Above the Great Dao
Chapter 431 - 209: Codename: True King (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival)

Chapter 431: Chapter 209: Codename: True King (Happy Mid-Autumn Festival)

"Heavenly Court?" Situ Wen asked, puzzled. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

"Heavenly Court is an organization affiliated with the Independents; it’s a codename," Chen Shi explained to him about the origin of the Independents and then about Heavenly Court, saying, "My grandfather, Granny Sha, Uncle Green Sheep, and other Independents had a special hobby. They loved searching for relics everywhere, exploring ancient lost secrets, and protecting the Divine from China, that’s why the Heavenly Court was established. Now that my grandfather has passed away, Granny Sha said I am the head of Heavenly Court, but there definitely can’t be just a few of us in it, so I want to recruit a group of people to strengthen Heavenly Court."

As Situ Wen listened, he was somewhat bewildered. Although this organization called Heavenly Court was under the name of Independents, by the sound of it, it seemed not to be a legitimate organization.

It all sounded somewhat rebellious.

"But rebellion might be good."

He thought to himself, "I just don’t know if it’s rebelling against the court or the True God?"

"We gathered together because of common interests," Chen Shi explained.

Situ Wen thought to himself, "The interest is to overthrow the current order. Judging from the name ’Heavenly Court,’ it’s mostly a rebellion against both the court and the True God combined."

Chen Shi said, "Now that you’ve also joined Heavenly Court, you are our ’Heavenly Craftsmen’ responsible for engineering. In the future, when exploring relics and erecting temples for the gods of China, you cannot refuse."

Situ Wen responded earnestly, "This matter is just what the Lu Ban Sect excels in! Our Lu Ban Sect has been operating in construction, tomb building, craftsman work, carpentry, digging ponds, opening mines, cutting stones to make roads, building bridges, paving roads, constructing schools, opening canals, and digging channels in fifty provinces. Building temples is a minor matter."

Chen Shi was inwardly moved and asked, "Is the Lu Ban Sect present in all fifty provinces?"

Situ Wen nodded.

Chen Shi was taken aback.

He had originally thought that the Lu Ban Sect was just a small sect based in Yudou, but he hadn’t expected that the Lu Ban Sect had a presence in all fifty provinces of the West Bull New Continent!

This was no small sect!

Chen firmly steadied his mind and inquired, "How many people are in the Lu Ban Sect?"

Situ Wen replied, "According to the records, there are over fifteen thousand craftsmen, including about ten thousand Cultivators. However, most of them are at the Divine Embryo Realm, and those who achieve the Golden Core can serve as Incense Masters in the provinces."

Chen Shi was startled again.

He had originally thought that the scale of the Lu Ban Sect was similar to that of the Taiping Sect, with only about a hundred people, but he didn’t expect it to be so huge!

With such a large scale, Situ Wen, as the Sect Leader, was only at the Nascent Soul Realm. Could the Nascent Soul Realm really control such a vast force?

He voiced his doubt, and Situ Wen said, "Our people in the Lu Ban Sect mostly do hard labor. Many people can’t make a living and join the sect since they have strength to offer. Our rule is that the master leads the apprentices, one master with four or five apprentices. The clever and resilient ones stay; those who can’t endure hardships or are foolish are sent away.

"The apprentices in the Lu Ban Sect both learn craftsmanship and practice Spells. Most disciples of the Lu Ban Sect haven’t even gone to school and can barely read. During festivals, when they occasionally receive blessings from the True God and are granted Divine Embryos, they have this opportunity. But formal education is not available to them. Most people in Lu Ban Sect are like this."

Chen Shi thought for a moment. It was common for rural children not to attend school, like Yu Zhu from Huangpo Village.

Those who could go to school in the village were usually from somewhat wealthier families.

These children grew up and either stayed at home to scrape a living off the land or went out to work.

However, the dangers in the city were no less than those in the countryside; a slight misstep could lead them to be sold to a farm, or even worse, become a prized capture for the Ten Thousand Soul Banner.

Making a living was difficult, so joining a sect like the Lu Ban Sect after entering the city was actually a way to make a living.

Situ Wen said, "There are also a small number of people who studied for a few years when they were younger, reaching the rank of Scholar, but if they failed to become higher-ranking Scholars, they turned to craftsmanship. Some Scholars, after waiting for years without being given official appointments or stipends by the court, finally removed their Scholar robes and learned a trade to make a living. Therefore, the cultivation achievements of our people in the Lu Ban Sect are not very high. Even if they are high, it’s of no use; it doesn’t help with the work."

He left unsaid that higher Cultivation Techniques were monopolized by the influential clans, and what they could learn were only low-level Cultivation Techniques and Spells.

Even if they had the aptitude and understanding, there were no opportunities to study.

Chen Shi smiled, "I knew you would come, so I immediately started transcribing the Dragon Trace Technique after returning. I just didn’t expect you to arrive so soon. I haven’t finished transcribing the Dragon Trace Technique yet; please wait in the village for a moment."

Situ Wen readily agreed, his excitement barely concealed.

Chen Shi went back inside to continue writing the "Dragon Trace Technique," while Situ Wen wandered around Hu Village, observing the orderly life there. Remarkably, even the Fox Clan was literate, studying the teachings of Confucius and learning Taoist Skills in private schools.

"Even beasts understand the importance of education, but my human race cannot study, leading everyone to their full potential, how sad is that?" he thought somberly to himself.

After a while, Situ Wen approached Chen Shi’s wooden cart.

As a craftsman himself, his eyes lit up when he saw the wooden cart. He moved closer to examine it when suddenly the wooden cart sprouted arms and gaped a huge mouth, threatening him not to get too close.

Situ Wen’s eyes widened, his heart pounding, a voice inside him cried: "This is it! I must learn this! I have to learn this!"

Learning the Dragon Trace Technique would not surpass the founders of the Lu Ban Sect, but learning the Dragon Trace Technique along with this definitely would!

Chen Shi finished writing the Dragon Trace Technique and came out to hand it over.

Situ Wen, nervous yet emboldened, asked, "Master, may I learn this too?"

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