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The refugees had never witnessed such a scene, and they all fell to their knees in fear. Yun Yi concealed himself among the Yellow Turban Followers, observing everything. To him, Zhang Jiao's series of actions were not difficult to imagine. It was merely a matter of using special techniques to instill shock in the refugees. In simple terms, it was about employing certain methods to evoke fear and respect.
However, Yun Yi possessed a more direct ability; he could summon real lightning through his skills, while Zhang Jiao could only rely on the ignorance of ordinary people. For instance, the trick of igniting talismans involved sprinkling a bit of Yellow Phosphorus on the paper and then quickly waving it to create friction with the air, generating enough heat to ignite the talisman. Although Yun Yi felt somewhat disappointed—after all, as someone regarded as an early founder of Taoism, Zhang Jiao had not mastered any true mystical arts—it was clear that this was a world devoid of any real magic.
From another perspective, this meant that Yun Yi would be the only true practitioner of divine powers in this world, possessing the authority to define gods and immortals. As the talisman turned to ashes, Zhang Jiao collected them and placed them into a three-legged cauldron, continuing, "All followers of Tai Dao, drink this Fu Shui and store the runes in your hearts; through this, you can communicate with Huang Tian. Only those who truly believe can harness the sacred power of Huang Tian Shen, allowing this power to flow throughout your bodies, dispelling ailments and restoring vitality."
Afterward, Zhang Jiao led the refugees through numerous complex rituals, including listening to teachings on Taoism, understanding its principles, and learning various rules. He also required them to perform a ritual of three bows and nine kowtows to Huang Tian. Although these steps were quite arduous for the refugees, they were finally allowed to taste the Fu Shui.
Yun Yi had long been accustomed to such practices. These steps were fundamentally aimed at deepening the new believers' faith in Tai Dao and their sense of belonging. He had previously taught the people of Zhao Family Village how to learn the Zi Wu Fist Technique and specific etiquette. Because he possessed extraordinary abilities himself, there was no need for him to rely on external rules or cumbersome rituals to regulate his followers' behavior. In cases where commands were ignored, he could issue warnings in a straightforward manner.
In contrast, since Zhang Jiao lacked genuine divine powers, he could only enhance his sect's barriers and solidify his authority through these complex rituals and strict regulations. In fact, this approach was not unique to Zhang Jiao; many similar figures throughout history handled matters in much the same way. The methods of governance in ancient states were similarly structured.
Whether it is the "Zhou Li" or the "Four Books Classic," both essentially maintain an air of mystery and prestige around power by setting high participation requirements.
Later, the officials realized the benefits this mechanism brought them and consciously upheld and passed down this system. Soon, many wandering farmers began to gather in line before the altar. Each person could receive a bowl of enchanted water from the Three-Legged Bronze Tripod. After drinking it, the faces of those who had seemed weak and ill began to show a hint of color, with beads of sweat forming on their foreheads.
"It's so warm!" I felt a wave of warmth flowing through my body.
"I feel it too; why is that?"
"Could this be what the Wise Teacher mentioned about Huang Tianli?"
"Indeed, it must be! I feel invigorated; I could run ten miles without stopping."
After consuming the enchanted water, the refugees appeared unusually uplifted, their eyes shining brightly. If someone had told them that just moments ago these individuals looked dejected, no one would have believed it.
Experiencing such a dramatic change in their state, the faces of these common folk transformed into expressions of deep reverence. Their faith in prophecy, Tai Dao, and Zhang Jiao reached an almost obsessive level.
Yun Yi even noticed a fervent enthusiasm in their eyes akin to how the villagers of Zhao Jia Village regarded him, which only piqued his curiosity further.
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