I built the Jade Capital with the Netherworld

Chapter 189 Reconstructing the Netherworld Cycle

As Master Nanming absorbed the Fire Element Sword Seed into his body, an indescribable and subtle feeling arose in Lu Wujiu's heart.

This feeling is very similar to a celestial scroll, yet completely different; it is exquisitely beautiful and indescribable.

He knew this was because the sample size was too small.

However, even so, it is enough to prove that what Master Nanming said is indeed true, or at least mostly true.

"If he can disturb my sword seed, doesn't that mean he can also disturb the sword seed I've condensed?"

Lu Wujiu couldn't help but ask, and Master Nanming nodded: "Theoretically, that's true. However, as long as there are enough people practicing the Fire Element Sword Path, the problem will be easily solved."

"Can he sense my sword seed?"

"Of course, since it can be disturbed, it can naturally be sensed as well. However, there is a distance limit. The higher his cultivation level and the more fire god intent contained in the sword seed, the stronger the sensing distance will be."

Lu Wujiu nodded. The summary by the Southern Ming Immortal was exactly the same as his own perception of the Immortal Talisman.

In fact, with the establishment of the Celestial Court and the conferment of numerous Celestial titles, the Nine Paths could be said to be filled with Celestial officials and clerks from the Celestial Court.

However, Lu Wujiu could only clearly sense the area within the three realms.

If you go any further, the accuracy will drop significantly, but you can still get a general sense of direction.

This is also the fundamental reason why it took him so much effort to find the Master of the Southern Ming Dynasty.

"A fellow Daoist like you dares to accept the Fire Element Sword Seed; it seems you have a method to shield it?"

Upon hearing this, Master Nanming sighed inwardly, thinking to himself, "Just how many secrets has this master revealed? This kid Lu Wujiu seems to know a lot about preaching the Dao."

Or is it simply because he is intelligent enough?

"Different paths obscure the secrets of heaven. Cultivating multiple paths and becoming powerful enough can conceal the secrets of heaven, even allowing one to pass by them without realizing it."

"really?"

Lu Wujiu looked doubtful. Most of the people who accepted his immortal talisman also cultivated other paths. How could he sense them all the same?
Master Nanming smiled, and as his magical power flowed within him, Lu Wujiu's eyebrows immediately rose.

However, he could no longer sense the Fire Element Sword Seed within Nanming Zhenren's body.

Even though he forcibly activated his own sword type to connect with the sub-sword type, he still couldn't sense it; it was as if it had completely disappeared.

Without even thinking, his divine sense surged forth like a dragon, rushing into Nanming Zhenren's body without restraint. He found that Nanming Zhenren's eight extraordinary meridians were all filled with a wood-attribute primordial energy, and he could hardly sense any fire-attribute primordial energy.

As the divine sense swept over the dantian, it was seen that the fire element sword seed was hidden deep within the dantian, which resembled a puddle, surrounded by various Dao intents.

Upon witnessing this scene, Lu Wujiu suddenly realized—this was the phenomenon of different paths obscuring each other.

He discreetly examined the physical body of the Southern Ming Master before retreating like the tide.

This domineering behavior made Master Nanming's face turn ugly, but he was helpless and could only swallow his anger and blood.

Lu Wujiu then pressed the preachers for details.

It must be said that Master Nanming is indeed a wisp of Nanming's original obsession. He knows what Nanming's original knew. He dares not say that he knows both himself and his enemy, but at least he has made Lu Wujiu no longer completely in the dark.

Unfortunately, the Master of the Southern Ming Dynasty was not cooperative. He seemed to answer every question, but in reality, he only answered one question at a time and rarely took the initiative to answer.

If Lu Wujiu hadn't stumbled upon the threshold of becoming a preacher by chance, and learned some of the characteristics of a preacher, thus forcing out various details, the "Blazing Body" incident would still have occurred.

Even after repeated questioning, Lu Wujiu was still certain that Master Nanming was still hiding something.

After getting most of the information from the preacher, Lu Wujiu turned the conversation to the real Nanming: "Since you and he are of the same origin, you must know him quite well. Where do you think he would be now?"

Master Nanming did not answer immediately, but pondered for a long time before saying, "When a remnant soul awakens, the first thing it will do is to solve the problem of its physical body, and then spread the Fire God Dao, whether for sowing and reaping or for spreading its influence. Therefore, it will mostly hide in some inconspicuous corner."

"What are your plans next, fellow Daoist?"

"I'm afraid I'm no longer in control of my own destiny. Fellow Daoist, please speak frankly about your plans."

Lu Wujiu gave him a "you know what's good for you" look: "My Celestial Master's Mansion is currently short of a head, so you can temporarily take on this position, fellow Daoist!"

Nanming Zhenren's heart sank. Once he went to the Celestial Court, he would be even less in control of his own destiny, and it would be much harder for him to make any underhanded moves.

Despite his deep sorrow, he gladly accepted the order.

After this matter was settled, Lu Wujiu brought Nanming Zhenren to the Celestial Court. After arranging his position, he then secluded himself in a secret cultivation chamber on Mount Luo in Fengdu.

The secrets of the preacher not only broadened his horizons but also allowed him to examine for the first time the Yin Registers he had created in imitation of the Zhengyi School, which are now known as Immortal Registers.

To be honest, he never believed that the Immortal Register was the Dao.

It looks more like a permission.

A permission to use the human skin book.

However, on the other hand, isn't the path he cultivates, from a certain perspective, also a kind of authority of heaven and earth?
Therefore, the Immortal Register can also be considered a Dao, a Dao unique to the human skin book.

So how do we develop immortal records into the Dao?
Lu Wujiu fell into deep thought. Master Nanming had repeatedly hinted that he should develop the Fire Element Sword Dao, but the more he said it, the less likely Lu Wujiu was to do it.

People with a long criminal record are not trustworthy.

He didn't dare to trust them either.

After all, the original Nanming did not possess the "disturbing" sword type he mentioned, but rather had half control over it.

Developing the Fire Sword Style is tantamount to handing a knife to the Southern Ming Dynasty itself.
After much thought, only the immortal scroll in the human skin book is trustworthy.

However, the "rank" of the Immortal Register is his own classification, and it does not correspond to the realm of the Dao of Heaven and Earth at all. So how should this be resolved?
Having already cultivated to the fifth level of Dao, Lu Wujiu quickly realized the key point through careful analysis: Generally speaking, no matter what kind of Dao it is, there will be a corresponding "energy".

This energy must be a type of energy from heaven and earth.

So what is the energy of Yin Lu?
Lu Wujiu summoned the Yin Talisman and gained some insight after a moment of contemplation.

Since it is an energy distinct from external paths, it is naturally the essential force that constitutes the human skin book.

It nurtures and carries the Gates of Hell, the Cliff of Broken Souls, Yin Qi, and even the fierce winds from the highest heavens; it is a primordial energy that blends many forces.

"Since this path is named the Path of Netherworld Reincarnation, then let us call it the Qi of the Netherworld."

Lu Wujiu's heart stirred, and he began to modify the Yin Talisman, enabling it to nurture the Qi of the Netherworld.

But he soon gave up.

Because the Qi of the Netherworld is very special, it is formed by the human skin book absorbing the remnants of souls and spirits, absorbing the dark Qi of heaven and earth, and even being tainted by the aura of many celestial officials and clerks. It cannot be transformed by a talisman at all.

Since it cannot be transformed, let's try extracting the human skin book instead.

However, if this continues, even the most substantial book on human skin will not be able to withstand the constant consumption of countless disciples.

In this case, only equivalent exchange is possible.

The Master of Nanyang once said that the Dao is a tool, a tool for carrying out the will of Heaven. Since that is the case, he only needs to ensure that those who cultivate this Dao have sufficient power, and that is enough.

As for the form of this power, and what it is composed of, it is not of great significance.

Isn't this the origin of the "Three Thousand Great Paths"?

Having developed a tool-oriented mindset, Lu Wujiu lost some of his reverence. He pondered and revised the talisman as he went. Once it was complete, he began to simplify it further.

Only the most streamlined Dao seed is most conducive to its spread. After reducing it to the bare minimum, the prototype of the Netherworld Reincarnation Dao seed was finally born.

Lu Wujiu had no time to rejoice. He silently absorbed the energy into his body and began to cultivate. He swallowed the primordial energy, which flowed through the human skin book and transformed into Netherworld energy, gradually filling his dantian.

With the resources he currently possesses, it would only take him a moment to accumulate this path to the Great Perfection of the Sixty Years Realm.

When the Netherworld Reincarnation reached the Great Perfection of the Jiazi cycle, the familiar Jiazi threshold quietly appeared. Lu Wujiu was not surprised but delighted, which meant that the Netherworld Path he had been exploring was feasible.

"There's a show!"

He was startled and immediately began to carefully comprehend the ritual of ascending the steps.

This realization left him both amused and exasperated.

The so-called ritual is actually the endorsement of the human skin book.

After all, the power of the Netherworld Reincarnation Path comes from the Human Skin Book, and all the paths cultivated are based on the power of the Human Skin Book. Therefore, further recognition from the Human Skin Book is necessary for advancement.

The approval of the human skin book is equivalent to Lu Wujiu's approval.

With a thought, he silently ascended to the second rank of the Netherworld Reincarnation Path, as easily as playing a game.

"Is this it?"

As he sensed the Netherworld Reincarnation Path of the Second Rank, he was surprised to find that the Yin Register had evolved on its own, not only becoming more efficient at absorbing and releasing Netherworld Qi, but also gaining more new permissions.

This authority is clearly the right to command ghost soldiers and demons.

"Is this the self-adaptation of the human skin book?"

As Lu Wujiu murmured to himself, he realized that he could also modify these permissions.

However, he did not rush to make changes. Instead, he continued to cultivate. With the endless innate primordial energy and the green light of the "authority dog", his Netherworld Reincarnation Path rapidly advanced. One incense stick's time is ten years of cultivation, and six incense sticks' time is sixty years.

Five hours later, Lu Wujiu surprisingly ascended to the fifth rank using the Netherworld Reincarnation Path. Feeling that familiar power, a sense of absurdity welled up in his heart.

If I had known earlier that the Book of Human Skin could grant me a shortcut to advancement, why bother studying so many other traditions before?

No, that's not right! If he hadn't cultivated to the fifth rank, how could the Human Skin Book possess the power of a fifth-rank cultivator? In other words, the upper limit of the Netherworld Reincarnation Path's realm is precisely the upper limit of his cultivation. And the manifestation of the Netherworld Reincarnation Path's power is the true essence of the Human Skin Book.

Besides cultivating Yin energy and mobilizing Yin soldiers, its strongest ability is none other than the domain of the Human Skin Book.

When a cultivator unfolds their domain, it is the moment when the rules of the Human Skin Book invade reality. In that case, the caster will naturally possess the highest power granted by the Human Skin Book.

Having realized this, Lu Wujiu flashed out of the human skin book and went straight to a desolate mountain forest that stretched for thousands of miles.

The mountains and forests are barren and overgrown with weeds.

After scanning the area with his divine sense and confirming that there were no prying eyes around, Lu Wujiu activated his domain law realm with a thought.

"Boom!" The weathered stone archway suddenly rose from the ground behind him, and a surge of yin energy surged out. Supported by the five-star cultivation level, it spread wildly in all directions, turning the world into a black ghost realm.

It only stopped after walking about 500 steps.

This is not the limit of the Human Skin Book, but the limit of the Five-Rank Cultivation.

After all, opening up a domain of Dharma realms also requires the expenditure of power, and this power is naturally paid by the "cultivator".

As the master of the Human Skin Book, theoretically, as long as the power of the Human Skin Book is inexhaustible, the domain of the Dharma Realm can expand infinitely.

To test Lu Wujiu's cultivation at the fifth level of the Netherworld Reincarnation Path, he gently raised his hand, and a deer at the edge of his vision was instantly reduced to blood foam, a result of being crushed by the rules of the Human Skin Book world.

A thought struck him, and he darted to the side of the deer, observing it as he pondered:

"Relatively speaking, teleportation consumes less mana, probably because I am naturally suited to the Way of the Human Skin Book."

"However, using the Human Skin Book to invade the power of reality and crush the enemy is even more silent. Judging from its power, it can easily crush a third-class cultivator, but it will probably be more difficult for a fourth-class cultivator. Unless the power of the Human Skin Book is brought to 70%, and as for the fifth-class cultivator, it will probably be difficult to achieve even 100% of its power."

"In other words, the upper limit of the human skin book is the upper limit of a cultivator's power."

"No, I can't do a losing business. I should say that the Human Skin Book determines the upper limit, while the cultivator's power determines the lower limit."

"The human skin book looks more like a magical artifact. How much power it can exert depends on the cultivator's own level of magical power."

"In this way, the authority over the Human Skin Book cannot be easily delegated. Otherwise, mobilizing more authority will only consume more mana, which is not a good thing for cultivators."

Through his experiments, Lu Wujiu gradually figured out the power of the Netherworld Reincarnation Path.

This also confirmed his guess:

—His power ceiling, which is also the power ceiling of the Human Skin Book, is already equivalent to that of a fifth-grade cultivator.

"The path of reincarnation in the netherworld is complete!"

Lu Wujiu was filled with excitement. Now there was only one problem left: how to solve the problem of cultivators ascending to higher levels?
Although ascending to the Netherworld Reincarnation Path is a recognition by the Human Skin Book, it is also his recognition.

But he can't just approve of every single one that comes his way, can he?

Of course, it's not impossible to expand this field.

However, this will also increase the burden on the human skin book.

In other words, he had to precisely calculate the carrying capacity of the human skin book.

As he pondered, Lu Wujiu gradually came up with an idea. He then withdrew his Dharma Realm Domain and was about to slip into the Human Skin Book when a communication talisman suddenly broke through the air.

He reached out and took it, raising an eyebrow: It seems some people in the Celestial Court are already getting restless.

……

Celestial Court, Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

At this time, the Taichang Office and Taichang Mansion were packed with people, and upon closer inspection, they were all high-ranking officials from the Nine Offices of the Celestial Court.

Although the cultivators sat upright, their eyes were all fixed on Hua Chaoge, revealing a hint of anticipation.

Something that can bring everyone together is naturally not simple.

After Celestial Master Lu Wujiu of the Celestial Court ascended to the fifth rank, he disappeared without a trace. At first, he claimed to be stabilizing his cultivation level, but this stabilization lasted for more than a month.

Now everyone was getting restless. After some private discussion, they all rushed to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, thinking of using the excuse of holding a celebration ceremony to get Hua Chaoge to make contact.

Right now, Hua Chaoge has already sent a message talisman, and is just waiting for Master Lu's reply.

Hua Chaoge remained calm, her slender fingers tapping slowly and rhythmically on the armrest of her official chair, awaiting Lu Wujiu's reply.

Time is slipping away, bit by bit.

As the crowd waited, they gradually began to show signs of impatience.

They weren't worried about Lu Wujiu having an accident.

After all, Lu Wujiu had recently made an appearance at the Celestial Master's Mansion, and even personally arranged for a celestial official to attend to him.

What they were worried about was that Lu Wujiu, who had been promoted to the fifth rank and was in charge of the Immortal Court on behalf of the Yin Emperor, had not shown up for a long time. Could it be that he was brewing some kind of plan?
With no way of knowing his thoughts or actions for so long, who wouldn't be on tenterhooks?

(End of this chapter)