After the banquet, Wu Ming stood alone in the courtyard of the side room, gazing at a quietly blooming Youtan flower.
A chilly night breeze passed by. In the underworld, the sky was perpetually dark, naturally without distinctions of day and night. Instead, the ebb and flow of Yin energy marked the passage of time.
Moreover, according to Wu Ming’s perception, this was precisely the opposite of the living world.
In other words, when the sun rose in the east in the mortal realm, it was night in the underworld. And when all was silent in the human world, it was the active period for ghosts.
“Calculating it, I’ve already been in the underworld for four days…”
The faint Youtan flower drifted silently, and Wu Ming’s eyes, reflecting the petals, seemed especially profound: “We reincarnators were likely instantly influenced by what Heishan Jun calls the ‘Dharmadhatu.’ Our yin spirits directly descended into the underworld, separating soul from body…”
This situation was extremely dangerous.
For cultivators like Wu Ming, although the yin spirit could exist for a long time in the underworld, over time it would inevitably be affected. More importantly, the physical body in the mortal world, without consciousness to maintain it, could not last more than seven days.
“Only three days left?”
Wu Ming pondered: “Earlier, Xu Ziquan signaled me to find him—could it be he wanted to reveal his hand? Unfortunately… as a legalist spell caster, he probably doesn’t know as much about the real situation as I do…”
However, as reincarnators, exchanging information was necessary.
Just as he was about to move, his expression suddenly changed.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
A petal falling from the Youtan flower slowed its descent more and more, finally mysteriously hovering in midair.
The wind had instantly stopped.
Not only the flower and breeze, but the entire sky and land had fallen into a “frozen” state, influenced by an invisible, powerful force field.
Everything within this domain would be controlled by its master. Even weaker beings would lose autonomy over life and death.
“This is… a divine domain? A powerful deity has arrived!”
In the deathly silence, a circle of clear light shimmered around Wu Ming. His eyes flickered, and he deeply bowed: “Unaware of the City God’s arrival, I failed to greet you from afar. I beg you, Honored Deity, do not take offense!”
“This god has come forth today merely to visit an old acquaintance. Do you still remember our brief meeting long ago?”
A voice as clear and jade-like echoed.
Brilliant red light spread across the ground as a deity slowly approached. Wu Ming opened his spiritual eyes to their fullest, yet still could not see the deity’s true form. He could only see golden-red energy coiling into clouds, rising straight up ten zhang high, suppressing all directions with immense majesty. Within this radiance, faintly visible was a touch of green, causing pain even to Wu Ming’s spiritual sight.
“This is already far beyond the rank of a county City God of proper seventh grade!”
Wu Ming inwardly marveled.
He realized that the “brief meeting” the City God mentioned referred to his previous visit to the City God temple. What astonished him even more was the power of Heitai’s City God!
If the deity were merely a seventh-grade god, its divine power should appear crimson red.
Yet now, it was red on the outside but golden within, its foundation deeply hidden. Just this appearance rivaled, if not surpassed, the City God of the Prefecture whom Wu Ming had previously encountered.
“This City God deity is truly unfathomable… I originally thought this god could only slightly rival Heishan Jun with the help of the earthly bureaucracy and the cultivation world. But now, observing, his divine power is like an ocean, his majesty like an unyielding prison. Moreover, his true life essence is deeply concealed, tinged with green…”
Divine Way fortune gathers the will of countless beings, slightly different from the Human Way.
Just like the current City God, although its quality was similar to Wu Qing’s, its total power exceeded hers by hundreds of times!
This represented a power gap between them of ten or even a hundredfold—absolutely no exaggeration.
“And… the presence of green in its life essence indicates this deity once held a very high rank… Could it be that this was once a great deity who was demoted and exiled?”
As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Wu Ming bowed deeply: “In the past, I was fortunate to receive Your Grace’s kindness, granting me the Six Ding and Six Jia talismans, enabling me to defeat the Black Wind General. I am eternally grateful!”
“Enough!”
The deity’s golden eyes swept over Wu Ming and advanced directly.
Boom!
Golden light condensed into countless celestial flowers falling from the sky. Around them, earth and wood surged, bricks and stones assembling instantly into a grand hall. In its center, a radiant divine throne rose slowly.
Under a divine domain, and within the underworld itself, as long as the deity was willing to expend divine power, transforming heaven and earth was truly within Heitai City God’s whim.
He solemnly took his seat, and around him, bronze chimes and jade drums automatically began to sound.
The red and golden light gradually receded, revealing a faint silhouette seated within, a perfect form wrapped in brilliance, discernible only by its dignified and majestic outline.
“I have heard from my subordinates, the Merit Assessors, that you wish to return to the mortal world?”
Wu Ming lowered his head as the deity’s voice, like ice and jade clashing, entered his ears.
“Indeed! I accidentally entered the underworld. I beg the City God to rescue me!”
With no other choice, Wu Ming gritted his teeth and spoke.
“I care not who you are, your purpose, or your collusion with that legalist disciple. Sending you back to the mortal world is not impossible. But as the saying goes: ‘No merit, no reward.’ Have you heard of this?”
Heitai City God spoke calmly, causing Wu Ming’s heart to skip a beat:
“Please, Honored Deity, enlighten me!”
“The land god’s imperial edict of Heishui Town still rests upon you. If you exchange this item, this Honored One shall open the gate to the mortal world for you. What say you?”
This statement greatly surprised Wu Ming, especially the transactional tone, which startled him.
He immediately took out the imperial edict and said: “If the Honored Deity desires it, why not simply take it? I would willingly offer it.”
“Again, ‘No merit, no reward!'”
Heitai City God shook his head.
Wu Ming’s eyes flickered, then he smiled slightly: “I am a greedy man, I admit. May I ask, aside from this, is there any other way?”
As soon as this sentence was spoken, flames flared from the golden seat, and a powerful spiritual pressure abruptly doubled.
Wu Ming’s body trembled slightly, but quickly regained composure, silently waiting.
“I am no evil deity, naturally unwilling to seize by force. Everything shall proceed according to established rules, impartially. Your physical body still exists; you are not a ghost of the underworld. Naturally, you may return to the land of the living, but only after repaying it with good deeds!”
After a long silence, Heitai City God finally spoke. The tone of his words made Wu Ming even more puzzled:
“Is this deliberately giving me a way out, letting me pass?”
He thought inwardly, quite perplexed: “Strictly speaking, the Heishui Town land god’s edict still falls within His jurisdiction. Even forcibly reclaiming it wouldn’t bring much trouble. Why go about it this way? Could it be another scheme, preparing to use me as a dormant piece on the chessboard?”
At this point, it was clear that although the bait looked good, it wasn’t something to swallow thoughtlessly.
Otherwise, if forced to actually assume the role of Heishui Town’s land god, serving under the City God to repay debts, the consequences would be hilarious.
Yet having spoken the words, refusal wasn’t an option either. Wu Ming wasn’t willing to back down either—great rewards required great risks.
He gritted his teeth and asked: “Where can I find these good deeds?”
“This is the Merit Assessor’s concern. Go ask him yourself!”
“Fine!”
Wu Ming readily agreed: “With only three days remaining until the seven-day deadline, I shall gather good deeds myself. If successful, I shall repay with merits. If not, I shall offer the imperial edict as compensation. I beg the Honored Deity to grant me this convenience. What say you?”
As soon as he spoke, his heart became uneasy. Secretly contacting the Jewel of Sui Hou, he outwardly maintained a respectful posture, silently waiting.
“Hmph… You truly are a greedy one!”
After a long pause, the voice came from the golden seat, though without much anger: “Very well, then. Have it your way!”
Swish!
Golden light flared intensely, then gradually faded.
Wu Ming was stunned, then saw the Youtan petal slowly drift down, falling into dust, leaving only a faint lingering fragrance.
The golden palace, the deity, the domain… all seemed like illusions, yet he knew in his heart that the power represented was entirely real!
“This City God was unexpectedly accommodating… truly unexpected…”
Wu Ming exhaled deeply. Yet precisely because of this, his inner warning grew even stronger. He almost wanted to chase after and accept the original condition.
But he also knew it was only a fleeting thought, possibly offending the deity if acted upon. He could only abandon the idea.
“If the Heitai City God is like this, how profound must be the power and how unfathomable the schemes of Heishan Jun, who towers even above Him?”
With a heart full of thoughts, Wu Ming entered the adjacent side room.
“You’re late!”
Xu Ziquan slightly furrowed his brows, showing a trace of displeasure.
“Sorry, I was held up by some unexpected matters!”
Seeing this, Wu Ming sighed inwardly again. Although the Heitai City God had come alone, the display of power was grand. Yet just a wall away, Xu Ziquan had sensed not a trace of it. The control displayed was terrifyingly profound.
At this moment, he had no intention of involving outsiders, so he simply smiled: “Allow me to reintroduce myself. Reincarnator, Daoist name Wu Ming!”
“Legalist disciple Xu Ziquan, also a reincarnator!”
Xu Ziquan forced a slight smile onto his stiff face, then turned solemn again: “This main temple task is too strange, completely defying normal logic. Every time I think about it, I feel chilled to the bone!”
“May I ask, what exactly is your…”
Wu Ming’s pupils constricted, blurting out.
“Correct. A task of the Zou class, true body crossing over…” Xu Ziquan shook his head: “Since a year ago, the main temple has become quite peculiar, ever-changing. Alas, we cannot penetrate its true nature…”
This was spoken with much helplessness.
Even though he was a favored disciple of the Legalist school, facing the ever-unfathomable main temple, he could only sigh helplessly, unable to make a move.
“I, too, am filled with unease, not knowing what to do. I can only take one step at a time and see what happens…”
Wu Ming performed like a seasoned actor, speaking as if he had nothing to do with it at all.
Moreover, his cultivation was profound, undoubtedly at the level of a senior Daoist priest, radiating pure light, every movement exuding the air of an experienced veteran, causing Xu Ziquan to harbor no suspicions.
They exchanged a few probing words, but unfortunately, only scratched the surface. After exchanging some information, both fell silent and instead turned to drinking tea and playing chess.
“Haha… You two truly have fine spirits!”
Moments later, Wei Shanchu entered, seeing this scene, first surprised, then smiling: “I’ve already reported your matters to the City God. He has explicitly said there’s no need for you to pay homage. If you wish to return to the mortal world, simply accumulate one thousand good deeds!”
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