Cultivation: I Can Reincarnate Into Various Worlds-Chapter 82, Ascending the Altar to Pray for Rain (Request for Re-reading)

If she really offered some true insight... then it would be Harem Governance!

"My beloved consort," Emperor Chongming began, his gaze towards Consort Han softening as he nodded slightly, "you also have a point."

Consort Han’s stupidity only highlights my wise and martial prowess, he thought.

He frowned for a moment and sighed, "Now, the only option is to reward and bestow a title upon Xu Ni. Fortunately, Xu Ni has no ambitions and is merely a watchdog content with his kennel. Obtaining Guanxi Road alone has satisfied his appetite."

Before the frontline battle report reached the Imperial Court, Xu Xing had frequently offered his surrender. He was willing to relinquish his self-proclaimed kingship, seeking only the title of Inspector for a single region. Even after the defeat of the Imperial Court Soldiers, Xu Xing didn’t mock the Imperial Court. Instead, he claimed to be terrified, saying he had only managed to repel the Imperial Court Soldiers by sheer luck. He added that if the Imperial Court were to advance with overwhelming force, he would undoubtedly surrender and await his death.

No matter how grating Xu Xing’s words might sound, in Emperor Chongming’s eyes, Xu Xing not pressing his advantage had spared him considerable face. Moreover, Guanxi Road was barren and had suffered continuous droughts in recent years. The Imperial Court often had to subsidize Guanxi Road annually.

Upon reflection, Xu Xing’s occupation of Guanxi Road could be considered a blessing in disguise. Of course, this is also because I have no other choice but to tolerate this traitorous rebel. After all, there’s already the example of King Zhenbei. Whether it’s one family that obeys operational orders but not imperial summons, or two such families, it’s all the same to me now.

"Your Majesty is wise," Consort Han said, choosing her words carefully to please Emperor Chongming. "Xu Ni is nothing more than a home-guarding dog. Once Your Majesty rectifies the Court, disposing of Xu Ni with the full might of the nation will be a simple matter..."

"Yes, indeed! Yes, indeed!" Emperor Chongming’s eyes brightened, his confidence restored. "Once the Court is in order, what will a mere Xu Ni amount to..." fгeewёbnoѵel_cσm

In the past, due to the constraints imposed by Ouyang Zai, my efforts were often thwarted. Now that the Imperial Court is about to be filled with upright and capable officials, there will be no more Corrupt Officials or incompetent ministers to hinder me. Once I strive for effective governance, I will surely restore the nation’s strength and rebuild the state.

With Emperor Chongming bestowing upon Xu Xing the title of Inspector for Guanxi Road, everyone on Mount Siming, including the Gentry within the territory, breathed a collective sigh of relief. The Imperial Court’s power was still considerable, and resistance was not a sustainable long-term strategy. Furthermore, Guanxi Road’s food supply couldn’t last long; they desperately needed to trade with the outside world to prevent its people from starving. The Imperial Court’s acknowledgment of Xu Xing’s official status was tantamount to permitting Guanxi Road to trade with other Roads and obtain grain for disaster relief.

「Half a month later.」

After the war concluded, Lady Zhao moved into the Court of Xing Tian with her successor son. With Lady Zhao present, the Gentry of Guanxi Road no longer spoke of marrying their virtuous daughters to King Xing Tian. Compared to matters of marriage, they were now far more concerned about the year’s grain harvest.

"Please, King Xing Tian, ascend the Altar to pray for rain," the Gentry advised, "to ensure the harvest for the Common People."

Everyone was saying, "Heaven’s mandate lies in the four, not in one." At first, the Gentry sneered at this proverb, considering it a mere trick by King Xing Tian to deceive the Common People. However, as news of King Xing Tian’s deeds spread, coupled with his victories over the Imperial Court Soldiers, his prestige grew. Gradually, some among the Gentry began to believe that King Xing Tian was indeed the True Dragon Emperor who had received the Heavenly Order. It was rumored that an Emperor who had received the Heavenly Order could successfully pray for rain by ascending an Altar. To ensure there would be no famine this year, many Gentry came to advise Xu Xing to perform the Praying for Rain ceremony. Of course, among them were also schemers who hoped to use this occasion to disprove the claim that Xu Xing had received the Heavenly Order.

"If Ming Gong doesn’t ascend the Altar to pray for rain," Gongyang Yi persuaded Xu Xing in the Council Hall of the Court of Xing Tian, "I’m afraid the theory of the Heavenly Order will collapse on its own. By then, public sentiment will turn against us. Why not try it now?"

In the eyes of strategists like him, this so-called Heavenly Order was merely a fabrication to deceive the ignorant masses. A truly successful hegemon relied on astute judgment and sound strategy, along with a measure of Dragon Luck in the contest for supremacy.

"You’re right," Xu Xing nodded, accepting Gongyang Yi’s counsel. "If this king doesn’t pray for rain, the ’Heavenly Order in the Four’ will indeed become a lie. Praying for rain, however, offers a chance to prove the Heavenly Order is with me..."

It was clear: not daring to pray for rain would prove he definitely did not possess the Heavenly Order. Praying for rain, on the other hand, held at least some possibility of proving he did.

"Announce my decree," Xu Xing ordered again. "In three days, we will pray for rain outside the city. You are all to begin constructing the Altar immediately."

"We humbly obey the Heavenly King’s decree," the civil officials and generals below replied in unison, accepting their orders before departing.

After the crowd in the Council Hall dispersed, Xu Xing focused his consciousness, gazing at the Mirror Surface within his consciousness space.

[Official Thief: Those who steal hooks are executed, while those who steal kingdoms become nobles. Clad in crimson robes, serving as an imperial official, yet a grand thief of the state. You act according to the principles of heaven and earth, comforting the people and punishing the wicked, thereby gaining the favor of Great Fortune. When faced with threats from the Imperial Court and rebel forces, you have a very high chance of navigating complex situations to your advantage, seeking good fortune while avoiding calamity.]

The Bright Yellow Destiny [Official Thief] is certainly not low-grade, Xu Xing mused. Emperor Purple is the Destiny level of an Emperor, while a Bright Yellow Destiny is more than sufficient to rule an entire Road. Now that I’m Praying for Rain on behalf of Guanxi Road, I should be able to gain the favor of Great Fortune...

He recalled how he had obtained the White Destiny [Lifetime of mediocrity] just as Princess Anren was getting married, allowing him to narrowly avoid the Flaying Grass punishment a month later. After acquiring the Red Fate [Righteous Thief] and escaping from the Sky Prison and Shenjing, he had been aided by some mysterious Luck, allowing him to reach Mount Siming safely despite the perils.

My current Bright Yellow Destiny [Official Thief] is even more noble and distinguished; there’s no reason I shouldn’t be able to successfully pray for rain. Even if... I can’t make it rain, there’s nothing to fear. The soldiers and horses are mine now; my prestige won’t be shattered by a single failed attempt to pray for rain.

He bolstered his confidence once more. Praying for Rain wasn’t just about pacifying the people. It’s also a test to see if I’ve truly received the Heavenly Order, or this so-called "favor of Great Fortune."

And then there’s my Cultivation...

Xu Xing sensed the intrinsic True Qi stored in his Dantian. With the aid of his Inborn strange vein and the Faux Innate Maitreya Body, he had accumulated, in less than two months, an amount of True Qi that would take an ordinary person at least a decade to gather. And because of the Eight-Armed Vajra Sutra, he cultivated both internally and externally. His strength was formidable, far surpassing others at his level.

Monk Shang at Heyang Mountain is also on the verge of being unable to withstand the Local Army’s siege. The Imperial Court Soldiers’ retreat this time was also related to his plunder of a significant amount of military grain from the Cao River, which had, in turn, attracted the covetous attention of the Local Army... The Vajra Mudra... perhaps I can trade some conditions for it. Compared to mere Cultivation Methods, tangible benefits are better. After all, he has already sold a Cultivation Method once; it’s like squandering ancestral land without a pang of regret.

「Soon, three days passed.」

On the outskirts of Shenghua Mansion, Great Clans, Gentry, and some Jianghu elders gathered to observe the Praying for Rain ceremony.

"Iron Palm Immortal," one voice began, "I heard King Xing Tian wished to become your disciple in his youth, but then nothing came of it?"