People in Conferred Gods: Rising from humble beginnings, I am the God of Wealth

Chapter 400: Leaping over the Golden Bridge, Laozi Invites You!

Biyou Palace.

The Tongtian Sect Leader's gaze pierced through the void as he looked at the changes on the primordial land, and he was filled with emotion.

He had already sensed the changes in the primordial world many years ago.

In the battle of the Ten Deadly Formations, countless people died and were injured throughout the Nine Provinces, with corpses strewn across the fields. Even a large number of acquired spiritual treasures were shattered.

But even in such a massive battle, the spirits on the battlefield of Kyushu suffered virtually no serious injuries, which was clearly unusual.

Perhaps the immortals of the Chan and Jie sects in Kyushu at the time could sense that something was amiss, but they did not pay much attention to it.

Even if one were to pay close attention, it would be difficult to detect the clues. But the Tongtian Sect Leader was a saint, so how could he not have noticed?
In fact, these ghosts on the battlefield of Kyushu were able to survive for two reasons.

Firstly, it was Houtu who intervened.

Secondly, the power of the earth manifests.

It is precisely because of these two reasons that these spirits were able to be protected during such a massive battle.

Upon realizing this, the Tongtian Sect Leader discovered that the souls of all the creatures that had died in various parts of the prehistoric world over the years seemed to have been preserved and were lingering in those places.

Even in these places where ghosts still linger, faint traces of yin energy will emerge from the surrounding earth veins, ensuring that these ghosts can survive.

At this point, the Tongtian Sect Leader also realized that all these changes were orchestrated by Houtu.

At that time, he didn't understand why Houtu was doing this.

With the interference of the calamity energy, even if he were a sage, he could not deduce what Houtu's plan was.

After much thought, I realized that it might be because Houtu cared for all living beings and wanted to give these creatures a chance to be reborn.

Only now has the Tongtian Sect Leader realized the truth and understood Houtu's purpose.

Perhaps the reason Houtu protected these spirits was indeed to give them a chance to reincarnate.

But the most fundamental reason is to increase the prestige of the underworld and enhance the influence of the underworld through this parade of a hundred ghosts.

In fact, the reason why Hongjun Daozu came to hold this great calamity of the gods was to enhance the prestige of the Heavenly Court.

The fact that disciples of both the Jie Sect and the Chan Sect are to be granted titles and enshrined in Heaven is clearly a sign that the sages are supporting the Heavenly Court.

Regardless of their past intentions, once this happens, all living beings in the prehistoric world will have to acknowledge the Heavenly Court's status as the ruler of the prehistoric world.

However, the Heavenly Court's prestige can only be enhanced and its position of ruling the prehistoric world secured after the Investiture of the Gods is completed.

However, the underworld can do it a step ahead. As long as enough living beings die, enough for a parade of a hundred ghosts to take place, it can enhance the prestige of the underworld.

After this night of a hundred ghosts, the attitude of all living beings in the primordial world towards the underworld can be summed up in these four words:

The ghostly army passed through, and all living beings retreated!
Even the Great Luo Golden Immortals, or even Quasi-Saints, dare not provoke the Underworld, nor dare they openly obstruct the underworld officials from capturing souls.

Ordinary creatures wouldn't even dare to have the thought of blocking the way when they see the underworld officials.

In the future, as long as the underworld makes proper arrangements, the cycle of life and death in the primordial world will become more orderly, and the cycle of life and death will become synonymous with the underworld.

Before long, when the beings of the primordial world mention the cycle of life and death, they will think of the underworld. When they see the underworld officials, they will know that their lifespan is coming to an end. The underworld and the cycle of life and death will be completely linked together.

"This is unlike Houtu's style. This must be Yang Xuan's plan. He's really something..."

The Tongtian Sect Leader looked towards the Netherworld, and even though he was a saint, he felt a sense of respect.

He could tell that Yang Xuan had begun planning this matter a long time ago, long before the Great Calamity had even arrived, and even before the Zixiao Palace council had begun.

The reason why so many ghosts appear on the primordial land is that, although they are not everywhere, they can be seen everywhere. Behind each ghost messenger, there is a long string of ghosts.

These are clearly not all recently deceased beings; a large portion of them were brought out by underworld officials from city god temples across the country.

Then they led these wandering spirits across the land, capturing even more souls and heading towards the nearest gates of hell.

Such a spectacular scene could not be achieved overnight, nor was it Houtu's style of doing things.

To prepare for so many years in advance without anyone noticing, not even these sages, is no simple matter.

Even though Houtu was covering up the secrets of heaven, this was still a major event that affected the entire prehistoric world. It would be even more difficult to keep it from everyone, and it would require extreme caution.

This style of action, where no one notices the preparation phase but the action is swift and unstoppable once it begins, is very much in line with Yang Xuan's consistent style.

In the past, Yang Xuan's schemes were either aimed at the Heavenly Court or the Underworld. This was the first time that something like this had affected the entire prehistoric world.

Even top-tier quasi-saints like Styx and Zhen Yuanzi could not possibly influence the entire prehistoric world with their schemes, let alone affect its overall structure.

Now, Yang Xuan has achieved this at the level of a Great Luo Golden Immortal, something that has never been done before and is unlikely to be done by anyone else.

However, the Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts is a major event that affects the entire prehistoric world. If the Tongtian Sect Leader wanted to sabotage it, he could certainly cause a significant change in the event, but he had no intention of doing so.

Firstly, when the Zixiao Palace held its meeting, Houtu mentioned that the Underworld would also make some plans, and the Heavenly Sage had already given his approval.

As long as it doesn't affect the Investiture of the Gods and doesn't harm the interests of Heaven, they can't cause trouble.

The parade of a hundred ghosts at night can indeed increase the influence of the underworld in the prehistoric world, and even enhance the authority of the underworld.

Ultimately, however, it did not harm the interests of Heaven.

It didn't really affect the Investiture of the Gods; it only took away Zhao Gongming's soul.

Zhao Gongming's soul entered the underworld. The Jie Sect was able to save Zhao Gongming's life, and the Chan Sect also indirectly resolved the influence of Zhao Gongming. Naturally, it did not affect the Investiture of the Gods.

Secondly, although Yang Xuan did not join the Jie Sect and never directly helped the Jie Sect, he even lent the Karmic Fire Red Lotus to the Tongtian Sect Leader.

However, it cannot be denied that Yang Xuan created a glimmer of hope for the Golden Light Mother and others, allowing the Jie Sect to retain some of its vitality.

These are all genuine acts of kindness. Even without the agreement in Zixiao Palace, the Tongtian Sect Leader would have pretended not to see them.

The fact that Yang Xuan never became a disciple of the Jie Sect still left Tongtian Jiaozhu with some regret.

Besides regret, Tongtian Jiaozhu also had some dissatisfaction based on his observations over this period of time.

Of course, his dissatisfaction was not directed at Yang Xuan, but at Lingya Xian and the others.

In the past, he just felt that Lingya Xian and his group were acting recklessly, which was not the behavior of a true immortal.

However, he believed in education for all and did not take it too seriously.

Who would have thought that these people would be so despicable? Now that the Jie Sect is in trouble, they not only cower in fear, but they also encourage their fellow disciples to go to the Nine Provinces.

By now, the Tongtian Sect Leader could clearly see that Zhao Gongming's departure from the Underworld and his arrival in the Nine Provinces to face the tribulation was due to the message from Lingya Immortal.

"How could I have accepted such a scourge in the first place..."

The Tongtian Sect Leader sighed helplessly, and could only place his hopes on Shen Gongbao.

Or rather, they pinned their hopes on Yang Xuan.

……

Kunlun Mountain, Yuxu Palace.

The Primordial Celestial Lord observed the changes in the Nine Provinces without altering his expression, remaining completely expressionless. However, the creatures of Kunlun Mountain felt an unusual oppression, daring not to even breathe loudly.

Clearly, Yuanshi Tianzun was not in a good mood at this moment.

The path taken by Yuanshi Tianzun was completely different from that of Tongtian Jiaozhu. He followed the will of Heaven and had the closest relationship with the Heavenly Dao among the Six Sages of the Heavenly Dao.

Now, watching the parade of a hundred ghosts sweeping across the land, and feeling the growing influence of the underworld and the increased authority of the underground, he naturally felt displeased.

Seeing that Zhao Gongming was about to be annihilated and die, he felt even worse.

"Those creatures covered in scales and armor, born from wet eggs, are truly unreliable!"

The Primordial Celestial Venerable's gaze lingered on Lu Ya for a moment before he let out a cold snort.

Because the calamity energy permeated all parts of the prehistoric world, Nezha possessed a spiritual object given to him by Yang Xuan, which could conceal the secrets of heaven, and he was also a quasi-saint in December.

Even the Primordial Celestial Venerable did not know what the two of them had done to the yellow talisman, and thought that Lu Ya's supernatural powers were not good enough, nor was he a good person.

If Lu Ya hadn't been worried about damaging the fortune and refused to personally perform the Seven Arrows of Nailhead, insisting that Jiang Ziya perform the ritual instead, how could Zhao Gongming have merely had his soul leave his body?
If Zhao Gongming had been directly killed by Lu Ya, none of these subsequent events would have occurred.
If Zhao Gongming dies and his primordial spirit is listed on the Investiture of the Gods, he will not only be unable to continue participating in the Investiture of the Gods, but he will also be able to settle a large amount of karma, and the Chan Sect will gain tremendous benefits.

Zhao Gongming's soul has now entered the underworld, but his physical body has not suffered serious injuries. As long as his soul returns to life, he will be able to regain his fighting strength in no time.

After a moment of silence, Yuanshi Tianzun flicked his finger and issued a decree, which fell into the underworld.

He could ignore the agreement made by Zixiao Palace regarding the Night Parade of One Hundred Ghosts.

Xing Tian arrived at such a convenient time; Zhao Gongming's soul had just left his body when Xing Tian appeared, so he could simply ignore him.

But if Zhao Gongming were to return to the Nine Provinces, then he would have to keep an eye on things!

……

In the west, Mount Sumeru.

Compared to the Tongtian Jiaozhu and Yuanshi Tianzun, the two Western Saints reacted much more strongly.

As Zhunti watched the scene of a hundred ghosts parading at night, his brows furrowed slightly, and his face showed displeasure.

"This must have been done by that little thief Yang Xuan again. The ghostly soldiers are passing through, and all living beings are fleeing. He's really something else. He's really going against the West!"

The guide also frowned, his expression grim. Stealing the power of reincarnation and building a small underworld in the West was something they had been doing all along.

But if we let the ghosts roam freely at night, the underworld will become directly linked to the cycle of life and death.

They also wanted to build a small underworld, but it wasn't just about stealing the reincarnation authority; they also wanted to change the prehistoric people's perception of the underworld.

Now that the Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts is influencing the entire prehistoric world, if they want to change this perception, they must do something that will affect the entire prehistoric world.

Yang Xuan was able to accomplish the Hundred Ghosts Parade because of the opportune timing and favorable circumstances of the Investiture of the Gods calamity, coupled with his years of preparation and the support of others, which led to this remarkable feat.

If the two Western Saints wanted to replicate this scene, the right timing and location would not be met.

"No, we can't just stand by and watch!"

A cold glint flashed in Jieyin's eyes. Even with the agreement with Zixiao Palace, he could not just stand by and watch, otherwise the Western Sect would basically have no chance of getting involved in the matter of reincarnation.

However, he dared not directly violate the agreement of Zixiao Palace. If he angered Houtu and she came to Mount Sumeru again, they would not be able to bear it, and they did not want to become children again.

After careful consideration, they narrowed their focus to the western regions, prioritizing the preservation of their own homes.

The West is their territory, and most living beings are their people. As long as they promote Western trade, they can reduce the influence of the Night Parade of One Hundred Demons.

……

Inside a thatched hut next to the Temple of the God of Fate in the Heavenly Court.

Laozi observed the changes in the primordial world without changing his expression, but he was silently calculating in his heart.

However, he wasn't deducing the story of the Night Parade of One Hundred Ghosts, but rather calculating the alchemy furnace in front of him.

A moment later, a smile appeared on his face.

"It's done!"

Laozi gently waved his whisk, and with a 'bang', the lid of the Eight Trigrams Furnace flew off automatically.

But no divine light appeared, and even the fragrance of medicine could not be smelled much, making it look as if the alchemy had failed.

In the eyes of the world, the completion of the elixir should be a dazzling display of divine light, visible for thousands of miles, with a fragrant aroma that can be smelled for miles.

This is not actually the case; the higher the quality of the elixir, the less noise it makes when it is refined.

Take this one in the Eight Trigrams Furnace, for example. It can be described as having its divine light concealed and its divine object hidden. Apart from being golden in color and looking rather unusual, it has nothing special about it.

This is a top-grade elixir, its value even surpassing that of the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir.

One reason is that Laozi's mastery of alchemy was unparalleled in the primordial world.

Another reason is the material. The material used in this pill is very precious, as it contains a drop of a saint's blood essence!

Even Laozi himself was using such luxurious materials for the first time.

"The time has come!"

Laozi smiled slightly, looked down at the underworld, first glanced at the place of reincarnation as a greeting, and finally fixed his gaze on the Ghost Palace of Fengdu.

at the same time.

Fengdu Ghost Palace.

Yang Xuan was in seclusion, meditating on the Dao, when he suddenly sensed something and slowly opened his eyes. He then saw a white decree appear before him.

This was precisely the decree issued by the Primordial Celestial Venerable!
The moment Yang Xuan's gaze fell upon the decree, he saw its contents and understood the requirements of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable.

The request from Yuanshi Tianzun was very simple, just one sentence—

The soul returns to the netherworld, destined for the underworld!
Yang Xuan understood that Yuanshi Tianzun was telling him that he could leave Zhao Gongming's affairs alone, but Zhao Gongming's soul could not be brought back to life before the Investiture of the Gods ended.

This outcome was better than Yang Xuan had anticipated, given that Xing Tian's appearance was too opportune.

If Yuanshi Tianzun persists in this matter, Yang Xuan must either seek help from Houtu Niangniang or release Zhao Gongming's soul.

It would be best if the Primordial Celestial Venerable didn't dwell on this matter.

"I will obey the sage's decree!"

Yang Xuan faced the direction of Kunlun Mountain, clasped his hands in a respectful bow, and gave a deep bow.

But before he could get up, he felt the space in front of him fluctuate.

Looking up, he saw a scroll depicting the Yin-Yang symbol, and in the middle of the scroll, a golden bridge appeared out of nowhere and landed in front of him.

At the same time, he heard an old, kind voice.

"Young friend, would you be willing to come to this old Taoist's alchemy room for a chat?"

(End of this chapter)