The Sims: I Open the Immortal Path for All Beings

Chapter 833: Chapter 783: The Crowd Goes Wild

The Witch Deity Teaching sought to regain their ritual authority and asked the Emperor of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty to restore their status as the main sacrificers of the witch sacrifice lineage.

This news spread in an instant throughout the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, the entire Daming World, and even the Sky Wasteland, following the moment Zhu Houji raised the topic during a morning meeting of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty.

After all, there is no wall under heaven that doesn’t leak wind, and this time Zhu Houji did not even bother to keep it a secret; by directly addressing the matter at the Court, he indicated that there was no chance of it being concealed or stopped.

Wow! The crowd was instantly in turmoil.

Setting aside the Sky Wasteland and the various forces of the Daming World, just within the Great Ming Divine Dynasty itself, or rather on that day at the Court, officials, Council Elders, Civil Officials and military officers, and royals all reacted differently, each with their own stance.

Nonetheless, this matter undoubtedly cast a huge stone upon the previously tranquil Court, immediately stirring up a great wave.

Over countless years of development, the Confucian Gate had grown immensely powerful, to an inconceivable extent. Even after the Divine Dynasty’s ascension and these individuals were ordained and stepped onto the Divine Tao, they still regarded themselves as disciples of the Confucian Gate, holding fast to rites and laws.

Just as Zhu Houji and Wu Shijiu had anticipated, once this issue was raised, countless officials objected, especially those Civil Officials who had risen through the imperial examination. They saw this as the Witch Deity Teaching encroaching on their rights. They hysterically presented their case to Zhu Houji, claiming it posed a danger to the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, that the Witch Deity Teaching had ulterior motives. At that moment, they seemed to have forgotten how, at first, they had vigorously promoted the assistance and role of the Witch Deity Teaching in supporting the Great Ming Divine Dynasty when it was fostered by them.

The saying goes that times change, and when they found their own interests threatened, they naturally shifted their stance, no longer adhering to that of the past.

However, it was regrettable that over the years, the investments of the Witch Deity Teaching had not been entirely in vain. Aside from those Civil Officials who were of Confucian origin and considered themselves Confucian disciples, there were many military officers who had no such reservations.

For these people, they had their own understanding. They did not need to care about what the Confucian Gate thought, nor about any dogmatic right to interpret rites and laws. What mattered to them was strengthening themselves and then helping the Great Ming Divine Dynasty grow stronger to confront more challenges.

Therefore, since the existence of the Witch Deity Teaching was beneficial to them and could help them grow stronger, these people naturally would not refuse. Moreover, with the longstanding antagonism between the civil and military sides, they saw many contradictions between them and the Civil Officials; now, seeing these officials in distress also presented a chance to repay favors to the Witch Deity Teaching. Thus, these military officers were more than happy to oblige.

And for the royals, they shared similar thoughts. Being part of the Royal Family, they couldn’t avoid criticism from the Civil Officials on normal days. Now, with a chance to repay past grievances, they would certainly not miss it.

Consequently, the Confucian faction, which should have been powerful at the Court, found themselves suddenly at a disadvantage, a situation that was simply unimaginable. Of course, this temporary setback did not affect the overall situation. Although they could not dismiss the matter on the spot, they managed to put it aside at the Court temporarily with enough power.

However, putting the issue aside at the Court did not mean it was truly set aside. Instead, the matter continued to ferment and brew, attracting an increasing storm.

It is necessary to know that the Confucian Gate exists not just in the Great Ming Divine Dynasty, but also in some ancient countries within the Sky Wasteland. Although the power of these branches is not strong, it undoubtedly provided many with an excuse, an opportunity to meddle in the affairs of the Great Ming Divine Dynasty.

It indeed was a time rife with affairs; originally, since the initiation of the World Merging Project, the most important and eye-catching matter in Between Heaven and Earth should have been the project. It was supposed to be the precise focus of countless cultivators’ attention with every step of its progression.

But over the years, one significant event after another has arisen in Between Heaven and Earth, attracting the eyes of countless powers and cultivators, making the World Merging seem almost trivial in comparison.

“Elder, how should we handle this matter?” In the residence of the Secretary of the Ministry of War, Wang Qiong, officials asked Wang Qiong.

Having risen from the imperial examinations, Wang Qiong had started his career in this way, and his numerous supporters were all from Confucian Gate.

To them, high-ranking as they were, Confucian Gate couldn’t actually constrain them; rather, the power of Confucian Gate was at their disposal. Often, holding the authority to interpret the teachings of Confucian Gate, their actions and behaviors naturally assumed an air of rightful justice.

One might say that the current demand from the Witch Deity Teaching, wishing to reinstate the Witch Sacrifice line to their former role as chief officiants, was tantamount to snatching away their power and weakening their force, something they couldn’t tolerate.

However, the shrewd and experienced Wang Qiong would naturally not make a hasty decision, as his successful cultivation over the years had garnered considerable support from the Witch Deity Teaching. For such a major figure, a direct confrontation would spoil his reputation, and with the disparity in strength between them, he wouldn’t choose to break relations unless absolutely necessary.

He turned his gaze to Gu Ji: “Seeing you so confident, you must have a plan in mind!”

Gu Ji smiled: “Our wariness of the power of the Witch Deity Teaching stems from the existence and threat of supreme strong ones, but that doesn’t mean we truly have no means to contend with them.”

He looked around and said: “In my view, there is one person capable enough to stand against the Witch Deity Teaching.”

“Oh?”@@novelbin@@

“Who might that be?”

“The Witch Deity Teaching has several supreme strong ones, but could it be that our Confucian Gate also harbors a supreme strong one?”

“With the current chaotic situation within the Divine Dynasty, introducing another force might only complicate matters further.”

“…”

The crowd began to discuss fervently, sharing their perspectives and apprehensions.

Wang Qiong frowned slightly, signaling them to quiet down, then with narrowed eyes, he said: “Are you planning to have Wang Boan return to Tiandu?”

Gu Ji’s words made it clear to Wang Qiong whom the other party was referring to, as in these years, the one true great sage within Confucian Gate was none other than Wang Boan. Having made a shocking move at the Shenxiao Debate Conference, it was unknown how profound his strength had become over the years.

“Indeed, Wang Brother’s return to Tiandu at this time will not only serve as our support in the struggle against the Witch Deity Teaching but also presents an opportunity for Bo’an Brother’s Heart Teachings to shine.” Gu Ji said earnestly.

With his unique Heart Teachings and profound strength, Wang Boan’s many disciples over the years had nearly turned it into one of the prominent schools of Confucian Gate. However, this situation also faced covert suppression by some bigwigs within Confucian Gate, as no one was willing to concede interests, which was why Wang Boan had been kept outside the border, unable to return to Tiandu.