Longzang

Chapter 1139 is still a mess

Upon returning to Qingming, Wei Yuan entered his study and saw Zhao Li Xianren standing by the window, admiring the scenery outside.

After bowing, Wei Yuan asked, "Senior, are you also here regarding Lü Changhe?"

Zhao Li Xianren said, "That's true and that's not true. Lü Changhe did ask me to pass on a message and asked me to act as his guarantor. I agreed to that, so I came to you to ask for your promise."

Wei Yuan said, "Since you have personally come forward, I naturally cannot refuse to give you face. However, didn't Lü Changhe state any conditions? Does he expect me to cease hostilities out of thin air? Can the enmity of being hindered from achieving Dao be settled so easily?"

Zhao Li Xianren was somewhat surprised and said, "Didn't he prepare a gift list? The gift list should be with Cui Zhengxing. Didn't you get it?"

Wei Yuan's expression remained unchanged as he smiled and said, "I thought that with you personally involved, you might be able to bring an extra gift list. What, is your influence less than Cui Zhengxing's?"

Immortal Zhao Li relaxed his brows and said, "The three Cuis are of the same lineage and share the same bloodline. Therefore, in the past, the thirteen capitals have implicitly respected the three Cuis as the leader. Cui Zhengxing's immortal techniques are moderate and peaceful, and although they may not seem very powerful, it is extremely difficult to defeat him. Therefore, it would be best if Cui Zhengxing brought you this gift list."

Wei Yuan asked, "Since this involves the seven surnames and thirteen noble families, why would the White Lord of the Sword Palace also make an appearance?"

Immortal Zhao Li said, "Immortals from aristocratic families have long lifespans and large clans to care for. Often, immortal techniques and magic are not the most important things; what matters is human relationships. The Sword Palace's sudden appearance must be because they owe a great favor in the past and need to repay it at this time. But as to why, perhaps only Lord Bai Gong knows."

Wei Yuan stopped dwelling on the matter and said, "Since you have spoken, I have no reason not to comply. All I need is for Lü Changhe to lower his head and promise not to be my enemy again, and I can back down. You know, that's really letting him off easy. After I ascend to immortality, he'll have no choice but to lower his head!"

Immortal Zhao Li smiled and said, "It's good that you've come to terms with it. Now there's something else I need to ask you about."

Wei Yuan hurriedly replied, "Senior, you flatter me. I will answer all your questions without reservation."

Immortal Zhao Li said, "Since the implementation of the comprehensive welfare system in Zhao, the people have indeed lived in peace and prosperity. Although the national treasury has been running a deficit every year, it can barely maintain a balance by supplementing it with trade revenue. But strangely, the number of people we receive has been decreasing year by year. Looking back, the first year was actually the peak. How can we solve this problem?"

Wei Yuan actually knew the situation in the State of Zhao extremely well, perhaps even better than Zhao Li Xianren or the King of Zhao. Instead of answering, he asked, "What do you think is the reason?"

The immortal Zhao Li was incredibly powerful, so this question was no challenge for him. He immediately replied, "The current welfare system of my Zhao Kingdom can be summarized in the word 'universal benefit.' First, 'universal' means that everyone has it. Second, 'benefit' means that everyone can have enough to eat and wear. However, the problem lies here. Many people who have enough to eat and wear are initially grateful, but gradually they become dissatisfied and want more and better. When their desires are not met, they become resentful, and their luck with people disappears."

Wei Yuan nodded: "As the saying goes, 'A man's greed is like a snake trying to swallow an elephant.' Greed is in human nature. If one is satisfied this year, one will surely demand even more next year. The root cause of the current situation in Zhao is the four words 'to reap without sowing.'"

Immortal Zhao Li nodded and said, "Back then, in order to collect the human resources as quickly as possible, we had no choice but to give you a little more. We had already foreseen this drawback. But now the drawback is becoming more and more obvious, and the people are making more and more demands. They want the court to issue everything, and there are even some troublemakers who are demanding wives."

If we don't satisfy them, our fortunes will plummet. But the current welfare system is already quite good; if it weren't for your support, Qingming, the national treasury would have long since dried up. Ultimately, this won't last. What's the solution now?

Wei Yuan said, "There is a way to break the deadlock. I have been testing it in Qingming for many years and it has proven to be quite effective. This method can also be implemented in Zhao, but there will be some growing pains in the short term."

"What method?"

Wei Yuan said, "The principle behind this method is actually quite simple. First, it establishes basic needs like food and clothing as the bottom line, and provides unconditional relief to the elderly, the weak, the sick, the disabled, and the poorest people. Everyone must be free from cold and hunger; this is the bottom line, but it is also the upper limit of the welfare system. In short, if you want something for nothing, you can only avoid starving, but you won't eat well either."

My observations have revealed that the vast majority of ordinary people desire a better life and are willing to work hard for it. This is only human nature. Therefore, the second step is to provide sufficient job opportunities for all those willing to work hard, and these opportunities must be offered fairly to everyone, preventing the wealthy and powerful from monopolizing all the good opportunities.

Immortal Zhao Li pondered for a moment and then said, “The first step is easy. But the second step seems easy but is actually difficult. If you are not careful, the good opportunity will be seized by powerful families and even passed down through generations. Just like the strange thing that happened in a certain country’s imperial examinations, more than half of the successful candidates came from the same county.”

Wei Yuan said, "That is indeed the key. As long as ordinary people see that hard work can indeed lead to upward mobility, they will strive to achieve it. Hard work is not the problem; what is most frightening is not seeing any hope of upward mobility at all."

After pondering for a long time, Zhao Li Xianren sighed and said helplessly, "I've thought it over and over, but I still can't come up with a good solution. It's incredibly difficult to restrain powerful and influential families. Even if Shenji is that clever child, it won't be easy for him to do this."

After all, restraining powerful families ultimately means restraining themselves. Shenji is arrogant and proud, never believing he can be wrong. So how can he restrain himself?

Wei Yuan did not answer, but simply said, "This junior does not know."

Zhao Li Xianren said, "I understand these two principles. I'll think about them carefully when I get back. Oh, right, there's one more important thing. You still need to take good care of my kittens. You promised to do this, so you can't just get away with it like this."

Wei Yuan smiled wryly and could only vaguely reply, "This junior understands."

Zhao Li Xianren was satisfied and then disappeared.

After he left, Wei Yuan's heart stirred slightly. A few kittens? ...A few?
However, Wei Yuan had many important matters to attend to at the moment, so he put this matter aside. He moved swiftly and entered Zhang Sheng's residence.

Zhang Sheng was meditating on the couch, the room filled with a faint, chilling atmosphere, an inexplicable coldness. Only a truly high-level cultivator could see countless tiny sword energies moving back and forth in the room like swimming fish.

Upon seeing Wei Yuan arrive, Zhang Sheng slightly opened his eyes, looked at him carefully, and said, "At a time like this, shouldn't you go and check on the others? You should at least take a look at Bao'er."

Wei Yuan shook his head and said, "No need to look at too much, just look at what you must see."

Zhang Sheng said, "If others didn't know better, they would think you were heartless and ungrateful for saying that."

Wei Yuan said, "Why should I care what others think? Let them think what they want. If they think differently from me, that's their fault."

"That's true."

Wei Yuan sighed softly and said, "But... I'm a little scared."

Zhang Sheng smiled gently, and in an instant, his radiance illuminated the room, as if spring had returned to the earth, the season of new life had arrived ahead of schedule, and all the gloom in the world had been swept away.

She said softly, "What are you afraid of? I've already said I'll let you have your way with me." Hearing these words again, Wei Yuan felt instantly at ease, no longer hesitant or wavering, and turned to leave.

The next moment, he appeared in the study, opened the gift list sent by Lü Changhe, and began to read and consider each item carefully. He also picked up a pen to make corrections, removing some unnecessary items and adding some items that he wanted but Lü Changhe had not listed.

While revising the gift list, Wei Yuan suddenly felt something, so he slowly got up, walked outside, and then flew into the sky.

Suddenly, clouds and mist appeared ahead, and a young man in blue emerged from the mist and stood in front of Wei Yuan.

Wei Yuan scrutinized him closely. The young man had a handsome face and a refined demeanor. He wore a long blue robe with silver cloud patterns, and a white brocade belt cinched his waist. His steps were light, as if the wind and clouds were rising and falling. His eyes were clear and bright, and his glances were like the clear sky after rain. Gazing at Wei Yuan, the young man always smiled faintly, his expression meaningful.

This was the first time Wei Yuan had met Lü Changhe face to face. Lü Changhe stood in the void, slightly shorter than Wei Yuan, but their heads were at the same height. As a True Immortal, Lü Changhe's willingness to stand at the same level as Wei Yuan demonstrated his utmost sincerity.

With the appearance of Lü Changhe, the surrounding space showed signs of solidification!

In an instant, countless eyes from above and below the heavens turned towards him. Many gazes fell upon Wei Yuan, seemingly filled with curiosity, wanting to see just who he was, to have forced a True Immortal to sue for peace before even turning fifty.

Wei Yuan bowed and spoke first: "I have long heard of your great name, senior, but this is the first time I have seen your true form."

The phrase "true identity" is unmistakably sarcastic.

Lu Changhe returned the greeting and said, "The great river flows on, the new waves push the old waves forward. Lord Wei is a man of great talent and ambition. I admire you!"

"You're too kind, senior. It was just a fluke."

After exchanging pleasantries, Wei Yuan handed over a gift list covered in corrections, saying, "I have seen your kind intentions, senior. However, I am greedy and would like to ask for a little more. Could you please take a look and see if that's acceptable?"

Lu Changhe took the gift list, put it into his pocket without even looking at it, and said, "Okay."

Wei Yuan couldn't help but admire Lü Changhe's boldness. Of course, it was also possible that he, like Wei Yuan, was secretly heartbroken but outwardly stubborn.

Next came the final and most crucial step: a public apology and a promise to never be enemies again.

Although he had rehearsed all the words in his mind countless times, when the moment came, Lü Changhe's expression still changed rapidly, and his Dao heart was unstable.

However, being a true immortal, he forcefully suppressed his wavering Dao heart, stepped forward, and bowed deeply to Wei Yuan, saying, "I was wrong before, but now..."

Halfway through his sentence, Lü Changhe looked up in astonishment and saw Wei Yuan standing in front of him, using his hand as a spear, delivering a counterattack that pierced through his heart!

Lu Changhe instinctively tried to struggle, but the vast blue sky trembled, the river flowed backward and the earth cracked. At the cost of natural disasters everywhere, the vast land was transformed into boundless power, which was used to suppress Lu Changhe, making him unable to move!

Wei Yuan's sea of ​​fortune plummeted instantly, reaching its bottom in a flash! Using the fortune of billions of people as a guide, he instantly eroded Lü Changhe's life force to the very bottom, leaving only a last bit of life force, which, under the influence of the fortune, was like a dying ember in the wind.

But it was only at this point that the true strength of the noble families and immortals became apparent, especially since the Lü family was the royal family of the Western Jin Dynasty and bore the heavy responsibility of laying the foundation for Emperor Wuzu's plans.

So, Lu Changhe's last bit of life, though as faint as a candle, refused to be extinguished no matter how fierce the wind blew!
Lu Changhe's expression shifted from initial surprise to a ferocious grin. He sneered, "Didn't expect that, did you? I'm connected to the core of two great formations in the world. With just human luck, you can't kill me at all! Don't you think I would have given you such a huge opening? Wasn't it just to trick you into making a move? Now not only are you going to die, but the Taichu Palace will also be buried with you! You... how could you!!"

A strange and eerie glimmer of life appeared in Wei Yuan's palm! The moment this glimmer appeared, Lü Changhe felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave, so shocked that he couldn't speak for a moment!

Even many extraterrestrial observers, upon touching this glimmer of hope, felt a sense of impending doom! They all fled in panic, some even escaping to the heavens!

What appeared in Wei Yuan's hand was not the Evil Sun, but the life force of the Desolate Heavenly Pillar!

The immortal power protecting Lü Changhe's life force was instantly annihilated upon contact with the life force of the Heavenly Pillar, thus revealing Lü Changhe's true spirit.

It leaped away, trying to escape, when suddenly a huge, ethereal shadow swept across the sky and earth. A bird head, so large it defied description, appeared, swallowed Lu Changhe's true spirit whole, and then vanished.

For a moment, all the heavens fell silent.

Lu Changhe stared at Wei Yuan with disbelief and asked, "Why?"

Wei Yuan said calmly, "From a public perspective, there are many reasons, but I won't go into details. From a private perspective, there is one that I want to show you."

Then, Lü Changhe saw the figure of Consort Yuan in Wei Yuantong's eyes. His face instantly contorted with rage, and he said with difficulty, "You, how did you know? But you actually dare to kill me? Do you know the consequences...?"

Wei Yuan said calmly, "It's nothing more than the big picture! Don't worry, I'll clean up the mess you leave behind after you die!"

Lu Changhe's eyes were filled with resentment as he said with difficulty, "If you... can't handle this..."

Wei Yuan laughed heartily, his voice resounding for miles, reaching the heavens and reaching every ear both on and off stage: "So what if we can't clean it up? If we keep you alive, the world will still be a mess."

A fine drizzle suddenly began to fall from the sky; the rain was red, as red as blood.

The light in Lü Changhe's eyes gradually dimmed, and the densely scribbled gift list fell from his arms and into the dust.

(End of this chapter)