Chapter 174: Chapter 170: Shen Miao’s Foundation Establishment, the New Royal Court Official of the Han Kingdom
Shen Miao had already promised the Yu Guardian Envoy that he would never leak the contents of their conversation.
Therefore, when faced with his Grandmaster’s question, he gave a bitter smile and said, "Garrisoning the Mortal World offers more Contribution Points. Maybe by next year, I’ll have accumulated enough Sect Contribution for the Sect to bestow a Foundation Establishment Pill upon me."
Ma Chongyu’s expression dimmed, but he quickly forced a smile. "Your Foundation Establishment Pill has nothing to do with Sect Contribution... Forget it. In short, you don’t need to worry, nor do you need to go suffer in the Mortal World. After a while, the Sect will naturally grant you a Foundation Establishment Pill."
Ma Chongyu couldn’t say it outright, but he figured that since the Sect’s misunderstanding of Qiu Yuanqing had been resolved, the higher-ups would no longer deliberately withhold Shen Miao’s Foundation Establishment Pill. Furthermore, they were hoping Shen Miao would leave the Inheritance of the *Shangqing Purple Qi Divine Pill Creation Technique* in the Sect.
So, when it came to the Foundation Establishment Pill, Shen Miao had nothing to worry about.
In fact, as long as Shen Miao didn’t ask them to pluck the Sun, Moon, and Stars from the sky, the Sect’s upper echelons would do their best to satisfy his every need.
Ma Chongyu even knew that Sect Leader Jin was already considering assigning a wife to Shen Miao.
But from Shen Miao’s perspective, having been held back for several years, he no longer had the same unconditional trust in the Sect that he once did.
Shen Miao felt that the Sect might indeed grant him a Foundation Establishment Pill in the near future...
But a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
The terms offered by the Yu Guardian Envoy weren’t harsh; he was even willing to hand over the Foundation Establishment Pill in advance. Shen Miao had no reason to refuse.
The thought of the Foundation Establishment Pill in his Storage Treasure Pouch—plump, fragrant, brimming with potent medicinal energy, and visually perfect, nestled within a Purple Crystal Jade Box—made Shen Miao’s heart race.
’Foundation Establishment...’
’The beginning of long life, the start of the Great Dao!’
Shen Miao said respectfully, "Grandmaster, regarding the matter of going to the Mortal World, this disciple’s mind is made up."
Ma Chongyu sighed. "So be it. Cultivation requires one to follow their heart’s intent, so I will not stop you. However, if you can’t get used to life in that austere place, send me a message immediately so I can recall you. Don’t be stubborn and push through it, and don’t feel embarrassed. Understand?"
Shen Miao was touched. He lowered his head and said, "This disciple understands. But before I take up my post, there are a few things I’m curious about. I wonder if Grandmaster could enlighten me?"
Ma Chongyu chuckled and stroked his beard. "Your master once said: A teacher’s purpose is to pass on the Dao, impart knowledge, and resolve confusion. Since I am your Grandmaster, enlightening you is part of my duty. Go on, ask."
"This disciple wishes to ask, why must we garrison the Mortal Realms? Why is it us, and not the Second or Third-class Sects?"
"That... is a long story..."
* * *
After Shen Miao left, Ma Chongyu’s smile vanished.
’Why did that Guardian Envoy from the Demon Blood Sect beat around the bush asking about these things? It’s impossible that the Demon Blood Sect has no records of this. How bizarre! It’s not like their Demon Blood Sect cultivates Human Dao Fortune.’
’He’s acting strangely, breaking convention to insist on a long-term post at our Sect. Could it be he wants to study Human Dao Fortune up close?’
He pondered for a long time but remained puzzled. He could only decide to keep a close eye on the situation and observe for now.
* * *
Before taking up his post, Shen Miao naturally had to visit Du Youqian first.
He relayed the details he had learned from Ma Chongyu and, in return, received the remaining parts of the *Shangqing Purple Qi Divine Pill Creation Technique* from Du Youqian.
With all matters settled, Du Youqian smiled. "I see that your body and mind are in peak condition. Why not take this opportunity to advance to Foundation Establishment before you go to garrison the Mortal World? If you go to the Mortal World first, the Spiritual Qi there is scarce—barely enough for daily use. Your Magical Power would be in a constant state of depletion, which is extremely taxing on a Cultivator. If you garrison for a few years, you’ll have to spend even more time reconditioning your body and mind upon your return."
Shen Miao was first confused, then it dawned on him.
He said gratefully, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior!"
Although he had volunteered to garrison the Mortal World, Foundation Establishment was a major event.
For a Cultivator, nothing was more important than their own path on the Dao.
Of course, the Sect would say that the Sect’s interests are paramount—but anyone who truly believed that was a fool.
If Shen Miao completed his Foundation Establishment before going to the Mortal World, no one in the Sect would rush him.
Even though some of the higher-ups had secretly suppressed him before.
But as soon as he reached Foundation Establishment, he would immediately join the ranks of the Sect’s upper echelon. He would be "one of them" then, and who would still give him trouble?
Shen Miao was already clever and understood immediately. He at once reported to the Sect Leader, stating that he felt the time for his Foundation Establishment had arrived and that he needed to postpone his assignment to the Mortal World.
Sect Leader Jin, naturally, had no objections.
In fact, even at the height of their tacit agreement to suppress Shen Miao, no one had ever suggested sending him to the Mortal World.
For such a promising talent, suppressing him for a few years to teach him his place and make him compliant, while also letting the group who had to tighten their belts because of Qiu Yuanqing vent their frustrations, was enough.
Sending him to the Mortal World would be the harshest punishment. There was no need to go that far.
Shen Miao possessed Middle Grade Gold-Water Dual Spirit Roots and had reached Qi Cultivation Perfection in his thirties. Within the Zhongxuan Sect, he was considered a key talent to be nurtured.
If it weren’t for Shen Miao being Qiu Yuanqing’s disciple, someone would have likely already proposed him for consideration as a True Successor Candidate.
And now that Sect Leader Jin knew Shen Miao might bring the *Shangqing Purple Qi Divine Pill Creation Technique* back to the Sect, he was already considering making Shen Miao a True Inheritor in a year or two.
This time, when Shen Miao volunteered to go to the Mortal World, Sect Leader Jin knew Du Youqian was pulling the strings and didn’t actually want Shen Miao to go.
But there was nothing he could do about it.
If Shen Miao succeeded in his Foundation Establishment and then logically used the excuse that "it is inconvenient for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to be stationed in the Mortal World" to get out of the assignment, Sect Leader Jin and the other higher-ups would be more than happy to go along with it.
Meanwhile, Shen Miao began his seclusion, entering the hundred-day process of Foundation Establishment.
Judging from the steady aura emanating from his location, everything was proceeding smoothly.
Du Youqian performed a divination for him; there should be no risks with this Foundation Establishment attempt.
Over the next few days, Du Youqian contemplated the information Shen Miao had brought him.
Du Youqian had, of course, searched for relevant ancient texts and predecessors’ notes within the Holy Blood Sect before.
He was not entirely ignorant about this mysterious power.
But the more he read, the more confused he became.
The various records contained many self-contradictory points.
Du Youqian mused that the predecessors of the Holy Blood Sect probably hadn’t valued this power, so their records of it were cursory at best.
Some called it the "fortune of the nation," others called it "Human Dao Fortune," and still others called it the "Power of Human Dao," and so on.
The understanding of this power was, however, generally consistent: it was a force generated in places where mortals gathered, a product of their collective will, positive emotions, worship, and gratitude.
This power was not suitable for mainstream Cultivation Techniques, nor could it assist in Cultivation.
However, some Artifact Refining Masters and Alchemy Masters would use special methods to extract this power and refine it into Elixirs and Spiritual Artifacts.
There were also some Cultivators with extremely poor Spirit Roots who would use this power to practice special Cultivation Techniques.
As for what Elder Tao had mentioned long ago—that "Major Sects are unwilling to get entangled with the fortune of the nation, while Minor Sects can use it to sustain their own sect’s fortune"—neither the texts within the Holy Blood Sect nor the information Ma Chongyu relayed through Shen Miao supported this claim.
They believed that whether it was called the fortune of the nation or Human Dao Fortune, this power was irrelevant to Cultivators.
The greatest effect of this power was to ensure the nation’s peace and the people’s prosperity, favorable weather, the continuation of the Human Race’s bloodline, and the suppression of evil beings.
’What would a Cultivator do with such a power?’
’Can it bless one’s Dao Companions into giving birth to a child with a Spirit Root?’
’It doesn’t have that function.’
Every Immortal Sect hidden behind a Mortal Dynasty possessed a Treasure bestowed by their Upper Sect.
That Treasure had no offensive capabilities; it could only be used to contain Human Dao Fortune.
And when the contained Human Dao Fortune was about to overflow, it needed to be processed further.
Regardless of how other Sects handled it, the Zhongxuan Sect, at least, handed it over to the Lingxiao Sword Pavilion.
As for how the Lingxiao Sword Pavilion processed that Human Dao Fortune, the Zhongxuan Sect never asked.
And even if they did, they wouldn’t get an answer.
Ma Chongyu privately guessed that at least a portion of that Human Dao Fortune was fed back into the Han Kingdom.
This made the Han Kingdom’s national fortune prosper, and its people outstanding.
Moreover, in the process of being fed back, the Human Dao Fortune must have been tinged with the aura of the Lingxiao Sword Pavilion.
Otherwise, why were the people of the Han Kingdom so aggressive, ready to draw their swords and cut someone down for a single glare on the street?
It must be the influence of those Sword Madmen from the Lingxiao Sword Pavilion.
According to what the Great Compassion Temple told Shen Miao, if anyone in this world understood Human Dao Fortune most thoroughly, it would be the monks of the Great Compassion Temple.
The people of the Great Compassion Temple called that power "Incense and Candle Power," and the temple possessed various Cultivation Techniques, Secret Techniques, and methods for refining Magical Artifacts and Elixirs that required it.
Regarding what Ma Chongyu had said and what was recorded in the Holy Blood Sect...
Du Youqian couldn’t completely disbelieve it, but he couldn’t completely believe it either.
He would visit the Great Compassion Temple in the future.
For now, however, he still planned to take a trip through the Mortal World to witness certain things and processes with his own eyes.
But he didn’t plan on waiting for Shen Miao anymore.
Shen Miao’s Foundation Establishment would surely succeed, so he might as well let the guy continue his Cultivation in the Sect.
As for taking up a post in a Mortal Dynasty, anyone could do it. There was no need to disrupt the Cultivation of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
Du Youqian thought for a moment and finally made his decision. ’It’ll be him.’
’That guy’s head is filled with nothing but big chests, big asses, and all sorts of food, drink, and entertainment anyway.’
’He has no mind for proper Cultivation.’
’So many years have passed, and he’s still in the Qi Cultivation Late Stage, with no hope of Foundation Establishment.’
’Might as well send him to a Mortal Dynasty to serve as a Royal Court Official. Let him properly experience the prosperity of the Human World, with all its blooming flowers. At least then his trip to the Human World won’t have been in vain.’
’Little Fatty Guo Mingsheng, it’s you!’
’This is your Martial Uncle looking out for you. No need to thank me.’
* * *
Guo Mingsheng rolled his eyes. ’Oh, I can’t thank you enough, little bro from the Demon Blood Sect.’
’I was in my cave residence, eating and drinking my fill, diligently tending to my dozens of concubines every day, living a happy and Carefree life!’
’And now, with a single word, you’re sending me off to garrison the Mortal World?’
’In that place devoid of Spiritual Qi, I wouldn’t even dare to use any Magic.’
’Look at this plump figure of mine! When I get to the Mortal World, won’t I die from the summer heat?’
Guo Mingsheng was a hundred percent unwilling.
But he couldn’t win against a stronger power. The Guardian Envoy of the Demon Blood Sect had personally named him; he had to go whether he wanted to or not.
Right now, Guo Mingsheng just wanted to figure out which bastard had been whispering poison in the Guardian Envoy’s ear, mentioning his name and getting him exiled to that miserable place.
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