No scholars, no civilization (flourishing).
The fake Imperial Seal in Duncan's hand seemed to be suffused with shimmering light, the jade color emitting a precious glow, not of mundane origin.
Ji Shaojiang was utterly shocked, already guessing what Your Majesty intended to do.
The two continued southward.
Duncan's figure paused beside a river embankment. In the distance, there was a dense crowd of people, like a swarm of ants, carrying and hauling, thousands upon thousands busy repairing the canals and embankments. The rivers of Southern Han had not been cleaned for over a decade, requiring substantial manpower and resources.
Further away, several people were carrying a water wheel, accompanied by followers of the Mo Family. Relying solely on human labor was insufficient; in this era of low productivity, tools were necessary to enhance efficiency.
— Craft.
Duncan once again infused True Yuan and wrote, the fake Imperial Seal exuding a tangible streak of dazzling Spiritual Light.
No craft, no prosperity (wealth).
At this moment, in Ji Shaojiang's eyes, the fake Imperial Seal was almost indistinguishable from the real one. The energy Duncan infused into it made it shimmer with an unseen resplendent light.
"Let's go."
Duncan proceeded along the small path.
After an indeterminate amount of time.
He stopped beside a field ridge, gazing at an old man laboring in the fields, and asked, "Old man, how is this year's harvest?"
The old farmer had not initially noticed the two, only awakening upon hearing the voice. Once he lifted his head, he saw the two of them, unsure when they had appeared.
"Thanks to Your Majesty's great fortune, this year is a bountiful year."
Upon mentioning the harvest, the old farmer's face immediately lit up with joy, his dark face full of wrinkles as he laughed heartily, even raising his voice slightly, showing two fingers, "This year's harvest has doubled."
Duncan smiled, bidding farewell as he left.
In the distance, the fields were still filled with weighty, golden ears of rice, proving the farmer hadn't deceived him. This report was quite satisfactory.
Rewards to be given.
Moved by the spirit of the moment, Duncan held the fake Imperial Seal and wrote the last and most significant character.
— Agriculture.
At this moment, the vision evoked was as astonishing as ever.
Ji Shaojiang stood beside, seemingly seeing countless breaths of human activity converge upon that fake Imperial Seal. Scholar, farmer, craftsman, merchant; Your Majesty quickly wrote the first three characters, but the final 'Agriculture' seemed to echo with the murmurs of a billion souls, even causing a bead of sweat to appear on His Majesty's forehead.
Each stroke appeared to carry the weight of a thousand catties, representing the hope of life.
No agriculture, no stability (livelihood).
At this moment.
Ji Shaojiang seemed to see the engraving on the Imperial Seal with the bugs and bird strokes of "Mandated by Heaven, to last eternally" changing. She even fell into an illusion, vaguely seeing the reflection of the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, people, and all beings.
— Refining the false into the true!
Rise.
With my cultivation, combine the creations of heaven and earth, capturing a breath of mortal life, to rekindle the lights of ten thousand homes.
Offering to heaven!
Duncan's figure walked on air, holding the fake Imperial Seal, offering it to heaven, seeking the token of being "mandated by heaven."
I entered the Dao by a child's promise, to return to the world a peaceful age.
Thunder rolled.
Ji Shaojiang did not know what she sensed, shivering all over at that moment.
— True Imperial Seal!
A thread of mortal destiny converged into Duncan's palm, shocking the heavens with heavenly-human resonance. An invisibly profound yellow energy descended, directly inscribing itself into the Imperial Seal.
When the false seems true, the true may also appear false.
The distinction between true and false isn't so important; the Imperial Seal is not merely a piece of He's jade.
Crack.
Meanwhile, in a certain Daoist temple within the realm of Kaifeng, Daoist Lingsu suddenly raised his head in surprise. Hearing the rumbling thunder, he felt his hands grow hot, as if struck by lightning. Upon lowering his gaze again, he noticed that, unbeknownst to him, a sudden fine crack had appeared on the surface of the Imperial Seal he held.
.........