As for the Sects within the Imperial Dynasty, they completely ignore dynastic wars, collapse, and other such crises. They simply leave the dynasty to fend for itself.
They do this to avoid being affected by the Emperor Dao National Fate.
The Cyan Yuan Sect, where Yang Chan belongs, is no different. They only resume normal activities once the situation has relatively stabilized.
For instance, when Lü Zhenghai returned to the Cyan Yuan Sect, he brought many fine things with him to mend these unseen wounds. Afterward, he took another group of people away from the Sect.
Although it was mostly Chiyu Peak that took so many people, the Merak Sacred Land must have known about it. Otherwise, Lü Zhenghai wouldn’t have been able to leave with so many disciples. After all, if they couldn’t enter the Merak Sacred Land, they would be useless to him, and the journey would have been a waste of time.
"Your Majesty, all Holy Lands are like this. Their status is transcendent!"
Grandmaster Lu Yuan said slowly.
Having been responsible for the investigation in White Jade City recently, he had naturally learned a great deal more.
There were records about the Holy Lands in the Imperial Palace, and Lu Yuan had naturally read many of them.
Previously, Lu Yuan’s status was not high enough for him to know these secrets. But after becoming Grandmaster, he gained the right to access such information. As a result, he read many records about the Holy Lands left by previous ministers.
The people of the Holy Lands simply do not care about the affairs of the Imperial Dynasty.
The moment they sense the Imperial Dynasty is in danger, they flee. They only reappear once things have stabilized. They hide themselves exceptionally well.
This is true even though the people of the Holy Lands are all individually powerful.
They always return after stability is restored, a phenomenon Lu Yuan found quite peculiar.
At the same time, through the records of his predecessors, he learned even more.
"Whenever the Imperial Dynasty faces a crisis, these people are the first to withdraw."
"If I didn’t know for a fact that they are all powerful, I would have thought the people of the Holy Lands were all flash and no substance!"
"Only later did I discover that the people of the Holy Lands fear the Emperor Dao National Fate."
"It’s as if the Emperor Dao National Fate is a deadly poison to the people of the Sects!"
Lu Yuan continued to share what he knew. However, his knowledge came from books provided by the Imperial Family, which contained only partial, carefully selected information and were far from complete.
"However, the Holy Lands don’t ask for much, and the terms they offer are reasonable enough."
"Aside from their refusal to submit to imperial authority, everything else is tolerable!"
Lu Yuan continued.
During his time in White Jade City, he had treated everyone under investigation with impartiality.
He spared no one who required investigation, and no amount of bribery could sway him.
In the process, he had caught many adulterers. People who appeared virtuous and demure in public were shockingly debauched in private. They were into all sorts of wild activities, the kind that could shatter a person’s entire worldview.
This was especially true for the high-ranking officials and nobles, whose debauchery was off the charts.
What was most interesting—and even more shocking—was the information uncovered during interrogations.
As a result, many women were served with divorce papers by their husbands’ families. In some cases, there were furious wives who flew into a rage and clawed their husbands’ faces to shreds.
All sorts of bizarre incidents happened daily. Only after some time did such occurrences begin to dwindle.
It almost felt as if they weren’t searching for the Dragon Slayer, but rather conducting a city-wide adultery bust. This, in turn, "cleaned up" White Jade City considerably.
Some of the most corrupt officials were also purged in the process, which helped to fill the Imperial coffers.
Though it was mostly ordinary gold and silver, it was a boon for the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty. After all, this silver could be used to provide relief to the common people.
The Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty’s Destiny Golden Dragon had been wounded by the Dragon Slayer Ouyang Qingtian and needed to recover. The greatest source of power for its recovery was, naturally, the common people.
Distributing these benefits to the common people, while not a huge amount, still had some effect.
Furthermore, dealing with these corrupt officials also bolstered the national fate. As long as the people’s livelihood gradually recovered, the Destiny Golden Dragon would eventually return to its peak condition.
This was precisely the Old Emperor’s intention behind these arrangements.
The common people would only rejoice at the downfall of these corrupt officials. The Emperor, in turn, used their purge to boost his popularity and increase the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty’s national fate.
Of course, the Old Emperor Yang Yu’s primary goal was still to find the potential Dragon Slayer. Everything else was merely a secondary benefit.
However, as time went on, the lines between the primary and secondary objectives began to blur.
"As for the Dragon Slayer... I have some doubts. I wonder if the great commotion in Yu State was actually caused by the birth of a creature from the Dragon Race!"
Lu Yuan shifted the topic to the situation in Yu State.
Dragon Qi was found in the great crater, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it was the Dragon Slayer’s aura. There are other possibilities.
’It was only after seeing many of the Imperial Family’s treasured archives that Lu Yuan began to entertain this speculation.’
"I have considered that possibility as well. For now, however, I must ask you to continue your hard work, Grandmaster."
"I am still consolidating my Cultivation. Even if we do not find the Dragon Slayer, it will be a good thing once my Cultivation is stable."
"The Destiny Golden Dragon was injured by Ouyang Qingtian. It is good for it to have more time to recover."
"Otherwise, if there really is another Dragon Slayer, it would be extremely troublesome!"
’The Old Emperor, Yang Yu, had long suspected this, but he had never discussed it with anyone else.’
Besides, the situation in White Jade City had improved greatly during this period, and it had become much safer.
’The fact that the common people, as well as the officials and nobles, were affected was of no importance to him. Their troubles were only temporary.’
"I understand, Your Majesty. I will do my utmost to investigate and will not let my guard down!"
Lu Yuan replied at once.
’In truth, there were benefits for him if this state of affairs continued.’
’His reputation throughout White Jade City would continue to grow, both among the common people and within the Court.’
’His deeds would be recorded in the annals of history, which was, of course, a good thing for him.’
’Everyone has different goals in life. As a minister of the Court, his was naturally to have his name immortalized in history!’