Steady Cultivation: Starting With the Perk “Work Hard, Rest Hard” Chapter 505: Gu Qingzhu Takes Charge
Previously on Steady Cultivation: Starting With the Perk “Work Hard, Rest Hard”...
Gu Qingzhu occupied the central position in the Miluo Dao Court, his heart filled with extreme discomfort, much like resting on a bed of thorns.
Positioned overhead, the Miluo Dao Lord and Su Yuan directed their attention toward Gu Qingzhu.
"Entrust the management of the Miluo Dao Court to me in your place? I truly cannot handle it!"
He raised his eyes toward the heavens, once more showing a look of utter helplessness.
Yet, silence met his words. Turning to Su Yuan, the Miluo Dao Lord remarked, "You have excelled greatly, claiming a expansive domain in the freshly independent space-time!"
A subtle smile crossed Su Yuan's face as he replied, "This stems from the collective efforts of all. I merely contributed minor efforts."
In a composed tone, the Miluo Dao Lord stated, "This Sovereign recognizes your merits fully. Proceed to the innermost vault of the Dao Court and select any single treasure as your prize!"
Hearing this, a faint grin appeared on Su Yuan's features. "My gratitude for the reward, Dao Lord!"
The Miluo Dao Lord nodded briefly, then shifted her gaze to Gu Qingzhu, a smile forming as she commented, "This follower of yours fits perfectly for overseeing the Dao Court. Thus, this Sovereign can enjoy far greater ease."
Su Yuan shook his head, responding, "He isn't my follower. Still, he has long shouldered the duties of a sect head and boasts certain successes in directing organizations!"Gu Qingzhu found himself at a loss for words. Were these two even listening to his pleas?
"Very well, this Sovereign shall enter closed-door cultivation to grasp the Other Shore Dao Principle. Disturb me only for matters of utmost importance!"
"I offer my wishes for a seamless breakthrough to the Miluo Dao Lord!" Su Yuan declared.
"It falls to you now!"
With those words, the form of the Miluo Dao Lord faded away entirely.
Su Yuan then turned his eyes to Gu Qingzhu and instructed, "Handle it well!"
Following that, he too disappeared from sight.
Left alone, Gu Qingzhu gazed vacantly at the sky.
"They handed over control of this enormous Dao Court to me just like that?"
Speechlessness overwhelmed him.
Retrieving a mirror to examine his reflection, Gu Qingzhu gained sudden insight.
He stood merely as a First-Order Dao Venerable. Grasping true authority proved impossible, leaving him to act solely as a caretaker—albeit over an excessively vast domain!
The true challenge for him lay in overseeing the formidable cultivators.
Within the ranks of Dao Venerable Elders, he figured he might command only the lesser ranks. The superior ones, honoring Patriarch Su, would likely remain silent, yet they could easily pretend obedience while pursuing their own paths.
Extending his hand, he touched the empty space ahead.
A control interface emerged in front of him.
Next to the interface, a tiny kitten materialized from nowhere, cocking its head curiously at him.
[Honored Acting Manager, I serve as the Dao Court Guardian Spirit, Little Star. What commands do you have?]
"Provide details on the Dao Court's pertinent information!" Gu Qingzhu demanded without delay.
[As you wish!]
A flood of data unfurled in Gu Qingzhu's view, unveiling the Miluo Dao Court's hidden aspects progressively.
The Miluo Dao Court's domain in the Chaos spanned a modest area, merely one-tenth that of a Chaos Kingdom. It featured nine Miluo Markets scattered across its Chaos lands. These served first to dominate all regions, and second, owing to the proximity of resources like ore veins, fruit groves, and Secret Realms.
Beyond the Chaos territories, the Dao Court's main expanse resided in the independent space-times.
The territories from the initial seventeen independent space-times surpassed the bounds of eleven Chaos Kingdoms, generating immense resource yields.
With the addition of territory from the eighteenth independent space-time, the seized portion equaled seven Chaos Kingdom areas. In total, this amounted to the scale of eighteen Chaos Kingdoms!
"Precisely how vast is a single Chaos Kingdom?"
Gu Qingzhu investigated. The answer was straightforward: the extent governed by a Dao Venerable's Dao Principle defined a Chaos Kingdom.
This revelation stunned Gu Qingzhu deeply. He had previously sensed his own Dao Principle's reach as infinite. Now, he understood that even Dao Venerables' command over Dao Principles possessed finite limits.
Turning to the Dao Court's cultivators.
The disciple count in the Dao Court surpassed innumerable trillions. Worlds akin to the God Realm Sea numbered beyond count, leaving Gu Qingzhu in awe.
Despite this colossal Dao Court power, the prior Dao Venerable tally stood at just 148. Even factoring in puppets, slaves, Supreme Treasures, Rare Treasures, and similar entities with Dao Venerable might, the peak reached only four to five hundred.
This puzzled Gu Qingzhu greatly.
The Dao Court's might was staggeringly profound.
Nevertheless, Gu Qingzhu deemed the Dao Court's progress overly stagnant.
After all, the Seven Stars Dao Palace now boasted more than ten Dao Venerables. Against that, the Dao Court's growth appeared woefully insufficient.
"With countless Dao Yan Realm cultivators in the Dao Court, why does forging Dao Venerables prove so challenging?"
"Since they've placed the Dao Court under my care, I ought to deliver notable results at minimum."
Eagerness surged through Gu Qingzhu, spurring him to action.
He believed he could unlock the Dao Court's hidden strengths.
"Little Star, pick out one hundred Dao Yan Realm cultivators at the peak level at random and distribute a survey. Inquire about the barriers they encounter when attempting to advance to the Dao Venerable Realm, along with the assistance they desire!"
"Poll Dao Yan Realm disciples randomly on the stages or levels where they commonly stall, and the typical resources or support needed for breakthroughs?"
"Conduct a random poll among Wuji Realm disciples regarding their struggles and views on ascending to the Dao Yan Realm."
Gu Qingzhu promptly gave the directives.
[Honored Acting Manager, initializing new directives. Random selection finished. Distributing survey assignments presently.]
The Guardian Spirit faithfully executed Gu Qingzhu's assigned duties.
In that instant.
Beyond the Heavenly Dao Platform, a peak Dao Yan Realm cultivator scrutinizing the breakthrough outcomes abruptly received a Dao Court assignment.
The Guardian Spirit's details flowed straight into his mind.
Upon absorbing the details, surprise flickered across his face. "When did the Dao Court appoint an Acting Manager? It turns out to be the fresh Bamboo Dao Venerable who ascended via the Heavenly Venerate Dao Principle. He's seeking my insights on the hurdles to reaching Dao Venerable and the aid required for success?"
Curiously, he questioned his nearby companions.
"Have any of you gotten a transmission from the Guardian Spirit?"
"No, what sort of transmission?"
"It's a query on the challenges of advancing to Dao Venerable."
"That's obvious, isn't it? The real issue is gathering sufficient resources!" one replied, rolling their eyes.
"Exactly."
He quickly jotted down a handful of personal obstacles, finishing the assignment. As it came from the purported Acting Manager, no risks involved; he simply noted his genuine issues.
Gu Qingzhu awaited the responses for some time.
Soon, the Guardian Spirit delivered the summarized findings to Gu Qingzhu.
Challenge after challenge appeared listed before him, sorted by frequency from most to least cited.
Starting with the peak Dao Yan Realm cultivators.
To Gu Qingzhu's astonishment, the top obstacle turned out to be the restricted slots for Dao Principle mastery!
"Restrictions even apply here?"
The Guardian Spirit clarified, "Acting Manager, further Dao Venerable advancement demands mastery over several Dao Principles. Without quotas on Dao Principle control, superior Dao Venerables would be deprived of access to those quotas, hindering their power growth."