Fairy Weining continued her journey, visiting several major cities of the Shang dynasty. Everywhere she looked, she witnessed extortionate taxes, aggressive militarism, and oppressive governance—a litany of evils.
It was clear that the dynasty was nearing its end. All these systemic flaws had fully manifested, interlocking with one another until they finally weighed down upon the tottering foundation of the Shang.
Such flaws might well exist within the Heavenly Court as well; it was merely a matter of degree, which was not unrelated to the court's shortage of capable personnel. Yet, with the conclusion of the Conferment of Gods War, over three hundred orthodox deities were about to be invested. When that happened, the mingling of the good and the bad would surely deepen these flaws and inflame existing conflicts. Add to this the multitude of prohibitions in the Heavenly Statutes paired with a scarcity of defined penalties, leaving every punishment to be decided by the Jade Emperor's single word.
Chapter 323