Chapter 649

Chapter 649: The Power of the Heart

"Your humble servant, Di Wuyou, pays his respects to Your Majesty."

Dao King finally arrived, his gaze sweeping over Lu Chengfeng, a strange light flickering in his eyes.

"Wuyou, Lord Lu, acting on the Master’s orders, intends to nationalize all the mineral veins and spiritual veins within the kingdom. He is currently discussing strategies with me," Yi Tianxing said with a smile. "Do you have any thoughts?"

"This matter should indeed be undertaken."

Dao King gave a light laugh. "Although divine stones are the common currency of the Hongmeng Dao Realm, Tianxia has established itself as a regional power and continues to expand. At the very least, we must formulate monetary policies, unify values, and rally the people’s hearts."

"That is a very sound point."

Lu Chengfeng nodded. "However, my current dilemma with His Majesty concerns the seventy-two immortal domains. They are filled with countless sects. If we press them too hard, it might provoke a rebellion."

"Tianxia would descend into chaos then."

Dao King frowned, solemnly saying, "Your Majesty, Lord Lu, any reform is bound to bring turmoil. Those sect forces represent decay; their day of reckoning will come, sooner or later."

"Since that’s the case, why not strike first?"

"Moreover… we’ve already conducted one screening."

Lu Chengfeng looked puzzled.

"The implementation of the Path of Offerings system in Tianxia affected the interests of many factions," Dao King said meaningfully. "Those who dared to resist were already wiped out when Tianxia advanced its campaign."

"Now, the sects remaining within the seventy-two immortal domains are mostly those who sought petty gains and feared death."

"We only need to wield the stick and carrot—suppress some while drawing others to our side."

"That makes sense."

Delight spread across Lu Chengfeng’s face.

There was wisdom behind the Master’s high regard for this man.

In the early days of Tianxia, Dao King, possessing only the cultivation level of a Sovereign of the World, held directorship over two ministries. This had stirred resentment in many. But now, there were no more dissenters.

Time had proven all.

"I entrust this matter to you," Yi Tianxing said with a laugh. "I will report to the Master and request he assign a Dao Ancestor to assist you, so this affair can be resolved swiftly."

"As you command."

A few days later.

Yu Wuxia and Qin Yi arrived at the imperial palace.

"Greetings, esteemed seniors."

Lu Chengfeng and Dao King clasped their hands in salute.

"Gentlemen need not stand on ceremony," Yu Wuxia said. "We all serve the Master; we are colleagues. The address of senior is unnecessary."

"Yes."

Dao King nodded. "Then, Honorable Qin, Honorable Wuxia, may I trouble you to proceed ahead? We shall meet in the Yinghuo Immortal Domain. Lord Lu and I will join you shortly."

"No problem," Qin Yi smiled. Together with Yu Wuxia, he flew towards the Yinghuo Immortal Domain.

"Old brother, why aren’t you going with them?" Lu Chengfeng asked in surprise.

"I’m still missing one thing."

Dao King smiled slightly.

Lu Chengfeng grew even more puzzled.

"The imperial decree."

Dao King’s eyes stirred, and he said to Lu Chengfeng, "Brother Lu, wait a moment, I’ll be right back."

Lu Chengfeng comprehended.

His thoughts were still confined to the past, without transformation.

It must be known that, with the imperial decree in hand, Dao King’s every action had legitimacy.

After a stick of incense, an edict was issued from the imperial palace.

"In Yinghuo Immortal Domain, the Pristine Pure Yang Sect, Divine Fire Cult, Primordial Desolate Temple… conspired with rebels, plotting rebellion. Di Wuyou is specially dispatched as imperial envoy to suppress the rebels."

Altogether sixty-eight sects.

"Wuyou, the Master instructed to try to avoid causing too much slaughter."

"Your subject understands."

Dao King and Lu Chengfeng led the troops to set off.

Numerous Starships ascended from the Eternal Emperor City and advanced towards Yinghuo Immortal Domain.

Aboard the Starship, the two men stood on the bow, the cold wind causing their clothes to flutter.

"Brother Wuyou, as one of the creators of the Path of Offerings system, you’ve gained great benefits." Lu Chengfeng smiled and asked curiously, "In just over a year, you advanced from the World Master Realm to Dao Lord, unmatched in the world."

"Is this system truly that miraculous?"

"The Path of Offerings system gathers the fortunes of heaven and earth and merit from all beings, closely linked to the cultivator’s conduct." Dao King smiled faintly.

"But it most severely tests the Dao heart."

"Dao heart?"

Lu Chengfeng’s heart stirred.

This should be the key point.

Boom!

Suddenly, Dao King activated his magic power. In an instant, his Purple Palace opened, revealing only one layer of Great Dao World, purely constructed from fortunes and merit.

A vast golden primordial spirit sat in lotus position.

Merit from all beings streamed like ribbons, winding around the primordial spirit.

That golden layer seemed more like concentrated fortunes.

As the Great Dao World opened, countless sounds of worship could be heard.

Lu Chengfeng could see countless human figures.

They bowed and worshipped Dao King. Their devout faith transformed into merit, constantly enhancing Dao King’s cultivation.

In other words, Dao King had been cultivating.

"It’s truly marvelous."

Lu Chengfeng exclaimed.

He had been to the immortal court and studied its system, but the immortal court’s fortune cultivation method was very chaotic and unstructured, unlike Tianxia, which had a strict hierarchy.

"These sounds of worship are incredibly complex, and the power of merit is also laden with countless distracting thoughts," Dao King said solemnly, "Without a Dao heart as steadfast as a boulder, one would surely be swayed by the intentions of all living beings."

"At that point, multiple personalities might split off, turning one utterly mad."

"Oh, I see."

Lu Chengfeng seemed enlightened.

"Brother Lu, you could try to listen to the thoughts of all living beings."

"Go ahead and try."

Lu Chengfeng was eager to give it a try.

Whoosh!

With a mere thought from Dao King, the golden primordial spirit opened its eyes and suddenly pointed a finger toward Lu Chengfeng’s forehead.

Buzz!

As the primordial spirit touched Lu Chengfeng’s body, in an instant, endless sounds of worship flooded overwhelmingly into Lu Chengfeng’s primordial spirit.

Simultaneously, vivid images surfaced in Lu Chengfeng’s mind.

He clearly "saw" all living beings.

"Ah!"

Lu Chengfeng cried out in agony, his primordial spirit nearly tearing apart as countless faces flashed through his mind, turning his eyes instantly blood red.

Seeing this, Dao King activated the Wuyou Dao Canon and swiftly withdrew the power of merit.

After a long while, Lu Chengfeng finally recovered.

Sweat pouring down his forehead, he collapsed limply on the ground, "This is truly not something an ordinary person dares to touch."

"No."

Dao King shook his head, "It’s because your Dao heart isn’t firm enough."

"When cultivating the Path of Offerings system, if one has an unshakable Dao heart, they gain never-ending power."

"My lifespan is less than a thousand years, so in terms of Dao heart, I naturally can’t compare to you all."

Lu Chengfeng said with a bitter smile.

"The Dao heart has no connection to age."

Dao King murmured.

"From the day I killed Withered Wood, I severed my bonds with the mortal world and devoted my heart solely to seeking the Dao."

Lu Chengfeng didn’t understand, and he asked again, "If, as you said, the Path of Offerings system is so profound, couldn’t one rely on this path to advance to Dao Ancestor?"

"Dao Ancestor?"

Dao King smiled faintly but did not answer Lu Chengfeng.

While exploring the Path of Offerings system, he had uncovered yet another form of power.

The power of the heart.

This was a force every human possessed.

Theoretically, the heart’s power held limitless potential, growing boundlessly large.

However.

Without foundation in reality, it remained but a castle in the air.

Dao King was still in the experimental phase.

"May this humble servant report to the two envoys—we’ve reached Yinghuo Immortal Domain."

A Dao Sovereign clad in armor bowed deeply.

"Proceed directly to Pristine Pure Yang Sect first," Dao King commanded.

"Understood."

Boom!

Twenty-seven Starships transformed into streaks of starlight, hurtling southwest.

"They’ve arrived."

Yu Wuxia and Qin Yi stood upon a mountain peak, watching Tianxia’s fleet approach.

Within the Pristine Pure Yang Sect, the sect master, Dao Sovereign Pure Yang, led a formation of disciples lining the path in welcome.

"This lowly one, Dao Sovereign Pure Yang, pays respects to the esteemed envoy."

He smiled ingratiatingly. "Might this humble servant inquire why the envoy graces our humble sect?"

Dao King stood aboard the Starship, his gaze icy as it swept over the sect’s followers. He unfurled an imperial decree:

"The Pristine Pure Yang Sect has conspired with rebels, plotting treason."

"By special decree, the imperial envoy is dispatched to quell the insurrection."

"Your Honor, we are falsely accused!"

Dao Sovereign Pure Yang’s expression underwent a great change. While he had indeed communicated with rebels before, under Tianxia’s overwhelming might, he dared harbor no rebellious thoughts whatsoever.

"This official commands you to surrender all weapons within half an hour," Dao King stated dispassionately. "Disobedience means death."

As he spoke, his countenance remained calm and composed, utterly unruffled.

Not the slightest trace of killing intent emanated from him.

Even Dao King himself found this unexpected.

Behind him, the armored Dao Sovereign also looked perplexed—this restraint was unlike Lord Wuyou’s methods.

"Bullshit!"

One elder bellowed furiously: "You’d take our lives over baseless charges! Sect Master, ignore him! We fight our way out!"

"I warned everyone! Tianxia always kills the donkey after it’s done grinding!"

The elders raged, outraged.

"Silence!"

The Pristine Pure Yang Sect Master’s face darkened. "If we surrender, Your Honor… might we be spared?"

"This official promises," Dao King replied coolly. "Resist not, and not one among you shall die. Once the investigation clears your innocence, you’ll go free."

"Very well."

The sect master gritted his teeth and solemnly declared: "No one moves."

"Any who move—I kill."

Half an hour later, Dao King left a contingent to guard the Pristine Pure Yang Sect and raced without pause toward the Divine Fire Cult.