Gazing upon the sacrificial altar below, the skeletal remains of the three thousand children surrounding Zong Shou made his eyes burn, and the malevolence radiating from his sword intensified.

"Though the death of these three thousand youths was not my fault, it happened because of me!"

With a mere flick of his sleeve, the Sun-Devourer shot down from the sky, plunging toward the true form of Zong Xuan.

The latter’s expression shifted slightly, and he immediately formed a hand seal, summoning a magic sword. Rings of visible ripples radiated outward in all directions.

But as soon as this spiritual technique was initiated, it agitated his existing injuries.

Although he had reached the Saintly Tier years ago, the Yin-Yang Heart-Nailing Curse was inherently life-draining, requiring the loss of a thousand years of lifespan. Now, being counter-assaulted by the pure energy of Heaven and Earth, it had nearly consumed all his vital essence. Within his body, the pulse meridians were shattered; the power he could mobilize at this moment was frighteningly little.

The magic sword was smashed by a palm strike from the Sun-Devourer before it reached him. With another claw descending, Zong Xuan’s skull and body instantly dissolved into a pulp.

Watching Zong Xuan die, Zong Shou finally felt the suffocating rage in his chest subside slightly.

His true nature desired to see Zong Xuan flayed alive, but at this moment, this would have to suffice.

He then turned his gaze toward the Scholar of the Snow Retreat opposite him, his eyes brimming with mockery: "Is this what your Confucian school entails? If you disliked my actions, if you deemed me an enemy of Confucianism, a demon, you could have challenged me openly! Even assassination would not have been out of bounds. Why resort to the lives of these three thousand children to employ such heretical forbidden arts? What crime did these children commit to be treated as ants by you, their lives so easily scorned?"

Scholar Liu Li frowned slightly, almost arguing that this was the act of Yin Yu and Zong Xuan, and had nothing to do with him. Then he recalled he was present and aware of the proceedings. He merely shook his head, "They were all capital criminals deserving of death, deserving no pity."

"Deserving of death? Even if the law dictated their execution, it should have been handled according to the nation's statutes. Why employ such an evil technique to annihilate their souls, preventing even reincarnation?"

Zong Shou shook his head, his expression one of disbelief. "Your Confucian school preaches, 'What you do not wish for yourself, do not impose upon others!' Is this how you, Liu Li, practice the words of the Sages? This foolish ruler commits such an act against human ethics, unleashing this dark sorcery. As one of the foremost scholars of Confucianism, not only do you fail to dissuade him, you actually endorse it?"

Liu Li felt a flush rise on his face, issuing a cold snort: "What exactly are you trying to say? There is no such thing as evil or righteous methods in this world; only the heart is evil. If it serves to eliminate your foolish ruler, any technique is permissible!"

"So, just to eliminate me, to achieve your goal, you disregard all means?"

Zong Shou let out a cold, hollow laugh, his eyes filled with scorn. "I know the core of Confucian doctrine is the character Ren (Benevolence)! The Book of Rites: Explanation of the Classics states, 'Mutual affection between superiors and inferiors is called Ren!' The Book of Rites: The Conduct of the Scholar says, 'Gentleness and warmth are the foundation of Ren!'"

Liu Li’s heart tightened, feeling as if every word Zong Shou uttered was a lash striking him.

"—The Book of Rites: Four Forms of Mourning Dress states, 'Benevolence can be seen in one's love.' The Analects: Yong Ye also says, 'The benevolent man desires to establish himself and establishes others; desires to succeed and helps others to succeed.' Even your ancestor once said that to forgive those who complain, while showing sorrow and benevolence, is the greatest error!"

"Furthermore, the Book of Rites: Doctrine of the Mean states, 'The benevolent man is human!' Annotation: 'Human' is pronounced like the word for intimacy or union! Mencius: Jin Xin II also similarly states, 'The benevolent man is human!' If one cannot be benevolent, what difference is there between him and a mere beast? Examine yourself honestly: do your actions align with the learning of the Sages? With what face do you claim membership among the Confucian masters? Can you answer to the founding Sages of Confucianism?"

With every sentence spoken, Liu Li’s complexion grew paler, his chest heaving, a bitter taste rising in his throat, almost causing him to vomit blood.

Only then did he realize that his very foundation of Dao was shaking.

Understanding dawned instantly: he was witnessing the living Sage-Monarch whose words were striking his very soul, causing him to doubt himself and the path he had trod!

This youth before him was truly malicious!

Zong Shou then gently caressed his sword and smiled faintly: "Mr. Liu, do you know that after today’s great victory, five Grand Edicts will be issued to the world?"

Liu Li was confused as to why Zong Shou would speak of this now, but his curiosity was successfully piqued, and he listened respectfully and quietly.

"The first Edict: Reorganize the Three Judicial Offices, establishing the Ministry of Law, placing it outside the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister and his subordinates. All ministers and nobles of my Great Qian will fall under its governance. If necessary, or if I myself violate the laws of the state, I too can be questioned and punished! Furthermore, from this day forward, all corporal punishments are abolished! Only the penalty of death for taking a life shall remain—"

Liu Li froze. Listening to Zong Shou's intent, the King was actually placed under the law!

It was the true monarch who, upon breaking the law, was equal to a commoner!

As for corporal punishment, this was something the Confucian school had pursued for millennia without success!

The monarch fears rebellion from his subordinates and corruption among his officials. Thus, they established cruel tortures like joint execution of relatives and death by slicing as deterrents, leaving absolutely no room for Confucian intervention.

Powerful gentry wished to command the obedience of their servants and slaves, fearing theft of their wealth from the common people. Thus, laws like flogging, branding, cutting off the nose, crippling the foot, castration, and execution by great cleaving existed.

Although Confucianism pursued benevolence and forgiveness, its practices were often derailed by expediency.

Now, were these ideals to be realized by the hands of this foolish ruler?

Preposterous! How could this foolish ruler genuinely cherish the common people?

"Corporal punishment is cruel and depletes the labor force! If the laws of the state are strict and the people prosperous and peaceful, why would subjects need to break the law? Why require harsh laws for deterrence? Within my Great Qian, all corporal punishments can be replaced with mandatory labor service!"

Depletes the labor force? Replaced by labor service? So, he was not truly motivated by compassion for his subjects.

Thinking this, Liu Li bit his lip, his face turning purple.

"The second Edict! Subsidize the farmers across the realm using the national tax. You Confucian scholars secretly claimed that my Great Qian prioritized commerce over agriculture and was doomed to collapse sooner or later, is that correct? That is not the case; my Great Qian values industry, agriculture, scholarship, and commerce equally; Zong Shou understands the way of farming and fighting. The income of farmers is meager, and inevitably, people will leave to take up regular employment—this is a great danger. Since this is so, I shall provide monetary subsidies so farmers can farm with peace of mind!" Liu Li let out a cold snort, but his heart was deeply shaken. He had privately ridiculed Zong Shou and Great Qian’s national policies more than once.

He often asserted that even if Great Shang did not invade, the Qian state would collapse within a short time.

Yet, he never imagined Zong Shou possessed such a method—subsidizing farmers with state taxes—it was utterly fantastical—but if so, this issue of grain production could never become a vulnerability for the Qian state.

Industry, agriculture, scholarship, and commerce—in the eyes of this ruler, were industry and agriculture even above scholarship and commerce?

"The third Edict! A wage standard must be set for all laborers across the realm, limited by working hours. Moreover, regarding the national tax, since it is taken from the people, it must naturally be returned to the people. I shall command the Cabinet to implement old-age pensions, ensuring that laborers and farmers across the realm do not end their lives alone and destitute, but can enjoy peace!"

Liu Li was again stunned. What strange statecraft was this?

"Nothing more than buying the hearts of the people and draining the national treasury!"

Within the pure white pillar of energy surrounding Zong Shou, a thread of golden aura unexpectedly emerged. It was still supremely pure and clean, yet it possessed a grand righteousness that, upon sight, evoked a willingness to submit and kneel in reverence!

Above, the Dragon and Phoenix resonated once more; the Dragon's roar was mighty, the Phoenix's cry crisp!

The Sage-Emperor!

Liu Li’s gaze contracted again. The Zong Shou of before was merely a King, a wise sovereign. Only at this very moment did he truly become comparable to the three great Sage-Emperors of antiquity!

But what profound mystery lay within Zong Shou’s state policies that caused his destiny energy to shift so dramatically?

That caused Heaven and Earth to rejoice so? That made the state’s power so ascendant?

Zong Shou merely shook his head; explaining the concept of 'consumption' to the people of this era was indeed difficult.

Only when the elderly are without worry will the people of the Cloud Realm dare to spend money, rather than scraping and hoarding their hard-earned wealth in their cellars until it molds.

Confucians always spoke of storing wealth among the people, but what benefit was there in such hoarding?

If Great Qian is wealthy, it is better to return that wealth to the people than to accumulate it in the treasury.

"The fourth Edict: Systematize all land deeds across the realm, requiring officials and gentry to pay grain levies equally. After today, the trading of all land deeds across the realm is forbidden. The Great Qian court will fund the purchase and then sell it at fair prices to the landless! To equalize the distribution of land in the realm!"

At this moment, not only Liu Li, but even the True Man of the Cloud Terrace, shuddered.

Did this Zong Shou not fear offending every powerful noble within his own state? Did he not fear rebellion?

No, what was there for Zong Shou to fear? He commanded three million undefeatable troops and had even defeated Great Shang! He was revered by the people of the world, and his prestige within Great Qian was absolute.

Such national policies benefited the masses; even if the aristocratic houses were displeased, they could not resist this overwhelming momentum!

Furthermore, due to the influence of the Confucian school, many children of powerful families educated in the ways of the Sages had already distanced themselves from the Great Qian court, some even secretly aligning with Great Shang.

Now, even if they wanted to intervene, they could not. After today's battle, they would have to guard against Zong Shou seeking retribution and settling accounts for treason and disloyalty!

Equalizing land distribution—he remembered that the founding ancestor of Great Shang had mentioned this when raising his army.

Later, after unifying the realm, the matter was dropped.

Zong Shou’s methods were clearly gentler and more feasible; perhaps he could actually succeed.

Liu Li’s eyes almost bled with rage; he had realized that once these four Edicts were issued, nearly ninety percent of the realm's popular support would be captured in one sweep!

How was their Confucian school to position itself now?

Though this was not the burning of books and burying of scholars, it was ten times more vicious than what the First Emperor of Qin had done!

If the hearts of the people are lost, how can Confucianism still claim to be the sole righteous doctrine under Heaven?

As if signaling this, the golden aura above Zong Shou’s head quietly grew by another ten zhang!

"And my fifth Edict is to summon scholars from all over the realm to critique the Confucian masters. To discuss the merits of the Confucian school, to judge its failures! To examine the learning of the Confucian way!"

Zong Shou paused, a cruel smile touching the corners of his lips: "Naturally, today’s events—Yin Yu commanding that fiend to employ this evil art using three thousand children, and you, Scholar of the Snow Retreat, standing by and watching—will also be included. I wonder how the common people of the world will judge this?"

Yin Yu convulsed, clenching his fists. Did Zong Shou intend to make Great Shang, to make him Yin Yu, scorned by all under Heaven?

Liu Li’s lip cracked, letting a line of dark blood seep out. Lost and distraught, he finally gave a wretched laugh.

"A true Sage-Monarch! Every word is a stab to the heart. I, Liu Li, am indeed a sinner against Confucianism! I was truly wrong, profoundly, disastrously wrong—"

He then pressed his sword to his neck; the blade flashed. In a spray of crimson light, Liu Li’s head tumbled down.