reading?"
Lin Zaisi replied against his will,
"I'm reading that Gu Fangchen has arrived..."
Yi'er nodded with a smile.
"So, Gu Fangchen has arrived, and that made you smile. So you are on the same side."
No...
Lin Zaisi tried to protest, but the girl had already raised her hand and patted him lightly on the head.
A muffled sound burst through the air.
"Bang!"
Lin Zaisi exploded into a cloud of blood, splattering across the entire study.
Yi'er carelessly traced her finger through the blood on the desk, leaving behind the mark of a single "one."
She giggled, her laughter eerie and lilting.
"As expected, they're all idiots... they believe whatever I say."
Standing in the crimson-stained study, the girl pressed her palms to her cheeks, biting her lip as a blush crept across her pale face.
"But he was handsome... to measure the world through one's own karma, how fascinating, how fun."
She twirled in place happily.
"Idiot, live a little longer before the Great Furnace shatters and the Fire of the Dao burns out..."
As she spoke, her once-clear eyes darkened into fathomless black.
Lü Fuyi opened her eyes again, frowning in confusion at the carnage before her.
She raised her hand, her face twisting in displeasure.
"To think that after losing the Wheel of the Sea of Calamity, my control over the power of Annihilation has weakened this much..."
Her expression turned grim. She clenched her teeth and flung out her hand violently.
"Damn you, Gu Fangchen! Once I finish killing these Confucian dogs, I'll tear you limb from limb!"
...
No one knew how much time had passed.
Gu Yuandao pushed open the door and said,
"Senior Brother Lin, I require your assistance, "
The stench of blood assaulted him.
With a wet sound, a chunk of flesh dropped from the doorframe.
Gu Yuandao froze mid-step, his face turning pale as he stared at the hellish scene before him. Behind him, the servants began screaming in terror.