I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 135 Difficult Matters
Xue Xiang began to consider his situation.

First, the workplace situation.

The new position is destined to be filled with trouble and struggle.

The name "Spiritual Property Cleaning Room" immediately suggests that it is entangled with countless interests.

Within Canaan County, the Medicine Mountain, the Spirit Fields, the Spirit Mines, the various illegally occupied cave dwellings, and the illegally constructed sects—strictly speaking, all fall under his jurisdiction.

This position is undoubtedly the easiest to offend people.

In Canaanshire, many people were waiting to see him make a fool of himself.

But Xue Xiang didn't think this was a bad thing.

Crisis, crisis, but there is opportunity within crisis.

The position of head of the spiritual property clearing room is difficult to hold, but it involves a lot of important and demanding tasks. If one can truly manage it well, it is the place where one can easily earn merit.

The prerequisite is that you have to withstand the first three blows.

Once you get through it and things become easier, you'll have plenty of opportunities to accumulate merit later on.

Secondly, a strength assessment.

Ninety-nine percent of his current strength can be attributed to the Gatling gun he created.

But this alone is far from enough to cope with the second trial in the future.

He knew very well how many people were dissatisfied with his top ranking in the county examination.

In the second trial, Lu Wenhou, Shen Nansheng, Lou Changqing, and Ning Qianjun are all determined to find him.

Therefore, quickly raising one's cultivation level to the Foundation Establishment stage is now a top priority.

He is currently at the ninth level of Qi Refining. At his current speed of attracting spiritual energy into his body, it won't be long before he reaches the state of breaking through to the Great Perfection.

After achieving the Great Perfection, one must then prepare for Foundation Establishment.

There are two preparations required for foundation building.

First, in order to find a suitable location.

Second, a sufficient supply of Foundation Building Pills.

In conclusion, collecting Foundation Establishment Pills is the most urgent task.

Furthermore, Xue Xiang was well aware that his current state of literary energy was sufficient to support his attempt to break through to the realm of sentence-level.

Once the sentence structure is perfected, the power of the writing style will reach a new level.

To reach the realm of sentences, the foundation-building state is indispensable.

"It seems we'll have to ask Mr. Dong for help inquiring about the price."

Xue Xiang thought to himself.

Suiyangdu continued to thrive, and two more rounds of centralized bidding and auctions were held for the barren land, making Xue Xiang a fortune.

He has now accumulated a large amount of spirit stones, which is more than enough to support his and Liu Mei's cultivation.

He wouldn't hesitate to use the money to buy Foundation Establishment Pills.

When I came out of the refining room, the moon was already high in the sky, and there was still movement in the refining room opposite.

Xue Xiang knew that Liu Mei was focusing more on honing her Breathing Wind Sword Technique; she had already reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining.

Without Foundation Establishment Pills, Liu Mei's cultivation path was also blocked.

He sensed the weight of the task ahead.

Even for Sister Mei's sake, he had to find a way to get enough Foundation Establishment Pills.

Despite the change in environment, Xue Xiang's sleep quality remained unaffected, and he still slept soundly through the night.

The next morning, he headed towards Lengcui Peak in the west.

Like Yunmeng City, most of the major prefecture cities nowadays are built around mountains, and the officials are all cultivators, so they don't find it inconvenient to move around freely.

The location of the governing body on the mountaintop also served to effectively protect privacy.

Lengcui Peak is the location of the first-level government office of Canaan County.

After a short while, Xue Xiang arrived at the foot of Lengcui Peak.

Looking up, Lengcui Peak rises abruptly from the ground, its summit covered in snow, while the mountainside is lush and green.

A cold wind swept down from the north, carrying the scent of snow from the high places.

Xue Xiang climbed the steps, wishing himself a safe journey and looking around.

The entire mountain peak looked as if it had been carved from jade, with clouds rising from its waist and swirling around it, creating a scene that seemed both real and illusory.

The mountain path was not wide, and the stone steps were whitened by wind and rain. Occasionally, snow would fall from the pine branches and land on the steps.

When you reach the halfway point of the mountain, you will see a blue stone standing by the roadside with four large characters engraved on it: “Lengcui Xianfeng”. The strokes are vigorous and powerful, as if they still carry the fragrance of ink.

Upon reaching this point, one can clearly see the vast complex of buildings that have been developed from the mountainside to the summit.

The palaces and pavilions are layered, with vermilion beams and painted rafters, flying eaves and upturned corners, which are reflected in the mountains, rocks, ancient pines and white snow, creating an imposing yet elegant atmosphere.

Before long, following the signs, they found the main hall of the second hall, which was in charge of personnel allocation.

To Xue Xiang's surprise, there was even a lake in front of the Second Hall Master's office.

The lake is not large, and it is surrounded by blue stone railings. White mist hangs over the center of the lake, and occasionally a few koi carp swim out of the water, their red shadows skimming the surface.

Xue Xiang entered the second hall and presented the talisman.

The process was quick. A fair-skinned young man approached him and introduced himself as Deng Qing, the vice dean of the second academy of the second hall, in charge of Xue Xiang's reporting to the ninth hall.

Deng Qing first led Xue Xiang to the first room to enter his personal information.

Then, a series of runes and seals proving Xue Xiang's identity were all recorded into Xue Xiang's immortal talisman.

When the time comes, Xue Xiang will only need to use his mind to summon the image of the seal or show his identity, and then directly engrave it onto the official document.

"The talisman is indeed extraordinary."

Xue Xiang clicked his tongue in amazement.

This is much more advanced than when I was a fake mayor in Suiyang Town.

After half an incense stick's time, Deng Qing led Xue Xiang to a row of red houses on the opposite hillside.

Walking here, you can hear the distant sound of bells and drums, accompanied by the mountain breeze, as if the world is slowly unfolding.

On a blue stone not far away, the words "Ninth Hall of the Government Office" are engraved.

Standing here, you can see the opposite mountain peak, where a large number of buildings with red walls and green tiles stand on the mountainside and peak.

Deng Qing pointed to that spot and said, "That's Shuangqing Peak across the way, separated from this peak by a deep ravine. That's where the Yong'an City government office is located."

Yong'an was the seat of the prefecture, so it was reasonable for the city to have two government offices.

Deng Qing was familiar with the rules and regulations, and led Xue Xiang through the process in the Ninth Hall very quickly.

The Ninth Hall Master, Wang Bodang, was not present, so the Deputy Hall Master, Qian Shaoyong, received them. After Deng Qing read out the appointment, Xue Xiang presented the Immortal Talisman.

Having finished his business, Deng Qing took his leave.

Qian Shaoyong then sent a clerk surnamed Chen to lead Xue Xiang to the Third Court to report for duty.

After a short while, Zhao Pu, the abbot of the Third Academy, received Xue Xiang and welcomed him.

After exchanging pleasantries, he summoned Huang Tong, the head of the first office, and said that the first office also handled internal affairs, so that Xue Xiang could assign Huang Tong to do any miscellaneous tasks.

Huang Tong was a middle-aged man with a round head and a pair of eyes that darted around in their sockets.

After leading Xue Xiang out of Zhao Pugong's room, he began to inquire about Xue Xiang's well-being.

Before long, he led Xue Xiang into his private residence, a small house built against the mountain, less than ten feet square.

The public housing was very clean; the filing cabinets and desks were spotless.

"Dean Xue, given your rank, you could be assigned a personal secretary. Would you like me to make a recommendation, or would you like to observe for a while before making a decision?"

Huang Tong smiled broadly, "My opinion is that you should arrange a dedicated secretary as soon as possible."

"You've just arrived, and there's a lot to coordinate with, all sorts of official documents to exchange, and you need to get familiar with everything. Without someone you can really connect with, it won't work."

Xue Xiang paused for a moment, "Does Director Huang have a suitable candidate?"

Huang Tong's eyes lit up. "Yes, yes, I recommend a clerk. Although he is young, he is already wearing a gold flying fish badge."

"Clear-headed, sharp-witted, and experienced—very useful."

"Oh?"

Xue Xiang said, "Since Director Huang thinks so highly of it, let's use it for now."

Xue Xiang didn't want the cliff to appear too high.

Huang Tong was overjoyed, "I'll call him for you right away."

After that, he turned around and left.

Xue Xiang shouted, "Get me a small bed, put it against the window."

Perhaps because he reads so much, he likes to lie down wherever he goes.

It seems that only in this way can one's mind more easily immerse itself in the book.

Xue Xiang was flipping through the files on the bookshelf when he heard footsteps. A figure entered the room, immediately blocking out most of the light.

"Your humble servant Mengde reports to Vice President Xue."

"what."

Xue Xiang felt as if he had been bitten by a snake. He looked up abruptly and saw Meng De's round, chubby face.

He was wearing a uniform with a gleaming gold flying fish emblem on his chest.

Even more radiant than the flying fish emblem was Mengde's smiling face.

"Good lad, this ambush was well laid."

Xue Xiang stepped forward and pounded heavily on Meng De's thick chest.

Meng De laughed and said, "Do you know how hard it was for me to get this opportunity? I even gave that Huang guy's grandson two spirit stones."

“I said, why is he even praising me for being experienced? You’ve only been here a few days longer than me.”

Xue Xiang pulled Meng De to sit down.

Meng De said, "I'm not bragging. After the last city examination, I worked as a clerk in Beishui Town. I know all the relevant skills."

Xue Xiang waved his hand, "I'm not looking down on you, we're brothers, we're all in this together."

"But you, Brother Meng, are a dignified young master of the Meng family. Surely securing a deputy section chief position in Yunmeng shouldn't be too difficult for you."

Mengde shook his head, "The imperial system has the most stringent official system."

Even for sons of noble families, the only way to get a job in the government is through a process of trial and error.

Brother Xue, you've risen through the ranks from deputy director to director to vice dean, without missing a single step.

Of course, Xue Xiang, you are exceptionally gifted and advance extremely fast.

We don't have that capability. We've already exhausted all our efforts to go from a novice to a gold flying fish emblem.

"Now that I can work under Brother Xue, even if I don't get the title of deputy section chief, I'm sure I'll gain a lot."

Although Mengde's family could not be called a prominent family, there were still officials in every generation.

The Meng family had their own plans for his future, but he had a particular fondness for Xue Xiang and rushed to Canaan County to become a clerk.

"Alright, let's skip the mutual flattery, brothers."

Xue Xiang said, "You know, I came to this spiritual product cleaning room because I was put in a bad situation by someone."

You arrived a few days before me, so you should have a good understanding of the situation here.

Meng De's smile faded. "I think Brother Xue is too optimistic. We've done enough."

This isn't some kind of minor offense; it's like being thrown onto a scorching hot iron plate.

The situation is like this:

This spiritual cleansing room is a replenishment room.

In the middle of the year, the central government issued an order to take stock of spiritual property nationwide.

This supplementary office was established in response to central directives to clear out illegally seized spiritual property from various locations.

Supplementary offices were established in other prefectures and counties.

At first, everyone thought it was just a passing fad, and that once everyone had finished their tasks, the matter would be over.

No one expected that the wind would blow stronger and stronger.

Three months ago, the central government issued an order to include the cleanup of spiritual property in the annual performance evaluation of officials.

Since the establishment of the Spiritual Property Clearing Room, the statistics on the spiritual property that has been seized have been done in great detail.

However, not a single task was accomplished: reclaiming the seized spiritual property or demolishing the illegal buildings.

With only about twenty days left before the closure of the government office, the prefect inquired about the status of the spiritual property cleaning room.

Seeing that nothing had been done, the prefect was furious.

The Ninth Hall Master, Wang Bodang, was reprimanded, and the Third Hall Master, Zhao Pu, was given a major demerit, which was recorded in his official record.

There are less than twenty days left before the government offices are closed.

"What Wang Bodang and Zhao Pu couldn't accomplish, do you really think you can?"

Xue Xiang frowned. "So, these twenty days are also a deadline for me?"

"I'm new here, and I haven't even managed to clear out a single piece of the encroached spiritual property in twenty days. What am I to do?"

Meng De lowered his voice and said, "According to rumors, the Prefect once said that if no results are achieved before the yamen is sealed, all the writings of the official in charge will be destroyed."

"hiss."

Xue Xiang gasped.

At this point, he finally understood what Xie Haiya meant when he said that the revenge of powerful families would never be assassination or physical elimination, but rather cruel infighting in the officialdom.

He hasn't even arrived yet, but a massive thunderbolt has already been prepared.

He wanted to curry favor with his senior apprentice, but senior apprentice wouldn't come until after the New Year.

He also considered using his identity as the Master of Mingde Cave to approach Canglan Academy and ask Ni Quanwen for help.

But this doesn't fit his public image.

Canglan Academy can only be used as a trump card and a way out.

He thought for a moment and then secretly hardened his heart, "Since we're already here, how can we retreat without firing a single shot?"

At that moment, he said in a deep voice, "Brother Meng, quickly find the case file for me. I need to pick a case and get it done as soon as possible."

Meng De shook his head. "We can't change the case now. We can only handle the one that the Spiritual Property Clearing Room is currently handling."

"Why?"

Xue Xiang was completely baffled.

Meng De said, "It's almost the end of the year, and the government offices are about to close. All the government offices are doing their year-end performance reviews."

The Ninth Division has already listed this case, which is currently being handled but has not yet been resolved, as an achievement and reported it.

Therefore, whoever becomes the head of this spiritual property clearing room must handle this case first.

Xue Xiang understood. "Regardless of whether it was successfully completed or not, let's report it as an achievement of the Spiritual Property Clearing Room first."

It's done. It's like getting on the train first and buying the ticket later.

If that doesn't work, then consider it a false report from the head of the Spiritual Property Cleaning Room.

In the end, it was Xue who took the blame.

Xue Xiangqian had spent many years in the workplace and was very familiar with these routines.

Today, although the world has changed, human nature remains the same.

He wouldn't be foolish enough to cry foul, because he knew it would be pointless.

He instructed Mengde to quickly recount the details of the case he was handling, and soon he grasped the key points:
1. The Spiritual Property Cleanup Room is currently handling the case of illegal construction within the Joyful Sect.

2. The Joyful Sect is a sect of average size. Its sect leader, Zhao Huanhuan, is a female cultivator in the Foundation Establishment stage.

The Joyful Sect is known for producing many beautiful women among its members.

Many disciples within the sect marry into wealthy families as concubines. Although the Joyful Sect may not seem large in scale, its influence is astonishing.

3. The Joyful Sect was built on Lingyun Peak, a wild mountain that was originally unmanaged.

The sect can expand however it wishes.

Unexpectedly, in the middle of the year, the imperial court began to inventory spiritual assets and used a grand formation to analyze the trends of spiritual veins throughout the land.

One of the dual spiritual veins, one of which is composed of water and fire, passes right through Lingyun Peak.

One of the spiritual eyes is located in the newly expanded training ground of the Joyful Sect.

"In a situation like this, the government could resolve it with a single document, so why is there still difficulty?"

Xue Xiang said, "I don't believe that the Huanxi Sect would dare to confront the imperial army."

Meng De said, "Your predecessor, Song Chang, thought the same thing. He first sent someone to negotiate with the Huanxi Sect."

The Joyful Sect avoided meeting with them, so Song Chang decided to forcibly demolish the house.

The team was sent out, but before they could even get close to Lingyun Peak, they were blown over by a gust of demonic wind.

Song Chang was shocked by the Huanxi Sect's audacity and reported the matter to higher authorities, but received no response. When he inquired further, he was asked how the illegal construction was determined and why demolition orders were issued arbitrarily.

Song Chang was utterly humiliated.

This matter was thus delayed.

Until the Prefect flew into a rage, and Song Chang was unlucky enough to take the blame.

"What kind of situation is this? You want your subordinates to do things, but you don't support them at all?"

Xue Xiang complained.

Meng De said, "The trickiness of this matter lies in this, and the difficulty in handling it lies in this."

Xue Xiang waved his hand, "We don't care about these things."

"Brother Mengde, please find the relevant files, and also the official document issued by the imperial court regarding the clearing of spiritual property."

…………

The night is getting darker.

Only one lamp remained in the public housing unit.

The files that Mengde sent were spread out on the table, a thick stack.

Xue Xiang patiently read through each item and line from the first page.

Between paper and ink, old cases are intertwined, and the handwriting is sometimes fast and sometimes slow.

After looking at it for a while, the lamplight seemed to dim, and the paper surface shimmered with a faint light.

The illegal construction of the Huanxi Sect began decades ago and was originally insignificant.

The problem lies in the large-scale spirit-testing in the middle of the year.

The confluence of the water and fire spiritual veins is locked at Lingyun Peak.

From that moment on, the illegal structures built by the Joyful Sect became objects that had to be demolished.

After reading it, Xue Xiang closed the file and tapped his fingertips lightly on the table.

The case file did not reveal the cunning methods of the Joyful Sect, but it did show that the entire Ninth Hall was not working together as a cohesive unit.

Clearly, the difficulty in this case lies within, not without.

To repel external threats, one must first secure internal stability.

Thinking of this, he simply closed the file and looked out the window, where he saw a plump figure reflected on the window paper.

"Brother Mengde, haven't you rested yet?"

Xue Xiang said in a low voice.

Mengde moved into the public room and said, "I wanted to leave, but you, the head of the academy, haven't left. How can I, the clerk, not have any sense of propriety?"

"Is Dr. Zhao still in his public housing?"

“Yes, the spiritual property clearing case is still unsolved, and many eyes are watching this area. Even if they are just pretending to be diligent, they have to put on a show. For several days in a row, Dean Zhao has been staying in the public housing.”

"Very good."

Xue Xiang straightened his official robes and headed straight for the residence of Zhao Pu, the head of the Third Court.

A chilly night wind swept in from the mountainside.

The shadows of the pines on the hillside rustled and swayed in the moonlight, and walking on the stone steps felt like stepping on waves.

In the distance, the sound of evening drums faded, and the palaces on Lengcui Peak seemed to float in the thin mist.

The Third Academy's headquarters were built against the mountain, with its doors tightly shut.

The lanterns outside the door swayed in the night, casting a dim yellow light.

Xue Xiangliang flashed the magic talisman at his waist, startling the clerk on duty, who quickly pushed open the door.

The hall was extremely quiet, with only a wisp of sandalwood incense rising slowly.

Zhao Puzheng sat leaning against the couch, his official robes half-undone, with a white porcelain teacup in front of him, steam rising from it.

"Academician Zhao, I apologize for disturbing you."

Xue Xiang cupped his hands in greeting and bowed before entering.

Zhao Pu closed the booklet in his hand, looked up at him, and was slightly surprised. "What brings you here so late at night, Dean Xue?"
"But if you're not comfortable in your accommodations, and need anything, just tell Huang Tong. I've already spoken to him, and he'll make sure you're satisfied."

Xue Xiang waved his hand, "Food and lodging are minor matters, but the cleanup of illegal buildings in the Joyful Sect is a major issue."

"I have reviewed the case file and found many suspicious points. I humbly request Your Excellency's clarification."

Zhao Pu picked up the tea, gently blew on it, and half-closed his eyelids.

Steam rose from the teacup, obscuring his expression.

“That’s your business with the spiritual property clearing room. I can’t interfere. Besides, I don’t know much about it.”

He spoke slowly and deliberately.

"In that case, I request that the enforcement team be mobilized to forcibly demolish the illegal buildings of Huanxizong. I also ask that Venerable Zhao write to the Venerable on my behalf."

Xue Xiang casually unleashed a thunderous revelation.

Each church in Canaanshire had a sizable law enforcement team.

Zhao Pu was shocked. "How can you handle a case so recklessly? Dean Xue, please think it over."

"Think twice?"

Xue Xiang asked, "Does Academician Zhao disagree?"

“I’ve already said that I don’t care about, and I can’t care about, the spiritual cleansing room.”

Zhao Pu stood up, his impatience almost overflowing.

"It's more accurate to say that they dare not interfere."

Xue Xiangxiu spat out venom.

Zhao Pu was so angry that his face turned pale. He pointed at Xue Xiang, speechless.

He never expected that this guy, a newcomer, would dare to be so bold.

Xue Xiang said to himself, "Your Excellency Zhao should know what I, the top scholar in the county examination, have been thrown here and what I have experienced."

I might as well speak frankly with Dean Zhao.

When I arrived, my senior brother Song of the Tongjiang School, oh, that is, the Director Song of the Guanfeng Division, and Mr. Ni, the Palace Master of the Canglan Academy, had given me their earnest advice.

Just do your job wholeheartedly, and don't worry about anything else.

I understand Dr. Zhao's predicament. If I am sitting on a furnace, then Dr. Zhao is sitting on the edge of a sickle.

If the case of the Joyful Sect is not handled properly, I will certainly suffer a devastating disaster, but how will the fate of Zhao Yuanzun be any better?
Okay then, I won't make things difficult for you.

Write a note clearly stating that from now on, all matters concerning the spiritual property clearing room will be handled entirely by Mr. Xue, and you will no longer interfere.

Xue Xiang didn't expect to get anything from Zhao Pu, but the rights and responsibilities had to be clearly defined.

Otherwise, no matter how well he plans, if Zhao Pu intervenes at the crucial moment and seizes command, everything will come to naught.

In conclusion, Zhao Pu could refrain from doing anything, but he could not cause trouble.

The bamboo grove outside rustled softly, and Zhao Pu fell silent.

He never wanted to get involved in the messy business of cleaning up spiritual property, but every time the punishment came down, he was always dragged into it.

Fortunately, the compensation offered was quite generous, so he reluctantly endured the beating.

As for Xue Xiang, in his eyes, he was just an unlucky guy who came to die.

Now that Xue Xiang has shown his true colors, he is clearly unwilling to be the unlucky one.

As for what Xue Xiang said about Song Sizun and Ni Gongguanshi, Zhao Pu didn't completely believe it, but he didn't dare not believe it either, after all, Xue Xiang's reputation as the top scorer in the county examination was too strong.

Therefore, Zhao Pu neither wanted to make things difficult for Huanxizong, nor did he want to confront Xue Xiang, who was carrying the halo of the top scorer in the county examination and was ready to fight to the death.

He remained silent for a long time, then said, "Fine, I can't help you anyway, so I'll let go."

Vice President Xue, you're like a dragon crossing the river; you don't understand the suffering of people like us.

I can only advise you that what is too rigid is easily broken, so think of a way out as soon as possible.

Twenty days is not enough to accomplish anything.

I've weathered this term, and I'm too tired to wallow in this filth anymore.

Zhao Pu readily wrote a note, which conveyed Xue Xiang's meaning, but the wording was much more official.

It was made clear that all affairs of the Spiritual Property Clearing Room would be handled by Xue Xiang, and no one else in the Third Court, including him, was allowed to interfere.

Xue Xiang bowed respectfully, took the note, and left.

Back at the official residence, Mengde was still waiting. Upon seeing Xue Xiang, he greeted him from afar, asking, "How did it go?"

Xue Xiang handed the note to Meng De. After reading it, Meng De frowned and said, "The fact that he wrote this note clearly means that he doesn't want to offend either of you. You two can fight it out yourselves."

If Ke Ling fails to clean up the mess, he will be punished.

Even so, he was unwilling to get involved.

Then there are only two possibilities.

One possibility is that he received sufficient compensation.

Another possibility is that he couldn't afford to offend the Joyful Sect.

Or rather, they couldn't afford to offend the people behind the Joyful Sect.

It now appears that the internal resistance does not lie with Dean Zhao.

Xue Xiang nodded, "Secretary Meng, you're quite the strategist."

Meng De frowned. "You can still laugh."

The fact that the obstacle isn't Zhao Yuanzun proves that the problem is getting bigger, doesn't it?

As the saying goes, the root of the problem lies on the podium, and the issue stems from the first three rows.

This is troublesome.

Xue Xiang smiled and said, "It was a troublesome matter to begin with."

I'm not afraid of trouble, I'm afraid of being shrouded in mystery, not knowing where the trouble lies.
Is Wang Tangzun still living in public housing?

Meng De's eyes widened. "You want to get Wang Tangzun to do this too?"

Xue Xiang remained noncommittal.

Meng De said urgently, "Wang Tangzun is a scholar on the Bronze Scale List, a man of high status."

He's a seasoned bureaucrat from Canaanshire; don't try to imitate him and end up with a poor imitation.

"Wrong, I'm barefoot and not afraid of those wearing shoes."

………………

At dawn, the sky over Lengcui Peak was just beginning to lighten.

The mountain wind, carrying the scent of snow, rushed down from the peak, making the eaves bells tinkle.

The main hall of the Ninth Hall, with its vermilion railings and green tiles, is half shrouded in clouds and half in the shadows of the mountains, exuding an imposing aura.

The honored one, Wang Bodang, is residing in the main hall.

This man was extremely tall, with a slightly hunched back. Although his hair and beard were white, they were neatly combed and hung down to his chest.

Her eyes were slightly downturned, with a half-smile, and deep wrinkles at the corners, giving her an air of gentle kindness.

However, that smile seemed to have nothing to do with him in Xue Xiang's eyes.

The floor of the hall was made of a single piece of green jade, so smooth that one could see their reflection in it. Behind the table, the incense burner emitted a hazy smoke, concealing a stack of official documents on the table.

Xue Xiang walked to the front of the hall, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "This humble official pays his respects to Your Excellency."

Wang Bodang raised his eyes, smiling, as if he had known he was coming. "Courtmaster Xue, you must be up the mountain early this morning for matters concerning the Joyful Sect?"

"Exactly."

Xue Xiang raised his head, his expression calm. "I have reviewed all the case files. Today I have come specifically to request Your Excellency to issue a document to mobilize the enforcement team to assist me in forcibly demolishing the illegal buildings."

Wang Bodang stroked his long beard and slowly shook his head. "That's not how you handle cases. You've only just arrived at the Ninth Hall, and there are many things you don't yet understand."

Let's adapt and experience it for a while first, then we can discuss other options.

With the closure of the government office imminent, the lower-ranking officials were on tenterhooks and had no choice but to act hastily.

Xue Xiang stared directly at Wang Bodang.

Wang Bo said, “In all things, one should guard against arrogance and impatience. I have already intervened in this matter and communicated with the Joyful Sect.”

Their point was that the construction of the sect had cost a huge amount of money.

Forcibly demolishing it now, without gaining anything, is not very fair.

The Joyful Sect is quite influential in the county, and people from all sides have come to plead for their help. I have no choice but to balance the interests of all parties.

The leader of the Joyful Sect, Zhao Huanhuan, said that she is currently in the Eighth Hall, processing property ownership documents.

Once the paperwork is completed, she can apply for compensation.

As soon as the compensation money arrived, they immediately took the initiative to demolish the illegal buildings.

The way to govern is to consider both legal principles and human sentiment.

I have already spoken with He Tangzun of the Eighth Hall.

The results should be available in ten days at most.

"Director Xue, you can await good news."

"What if there's no result?

Xue Xiang cupped his hands and stared intently at Wang Bodang.

Wang Bodang's smile froze, and he stared coldly at Xue Xiang, as if frost was rising in the air. "It seems that Dean Xue does not take me seriously."

"Your Excellency has misunderstood."

Xue Xiangdao said, "I checked overnight the relevant policy documents issued by the central government regarding the clearing of spiritual property."

One of the provisions explicitly states that from the moment the central government issues the order to inventory spiritual property, all property rights documents related to spiritual property throughout the country shall be frozen.

How does the Eighth Hall issue the necessary property ownership documents for the Joyful Clan?

"Really? Is that so?"

Wang Bodang slapped his forehead. "It seems I was negligent. I'll look into this matter immediately."

"This humble official is willing to wait here."

At this point, Xue Xiang had realized that the key obstacle lay in the Ninth Hall, the Venerable King Bodang.

"Dean Xue, have I been too kind to you?"

Wang Bodang's face darkened instantly, like a cloud gathering overcast.

"I do not know where the lower official has gone wrong."

"So you claim not to know? Are you instructing this master on how to do things?"

“This humble official dares not. May I ask Your Excellency, what should this humble official do for Your Excellency to mobilize the enforcement team and cooperate with the forced demolition?”

Xue Xiang didn't want to keep going back and forth with Wang Bodang.

Wang Bodang used bureaucratic tricks to suppress him, and he could only respond with procedural justice.

"If you say Huanxizong is illegally constructed, first get the document confirming it as illegally constructed. Otherwise, how can I mobilize the enforcement team to demolish it? Get out of here."

Wang Bodang waved his hand impatiently.

Xue Xiang bowed respectfully, took his leave, and departed.

As soon as he left, a man emerged from the side hall. He was seven feet tall with snow-white hair and beard. Staring at Xue Xiang's departing figure, he said, "This man lives up to his reputation; he's incredibly fierce."

In retrospect, that person may have made a terrible move.

"Why do you say that, Mr. Fang?"

Wang Bodang raised his eyebrows.

Old Fang was a clerk in the Ninth Hall, who came to the Ninth Hall with Wang Bodang.

The storyteller's office was merely a legitimate reason that Wang Bodang gave him to appear in the Ninth Hall.

In fact, this man was Wang Bodang's strategist.

Old Fang said, "Cleansing up spiritual property is destined to be a troublesome task; it simply cannot be carried out without authority."

The central government must know this, and I predict that it won't be long before the authority of the Spiritual Property Cleanup Office expands significantly.

If Xue Xiang's power expands, it could easily lead to a situation where he has nurtured a tiger only to have it become a threat later.

Wang Bodang smiled and said, "Does Master Fang think that Xiao Xue can dismantle the Joyful Sect?"

"Hard to say."

Old Fang shook his head.

"Still not sure? You're just a greenhorn, thinking you've won the whole world just because you beat a few spoiled brats."

Wang Bodang chuckled, "Then let's give him a little shock from the adult world."

(End of this chapter)