Merit must be rewarded, and faults must be corrected.
This is one of the most fundamental principles of Great Yi, or more precisely, of Yi Tianxing himself. If you have rendered meritorious service, no one can deny it. You will receive merit points, status, wealth, and treasures—none will be lacking. But if you've made mistakes, they will certainly be pursued and rectified accordingly. Reward for merit, punishment for faults—such balance ensures that the hearts of Great Yi's officials and subjects remain aligned and loyal.
As for Cai Yong's departure from the imperial court, Yi Tianxing didn't investigate too deeply.
After all, the importance of the Immortal Academy is in no way inferior to that of the Minister of Rites—perhaps even more crucial. If managed well, it could become a sacred site for the human race within the Great Yi Dynasty, admired by countless cultivators. Moreover, just because Cai Yong no longer holds a court position doesn't mean he's detached from Great Yi. The Immortal Academy belongs to Great Yi.
His daughter is also the queen of Great Yi. If any issue arises and he is asked for assistance, would he refuse?
Whether one is within the court or outside it, there's little difference in his case.
Furthermore, as the head of the Immortal Academy, he still enjoys Great Yi's fate energy, and his status is even equivalent to a rank above first grade, on par with princes and dukes.
Even if he doesn't appear at court, who would dare treat him with disrespect?
As for Mao Sui, he is naturally eloquent, a master of debate whose sharp tongue can sway hearts and minds. Coming from the School of Diplomacy, his skills align with the Ministry of Rites' responsibilities—diplomatic missions, hosting foreign envoys, and managing rituals. Yi Tianxing had already been considering a restructuring of administrative duties. With Mao Sui taking the role, there would be no issues.
"Sir Zhuge, your talents are vast. Now that you've joined Great Yi, I can't afford to be stingy with rewards. How about we confer your title right here at this morning court?" Yi Tianxing smiled and looked at Zhuge Liang, speaking gently.
Zhuge Liang's talents had been demonstrated through many conversations and interactions on the Divine-Demon Battlefield. His capabilities had been tested by history and could be fully trusted.
This is the unique benefit of historical figures—their past deeds clearly show the level of their abilities.
In the grand hall, everyone turned their attention to Zhuge Liang. Before coming here, they had already learned his identity from Yang Ye, Jia Xu, and others. His name was not unfamiliar. With such prestige, even if he were directly conferred a high title, none of the ministers present would object. That's the privilege that comes with being a renowned historical figure.
Many even looked on with anticipation.
After all, Zhuge Liang was a figure of monumental importance during the Three Kingdoms era. Without him, the tripartite division of the realm would never have been realized. With such a legacy, he was more than worthy of any position.
"Your Majesty is most generous, but I dare not accept."
Zhuge Liang shook his head and said, "The official system of a dynasty is sacred. Since there are established institutions and protocols, they must be followed. Promotion should follow the proper paths, based on merit and accomplishment. Reward for merit, punishment for wrongdoing—that is the true path for a lasting dynasty. How could I ask for an exception just for myself?"
It was clear that during his time on the Divine-Demon Battlefield, through interactions with people like Jia Xu, he had come to understand the system and policies of Great Yi. Since he had decided to join, he naturally would study it deeply.
He understood that in Great Yi, advancement within the court relied on talent and merit—these were the two essential criteria. Yi Tianxing valued loyalty and history. Those who had followed him from the beginning often held prestigious positions now. Wang Dahu, once a mere foot soldier, had risen to become Commander of the Battle Tiger Legion within the Twelve Zodiac Legions—a meteoric rise. No one back then could have imagined such a future for him.
This was the value of accumulated experience. Within Great Yi, no one could complain about this method.
Zhuge Liang understood that no matter how talented he was, Great Yi had a complete bureaucratic system. Anyone entering that system must respect its rules and culture. The best way to integrate quickly and silence all objections was to follow Great Yi's official process—to advance step by step, winning approval through action.
"In that case, what is your intention, sir?" Yi Tianxing asked thoughtfully.
"Your Majesty plans to hold an imperial examination, does he not? Then I shall take this opportunity to participate," Zhuge Liang replied with a smile. "By emerging from the examination, I will not break any rules and can also measure my own scholarly abilities."
He continued, "I believe there must be many talented individuals among the people of Great Yi, all awaiting this opportunity. I am most eager to compete with them."
His tone carried both confidence and anticipation.
Never doubt that there are hidden talents among the people. Many await only an opportunity. Especially now, when countless human refugees have arrived from all directions to join Great Yi. Even if only one in ten thousand is a genius, their number would still be remarkable.
Moreover, based on Yi Tianxing's description, this imperial examination would not solely test literary knowledge. Writing skill would only be a small component. Even if one's essays weren't exceptional, excellence in other areas could still allow one to stand out. This meant the system aimed to surface all talents with practical expertise.
Zhuge Liang was genuinely excited for the upcoming examination.
"Your Majesty, I, Gongshu Lin, would also like to participate," said another voice.
At that moment, Gongshu Lin stepped forward without hesitation. Since Zhuge Liang had refused direct appointment, he couldn't appear to disregard the rules by accepting one. Besides, it was just an exam—he wasn't afraid. It wasn't all about Confucian classics. What truly mattered was individual ability.
"Very well. Since that is the case, I won't insist. The imperial examination has no entry barrier. Anyone may participate. As long as you display real talent, even a single area of excellence can make you stand out."
Yi Tianxing nodded. He understood and respected their decision.
In fact, with such figures participating, Great Yi's first imperial examination would certainly not become a farce. It would guarantee the emergence of real talent—that was what mattered most.
Soon after, the ministers began to report on the events of the past five months.
In this hall, nothing could be concealed—and there was no point in trying. With the existence of StarNet and communication artifacts, all the immortal cities were interconnected as one.
Any event could quickly be broadcast across the entire realm.
Deception and cover-ups like those in ancient feudal eras were no longer possible. Only a fool would attempt it now.
Yi Tianxing nodded to himself.
From the reports, it was evident that Great Yi had been experiencing a period of explosive growth over the past few months.
In every immortal city, infrastructure was expanding rapidly. The influx of refugees had been properly accommodated. More importantly, civilian life had not only recovered but begun to merge with cultivation, marking the true beginning of a cultivation-based civilization.
With a massive influx of people, vitality surged across the land.
These people received cultivation techniques, embarked on the path of cultivation, and began learning trades to support themselves. Every region was bustling with energy and productivity. Each day brought visible changes and progress.
Across Great Yi's territories, as public support solidified, the earthly fate energy derived from the land began to transform from yellow to red. In many regions, it had already become crimson red and was continually feeding into the Qi Sea of Fate of Great Yi.
One could see the vast cloud sea of fate, where a massive golden flood dragon swam and coiled, as though it could overlook the world.
In just a short span of time, Great Yi had entered a state of high-speed development.
As the court meeting continued, many issues that had accumulated during Yi Tianxing's absence were quickly addressed.
Unknowingly, the time had approached midday.
Once most matters had been resolved, Yi Tianxing slowly rose and said, "That's enough for today's court. It's time to visit the military camp."
That single sentence signaled the official end of the court meeting.
"To the military camp?"
Huang Chengyan and others exchanged glances, a flicker of realization in their eyes. They hadn't forgotten Yi Tianxing's earlier statement—that there would be no shortage of troops for a long time. Now that they were heading to the camp, it was only natural for suspicion to arise.
Without hesitation, Yi Tianxing opened a spatial portal directly in the hall and stepped through.
Seeing this, the others followed quickly.
In a flash of light, they arrived outside the western district, where the military camp was located.
This western zone, designated as military territory, was off-limits to ordinary citizens. Under normal circumstances, it was far from lively.
Moreover, the camp was perpetually shrouded in mist, making it impossible to see what lay within—like an independent world immune to external observation.
Today, that fog still lingered.
However, this was no longer the yellow-grade treasure of old. Unbeknownst to most, the military camp had long since advanced to become a mysterious-grade treasure, with vastly enhanced capabilities.