Chapter 128: Taking Their Place |
Name: Chu Xun
Lifespan: 103/500 (+450)
Cultivation: Golden Core Stage (can be hidden)
Divine Office 27,839/30,000: Uncanonized wandering god. Divine abilities obtained: Yellow Millet Dream, Hidden Form and Concealed Shadow, Qi-Gazing and Fate Perception. As a pseudo-orthodox god, divine abilities may be used twenty-eight times per year. Remaining hidden hours per year: 4,378. After canonization, orthodox god divine abilities may be obtained, and the soul may be entrusted elsewhere to substitute for death.
Final mission reward: Eternal Longevity
Current Stage 3: Gather the Five Ministers. Reward: Cultivation raised to the Purple Mansion Stage, return to youth, lifespan increased by 600 years.
Progress: 1/5
Water Minister: Governs winter storage, feng shui, and dispatches the spirit of the Ji River.
Note: The Five Ministers contend for heavenly mandate. You may bestow offices upon subordinates. If they accord with heavenly mandate, Dao arts may be obtained.
Within ten thousand zhang, the wonders of Dao arts may be performed, natural and seamless.
Current Five Elements Foundation: 0/5
The Five Elements become one. The Great Dao is formless. Dao follows nature.
Transform all things beneath heaven and earth, establish the pillars of heaven and earth, and command the laws of heaven and earth.
There was no need to say much about lifespan.
After reaching the Golden Core Stage, Chu Xun’s yang lifespan had increased to five hundred years, with an additional four hundred and fifty years on top of that.
Even if he did nothing, he could live for over a thousand years.
To a certain extent, he no longer needed to worry about the end of his lifespan in the short term.
The Divine Office had not changed much.
Aside from the number of divine ability uses rising to twenty-eight per year due to seizing more authority, the remaining hidden time for his divine office had been reduced by another double-hour.
Chu Xun’s gaze shifted slightly.
“Exposing my divine office for two double-hours each year has become a good thing now.”
Incense gods were stubborn.
They recognized incense, not people.
When his divine office was exposed, he was an evil sacrifice wild god.
When it was not exposed, he was someone who had attained the Dao through cultivation.
Two double-hours would now allow him to do certain things more conveniently than before.
In addition, the casting range of the Five Elements Dao Art had indeed increased tenfold, reaching ten thousand zhang, which was sixty li.
But what Chu Xun cared about most was the third mission.
As expected, it was no longer connected to the people and affairs of Pinecone Village. Instead, it had evolved into a struggle for the Five Ministers.
In other words, the five different statuses of Metal Minister, Wood Minister, Water Minister, Fire Minister, and Earth Minister.
He had already obtained the Water Minister status by chance ahead of time, so there was progress from the start.
By contending for the heavenly mandate of the Five Ministers, he could bestow offices upon subordinates.
If they accorded with heavenly mandate, he could obtain Dao arts.
When he saw those two lines, figures flashed through Chu Xun’s mind one after another.
The Four Duty Merit Officers, Six Jia Divine Generals, Six Ding Jade Maidens, Ten Yama Kings, Twenty-Eight Constellations…
Some figures were clear, while others were blurry.
This meant that these divine offices also had different ranks.
With his current Ji River Water Minister status, at most, he could bestow the offices of the Six Ding and Six Jia Divine Generals.
Chu Xun immediately understood.
By obtaining the Five Minister statuses, he could bestow these divine offices upon others.
If the other party accepted the heavenly mandate and divine office, Chu Xun could obtain the corresponding Dao art from it.
Chu Xun could not help feeling pleasantly surprised.
In this way, it was equivalent to him also possessing the ability to “canonize.”
And it was not limited to one nation, but bestowed through heavenly mandate status.
“Establishing heavenly mandate beneath the heavenly order?”
Such an act was equivalent to forming a nation within a nation.
It was no different from rebellion.
Chu Xun raised his head toward the sky.
If the heavenly order had a spirit and knew of this, he wondered what it would think.
To be precise, even if the heavenly order knew, it would be powerless to do anything.
What heavenly mandate did, no one could stop.
Unless the immortals and gods behind the heavenly order were willing to risk being entangled by karmic fire and suffering death and Dao destruction.
One had to understand that when incense gods were killed by other means, they could revive through incense offerings.
Only karmic fire directly targeted the soul and burned one’s merit from a previous life.
Once merit was gone, how could they revive?
Even for an anomaly like Chu Xun, after karmic fire burned his body, he had to continuously accumulate incense points to offset it.
Otherwise, if the spirit of the Songliu Water God was truly burned away, his own soul would be next.
He could accumulate merit everywhere and actively search for incense points, but other incense gods did not have this ability.
With one side rising and the other falling, Chu Xun had almost no need to fear other immortals and gods acting to stop him.
“Those old undying things would rather steal mortal merit than fade away. How could they willingly sacrifice themselves?”
Chu Xun then looked toward Zhang Jingheng.
This man whose merit was complete still did not have a divine office.
If Chu Xun bestowed one upon him, he would be the most suitable.
However, the Six Jia Divine Generals were only ordinary guardian deities.
Bestowing such a rank upon Zhang Jingheng would be far too wasteful.
In Chu Xun’s view, the most suitable for Zhang Jingheng would be the Ten Yama Kings, used to replace the City Gods.
But his Ji River Water Minister status was still not enough to bestow a divine office of that level.
After pondering for a moment, Chu Xun still decided to maintain his previous plan.
As for the Six Jia Divine Generals, he already had a more suitable candidate in mind.
Pinecone Village.
The heavy rain gradually stopped.
Huang Qi stood in the courtyard, looking at the extinguished furnace.
Although he knew there was no feast beneath heaven that did not eventually end, and that they would part sooner or later.
He had not expected it to come so suddenly.
Huang Ji was laboriously swinging the long halberd.
A weapon weighing several hundred jin was not something someone his age should be using.
But he did not lose heart and continued training with all his strength.
Being unable to use it now did not mean he would be unable to use it in the future.
One day, he would swing this weapon with a single hand and split open the heavens with one strike!
In the vegetable patch, the field mice drooped their heads.
Their plump bottoms sat on the ground, looking extremely dispirited.
No one would secretly come pick radish leaves anymore, sparing them from watching day and night.
Yet their hearts felt terribly uncomfortable.
They could no longer see that girl with bright black eyes, nor hear her clear “yo.”
Even though not much time had passed, they already missed her very much.
Huang Qi walked past them and picked up the wooden board and carving knife soaked by the rain.
After shaking off the water, he began carving again.
Some people had left.
But the things he needed to do still had to be done.
At that moment, a voice suddenly sounded beside his ear.
“Huang Qi, today I wish to bestow upon you the office of Jiazi Divine General. Are you willing to enter my command and accept this heavenly mandate?”
Huang Qi froze, then raised his head and looked around, but saw no one.
Only that familiar voice echoed beside his ear.
Holding an unfinished memorial tablet in one hand and a carving knife polished bright from use in the other, he murmured:
“Am I… qualified?”
In this lifetime, although he had accomplished earth-shaking deeds, he had been cursed by countless people.
In all the world, only two or three people knew he had merit.
Even he himself could not fully accept it.
Even if there was merit, there was also fault.
He had once forgotten his original intention and given birth to greed.
Tens of thousands lost their lives because of it, and countless families were destroyed because of it.
The voice sounded beside his ear again.
“Right and wrong, merit and fault, will naturally be judged by later generations. Beneath heavenly mandate, the truth will also become clear.”
Only by accepting the office would he have the chance to see how later generations judged these matters.
Otherwise, after death, he could only reincarnate.
Even if the Zhangnan County City God helped him reincarnate into the human path, he would forget everything from his previous life.
Huang Qi was silent for a moment. Then he stood, cupped his hands, and said:
“I am willing to accept heavenly mandate and become the Jiazi Divine General.”
A golden light appeared from nowhere and fell into the space between his brows.
This was the heavenly mandate decree of canonization.
It was only that Huang Qi’s yang lifespan had not yet ended, so while he had accepted the heavenly mandate, he could not enter the divine office.
“Live the rest of this life well. When your natural lifespan ends, return to heavenly mandate.”
“Huang Qi respectfully accepts the decree.”
Huang Ji, who was dragging the heavy halberd and covered in sweat, looked over in confusion.
Seeing Huang Qi act so respectfully while seemingly speaking to empty air, he could not help asking:
“Grandfather, who are you talking to?”
The voice beside Huang Qi’s ear faded.
He turned around. His face carried a little more of a smile, and the affection in his eyes grew even stronger.
“Ji’er, you must practice martial arts diligently and study military strategy. In the future, accomplish something great.”
Huang Ji naturally wanted to accomplish something great.
He was only more puzzled as to why his grandfather suddenly said this.
Huang Qi did not answer that question.
Holding the carving knife, he continued carving on the wooden board.
Returning to heavenly mandate did not prevent him from settling regrets in the human world.
Elsewhere—
After completing his first canonization, Chu Xun glanced at his information again.
Canonization: Jiazi Divine General Huang Qi
Six Jia Divine General Body-Protection Art: 1/6
Sure enough, as expected, after canonization, information on the corresponding Dao art appeared.
It was only that the Six Jia Divine Generals had not yet been gathered, so the Dao art could not be used.
However, heavenly mandate canonization did not seem restricted by the range of Dao arts.
Even across several hundred li, it could be used directly.
Chu Xun took a deep breath.
“No need to rush. Take it slowly.”
He still had over eight hundred years to live.
The things he wanted to do could all be completed one by one.
But now that he possessed the method of heavenly mandate canonization, he had even greater confidence in tearing down that rotten pavilion!
Chu Xun looked toward Zhang Jingheng and said, “Let’s go.”
“Where are we going now?” Zhang Jingheng asked.
Chu Xun smiled faintly and said, “Wherever there is a City God.”
When picking persimmons, pick the soft ones first.
He would slaughter all the county-level and prefecture-level City Gods of Jing Kingdom, seize their authority, then go trouble the capital City God.
After advancing to the Golden Core Stage, what Chu Xun wanted to do most was kill the capital City God, seize his authority, and ask clearly about the whereabouts of Tang Shijun’s true body.
Once this matter was completed, he would then think of a way to obtain the other four Ministers.
This was naturally something Zhang Jingheng also wished to do.
From the sixth year of Yongxiang to the seventh year of Yongxiang.
Over the course of a year and a half, several strange events occurred in Jing Kingdom.
First, rumors spread that an immortal had emerged from Pinecone Village after living in seclusion there for over a hundred years.
He had maintained close ties with Duke Wei and Duke Protector, once gifting divine weapons and helping Jing Kingdom resist foreign enemies.
Many people went there out of curiosity, and sure enough, Pinecone Village was filled everywhere with birdsong and fragrant flowers.
Crops that should have only just sprouted had produced an abundant harvest overnight.
Unfortunately, the immortal had already left, and no one knew whether he would ever return.
Those who had once interacted with Chu the Great Benefactor now had something to boast about and became the envy of everyone.
Even ordinary tenant farmers had people visiting them every day to ask what Immortal Chu looked like and what divine abilities he possessed.
Whether they knew or not, these people boasted wildly, describing Chu Xun as someone who could move mountains and overturn seas with the flip of a hand.
With one opening and closing of his eyes, day and night would change.
Even Emperor Yongxiang felt rather regretful after hearing of it.
Had he known that man was an immortal, he should have visited him.
Perhaps he could have obtained the method of immortality.
The second strange event was that many commoners saw a flood dragon emerge from the Songliu River on a night of heavy rain.
The banks of the river were covered with so much fish and shrimp they could not be picked up completely.
Even the river’s course had shifted.
It was said that the flood dragon had found swimming inconvenient, so it had twisted its body and crashed into the riverbed, creating the change.
Some people even swore that this flood dragon was the Songliu Water God.
As a result, the incense offerings at the Songliu Water God Temple grew even more prosperous.
Every day, countless commoners came to worship.
The incense was so abundant that blue smoke rose straight up for three hundred li, unceasing day and night.
The third strange event was that the divine statues in many City God Temples across Jing Kingdom mysteriously cracked apart overnight.
The temples were left in complete disorder, with statue fragments scattered everywhere.
From county City God Temples to prefectural City God Temples, all were like this.
Some temple guardians had prepared in advance, yet unknowingly fell asleep.
When they woke again, the statues inside the temples had already been smashed to pieces.
These three strange events became topics known to everyone in Jing Kingdom.
In streets and alleys, commoners discussed them endlessly.
By the end of the seventh year of Yongxiang.
Jing Kingdom’s capital.
The weather this year was exceptionally cold, with heavy snow falling everywhere.
The once-bustling capital now seemed much quieter.
Commoners and merchants who had worked hard all year were huddled at home around braziers.
Those without such conditions could only wear as much padded clothing as possible to keep warm.
On the street, an old man and a little girl walked through the snow.
The little girl with horn-shaped braids ran to the most famous sugar-figure shop.
Looking at the sugar-water windmill on the counter, she made a clear, spiritual “yo” sound.
The old man with graying hair and a pale yellow wine gourd at his waist walked over. He took out a few copper coins and bought it.
The clerk, whose right leg was slightly lame, took down the sugar-water windmill and handed it over.
Seeing the old man dressed so thinly, he kindly reminded him, “Old sir, it’s so cold today. Wearing so little, you should be careful not to freeze.”
The little girl who accepted the sugar-water windmill immediately shouted, “Old Master isn’t afraid of the cold.”
She paused, then added, “I’m not afraid of the cold either!”
She looked at the clerk expectantly, as if waiting for something.
The clerk was confused.
The old man smiled and reminded him, “She’s waiting for you to praise her.”
The clerk suddenly understood. Without putting on airs, he said cheerfully, “You really are amazing.”
Only then did the little girl smile happily, hopping up and down as she shouted, “You’re amazing too.”
She held the sugar-water windmill in her left hand for a while, then switched to her right, playing with it happily.
Watching the old man and little girl leave, the clerk could not help thinking of when his grandfather had taken him out to play when he was young.
It had clearly not been anything especially good.
But as long as he was with the old man, he had been incredibly happy.
At that moment, a voice came from inside.
“Liu Er, come add more charcoal.”
“Coming.” The clerk answered and turned to walk inside.
After only a few steps, he suddenly felt something was wrong.
Before he could understand it, a surprised voice sounded ahead.
“Liu Er, how come you don’t seem lame anymore?”
Only then did the clerk wake as if from a dream.
He hurriedly walked back and forth a few times.
Sure enough, he was no longer lame.
Sitting before the iron pot and making sugar figures, the shopkeeper looked astonished and asked, “How did you cure yourself?”
The clerk was just about to say he did not know when he suddenly remembered the old man and little girl from before.
Could it have been them?
The clerk hurriedly ran out of the shop.
But on the snowy white street, although he could see a few scattered figures, the old man and little girl were nowhere to be seen.
When he lowered his head, he realized that in the snow before the shop, there were only two lines of footprints left by himself.
Even if he were foolish, he understood that he had encountered an extraordinary figure today.
His leg had been cured silently and without him noticing.
Such methods.
Could it be an immortal descending to the mortal world?
Although he could no longer see them, the clerk still knelt on the ground and kowtowed sincerely.
“Liu Er thanks the Immortal for helping me! In my next life, even if I must become an ox or horse, I will repay this kindness!”
Far away beside Chu Xun, Zhang Jingheng smiled and said, “That boy is rather sincere. But if he truly became an ox or horse for you, wouldn’t he be gaining a huge advantage?”
Chu Xun smiled and did not respond.
Wei Youyou raised her head and showed off to Zhang Jingheng.
“Pretty?”
Zhang Jingheng nodded.
“Pretty.”
Wei Youyou was innocent and lively, very likable.
Naturally, Zhang Jingheng was not stingy with praise.
Before long, Chu Xun arrived at the capital’s City God Temple.
Heavy snow had covered the temple’s golden roof, and the entrance and wall tops were all pure white.
The temple gate was open.
Occasionally, worshippers still entered and left.
Standing at the gate, one could see the capital City God statue seated in the main position, holding a jade tablet.
On both sides were the Civil Judge, Martial Judge, Black and White Impermanence, and others.
The Department of Good and Evil, Department of Yin and Yang, Department of Investigation, and so on were all arranged one by one.
Chu Xun stepped inside.
The moment one foot entered the City God Temple, the entire temple trembled.
The capital City God had yet to reveal himself, but the Civil Judge, Martial Judge, Day Patrol God, and Night Patrol God appeared first.
Chu Xun had deliberately exposed his divine office, causing scarlet light to appear in the eyes of these underworld deities.
Afterward, the heads of the Department of Good and Evil, Department of Yin and Yang, Department of Investigation, and the others also appeared.
They glared at Chu Xun and shouted sternly, “Evil sacrifice wild god! How dare you come here seeking death!”
Chu Xun laughed when he heard this and said, “Even now, they still haven’t changed at all. Stubborn as expected.”
Over the past year or so, Chu Xun had traveled across Jing Kingdom and killed every City God once.
Judging from the City God seals he seized, not a single one was innocent.
Every underworld deity who had been granted rank and received incense offerings had the name of an ancient immortal or god stamped beneath their own.
From ancient times until now, due to the changing ages, some divine offices were no longer suitable.
Others had been forgotten because too much time had passed.
Ancient immortals and gods like these were as countless as the stars.
But how rare were merit bodies?
To let every ancient immortal and god who had lost incense revive through borrowed shells, these current ones were far from enough.
Moreover, even a person of merit today might be forgotten after several decades or a hundred years.
When the incense gradually disappeared, they would have to search for a new merit body all over again.
This endless repetition made one feel nauseated.
Chu Xun stretched out his right hand.
The long sword covered in golden light appeared in his grasp.
After advancing to the Golden Core Stage, all his methods had become ten times stronger.
Among the underworld deities here, aside from the capital City God, none were worth worrying about.
With a thought, the worshippers and temple guardians inside the temple all felt their minds grow heavy and sank into dreams.
Outside, the snow grew heavier, obscuring vision until people could not tell east from west, north from south.
Chu Xun’s gaze fell on a figure walking out from the Department of Good and Evil.
Tang Shijun!
Zhang Jingheng also saw him. His gaze darkened slightly as he said in a low voice, “He is not Teacher.”
Chu Xun’s gaze remained calm.
“I know.”
He had known this a very long time ago.
It was precisely because of this that he had made up his mind to overthrow the rotten pavilion.
The road to longevity was long. One always had to do something to remind oneself that one was still alive.
Otherwise, if he ignored everything and asked about nothing, how would he be any different from a walking corpse?
The capital City God’s golden body trembled, and a figure three zhang tall manifested.
One hand held a jade tablet of merit, the other the City God seal.
His face was majestic, and his voice was like thunder.
“Evil sacrifice wild god! So it truly was you causing trouble!”
But the capital City God did not attack immediately. Instead, he commanded:
“Head of the Department of Rewarding Good!”
Tang Shijun cupped his hands.
“Present.”
“This man of merit shared a teacher-student bond with you in life. This City God does not wish for you two to face each other in life and death. Order him to retreat at once!”
“As commanded!”
Tang Shijun turned toward Zhang Jingheng and scolded, “Zhang Jingheng, as Jing Kingdom’s prime minister, how can you be so treasonous and lawless?”
Many rebukes followed, each stern and severe.
Yet the more Zhang Jingheng listened, the darker his gaze became.
Finally, he could no longer listen.
Golden light shot in all directions, forcing the underworld deities ahead to retreat as he charged straight toward the capital City God.
The upright and brilliant aura was like blazing sunlight, shining so intensely that the underworld deities could barely open their eyes.
His righteous shout surged like a mighty river.
“A centipede dies but does not stiffen. You are nothing more than ghosts and monsters. How dare you stand in the same age as me! Today I shall bring you to justice and restore clarity!”
With this shout, all the underworld deities who heard his words had their strength weakened by more than thirty percent.
They called themselves immortals and gods, but Zhang Jingheng regarded them as ghosts and monsters.
Words became law, and there was no way to resist.
Only the capital City God, protected by the City God seal, was unaffected.
Yet how fierce was a merit golden body?
As Zhang Jingheng pressed forward, it felt as heavy as ten million jin.
The capital City God felt tremendous pressure and immediately waved his jade tablet to strike.
At the same time, Chu Xun had already swung his sword.
A sharp metal-essence sword qi directly cut down the Ox-Head and Horse-Face charging toward him.
They did not even count as immortals or gods. They still belonged to the level of ghost officials, only slightly stronger.
If this had been back during Foundation Establishment, Chu Xun might have had to spend some effort.
Now that he had advanced to the Golden Core Stage, wielding the metal-essence treasure sword was much smoother.
With one sword strike, Ox-Head and Horse-Face had no chance to resist.
“How bold!”
“Insolence!”
Continuous shouts rang out.
The Day Patrol God and Night Patrol God flew out from the main hall, joining the heads of the departments and the Shackled General as they attacked Chu Xun.
Inside the hall, only the Civil Judge and Martial Judge remained, assisting the capital City God against Zhang Jingheng.
Yin qi surged into the sky, making the City God Temple seem like hell.
“Yo!”
Wei Youyou quickly jumped to the side while holding the sugar-water windmill.
She disliked this gloomy atmosphere very much.
Chu Xun took out the old bat’s wind bones with one hand.
A piercing howl of wind sounded.
Six blasts of wind-fire shot out in succession, surrounding the Shackled General at the front.
The Shackled General had a human form but a green face and fangs. He wore red and blue sleeves and held shackles in his hands.
He specialized in subduing ghosts with powerful souls.
For example, if Liao Shouyi had died in the capital back then and refused to accept the underworld’s guidance, the Shackled General would have gone to seize him.
The shackles in his hand were engraved with underworld spells and greatly restrained souls.
Logically speaking, incense gods should also be restrained by them.
Unfortunately, although Chu Xun had revealed his divine office, he was a cultivator himself.
Even if the Shackled General threw out his magic artifact, it would hit only the spirit of the Songliu Water God.
What did that have to do with him, Chu the Great Benefactor?
Six blasts of wind-fire fed one another, burning fiercely.
Although they were inferior to karmic fire, they still burned the green-faced, fanged Shackled General until black smoke rose from his body.
Before he could escape the circle of fire, a Heavenly One Divine Water Pearl struck his forehead.
His entire body immediately shook like a sieve, black smoke pouring out uncontrollably. In the blink of an eye, he was corroded until riddled with holes.
Putting away the old bat’s wind bone, Chu Xun flew forward and forced back the many underworld deities with a single sword strike.
Then he reached toward Tang Shijun.
The power of the Five Elements gathered in his palm, transforming into an invisible prison.
Metal, wood, water, fire, and earth generated and countered one another, binding Tang Shijun within.
Seeing several other department heads attack again, Chu Xun sneered and opened his mouth to blow out a breath.
This breath was extremely fierce, scraping the head of the Department of Investigation backward again and again, black smoke rising from his body.
The head of the Department of Investigation immediately waved the investigation tablet in his hand, intending to block it.
Although the black smoke on his body decreased somewhat, he felt something was wrong.
Looking closer, he saw that flames had somehow ignited upon him.
“Karmic fire!”
The head of the Department of Investigation cried out in shock and quickly took an impeachment document from his robes.
The document recorded the merits and faults of underworld deities and was also used to store the merit from his previous life, making it somewhat similar to a jade tablet of merit.
The merit on the document rapidly decreased, gradually extinguishing the karmic fire.
The head of the Department of Investigation felt extreme heartache. He did not have much merit to begin with, and this burn had taken more than half.
“Careful!” a cry came from beside him.
Before the head of the Department of Investigation could react, he saw a white sword qi descend from above and split him apart from head to toe.
This department head who governed the power of investigation in the underworld stiffly fell in two halves, soon turning into rolling smoke and dispersing.
It was not only him.
The other department heads, the Day Patrol God, and the Night Patrol God were the same.
No one had imagined that an evil sacrifice wild god daring to break into the capital City God Temple would actually carry karmic fire on his body.
More importantly, this wild god was not only fine, he could even use karmic fire to attack them in return.
Combined with that unbelievably powerful metal-essence magic artifact and the weakening caused by Zhang Jingheng’s verbal condemnation and written judgment.
This group of underworld deities showed signs of defeat with almost no suspense.
The head of the Department of Yin and Yang wore red robes and had furious eyes.
He held a golden whip, and after using merit to extinguish the karmic fire, he turned to see his colleagues already suffering violent deaths.
Knowing he was no match, he glanced toward the corner of the City God Temple, where a timid little girl stood holding a sugar-water windmill.
He immediately pounced toward her.
If he could not beat the old one, he would seize the little one as a hostage!
This little girl looked like the softest persimmon!
The golden whip in the head of the Department of Yin and Yang’s hand smashed toward Wei Youyou’s head.
The little girl cried out in fright.
“Yo!”
The head of the Department of Yin and Yang looked cold.
Anyone who came together with an evil sacrifice wild god could not be anything good.
Even beating her to death on the spot would not be excessive!
The golden whip in his hand was about to strike the little girl’s head when her body swayed and transformed into the appearance of an adult woman.
She wore plain cloth clothing, and her hair was half-tied. Her face was beautiful.
There was no trace of her previous panic.
Her hands pushed forward evenly.
The movement seemed slow, yet was actually swift.
Halfway through, both palms transformed into deer hooves.
The head of the Department of Yin and Yang watched with his own eyes as those deer hooves entered his chest as easily as knives slicing tofu.
Spiritual light flashed and tore his body apart, even more easily than Chu Xun’s sword.
The head of the Department of Yin and Yang only had time to let out one panicked cry.
“You, what kind of demon are…”
Before he could finish asking, spiritual light tore him to pieces.
Even Chu Xun looked over in some surprise.
Wei Youyou’s spiritual light actually restrained underworld deities this much?
Retracting her hooves, Wei Youyou once again returned to the appearance of a little girl.
Looking at the sugar-water windmill that had fallen to the ground and shattered, the little girl’s face was full of unhappiness.
These underworld deities were so annoying.
There was no time to marvel for too long.
Chu Xun swiftly killed the remaining underworld deities, then glanced at Tang Shijun, whose face was almost ferocious as he madly rammed the Five Elements prison.
Afterward, he charged into the main hall with his sword and, in a few moves, cut down the Civil Judge and Martial Judge.
Left alone, the capital City God was already overpowered. He raged, “You defy heaven and act against the order! You will surely suffer heavenly punishment and karmic fire upon your bodies!”
Chu Xun blew a breath at him, and the capital City God immediately fell into frantic confusion, using merit to extinguish the flames.
“Karmic fire? Chu is not afraid of that.”
Under the suppression of the merit golden body and the restraint of the metal-essence magic artifact, the capital City God could not fight against four hands with only two fists.
A moment later, Chu Xun cut half his body open with one sword.
Once Zhang Jingheng suppressed him with merit golden light, Chu Xun reached out and seized the City God seal.
This seal was far larger and more imposing than the county and prefectural City God seals.
It was only that its entire surface had turned gray.
After Chu Xun grasped it, it gradually regained its dark black-red color.
Once the color of the City God seal fully recovered, the capital City God’s body stiffened, then he stopped fighting dejectedly.
Chu Xun’s consciousness entered the seal and saw the name within.
The capital City God’s original name was Jiang Wenda. He had been the final Minister of Revenue of the previous dynasty.
Even amid war and chaos, he had still exhausted his heart and blood for the nation, running tirelessly on behalf of the common people.
Unfortunately, the previous dynasty had been too rotten. With his strength alone, he could not reverse the situation.
In the end, he died of exhaustion.
When he died, the common people spontaneously came to mourn him.
According to historical records, the streets were blocked for one hundred li, and countless people wept blood for him.
When the founding emperor canonized City Gods, in order to commemorate his loyalty and great kindness toward the nation and the people, he canonized him as the capital City God.
Beneath Jiang Wenda’s name was the title Granary Pit.
This was an ancient god of grain storage pits, whose divine office was to protect the grain storage pits of the ancestors and prevent grain from molding and rotting.
As granaries replaced underground pits, the pit god’s divine office was replaced by the granary god, and incense offerings were completely cut off.
Chu Xun said nothing more.
After withdrawing from the City God seal, he looked again at the capital City God.
At this moment, the capital City God had swept away all previous hostility and cupped his hands toward Chu Xun.
“Capital City God Jiang Wenda greets the Exalted Immortal.”
Even Tang Shijun, who had been struggling endlessly outside, had quieted down.
Chu Xun released the Five Elements prison, letting Tang Shijun come over.
Then he asked Jiang Wenda, “Where is Tang Shijun’s true body?”
Jiang Wenda looked confused and said, “This is Tang Shijun. What does the Exalted Immortal mean by that question?”
Chu Xun understood that these ancient immortals and gods had had their memories erased, so he asked again, “If a person of merit comes here, how are they handled?”
Jiang Wenda replied, “A report is made to the heavenly order, and they are sent to reincarnate or take office in the underworld.”
Chu Xun frowned. “A person of merit holding office in the underworld is under the jurisdiction of the heavenly order, not the underworld?”
“Of course not. The underworld only has the right to report. It has no authority to appoint, unless the emperor personally canonizes them.”
Chu Xun and Zhang Jingheng exchanged glances, their brows furrowing even deeper.
If that was the case, then the impersonation of people of merit was carried out directly by the so-called heavenly order.
Then if Tang Shijun’s true body still existed, it certainly would not remain in the underworld.
It could even be said that there was a high chance it had already been erased.
To make impersonation more perfect, aside from erasing the memories of ancient immortals and gods so that they themselves believed they were that person—
The original owner also had to be removed, so that nothing would be discovered.
Although he was unwilling to accept this result, judging from the current situation, the possibility was extremely high.
Killing intent rose in Chu Xun’s eyes, making Jiang Wenda tremble slightly in fear.
He did not know why this Exalted Immortal, who now controlled Jing Kingdom’s underworld authority, was so furious.
Taking a deep breath, Chu Xun forcefully suppressed the killing intent in his heart.
He looked toward Zhang Jingheng and said, “It seems we can only proceed according to the previous plan.”
Zhang Jingheng was no less furious, but he also understood that there was currently no better way.
If Chu Xun’s plan succeeded, perhaps there would still be a chance to find Tang Shijun’s true body in the future.
He immediately nodded and said, “Then let us do that.”
Night descended.
Inside the imperial palace—
Emperor Yongxiang sat before his desk, reviewing troublesome memorials.
Among them were memorials from more than ten major city prefects, saying that local wealthy families and aristocratic clans had all protested the court’s policies.
They believed that although grain tax had been changed into silver tax, it was still inconvenient in daily practice.
They did not have that much ready silver on hand and had to go elsewhere to borrow it.
The back-and-forth travel increased costs for no reason.
Whether the system was changed back to grain tax or their taxes were reduced, they believed it was only proper.
Several Assistant Ministers and Directors of the Ministry of Revenue also believed these words were reasonable.
The Ministry of Rites had also submitted a memorial, saying that the national policy implemented earlier contradicted the founding emperor’s intentions and should be abolished.
The Minister of Revenue even said that now that there were no more wars, the military establishment and soldiers’ pay should be reduced.
The national treasury was not especially abundant and should not waste money on places no longer needed.
Emperor Yongxiang understood clearly that these ministers all had their own schemes and were fighting for the interests of their own families.
Or perhaps they had accepted silver from others and only then helped submit these memorials.
Although the country was now peaceful and all internal and external troubles had been removed, being emperor was not easy.
On one side was pressure from the officials.
On the other were local officials who constantly stalled and refused to advance. Many agreed-upon court policies were difficult to implement below.
Some memorials were infuriating enough to make one vomit blood.
Some others did have a little reason.
For example, the Minister of Revenue’s suggestion to reduce the military establishment and soldiers’ pay made Emperor Yongxiang feel there was some sense to it.
It would give soldiers a chance to remove their armor and return to the fields, enjoying family life.
At the same time, it could reduce expenses and enrich the treasury.
Two benefits in one.
Why not do it?
He picked up the vermilion brush and wrote several lines on the Minister of Revenue’s memorial:
“Have the Ministry of Revenue discuss the detailed plan for reductions. Be certain to ensure the soldiers are properly appeased and can smoothly return to farming.”
After reading over what he had written, Emperor Yongxiang nodded in satisfaction, feeling that he had considered the matter thoroughly.
He picked up the Ministry of Rites memorial again and considered how to respond.
Gradually, drowsiness came over him.
Without realizing it, he fell asleep.
When he opened his eyes, Emperor Yongxiang saw the deceased old Chancellor standing before him, and was instantly startled.
Zhang Jingheng spoke.
“Your Majesty, do not fear. Although this old minister has passed away, I now carry merit and have received heavenly mandate’s reward. Today I ask Your Majesty to issue an imperial decree canonizing this old minister as the capital City God, governing Jing Kingdom’s underworld.”
Emperor Yongxiang relaxed after hearing this.
So it was only a request for canonization.
To him, this was not an issue at all.
The canonization of the underworld had no connection to the mortal realm to begin with.
Who was canonized made no difference.
Moreover, although the old Chancellor had disagreed with him over sending troops to Mobei.
He had ultimately devoted his entire life to Jing Kingdom.
This face still had to be given.
Emperor Yongxiang nodded and said, “Chancellor Zhang worked hard and accomplished great deeds. In life, you exhausted your heart and blood for Jing Kingdom. Even after death, you continue worrying and laboring for Jing Kingdom. This canonization is only right.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
Zhang Jingheng paused, then said, “Your Majesty’s eyes show worry. Are you troubled by state affairs?”
Emperor Yongxiang nodded and sighed.
“As expected of Chancellor Zhang. You can tell at a glance that I am worried. State affairs are many and bitterly difficult.”
Zhang Jingheng said, “Although this old minister can no longer share Your Majesty’s burdens, I have one word of advice to offer.”
Emperor Yongxiang hurriedly said, “Chancellor Zhang, please speak.”
“The will of the people is the kingly way. Your Majesty must never lose the people’s hearts because of others’ persuasion.”
Emperor Yongxiang immediately became somewhat displeased.
“I labor day and night without rest. The people under heaven should naturally be grateful. How could I lose the people’s hearts?”
Zhang Jingheng wanted to say more, but Emperor Yongxiang had already flicked his sleeve and said, “As for the canonization, I will have the Ministry of Rites handle it tomorrow. I am somewhat tired.”
The meaning behind his words was obvious.
Zhang Jingheng sighed when he heard this, knowing that he could not persuade him.
This emperor had a kind heart, but unfortunately, his nature was too soft.
Now, with no one in court willing to stand up for the people and bear the pressure from aristocratic clans and nobles, all their previous efforts would sooner or later be buried.
A gust of wind blew.
Emperor Yongxiang woke drowsily.
Looking around, he saw that he was still in the imperial study and relaxed slightly.
Remembering the dream he had just seen, he found it extremely vivid.
After thinking for a while, Emperor Yongxiang summoned the Seal-holding Eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial and ordered him to invite the Minister of Rites over immediately to discuss canonizing the City God.
As for Zhang Jingheng’s advice, Emperor Yongxiang threw it to the back of his mind.
The affairs of a nation lay with the emperor.
As the saying went, do not concern yourself with affairs outside your position. How could ministers see the emperor’s hardships, let alone possess the emperor’s vision?
What you see is only one morning and one evening.
But I must look far enough into the future and consider the overall situation!
The next day—
The emperor issued the decree, and the Ministry of Rites handled the matter.
Duke Protector Zhang Jingheng was canonized, replacing Jiang Wenda, the previous dynasty’s Minister of Revenue, as the capital City God to govern Jing Kingdom’s underworld.
Jiang Wenda was re-canonized as Chief Judge, ranked above the Civil Judge and Martial Judge, but below the City God.
When the City God was absent, he would temporarily exercise the City God’s authority.
Zhang Jingheng’s statue was carved overnight and completed in only one day and one night.
It was carried into the City God Temple and placed in the main position.
The original City God Jiang Wenda’s statue was not replaced. Only its position was lowered.
The common people were most familiar with Zhang Jingheng and were grateful for everything he had done for the people beneath heaven.
For a time, not only the capital City God Temple, but even prefectural and county City God Temples saw commoners spontaneously coming to burn incense and worship.
Inside the capital City God Temple, Chief Judge Jiang Wenda stood to Zhang Jingheng’s left, showing no dissatisfaction at all.
For incense gods like them, as long as they remained inside the temple, they could enjoy incense offerings.
As for who was higher and who was lower, that was not up to them.
Moreover, Chu Xun controlled the underworld authority, so he could not give birth to rebellious thoughts at all.
Looking at Zhang Jingheng, whose golden light had grown even more brilliant, Chu Xun nodded slightly.
The first step of the plan could be considered complete.
Zhang Jingheng had replaced Jing Kingdom’s capital City God and now held the underworld’s great authority.
According to Chu Xun’s original plan, with Zhang Jingheng present, future people of merit in Jing Kingdom would no longer be reported to the heavenly order.
Those who should reincarnate would reincarnate. Those who should be reborn would be reborn.
There would be no need to benefit those old things.
But after advancing to the Golden Core Stage, Chu Xun could now personally bestow heavenly mandate offices, causing his plan to change slightly.
The original underworld deities were all ancient immortals and gods impersonating others.
Merely having Zhang Jingheng replace one of their divine offices could not completely change the current situation.
Since he could also bestow divine offices, it would be better to create a system of authority similar to the underworld and completely overwrite it.
For example, the Ten Yama Kings would be a very good choice.
They could replace the City God system of the underworld, while also ensuring that those people of merit were not wasted.
It was only that Chu Xun’s current status was still not enough to bestow the office of Yama King.
The second step of the plan would have to wait a little longer.
Arriving before the new capital City God statue, Zhang Jingheng stepped forward and merged into the statue, accepting the incense offerings of the world.
Chu Xun looked up at the tall statue and said, “For now, stay here and hold this place. When I canonize you as a Yama King in the future, you will be able to sweep away the decay!”
There was no concept of Yama Kings in this world. The entire underworld relied on City Gods to function.
Although Zhang Jingheng did not know what a Yama King was, since Chu Xun said it would work, he believed it certainly would.
A nearby worshipper who had come to offer incense and stood rather close looked at Chu Xun in curiosity and confusion.
He did not know what this man was saying, acting so mysterious.
Someone behind him tugged at Chu Xun’s clothes and urged, “Are you offering incense or not? If you aren’t, don’t block the way. Move aside!”
But the next moment, the space before him was suddenly empty.
The man tugging at Chu Xun’s clothes froze. He rubbed his eyes, and sweat immediately poured from him like rain.
He hurriedly knelt before the statue with incense in hand.
“City God, save me! Did I run into some demon or ghost in broad daylight?”
[End of Chapter]
