From Joy of Life, the Tian Gang is reversed

Chapter 246 The Wraith's Lament Startles the Storm; A Step Apart Heaven and Earth
Wuxiang Mountain, an unnamed valley, Shiqu Pavilion

After three days of excitement, Zhao Xun finally drove everyone out and sealed off the valley, leaving only himself and Yu Xuanji.

"Mystery, what do you think? What if I completely seal off this valley and then secretly go out to cause trouble?!"

Yu Xuanji rolled her eyes at him. "Aren't you just stirring up trouble now? You've messed up the whole world. I think you're pretty much the same as Huang Sanjia, both of you are the kind of people who want nothing more than chaos."

"Heh, you're wrong about that. I created Confucianism for only one purpose: to make Confucianism great again. As for whether we can achieve this goal, that depends on how hard Confucianism works."

“You are now the new sage of Confucianism, and I can’t argue with you. However, I always feel that you have ulterior motives for doing this. It’s not as simple as just becoming a sage.”

"That's right, that's absolutely right. If becoming a saint were such a simple thing, why would I have gone through all this trouble? I became a saint at thirteen, why would I need to waste my brain?"

"So you're doing this for luck?!" Yu Xuanji asked.

Now that she has entered the second rank, she is no stranger to luck. She knows that whether it is martial arts or the three religions of Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, they all attach great importance to luck. After all, this thing is related to the top combat power in this world, which is the terrestrial immortal realm.

Zhao Xun pioneered the Confucian path, greatly enhancing the Confucianists' combat power. Advancing to the realm of terrestrial immortals was a certainty, but who else could it be but him?
Some things still need to be thought out in advance.

"Luck is important in this world, but it's not that important either. Although the terrestrial immortals are powerful, they may not be able to withstand the impact of 100,000 iron cavalry. What I'm concerned about are the immortals in the immortal realm."

"You want to ascend to immortality?!"

“No, the legends of the Immortal Realm have been around for a long time, and countless cultivators consider ascension to immortality their top priority. But I doubt that ascension is as wonderful as imagined. If the Immortal Realm were truly so wonderful, why would they go to such lengths to seize the fortune of the mortal world?” Zhao Xun shook his head and said, “Although I cursed Zhang Fuyao and stole his fortune, I must admit that what Zhang Fuyao has done in the past eight hundred years has been quite good. Now that the Confucian fortune has been seized by me, the Immortal Sect has lost control. I'm afraid those immortals in the Immortal Realm will not sit still. Soon, a large number of them will reincarnate and descend to the mortal world, or possess other beings to compete for fortune. In this regard, my Confucian school is at a disadvantage. We have no one to rely on!”

Not to mention that Confucianism has not produced a sage for eight hundred years, before Confucianism, various schools of thought were in chaos. Those who ascended to immortality were either exceptionally talented martial artists or masters from Taoism and Buddhism. Confucianism finally produced a sage, but he did not choose to ascend. In comparison, whether in terms of combat power at the top level or in terms of backing in the immortal realm, Confucianism is far inferior to Taoism and Buddhism.

Given the backdrop of the celestial realm re-intervening in the mortal world, their disadvantages become quite obvious.

However, it is not so easy for the immortal realm to interfere in the mortal world. The mystery of reincarnation and descent to the mortal world is there, and it takes a lot of time. Moreover, the possession is limited by the world, and the combat power is only ordinary first rank. This gave him enough time.

"What should I do then?!"

"When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it. It's not a big deal."

Having said that, he glanced at Yu Xuanji and said, "Once this matter is settled, let's return to Xiangfan first."

※※※

Qingzhou, Xiangfan

Prince Jing'an's Palace
At this moment, Prince Jing'an was standing in Chengbi Courtyard, somewhat dazed.

These past few days have felt like a dream to him.

The issue of inheritance that he had been longing for for over a decade was finally resolved, but after it was resolved, he found it less appealing.

Previously distant and ambiguous aristocratic families of Qingzhou were now vying to visit him, eager to cooperate with the Jing'an Prince's Mansion in managing the snow candy business that Zhao Xun had previously established, offering substantial concessions—something he had never dared to imagine before. However, he also knew that these were merely tests by these powerful families. Once he relented, the two sides would inevitably engage in deeper cooperation. Soon, the Jing'an Prince's Mansion would be completely bound together with the aristocratic families of Qingzhou, and even the Qing Party in the imperial court, and might even become the leader of the Qing Party. This was something he had wanted before, but now, it didn't seem so appealing anymore.

In the past few days, many scholars and literati have been sending invitations outside the Prince's Mansion, not seeking an audience, but simply bowing at the gate before leaving. Perhaps these people just wanted to leave their names inside the Prince's Mansion through these invitations.

After all, this place has now become a sacred place in the hearts of many scholars.

Who would have thought!
How did things turn out this way?
Although he had been mentally prepared for the changes, it was clear that the mental preparation he had done in the past few days was not enough to fully cope with the changes in the Jing'an Prince's Mansion.

Among the various regional princes, the Jing'an Prince's Mansion was originally inconspicuous, but now, in just a few days, it has become the most dazzling one and has been placed under the spotlight.

Even with his decades of experience, he didn't know how to deal with it.

Just then, hurried footsteps sounded. "Your Highness, the Heir Apparent has returned to the city."

"What?!" Zhao Heng looked up abruptly, his face filled with surprise. Yesterday's news was that Zhao Xun was still at Shangyin Academy, so how come he has suddenly returned to Xiangfan?

However, when he saw the look of fear on the butler's face, his heart sank. "What happened?"

"His Highness did not enter the city immediately, but instead took Miss Xuanji for a walk around the city. He was recognized by people he knew, and in no time, hundreds of students had gathered around him. Now, a large number of students from Xiangfan are also on their way."

"Hurry up, where to!?"

Given Zhao Xun's current status and position, it's normal for his return to Xiangfan to cause a sensation, and it's also normal for students to surround him. But instead of returning to the Jing'an Prince's Mansion, he went around the city...

Wait, a bypass?!

His expression suddenly changed. You see, Xiangfan City is known as the Ghost City. The city walls are covered with talismans and seals drawn by novices of the Yellow and Purple Heavenly Book of Longhu Mountain to suppress wronged souls.

Could it be that he's coming back this time...?

"At Diaoyutai, the Crown Prince is confronting Master Qi of Longhu Mountain. A large number of students have gathered there, and the number is growing."

What are we confronting?

"His Highness said he wanted to perform a ritual to appease the wronged souls, but Master Qi of Longhu Mountain said he needed to consider the matter further. Now...!"

"Boom!!" Before the words were finished, a thunderous roar rang in their ears. Then, dark clouds rolled in, and the sky suddenly darkened, as if it were dusk approaching night. In an instant, a strong wind arose, and the sound of ghostly wails was mixed in with the wind, yet it could be heard everywhere. From the outside, the entire city of Xiangfan was shrouded in a dark cloud, just like a real ghost city.

"This...!" Zhao Heng's lips twitched, and for a moment he didn't know what to say. Just then, a long sigh suddenly came from the sky.

"Though the body is dead, the spirit lives on; the soul returns, causing the earth to tremble with sorrow...!"

woo woo woo woo……

As this long cry resounded, the wailing of ghosts grew even more intense amidst the howling wind, and countless figures flickered and appeared in the air...

There were elderly people, children, men, and women...

These people all had sorrowful faces, empty eyes, and were filled with indifference...

In the sky, dark clouds surged and rolled wildly, the thunder gradually subsided, but a sudden gust of cold wind came, and then Zhao Xun's voice rang out again.

"Black-clad figures pour wine, clouds drift across the sky; a blazing furnace refines the people; evil spirits and demons descend upon the seat; the gates of hell open, and a chilling wind howls…!"

whoosh whoosh...

The wind grew stronger, and the ghostly wails gradually subsided.

The people inside the city couldn't help but gasp in surprise. In the sky, under the rolling dark clouds, a dilapidated gate was vaguely formed. A large amount of cold wind carried the intermittently appearing figures into the gate.

About fifteen minutes later, the dark clouds in the sky dispersed and the sun shone down. For some reason, the once somewhat gloomy city of Xiangfan suddenly felt warm. In Diaoyutai, the Heavenly Talisman burned out completely.

Standing in front of Diaoyutai, Master Qi stared at Zhao Xun with a grim expression, his voice hoarse, "I need an explanation."

"It is my duty to deliver wronged souls, you don't need to thank me!" Zhao Xun grinned, purple aura swirling around him, his aura suddenly becoming lofty and vast. He looked up at the sky, where a great sun stood horizontally. His gaze swept across the heavens, and he sighed, "The sun and moon reside above, shining upon the earth below. Even terrestrial immortals are nothing more than this!"

(End of this chapter)