Chapter 276: Acupoint

After a strange adventure in the remote Shanhai County of the Ming Song Kingdom's Northern Frontier.

Zhang Gui harshly scraped a thick layer of profit from the thieves of the Compassionate Society.

He realized that humans and the Earth Demon Hundred Races are not only natural enemies but also each other's treasure, which is why they are so irreconcilable.

He immediately changed his mind and teleported back to his island nation Zhenlong.

He began to devote himself to performing the Earth Vein Acupoint Grand Creation Secret Realm Method, seeking a cave that could create a Secret Realm.

However, at the same time, having already tasted the benefits of massive migrant populations in the Ming Song Northern Border's counties that had almost lost governmental control,

Zhang Gui was reluctant to give up this once‑in‑a‑century golden opportunity.

So he transferred tens of thousands of Stone Corpse Soldiers to Shanhai County.

He had them disperse from Shanhai County as a hub to recruit Young Strong Men.

And shamelessly issued an edict, "Not forced, but incentives are permissible."

Finally, he gathered everyone into Shanhai County, and across the sea he wielded Divine Authority to link the Capital Element Rules, moving them to True Dragon Island.

In this way, busy on two fronts, the seasons passed unnoticed over the Outer Wild Ocean.

At noon that day, the scorching sun shone overhead.

Outside the county town of Min Feng in the True Dragon Kingdom, Zhang Gui, numb, bent over and touched the ground.

Suddenly, the earth's crust trembled.

In his view, the clear light generated by the Earth Vein Acupoint Grand Creation Secret Realm Method had not faded.

On the contrary, it grew brighter, shaking him to the point that tears streamed down.

Yet, given this, Zhang Gui could not bear to shift his gaze even for an instant.

He had originally estimated that using the Earth Vein Acupoint Grand Creation Secret Realm Method, locating the correct cave would take ten days to half a month.

But who could have imagined that even after finding the "pointed" cave of the method, there would still be genuine and counterfeit ones.

In fact, because there were too many fakes, the number of disappointments was too great.

Zhang Gui even conceived, during his family's exile to the Di Ku Jie, of Bai Ci Zhe Xian—a beautiful yet black‑hearted exile—selling him a counterfeit Earth Vein Acupoint Grand Creation Secret Realm Method.

Yet he did not expect that after a hundred days of hard work, it finally bore fruit.

After the brilliance faded, it receded into the earth, turning into a small spot on the ground.

"From Jiezi to Sumeru, it is a secret realm."

After the excitement, Zhang Gui gradually calmed, looking at the spot on the ground and thinking silently:

"According to the description of the Earth Vein Acupoint Grand Creation Secret Realm Method, this is indeed the case."

"But this is too Jiezi."

"Not to mention growing into a Sumeru; even becoming a farm would take only a few hundred or a few thousand years."

Nevertheless, the cave does exist, and it has now been found.

Then the creation of the secret realm can be considered a staged victory; seeking anything further would only bring self‑inflicted troubles.

Although he comforted himself thus, he couldn't help sighing again.

Reciting words under his breath, his hands shifting the technique, he began to perform the final sealing rite of the Earth Vein Acupoint Grand Creation Secret Realm Method.

On the newly formed Jiezi Secret Realm, he left his unique mark, akin to a fingerprint lock on a door.

The MF county town had long been inhabited by common folk and even had steam railway lines running through it.

In the town, many residents take the train at dawn to work at nearby public farms and factories.

They return to the county town by train in the afternoon.

Thus, when Zhang Gui was meticulous, fully focused, and cautious, he completed all the steps of the Earth Vein Acupoint Grand Creation Secret Realm Method.

Because the sun had set behind the western hills, trains began to pass continuously nearby.

Several passengers in the car saw him through the window, but most paid no attention…

Now the True Dragon Kingdom's population has risen to over ten million; as long as Zhang Gui does not flaunt an Emperor's crown in public, few can recognize his identity.

Moreover, with the population surge, idle rascals have also appeared in the True Dragon Kingdom.

It is not uncommon to spot one or two "parasites" who, despite work hours, wander aimlessly outside the city.

These people, however, face social discrimination.

Yet, because Zhang Gui personally experienced in his previous life the so‑called "high tax, high welfare" era of advanced civilization,

though he is not pleased with these societal "parasites," he knows that providing them basic sustenance is necessary.

To prevent them from going astray and harming society, which is actually the cheapest strategy, so he is rather tolerant of them.

After all, unless they are like the "pioneer monster" of Western civilization—England—in Zhang Gui's previous life,

otherwise no "civilized government" would whip someone to death simply for being idle and not tending sheep.

Nevertheless, if Zhang Gui did not have his own rational thinking,

and the Civilized Path he founded, built on law and championing human rights and Equality,

just his temperament alone might have led him to do so…

At 5:30 p. m., it is quitting time for all state agencies in the True Dragon Kingdom.

Only units dealing with people's livelihood—such as the Enclosed Citizen Office, train stations, public canteens—operate in shifts.

When the time arrives, the steam clock at Min Feng City East Station chimes "dang dang dang dang."

The Enclosed Citizen Officer overseeing the nearby "one station, one street" security changes shift.

The off‑duty worker is a muscular, hefty man, looking robust—quite fitting for a Enclosed Citizen Officer, i. e., a police officer.

However, his stamina is evidently lacking; half a day's work already leaves him exhausted,

The colleague arriving for the morning shift waves, "Anyang has arrived."

Brother He is patrolling nearby and should be back soon.

I have to go on a blind date today, so I must hurry home, finish washing up, and change into dry, clean clothes.

We shouldn't be delayed; let's hand over the shift first, okay?

The newly appointed Enclosed Citizen Officer Anyang is a handsome young man, of moderate build, neither fat nor thin, with flesh and bone.

To cope with the night shift, he deliberately took a full nap in the afternoon, appearing vigorous and full of spirit.

Zhao Fatty and his peers nodded solemnly and said:

"Although it is not a rule for two people to take over the shift simultaneously, we usually operate this way.

Doing it specially today isn't forbidden, but it won't set a precedent."

"Alright, alright, thank you."

The plump Enclosed Citizen Officer was good‑natured, as if he hadn't noticed the awkwardness in the handsome colleague's words, and walked away laughing cheerfully.

In theory, because the entire True Dragon Kingdom is Zhang Gui's Earthly Divine Kingdom.

It is enveloped and constrained by Divine Authority; as long as he is willing to consume 'Substance and Void'.

Upon discovering someone committing a crime or wrongdoing, he immediately imposes severe punishment.

In fact, he could make the island nation he founded safe and censored, like a 'paradise'.

Such an institution as the Enclosed Citizen Department could be completely erased.

But the problem is that this 'all‑encompassing' method of governance is essentially 'cognition within autocracy'.

It is completely opposite to the ideology advocated by Zhang Gui of 'Every Person Like a Dragon, self‑reliant and self‑improving'.

Therefore he never does that; instead, he always does the opposite, turning a deaf ear to all crimes within the True Dragon Kingdom.

It relies entirely on the national Judicial Authority to resolve matters itself, gradually forming the current situation.

(End of chapter)