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Chapter 192: Chapter 189: The Lord of a Province
Starlight City.
Gu Jinlai arrived at the City Lord Mansion in a calm and undisturbed manner.
Here, Xin Tianqi and Cheng Wanli were already waiting with a group of Meteor Star Guards.
Seeing the party, Gu Jinlai dismounted and approached, "Star Lord Xin, thank you very much."
Armies do not move without prior intelligence.
On his way here, he had already learned about everything the Meteor Star Guards did in and around Starlight City.
He could easily lead his troops into Starlight City facing almost no resistance. His own power was one reason, but the key point was the assistance from the Meteor Star Guard.
"I said, if you truly have the capability to end the chaos in Star State, Starlight City is yours for the taking."
Xin Tianqi looked at Gu Jinlai, "And now, you have that ability, and I must honor that promise."
Lu Zhanfeng, standing by, was somewhat confused by the dialogue between Xin Tianqi and Gu Jinlai.
Gu Jinlai had actually reached some agreement with Xin Tianqi already?
The intelligence division of the Purgatory Sect knew nothing about it?
They gathered forces from the Purgatory Sect with the intention of attacking Starlight City, facing off against the Meteor Star Guard and the great families of Divinity Transformation Cultivators in the city. But instead...
Nothing happened on their way there.
Not even one decent battle occurred.
They entered Starlight City unobstructed and took over this political center of Star State.
This left Lu Zhanfeng, who had hoped to achieve great things and showcase himself, without any opportunity.
Without any achievements, how could they even have the nerve to claim benefits in the upcoming deliberations of Star State?
"Honestly, I never imagined this scene would actually take place."
Gu Jinlai said.
His voice carried a hint of wistfulness.
Xin Tianqi was actually willing to give up his rights as the Meteor Star Lord, handing over the advantageous territory of Starlight City.
Even if he hadn’t, Gu Jinlai had the capability to take it by force.
"Considering deeds, not intentions, just as I never expected, an elder from the Demon Sect of the Purgatory Sect, would draft a code within the boundaries of Lingxiao City that nearly achieved absolute equality. A Hugging Pill Master who commits murder is as guilty as any commoner..."
Xin Tianqi said.
"Demon Sect elder... The forces like the Purgatory Sect are only called the Demon Sect because they chose the wrong side when Emperor Tianji was trying to reshape the land. Before that, there was no clear division between good and evil in Purgatory Sect or Dragon Sparrow Manor, but suppressed by the Daqian Royal Family, their access to human resources and assets was significantly reduced. To ensure the interests of their sect, their actions became gradually more intense..."
Gu Jinlai responded.
He didn’t view the Purgatory Sect, Cold Moon Sect, Netherworld Sect, Dragon Sparrow Manor, Yellow Sky Sect, and other such forces of the righteous and demonic sects through a biased lens.
History is written by the victors.
Back in the day, the Sanqing Hall, Dragon Sparrow Manor, Yellow Sky Sect, Great Sun Sword Sect, Taiyi Sect, and Tianhai Sword Sect who assisted the Daqian Royal Family against Emperor Tianji won, thus they became the Six Great Immortal Sects.
While the Cold Moon Sect, Purgatory Sect, Netherworld Sect, Heavenly Immortal Palace, Earth Immortal Palace, Human Immortal Hall, Xuzhen Tower, Purple Night Sword Sect, Earth Mother Divine Sect, and Demon God Sect who supported Emperor Tianji’s rebellion lost, thus they became the Ten Great Demon Sects.
"Of course, over the years, the internal and external competitions of the Ten Great Demon Sects have become increasingly brutal, and this brutality has made me realize the severe consequences of disorderly expansion, whether internally or externally. I realized the destruction that disorder brings to a force, a city, a Great State, a nation, or even a civilization."
Gu Jinlai looked at Xin Tianqi, "Therefore, I want to create a world full of order, a neatly organized world where the young are educated, the able have roles, the elderly are cared for, everyone can find their place, and everyone has opportunities for advancement, a world where people can pursue their futures and dreams."
"The young are educated, the able have roles, the elderly are cared for..."
Xin Tianqi murmured to himself, seemingly fantasizing about what a wonderful world that would be.
"To create such a world, it will inevitably require countless people, decades, even centuries of devoted effort to achieve. Since you, Star Lord Xin, have hope in your heart and a light in your eyes, why not join us, and together, create such a well-ordered, hopeful, and harmonious world?"
Gu Jinlai solemnly invited.
"What do you plan to do?"
"First of all, I need to provide them with the most basic necessities of survival."
Gu Jinlai knew this was Xin Tianqi’s test for him, "Necessities of survival are of two types—the first type is to ensure they have enough food and clothing to survive the cold, to have the most essential ’living’ conditions. This is the most crucial and the most indisputable part."
Xin Tianqi nodded.
In today’s world, due to the importance of the population, some major Cultivation sects also have dedicated personnel developing all kinds of special items that benefit living conditions.
Like the rice now cultivated, all have been optimized generation after generation by the Heavenly Masters, resulting in astonishing yields.
Some poultry and livestock were the same.
Because of these conditions, cities with a population of millions within the Daqian Realm were common.
As the capital, Starlight City had a population of several millions.
Furthermore, Daqian, as well as local cities, encouraged childbearing greatly; it was normal for a couple to have five or six children, and having eight or ten was not considered much.
Like Gu Jinlai’s elder brother, Gu Changfeng, led his family to multiply; in just four generations, they formed a clan of nearly two hundred people.
If you included the relatives of the extended family, the number would easily start in the thousands.
If it weren’t for the frequent major wars within the Daqian Realm, along with the rampage of devils—like the devils in the Yunqi Mountain Range causing the deaths of tens to hundreds of thousands around Taihe City, including many innocent civilians—the population’s explosive growth would have been unchecked.
And then there was a vast gap in wealth and status.
The rich lived in luxury, with numerous wives and concubines, while the poor, although not starving, found it difficult to marry and have children. Three generations later, their family line often ended.
Thus, there was the saying that poverty doesn’t last beyond three generations.
Under various influences, the population did not increase uncontrollably.
However, within Guangxing State, there were about sixty million people.
In places like Red State, Jiangzhou State, and Blue State, the population also ranged between thirty and forty million.
It was said that just the Imperial Capital alone had a population of ten million.
The area of Central State, where the Imperial Capital was located, had a population exceeding one hundred million.
"After survival is security, which is a broad concept, but primarily it can be summed up as life being guaranteed within a system of order, a stable environment,"
said Gu Jinlai, pausing, "Like the Lingxiao Six Cities now, where at least two forces wouldn’t start fighting over a disagreement, causing deaths in the streets. Similarly, no ordinary person would be killed outright for accidentally bumping into someone of influence or a martial artist."
Xin Tianqi nodded.
He had been to Lingxiao City and had lived there for a month; he knew Gu Jinlai’s words were true.
"Besides, the third point, also the most important one, is the meaning of life."
"The meaning of life?"
"Yes, a father has children, and watching them grow is the meaning of life for him, a husband has a wife, making her life joyous is his life’s meaning, a soldier defends a city knowing his kin are there, hence protecting the city from harm is his life’s meaning. This meaning also includes his achievements and the respect he receives from others and society for these achievements."
"Achievements, respect?"
Xin Tianqi seemed to understand.
These achievements and respect are what truly "revive" a person, making a life form feel its existence in the world is "meaningful,"
and are central to their hope and the light in their eyes.
"Many urban leaders encourage childbearing, but in their eyes, so-called commoners are just tools for improving the environment. To provide themselves with a better cultivation environment, they treat commoners like livestock, like tools, completely disregarding elements of achievements and respect, even carrying out extensive erasure of unnecessary thoughts in the commoners’ minds to ensure their own long-lasting rule."
"When a person loses the ability to think, or rather, the time and right to think, or even if they can think, but realize they can change nothing, then their spirit is annihilated," explained Gu Jinlai, "And then when we look at them... their eyes lack luster."
Xin Tianqi felt shaken by what Gu Jinlai had said.
Ever since he returned from Lingxiao City, he had been pondering what exactly was different between the citizens there and those of Starlight City?
Theoretically, Starlight City’s residents should be wealthier.
Their life, the food they ate, the items they used were better than those in Lingxiao City, but why did Lingxiao City’s people possess spirit, full of life and vitality, whereas in Starlight City, while not a stagnant pool, the people often appeared numb and mechanical?
Now, hearing Gu Jinlai’s detailed analysis, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of sudden enlightenment.
"Achievements, respect! These are the core of life’s meaning! Without these, those people, at best, can only be said to be ’alive’..."
"Yes,"
Gu Jinlai said with a heavy tone, "This world is sick, gravely so, something I concluded during my half-year stay in Changjun City. If we really want to change something, it needs to be done from the root."
He extended his hand, inviting, "Star Lord Xin, you are also someone who does not wish to drift along with the tide, to debase oneself, someone full of hope. Come, let us together overturn this corrupt world, heal this world, and make it a place where everyone is needed, respected, rather than numb and indifferent, leaving oneself and the world to walk towards death!"
Xin Tianqi looked up at Gu Jinlai.
He seemed to be confirming whether the latter truly had that capability.
Gu Jinlai did not speak but nodded firmly in response.
After watching him for a while, Xin Tianqi also nodded firmly, "Alright, let us together heal this world."
With that, he bowed deeply to Gu Jinlai, "From now on, Meteor Star Guard is willing to follow the commands of Governor Gu..."
He paused slightly, "is willing to follow the lead of Governor Gu!"
