Chapter 721

Once the player confirmed the rule for placing a piece, the development of events became a foregone conclusion.

At the very least, this was true for Chang'e.

She herself wanted to leave, and many people also wished her to leave, so she indeed left.

However, an explanation still had to be given to the outside world.

Thus, it was quite reasonable that the Queen Mother of the West from Kunlun Mountain bestowed the immortality elixir upon the divine general Da Yi, praising his great merit of shooting down the suns to save the people.

However, a small "accident" occurred during the bestowal.

The gift, so to speak, was sent directly to the "family address".

That is, within the Dongyi forces, it was the shared household of Da Yi and Chang'e.

——Even though these years Da Yi had returned to his unit dormitory to live.

But wasn't there a direct divorce?

So, the shipping address written as Dongyi… was no problem.

As Da Yi's wife, Chang'e accepted the gift from the Queen Mother of the West on his behalf and returned thanks to this foremost female immortal who guards marriage and fertility.

The whole process was solemn and formal; who knows how many "water armies" were lurking—clearly someone behind the scenes was pouring money into hype, and the publicity was booming, with a considerable impact on public opinion.

This was also natural.

After all, it involved a great hero who shot down the suns!

Perhaps, for the beings lurking in the starry skies or in the Nine Abysses, shooting down the suns had nothing to do with them at all.

But for the myriad folk who make their living from the Honghuang mountains, rivers, and earth, Da Yi's achievement was unsurpassed.

The hero being honored, a charitable institution spent its own money to reward his family…… this is a kind of positive energy!

Since it is positive energy, no matter how much it is promoted, it conforms to reason.

Even if some clear-sighted people think the hype is over the top, the Queen Mother's lively antics make one suspect she is doing a livestream sales pitch—because right after, the Ling Shan Wu tribe jumped with great enthusiasm and bluntly launched their immortality elixir series, hyping it to the heavens.

All that was missing was a loud shout—

Look!

The Queen Mother of the West has even given her endorsement—what are you still hesitating for?

Why not quickly establish a cooperative relationship with us?

Throughout this process, the Queen Mother of the West remained silent.

This led many to believe it was largely a commercial stunt, that the Ling Shan Wu tribe was actually a force launched by the Golden Mother, only she is thin-skinned and unwilling to directly declare "this is my white glove," so she chose a more subtle promotional approach, the implicit message being to let everyone save face.

What could others say when a female adept is stirring things up like this?

Moreover, this is indeed a genuine reward for Da Yi; besides the overt immortality elixir, there are many hidden blessings of qi and merit… even if mixed with a bit of self-interest, it still passes muster, promoting the righteous qi of heaven and earth and the proper way of humanity.

Many human royal courts remained silent, turning a blind eye and letting things take their course.

The fame of Ling Shan began to spread, and the great names of the Ten Wu were constantly being passed around.

The force they founded has as its core principle listening to the will of outstanding pioneers, communicating between heaven and earth, proclaiming divine edicts, and grasping the people's sentiments; additionally, they aim to establish a brand-new, complete medical system, striving to make a great contribution to the happiness of human folk in terms of birth, aging, illness, and death.

Engaging both the upper echelons and the masses, the Ling Shan system is very close to the people; for a time its influence surged, like a pig standing at the windfall that instantly took off.

Even if this is just riding the wave of popularity, it still makes many small clans and tribes that have gone solo feel envious without end.

——After all, only real entrepreneurship reveals how hard entrepreneurship is.

On one hand the foundation is weak; on the other hand talent is scarce, the market is already near saturation, and furthermore vicious competition frequently erupts, making the environment harsh.

Fortunately, with various encouragements and aids from the Fire Master, they can barely persist, gradually expanding their survival.

But that's about it.

Wanting to achieve a breakthrough is within sight but out of reach.

Now, however, Ling Shan has broken free from such an ordinary member, stepped onto the proper path, strode forward swiftly, and left everyone in the dust.

How could others not be amazed and envious?

When its momentum was blazing hot, it even drew many clans and tribes to voluntarily submit and become its vassals, gradually presenting the aspect of a regional royal court, catching the eye of several major powers.

The Fire Master, presiding over the Human Tribe's Economic Planning and Development Conference, had once invited it to attend.

The Heavenly Court determined the primary target for striking the human tribe, and the Ling Shan Wu tribe earned a place on the sanctions list.

……

From then on, the Ling Shan Wu tribe could also be considered a member that has made it onto the stage.

With the patronage of a great supernatural being, suitable promotional efforts, and favorable timing and circumstances, soaring ahead is only a matter of moments.

In after‑tea leisure chats, some ancient gods and sages inevitably feel a touch of sentiment.

"Seize the moment, lead the trend, drive capital…… I never expected the Golden Mother Sovereign to be quite the player—this one move propped up a whole force, making it big and strong."

"This is also unexpected yet reasonable…… after all, this sovereign is at least the foremost female immortal, who controls how vast a potential force?"

"The traffic is naturally huge; nowadays it's merely a matter of monetizing it—having such influence…… is also within reason."

After everyone analyzed it, they actually thought…… it's pretty reasonable?!

As the foremost female immortal, having a couple of tricks and great popular support—isn't that quite normal?

A few more people have voluntarily defected…… no need to be surprised!

In silence, under the cover of the Golden Mother, the girl's smuggling operation progressed almost perfectly, nearly escaping everyone's notice.

Who could have imagined?

The Ling Shan Wu tribe is not the Golden Mother's; it is hers!

What is called "shell listing"?

The girl struck a big‑shot pose, leaning her body backward.

With a "pa‑kie" sound, she leaned back too far and everyone fell over.

She climbed up resentfully, then became obsessed with entrepreneurship, investing funds extorted from the Buddhist sect, using the recruited Wu‑committee members as the core, gradually building a vast medical system spanning the entire human realm above and below, reaching into civil and military affairs, with intelligence work lurking within, cultivating popular support, awaiting the opportune moment.

Both public and private gains, while solving people's ailments and facilitating medicine, also created his own entourage…… the girl has reason to be proud and pleased.

However, whoever bears the crown must also bear its weight.

Spirit Mountain's rise, having the momentum to become a dominant big crocodile, naturally drew enough feedback; many leaders took it to heart, pondering the abacus…… This is a trial, unavoidable.

Even if one doesn't know, the true goal of this Spirit Mountain is that grand.

But it doesn't prevent others from coveting their business, having considered how to strike and destroy it.

Some choose to destroy the image of this medical system.

Some ponder killing those who control this system and replacing them with their own entourage.

……

Many of these ideas are merely spoken, just chat material.

Also part of it has already been set in place as preparation.

「Medical system…… tsk! 」 a certain leader chuckled, gave an offhand evaluation, 「Doing this well is a great merit. 」

「After all, this indeed concerns the vital interests of humanity and all living beings…… who would want to die while alive? 」

「The selling point of the immortality elixir is not bad. 」

「But! 」

「If treating illness causes problems, like taking medicine and becoming schizophrenic, or plastic surgery turning out horrifying……」

「Then…… the fun would be huge! 」

「A medical disturbance is inevitable! 」

That leader said thus.

「Upgrading the medical system is a good deed…… but how to do it well? That is a problem. 」

Another great adept quietly went up Mount Sumeru, just like the girl's flamboyant corpse‑feigning escapade, drew his sword and ascended the mountain, shocking the ancient Buddha into giving money willingly.

This great supernatural being likewise acts with impunity, utterly similar to the girl.

A pure land, the most ancient and holy place of the Buddhist gate, yet could not stop this visitor in the slightest; being driven straight in, the Jieyin Ancient Buddha, offering no resistance, was pulled out to sit down, and together they drank tea and discussed the Dao.

Jieyin clenched his fist, then after a moment slumped and relaxed, laying down his golden body weighing thousands of tens of thousands of catties here, listening to the visitors' constant beeping.

We need to guard against future problems, prevent a good deed from turning into evil in the end... That's a great loss to humanity!

It's like the problem of sky-high medical fees!

The medical system has been upgraded, improved... yet humanity's masses can't afford treatment—hasn't this become a joke?

I think we need to provide a certain degree of oversight, lest Spirit Mountain make mistakes and cause a human tragedy, becoming the most mocking, most satirical joke of an era.

The guest spoke at length, while Jieyin observed his nose, observed his heart—clearly he did not want to get involved in this fierce battle of immortals.

But he had no choice.

"Jieyin, you need to think thrice!"

The guest sighed faintly, "I now suspect you... it's you who invested money into Spirit Mountain."

I examined the accounts and found that some qi fortune merit flows in the Heaven and Earth Bank are quite problematic.

If it was your money that entered Spirit Mountain, prompting a series of tragedies and causing exorbitant fees due to monopoly... you cannot escape blame!

Saying that, the guest produced an axe.

Just like the girl's earlier "brandishing the sword" action.

When this axe was brought out, Jieyin the Ancient Buddha's conscience was evidently awakened; after a difficult gulp of saliva, he followed the guest in worried lament, indicating that everything you said was right.

"This is indeed a hidden danger!" Jieyin the Ancient Buddha said solemnly, "I believe the heads and brains of the Spirit Mountain Shamans have conscience and will not cause trouble recklessly."

"But..."

The lower-level members may well have problems of private collusion, inflating medical fees, taking various kickbacks, layering pressure downward.

In the end, the ones who suffer are still humanity's masses, the patients who end up paying the bill for all this!

So we need to introduce oversight, even introduce competition, as a balance, to set the basic framework and the rules that must be followed.

Jieyin instantly became lofty and impressive.

A little pressure, and awareness arises.

Thus, everyone has great plasticity.

——as long as the person doing the persuading has fists hard enough.

"You're right!"

The guest was very pleased, put the axe away, in high spirits, "From now on, we must strive."

"Jieyin, don't let everyone down!"

"Why me..." Jieyin's face instantly grew grim.

"Why not you?" the guest asked strangely, "Spirit Mountain was once your Buddhist sect's hidden asset, the funds now flowing in the Spirit Mountain Shamans are also yours... you gave land and money, so who else could take the lead in oversight if not you?"

Of course, if you're willing to say—Spirit Mountain has nothing to do with you, that money was never yours, it's a gift of nature to the Spirit Mountain Shamans, I can go along with whatever you say.

But I want to remind you... at the end of the era, you will have to repay interest plus part of the principal.

The guest said meaningfully, "No matter who is in power, this money is unavoidable... and then, with a sole hegemony, humanity will be enlightened, your great deeds will lie between being investigated and not being investigated."

If you can repay the money, perhaps you could just turn a blind eye and let it pass.

If you don't repay...

You can think now about how you want to die.

Don't think about escaping.

At that time, Pangu will surely be active—perhaps the old Pangu returns, or perhaps the new Pangu rises.

As long as the blade is sharp enough, there will be no deadbeats.

After all, what do deadbeats rely on?

They relied on the protection of human rights, or perhaps on their own formidable strength.

These reliances, when facing a Pangu who need not reason, who holds power over life and death… if you dare to renege on a debt, they will absolutely make you seek life but not find it, seek death but not attain it.

They arranged tens of thousands of kinds of torture, enough to make even the most resolute, strong-willed heroes unable to endure, let alone those who are slippery and deceitful.

When they no longer care about the wealth lost to default, and only think about how to torment you… who can outplay whom?

"No need to remind me!" Jieyin the Ancient Buddha had tears in his eyes, showing compassion for all beings, "For the sake of humanity and all beings, this… I will take it upon myself!"

"Just tell me straight, what do you want me to do? What blame do you want me to take?"

"That's exactly right!"

The guest smiled, "Come, write it like this."

"Appointment…"

He dictated, and Jieyin wrote swiftly and vigorously.

"... For the Medicine Master Lapis Lazuli Light King Buddha!"

In the end, a Buddha's status coalesced, appearing in the Buddhist order.

The guest smiled, took up the status, flicked his sleeves, and departed proudly.

Jieyin the Ancient Buddha watched him leave, and after a long while, hot tears filled his eyes.

Zhunti poked his head out, his sympathetic expression plain to see.

"We can't go on like this!"

Jieyin suddenly slammed the table, "Extinction!"

"I want extinction!"

"In this era, love whoever you want… I'm damn well not taking this anymore!"

Having said that, he lit a blue lamp, ignited a bit of resolve, and deployed the "Death Avoidance" divine ability.

This divine ability can resolve all human relations, and can be called invincible in all endeavors.

——Although I can't beat you in fight nor out-argue you… but now that I'm dead, what more do you want?

Zhunti stared dumbfounded, watching his senior brother just go like that, leaving him alone.

"No…"

"You've left… what am I to do?!"

Zhunti wanted to cry but couldn't; thinking of the treacherous, ever-shifting era of scheming, he was left speechless.

"Or should I also seek extinction?"

He rose with such a thought.

(End of chapter)