Chapter 1 The Beginning

"Yaming Country... the ultimate yin land beneath the underworld. There are many similar places, all destinations for ghosts after they die and perish. However, if the Netherworld Hierarch's divine tablet really fell into such a place, there's less to worry about."

Guangyao Shousheng Xiantian Zun's expression relaxed slightly: "This guess is also reasonable. So many masters of the Dharma Realm were eliminated by Yuan Huang and Taizong, yet they never obtained any news about the Netherworld Hierarch's divine tablet. Perhaps it really is in Yaming Country, where even yin spirits and ghosts can hardly reach."

"Even with black qi, it's impossible to invade that land through normal means. When a ghost dies, it becomes a ni; when a ni dies, it becomes xi yi. Ni are inherently formless and without appearance, existing specifically to restrain ghosts. The formless ghosts we're now creating in this Yin World Dharma Realm are made using those summoned ni from the last time as carriers."

"Originally, ni were a method used by the Daoist School to curb ghosts because ni cannot and will not harm people, only ghosts. They are ghosts among ghosts that eat and devour other ghosts. But through our methods, these newborn ni can be used to harm people. Once these formless ghosts become our servants, they will cause the Underworld... to make all beings with form tremble in fear!"

"However, there is still a price to pay. Ni can be summoned at will, but they cannot be dismissed at will. Last time in Gusu, those important officials in Wanshou Palace, Zhang Bangchang, took it upon himself to invite Wu Taiyi and privately mobilized a large number of Lianxing ghosts, using ni to revive souls and attack the Tianmo of the Yang world, which attracted the attention of Yaming Country, causing a Dulu Na ghost to directly enter the human world."

"This is a warning. They can come out from below, but we cannot enter from above, only through the path of dispersing souls and spirits. But the chance of success is too slim. We must use a large number of ghosts as a foundation to find a safe way to enter Yaming Country."

The two Underworld Emperors were talking when a high-ranking official returned and reported to them:

"Two Celestial Venerables! Taiping Town has been destroyed, and one of our human strongholds has been eliminated!"

The official's tone was slightly flustered and ashamed, but the two Celestial Venerables didn't take it to heart, only nodding lightly.

"It was the Lü family who did a good job. From the beginning, they let those few cultivators go. When they didn't turn them into meat jars of wish-power, We already knew something would go wrong."

Lai He Celestial Venerable's tone was not very good.

Guangyao Shousheng Xiantian Zun smiled and said, "It's fine, it's fine, losing Taiping Town is no big deal. It was just a workshop for experimenting with human-face mist and soul molting techniques. With half of the Yin Mountain Dharma Realm in hand, are we still afraid of not being able to invade the Yang world and establish a foothold?"

"If we can get the other half as well, this Yin Mountain Dharma Realm, while not a powerful Dharma Realm in the Yang world, is worth half of Mount Tai in our hands. I think, if we were to exchange it for the Eighteen Hells, it would be worth at least two or three hells."

"Celestial Venerable, it so happens that Lü Wenhuan was being punished in the Formerly Living Hell, but the position of King Chujiang was taken away, and this great hell has also fallen into our hands. Now, it is a treasure in the Celestial Venerable's hands. This man should be won over. We are now in a time when we need people. It is not easy to find a general from the old world..."

"The Lü family was a military family stationed in Xiangyang. They only surrendered to the Yuan army after defending the city for six years because of insufficient food and supplies. It was the officials of that time who should be punished. Moreover, he was not sincerely surrendering. Although he later led troops to attack the Great Song, we cannot only see his betrayal. We must see his previous loyalty."

"He has always been concerned about the fact that Generals Zhang Shun and Zhang Gui came to his aid and broke through to ask for help, saving him three times before dying. His benefactors were killed by the Yuan army. Although Kublai Khan recruited him, it was also under the threat of slaughtering tens of thousands of lives in the city..."

"Now that his soul has returned to the Underworld, he can be recalled for great use. As for those members of the Lü family who made mistakes in Taiping Town, all of them can be exempted from hellish punishments. At the same time, tell them that benevolence and righteousness are not wrong. We, the rulers of the Underworld, are different from the past emperors they served, upholding justice."

"At the same time, we must also tell them that they are now dead people, so they must fight for the great cause of the Yin World, and no longer think about things when they were alive. They have completely no connection with the human world and are purely ghost generals who act on behalf of Heaven."

"These people are of great use to us! Not only as a supplement to our combat power, but also because these defeated generals have more sacrifices among the people than we emperors do. If they have temples, they will have a response. This is like our strongholds in the human world, and it is not easily discovered by outsiders."

Guangyao Shousheng Xiantian Zun fully understands how to praise a person and win over their heart. He used this method on certain people when he was Emperor Gaozong.

Those who are not valued and feel guilty in their hearts are best won over. Giving them a little favor can make them regard you as a confidant, and then reuse them. Praise them as much as you should. But if you find that they are beginning to disobey your will and are somewhat uncontrollable, then, before you want to kill them, you must praise them even higher.

Then smash them to death.

Lai He Celestial Venerable hesitated somewhat: "It is precisely because the Lü family is guilty that I sent them to Taiping Ancient Town to act as sentries and turn them into Sukhavati-Resentments. Now that they have committed a major mistake, we are going to release them again. Where is the dignity of the Underworld Emperor? If they repeatedly violate the rules in the future, will we not care about them, but instead coax them?"

"Besides, the justice of the Underworld is just our justice. Yet you still say that we are fighting for the great cause of the Yin World... Aren't you afraid that one day they will discover the truth and rebel because their conscience has not been extinguished? Some things should be made clearer. Keeping things hidden is like how Yue Fei didn't dare to rebel back then. Otherwise, you would be like Emperor Duzong of Song, locked up somewhere, unable to sit in this Celestial Venerable position."

Guangyao Shousheng Xiantian Zun's expression immediately became unsightly, but he also knew that Emperor Zhenzong of Song had learned from past mistakes. He had almost been killed by his own empress and a few trusted confidants who bribed the imperial guards. Although the head of the imperial guards didn't act at the time because he was timid, Zhenzong was still frightened when he found out later, so it was normal to have a conditioned reflex to this kind of rebellion.

He was different from himself, but he looked down on his previous act of murdering Yue Fei. He couldn't help but scold:

"Celestial Venerable! What you said is unpleasant! If I didn't kill him in advance, what if he really rebelled! Then I wouldn't be able to sit in this Celestial Venerable position either. Not only that, but I'm afraid that the country and the people would not be safe."

"Besides, after killing him, I also regretted it a little. Look now, haven't I already refined Qin Hui into a ghost weapon to repay Yue Fei's grace of saving the country?"

"Weren't you almost killed by the imperial guards back then? What qualifications do you have to criticize me? I call this being prepared for a rainy day. It's better than having the knife about to be cut on your head and still not knowing, relying entirely on luck to survive, much better! Can this be called an enlightened and holy ruler?"

Lai He Celestial Venerable was always weak, and these words left him speechless again.

Guangyao Shousheng Xiantian Zun then turned the topic back, no longer dwelling on the other party's shortcomings: "Our justice is the justice of the world. There is an emperor in the Yang world, and there is an Underworld Emperor in the Yin world. Anyone who wants to start something must have a name. Isn't this a great cause?"

"Twenty years later, when Li Shanhe enters the world and divides up the human world, what name will we use to fight for the great cause of the Yin world? Of course, it is to prevent more people from falling into the Underworld and dying prematurely. That is why we must preempt Li Shanhe and seize those human cities, replacing that corrupt dynasty."

"How many years has the Ming Dynasty been established? More than two hundred years! Look at what the demons and monsters are doing in that country! How corrupt the divine generals are! How incompetent the court is! This is clearly a sign of an impending downfall!"

"What's more, after the Tumu Crisis, the Ming Dynasty's luck plummeted. This is something you and I both know. It was destined at that time that this dynasty would not last long."

"Moreover, is there any dynasty in this world that does not head towards its end after more than two hundred years! The four-hundred-year-old Han Dynasty was still divided into two by the Xin Dynasty! The eight-hundred-year-old Zhou Dynasty, the first half enfeoffed the world, and the second half was the Spring and Autumn and Warring States period; even the great Tang Dynasty only had a little over one hundred years of prosperity, and even in the middle of that, there was a Wu Zhou, changing the country's name and ruler, and then the An Lushan Rebellion caused it to not recover for one hundred and forty years. Our Zhao Song ruled the world for three hundred years, with national prosperity, peace for the people, and stable hearts, even with half of the country, they could still force the Jin Dynasty to retreat. Although Yue Fei was killed by me, when he was alive, along with Han Shizhong, Zong Ze, and others, which of these people did the Jin people not kowtow and kneel before, calling them Grandpa?"

"Which of those dynasties that possessed half of the country in the past had this kind of power?"

"The Liao, Jin, and Western Xia dynasties were established after us, but they perished before us! The arrival of the Yuan Dynasty was truly a moment to change the world, and we have never been interrupted for more than three hundred years since Taizong. Isn't this enough to prove our legitimacy? Isn't this Heaven's will? Isn't this a great cause?"

Guangyao Shousheng Xiantian Zun's torrent of words made Lai He Celestial Venerable, who was not good at words, only nod in agreement. He wanted to refute, but felt that every sentence was reasonable, so he shook his head: "Alright, alright, let's pardon the Lü family's sins and bring Lü Wenhuan out of the Formerly Living Hell to serve us."

Guangyao Shousheng Xiantian Zun quickly added, expressing that all the famous generals from the same era as General Lü should be brought out of hell. Speaking of which, the reason why these people went to hell was actually because of Wen Tianxiang.

Wen Tianxiang scolded them face to face as traitors, so that after death, they fell into hell and could not be liberated. This great Confucian scholar with the highest level of righteous qi has this kind of ability. While alive, he can cut off your luck and destiny with a word, and after death, he can make you fall into hell forever with a word!

"However, they feel guilty in their hearts and will not blame Wen Tianxiang. There is one thing, though. When you go to recruit them, you must bring two people..." These people's sins are too heavy, they have not entered the various hells controlled by the Ten Yama Kings, but have been assigned to the more terrifying Twenty-four Fengdu Hells."

"All those who betray Heaven and violate Earth, disobey their ruler and rebel against their parents, practice evil and act falsely, overturn nests and cut off hibernating creatures, and kill and harm lives, all enter the Fengdu Hell."

Lai He Celestial Venerable listened to Guangyao Shousheng Xiantian Zun's warning, thought carefully, and said: "Emperor Duzong of Song and Jia Sidao?"

"This, Jia Sidao is an incompetent person, hanging him up for them to see, to win over their hearts, I can understand that, but this Emperor Duzong of Song... since they are both Song Emperors, is this not good?"

"He still has a place in the Divine Temple, and he previously begged me bitterly, asking me to grant him a body, to share half of the power of the Son of Heaven with me..."

Guangyao Shousheng Xiantian Zun said with a sinister smile: "It is precisely because even emperors dare to be whipped, causing them great torment, that the justice and righteousness of the Underworld can be demonstrated! This is a good opportunity to display our image. Celestial Venerable must not be weak, but must strike hard and make great resolutions!"

"What power of the Son of Heaven! Does Celestial Venerable still care about such petty profits! Take away his power of the Son of Heaven and give it to those important officials and surrendered generals! They will surely be wholeheartedly devoted and die for the Underworld! The grace of knowing and meeting them cannot be repaid, only by dying and dying again!"

"As for Emperor Duzong of Song, this fellow is useless! So many Song Emperors have not had a body shaped for them, what is he to dare to cut in line! It is not his turn to show loyalty, I would rather give it to the Three Sinful Emperors of Wuyi than give it to him. He and Emperor Yingzong of Ming are the same kind of people, neither able to attack cities and seize territories, nor able to govern the country, nor able to offer plans, and he even lacks the most important thing, the courage to do many great things."

"Whether they are heroes, warlords, or treacherous heroes, no one will look up to him."

"Moreover, in the past, Lü Wenhuan, the defending general of Xiangyang, surrendered the city after running out of food and having no reinforcements. When the news came, Jia Sidao pretended to lead troops to attack, but this guy was timid and frightened, and actually stubbornly dragged Jia Sidao back, preventing him from going to war. Tell those surrendered generals in hell, tell them why they didn't wait for reinforcements back then... Just tell them this properly and completely, without even needing to add fuel to the fire."

Lai He Celestial Venerable also understood and nodded at this time: "So that's how it is... He is still inferior to Tian Luo Wang..."

Guangyao Shousheng Xiantian Zun's eyes flashed with a hint of contempt.

In fact, what is Tian Luo Wang? He had no achievements when he was alive. It should be given to anyone, but it shouldn't be given to him. Yet, he can actually become one of the Three Celestial Venerables valued by His Majesty Yuan Huang?

The only thing he can be praised for is that when he was alive, he appointed himself as the Grand Marshal, made Zong Ze his deputy, and later, with the help of Mr. Jin Han, became the Song Emperor. After death, he brought himself to this Underworld... This is his greatest achievement.

If his sacrifices to the gods had not received a response back then, and his talent had been valued by Taizong Heavenly King, he would not have been able to become one of the three Celestial Venerables who first stood here. What is important is his ability, but unfortunately, it cannot be taken away.

After all, the three divine positions among the Jade Emperors, as well as the Jade Emperor's empty shell, are all things destined to be separated. Apart from the empty shell, which is to be given to Emperor Huizong, which Song Emperor should be given the other three divine positions to is up to Taizong and His Majesty Yuan Huang to decide.

Without great achievements and great abilities, and most importantly, without submission... could one reach this position?

The Three Emperors of Wuyi were unwilling to submit when they came down, so they turned into small statues, bound by iron chains, extracting the power of the Son of Heaven until the day they were willing to bow their heads.

And originally, he would not have been able to get this position... It's just a pity that the person who should have had this position, that fourth emperor, has already been dealt with.

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Taiping Ancient Town was shattered, and Ji Xiang and the others returned to reality, seeing Zhang Xiucai lying on the ground groaning weakly. Ji Xiang helped him up. At this time, Zhang Xiucai seemed to wake up from a dream:

"What happened? I just seemed to see an emperor enter my body."

Ji Xiang looked at the bewildered Zhang Xiucai and thought that that was the origin of the matter. People with black qi have a second form-spirit, and this form-spirit can be transformed at will. Tian Luo Wang entered Zhang Xiucai's body and transformed his form-spirit, but now that form-spirit has been shattered, and Zhang Xiucai's own form-spirit has returned, so he is just like someone who has had a dream.

Zhang Xiucai was completely confused, and the other wandering cultivators had also just woken up from their sleep, having been knocked unconscious by Tian Luo Wang's magic.

After dismissing them and letting them leave, Ji Xiang took Zhang Xiucai back to Mount Wudang alone.

Then, he placed him in front of Feng Menglong.

"Daoist Ji, who is this? A relative of yours?"

"No..."

Ji Xiang grinned: "He's a great literary talent who, like you, can't pass the imperial examination."

Feng Menglong: "???"

Damn it, does anyone dare to compare themselves to your Feng grandpa now? Do you understand the gold content of being able to scare away hundreds of ghosts and thousands of demons with a single shout and having righteous qi? Even the Grand Secretary of the dynasty doesn't have such abilities, okay!

"What is a Xiucai? 'The Creator favors the divine show' refers to a Xiucai!" (神秀 is a homophone for 神秀才)

Feng Menglong made a strong and powerful defense, while Ji Xiang told Zhang Xiucai: "Write more novels and dramas in the future..."

Zhang Yaofang became anxious: "I didn't study to become a Xiucai to write these useless things! Nor did I want to become such a useless person!"

Before Ji Xiang could speak, Feng Menglong became anxious again, jumping up and down, ready to hit him: "What do you mean by useless person! Do you understand my abilities, Xiucai? I have seen more demons and monsters and fought more enemies in this world than you have eaten meals!"

"Kid, how many times have you taken the imperial examination? Why are you speaking so arrogantly? You look down on Xiucai? If you have the ability, pass the imperial examination!"

Ji Xiang signaled him to calm down, and Xiucai Feng glared at Zhang Xiucai, making a throat-slitting gesture.

Kid, if I see you pass the imperial examination in the future, you're definitely not going to have a good time.

Ji Xiang said to Zhang Xiucai: "Learn more from this one. He also has righteous qi, and it far surpasses yours. Don't look at him being carefree, he is actually very reliable."

"Moreover, he will soon enter the palace to become a great literary talent. This is not a lie. If you are willing, I can recommend you..."

After hearing Ji Xiang's self-introduction, Zhang Xiucai's attitude immediately underwent a huge change, and he agreed readily: "Willing, willing! Of course I am willing!"

Then he bowed deeply to Feng Menglong, calling him Master!

Xiucai Feng was dumbfounded.

With your speed of changing faces, and your face full of ambition for fame and wealth, how can you have righteous qi?

Has the sky gone blind?

Ji Xiang: "Well, anyway, don't go to worship your ancestors anymore. I will give you benefits. At the same time, I have a request."

"I want to treat your son's illness. If it is suitable, he will become my disciple."

"And you two, this time I am going to Korea, and I will pass by Tianjin Port on the way, so I will send you two into the palace."