Chapter 58 Abolish Bad Habits

Emperor Cao Xukun hadn't been lying around in Luoyang for even half a month before Grand Priestess Wu Yue dragged him off to the Southern Border.

"Your Majesty, the Sorcerer Clan's ten-thousand-year-old tradition of human sacrifice to the gu is deep-rooted. Although Gu King is dead, many remote tribes are still secretly practicing it.

If we don't eradicate it completely, sooner or later, a second Gu King will emerge."

Grand Priestess Wu Yue touched her slightly protruding lower abdomen, her tone filled with worry.

"Alright, I'll listen to you."

Emperor Cao Xukun stretched, wrapped an arm around her waist, and said, "It just so happens I'm bored to death, so I'll accompany you on a trip to the Southern Border.

Li Tieniu, stop reviewing the memorials, come with me!"

"Don't, Emperor Xuan!"

Li Tieniu held the memorials with a sorrowful expression, "There are still two thousand left to review! Sect Leader Imperial Concubine Xiao Ya has already gone into seclusion to hide from me!"

"What's the point of hiding? Make her continue reviewing them."

Emperor Cao Xukun waved his hand, looking completely matter-of-fact, "What's wrong with young people doing a bit more work?

Besides, I'm going to do something important, saving the people of the Southern Border from misery; it's all about accumulating immense merit."

Before his voice had even faded, he took Grand Priestess Wu Yue and Wu Ling and stepped into the air, with Li Tieniu having no choice but to follow along with a bitter face.

As soon as the group arrived at Gu City in the Southern Border, they saw a crowd gathered at the city gate, wailing and crying.

An old woman was holding a seven or eight-year-old boy, pulling him back desperately, while several old men dressed in sorcerer robes were forcibly trying to snatch him away.

"Let go of my grandson! I beg you! He is my only grandson!" the old woman cried heart-rendingly.

"This is the will of the gu god! Only by sacrificing a young boy to the gu can we ensure favorable weather for the tribe!"

The leading old sorcerer priest said with a straight face, "Whoever dares to stop us is blaspheming the gu god, and their entire family will be fed to the gu insects!"

"What a load of bullshit!"

Emperor Cao Xukun's eyes turned cold, and he waved his hand casually. A golden dragon aura shot out, directly knocking those old sorcerer priests flying, throwing them to the ground where they couldn't move.

He walked forward slowly, helped the little boy into the old woman's arms, and his cold voice swept across the crowd: "From today on, abolish all vicious habits of human sacrifice to the gu! Whoever dares to practice human sacrifice again, no matter who they are, will be executed immediately!"

"Who are you? How dare you interfere with our Sorcerer Clan's affairs!" The old sorcerer priest struggled to crawl up and shouted angrily, "Human sacrifice to the gu is a ten-thousand-year-old tradition of our Sorcerer Clan! As an outsider, what right do you have to abolish it!"

"Tradition?" Emperor Cao Xukun sneered, "Using living people as sacrifices, is that worthy of being called a tradition? Gu King relied on this to cultivate evil gu, making life miserable for the people of the Southern Border; have you forgotten?"

"Besides, I am now your Demon Emperor, and also the co-ruler of the Sorcerer Clan. I will definitely manage the affairs of the Sorcerer Clan."

He raised his hand and pointed; the gu god pearl flew out from his body, hovering in mid-air and erupting with dazzling black light.

All the people of the Sorcerer Clan instantly felt a pressure from the depths of their souls, and they couldn't help but kneel down.

"I possess the gu god pearl and the complete inheritance of the gu god. If the gu god truly had a spirit, it would never allow you to use living people for sacrifices."

Emperor Cao Xukun's voice spread throughout the entire city, "In the past, you practiced human sacrifice because you didn't understand true gu arts. From today on, Grand Priestess Wu Yue will personally teach the new method of witch doctoring, using gu insects to cure illnesses and save people, rather than harming them."

Grand Priestess Wu Yue stepped forward and said gently, "Dear fellow villagers, gu insects are not just for killing people. In ancient times, the Sorcerer Clan's gu arts were originally used to cure illnesses. As long as they are used properly, gu insects can cure all kinds of diseases, and can even bring the dead back to life."

As she spoke, she casually summoned a few transparent little gu insects, which flew to the side of the old sorcerer priest who had just been injured. The gu insects burrowed into his wounds, and in just a moment, the originally bloody and mangled wounds healed.

Everyone was dumbfounded, their eyes wide open.

"My god! Gu insects can actually cure illnesses?"

"It's too magical! I've lived my whole life, and this is the first time I've seen it!"

The old sorcerer priest touched his intact arm, his face full of shock and shame, and with a "thud," he knelt on the ground: "I was wrong! Your Majesty is wise! I will never practice human sacrifice again!"

"It is good to correct your mistakes," Emperor Cao Xukun nodded, "Pass down the order: all tribes must immediately destroy all ritual implements used for gu sacrifice and release everyone prepared for sacrifice. For those willing to learn the new witch doctoring, the government will provide textbooks and medicinal materials for free, and after completing their studies, they can even be assigned jobs."

Once the news was out, the entire Southern Border was in an uproar.

In the past, the people feared gu sacrifice the most, never knowing which day their children would be taken away. Now, not only was this vicious habit abolished, but they could also learn the skills to cure illnesses; it was simply like a pie falling from the sky.

In just one short month, the new witch doctoring technique spread to every corner of the Southern Border.

The miasma diseases and gu poison diseases that were previously incurable could now be cured with just a few gu insects. Remote tribes that previously lacked medical care now had their own witch doctors. The mortality rate in the Southern Border dropped sharply, and the lives of the people became better and better.

Li Tieniu looked at the changes before him and said with emotion: "Emperor Xuan, you are truly amazing! The Southern Border used to be a living hell, but now it's simply a paradise on earth. Look at that Bear Clan brute; he used to fight every day, but now he's actually learning to treat people's illnesses. It's too outrageous!"

"Basic operation, don't be surprised," Emperor Cao Xukun said, munching on a Southern Border mango with a calm expression, "What is an emperor for the ages? This is it. I can not only conquer the world but also govern the world. It's all about being proficient in both civil and military affairs, capable of everything."

One day, Emperor Cao Xukun was strolling down the street in Gu City when he suddenly saw a large crowd gathered ahead. He squeezed in to take a look and found that the people were building a living shrine for him.

The living shrine was built with the best bluestone, and the statue inside was lifelike, wearing a dark dragon robe, a golden crown on its head, and holding the gu god pearl in its hand, looking majestic. The front of the statue was filled with fruits and flowers, and the people were lining up to kowtow.

"Emperor Xuan is truly a living bodhisattva! If it weren't for him, my son would have long been sacrificed to the gu!"

"Exactly! Not only did he save our lives, but he also taught us to cure illnesses and distributed land to us!"

"From now on, I will come to kowtow to His Majesty every day, praying for His Majesty to live a long life!"

Seeing Emperor Cao Xukun approach, the people instantly surrounded him and knelt down in unison: "Greetings, Emperor Xuan! Long live, long live, long live Your Majesty!"

Emperor Cao Xukun hurriedly helped everyone up and said with a smile: "Everyone get up, no need to be so polite. Everything I did was my duty; as long as you can live a good life, I am satisfied."

"Your Majesty! This is our collective token of appreciation!" An old man walked over holding a plaque with the four large characters "Grace Equivalent to Rebirth" written on it, "You are the great benefactor of our Southern Border; we will never forget your kindness!"

"Good! I accept this token of appreciation." Emperor Cao Xukun took the plaque, feeling warm inside.

In less than half a year, Emperor Cao Xukun's living shrines were spread across every tribe in the Southern Border. The people enshrined his spirit tablet in their homes and worshipped him during festivals. Even for newborn children, parents would have them bow to Emperor Xuan to pray for peace.

When the news reached Luoyang, Li Tieniu said enviously: "Emperor Xuan, you have become a deity now! The people of the Southern Border worship you as a living bodhisattva; throughout history, which emperor could compare to this treatment!"

"That's for sure." Emperor Cao Xukun lifted his chin triumphantly, "Those who win the hearts of the people win the world."

He looked up towards the nine heavens, his eyes becoming incredibly sharp.

The mortal realm was completely stabilized, the hearts of the people were aligned, and fortune was upon him.

He possessed the cultivation of the Peak of Soul Formation Stage, along with the three great divine abilities: Chaos Dragon Body, Myriad Dragons Return to Origin, and Myriad Gu Submission.

The incense smoke rose in spirals before the living shrines, carrying the gratitude and blessings of millions of people.

Emperor Cao Xukun stood with his hands behind his back, surrounded by fortune, as if he had merged into one with the entire world.