Chapter 433: Western Lands! (2)

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Little fox nodded firmly and said, “Alright!”

She had to work hard to surpass other women and become the most beautiful flower by Li Qingshan’s side.

After leaving the Monster Realm, Li Qingshan returned to the Celestial Court.

The current Celestial Court was being rebuilt like a raging fire.

Dean Mu Ran and Patriarch Zhang were the two main figures in charge of the Celestial Court. Li Qingshan had completely delegated authority to them, allowing them to rebuild the new Celestial Court according to their own visions.

With the Celestial Court revived and a new Immortal Emperor emerging to dominate all others, those who had previously fled now wanted to return, eager to reclaim high positions and their former statuses.

These individuals were ruthlessly rejected by Patriarch Zhang, who simply stated:

“The Celestial Court rebuilt from ruins does not need its former parasites!”

Patriarch Zhang, well-versed in the affairs of the Celestial Court, knew who had the ability and ideals necessary for its revival. He kept these individuals and started anew, expelling everyone else.

This caused an uproar, with some trying to storm the Nine Heavens of the Celestial Court. Patriarch Zhang suppressed them decisively, killing the leaders of several major families on the spot in front of tens of thousands of people, coldly declaring that the new Celestial Court did not need such vampires.

This left the old powers of the Celestial Court dumbfounded and helpless, forcing them to plead to regain their positions of power.

But Patriarch Zhang, now unburdened by personal ties, acted decisively and mercilessly, rejecting them all.

In his earlier years, he had walked a perilous path for his ideals, treading on thin ice, with his family tragically killed.

In his later years, without attachments, he was willing to sacrifice everything for his ideals. Anyone who threatened the new Celestial Court was marked for death.

This ruthless style instilled fear and suppressed the malevolent elements.

Unlike Patriarch Zhang, Dean Mu Ran managed those from the Celestial Court Academy, who took charge of different areas, keeping the Celestial Court in order.

With a sweep of his Emperor’s primordial spirit, Li Qingshan saw Dean Mu Ran and Patriarch Zhang engaged in a heated discussion about the state of the Celestial Court.

“I believe we must confine power within a cage and impose checks to limit it as much as possible,” Patriarch Zhang said.

“I agree, power must be limited. But similarly, power must flow both upwards and downwards, avoiding becoming a battleground for a few factions, causing administrative bloat and power struggles at the top,” Dean Mu Ran nodded.

“That’s a good idea. We need to find a way to induce self-reflection within the Celestial Court and constantly cleanse itself. A simple division of powers seems unstable; we need a method for internal introspection and purification,” Patriarch Zhang suggested.

“Any political entity, despite claims of rule by law, ultimately practices rule by man. As long as it is ruled by man, various problems will arise. This is a universal phenomenon throughout history, without exception, due to inherent human flaws,” Dean Mu Ran explained.

“You mean we need to separate rule by man from rule by law?” Patriarch Zhang frowned.

“We need to introduce something beyond human rule,” Dean Mu Ran said.

“Like what?” Patriarch Zhang looked puzzled at Dean Mu Ran.

“Have you heard of a special era in ancient times?” Dean Mu Ran asked.

“A special era?” Patriarch Zhang frowned, shaking his head. He had always focused on the internal reform of the Celestial Court and had little research on this topic.

Even Li Qingshan, who was listening to their discussion, was taken aback.

A special era from ancient times?

His curiosity was piqued.

“I don’t know of any special era,” Patriarch Zhang shook his head.

“It’s the era before the Ancient Celestial Court, a deformed era where people did not seek personal cultivation for longevity but relied on external objects, transcending the physical body. They believed the primordial spirit was a mysterious wave, and by analyzing this wave, they could comprehend its power and achieve extraordinary possibilities. They believed in machines, something called technology, assembling countless iron objects together, calling it a central intelligence…” Dean Mu Ran explained.

“Such an era existed?” Patriarch Zhang exclaimed, completely unaware.

“Yes, in addition to teaching students, the Celestial Court Academy also conducts research, uncovering ancient relics and exploring the characteristics of their times. Thus, we discovered this hidden era,” Dean Mu Ran said.

“Why was it hidden?” Li Qingshan descended, directly asking with curiosity.

He hadn’t intended to appear, just to listen to their discussion on managing the Celestial Court. But upon hearing about machines, technology, and such terms, he was greatly surprised.

He hadn’t expected to hear these terms in a world full of cultivators. At first, he thought he had misheard.

But as Dean Mu Ran continued, sounding increasingly credible, Li Qingshan came out to ask for details.

“Greetings, Immortal Emperor Li,” Patriarch Zhang and Dean Mu Ran quickly greeted, surprised by Li Qingshan’s appearance.

Li Qingshan waved them off, indicating they should continue, and asked, “Why is it that no one knows about this era?”

“Because that era was drastically different from the others. After the establishment of the Ancient Celestial Court, all information about that era was buried and sealed, no longer passed down. After the Ancient and New Celestial Courts, until now, it was through occasional archaeological discoveries that we learned such an era existed,” Dean Mu Ran explained.