Who Let Him Cultivate?! (WX)-Chapter 289: Meng Jingzhou’s Golden Core Formation

The life of the law lies in its enforcement; enforcing the law helped stabilize the national fortune of the Great Xia Dynasty.

Therefore, few dared to violate the laws of the Great Xia Dynasty, especially the criminal law, which imposed the harshest punishments. Although the law had to be strictly enforced, there were always unforeseen circumstances where the law demanded punishment, while common sense suggested otherwise.

In light of such cases, the penal code specifically granted the Ministry of Justice the authority to exempt individuals from prosecution, placing this power in the hands of the Minister of Justice.

In theory, this power could easily become a means for the imperial family and nobility to evade legal consequences.

In practice, however, such incidents rarely occurred, primarily due to the supervision of the Five Great Immortal Sects, which acted as a safeguard against the Minister of Justice acting recklessly.

But even the original lawmakers could never have anticipated a situation like this—the imprisonment of the Minister of Justice.

~~~

In the Mental Cultivation Hall, the Xia Emperor rubbed his temples in distress.

Why does it seem like whenever the Dao-Seeking Sect is involved, something new and bizarre happens?

He had received two pieces of news. The first was that Yun Zhi’s investigation in the Everlasting Ruins had yielded results, unearthing a non-existent Ember Legacy Dynasty. However, this wasn’t urgent; they could take their time to uncover more information about this dynasty.

As for Yun Zhi’s request to move the ancient immortal’s cave abode from the Everlasting Ruins to the Dao-Seeking Sect, he could agree to that.

The second piece of news was that the Minister of Justice was imprisoned in the same cell as the Taciturn Daoist Priest. novelbuddy.cσ๓

If the Minister of Justice dared to leave the prison, the Taciturn Daoist Priest would dare to spread the word that the Great Xia Dynasty was bending the law for personal favors.

If the Taciturn Daoist Priest dared to leave the prison, the Minister of Justice would stop him, ensuring he couldn’t escape.

A stalemate.

“Why don’t I pardon Xu Xin?” the Xia Emperor muttered to himself. As the emperor, he naturally had the authority to grant pardons.

After some thought, he abandoned the idea and issued another order.

“The entire Ministry of Justice is to relocate to Dayan Commandery.”

~~~

“So, is this why all of you have come to visit me in prison?” Xu Xin’s eyes bore into his subordinates, his expression so stormy it seemed he could devour them whole.

“His Majesty’s orders must be followed,” the Vice Minister of Justice said, struggling to keep a straight face.

However, the current scene was so hilarious that he and his colleagues could barely contain themselves. It took them immense willpower to keep their lips from curling upward excessively.

The Taciturn Daoist Priest squatted just by the side. Normally, the Vice Minister of Justice and the others would have greeted him, but seeing Xu Xin’s livid expression, they didn’t dare to.

“Lord Xu, here are the official documents from the past two days for your review.” The Vice Minister of Justice respectfully handed over several reports that required Xu Xin’s attention.

Xu Xin snorted coldly. “Leave them here.”

Initially, the Vice Minister of Justice considered saying something like “Just wait a few days. Once His Majesty has had his fun, he’ll pardon you,” or “Do you need some food or bedding?” However, after some thought, he decided against it.

Only after his subordinates had left the prison did Xu Xin pick up the reports from the ground and begin reviewing them.

He frowned. “Nonsense! I gave it a lot of thought before proposing this system. Furthermore, it’s already been tested in select commanderies and counties and has proven effective. How could there be any errors?”

The Taciturn Daoist Priest glanced at the contents of the report and roughly understood the situation. The report mentions that a certain system was useless and even increased the workload of the commanderies and counties, recommending that the rules of the system be streamlined. But this system is something Xu Xin took great pride in. How could he allow others to point out its flaws?

He chuckled, which sounded like mockery to Xu Xin. “Lord Xu, are you some kind of saint? Never make mistakes? If you’re so capable, why don’t you become the emperor?”

Xu Xin grew even more displeased, glaring coldly at the Taciturn Daoist Priest. Had it been Xu Xin’s subordinates, they would have been scared silent by now.

But the Taciturn Daoist Priest was not afraid of Xu Xin.

He’s my vanquished foe who has lost to me at the Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Divine Transfiguration stages.

With the Taciturn Daoist Priest’s vast knowledge and extensive experience in criminal activities, his grasp of legal theory was no less than Xu Xin’s.

“...Have you ever considered the legislative intent? Is this what the lawmakers originally intended...”

“...You’ve forgotten that the law has a lagging effect...”

“...Don’t give me theories. Is this how it works in reality...”

The debate between the two grew increasingly heated, with neither side willing to back down. They even set up a Soundproof Array to prevent other prisoners from overhearing their conversation.

In the end, Xu Xin’s tone softened, and his earlier sharpness faded. He couldn’t help but acknowledge that the Taciturn Daoist Priest made a few valid points.

“Shut up and let me think!”

Xu Xin lowered his head in thought. The old Taciturn scoundrel may lack morals, but he never jokes about such matters. If this is what he said, he meant it seriously.

This is exactly the result the Xia Emperor hoped for.

Although Xu Xin was devoted to the nation and worked tirelessly to fill legal loopholes, he would inevitably make some ill-advised decisions.

The Xia Emperor was helpless in this regard. Hardly anyone could match Xu Xin’s mastery of the Great Xia Dynasty’s laws, much less debate with him. It was challenging for the Xia Emperor to outrightly declare whether Xu Xin’s actions were right or wrong; he simply felt they were inappropriate. But as for how they could be improved, he had no idea.

Coincidentally, the Taciturn Daoist Priest was well-versed in the law and possessed a wealth of experience, making him the perfect candidate to engage in a debate with Xu Xin.

Hence, the Xia Emperor seized this opportunity to let the two argue it out.

Once Xu Xin realizes my intentions, he can be pardoned.

~~~

When Yun Zhi and Lu Yang returned to the Dao-Seeking Sect, they happened to run into Meng Jingzhou, who was just back from the jungle.

In the jungle, realization had dawned upon him, and he achieved supreme enlightenment, forming his golden core right after he returned to the Demon Suppression Pass. Leaving Tao Yaoye and Man Gu to continue searching for their own fortuitous opportunities, he made his way back to the Dao-Seeking Sect alone.

As for the minor incident on my way back, where I encountered a young master from an aristocratic family flaunting his wealth and humiliated him while in disguise, it’s not worth mentioning.

“Haha, bet you didn’t see this coming—this young master has also formed my golden core!” Meng Jingzhou began to boast the moment he saw Lu Yang. Though I don’t know what golden core Lu Yang has formed, I’m confident mine is the strongest; no one can beat me.

“Let me tell you, this young master’s golden core is unprecedented. I’m about to break the curse of the Single’s Spirit Root!” Meng Jingzhou was so full of mettle that he didn’t seem like someone who had just formed a golden core but rather someone who had just become a Transcendent Tribulation expert.

Lu Yang was genuinely surprised. “You have that kind of ability? What golden core did you form?”

Meng Jingzhou grinned, pulling Lu Yang into a teahouse. As they drank tea, he continued to show off. “I have a Single’s Spirit Root; as long as I want to, I can certainly form a Single’s Golden Core, right?”

Lu Yang nodded. That's what the cultivation insights of the Cautious Solitary Daoist Priest, the first person with the Single’s Spirit Root, had said.

“You’ve formed a Single’s Golden Core?”

Meng Jingzhou didn’t answer directly, placing a teacup on the table instead. “This is one person—a single!”

Then, he placed another teacup next to it. “This is also one person—a single!”

He gently knocked the teacups together, producing a crisp clinking sound of porcelain. Finally, he announced a conclusion he had derived after ruminating for a long time. “When two singles come together, doesn’t that make a pair?”

“So?”

“So, I formed two Single’s Golden Cores!”