338: Chapter 329 The Sixth Incarnation: Heavenly Venerable (Seventeen)

Wei An thought of the strict yet effective military Orders and laws in the frontier army, the spontaneous transaction contracts formed among the common folk, and the "Elder Consultations" of certain tribes... but these were all too primitive and fragile to support a vast and complex civilization.

"Rules... laws... contracts... these are the 'form' of Order. But a more fundamental and powerful force is needed to bestow them with 'spirit,' to ensure they are observed, maintained, and revered, and not easily altered or discarded by individuals..."

"This power... where does it come from?"

His gaze seemed to pierce through the carriage, once again 'looking' at the vast, intertwined Luck hovering above Yintian City—the weakening Dragon Qi, the boiling resentment of the people, the looming threat of war, the luxury of the powerful, the empty talk of the literati, and the commoners' will to survive... "Luck... the National Fortune of a Dynasty is actually a vast and chaotic collective will and energy field formed by the intertwined thoughts, actions, and power of all living beings!"

As this realization clearly surfaced, Wei An naturally thought of another widely known, even classic, way of utilizing "Dynasty Luck" in the cultivation world—the Imperial Dao!

In his past life, he had come into contact with, and even deeply understood, the mysteries of the "Imperial Dao."

That was a path of kingship centered on the National Fortune of a Dynasty, where a cultivator merges with the National Fortune, ascends the imperial throne, and prospers or perishes with the nation!

One who walks the Imperial Dao can mobilize the majestic National Fortune within their Dynasty's territory to augment themselves. Their words become law, their magical power is nearly infinite, a single thought can settle the mountains and rivers, and a single word can suppress all evils!

On their own home turf, their strength often exceeds their own Realm, making them invincible among their peers and even allowing them to challenge those at higher levels!

Furthermore, they can use the National Fortune to Cultivate, gaining rapid progress by comprehending the Dao of the state and society.

However, the Imperial Dao also has a fatal flaw: one prospers and perishes with the nation!

The emperor's body is deeply bound to the Dynasty's National Fortune. If the Dynasty is strong and prosperous, the emperor's Luck flourishes and their cultivation is smooth; if the Dynasty is in turmoil or decline, the emperor will suffer a backlash from the National Fortune. At best, their cultivation stagnates and they are plagued by illness; at worst, their Foundation is shaken, their Realm drops, and they may even be buried along with the Dynasty!

This path completely ties an individual's path of Dao to the fate of a vast collective, with both risks and rewards being immense.

"The Imperial Dao... in essence, it still gathers and concentrates the National Fortune into the body of a single emperor, using one person's heart to govern the Qi of ten thousand people. If the emperor is wise and capable, they can guide the National Fortune toward positive development; if the emperor is muddled and tyrannical, the National Fortune is abused and dissipated, eventually backfiring on them and dragging down the Dynasty."

"This still ties the fate of billions of lives to the morality and ability of a single person. It is still highly dependent on the rule of man, merely replacing a 'feudal monarch' who relies on Bloodline inheritance with a 'cultivator emperor' who relies on personal cultivation and political maneuvering."

"Its rise and fall still strongly depend on the personal qualities of the supreme leader. Moreover, because they are deeply bound to the National Fortune, for the sake of their own path of Dao, emperors often tend to maintain the existing ruling Order and suppress change. They might even adopt more extreme means of exploitation and control to prolong the National Fortune and stabilize themselves."

"This not only fails to solve the chronic ailments of the old Order but may also make stagnation and oppression more persistent and stubborn due to the longevity and power of the cultivator."

Wei An's mind worked at high speed, analyzing the advantages and flaws of the "Imperial Dao" to the fullest extent.

He realized that while the "Imperial Dao" seemed powerful, it actually fell into the rut of the old Order. In fact, because of the intervention of cultivators, the drawbacks of "treating the world as a family estate" and "the rule of man" were magnified and prolonged.

"So, what is the core difference between the 'destiny dynasty' I envision and the 'Imperial Dao'?"

Wei An's eyes grew brighter and brighter, and the blueprint in his heart became clearer.

"The Imperial Dao is 'governing Luck through man'; the core is the 'man,' and the National Fortune is their tool and source of power."

"A destiny dynasty is 'governing Luck through law'; the core is the 'law,' and the National Fortune—or rather, the upgraded 'Human Dao Luck'—is the energy and manifestation of its operation."

"In a destiny dynasty system, there is no need for an 'emperor' who is deeply bound to the National Fortune and enjoys supreme, unchecked power! Or rather, an emperor is simply not allowed to exist!"

"The Luck of a destiny dynasty is no longer simply bound to a certain person or Family, but is deeply fused with the entire legal system, the fairness and justice upheld by that system, and the Order and prosperity it creates!"

"What this Luck condenses into will no longer be a 'National Fortune Golden Dragon' that obeys an emperor, but rather a relatively objective existence similar to a 'collective consciousness' or an 'spirit of order' that operates based on legal statutes and the consensus of the people!"

"It has no personal likes or dislikes; it will move according to the true 'will of the people,' becoming the most just 'Sword of Damocles' hanging over everyone's head!"

"In this way, the change of power, the adjustment of policies, and even the self-improvement of the system will all take place within a relatively stable framework based on law, no longer relying entirely on the emergence of a wise monarch or a heroic leader."

"Even if a mediocre or slightly flawed ruler appears, as long as they do not openly trample on the core laws, the entire system can still rely on its inherent stability and the regulation of the 'spirit of order' to maintain basic operations and avoid rapidly sliding into the abyss."

"This is the fundamental difference between a 'destiny dynasty' and the 'Imperial Dao,' as well as all old Orders—shifting the cornerstone of Order from unreliable 'man' to relatively objective, evolvable 'law' with guaranteed power! Shifting the source of power from Bloodline, strength, or personal charisma to systems, procedures, and recognized rules!"

Having thought through all this, Wei An felt a sudden sense of enlightenment.

Having thought through all this, Wei An felt a sudden sense of enlightenment, as if a long-blocked passage had been cleared. Deep within his Soul, the dormant "Heavenly Mandate of the Human Dao" talisman decree, like a block of ice dropped into boiling oil, suddenly erupted with unimaginable brilliant light and majestic power!

"Buzz—!"

A vast, ancient, profound power containing the true meanings of endless "Order," "contract," "mutual aid," and "civilization" boomed from the deepest part of his Soul Origin!

This was not ordinary Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi, but the essence of Human Dao Luck, the gift of the Origin of the Dao of "Order," and the manifestation of the "Heavenly Mandate of the Human Dao's" recognition of his path!

Wei An did not even actively try to "Cultivate" or "absorb" it.

Like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, or spring returning to the earth, this power naturally surged into every inch of his Meridians, every bone, and every acupoint!

His staggering 1000 points of Aptitude showed its terrifying nature at this moment, greedily and efficiently devouring and transforming this majestic Human Dao Origin power like a bottomless pit!