Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 1345: Chapter 1344: Mortal Immortal Realm (Legend Has It This Chapter Won’t Be Released Until the Day After Tomorrow)

During the following year, Fang Zheng devoted himself to farming.

Although this seemed a bit of a waste of time, Fang Zheng didn’t mind. Because in the Instance of Dog Food, time outside was in a paused state. So no matter how long Fang Zheng stayed in this Instance, it wouldn’t reduce the time maintained in the Divine Domain. And once Fang Zheng returned to the Main World, time would begin to flow, and his Divine Domain would immediately start operating, thereby sustaining the consumption of the numerous Magical Girls in the Magical Girl World.

So Fang Zheng made up his mind to stay until he finished entirely soaking in this Instance and collected enough firewood before deciding to leave.

Fang Zheng actually wasn’t worried about whether this world could be managed well, because his country was also an agricultural society before the end of the war. To put it simply, most people’s lives back then were almost no different from those in this instance. Yet even so, his country was able to transform from an underdeveloped agricultural nation to a major industrialized nation within a few decades, so now it’s even less of an issue.

As time went by, the situation in the Miao Territory gradually improved, with Fang Zheng implementing multiple reforms that significantly improved the lives of the people in the whole Miao Territory and even in some neighboring regions. Although there was no internet, television, telephone, or fax in this world, word of mouth quickly spread the news nationwide that the present Miao Territory had become a Mortal Immortal Realm.

Of course, the specifics were mostly rumors.

And such ”anecdotes” naturally reached the ears of the current Emperor.

”Gu Qing.”

Setting down the memorial in his hand, Emperor Song Dezhong curiously looked at the minister dressed in purple before him.

”Recently, I’ve often heard about the Miao Territory, rumored to be prosperous and magnificent like an immortal realm... Have you heard of such a thing?”

Hearing the emperor’s inquiry, Gu Zong hurriedly bowed his head.

”Reporting to Your Majesty, indeed such a thing has occurred. In fact...”

At this point, Gu Zong hesitated for a moment before continuing.

”In fact, I personally went to the Miao Territory to verify the matter. But from what I’ve seen, today’s Miao Territory is vastly different from before... One could say that the title of Mortal Immortal Realm is not an exaggeration.”

”Oh?”

Hearing this, Emperor Song Dezhong squinted his eyes.

”How does it compare to this Imperial City?”

”This... Please excuse me, I dare not speak recklessly.”

”Hehe.”

Although Gu Zong didn’t say it directly, the Emperor was obviously no fool. Just by looking at him, the Emperor already knew the answer. But rather than being annoyed, this only piqued the Emperor’s interest even further.

”I have heard of the Miao Territory being a wild place, lacking in etiquette and culture. How could such a transformation happen in just a few days?”

Hearing the Emperor’s inquiry, Gu Zong once again clasped his hands in respect.

”Report to Your Majesty, the previous Miao Territory was indeed as Your Majesty described, wild and remote, lacking in etiquette. However, the present Miao Territory is completely different. I have personally witnessed that people in the Miao Territory do not travel by carriage, but by flying boats that soar among the clouds. Fast and convenient, no mountain too high or water too deep could impede. And the rice fields yield harvests thrice a year, all sorts of miraculous things I had never heard of or seen before.”

”Oh? Such things exist?!”

Hearing this, the Emperor couldn’t hold back. Even as an emperor, he had never flown in the sky!

And now, a group of people from the backwoods had gone to the sky before him?!

How could this be tolerated?!

”Why hasn’t the Miao Territory sent this wonder?”

By this point, the Emperor had a bit of resentment deep inside. Such a wonderful thing, and they enjoyed it without including him? Did they still regard him as their Emperor?

Faced with the Emperor’s questioning, Gu Zong once again fearfully bowed his head.

”Reporting to Your Majesty, to be honest, several months ago, the Miao Territory had sent people to the capital to discuss opening up traffic routes.”

”Traffic routes?”

”Yes, riding on those Cloud Skimmers, transporting people and goods between the Miao Territory and the capital...”

”Oh? That’s a good thing!”

Hearing this, Emperor Song Dezhong was immediately pleased. As the Emperor, he was certainly no fool, and he knew how convenient such flying boats would be for transporting people and materials. The nation was currently facing the threat of Great Gold, so as Emperor, he cared deeply about any matter that could enhance national strength.

”So, when can it be done?”

”This... Your Majesty, I’m afraid it cannot be done.”

”...... Why?”

”Because... there are many rumors that in the Miao Territory, humans and yokai intermingle and live together without distinction. Some officials believe these flying boats might be some sort of demon magic, and if brought into the capital, they might bring disaster...”

”Hmph, outrageous!”

Hearing this, the Emperor’s expression immediately turned serious.

”Is there any basis for such claims?”

”There is indeed, Your Majesty... The Miao Territory has indeed enacted laws acknowledging human-yokai cohabitation, and many yokai have already gone to the Miao Territory...”

”Oh?”

Hearing his minister say this, the Emperor became even more curious.

”Could it be that there truly are Ghost Gods and demon monsters in this world?”

”I have indeed seen it with my own eyes...”

”Hmm...”

Hearing this, the Emperor’s curiosity grew more intense. After all, everyone has a curiosity, and the Emperor was no exception. Moreover, having lived long within the deep palace, he was even more curious about the outside world. Now listening to his minister talk about the Miao Territory, he couldn’t suppress his curiosity.

”How about this, Gu Qing, send an order, I will personally go to the Miao Territory... Impossible, impossible, they will not let me travel.”

Halfway through his words, the Emperor realized that this approach was unfeasible. Normally, to show the Emperor’s authority, it was those leaders from the wildlands who came to the capital to pay respects to him. If he, as a monarch, went to the Miao Territory with fanfare, it would be inappropriate. Not to mention, according to his minister, the Miao Territory allowed human-yokai intermingling. The Emperor had never seen yokai, but he could guess that if he were to travel, those ministers would certainly use the excuse of yokai being dangerous and terrifying to stop him.

But to say he wouldn’t go... he was reluctant to do that. After all, hearing so much, the Emperor’s heart was also itching.

”Gu Qing.”

Thinking of this, the Emperor made a decision.

”Is it safe in the Miao Territory?”

”To be honest, it’s not as safe as leaving things unattended or doors unlocked at night, but it’s not far from it.”

”Very well.”

Hearing Gu Zong’s answer, the Emperor made up his mind.

”In that case, Gu Qing, please accompany me in plain clothes to the Miao Territory. I want to see for myself what kind of place this is that could earn the title of the Mortal Immortal Realm!”