CHAPTER 899: CHAPTER 727: DIVINE COUNTRY

Surroundings of the Lingyu Cave Heaven.

At this time, some cities had already experienced small-scale unrest, causing some damage.

However, since these disturbances and damage did not lead to any fatal consequences, and because the disturbances weren’t caused by individuals but rather large groups, even if fires or property losses were incurred, the Karma was distributed and no individual would see a significant increase in their Karma.

Let alone reaching the pitch-black force that would attract the Thunder Punishment Eye, even bright red like blood was hard to achieve.

The only result of such chaos was the disarray of people’s spirits.

When Gu Jinlai arrived at the city under the responsibility of Immortal Master Lingyu, it was already under lockdown.

It seemed as if it had entered a wartime state.

Seeing Gu Jinlai approaching, she immediately came to greet him, with guilt on her face: "Master Gu, although we have temporarily controlled the current situation, this is obviously not a long-term solution."

"I heard you discovered some issues, and that it’s related to an organization called the ’Freedom Church’? Why haven’t these culprits been dealt with?"

Gu Jinlai asked.

"Although there are traces of the ’Freedom Church’ in many places regarding these matters, but..."

Immortal Master Lingyu gestured with her hand.

Soon, her disciple stepped forward and handed over several Jade Scrolls.

Immortal Master Lingyu gave the Jade Scrolls to Gu Jinlai, who perceived them for a moment, quickly understanding the reason she hadn’t eradicated the Freedom Church.

Because what the Freedom Church did didn’t constitute a crime.

Recruiting members into the church didn’t involve coercive methods.

However, those unwilling to join the Freedom Church were harassed endlessly.

And it couldn’t even be called harassment; rather, it was the daily persuasion by numerous friends and neighbors surrounding them.

If persuasion fails, it might lead to backbiting or even hidden sarcastic remarks.

They wouldn’t even directly provoke or anger the person.

One or two might not sway an individual’s will, but when three, four, or even everyone in one’s social circle starts pointing fingers, even the most indifferent person would be affected.

If, in a moment of mental collapse and emotional loss of control, they chose to strike...

Involved in a public incident, no matter how justified, the person in question would become unjustified.

Combined with the Lingxiao Palace’s rule for a fair trial, even if the person got rid of the harassment, they’d be imprisoned, sentenced, and left with a criminal record, which would influence them for life.

With such outcomes occurring multiple times, and the Freedom Church secretly controlling some media outlets, those unwilling to join would naturally feel intimidated.

In the end, whether willingly or not, they would choose to join the Freedom Church.

After reviewing these Jade Scrolls, Gu Jinlai realized the complexity of the situation.

"Currently, the biggest issue isn’t just the formidable group of freedom seekers but also that many people are hesitant in their duties. Holding positions, they dare not govern; doing nothing avoids mistakes, and doing more leads to more mistakes, especially for those high-level cultivators who deeply fear the Thunder Punishment Eye. Additionally, there’s a grievance—why must they, who’ve invested so much effort to reach their realm, live like ordinary people without any privileges? Over time, a sense of neglect arises among them."

Immortal Master Lingyu sighed, "High-level cultivators often hold significant positions in many departments. When they start outwardly agreeing but inwardly opposing, the situation further deteriorates..."

"Then just replace them. If they don’t want to act, others will,"

Gu Jinlai stated.

"The problem is those complacent high-level cultivators don’t show such thoughts openly. Many even shift blame. When subordinates achieve success, the credit is theirs, but if there’s an error, the blame falls on underlings, making most high-level cultivators appear to have illustrious careers."

Immortal Master Lingyu shook her head, "Yet this behavior deeply disheartens the frontline staff. When they work hard and succeed but upper levels seize the glory, while they face punishment for action, what enthusiasm remains? Especially as lower officials are more swayed by public opinion, they too start going with the flow, and eventually, the entire city is filled with inept and lazy governance."

She glanced at Gu Jinlai, "Such inept and lazy governance only exacerbates public discontent. Some City Lord Mansion’s absurd actions make people want to break free from these fools’ control and seek freedom, rapidly expanding the Freedom Church’s influence, eventually forming an overwhelming trend."

Gu Jinlai listened, understanding the situation.

The main cause of such a situation was the lack of oversight.

In the Longevity World, only Lingxiao Palace held absolute power.

In the past, Gu Jinlai considered the potential for corruption in Lingxiao Palace if it monopolized the world.

So he left the Immortal Country.

He intended for the Immortal Country to act as a check on Lingxiao Palace.

Yet, over the years, with his growing strength and influence, the people of the Immortal Country gradually realized who the future dominator of the Longevity World would be.

Especially with the existence of the Thunder Punishment Eye...

As the Lingxiao Palace Master, wielding the power of judgment, Gu Jinlai continually purged the Longevity World. Even the disciples of some Immortal Masters couldn’t escape trial when committing heinous acts, further inciting fear of Lingxiao Palace among the Immortal Country.

Nowadays, any common citizen claiming to act according to Lingxiao Palace rules could make Devas or Saints bow.

No matter their genius, supremacy, or status as True Immortals, they were all ruthlessly suppressed under Lingxiao Palace’s rules.

When the capable received no due treatment and ordinary individuals exploited Lingxiao Palace rules unreasonably, the decline naturally accelerated.

"Do you have any solutions?"

Gu Jinlai asked.

Immortal Master Lingyu glanced at Gu Jinlai.

The problem lay with Gu Jinlai...

Specifically, it lay with the "fair and just" judgment of the Thunder Punishment Eye on anyone whose Karma was pitch-black.

So...

The solution can only be found within Gu Jinlai himself.

But these words, Immortal Master Lingyu dared not utter.

Because this is akin to asking a nation’s imperial family, the Emperor himself, to overturn their own reign.

She was unaware of how many interests would be involved, but the imperial family is revered, the Emperor is supreme, precisely because of centralized power.

Once power has oversight, has regulation, how are they still to be called supreme, discussed as unrivaled?

When the people accuse an official, would the official sanction their own execution if they were at fault?

They would only make matters disappear beforehand, as if it never happened.

Even establish hidden rules—no accusing officials, one who does faces death—as a warning to others.

Of course, these rules have to remain covert; outwardly, they must maintain an image of integrity.

Just like the cities under Immortal Master Lingyu’s jurisdiction, many high-level cultivators are evidently occupying positions without diligence, yet an investigation from above would definitely find them laboring industriously for the people.

Reflecting on this, Immortal Master Lingyu eventually replied: "This is a problem that has existed since ancient times for human society, insoluble."

Gu Jinlai’s divine sense enveloped this city.

Though the city was already under lockdown, sin still burgeoned in many places.

At this moment, he even doubted whether his regular sweeps of the Longevity World and the Profound Immortal Realm with the Thunder Punishment Eye were right or wrong.

However, only moments later, his gaze grew resolute.

Though the appearance of the Thunder Punishment Eye had led many high-level cultivators to inactivity, one merit was undeniable.

Since the Thunder Punishment Eye emerged, none dared wanton slaughter, none dared recklessly act; even when cultivating evil, it was done furtively, not daring to cause major disruptions.

Perhaps human desires are never satisfied.

But...

Compared to twenty years ago, the security of life for beings in the Longevity World has vastly improved.

If he did choose to withdraw the Thunder Punishment Eye, retract the fairness and justice of the rules, that near feudal-like rule of twenty years ago would again envelop every corner of the Longevity World.

"But human desires are never satisfied, it seems."

Gu Jinlai spoke, his divine sense intensely focused on a seemingly normal Free Church base.

"Furthermore, it’s not that simple. Moral decay, no matter how swift, wouldn’t transform within a few years. This timeline should span decades... yet, unexpectedly, within mere years, the Free Sect has developed to such an extent, not only in the Lingyu Cave Heaven city groups but similarly in other Cave Heaven city groups, though the scale may not be as great."

"You mean... there’s someone behind the Free Church?"

Immortal Master Lingyu was slightly startled.

"There is."

Gu Jinlai affirmed: "Too swift. Given the unsmooth exchange of information among people, this scene is too fast to be natural evolution."

His gaze shifted quickly to a bishop from the Free Church.

This bishop’s cultivation was not high, only at the Devas Realm, and the Karma on him...

Seemed manageable; it hadn’t even reached the bright red, blood-like level.

Because he often commanded others to perform evil; this indirect impact added less Karma than directly committing the acts himself.

Moreover, he paid much attention to maintaining his image, regularly performing charitable deeds, even if they weren’t sincerely intended, yet compensated for his Karma with notable effectiveness.

Gu Jinlai directly employed the Void Projection Technique to project onto this bishop, probing into his memory.

However, as he explored the Devas’ memory, it seemed to trigger a backlash in his spiritual essence, as a Deva unexpectedly resisted his True Spirit.

Though merely moments later, this bishop’s soul was shattered by Gu Jinlai’s True Spirit, such anomaly still led Gu Jinlai to some insights.

For a brief moment, he keenly perceived, and in the next instant, the Divine Sense Ability, powerful enough to reach the fifth stage of the Great Dao Golden Immortal, surged forth, like a torrent following a ripple, crashing through.

As he broke through this ripple, faintly, he seemed to enter a world akin to the True Spirit Realm.

And almost immediately upon entering this world, a Divine Sense Ability, far stronger than he could imagine, suppressed him.

This Divine Sense Ability felt like a burden of a thousand catties; though separated by unknown distances, it struck his divine sense like a towering Divine Mountain, causing him to groan, swiftly crushing his Divine Sense Ability.

"Master Gu!?"

Immortal Master Lingyu couldn’t help but exclaim.

Gu Jinlai did not respond; the pain from his Divine Sense Ability being crushed hadn’t affected his inner shock in the slightest.

His eyes were filled with surprise and fluctuations.

"No! That’s not the True Spirit Realm!"

He was immensely certain that it wasn’t the True Spirit Realm.

It wasn’t the True Spirit Realm, yet it possessed the traits of the True Spirit Realm.

That is...

"Divine Country!"

The Divine Country of a Divine Spirit!