CHAPTER 723: 598 EMPEROR AND STATE PRECEPTOR_2

Hence, mimicking the Yellow Emperor’s audience with Guang Chengzi, he performed grand rituals and knelt down to worship, using the Emperor’s body, to the astonishment of the eunuchs beside him, who quickly knelt down en masse.

Shi Feiyang told them to rise and followed the Emperor into the Qianqing Palace, where the Emperor asked him to take the seat of honor.

Of course, Shi Feiyang would not sit in his dragon chair, so he simply found another chair to sit in, while the Emperor stood in front of him to converse, acting entirely like a junior in the presence of a supremely impressive senior.

Shi Feiyang revealed his intentions to him, to eradicate all the Evil Sects throughout the world.

The Emperor did not hesitate for a moment, "I have long harbored this intention but lamented my lack of power! These Evil Sects are truly abominable, deluding the common people, leading them to worship depraved Evil Gods! I have wanted to issue an edict, mandating that all under heaven worship only the State Preceptor, but nearly all the ministers opposed it, claiming it was a path to chaos. Later, I sent the Eastern Factory and the Jinyi Guard to investigate, only to discover that those ministers had also fallen under the sway of the Cults, especially that Western Sect! I could only order people to promote the virtue of the State Preceptor throughout the world..."

Shi Feiyang laughed at what the Emperor said, "There’s no need to make people believe in me, I left three Daoist books for the previous emperor, encompassing self-cultivation, teaching the people, and governing the state, and in them it is clearly stated..."

The Emperor nodded eagerly, "I know, I can recite all three volumes of the Heavenly Book by the State Preceptor backwards. Is what the State Preceptor wishes to say is that most people inherently lack strength, have more beastly nature than human, those of a beastly nature, selfish and self-interested, not understanding what ’public affairs’ are, fighting over gluttony, even resorting to eating the flesh of their own kind to fill their bellies, and fearing natural predators..."

In the Daoist books given to the Emperor by Shi Feiyang, he detailed the "public and private distinction" between "beastly nature" and "human nature," and expounded upon the differences between "human" and "immortal."

Ordinary people inherently lack strength, and their mentality is not self-regulatory, entirely swayed by external events and objects, greedy and angry outside, dependent and reliant outside.

As such, many people must believe in gods and ghosts, hoping for the protection and blessings of the powerful. It is essentially a matter of inner emptiness and weakness, a lack of maturity and strength in the mind.

Faced with hardship, the first thought is to seek external protection rather than realistically solving the problems by oneself.

They are all psychological infants!

In the Daoist books, the latter part describes how to cultivate Qi, refine it, maintain an inner vibrant spirit, outer youthful vitality, comprehend the Dao, accumulate merits, nurture benevolence, seek justice, honor etiquette, foster wisdom, keep faith... thereby shaping one’s own character, enriching one’s human nature, forging a strong heart, and discovering the wisdom to solve problems...

Only in this way can one completely break away from seeking divine protection, possess a mature mentality and a healthy personality.

Otherwise, when afraid, they seek the protection of gods; when greedy, they desire blessings from gods; when regretful, they beg for forgiveness from gods... Even if there are no gods, they conjure one up, otherwise, they feel they cannot survive.

In the Daoist books, this entire Chapter expounds on the inherent weakness of mankind. Zhu Citing truly knew it by heart, as soon as he began reciting, he couldn’t stop, quickly covering a good portion of it.

Shi Feiyang said, "As Emperor, you’re still so unstable and dependent on me, this too is because of your inherent weakness."

Zhu Citing’s face turned red as he explained, "Your Majesty... I merely admire the Immortal Path and wish to be carefree and happy like the State Preceptor. I have also tried to govern the country well these years, punishing corrupt officials, enhancing irrigation, reforming the imperial examination system, bureaucracy, and tax regulations..."

He gave a brief account of his accomplishments over the years, and Shi Feiyang nodded in acknowledgment, "It’s no small feat to manage such a great nation with such a large population, and it’s not possible to attend to every detail, as every person is an individual, not just a wood or stone chess piece. To have achieved what you have today, you can be considered a wise ruler of this era."

Hearing the approval from his idol, Zhu Citing was ecstatic.

After a brief exchange with the Emperor, Shi Feiyang produced a list distinguishing the Orthodox and Evil Sects. On the Emperor’s side, ministers were summoned for meetings that lasted days. Upon receiving the list, an edict was immediately issued to the entire realm, bestowing imperial approval medals on the Orthodox Sects, and all the Sect Leaders were conferred the title of Great Master.

For instance, Jiang Shu of the Qingcheng Sect was titled Great Master for the Prosperity of the Nation and Salvation of the World.

Ling Hun of the Snow Mountain Sect was appointed as the "Great Master of Yuanmiao Protecting the Nation."

Qi Shuming of the Emei Sect was appointed as the "Great Master of Zhengyuan Assisting the Nation."

Shi Zhu of the Huangshan Sect was appointed as the "Great Master of Changsheng Guarding the Nation."

Shi Feiyang compiled six orthodox sects in total, with Jiang Shu and Ling Hun showing him the most respect by being the first to arrive in the capital to accept their appointments. Needless to say about Shi Zhu, the Linglingzi of the Wudang Sect and Mr. Zhong of the Kunlun Sect soon followed.

Qi Shuming from the Emei Sect did not come in person; he sent Li Yingqiong instead, and made it clear that he had passed on the position of Sect Leader to Li Yingqiong, as he himself had withdrawn from worldly affairs.

Besides the six great orthodox sects, Shi Feiyang listed another 168 cults, with the largest being the Western Sect, Divine Dragon Sect, Rashamon Sect, Netherworld Sect, Blood River Sect, Seven Saints Sect, etc., all targeted for eradication.

Shi Feiyang declared the Western Sect as the number one evil cult that must be eliminated.

However, he specifically noted that of the sixteen factions within the Western Sect, fifteen were evil, with only the Xie Wang Sect not considered as such.

Aside from the six Daoist orthodox white lists, he also specifically compiled a Buddhist orthodox list, with only the Xie Wang Sect on it, clearly noted as the legitimate Buddhist orthodoxy.

As the Western Sect was the largest religious group of the Great Ming Dynasty, with numerous followers ranging from Cabinet officials to peddlers and porters, they all had a considerable number of adherents.

When they heard that their sect had been designated as a cult by the court, there was a great indignation, and there were even threats of revolt...

But once they realized the court had specifically stated that the Xie Wang Sect was orthodox, divisions emerged: those who were originally from the Xie Wang Sect became even more rampant, wielding the government’s decree to proclaim, "Only we are the true Western Sect, and we believe in the True God, the rightful heir of the Western Sect’s Almighty God. You others are all reformers, all deceived by external evil demons to follow false teachings!"

The followers of the other factions, being struck down, began to change their identities in droves and joined the Xie Wang Sect.

In a moment of anger, Xie Shan almost entered the Demon Path when he set fire to the merit forest. Zen Master Tian Meng brought him back to the mountain, where he taught him to recite Buddhist scriptures, cultivate silently, uphold precepts, meditate, etc. Once he had re-established a firm foundation, he went down the mountain to practice the Dao, accumulating virtues and practicing patience, Dharma Giving, and other paramitas.

He begged for many tattered cloths from hundreds of homes, sewing them into a patchwork kasaya to wear, and ventured into the human world as an ascetic with a wooden staff.

Zen Master Tian Meng, who had been cultivating Buddhism since the Eastern Han Dynasty, possessed supreme Buddhist wisdom and divine skills.

The solution he proposed to Xie Shan was: when someone implored him for help, he would go to that person. If the individual truly needed aid, such as healing from injuries or sickness, he would provide assistance, and then tell them that he was Xie Shan, recounting authentically all that had been fabricated in the "Xie Wang Scripture." Furthermore, he would preach the proper Buddhist Law to them, fostering good relations and planting virtuous seeds through Dharma Giving.

If on the other hand, someone was greedy for wealth, cursed others, or asked him to kill someone for them, he would pay no heed.

After several decades, there were very few who still believed in the heretical Xie Wang Sect, which was the smallest and weakest among the sixteen factions.

However, now with the issuance of the imperial decree, a vast number of followers poured into the Xie Wang Sect. Everyone held a copy of the "Xie Wang Scripture," praying and reciting day and night, beseeching him for favors. Many temples originally dedicated to other deities gradually replaced them with statues of Lord Xie Wang and his two daughters. There were also temples built specifically for the worship of Lord Xie Wang’s past parents, the White Sheep Mother and the Black Ox Tai Sui. The scriptures claimed that these two were Xie Wang’s past parents, and given his extreme filial piety, it was sometimes considered more efficacious to petition them than Lord Xie Wang himself, hence the temples’ incense grew even more prosperous.

Suddenly, the number of believers in Lord Xie Wang surged explosively across the land...