https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-739-The-Grand-Examination-Begins-Covert-Operations/12852805/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-741-Evading-Trouble-Exploring-the-Lower-Realms/12852808/
Chapter 740: The Heavenly Dao Takes the Divine Edict, Turmoil Arises Again
Chapter 740: The Heavenly Dao Takes the Divine Edict, Turmoil Arises Again
The grand divine examination concluded quickly, with no incidents of cheating, leveraging connections to oppress others, or on-the-spot threats.
This was the Sage's Daoist Academy, and the Heavenly Dao was the examiner. Who would be so foolish as to cause trouble here?
The strict hierarchy, reinforced by power, instilled a sense of awe in every cultivator. Those who did not understand this generally met a bad end.
The three sects indeed valued their disciples, but if a disciple acted without regard for the consequences, it was a different matter.
"Have you finished grading the exams?" Qin Muye asked.
"I have finished. The rankings will be announced, and the subsequent matters will require the Sage Xuanjun's attention," the Heavenly Dao's voice replied.
"The divine edicts are already prepared. Please take them with you," Qin Muye said, knowing full well what the Heavenly Dao meant. The Heavenly Dao was here to collect the divine edicts, and there was no other reason for the visit.
For the Heavenly Dao, grading the exams was no difficult task; it was a matter of a moment.
"Since that is the case, I will take them. It saves me another trip, as I have many affairs to attend to," the Heavenly Dao said, taking the divine edicts and leaving immediately.
As for those who had come to participate in the divine examination, they first saw the Heavenly Dao off and then bid farewell to Qin Muye before departing.
"Tch, he really knows how to put on a show," Qin Muye remarked, impressed.
At first glance, the Heavenly Dao seemed to have no reaction, but who knew what ulterior motives He might be harboring?
Qin Muye could sense that the Heavenly Dao had indeed undergone some changes, such as coming to collect the divine edicts personally.
First, it was not appropriate for the Heavenly Dao to collect the divine edicts Himself. It would be beneath His dignity, and He had no subordinates to handle such tasks. Normally, the high-ranking officials of the three sects would come to collect the edicts after a period of time and distribute them accordingly.
The reason for the delay was to allow the disciples of the three sects to return and report, then go through a formal process. This step was essential, given that Qin Muye was a 9th-rank Sage, the highest in the Xuanzhen World.
However, the Heavenly Dao did not follow the usual procedure and took the divine edicts directly upon leaving. This meant that the distribution of the divine edicts was now under His control.
There was no need to worry about the Heavenly Dao using this opportunity to decipher the divine system. The divine edicts were merely execution endpoints, and even if He deciphered them, it would not be a significant issue. The entire divine system was genuine, except for the fact that Qin Muye held a 1% share, which was the most critical point.
Even if the Heavenly Dao suspected that there might be something amiss with the divine system, He was not concerned because He held the largest share.
Moreover, He had no choice but to comply. Qin Muye's 9th-rank strength meant that He must be cultivated as an ally rather than an adversary. If things came to a confrontation, the Xuanzhen World would not be able to withstand the conflict.
"Given the current situation, it seems He is preparing to seize power."
The Heavenly Dao's plan was simple: to use the divine system to establish a force on par with the three sects, a force that would be under His control.
Previously, when Qin Muye had sown discord, he had openly and subtly suggested that the Heavenly Dao lacked the prestige of the three sects, and that the world only knew of the three sects of the upper realm, not the Heavenly Dao.
This directly diminished His influence, and the constant encroachment on His authority by the leaders of the three sects prompted Him to take action.
"Personified divine rules are flawed precisely in this way," Qin Muye mused. He did not fully understand why the Heavenly Dao needed self-awareness. He valued deities like the Gendaya Mother Goddess, who, though lacking self-awareness, would not act out of personal interest and cause harm.
These two types of harm were different. The former acted with good intentions, even if they might not be correct, while the latter's personal interests were often incomprehensible.
"However, if the Heavenly Dao lacked self-awareness, I might not have succeeded."
Qin Muye smiled. If he had used such tactics against the Gendaya Mother Goddess, it would have been futile, but the Heavenly Dao of the Xuanzhen World was vulnerable to this strategy.
"Next, let the Heavenly Dao and the three sects get entangled in their disputes and waste their energy." Qin Muye's goal had been achieved, and he had no intention of getting involved further. If he did, it would raise suspicions, so he would simply observe from the sidelines.
This issue would not be easily resolved. In the eyes of the leaders of the three sects, any divine forces formed in the Heavenly Court, the Underworld, or the human realm belonged to their three sects. Initially, they were most concerned about Qin Muye using the divine system to leverage resources, but they never imagined that he would forgo such a significant benefit to empower the Heavenly Dao.
Qin Muye didn't intend to compete with them, but the Heavenly Dao would. If the divine system became a tool in the Heavenly Dao's hands, the three sects would certainly be troubled.
If Qin Muye were to compete, it would lack legitimacy and justification, but it was different for the Heavenly Dao. The entire divine system was built upon Him, and it wouldn't be considered competition. If the future examination system were to be reformed into a bureaucratic mechanism, the three sects would be in a bind.
There would be many independent cultivators and disgruntled disciples from the sects who would join His ranks, forming a new force.
The three sects were indeed large and wealthy, but that didn't mean everyone within them was. Internal oppression and persecution were not uncommon.
Wherever there were people, there were relationships and grudges.
Xuanzhen World wasn't a myth from Qin Muye's past life. Cultivation was about virtue, but here it was more akin to a black society's cultivation, with resource conflicts being transferred to the colonial worlds. This gave the originally bloody cultivation world a veneer of order, and the methods of struggle became more subtle.
One only had to look at the prodigies who ascended from the lower realms, fighting for resources, spilling rivers of blood.
Huang Bi was a typical example. Ignoring the fact that he was blinded by smooth sailing, killing and plundering in the lower realms was a common occurrence.
Therefore, if the Heavenly Dao truly gained control over the divine system, many disciples of the three sects would certainly gravitate towards Him.
"However, making changes won't be easy," Qin Muye smiled. This would force the Heavenly Dao to make a decision.
The fairness of the divine examination was crucial. Qin Muye proposed the divine examination to select officials based on talent, but if the entire divine system were to become a tool of power, corruption was inevitable.
Those with connections but no talent, how could they ensure good governance? The performance of deities was the enhancement of the entire Xuanzhen World, so they would need to sacrifice their own strength to support their factions.
There was no such thing as a perfect solution. If the Heavenly Dao lacked self-awareness and was just a rule, He wouldn't have to worry so much, but unfortunately, He wasn't.
No matter what the Heavenly Dao did, the true beneficiary would be Qin Muye. It was just a matter of how to win.
For the leaders of the three sects and the Heavenly Dao, the benefits of the divine system were a win, but for Qin Muye, it wasn't really a benefit. The true benefit was completing the task and resolving the remaining karma, allowing him to escape. Any cost paid during this period was valuable.
"Next, it shouldn't be my concern anymore. The subsequent establishment of the divine system will take some time."
If the Heavenly Dao hadn't obtained the divine edicts, the disciples of the three sects would have taken office in a few days, but now that the edicts were in the Heavenly Dao's hands, it was a different matter.
Qin Muye couldn't predict the specifics, as the Heavenly Dao was also a 9th-rank being, and an old one at that.
Even if He seemed to have been suppressed by the leaders of the three sects in recent years, it was because they were numerous. Qin Muye's success in inciting Him wasn't due to his persuasive words but because the Heavenly Dao wanted to turn the tide. Qin Muye merely provided a small opening and a knife.
"Find an opportunity to say I'm going into seclusion. That reason is too far-fetched; it would be awkward if they discovered I went to the colonial world."
"Better to say I'm going to gather inspiration. Being straightforward will avoid raising too much suspicion."
With the divine system issue resolved, Qin Muye planned to visit Huang Bi's hometown to investigate the true nature of the black single eye.
As for when the divine system would officially take the stage in Xuanzhen World, he wasn't worried. At least a month, at most a year, the Heavenly Dao wouldn't drag it out for centuries. After all, the benefits were already divided, and every day of delay meant a day of lost profit.
Qin Muye didn't care, but the leaders of the three sects and the Heavenly Dao certainly did.
"This is also a good opportunity to avoid the subsequent disputes." The Heavenly Dao's actions were indeed underhanded, so the leaders of the three sects would likely drag Qin Muye along to confront the Heavenly Dao. Qin Muye didn't want to go, and this reason would give him a chance to relax.
(End of Chapter)
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