Chapter 164: Submit and Prosper, Resist and Perish!
“Ahhh!”
A shrill scream tore through the air. Luo Yibo writhed on the ground, engulfed in flames that burned slowly, deliberately. The sight was horrific—his skin blackened and peeled, yet the fire did not kill him instantly. Sun Yi controlled the temperature with surgical precision, ensuring maximum agony.
Liu Yihu and the other officials scrambled backward, their faces drained of blood. Terror gripped them. They were men of power, used to ordering deaths, but they had never witnessed such divine retribution.
Sun Yi watched coldly. After a few seconds—an eternity for the victim—his mind flickered.
Whoosh.
The flames surged. In the blink of an eye, Luo Yibo was reduced to a pile of grey ash. The fire vanished, leaving only a scorch mark on the pristine plaza stones.
“This… this…”
Several officials collapsed, their legs giving way. A puddle of yellow liquid spread beneath one of them, the stench of urine mixing with the smell of ozone.
Sun Yi swept his gaze over the trembling survivors. He had no time for lengthy investigations or trials. In a world like this, only blood could wash away the rot.
“I am not negotiating,” Sun Yi announced, his voice like grinding stones. “I am commanding.”
BOOM!
He released his spiritual pressure. It slammed into the officials like a physical hammer, forcing them all to their knees. Some fainted outright.
“I want to see if this city dares to fall into chaos,” Sun Yi sneered. “I want to see who has the courage to resist.”
He amplified his voice with True Qi, projecting it to every corner of the plaza, ensuring the citizens heard him too.
“The Qingyun Sect rules here now. Those who submit will prosper. Those who resist will perish.”
“Our only goal is the welfare of the people. Anyone who stands in the way of that goal dies.”
He looked down at the shivering nobles.
“Hand over your land deeds. Redistribute the fields. Do you have any objections?”
Silence.
“I asked,” Sun Yi roared, “DO YOU HAVE ANY OBJECTIONS?”
“No! No objections!” Liu Yihu prostrated himself, his forehead banging against the stone. “We obey the Immortal! Everything belongs to you!”
“No objections!” the others wailed in chorus.
“Good. Do it immediately.”
Sun Yi pointed at Liu Yihu. “You were the City Lord?”
“Yes, Immortal! This humble servant is Liu Yihu! I support your decision one hundred percent!” Liu Yihu babbled, desperate to avoid the ash pile fate.
“Wan Yu, come here.”
The young cultivator stepped forward, standing tall beside his master.
“Liu Yihu,” Sun Yi said. “This is Wan Yu. He is the new City Lord. You are now the Deputy City Lord. Your job is to assist him. You will use your knowledge of the city to help him govern. Do you understand?”
“I understand! I will serve City Lord Wan with my life!”
“Excellent.” Sun Yi’s tone softened slightly, shifting from tyrant to benevolent ruler. “I know you have committed crimes. Some are unforgivable, and those will be punished. But for those who prove useful… the Qingyun Sect is generous.”
He looked at them.
“If you serve us well, we guarantee your safety. We guarantee your wealth. We guarantee you will live a hundred years, free of disease. And if your children have talent, we will train them as cultivators.”
The officials looked up, hope warring with fear. Safety? Long life? Cultivator children?
This was the carrot after the stick.
“Immortal, please rest assured!” Liu Yihu shouted, this time with genuine enthusiasm. “I will work myself to the bone for the city!”
“Good.”
Sun Yi flipped his hand. A green gourd appeared.
“A reward for your loyalty.”
He tapped the gourd. Streams of clear water flew out, forming floating spheres in front of each official.
“Immortal Dew,” Sun Yi lied smoothly. “Drink it. It will extend your lifespan by ten years.”
The officials’ eyes bulged. Ten years of life? That was a treasure worth cities!
Liu Yihu swallowed his sphere instantly. He didn’t care if it was poison; if the Immortal wanted him dead, he’d be ash already.
The others followed suit.
Warmth exploded in their bellies. Aches vanished. Energy surged through their limbs. Their vision cleared. They felt twenty years younger.
“It’s real! It’s a miracle!”
“Thank you, Immortal!”
They kowtowed again, this time with reverence instead of just terror.
“Now,” Sun Yi said, “your first task. The people are starving. Donate your surplus grain to the relief effort. Any objections?”
“None!”
“I donate it all! Take my granaries!”
“My family will donate 10,000 bushels!”
Sun Yi nodded, satisfied. He knew these men hoarded grain to drive up prices. Now, that grain would feed the city.
“Wan Yu,” Sun Yi instructed. “Register their donations. We will reward the generous later.”
“Yes, Headmaster.” Wan Yu bowed, hiding a smile. He knew the ‘Immortal Dew’ was just diluted Vitality Pills. But to mortals, health was life.
Sun Yi tossed a jade slip to Wan Yu.
“These are strategies for city development. Education, sanitation, infrastructure, commerce. Study them. Implement them.”
The slip contained modern governance principles adapted for a cultivation world. It was a blueprint for a utopia.
“I will stay for a few days to oversee the transition. Go.”
The officials scrambled away to execute his orders, terrified and energized.
Sun Yi turned to Zeng Niu. “Let’s go, A-Niu.”
Zeng Niu followed his master toward the Qingyun Dao Palace, his eyes shining with worship.
He had seen the nobles as untouchable gods. Sun Yi had treated them like naughty children.
This, Zeng Niu thought, is true power.
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