A Pawn's Passage

While Qi Xuansu was dealing with enemies and allies on the Southern Continent, Zhang Yuelu had to deal with internal strife within the Daoist Order.

The problem lay in the fact that everyone’s interests were entangled.

Zhang Yuelu had to carry out internal reforms and redistribute wealth while, at the same time, maintaining economic growth, preventing regression, and ensuring that fiscal and tax revenues remained stable. She was currently standing at the center of a storm, with countless people wishing to send her away, so she could not afford to hand her opponents any leverage against her.

During this period, Zhang Yuelu had gained a deeper understanding of the theories she had learned at the Wanxiang Daoist Palace through experience.

At the beginning, outward expansion could be used to attract external capital, enlarging the overall economic pie and ushering in an entirely new era unlike any previous dynasty.

If that path reached its limits, development would have to be achieved through internal debt expansion.

Such internal debt was not a matter of oppressive taxation or exploitation. Rather, it involved using certain necessities to induce society to assume debt. These could be tea, salt, iron, housing, or land. During this process, a period of rapid development would inevitably occur. However, this model was unsustainable. Once debt grew too high, the burden would have to be shed in order to complete a transformation.

The second step was to externalize the debt burden. Through large-scale commodity trade, excess production capacity could be absorbed while internal economic bubbles burst, allowing for renewal and rebirth. This process would be extremely painful and accompanied by severe turbulence.

If the transformation failed and internal debts and contradictions could not be exported outward, the enormous debt burden would completely destroy the ability to expand credit further. So-called development would become stagnant, and merely avoiding decline would be a blessing, let alone achieving further progress. Should unforeseen disasters occur and damage the foundations built through comprehensive debt expansion, there would be no capacity left to rescue the situation through another round of large-scale borrowing.

The Daoist Order had now arrived at a crossroads. The Eastern Continent had already been largely consumed. East Shakya was at war. Sahul was unsuitable for habitation and functioned primarily as a mining region. The Western Continent belonged to the Holy Court. So the only place for expansion was the New Continent.

The faction led by the Li family believed that all contradictions and pressures should be transferred outward, while internal bubbles should remain untouched or disturbed as little as possible. In this way, everyone would benefit.

Zhang Yuelu agreed with exporting pressures outward, but she also insisted that internal bubbles had to be burst for a more equitable redistribution. Only then could a true transformation be completed, entering a new era.

If pressures were merely shifted outward without any internal reform, then even if the New Continent were consumed, how many years would that buy? Was the Daoist Order planning to rule the world for merely three or four centuries and then call it quits? A millennium-long strategy was still necessary.

Pressure did not disappear out of thin air. Shifting everything outward meant comprehensive external exploitation, and sooner or later, there would be repercussions.

That was the core contradiction.

At present, Jade Capital’s approach was to set aside the disputed issues and focus all efforts outward. Therefore, control over the Tawantin Empire had to be strengthened, some of the negative influences brought by the ancient gods had to be eliminated, and stability had to be ensured. This was the part for which Qi Xuansu was responsible.

At the same time, construction and development on the Southern Continent had to be accelerated in preparation for the future, which was Huangfu Ji’s responsibility.

Both tasks had to be pursued simultaneously, and both had to be handled with equal determination.

From this perspective, Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu simply had different areas of responsibility. Qi Xuansu focused primarily on external affairs, while Zhang Yuelu focused primarily on internal matters.

Now, Zhang Yuelu was also feeling tremendous pressure. Once the new policies entered the deeper stage, ordinary methods would be incapable of pushing them forward without resorting to force.

It was like being trapped beneath a giant net cast from all directions, unable to move.

When Qi Xuansu moved against Wang Jiaohe, these people either watched from the sidelines or carefully observed the prevailing winds before firmly taking Qi Xuansu’s side. But once their fundamental interests were threatened and their autonomy was challenged, they would fight desperately.

These people were no ordinary figures. Each had extensive connections, and some of the older and more established ones had influential networks in Jade Capital. It would not be surprising for them to directly approach Omniscient Sages or Great Sages of the Golden Tower Council.

Had Zhang Yuelu’s backing not been strong enough, she would have long since been driven out of Poluo. But thankfully, she had the Heavenly Preceptor personally supporting her.

Recently, however, dissenting voices had begun to emerge even within the Zhang family itself. When it came to economic bubbles, it was not only the Li family that benefited. Everyone had profited from them. Thus, when discussing redistribution, the Zhang family was also among the most impacted. This fire had been burning for so long, so what if it ultimately burned their own house down? Wouldn’t it be akin to shooting themselves in the foot?

As such, Zhang Yuelu was under immense pressure and could only compromise, repeatedly emphasizing that this was not confiscation of property, merely reform.

To put it bluntly, everyone needed to consume a little less and share a little more. It was like a vat of grain that could either be eaten or used as seed. If people ate slightly less and set aside more for planting, the following year would bring a larger harvest. In the long run, this was a good thing and would yield greater returns.

But some people simply refused to listen. They cared only about immediate gains. They wanted to consume more, possess more, and enjoy more. If they did not take their share, someone else would seize it, so wouldn’t that mean they had suffered a loss?

Thus, Zhang Yuelu had been utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally. She had not only sent Little Yin away but also no longer had the energy or leisure to contact Qi Xuansu.

However, Qi Xuansu was equally busy and had no time to chat with Zhang Yuelu. As it happened, neither of them disturbed the other.

As the sun set, Zhang Yuelu finished a day’s official business and stepped out of her office. She was planning to have a few drinks before continuing to work late into the night when she saw an elderly man in plain white robes standing outside. He had white hair and a white beard, kind eyes, and a benevolent expression.

“Grandpa?” Zhang Yuelu asked in surprise. “What brings you here? Tian Yuan wanted to see you several times, but each time, he was told that you weren’t at the Dazhen Mansion.”

The visitor was none other than the Heavenly Preceptor. Smiling faintly, he said, “For some matters, the timing has not yet matured. It would be inappropriate if I were to add fuel to the fire prematurely, so it is better to let things take their natural course.”

Zhang Yuelu immediately invited the Heavenly Preceptor to continue the conversation in the reception hall.

The Heavenly Preceptor waved his hand. “There’s no need. How has your cultivation been progressing recently?”

Zhang Yuelu hesitated. “I’ve been dealing with too many things recently...”

The Heavenly Preceptor sized her up and chided, “Cultivation is the foundation of everything. If your cultivation is insufficient, you cannot rise higher. One governs according to one’s position. If you cannot reach the position you aspire to, then you cannot accomplish the things you wish to do.”

Naturally, Zhang Yuelu understood this principle and had no way to refute him.

The Heavenly Preceptor continued, “You can’t compare yourself to Tian Yuan, who isn’t particularly diligent in cultivation. He possesses the Longevity Stone Heart and can advance by drawing upon external sources, ascending ever higher. If you follow in his footsteps, you’ll simply remain stuck where you are.”

Once again, Zhang Yuelu found herself speechless.

The Heavenly Preceptor asked further, “How is your swordsmanship?”

Zhang Yuelu answered honestly, “Merely proficient. I’ve only recently entered the Nought Series of the Cihang Sword Sequence, and I’ve only just begun to grasp the fundamentals of the Dragon Tiger Sword Technique.”

The Heavenly Preceptor sighed. “When it comes to swordsmanship, I am inferior to the Imperial Preceptor. Still, I am considered skilled. What do you think of sparring with me?”

Zhang Yuelu’s expression became serious. “Please guide me, Grandpa.”

The Heavenly Preceptor snapped off a bamboo branch from a distance that was only about as thick as an index finger. In truth, the Heavenly Preceptor did not need a sword at all. He merely wished for Zhang Yuelu to clearly see the makeshift sword in his hand.

“I will not use dual swords, only a single sword. Attack as you please.” The Heavenly Preceptor raised the bamboo branch in his hand.

Zhang Yuelu drew Purple Afterflow, then produced the Amorphous Paper, transforming it into a paper sword to replace Green Cloud.

The Heavenly Preceptor said, “I will not injure you, nor will I deliberately suppress my cultivation, since swordsmanship cannot be separated from the support of one’s cultivation. Using overwhelming force to suppress an opponent is also a valid strategy.”

Zhang Yuelu said nothing in response. She leaped into the air, her twin swords circling as the Dragon and Tiger Sword Techniques moved as one.

The bamboo branch in the Heavenly Preceptor’s hand trembled slightly. Faster than a shooting star or a flash of lightning, the branch struck Zhang Yuelu’s wrist with neither excessive force nor undue restraint.

Zhang Yuelu’s momentum was immediately disrupted. She was forced to retreat with a shocked expression.

She had not even seen how the Heavenly Preceptor made his move. All she caught was a fleeting green afterimage. She vaguely sensed that he had used the Tiger Sword Technique, the very half of the Dragon Tiger Sword Technique that Qi Xuansu had learned. Its speed was astonishingly fast.

The Heavenly Preceptor had already shown the utmost restraint. Had it not been for the bamboo branch, Zhang Yuelu would not have seen anything at all. If the Heavenly Preceptor had been wielding Purple Afterglow and Green Cloud, her hand would already have been severed.

The Heavenly Preceptor continued, “The methods you study are not from the new system consolidated by the Holy Xuan but the ancient methods of the past, in which technique and Dao are integrated. The sword I wield at this moment is both technique and Dao.”

Having said that, the Heavenly Preceptor lightly pointed with the bamboo branch in his hand.

In an instant, Zhang Yuelu felt an overwhelming tide of sword qi rushing toward her. Within it lay the power of thunder, as though a vast pool of lightning had materialized from nothing. Yet not the slightest damage was inflicted upon the surrounding environment.

Aside from Lin Yuanmiao, who sensed that something had occurred, everyone else within Tianfu Palace remained completely unaware.

A gentle breeze brushed across the pond, creating faint ripples on the water’s surface.

The bamboo forest swayed softly.

The birds did not scatter in alarm, nor did the dormant insects stir from their slumber.

However, Zhang Yuelu was already kneeling with one knee on the ground, supporting herself with her twin swords. She was not injured, but sparks of electricity flickered across her entire body. Her body felt numb, rendering her unable to move.

The Heavenly Preceptor looked down at Zhang Yuelu from above. “If this is your Five Thunder Celestial Heart Method, on what grounds do you intend to compete with Qi Xuansu and Li Changge?”

Once again, Zhang Yuelu had no answer.

The Heavenly Preceptor asked, “Can you get up?”

Enduring every discomfort through sheer willpower, Zhang Yuelu slowly rose to her feet. “Yes!”

The Heavenly Preceptor struck again with the bamboo branch.

This time, Zhang Yuelu was sent flying backward.

This prodigy of the Daoist Order was still just a child before the Three Deputy Grand Master.

Zhang Yuelu struggled to her feet once again.

The Heavenly Preceptor walked up to Zhang Yuelu and casually rested the bamboo branch in his hand upon her shoulder.

Zhang Yuelu immediately felt as though an immense weight of 100 tonnes had been placed upon her shoulders, forcing her back down to one knee.

This time, no matter how hard Zhang Yuelu struggled, she could not stand up.

The Heavenly Preceptor said calmly, “Qing Xiao, wait a little longer.”

“How much longer?” Zhang Yuelu asked in protest.

The Heavenly Preceptor replied, “Until the day when you can truly stretch your limbs between heaven and earth.”

Zhang Yuelu said nothing and struggled once more, yet the bamboo branch resting on her shoulder remained completely unmoved.

The Heavenly Preceptor sighed again. “As for your new policies in Poluo, we need not discuss the measures that have already been implemented. Those that have not yet been carried out should be set aside for the time being. Your primary task from this point forward is to strengthen your cultivation. All other matters can be put on hold for now. That is what I require of you.”