The Dao Sovereign of Shennong

"The second reason is the infiltration of foreign beliefs!"

"Among the 52 temples, seven of them depict beasts, either with wings or covered in scales."

"In the Great Zhou, while some official Yin spirit carvings might include auspicious beasts as decorations, these features are only ever secondary. Only the Southern Barbarian tribes would use such imagery as the main focus of their worship."

"If left unchecked, should the barbarians ever cross the Canglan River, such beliefs will undoubtedly weaken the resolve of both the army and the populace."

Wei Xuancheng nodded slightly. These seven temples were already marked for destruction in this mission.

So why hadn't they been dealt with earlier? First, they hadn't caused much trouble, and second, they had been ignored since they were situated in remote mountain areas.

Previously, Emperor Wen hadn't addressed them, and no one saw it as an issue. Now that Emperor Jing intended to bring order, the problems naturally surfaced.

"The third reason: with war on the horizon, to ensure internal stability, all private temples should be eradicated. If leniency is shown now, it will not demonstrate the necessary authority, and those with ulterior motives will bide their time, waiting for the chaos to pass before rebuilding their wild gods' temples. This is how problems are revived."

"Therefore, in my humble opinion, all 52 of these temples should be demolished!"

Zhao Xing bowed to signal the end of his argument.

Wei Xuancheng returned the bow. "I will relay your words exactly as you've said them to Lord Gong. Please wait here."

After that, Wei Xuancheng left the private room.

Once he was gone, Long Xiao gave Zhao Xing a thumbs-up. "Kid, I didn't expect you to be so good with words. You really had him fooled."

Zhao Xing smiled slightly. As a modern "keyboard warrior," how could he not know how to talk the talk?

Historically, Emperor Jing did indeed make moves against the Yin Spirit System during his reign, addressing both military and governmental issues alongside the spiritual system.

However, in history, the effort wasn't as intense, and the results weren't particularly significant.

As for Zhao Xing, as long as his statements aligned with the current political trends, and he stayed within the accepted bounds, getting an "A" rating wouldn't be a problem.

The Great Zhou allowed for open discussions. There had been civil servants who, during exams, had written about "cutting off communication between heaven and earth," and nothing happened to them. This demonstrated the system's tolerance for bold ideas.

Outside the floating ship, a middle-aged man dressed in a long robe stood on the deck, holding a statue of a Ming King in his hands.

He gazed down at the lavish temple below.

The temple, standing thirteen zhang high and covering 500 mu of land, was clearly a violation of construction regulations.

In the past, no one had investigated it because they didn't want to, and some had protected it.

But today, Gong Ming was here to tear down this temple, which had stood for 200 years.

Just as he was about to give the order, he saw Wei Xuancheng approaching from below.

Gong Ming paused.

Wei Xuancheng was the younger brother of Wei Hong, and with his intelligence and talent, he was quite liked by Gong Ming.

"Lord Gong, Shennong Zhao Xing has given his opinion."

"Is it to stay or to go? Did he offer any specifics?" Gong Ming asked casually, not paying much attention.

A talented Shennong from the military might not necessarily understand the ways of the priests.

Of course, being a good official meant ensuring harmonious relationships. As long as the young Shennong's response wasn't too absurd, even if he merely recited a few lines from the Great Zhou Sacrificial Laws, Gong Ming would give him a good review.

But if Zhao Xing was a fool who spouted nonsense, he'd be on his own.

"Zhao Xing said..."

Wei Xuancheng recounted Zhao Xing's words exactly as they had been spoken.

Gong Ming's eyes showed a hint of surprise.

He hadn't expected Zhao Xing to give a unified answer for all 52 temples.

Even more surprising, Zhao Xing had actually provided some substance in his reasoning.

Especially the first point.

After hearing it, Gong Ming couldn't help but sigh, "As expected from a Shennong who manages finances—when you put it this way, it really hits home."

It had a powerful impact, quantifying the harm caused by the wild gods.

As for the second and third points, while not groundbreaking, they were reasonable and conformed to ritualistic standards, making Zhao Xing's argument more convincing.

"Lord Gong, how should I respond?" Wei Xuancheng asked.

Gong Ming thought for a moment. "I'll report it to the military, and he'll be rated as A+."

He wasn't the sole decision-maker, and since Zhao Xing's answer had been excellent, with no personal interests at stake, Gong Ming was happy to hand out a top rating.

"Understood." Wei Xuancheng was about to take his leave.

"No rush, Xuancheng. You should lead the team down to act," Gong Ming instructed.

"As you command."

"Boom!"

The sky darkened, and dark clouds gathered around the Temple of Yan Guang.

Wei Xuancheng led a team of priests as they charged into the temple.

Gong Ming remained above, quietly watching the scene unfold below.

He had deliberately sent people of lower rank.

"Let's see who dares to come out and stop us."

Below, at the Temple of Yan Guang.

As soon as the priests sealed off the temple and entered the main hall, they were unsurprisingly met with resistance.

A middle-aged man dressed in fine clothing emerged.

His name was Yan Kuan, the cousin of the current head of the Yan family and one of the family's powerholders.

"Greetings, esteemed officials. May I ask why the temple has been suddenly sealed off?" Yan Kuan asked with a puzzled bow.

"Without the court's approval, how can this place be called a temple?" Wei Xuancheng stared at Yan Kuan, his expression stern, a far cry from the gentle demeanor he had displayed on the floating ship. "We are here today to tear down this unlawful shrine!"

After hearing Zhao Xing's arguments earlier, Wei Xuancheng now looked at Yan Kuan as if he were a string of numbers.

In his mind's eye, he also saw the ignorant faces of countless people, being drained of their lifeblood without realizing it.

Yan Kuan was well-known in the prefectural city, but at this moment, in Wei Xuancheng's eyes, he was nothing more than a human-shaped leech.

Yan Kuan's expression changed slightly. "Esteemed officials, the Temple of Yan Guang has a long history, built by the common people out of their devotion. For 200 years, it has stood here, and the god enshrined within has been revered by all. Over the years, there have been numerous instances of divine manifestations. While we dare not claim great merit, surely it does not deserve to be labeled as an unlawful shrine?"

"Esteemed officials must be mistaken. Please, allow me to invite you to the rear hall for a rest, where I can further explain..."

"There's no need to stall!" Wei Xuancheng interrupted. "If you wish to report to any higher-ups, feel free, but as for the temple itself, I will destroy it first!"

Yan Kuan realized that these officials wouldn't be swayed by either kindness or threats. His expression grew cold. "May I ask for your name and who issued the order to demolish this temple?"

"I am Wei Xuancheng of Anping Prefecture, a mere seventh-rank ceremonial official of the Tian Temple," Wei Xuancheng replied coldly. "As for the order, if you have the capability, feel free to investigate it yourself. Begin the demolition!"

Having lost all patience with Yan Kuan, Wei Xuancheng immediately gave the command.

Yan Kuan had intended to stall for time by invoking the people backing him, but upon hearing Wei Xuancheng's name and realizing he was from the prefectural city, his heart sank.

While Wei Xuancheng might not be a big deal, his older brother, Wei Hong, was the Grand Priest of Anping Prefecture, ranked Upper Fourth!

No matter what connections he had, how could they possibly surpass Wei Hong's?

Even Governor Cui was only ranked Lower Fourth!

Seeing Wei Xuancheng move the statue of the Judicial God into the main hall, Yan Kuan collapsed to the ground.

Not only was the temple to be destroyed, but they were going to take away the spirit of Yan Guang as well.

"My ancestors… it's over..." Yan Kuan slumped to the floor.

Above, in the floating ship.

Zhao Xing waited and waited, but when Wei Xuancheng didn't return, he began to grow suspicious.

Sensing the drastic change in the weather outside, he figured out what was happening and calmly resumed his seat, patiently waiting.

Half an hour later, Wei Xuancheng finally returned, his expression darker, as though he had just been through a fierce battle.

"Thank you for waiting, Lord Zhao. I was delayed by the temple demolition," Wei Xuancheng explained.

"Not at all, Lord Wei's task was far more important," Zhao Xing replied quickly.

"Lord Gong has already reviewed your suggestion and will report it soon. You should receive a message through the Earth Mirror shortly."

"If you'd like, Lord Zhao, you're free to leave now. There's no need to accompany us to every temple."

Seeing Wei Xuancheng's weary expression, Zhao Xing stood up. "In that case, I will take my leave of you all."

Wei Xuancheng clasped his hands in salute. "Though we've only met once, it feels like a meeting of old friends. If you don't mind, we can address each other as brothers."

"I was just thinking the same, so allow me to call you Brother Xuancheng," Zhao Xing replied, seizing the opportunity. Forming a connection with someone like Wei Xuancheng could only bring advantages.

Wei Xuancheng laughed. "We both have official duties to attend to, so we can't linger here. But if you're ever back in Anping Prefecture, Brother Zhao, you must visit my home so we can enjoy some tea and conversation."

As a priest, there were many restrictions during certain periods—drinking alcohol was often prohibited since conducting rituals while intoxicated would be improper. Hence, Wei Xuancheng invited him for tea, not wine.

"It's a deal!" Zhao Xing said with a bow before leaving to bid farewell to Gong Ming and the other priests of the temple.

After completing the formalities, he retrieved his Swordfish Airship and departed with Long Xiao.

Before they had even left the borders of Anping Prefecture, the Earth Mirror began to buzz with a new message from the military.

The evaluation for the second task had come through: A+.

"With an A+ rating, it's clear that those 52 temples are doomed," Zhao Xing mused.

They would definitely all be demolished.

As for the Yin spirits? Even if they weren't killed outright, they would be returned to their original forms, losing all the progress they had made over the past two hundred years.

If any of these spirits had been used to manipulate affairs or engage in illegal activities, killing them wouldn't be enough—the people behind them would also need to be dealt with.

With the looming war against the barbarians, any source of instability had to be rooted out. It didn't matter if you were a noble or a lord; at a time like this, everyone had to keep their heads down.

"Judging from the first two tasks, it's clear that Emperor Jing is utterly determined to outdo his grandfather in the upcoming war."

"In the past, he was known for being stingy, but for this battle, he won't hold back. If something or someone needs to be eliminated, it will be done. If there's merit, it will be rewarded."

"This early stage is when fresh blood will rise to the top, both in the military and in politics."

"My Nine Tasks mission is one such opportunity," Zhao Xing reflected.

With Emperor Jing's personality, ten years earlier, there's no way the military would have issued missions like this.

After completing training, no one would have been directly appointed to a seventh-rank post.

And that's why people looked forward to war.

Because in war, you could rise to power and wealth!

"My next task should take me across the river."

Completing two tasks was enough to let the reserve Shennongs feel the political winds. If they hadn't caught on by now, then no amount of additional tasks would help—they'd just end up as foot soldiers.

"Buzz—"

The Earth Mirror vibrated again, and a new mission came through.

[Third Task: Appointment to Yuncheng]

[Location: Yuncheng, Wangnan County, Nine Heaven Yingyuan Prefecture]

[Military Intelligence: Yuncheng lies to the east of Lan River, with the Zhishui and Zhijiang rivers flowing through it. The southern boundary is the Fengming Mountain Range. As flood season approaches, you have been given a temporary appointment as the Chief Water Officer of Yuncheng Shennong Division. Proceed to Yuncheng immediately, and prepare for flood prevention and harvest preservation.]

[If the floods cause significant damage to Yuncheng, your mission will end at Task Three, and you will be reassigned.]

"A major task!" Zhao Xing's spirits lifted as he read the mission.

He checked Yuncheng Shennong Division's size and saw that Yuncheng was a county of higher administrative status, known as a "prefectural-level county."

It wasn't as large as inland prefectures, but it was much larger than a regular county.

Its administrative rank was higher than that of a regular county but lower than a prefecture. This structure was common in both war zones and the imperial core territories.

Because of the importance of flood control, the position of Chief Water Officer in the Shennong Division was equivalent to the highest-ranking officer, with a rank of Lower Seventh.

Although this was a temporary post, if Zhao Xing did well, it would be only natural for him to be promoted to a permanent position. An even higher promotion wasn't out of the question either.

Because the Chief Water Officer in a prefectural-level county could hold the rank of Upper Seventh.

Since Nine Heaven Yingyuan Prefecture was in a state of war readiness, Zhao Xing, as the military-appointed Shennong, would wield considerable power.

If none of the neighboring counties had a higher-ranking Shennong, Zhao Xing could even command them to work together.

After all, flood control required the coordination of multiple cities along the river, not just one.

"Lower Seventh Rank—this starting point is high enough."

"The County Magistrate might have the same rank as me or perhaps even lower."

"Which means he can't order me around. At the very least, I won't have to worry about anyone dragging me down."

All the hard work Zhao Xing had put into his training at Ten Sun Cave-Heaven was paying off. The A+ evaluations from the first two missions also played a role in giving him a significant head start.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Long Xiao asked. He had just put the little mountain cat to sleep and, upon coming out, saw Zhao Xing grinning like a fool.

"Long Xiao, soon, I'll only be two ranks below you," Zhao Xing replied with a grin.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Long Xiao asked. "I'm a Xiao Yong Captain at Upper Seventh Rank—are you saying you've already reached Lower Seventh Rank?"

"That's right," Zhao Xing replied. "I've just been appointed by the military to temporarily serve as the Chief Water Officer of Yuncheng."

"Aren't Shennong Officers usually ranked Eighth in a county-level post? How are you at Seventh?" Long Xiao was puzzled. "And Yuncheng is just a county, right?"

"Because Yuncheng is a prefectural-level county, its rank is higher," Zhao Xing explained.

"Ah, I see." Long Xiao nodded in understanding. "But it's hard to say whether this is a good thing or not. With a higher rank comes greater pressure. Yuncheng is in Nine Heaven Yingyuan Prefecture, and most counties there are on the front lines of the barbarian invasions, often harassed by foreign tribes."

"Harassment? I'm more worried they won't show up!" Zhao Xing snorted. "After thirty years of training, it's time to put it to use!"

"What are you talking about? You've only been cultivating for two and a half years, counting your time as a clerk."

"I spent one year training in Ten Sun Cave-Heaven, which is worth thirty years elsewhere!" Zhao Xing laughed.

"Don't get cocky just yet. There might still be some fool who tries to make things difficult for you, like the County Magistrate of Yuncheng. Isn't he also ranked Seventh?"

Zhao Xing just smiled.

When you're the military-appointed Shennong, you are the one in charge! The County Magistrate? If he plays nice, Zhao Xing would share the credit. If not, he'd be dealt with accordingly!