Chapter 120: Patriarch’s Examination (1/2)
Chapter 120: Patriarch’s Examination
Translator: NinetalesEditor: Fish Creek
Qin Mu was bewildered, ”Patriarch didn't have this thought?”
The young patriarch fell silent for a moment and sighed, ”Yes, I did. Put your head temporarily on your neck, and continue your words.”
Qin Mu continued, ”I see that Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor's path somewhat conforms with our sacred cult's teaching: the path of the saint which is for the everyday use of commoners. If our sacred cult depends on Eternal Peace, we won't decline like the other sects and could instead expand and grow stronger. This is the first point.”
He paused for a while and continued, ”Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor's primary schools, colleges, and Imperial College have a drawback and it is huge. It can't be seen in a short period of time but after two to three hundred years, the result will become apparent.”
The young patriarch revealed a curious look and asked, ”What's the drawback?”
Qin Mu asked, ”May I dare to ask Patriarch, how many percents of the scholars in Imperial College are from poor families?”
The young patriarch revealed a smile as he obviously knew what he was implying. He replied, ”Ten percent.”
Qin Mu asked again, ”Over these years, how many percent of the young officials in Eternal Peace Empire come from Imperial College?”
The young patriarch replied, ”Seventy-two percent are from Imperial College. The other old ministers are from various big sects and there are also some that have climbed up step by step.”
”From my speculation, two hundred years later, all the officials in the world would come from Imperial College and there will be no scholars from poor families in Imperial College!”
Qin Mu saw his float sinking downwards and didn't hurry to pull back his rod, instead, he waited for a while, ”Two hundred years later, children from poor families would remain poor for their entire lives and children from rich families would remain rich for their entire lives. The people's resentment would accumulate over the days and months, which will surely explode. The rich and influential families would take this chance to revolt and overthrow the Imperial Family and that would be the time our sacred cult would rule the world. With our surging power, no one would be a match for us and no one could resist us.”
He raised his rod and a huge fish was hooked. However, this fish was extremely strong and the fishing line snapped. The huge fished plopped back into the water and vanished without a trace.
The young patriarch laughed coldly, ”You want to rebel and frame our sacred cult as unrighteous, off with your head!”
Qin kept quiet for a moment and said, ”Patriarch, stop joking.”
The young patriarch became speechless. He had also caught a fish but it was a small one. Lifting his rod up, he continued, ”Alright, we'll take about proper matters. What happens after you turn our sacred cult into another Eternal Peace Empire after two hundred years? When a huge battle wipes clean Eternal Peace and destroys the powerful families, there will be powerful families two hundred years later which would overthrow the rule of our sacred cult. How would you solve it?”
Qin Mu was stumped and shook his head, ”I haven't thought about what would happen after two hundred years. May Patriarch enlighten me.”
The young patriarch broke a willow branch and speared the fish. He then stood up, ”Even I can't see what would happen after two hundred years. Young Cult Master, since you can see two hundred years ahead at your age, you are already a qualified cult master. You've passed my test. My thinking is different from yours. What I'm thinking is the teachings of our sacred cult.”
Qin Mu's heart jolted slightly as he looked towards this young elder.
The young patriarch said unhurriedly, ”The path of the saint is none other than the everyday use for common people. Anyone who does otherwise is considered heresy! To act straightforwardly, to follow the course of nature, that's the meaning of path. When Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor rose abruptly, I had detected his great ambition. When he asked me about the path, I had told him this sentence in Great Educational Heavenly Devil Scriptures. What he is doing now is the essence of this sentence.”
Qin Mu's heart and mind wavered and he bowed in awe, ”Patriarch is wise and is already a saint. You wish to make an imperceptible influence and turn Eternal Peace Empire in our sacred cult. If Eternal Peace Empire is able to achieve the path of the saint, Eternal Peace Empire would be Heavenly Saint Cult!”
The young patriarch shook his head, ”Eternal Peace Empire and Imperial Preceptor can't achieve the path of the saint and neither could I. Just like you said, the power and resources would be in the hands of powerful families two hundred years later. The poor will become poorer and the rich will become richer. This isn't the path of the saint of our Heavenly Saint Cult. I wanted to influence Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor and Eternal Peace Empire; however, it looks like I had already failed. I'm old, this responsibility would be passed on to you. All I can help you is to manage the cult for you for another few more years.”
He held the fish in his hand and carried the poles on his back. Qin Mu followed behind him and saw this elder finding a col to set up a pot in the paramount sacred place of everyone's heart in Eternal Peace Empire. Adding water and starting a fire, he removed the scales and organs of the fish before throwing it into the pot.
Looking at the water in the pot, young patriarch took out some seasonings and sprinkled them into the pot, ”Another few months later, I'll retire from the position of Grand Chancellor. I'm old and I want to spend my last few years traveling. There are still many places in this world I have yet to explore and the sacred cult would be in your hands. After I retire, I will hold an ascension ceremony and personally see you become the cult master of the sacred cult.”
Qin Mu was slightly troubled and asked, ”I'm currently only at Five Elements Realm. For me to directly take over the sacred cult, would it be too early and hard to convince the masses?”
Young patriarch signaled him to sit down. Qin Mu sat down with legs crossed in front of the pot and smelt the fragrance of the fish soup.
Young patriarch replied, ”The sacred cult is actually more dispersed. All three hundred and sixty hall masters are spread throughout the land and our followers are all over Eternal Peace. Even the elders and the heavenly kings are hard to gather together. You can be a cult master that washes his hands of his responsibility. If this really doesn't work out, ain't I still alive? When I'm still alive, no one would dare to touch you, not even Eternal Peace Imperial Preceptor.”