Master of Strange Dao

Continuing his journey to the capital city, Yu Ziqing was initially worried that with the existence of the filth bucket, people might become impatient to start planting Spiritual Medicine.

After all, the by-product of the filth bucket, that fertilizer, had been verified as suitable for cultivating low-level Spiritual Medicine.

However, as Yu Ziqing wandered through hundreds of villages and over a dozen cities, he didn't encounter this issue at all.

Clearly, the importance he attached to the matter was also reflected by the Cabinet, resulting in the common people not daring to act recklessly.

The bloodbath caused by Emperor Jia Shisi ten years ago still had a formidable deterrent effect.

Everything appeared to be thriving.

Having toured around, Yu Ziqing felt comforted and a great sense of achievement.

According to the records, there hadn't been a case of someone starving to death in ten years.

He was somewhat skeptical, so he made the journey himself, constantly disguising his identity and personally asking around. From the smiles of the people, he could be sure that it likely wasn't false.

Yu Ziqing felt somewhat dazed.

Having both Earth Deities and cultivators participate in the construction had resulted in efficiency and effectiveness far beyond his expectations.

"Is Your Majesty satisfied?"

"Do you know what I'm feeling right now?"

"This servant does not know."

"No one can stop people's longing for a better life. Once the conditions are created, the passion and enthusiasm they unleash cannot be matched by mere coercion."

"What Your Majesty says is true," Zhang Quli sighed, as he was most able to appreciate this point.

He had originally thought that after the drastic changes, the Divine Dynasty would remain in decline for many years before showing signs of improvement.

Unexpectedly, in just ten years, things had already become better than the best scenario he could have ever imagined.

From the bottom to the top and vice versa, the overall spirit of the people had completely transformed.

The filth bucket and the Jade Tablet played a huge role in this.

The increase in food production was expected.

But the impact of the Jade Tablet went far beyond his anticipation, allowing information to be directly communicated to the populace with dedicated interpreters ensuring that everyone could understand, eliminating layers of misinterpretation.

No longer would good policies become bad ones by the time they reached the ground level.

For good policies to turn sour at the grassroots level in the past was far too common.

Now, it was much rarer; if there were any issues, they would likely stem from local officials and leak before conflicts could accumulate.

The Emperor had good intentions, accomplished good deeds, and if those below carried out their duties differently, the subjects wouldn't blame the Emperor as readily as before.

Now, they would directly name the officials responsible.

The will of the people now irreversibly supported Yu Ziqing's ascension to the throne.

The disloyal and treacherous had no soil in which to take root.

Looking back through the history of Dadui, there had never been such a situation.

Even if the Emperor had no intention of ascending the throne, nobody dared harbor other thoughts.

Now, compare that to the many rebellions suppressed in the past.

Now, speak of rebellion and see if anyone follows.

"After the food production increased, we started developing animal husbandry and fisheries, and continued expanding other types of cultivation.

I've noticed that in many areas, the roads are not very good.

Once we have enough funds, we'll start thinking about how to build bridges and roads.

Clothing, food, housing, transportation—in all respects.

Then, education, setting up schools, and so on.

At the right time, we'll consider expanding the planting of Spiritual Medicine and more.

Step by step, we can't be hasty, the foundation must be solid."

Yu Ziqing continued to set the direction for future developments.

Today's Dadui might still be weak overall, but its future was promising.

The will of the people could not be stopped by anyone.

Having toured the outside with Zhang Quli and Jia Shisi for dozens of days, Yu Ziqing returned to the palace city. Zhang Quli then hurried off to deal with government affairs.

There wasn't much left for him to do; the details of implementation were better understood by those individuals.

He didn't need to intervene anymore.

Diving into the Dadui Book Library, he began reading to learn about the history, culture, and various classics of Dadui.

Several days later, Yu Ziqing stepped out of the library and summoned Jia Shisi.

"There's something I'd like to ask you."

"Please, Your Majesty, go ahead."

"On my travels, I encountered some people without faces, the Faceless Men.

They couldn't remember their own names, nor their past experiences, only the things they learned.

Is the Dharma Method of Dadui's Faceless Men the same?"

"It's different. Dadui's Faceless Men haven't used the method of abandoning their facial features for a long time.

The origins of this method are unknown to this servant, with no detailed records to be found—it may have already been lost.

This ominous method has long been forbidden.

Even when used, it only involved casting aside one's True Name and facial features, but past memories remained."

Yu Ziqing nodded, understanding that it was indeed different.

"Do you know the specifics of the content?"

"This servant doesn't know, and currently, no one does. To view it, only Your Majesty can lift the ban.

But it has been passed down from leader to leader that it must not be unsealed, not to be peeked at.

It should not be viewed by anyone unless absolutely necessary.

Those who have seen the content have all met untimely deaths, without exception."

"Then there's no need to unseal it, but you know the specific procedure, right?"

"This servant does know that part. To abandon one's True Name and facial features, one must first cultivate the Dharma Method.

Then, prepare a magic platform, conduct the ritual, and recite spells to fully master it.

Once completed, anyone who looks upon the Faceless Man will find that upon reflection, they can no longer recall what they said or did when interacting with them.

When acting, almost complete secrecy can be maintained.

No secret technique can help them remember.

But the fate of the Faceless Men is always grim—they have abandoned their True Names and facial features.

Over time, they start to question their own identity."