Chapter 0111: Master Lu

"Yes, Master."

Cao Zhengchun bowed and said, "This old servant found a few palace attendants in the village. The mansion is large and needs caretakers. I was hoping to bring them in. I wonder what your opinion is..."

During his visits around the village, he had noticed several eunuchs. No one could recognize their own kind better than another of the same sort. Though they blended in well, they couldn't escape his eyes. He could sense an incongruity that others might overlook—but not him.

"You are the steward. You make the decision,"Yi Tianxing responded with a nod after glancing at him.

"Yes, Master," Cao Zhengchun answered and hurried off, clearly going to find those palace attendants.

Once he had left, Yi Tianxing's figure silently vanished from the hall, reappearing in the Destiny Pool space with a thought.

…

In the village, Hu Bin walked briskly through the crowd, soon arriving at a small house.

Inside, all kinds of wood materials filled the space. Finished furniture stood beside delicately carved wooden sculptures—lively birds, ferocious beasts, detailed human figures—all carved with uncanny realism and artistry.

At the center sat an elderly man, wielding a carving knife over a wooden plaque, etching mysterious patterns into it. This wasn't just decorative carving—each stroke was imbued with genuine Qi, and the blade moved swiftly, leaving Qi embedded within every groove. As the strokes overlapped, they naturally formed a mystical rune.

Shua!

With the final stroke, light suddenly radiated from the carved grooves. The lines converged into a complete pattern, and the entire plaque began to glow with a soft spiritual light. It started to absorb ambient spiritual energy, undergoing a mysterious transformation.

"I did it!" the old man cried out in excitement.

"Master Lu, you've finally succeeded! You actually engraved the rune onto the wooden plaque and created a talisman!"Hu Bin exclaimed with joy, clearly holding great respect for the man.

"Yes, after so many failures, I finally succeeded. This world is fascinating. The essence of cultivation lies in the Sea of Divine Sense. Rebuilding my foundation has not only healed my injuries but condensed all my Qi into a True Essence Core, sealed within my body. Now, my cultivation progress has become lightning fast."

"I never thought that magical arts and talismanic methods truly exist among cultivators. This 'Scripture of Great Peace Talismans' I found is said to be derived from the legendary Tome of Great Peace. The types of talismans it contains are vast. In the past, I would've thought these were mere superstitions. But now, I know—they are real. And talismans don't have to be drawn with cinnabar ink on yellow paper. I can carve them into wood, so long as I embed Qi quickly enough before it dissipates. If successful, the carving fuses with the item and naturally attracts spiritual energy, completing the talisman."

The elder known as Master Lu looked youthful despite his white hair—like a middle-aged scholar, his eyes brimming with brilliance as he admired the transformed wooden plaque, now a true talisman.

What he had carved was a Talisman of Warding, designed to draw in the pure yang force of heaven and earth, granting it resistance against evil and spirits.

"If talismans are real, then they can be used in so many ways. What if I engrave them onto mechanical constructs? Wouldn't that make them more powerful? If inscribed onto arrows, could they not unleash explosive effects? If etched into buildings, wouldn't they enhance their defensive strength?"

He murmured aloud, eyes gleaming with wild inspiration. His thoughts weren't limited to just mechanisms or talismans—he envisioned integrating talismans into all sorts of objects to unleash new and astounding powers.

Though his heart burned with excitement, he still had a disciplined will. Taking a deep breath, he calmed himself and looked at Hu Bin.

"Hu Bin, did the Village Chief summon you today to begin establishing official structures?"His sharp gaze hinted at profound insight.

"Master Lu, your wisdom is unmatched. Indeed, the Lord gathered me along with many other craftsmen and talents to discuss the foundation of our village administration. It's been decided: we will establish One Gate, Two Halls, and Six Departments to govern and develop Xuanhuang Village. I've been assigned to the Heavenly Craft Hall, in charge of construction and tool-making."

Hu Bin respectfully recounted what had occurred during the meeting.

"This One Gate, Two Halls, Six Departments... He's reorganizing the old imperial administrative system, simplifying and refining it. He's building a governance structure tailored for cultivators."

"Furthermore, he's turning Xuanhuang Village into a place where everyone cultivates. In that case, ordinary administrative models no longer apply. This setup is clearly experimental—but a well-timed one."

Master Lu nodded in agreement. With the village still small and existing outside any prior governance or restriction, it was the perfect moment to rebuild from scratch, free of any lingering systems or institutions.

And even if this model proved flawed, Yi Tianxing could easily dismantle and rebuild. All institutions must be tested and refined over time. The earlier such trials begin, the better they serve the future.

He was sure the current framework wouldn't be the final structure—some elements would be added or removed over time.

This was a bold, trailblazing reform.

Xuanhuang Village had truly gifted individuals—not only Yi Tianxing, but also Huang Chengyan, a man of great virtue and intellect. Lu had observed him undergo a transformation—gaining refined cultivation and even embodying the scholarly power of Confucian righteousness overnight. From this alone, he knew the man had immense talent.

"Master Lu, you possess extraordinary wisdom. In martial arts, medicine, mechanics, divination, astronomy, gardening, architecture, woodworking, sculpture, strategy—even gambling—you excel in every field. If you would step forward, no one but you could lead the Heavenly Craft Hall. You've seen with your own eyes how this village is changing. The Lord is certainly someone worthy of serving. Please, Master Lu, lend him your strength."

Hu Bin bowed deeply. He knew all too well what kind of genius Master Lu was—a true universal polymath whose guidance could trigger revelations in any craft. But until now, he had remained in seclusion, focused entirely on his talismanic studies. Now that he had succeeded, Hu Bin could finally plead his case.

If Master Lu joined the Heavenly Craft Hall, it would no doubt trigger a profound transformation within the village.

"I will join the Heavenly Craft Hall—but not yet. The Scripture of Great Peace Talismans contains many talisman designs I still need to study. Until I create something truly worthy—a fusion of talisman and craft—I have no face to take such a high position."

Lu's pride shone through. He would never claim status without first proving his worth. He sought to create something new—a legendary artifact born of both craftsmanship and magic. Only then would he step forward without hesitation.

This era was one he had long awaited.

"Yes, Master Lu," Hu Bin replied, eyes shining with expectation.

…

Meanwhile, after the council meeting, Huang Chengyan had ordered public announcements to be posted across the village, declaring the creation of One Gate, Two Halls, and Six Departments.

The news spread like wildfire, stirring up heated discussion.

"The Village Chief is officially establishing a power structure, just like the old government—but different, too. There's even a Treasure Hall, to be managed by merchants? Sounds like the Ministry of Revenue, but… can merchants be trusted with finances? What if they embezzle?"

"Heavenly Craft Hall—amazing! The Chief actually values us craftsmen. I'm signing up! We can finally contribute to the village with our skills."

"There's a Heavenly Medical Hall too? I'm a physician—I'm joining! With cultivation and Qi, my acupuncture is now ten times more effective!"

Excitement ran high. People felt recognized and empowered. What had once been considered lowly trades were now respected paths to contribute and grow.

This shift ignited a wave of enthusiasm. Many felt their blood boil with patriotic fervor, eager to make their mark in this new era.