Chapter 45: Recruiting Talent and Stirring the Nine Sacred Lands

Inside the grand hall of the imperial palace, the rest of the attendants departed one after another, leaving behind only three figures.

The Saintess of Reincarnation suddenly presented Jiang Cheng with a bold plan: "Why does Your Majesty not issue an imperial decree, notifying the people of the nine sacred lands that any saint or saintess with true capability, possessing a specialized skill, may come to our Great Xia to apply for positions, choosing their own station through strength and talent?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chen felt a stir in his heart. If such a strategy could succeed, would not the talented individuals of those sacred lands flock to pledge allegiance to Great Xia?

Su Ruoxi, however, felt somewhat concerned: "The method proposed by the Saintess of Reincarnation is feasible, but will this not cause too great a commotion and draw the attention of those supreme lords?"

The Saintess of Reincarnation smiled slightly and replied: "It matters not. Those saintesses serve merely as messengers to carry words back to them. The more we use them to spread our message, the more wary those supreme lords will become."

Seeing that the two women held somewhat conflicting views—one advocating for prudence and the other for a proactive approach—Jiang Cheng spoke up:

"My wife's concern is not without reason, yet the method of the Saintess of Reincarnation is likewise viable. Had those old fellows wished to come, they would have come long ago; there was no need to send these disciples to test our foundations. Those we send back are merely the ones frightened out of their wits. As for those of true utility, naturally, our Great Xia shall not let them return."

Jiang Cheng's words displayed his decisiveness and wisdom. He synthesized their differing opinions, analyzed the pros and cons, and deduced a reasonable conjecture.

He then added:

"And even should they come, what of it? I desire for them to come together all at once, rather than seeking me out one by one; I detest the trouble."

In truth, the trump cards in Jiang Cheng's hands were limited. Naturally, he could not reveal such matters to others; to expose his weaknesses would be to place his life and death in the hands of others.

Having suffered setbacks in his previous life, he would certainly not repeat the same mistake in this one. Even toward Su Ruoxi, he had only disclosed the general outline of the situation, without entirely confessing the full truth.

"Transmit the order: recruit talent through generous rewards, and proclaim to the nine sacred lands that Great Xia welcomes their return."

Jiang Cheng's command swept through the entire Great Xia like a fierce gale. His voice was transmitted to the nine sacred lands through various channels, proclaiming Great Xia's openness and its determination to recruit talent.

Yet, this sudden provocation filled the upper echelons of the various sacred lands with anger and unease. Viewing this as a blatant challenge to their status, they began plotting how to cope with the situation, and some sacred lands even prepared to resort to military force to resolve the issue.

Amidst the undercurrents of restless factions, the Sovereign of Zhao appeared exceptionally calm.

Upon receiving the news, the Sovereign of Zhao did not blindly follow the crowd, but instead chose to return alone to his sacred land to report the situation in detail.

He understood clearly in his heart that the purpose of this expedition had all along been the Emperor Pill. Since clues had already been acquired, the subsequent course of action naturally required heading to Great Xia to contend for that legendary Emperor Pill.

However, upon learning that Great Xia was guarded by a powerhouse equal to him in cultivation realm, a trace of apprehension inevitably arose within him.

He had tentatively made contact with that powerhouse, only to discover that the other's strength far surpassed his own. This forced him to reconsider his plans and honestly report the situation to the upper echelons of the sacred land.

Inside the secret chamber of the Exquisite Sacred Land, the voice of the Master of the Exquisite Sacred Land carried a hint of anger and incomprehension: "What? You mean Great Xia has detained Linger?"

The Sovereign of Zhao calmly added: "Not only that, but the Emperor Pill was also refined by the Yellow Emperor of Great Xia, and it seems there is a supreme realm emperor holding the fort. It would appear the Jiang family must have concealed their true strength all along."

After a moment of contemplation, the Master of the Exquisite Sacred Land slowly spoke: "Just as expected. No wonder a mere second-rate clan has frequently stirred such massive ripples lately; it seems their ancestors indeed possessed some background."

This exchange of words had evidently achieved the purpose of Jiang Cheng's layout, successfully arousing the attention and wariness of the major sacred lands.

Meanwhile, Jiang Cheng, far away in Great Xia, gave no further thought to these disputes.

Changing into casual attire of his own accord, he quietly walked into the city and embarked on a journey of informal inspection.

He wished to personally understand the sentiments and dynamics of the common folk in Great Xia, that he might better grasp the situation and lay the groundwork for his ensuing plans.

Strolling through the bustling marketplace, Jiang Cheng found his heart filled with confusion and anxiety.

He threaded through the prosperous streets and alleys, his gaze searching every corner in hopes of finding the method of cultivation that could elevate his artistic conception and reach the Thirteenth Realm of Insight into Truth.

Yet, despite having traversed nearly every inch of the city, he remained empty-handed.

"Sigh, I have nearly searched the entire city. How on earth am I to find the method to elevate my artistic conception and attain the Thirteenth Realm of Insight into Truth?"

Jiang Cheng could not help but sigh, eagerness and helplessness intertwining within his heart.

He knew that only by breaking through to a higher realm could he secure an advantage in future struggles and better protect Great Xia and his loved ones.

It was the system's prompt that had indicated the cultivation technique could be found within the city.

The voice of the system acted like a beacon guiding the direction in his heart, yet it also brought him a trace of pressure.

He understood that the "city" referred to by the system was not a simple literal meaning, but rather concealed a certain profound mystery that required him to comprehend and search for with his heart.

Jiang Cheng halted his steps, closed his eyes, and began to contemplate with a tranquil mind.

Recalling every detail of the system's prompt, he attempted to glean clues from them.

He realized that the method to elevate his artistic conception and reach the Thirteenth Realm of Insight into Truth might not be hidden in any specific location, but rather contained within a certain special fortuitous encounter, waiting for him to trigger and comprehend it inadvertently.

Opening his eyes, his gaze regained its steadfastness and focus.

He decided to cease wandering about blindly and instead use his heart to feel the city's aura, to observe the words and deeds of the people, and to listen to every sound echoing through the streets and alleys.

He believed that as long as he poured his heart into it, he would certainly find the cultivation opportunity hidden within the city.

Resuming his stride, Jiang Cheng continued his journey of exploration.

This time, he was no longer impatient, but embraced his surroundings with a peaceful mindset.

He began conversing with the townspeople, learning of their lives and stories; he stepped into bookstores, flipping through various ancient texts in search of potential clues; he even entered teahouses, listening to the casual chatter of patrons to draw inspiration.

Through his interactions with the people, Jiang Cheng gradually discovered that every corner of this city was imbued with rich wisdom and experience.

From an elderly artisan, he learned the spirit of focus and meticulous craftsmanship; from a merchant's lips, he heard tales of seizing opportunities; and from a traveling Daoist priest, he comprehended the principle of flowing with nature.

These experiences, seemingly unrelated to cultivation, imperceptibly enriched his state of mind, granting him a deeper understanding of artistic conception and the Thirteenth Realm of Insight into Truth.

Jiang Cheng began attempting to integrate these insights from daily life into his cultivation.

He would sit quietly in the morning mist, feeling the warmth of the sun and the vitality of life, allowing his state of mind to become as pure and bright as the rising dawn; at night, he would meditate beneath the starlit sky, gazing up at the vast universe, feeling the boundlessness of heaven and earth and his own insignificance, making his artistic conception as profound and distant as the stars.

As time elapsed, Jiang Cheng's cultivation gradually entered a brand-new realm.

He discovered that the elevation of artistic conception and the Thirteenth Realm of Insight into Truth was not a process achieved overnight, but required continuous accumulation and comprehension in daily life.

Every interaction with others, every observation of nature, and every experience of life provided him with precious cultivation material, sublimating his state of mind and artistic conception without his even being aware of it.