Above the Great Dao

Chapter 1274 598: Acting on Heaven's Behalf

The young Jiang Guo walked out of the Immortal Mountain and followed Chen Shi, only to see the youth leading a black dog toward Yi'an Immortal City.

He followed Chen Shi to Yi'an Immortal City, where Chen Shi manifested a small shrine behind his head, leaving this shrine below the city, chanting softly.

Looking closely, the youth Jiang Guo saw the Immortal City floating in the air, with the small shrine hidden in the city's shadow.

The black dog next to them took out a bundle of incense, which Chen Shi lit and placed in front of the shrine, and then the man and dog left.

When they had gone far, Jiang Guo approached the shrine, which while small, was filled with all the necessary elements, quietly floating in the Incense Fire Qi.

Even more remarkable was a small plot of land in front of the shrine, on which a purple gourd vine grew, growing skyward with tendrils embedded in the void!

"What is this fellow disciple doing?" Jiang Guo wondered curiously.

At this moment, thunderous sounds came from outside.

Yi'an Immortal City.

Outside the city came the sound of crying and the piercing blare of suonas, which could be heard clearly even in the Immortal City above, making the Yi'an warden Chao Huang somewhat anxious.

The Mud Bodhisattva incident caused so many deaths.

The surrounding area was his domain, and his people suffered losses, with many now holding funerals.

The Divine Officer from the Thunder Department brought the God Master's orders, admonishing Chao Huang to use every power to heal the injured people, calm public sentiment, and distribute money and grain.

Chao Huang listened quietly, occasionally responding affirmatively.

After the Divine Officer left, he heard the crying and sighed silently.

"In prosperity, the people suffer; in downfall, the people suffer. This statement never deceives me. Whether rise or fall, the people always suffer. This time, the people suffer again."

Chao Huang sighed again, gathered the city's cultivators, urging them to hurry to various places to heal and save lives. If families suffered severe losses, they were exempted from three years of corvée. He also ordered the granaries opened to relieve the people.

After making proper arrangements, he returned to Chao Mansion, his steps growing lighter.

His heart brightened as many immortals bowed to him in the mansion: "Master of the Mansion!"

"Master of the Mansion!"

"Greetings, Master of the Mansion!"

Chao Huang was in a good mood, nodding at each of them and smiling.

"Our Feng'an County encountered a great disaster this time, and you all barely escaped death. Today, I shall host a banquet at the mansion to entertain everyone," he laughed.

The immortals gladly agreed, very cheerful. They were immortals of Feng'an County, mostly from Chao Huang's own family, many bearing the Chao surname. Even those of other surnames had countless ties to the Chao Family.

Within Feng'an County, there were some Immortal Sects; though few, their sects included immortals, except they were long excluded from Feng'an County, coming only once in a while. Their sects, even if disciples passed tribulations and reached Ascension Realm, lacked places to Harmonize.

In Feng'an County, any place suitable for Harmonization already bore the Chao surname.

All of Chao Mansion became busy, the kitchen preparing various delicacies, Dragon Liver and Phoenix Gall and Qilin Paw, refined by immortals using their True Fire, emitting exotic aromas, along with fruits from various Immortal Trees, filling plate after plate.

Moreover, there was wine brewed for countless years, stored in Jade Bottles, borne by women as beautiful as heavenly immortals, warmed at their bosoms; once the aroma of the wine emerged, it was poured for the immortals to savor.

If the wine cooled slightly, those heavenly women would rewarm it at their bosoms.

Cups clinked in the hall, songs and dances filled the palace.

A swaying Chao clan immortal rose, lifting a cup, already three parts drunk, laughed, "Chao Shuang toasts the City Lord! Since the great Monk from Western Heaven arrived, life in Feng'an County has become harsher! The Monk's territory pays no tax, contributes no grain, performs no corvée; we at Yi'an lack workers! Those poor folk would rather sell themselves to Mahana Bo Temple as slaves than work for Yi'an! Now it's good, the Monk and monks have fled, those poor folk still have to work for us!"

Chao Huang frowned, rebuked, "Chao Shuang, you are drunk, do not speak nonsense!"

Another Chao clan immortal laughed, "Great Ancestor, why be so cautious? Mahana Bo Temple has moved away, there are no outsiders here, isn't Feng'an County what we decide? Besides the All Gods of Thunder Mystery Province's Thunder Department, aren't we in Feng'an County the gods?"

Chao Huang slammed the table heavily, shouted, "Enough!"

The hall instantly fell silent; everyone lowered their cups, and the songstresses ceased their dances.

Everyone was as silent as a cicada in winter, afraid to make a sound.

Chao Huang, with a somber face, scanned the room, looking dignified, pronounced, "This Feng'an County is not my Chao Family's Feng'an County; it belongs to the Thunder Department, it belongs to the Heavenly Court! I, Chao Huang, am honored by Heavenly Court's trust, appointed as Yi'an warden of Feng'an County, working steadily and faithfully throughout life, without a moment of negligence. This is loyalty and duty!"

He spoke earnestly, filled with a feeling of love meant for molding iron, proclaimed, "It is loyalty and duty that earns Heavenly Court's trust in me! Can you become immortals by your own skills? Incorrect! It's through loyalty and duty to Heavenly Court that you become immortals! My Chao Family receives Heavenly favor, must fulfill loyalty and duty to Heavenly Court, forego personal self for greater achievement!"

"The land of Feng'an County is Heavenly Court's land, Thunder Department's land, not my Chao Family's land! After Mahana Bo Temple moved, this Feng'an County is still not my Chao Family's; it belongs to Heavenly Court, it belongs to Thunder Department!"

He surveyed the room, "Now, do you understand? Do not put Chao Family first; loyalty to Thunder Department and Heavenly Court comes first! Heavenly Court and Thunder Department will not forsake anyone who fulfills loyalty and duty for them!"