Chapter 60

With the false edict of the Heavenly Emperor, carrying out the actual seizure of power, you, in a lawful yet bold manner, gradually seize control over the vast Demon Race of the Eastern Wasteland.

Using the finest part of humanity as your tentacles to control hundreds of millions of demon subjects, thus an entity nominally under the Heavenly Court but actually firmly grasped by you, Jin Bing, and your elite human faction—a "state within a state"—silently and lawfully came into being……

As for this, does the Heavenly Emperor know?

He may know, or may not, but you understand: regardless of whether he knows what your actions mean, the Heavenly Emperor cannot possibly act against you right now.

Firstly, you openly oppose dragons and feudalism but not Heaven, obeying the Heavenly Emperor's edicts, striking only corrupt officials and not meddling in the Heavenly Court's affairs; from the Court's perspective, you are even a loyal and capable minister.

Moreover, your cultivation as a True Immortal is far too low; in this primordial world where power is ultimately determined by cultivation, you could never possibly overturn the heavenly throne!

"Although I don't understand the great chief's far-sighted vision, greatness needs no many words!"

In the Demon Era, 366 major cycles, 6 medium cycles, 6 minor cycles, the Heavenly Court utterly crushed the ancient dragon feudal bloc of the Four Seas; the myriad aquatic tribes of the Four Seas joyfully welcomed their turnaround, henceforth there were no more events of dragon oppression of lesser aquatic tribes on the surface, and the Heavenly Emperor's anti-feudal strategy gained a stage victory.

You decided first to raise everyone's cultivation quality, then actually seize power, so you began to cultivate in seclusion……

Of course, surely someone will secretly resent you, saying you betray humanity's interests, but you believe they will someday understand your painstaking efforts, and thus you choose to bear everything alone……

A: Steady and solid, to raise the cultivation of those under your rule as much as possible, preparing to gradually usurp the Heavenly Court's supreme power! B: Massive expansion, seize this good opportunity, continue responding to the Heavenly Court's anti-dragon edict, and eastward seize dragon territory!

Quality, or quantity?

Put bluntly, this question is about preserving quality or preserving quantity; Zhao Si pondered a little:

Regarding this, you merely smiled faintly; the people's praise naturally brings joy, but now is not the time to relax.

Secondly, the Heavenly Court is now bombarding the old feudal bloc of the dragons; as the most resolute "anti-feudal vanguard", you are naturally an extension of the Heavenly Court's forces, and even if those above know you are using public office for private gain, they will not start cutting down their own loyal underlings before the dragons are eliminated……

The high-quality elixirs and magical treasures produced by various demon races, along with assorted local specialties of differing effects, flow endlessly within this "state within a state"; a wondrous vitality breeds upon this land, brimming with the vigorous vigor of the sun!

As soon as you received the edict, your heart leapt, then you sighed bitterly, knowing this was Di Jun's apparent promotion but actual demotion, intending to dismantle your "state within a state" as well, yet you had no recourse.

Such a force naturally cannot truly affect the primordial landscape; thus you face an important choice: how exactly should you develop from now on?

And once humanity actually received the reciprocation, their earlier resentment gradually eased, and they too began to praise their own great chief.

Therefore, you swiftly issued orders for larger-scale aid, taking the Shouyang Mountain directly administered region as the core, providing comprehensive support to all demon subjects under your rule in the four directions.

Humanity's sacrifice is merely temporary; once local industries become self-sufficient, there will naturally be more abundant manpower and resources to reciprocate Shouyang Mountain, as the directly administered region of the Eastern Wasteland Jin regime, future benefits are plentiful, so there's no need to overly worry about short-term losses.

In cultivation seclusion……

Having lost their ideals, humanity finally revealed its true nature, provoking widespread opposition from the demon races; the struggle became extremely fierce, thereby attracting Di Jun's attention……

Despite myriad resentments, you could only be compelled to go to heaven, serving as a powerless deputy under the smiling-yet-not-smiling Taiyi Star Lord.

Now you have firmly taken the first step onto the grand stage of primordial turmoil; next, you urgently need to demonstrate your superb governance to all under your rule, proving to the myriad peoples both your virtue and talent, and to the Heavenly Court your unwavering loyalty!

For industry, immediately pull a complete industrial chain over here.

In the Demon Era, 369 major cycles, 8 medium cycles, 6 minor cycles, the Heavenly Court, long dormant, launched a new anti-feudal campaign, pointing at the ancient three great hegemons—the phoenix and qilin clans; following the method used against the dragons, the Heavenly Emperor swiftly toppled the subordinate forces of the phoenix and qilin clans one after another.

Continuing in cultivation seclusion……

Because as of today, your domain has produced nothing of note from cultivation seclusion—at most a few dozen Taiyi Golden Immortals—fundamentally unable to resist the edict……

Thinking thus, Zhao Si, having made up his mind, clicked on it:

The Heavenly Emperor graciously approved, then dispatched heavenly officials to take control of the Four Seas, Southern Volcanoes, and Central Lands—the three great feudal domains; thus the Heavenly Court successfully dismantled the ancient feudal order of the three tribes, and wherever heavenly prestige reached, none dared not obey.

On that day, Tai Qing sought to forcibly preserve your life, but you bluntly refused, declaring that you would rewrite everything.

You are dead; the wrong choice led to a wrong ending…… facts prove that choosing cultivation seclusion at a critical juncture is a kind of original sin…… sometimes, being a bit more radical and extreme is actually right.

Deprived of your meticulous governance, humanity instantly exploded and then disintegrated.

For talent, immediately conscript idealistic, capable hot-blooded youths from Shouyang Mountain and send them to the demon tribes.

Relying on humanity's relatively advanced productive forces and relations, you variously dispense money to relieve poverty, yet it is absolutely not merely harming humans to benefit demons; rather, on the basis of temporarily sacrificing human interests, you swiftly bring this group of demons, little different from primitive tribes, into an advanced society.

Ironclad evidence—deserving of death by fire!

Therefore, both emotionally and rationally, we should first enhance basic qualities; as long as we have a few more Golden Immortals and Taiyi Golden Immortals, even Grand Luo beings, the future success rate of seizing the Heavenly Court's authority will be much higher!

You chose option A: steady and solid, to raise the cultivation of those under your rule as much as possible, preparing to gradually usurp the Heavenly Court's supreme power!

In the next cycle, the suddenly enlightened Heavenly Emperor's dragon face flared with rage; he seized you, who had long been anticipated, from the Taiyi Star for interrogation; faced with all the evidence, the sighing you had no wish to defend yourself, and confessed guilt on the spot, accepting punishment.

……

At this moment, a Golden Immortal has emerged from cultivation seclusion on your Shouyang Mountain!

"The chief is truth!"

"According to the current Shouyang Mountain regime, it is basically a ragtag bunch—impressive in appearance but lacking even a single Golden Immortal; in a primordial world where Golden Immortals are worth less than dogs and Taiyi Golden Immortals walk everywhere, it is utterly insignificant."

In this cycle, the Heavenly Emperor issued an edict to the Eastern Wasteland: owing to the merit of the human great chief Jin Bing in governing the region, he is specially promoted to deputy of the Taiyi Star Lord, to assume office immediately!

Tai Qing, lost in thought, sighed…… and thus, under the heavenly fire, you became Lao Bing barbecue.

In short, after your series of combined punches, the newly affiliated over-one-hundred-thousand demon tribes changed almost day by day; in a short span of one cycle, they became utterly unlike the former hundreds of epochs.

Demon Calendar year 372, cycle 6, period 5, the three ancient hegemons whose claws and fangs have been utterly eliminated finally had nowhere to hide; the Four Seas True Dragon King, the Southern Volcanic True Phoenix King, and the Central Lands Qilin King all reluctantly went up to the Heavenly Court, and under the witness of the myriad officials, they thoroughly submitted to the Heavenly Emperor, voluntarily relinquishing their positions as feudal lords.

「The chief's kindness outweighs heaven! 」

Because although sacrificing the short-term interests of the human race as a price, they quickly achieved the goal of helping the Demon Race eradicate illiteracy, but the current human regime is still very weak; the population is large, but the quality is generally low. Aside from cannon-fodder-like True Immortals and Heavenly Immortals, even Mystic Immortals are scarce, and there isn't a single Golden Immortal.

The benefited Demon Race populace naturally pledged allegiance; whenever they spoke of the humans' and the great chief's selfless aid, their eyes would glow as if emitting light.

You choose (?)

To secure the market, immediately mobilize the vast reserves of spiritual herbs and equipment from Shouyang Mountain, supplying the Demon Race market at near-cost price.

「The chief is truth! As long as the chief issues an order, it must be carried out! 」

Demon Calendar year 372, cycle 6, period 6, you are tried by the Celestial Judge of Justice, and sentenced to the crimes of 'deceiving the sovereign', 'abusing authority', 'disloyalty', 'using public office for private gain', and 'conspiring to overthrow the Heavenly Court'.

Should time be reversed, returning to the previous life option?

……

(End of chapter)