This world is dominated by the era of the strong, where the cries of the weak are unheard, and the whispers of the powerful deeply engrain into people's hearts.
Whether it was before the awakening of Heaven and Earth or after, the weak often remain voiceless. They face calamity with little power to resist and can only endure in silence.
Pei Xuanjing had already pondered a number of times in his heart about the scenarios that could possible ensue in the upcoming Great World.
If he chose to not get involved, despite the existence of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, he still wouldn't be able to prevent what was about to happen. As the powerful become more powerful, the general populace, the martial artists, even if Pei Xuanjing left them a path, in the face of countless people, those who truly seize the opportunity to rise are destined to be the majority.
Therefore, as Heaven and Earth continue to awaken, and more and more powerhouses return from the Sky Wasteland, should these powerhouses continue to fight recklessly, the risk facing the ordinary people invariably increases.
Therefore, Pei Xuanjing wanted as much as possible to dissolve this situation and eliminate potential dangers.
A pact was one method that Pei Xuanjing had in mind.
He wanted to establish a rule that strong beings of the Spirit Realm are not allowed to harm mortals or fight within cities…
Only in this way could these potential dangers be eliminated.
What he wanted Xue Renfang to sign was precisely such a pact.
"Would the people really accept it?" Xue Renfang asked, pondering over Pei Xuanjing's proposal.
Even though he had previously learned of Pei Xuanjing's achievements and knew that he had achieved great things affecting the entire world.
Before meeting with Pei Xuanjing, Xue Renfang had prepared himself for certain matters, yet he was shocked to hear Pei Xuanjing's concept.
"Are you trying to establish this as a law that all powerful beings must abide by?" Xue Renfang couldn't help but exclaim.
Xue Renfang's words were very euphemistic, a law?
Without a doubt, what Pei Xuanjing was doing was imposing a restraint, a shackle on everyone.
Would the brash and domineering powerhouses of the Sky Wasteland be willing to abide by this rule?
Pei Xuanjing spoke firmly, "Someone has to do these things, otherwise, wouldn't the masses be unfairly affected? Their lives are not mere weeds by the roadside."
He was aware that many difficulties lay ahead in implementing his idea, perhaps unprecedented ones.
No one wants to impose unnecessary restrictions on themselves, especially the powerful cultivators.
However, someone has to do these things.
If Pei Xuanjing did not possess power, he might not do it, he would just look out for himself. But now that he had ample strength, why not give it a try?
After all, even if his attempt had minimal effect, it could save countless lives.
Moreover, most importantly, this is not meaningless for Pei Xuanjing. He could also benefit from it.
According to Pei Xuanjing's deduction, the path to Becoming Immortal includes the five types of Heaven, Earth, Humans, Immortals, and Ghosts. The base of the path for the Immortals is related to this matter.
"But how do you intend to get these people to agree?" Xue Renfang sighed and asked in confusion.
He was unsure where Pei Xuanjing's confidence came from. At present, Pei Xuanjing was indeed powerful, and with his strength at the Seventh Level of the Spiritual Realm, he was invincible in the Ancestral Land. No one could defy his will, his plan could indeed be temporarily implemented.
But what would happen then?
As Heaven and Earth awaken, the number of powerhouses it can accommodate is constantly increasing, along with the return of the ancient forces and powerhouses from the Sky Wasteland, would they accept the rules set by Pei Xuanjing and willingly impose shackles upon themselves?
Absolutely not!
Facing opposition from these forces and people, could Pei Xuanjing continue to suppress them and make them comply?
No!
Not even Pei Xuanjing, a strong being at the seventh level of the spiritual realm, or even at the eight, or even the strongest at the nine realms of spirit, could achieve this.
This is not something that one person or even one power can accomplish.
Does one really think that no one has ever thought of this over thousands of years? Of course not.
Throughout these countless eras, many rulers of the Divine Dynasty had this idea. They wanted to instill their will and protect their subjects.
However, even in the most prosperous era of the Divine Dynasty, the top powerhouses and forces still had privileges. Even if they violated some rules of the Divine Dynasty, they were not necessarily punished.
Because it's not worth it.
The Divine Dynasty might be able to suppress ordinary cultivators.
But any top-notch force or top-notch powerhouse wouldn't easily surrender, they were not entities that the Divine Dynasty could suppress effortlessly.
Therefore, such rules could only ever restrain the common people, they were just pretense when faced with powerful people.
If Pei Xuanjing's pact were only targeted at ordinary cultivators, Xue Renfang might agree to it on behalf of the ruler.
But if it were to encapsulate all the powerhouses in the world, then Xue Renfang felt he didn't have the authority to agree, not even the ruler of the ancient country of Da Xue would dare to agree to this matter lightly.
Pei Xuanjing asked with a smile, "Would you agree to it?"
Pei Xuanjing was well aware of Xue Renfang's worries, he knew the difficulties that could be encountered in implementing this plan.
But he had some ideas and plans for these, such as aligning some, suppressing some, and dividing and ruling. It was as simple as that.
He just hadn't found the right opportunity yet, but with Xue Renfang's visit today, Pei Xuanjing saw the perfect opportunity.
"Are you suggesting that Da Xue should be the first to sign this pact?" Xue Renfang asked seriously.
It seemed that what he had been most worried about was about to happen, Pei Xuanjing seemed to want Da Xue to be the forerunner.
Pei Xuanjing asked, "Don't you want to?"
Xue Renfang declared, "Other matters can be discussed, but this matter cannot be agreed upon lightly."
This was a major issue. If agreed to rashly, they could become a target, and when someone brings up old scores in the future, no one, not even the ruler, could possibly protect them.
"What if it's just a temporary agreement?"
Despite Xue Renfang's firm refusal, Pei Xuanjing wasn't upset nor angry; he remained as calm as he was before. He simply stated, "What if the contract isn't forever, but with a time limit, which expires when the forces of the Sky Wasteland return? By that time, the contract will automatically disappear."
"Um?" Xue Renfang's expression changed slightly, his refusal was not as firm as before.
He could naturally understand the implication behind Pei Xuanjing's offer, which was simply a tactic to delay the issue. Yet, for Xue Renfang, it somehow weakened his resistance and aversion to the plan.
Although he initially rejected the proposal firmly, he somewhat drove his concerns away. Should he refuse and Pei Xuanjing take offense, or disagree with his subsequent actions, what should he do?
Considering Pei Xuanjing's current invincible status at the Ancestral Land, he set the trend. If he really intended to trouble Xue Renfang, his future actions wouldn't go as smoothly. This was something that Xue Renfang definitely didn't want to see.
However, the matter itself was too significant. Even though Xue Renfang held a respectable position in the Da Xue ancient country, he couldn't, or rather, didn't dare to agree easily.
Yet now, Pei Xuanjing conceded and proposed a timeline to the contract, which didn't seem as demanding anymore.
After all, once Heaven and Earth fully revive and the powerful forces from the Sky Wasteland all return, his contract would already be invalidated. Even if they became aware of it, it wouldn't become an issue.
Seeing Xue Renfang slightly moved by his proposal, Pei Xuanjing said, "As long as you sign this contract, I will treat everyone equally in the subsequent matters as long as it doesn't interfere with my affairs. You can do as you please."
Despite his indirect phrasing, his intention was clear, which was probably the advantage for the first to agree to sign the contract.
Undeniably, Pei Xuanjing's tactic was clever.
When you want to open a window, it's better to propose tearing the house down first, this way, you would achieve what you want.
Pei Xuanjing's choice to not insist on the contract but opt for a temporary one has undeniably alleviated Xue Renfang's mental pressure.
"If that's the case, I guess I can consider it." After some hesitation, Xue Renfang nodded.
Regretful of his hasty decision to visit Pei Xuanjing that day, he'd assumed that things would naturally fall into place, but instead, he encountered such a tricky situation.
However, there was no turning back now, knowing Pei's wish, if he refused and left, even if it didn't lead to a fall-out, it definitely would sour their relations.
If Pei Xuanjing had insisted on his initial terms, Xue Renfang might still refuse given the grave implications. But now that Pei Xuanjing had made concessions, he felt he could agree for the time being.
"Good!" Pei Xuanjing nodded.
With this agreement reached, considering their status, there would be no room for backpedaling even if the deal was not yet signed.
Pei Xuanjing planned to forge a divine armament following the methods used to create divine artifacts, an artifact that would mark and bind everyone to the agreement.
Seeing that the purpose of his visit had been achieved, and also encountering such an incident, even though the contract had a time limit that would automatically nullify once Heaven and Earth finished reviving, and the Powerhouses of the Sky Wasteland returned, Xue Renfang still felt a bit displeased. After all, nobody liked being forced into such a disadvantageous agreement.
Just as he was about to leave, Pei Xuanjing asked him a question.
"From what I can see, you seem to have reached the Seventh Level of the Spiritual Realm and have condensed your own Great Tao. But why does it feel like your strength fluctuates inconsistently? It seems…" Pei Xuanjing frowned.
Upon reaching the Seventh Level of the Spiritual Realm, the way one practises will not regret. A cultivator with a lower level of strength might not realize, but for those at the Seventh Level of the Spiritual Realm or higher, would naturally sense whether their counterparts solidify their own Tao.
But what baffled Pei Xuanjing was that, even though Xue Renfang had already solidified his own Tao, why did his strength appear so inconsistent?
Upon hearing Pei Xuanjing's statement, Xue Renfang sighed and said, "Not everyone is like you who were born in the Ancestral Land. For us, who has returned from the Sky Wasteland, it naturally takes some time to adjust to the Ancestral Land. Additionally, the Ancestral Land needs to accept us. Otherwise, we can't wield our true capabilities and even face the rejection of Heaven and Earth."
On saying that, a touch of bitterness flashed through his eyes while he added, "Moreover, Heaven and Earth haven't fully recovered yet. To return in advance, a price must be paid."
Heaven and Earth had been reviving for twenty years now, with its speed gradually slowing down. Now it's capable of showing strength equivalent to the peak of the Sixth Level of the Spiritual Realm or even to the Seventh Level of the Spiritual Realm.
Originally, Xue Renfang, being at the Seventh Level of the Spiritual Realm, might not have been able to return unless he severed parts of his cultivation, thereby lowering his realm and strength. Even if Xue Hanyi and his sister had laid out the groundwork and preparations in the Ancestral Land, it would possibly not have been possible to guide his return.
At this moment, although he was at the Seventh Level of the Spiritual Realm, there was a huge gap between his current strength and that of a normal Seventh Level practitioner. Even though he could easily suppress a cultivator at the Sixth Level of the Spiritual Realm, he would be powerless to contest a Seventh Level practitioner.
Under normal circumstances, sacrificing his cultivation to descend would have been sufficient for anything. However, no one had expected Pei Xuanjing to have such a quick breakthrough in just a few years. Thus, he had to halt his plan, choose to visit Pei Xuanjing in Tiandu, and acquire his permission.
"So Heaven and Earth's rejection is actually that strong?" Pei Xuanjing frowned.
He had speculated about this before but didn't pay much attention because he hadn't felt any strong rejection.
This was a result of Pei Xuanjing's cognitive bias. If it weren't for his breakthrough to the Seventh Level of the Spiritual Realm in his life simulation, absorbing lots of power in the process, it wouldn't have been easy for him to break through in the current Daming World—he might even have faced some suppression.
Truthfully, even if he had successfully advanced to the Seventh Level of the Spiritual Realm, he would have clearly felt the long-lost suppression coming from Heaven and Earth, just like the restrictions he faced when he was at the peak of the First-grade martial artist before Heaven and Earth's revival.
But the critical point was that Pei Xuanjing, being the national preceptor of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, holding the sub-volume of the Golden Book and Jade Scroll, and having Qi Luck joined to him, would easily overcome this bit of suppression. It wouldn't be an issue for him, unlike everyone else who would face problems.
Compared to the slight rejection Heaven and Earth had towards a practitioner at the Seventh Level of the Spiritual Realm, Pei Xuanjing, with his strong Qi Luck and Heaven's favor, easily neutralized this suppression to the point where he didn't feel it at all.
Xue Renfang left Pei Xuanjing's Taoist Academy quietly, just as he had arrived. Aside from a few people, no one knew that a powerful being, at the seventh level of the Spirit Realm, had ever come to the academy.
However, unlike the confidence Xue Renfang had before his arrival, he still felt somewhat troubled when he left, despite achieving his goal.
He was clear that the contract he had signed with Pei Xuanjing not long ago was a bit of a gamble. He bet that Pei Xuanjing, as he understood him, was not the kind to resort to schemes, and that he would nullify the contract according to their agreement on its expiration.
Otherwise, Pei Xuanjing could easily switch things up. For instance, they agreed that the contract would end after the restoration of Heaven and Earth, when the strong forces of the Sky Wasteland return and the contract becomes void.
But if Pei Xuanjing really wants to alter the concept, he could circulate parts of the contract beforehand, and let the news of his signature go public, leaving Xue Renfang in a difficult position.
…
Inside the Taoist Academy, Pei Xuanjing fiddled with a snow-white object similar to a ceremonial tablet in his hand. Made by infusing the power of incense fire and ancient jade, it bore the terms of the contract he proposed with Xue Renfang, crafted using the same techniques as his Sanbao Jade Ruyi.
Of course, compared with Pei Xuanjing's Sanbao Jade Ruyi, this white object wasn't comparable. But perhaps one day, when Pei Xuanjing would have all the strongmen under his control, signing contracts acknowledging him, and worshipping this object with incense fire's infinite power, it might have its incredible value.
However, at present, the symbolic significance of this object was definitely greater than its practical meaning.
Pei Xuanjing was unaware of Xue Renfang's thoughts, but even if he knew, he would just smile without concern.
Pei Xuanjing named this contract he drew up the 'Immortal and Mortal Covenant!'
Just from this name, one could tell that Pei Xuanjing had great expectations for it, hoping that it could become a real set of rules to constrain the Fairy Gods, thereby protecting ordinary mortal martial artists.
While Pei Xuanjing may use an open scheme, or enforce his will with force, he would never resort to treachery.
After all, what he wanted to do was establish rules, erecting a set of rules is not easy, but breaking them is simple. If he resorts to schemes to pressurize others, aside from this not being in line with his style, it's also directly against the principles set by the contract.
As such, he wouldn't lightly ruin a contract that he places so much hope in.
"Next, I need to open branches for the Taoist Academy all over the world, and move ahead with the contribution points' plan." Pei Xuanjing thought to himself.
Xue Renfang's arrival was more of an interlude, and Pei Xuanjing took the opportunity to devise this contract.
In fact, his initial plan was to launch the contribution point exchange and open more academies, so that more martial artists would have the opportunity to receive guidance.
After all, compared to the countless martial artists out there, even if the academy recruits disciples every year, it's like a drop in the ocean.
Only by opening more academies across the world can more martial artists have the chance to learn skills and receive guidance.
Although as more academies open, Pei Xuanjing may be unable to manage them all, neglecting some, inevitably leading to problems. But Pei Xuanjing thought it was a small probability event.
Compared to the opportunity of providing more martial artists with the chance to cultivate, these issues are worth disregarding. He can't always be overly cautious and thereby achieve nothing.
The reason Pei Xuanjing had not immediately launched his plan was due to concerns in maintaining confidentiality for those who would exchange their cultivation skills. Now that this problem has been resolved, there is no need for him to hesitate further.
"The revival of Heaven and Earth has been going on for dozens of years. Although the speed of this revival has now slowed down, more and more people from the Sky Wasteland have returned. The time left for the original martial artists of the Daming World is not much." Pei Xuanjing sighed.
At the beginning of the revival, people from Sky Wasteland could not return due to the restrictions of Heaven and Earth.
As dozens of years have passed, Heaven and Earth can accommodate more and more powerful beings, naturally leading to an increasing number of arrivals.
The Sky Wasteland is filled with abundant Heaven and Earth Essence Qi, cultivation was not affected there. Even normal humans growing up in such an environment would enter the Mortal Realm as a martial artist with a bit of cultivation, presenting a considerable advantage as compared to the average people in Daming World.
Especially now that countless Heaven and Earth Spiritual Materials have been born, the emergence of the Cave Heavens and Blessed Lands has allowed these returnees to seize many opportunities that should have belonged to the martial artists of the Daming World.
If Pei Xuanjing does not push this plan promptly, by the time all these returnees are completely back, the greatest benefit of the revival of Heaven and Earth may not befall the martial artists of the Daming World, they might miss this opportunity and continue to remain at the bottom level.
So, Pei Xuanjing decided to push his plan in spite of these minor issues, to offer them a chance to fight, even if it means having to lose at the end. After all, it is better than doing nothing at all.
Pei Xuanjing sought Qingyang Zi and told him about his plan.
Qingyang Zi was very supportive of Pei Xuanjing's thoughts.
Pei Xuanjing asked, "In our academy, which instructors could be of great use and be made heads of the branch academies?"
According to his thoughts, the way this academy is to be built could completely follow the education system of his former world.
Now, apart from the Four Capital Territories, the rest of the administrative divisions of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty are divided into State Roads, Prefectures, and County Cities.
Pei Xuanjing could easily divide the disciples of the Taoist Academy based on this three-tier system and teach them accordingly.
Common disciples could begin learning from county towns, like taking exams. Only upon reaching a certain realm could they be promoted to the next level of academies to study.
"There are indeed some instructors in the academy who can handle the situation on their own," Qingyang Zi slowly said after considering it for a moment.
While speaking, he had quickly reviewed the many instructors in the academy in his mind and recalled their daily actions and assessments.
No one knew these instructors better than Qingyang Zi as he managed the day-to-day operations of the academy, even though Pei Xuanjing was the headmaster.
"In that case, you can start by spreading the news and see how everyone reacts. Once they have reacted, we can then make specific decisions," Pei Xuanjing said.