Lu Yang soon left Zhao Xuhe.
Goodbye, Senior Brother Zhao. We are not suitable for each other. After all, you will be cannon fodder in the [Capital Skies Division] from now on. You are no longer worthy of me. Let's break up.
I won't ask you for the contribution points you owed me in the sixth life.
I am truly magnanimous.
As for the new possession target, Lu Yang first cast a technique to deduce karma, then selected one person from the present [Capital Skies Division] Banner Officers.
"Finally over."
Watching this new batch of [Strongman] enlist, [Capital Skies Division] Small Banner Officer Xu An couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "How many of these people do you think will survive?"
"You still have the mind to care about others?"
Another Small Banner Officer laughed instantly upon hearing this: "We are about to be dispatched to Dongting Lake soon. Maybe we won't even live as long as these Strongmen!"
"Not necessarily."
Xu An shook his head: "I heard that batch of True Dragons has already received warnings from big shots in the Imperial Court. They will behave themselves and help the Imperial Court govern Dongting Lake. We are just going there to put on a show. It looks dangerous, but it's an easy job... Otherwise, why would Lord Liu go there?"
Although Xu An's rank was small, he wasn't stupid.
If Dongting Lake were truly a perilous place with ten deaths and no life, Thousand-Household Liu would surely hide far away. How could he actively volunteer to be dispatched there?
Thinking of this, he wanted to say a few more words.
Just then, as the [Capital Skies Division Banner Officer] official position above his head lowered a streak of brilliance, a line of golden text instantly appeared in the depths of his eyes:
[Warning, Small Banner Officer Xu An, it is now "Drill" time. Please proceed to the drill ground immediately.]
[If you do not arrive at the drill ground within the time limit to participate in the routine "Drill", according to the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws], you will be given a preliminary lightning strike punishment.]
"Oh no."
Seeing this, Xu An's expression changed wildly. Where would he dare chat with his colleague any longer? After a casual farewell, he rode his streak of light and flew out directly.
[Capital Skies Division] Small Banner, holding Rank 7 official position, counted as late-stage Qi Refining cultivation, already capable of flying with streaks of light.
However, Xu An wasn't adept at this. As a result, he was still a moment late. Just a few steps away from the drill ground, he watched in despair as he exceeded the time limit.
Boom!
The next second, a bolt of lightning struck down directly from the sky. Intense pain caused Xu An to fall directly to the ground and convulse, breathing out steaming hot air from his mouth.
Lu Yang, possessing him, was stunned.
What is this thing?
Daily tasks, get shocked if not completed?
Lu Yang searched Wu Taian's memories again, only then discovering the corresponding intelligence from a forgotten corner. This was a restriction inherent to Dao Court official positions.
Official position is power, but also responsibility.
Every official position in the Dao Court has corresponding [Duties], tasks that must be completed every day. Failure to complete them results in punishment by the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws].
For example, Xu An, as a [Capital Skies Division] Small Banner Officer, had three duties every day: [Drill], [Patrol], and [Report], which must be completed.
These duties almost filled up all his time.
This was also the Dao Court's method of rule. Keep people busy, tire them out. After finishing work, they only know eating and sleeping, naturally making it hard to create trouble.
And the punishments Dao Court officials received due to [Dereliction of Duty] would all be recorded by their official positions. Every nine years, the Dao Court would conduct an "Official Examination," counting the officials' [Dereliction of Duty] records. Those with poor performance would be demoted or even dismissed, while those with excellent performance would be promoted.
"Hahaha, Xu An, you're late again?"
"If this continues, I think you'll fall in the Official Examination in a few years. Not to mention Small Banner Officer, I'm afraid you'll be reduced to serving as a Strongman for others."
"Go go go, stop cursing me!"
Facing the mockery of several colleagues, Xu An, who barely recovered from the lightning strike, stood up and said grumpily: "My future is bright!"
If his expectations weren't wrong, he could at least fish for some merits from this trip to Dongting Lake.
Although the big credit would definitely belong to Thousand-Household Liu, as long as he could drink some soup, it would be enough to easily wipe away the demerits of being late for a few drills.
Soon, the drill ended.
Next was [Patrol]. Xu An dared not delay. Pulling along a few Strongmen under his command, he left the yamen and began to patrol the entire city.
And Lu Yang, possessing him, also truly experienced the environment of the Dao Court.
Xu An rode his streak of light and casually circled the "Commoner District" in the outer city. After ensuring there were no large-scale bloodshed incidents, he passed through it.
There were many similar "Commoner Districts."
As the name suggested, those living inside were mortals without cultivation, the common people. Their only value of existence was to be ruled by the Dao Court officials.
After flying past these "Commoner Districts," Lu Yang soon felt a surge of spiritual energy blowing against his face. Clearly, they had arrived at the inner city.
The environment here was completely different—mustard seed containing worlds, mountains and rivers, pavilions and towers, cave abodes standing in great numbers, just like a fairyland on earth.
This was the "Cultivator District."
Every time he witnessed this scene, an indescribable pride would arise in Xu An's heart because his cave abode was right in the core area of this "Cultivator District."
Not only was the spiritual energy abundant, but it was also focused on by the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws].
Under the blessing of the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws], not only was the speed of absorbing spiritual energy far faster than in other remote places, but even innate comprehension could be improved!
To buy the cave abode here back then, he had spent a lot of thought.
Although he carried a mortgage for over a hundred years for this, it was undoubtedly worth it. Thanks to it, the female cultivator he recently dated had begun to discuss marriage.
As long as he gave another betrothal gift, both sides could formally become Dao companions.
In time, when his child was born, they wouldn't have to suffer like him. If they had a bit of promise, maybe they could even establish a small family.
Good days were still ahead!
Thinking of this, Xu An looked forward even more to the future assignment transferred to Dongting Lake. Whether his betrothal gift could be gathered depended on this official trip!
However, Lu Yang possessing him fell silent.
This is really...
Lu Yang felt an indescribable peculiarity in his heart.
The Dao Court's rule was quite complete. The entire Jiangdong was under the same order, and the efficiency of utilizing talent reached almost an extreme degree.
Simply put, it was competitive.
After all, [Dereliction of Duty] led to lightning strikes, and failing future Official Examinations even meant lowered cultivation, forcing all Dao Court cultivators to spontaneously compete.
...I underestimated the Dao Court!
In this instant, Lu Yang sighed with emotion. Sure enough, none of the four major forces were weak. Dao Court cultivators might be weak individually, but they won in stability and order.
Because official position was the foundation!
Can't win one-on-one? Then three-on-one, five-on-one, ten-on-one! It doesn't matter if people die; as long as the official position isn't damaged, plenty of people are willing to advance.
From this perspective, the Dao Court's war potential is the strongest among the four major forces. It's just because the [Immortal Kingdom Dao Laws] only cover Jiangdong that they didn't fight outwards. But correspondingly, it's also extremely difficult for others to cause trouble in Jiangdong. It's simply an impregnable empire!
Unless one integrated into it.
Integrating into the Dao Court's system and thinking of ways from within the system made it possible to leverage the Dao Court. Otherwise, one would only be crushed by the Dao Court like an egg hitting a rock.
This was also the reason Lu Yang chose Xu An.
Dongting Lake, True Dragon Clan... If nothing unexpected happens, this is the True Dragon branch secretly sent into Jiangdong after the Dragon Lord cooperated with the Dao Court.
This was his chance!
A chance to obtain a clean identity, allowing him to join the Dao Court openly and honestly, seize power, and thereby prepare for attaining [Heavenly Fire]!