Completion of the First Ten-Year Plan

The Purple Star Continent.

With the successful completion of the first ten-year plan, the continent's territory had now expanded to over three trillion miles in length and width!

In terms of sheer size, compared to the vast universe with its hundreds of billions of light-years in diameter, the Purple Star Continent might seem insignificant—merely a larger speck of dust in the cosmos.

But when it came to mass, the Purple Star Continent's energy radiation could span half the universe. Moreover, the laws governing the continent grew increasingly refined and powerful. Even an average Unity-stage cultivator could kick celestial bodies like balls, plucking stars and moons with ease, while Tribulation Transcenders could erase black holes!

And that was without mentioning the numerous Pseudo-Immortals and True Immortals above them, whose ambitions no longer lay in the cosmic void but in the boundless expanse of the ethereal realms!

It was worth noting that on the current Purple Star Continent, Tribulation Transcenders no longer needed to face the terrifying Heavenly Tribulation of the Immortal Realm to ascend. Within the domain of the Purple Star Heavenly Dao, the examiner was none other than the Heavenly Dao itself!

This authority over ascension had been wrested back from the Immortal Realm’s Heavenly Tribulation the moment it was sealed away.

Compared to the ruthlessly harsh Immortal Realm’s tribulation, the Purple Star Heavenly Dao was far gentler. While the standards for immortality remained unchanged, failure no longer meant punishment—just encouragement to try harder next time.

Even if one performed abysmally and repeatedly failed, there were still options.

They could choose to undergo a spiritual dissolution and become a Loose Immortal, joining the Divine Path’s recruitment to serve as a deity of faith, guiding and aiding mortals. This path also granted longevity, with vast prospects—reaching the first rank even allowed entry into the Celestial Court’s council, matching the status of ordinary True Immortals.

For those who simply wanted to coast through life, that was fine too. "Do good deeds, leave the future to fate"—the Reincarnation Bureau of the Northwest Netherworld would arrange a favorable rebirth, offering a fresh start in the next life.

Of course, if one truly gave up entirely, refusing to lift a finger, that was also acceptable. Those who no longer wished to cultivate could simply opt out—just be mindful of the Beast Path in the next life.

The cultivator hierarchy was meticulously structured, leading to an explosive surge of talent!

The world benefited in turn, nourishing all living beings, and the lives of ordinary mortals flourished like never before.

Before the emergence of the Tribulation Sovereign, the natural lifespan of Purple Star natives was a hundred years. However, due to insufficient natural nourishment and the heavy toll of labor draining life essence, few mortals lived to a hundred, passing peacefully of old age.

But after the Tribulation Sovereign appeared, this great lord underwent tribulation every eight or nine years on average. Each time, the scattered energy from his Immortal Tribulation blessed the masses, compensating for the world’s lack of spiritual essence and extending the lifespan of Purple Star natives significantly. There were even cases of unremarkable elders living up to six hundred years without cultivation!

Of course, this was only possible with disciplined health maintenance, free from illness and misfortune. Those who lived recklessly would still die young, even if the Tribulation Sovereign underwent tribulation yearly and they absorbed the scattered energy to the fullest—no amount of tonic could replenish a body hollowed out too soon.

In fact, overindulgence could render one unable to endure such supplements, leading to an untimely death even without external calamities!

But all this was the reality before the ten-year plan’s completion.

Now, with the first ten-year plan accomplished, the world’s spiritual essence had multiplied a hundredfold, and the natural lifespan of mortals soared to five hundred years!

With laws perfected, bodies grew robust, resistant to disease.

With systems optimized, deities of faith improved livelihoods.

One could truly say the people of the Purple Star Continent were fortunate.

At dawn, they awoke to the lullaby of birdsong.

Opening their windows, they welcomed the breeze carrying the fragrance of rice fields, refreshing the soul.

Golden waves of wheat no longer bent their backs. A simple prayer at the local Earth God Temple could grant a Harvest Talisman, allowing one to effortlessly reap twenty acres without exhaustion.

At noon, grain merchants from the city arrived to purchase their crops. A month’s labor not only filled their bellies but also earned them ample coin, enough to indulge in the bustling markets of the urban districts.

With labor partially liberated, suppressed creativity finally found release. Novel inventions emerged endlessly, adding spice to what was once a monotonous existence.

By evening, the village square buzzed with life. Bonfire festivities crescendoed with the crowd’s fervor, while children dashed about carrying stone rollers—the new generation of youngsters brimming with inexhaustible energy, their bodies growing ever stronger.

Elders swayed in rocking chairs, savoring the leisurely present while reminiscing about the hardships of the past.

Come nightfall, with entertainment still scarce, the able-bodied retired early to bed, diligently contributing to the population growth initiative.

......

"Hmm, the first ten-year plan successfully liberated some labor forces and resolved basic survival needs. Now we can aim higher."

"The second ten-year plan will focus on developing foundational education, nurturing the soil for the roots of the Path of Technology, preparing to fully emancipate basic labor..."

High above the clouds, after thorough observation, Chen Yi once again began drafting his grand vision.

"Yi-ge, what exactly is this 'Path of Technology'? It sounds impressive—can it truly free all beings from toil?"

The Purple Star Heavenly Dao, in the form of a cat, tilted its head, eyes filled with puzzlement as it studied the grand blueprint.

It knew Chen Yi never dealt in empty promises—his plans were always concrete and achievable.

Yet, it couldn’t comprehend this "Path of Technology," a concept entirely foreign to it.

"It’s natural you wouldn’t understand. After the collapse of the Divine Realm, this convenient Path of Technology was banned by the Immortal Realm, even branded as heresy. Traces of it are rare across the myriad worlds!" Chen Yi patiently explained.

From his study of the Divine Realm, Chen Yi concluded that its downfall stemmed largely from over-reliance on the Path of Technology as a shortcut. This eroded the foundations of cultivation, warped the minds of the young, and ultimately led to a crippling generational gap!

In essence, the path itself wasn’t flawed—it was the misuse that twisted its nature.

The Immortal Realm, steeped in tradition, saw no need for such "heretical" shortcuts and chose to eradicate it entirely.

But Chen Yi was different. Born in an era of technological convenience yet raised in a world of traditional cultivation, he understood the strengths and weaknesses of both.

Broadly speaking, the traditional cultivation system offered higher ceilings. In terms of ideology and the realm of the metaphysical, its potential was theoretically limitless!

But its drawback was its rigid hierarchy—each realm was a world apart. The strong grew ever stronger, while the weak remained forever oppressed, a brutal reflection of "survival of the fittest."

The Path of Technology, though confined to the material realm with inherent limits, was undeniably potent in its own right—especially in its accessibility.

Even mortals could wield its fruits, declaring "the times have changed" to bridge the gap of centuries of cultivation!

Wasn’t that the very definition of heresy?

Of course, it all depended on how it was wielded.

Used wisely, it could uplift all living beings, vastly enhancing foundational potential and propelling destiny to unprecedented heights!

If used improperly, it would follow in the footsteps of the Divine Realm, planting a catastrophic hidden danger that could erupt at any moment, leading to total collapse!

"Brother Yi, you dare to wield something so perilous—I trust you must have absolute confidence in controlling it. I'll follow your lead without hesitation!" The Heavenly Dao of Purple Star Continent placed its unwavering trust in him.

Chen Yi's gaze turned profound, his expression grave as he let out a faint sigh. "The second ten-year plan should first focus on laying a solid foundation. The path of technological cultivation still requires further scrutiny. Every step I take... truly feels like treading on thin ice!"