Chapter 650: Xia Chichi is Acting as the Cult Leader

Chapter 650: Xia Chichi Acts as the Sect Leader

The followers of the Four Symbols Sect felt deep shame for their earlier base thoughts.

They had imagined the gods forcibly keeping the Venerable One in attendance... but look at this manifestation of the Vermilion Bird spreading its wings—the majesty and power felt from afar were undeniable. The Vermilion Bird Venerable had clearly made a great leap in cultivation, thus triggering a resonance with the stars.

This was no mere attendance; even the most extravagant claims of dual cultivation by the former Maitreya Sect would never dare boast of such an improvement. This was not that kind of matter—it could only be a true blessing from the gods, granting the ever-loyal and selfless Vermilion Bird Venerable a transcendence in cultivation.

This was a miracle among miracles, perhaps even a great drain on the gods themselves. How could anyone have imagined such a sordid scene?

The followers bowed their heads in prayer, deeply repenting for their irreverent suspicions of the gods and the Venerable One.

They should be more faithful to their beliefs, striving to receive such blessings in the future, to break through the thresholds that had held them back for so many years.

The new Sect Leader and the Black Tortoise Venerable exchanged a silent, expressionless stare for a while. Finally, Xia Chichi said, "The new doctrines and regulations have been proclaimed. You shall return to study them and act according to the new rules. From this day forward, we are the true state religion, and we must set an example. In particular, matters of killing must no longer follow the old ways, lest we be seen as demons. Adapt to the other rules gradually."

The followers bowed their heads: "We obey the Sect Leader's command."

The "demon" nature of the Four Symbols Sect did not stem from inherent malice; the followers were not bloodthirsty or evil—perhaps even less so than the Blood God Sect, which was truly violent. It was merely that the old doctrines made their actions seem demonic, with a clear implication that "this world belongs to our Night Emperor, the Human Emperor must be our Azure Dragon, and all others are false and can be eliminated." Hence, they were called demons.

But times had changed. Now, with a true god sitting below bestowing blessings upon the Vermilion Bird, and with the emperor truly being their own Azure Dragon, the Four Symbols Sect no longer had any soil for demonic attributes. This was their ideal divine kingdom. Now, the evil ones were the rebellious warlords scattered across the land. Damn them, how dare they defy our Azure Dragon Holy Emperor?

Xia Chichi said, "The greatest advantage of the Holy Sect lies in its grassroots influence. Coincidentally, the court now has an important matter that requires a response from the people."

"Sect Leader, please instruct."

"Previously, the court selected officials through recommendation by aristocratic families. Not only did they dominate the court, but their protégés and former subordinates were also spread across the regions like a spider's web. Countless men like Zhai Muzhi existed. I intend to reform this... The late emperor once promoted military examinations to strengthen the military and the Demon Suppression Bureau, creating a force independent of the aristocratic families. But that was not enough. The late emperor never had a governing philosophy; governance remained in the hands of the aristocratic families. We need to expand from military examinations to civil examinations... For others, such a task might face great resistance, but we are the Four Symbols Sect!"

We are the Four Symbols Sect.

When it comes to grassroots power, the foundation of a religion is perfectly suited for this task, capable of counterbalancing the deeply entrenched local forces of the aristocratic families.

On the other hand, in terms of literacy and cultural level, religious personnel, due to deliberate cultivation, are far stronger than mere martial arts sects. Though far from the level of aristocratic families, they can barely support a large-scale imperial examination and official selection.

It doesn't matter if the aristocratic families resist. As long as there is large-scale grassroots participation, and the selected officials are all Four Symbols Sect followers, can the aristocratic families sit still?

If this were a conventional court, such an action would risk rebellions across the land. But what does this court have to fear now? Rebellions are already everywhere. The areas under court control are only the capital region, the Jianghuai area, and the Yanmen garrison—even the Jiangnan Tang family might not count. This is a broken mess, akin to starting over from scratch to rebuild the world. The only ones to contend with are old forces like Lu Jianzhang. If not now, when?

But even as Xia Chichi discussed serious matters, her mind wandered.

Damn it, that dead turtle had slipped away at some point... Is this how you act as a Venerable? From start to finish, he hadn't uttered a single word, just sat there like a mascot, almost grabbing a handful of melon seeds to nibble. When it came to state affairs, he didn't even bother to watch from the sidelines—he just bolted.

One sneaks off to slack off, another is off dating a man, and here she is, the only one left in this vast sect, earnestly doing the work. Xia Chichi finally understood what it meant to have a boomerang come back to hit her. How had the Vermilion Bird Venerable maintained this sect back then...

Wait...

She made me the Sect Leader and willingly served as my assistant—was it not out of selflessness, but essentially to dump the burden on me?

...

While Xia Chichi was striving to be the Sect Leader, the Vermilion Bird Venerable lay limp on the altar table, her mask still on, eyes vacant, her ritual robe open on both sides. Her legs hung weakly over the edge of the table, twitching occasionally.

The copied doctrines were scattered on the ground like falling snowflakes.

In her dazed mind, the Vermilion Bird herself wondered: if this were a demonic cult sacrifice, wouldn't this be the most typical scene of an evil ritual?

Even Zhao Changhe's behavior was markedly different from when he had been with Huangfu Qing before—clearly more excited.

Indeed, gods and demons are but a thought away.

But the surging power within her was real. If subduing the Heart Flame earlier had broken through the third secret treasury, and after all this time she had reached the middle stage, then now she could definitely be called the pinnacle of the third stage, right on the threshold of the Imperial Realm.

To break through to the Imperial Realm was simple—just go to that place she had visited in her wandering consciousness and experience it firsthand.

Calling this dual cultivation wouldn't be accurate; dual cultivation was merely a key. What truly made this possible was the analysis of the Heavenly Book and this kind of spatial shift like mustard seed and Mount Sumeru. This wasn't Zhao Changhe's own power, but the effect of this underground secret realm being a treasure. The difference between what could be done here and outside was vast.

But the Vermilion Bird was certain that even Xia Longyuan, who could descend his divine presence anywhere in the sky, could not take someone with him on a journey. Otherwise, he could have taken Xia Chichi directly to Tianya Island back then, saving much trouble and reducing many variables. This proved Xia Longyuan couldn't take others, but Zhao Changhe had done it.

"How did you do it?" The Vermilion Bird sat up weakly, leaning against the man's chest, and asked softly, "Your cultivation has only just broken through the third secret treasury. How can you do something that only a god can accomplish?"

Zhao Changhe lowered his head and kissed her: "I'll tell you the truth. Don't think I'm just saying what you want to hear."

The Vermilion Bird shook her head: "I won't."

Zhao Changhe said, "When I forged the Star River Sword, the stars' responses truly obeyed me. My control over this sky surpasses even Old Xia himself. Otherwise, what would be the point of forging the sword? In this sense, I am truly the Night Emperor. You don't need to agonize over whether you are traitors."

The Vermilion Bird was stunned for a moment: "Why didn't you say so earlier? And you deliberately challenged me, insisting on subduing me?"

"If I didn't produce results, how could you believe my words?" Zhao Changhe said. "Besides, I never intended to use the name of a god to do anything... Between you and me, it's just you and me. You can still hit me if you want, punish me if you want. What's the point of calling myself a god?"

When the emotions between them were simply about the two of them, not tainted by faith, and only afterward did they discover that he was indeed connected to that faith—that feeling filled the Vermilion Bird with immense joy. She pouted slightly and said softly, "You always say nice things. Dare you say you never thought about making the Vermilion Bird Venerable kneel before you?"

Zhao Changhe leaned in to kiss her ear: "You know what I want..."

The Vermilion Bird said, "You want to humiliate me again, don't you? Why don't you do that to Tang Wanzhao?"

Here we go...

Zhao Changhe laughed helplessly and whispered, "But what I love most is the Vermilion Bird's lips... I don't have such strong desires for anyone else."

The Vermilion Bird didn't know whether to feel proud or ashamed about this obsession of his. But now, the Vermilion Bird no longer needed to maintain her pride before him; her heart was willing.

Yet at this moment, the Vermilion Bird did not comply. Her phoenix eyes behind the mask shifted, and she suddenly said, "I don't believe you. If it were someone else, you might be just as happy..."

With that, her seemingly limp hand suddenly reached out and grabbed: "What about her?"

A cry of "Ah!" was heard, and a San Niang was pulled from somewhere.

She had sneaked in, hoping to watch the fun of the Vermilion Bird performing oral service, but was caught off guard. Unable to resist the Vermilion Bird's suddenly enhanced cultivation, she was yanked through the air and landed on the altar.

"Uh... what a coincidence, you're here too..." San Niang cautiously backed away. "I was just passing by. You two continue, continue..."

This time, even Zhao Changhe couldn't hold back. He grabbed her back: "Was it fun to mess with me this morning with that out-of-context video clip? Black Tortoise Venerable, what punishment do you deserve?"