I built the Jade Capital with the Netherworld

Chapter 190 Five-Rank Ceremony
Throughout the history of the Nine Paths, the birth of every Grade 5 cultivator has stirred up a bloody storm.

Eliminating dissidents, suppressing rivals, expanding territory, erecting monuments to spread the word... and so on.

However, in most cases, top-tier Xuanmen sects are given some face, and things are not taken too far.

After all, no one can guarantee that they will always be at their peak, and everyone has to consider their options.

However, times have changed. Before Lu Wujiu had even reached the fifth rank, he had already established the Celestial Court with the support of the Underworld Emperor, showing a strong tendency to unify the Nine Paths. Now that he has reached the fifth rank, his ambitions are probably even greater.

No one can guarantee what he might do.

Because they had no precedent to follow.

"call out!"

Suddenly, a surge of magical energy emanated from beside Hua Chaoge, startling everyone who turned to look.

But Hua Chaoge took the communication talisman and then shook his head: "Internal affairs of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices."

The cultivators immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

Unexpectedly, another message arrived. Hua Chaoge casually accepted it and abruptly stood up.

"Gentlemen, the Celestial Master has summoned me urgently. I must take my leave."

The cultivators quickly replied:
"Of course, of course, fellow Daoist, please go quickly!"

Hua Chaoge nodded slightly, then immediately took the lead, transforming into a streak of light as she rushed towards the Celestial Master's Mansion.

He landed in front of the mansion, smoothing out the wrinkles in his official robes with his magical power before stepping inside.

Upon seeing Hua Chaoge, the celestial official bowed respectfully, receiving a beaming smile in return. As they walked, Hua Chaoge casually asked:
"How has the Celestial Master been feeling lately?"

The celestial official on duty said, "The Celestial Master rarely shows himself, so I am not aware of his whereabouts."

These words seemed to say nothing at all, but to Hua Chaoge, they were enough to confirm a great deal.

Reaching the top five ranks is a joyous occasion, yet instead of celebrating, he's busy with other matters. Lu Wujiu is even calmer than I imagined!

While pondering the matter, Hua Chaoge entered the Celestial Master's Mansion and met Lu Wujiu.

Upon seeing that young face, Hua Chaoge was momentarily dazed. He quickly lowered his head and bowed, saying, "This humble servant, Hua Chaoge, greets the Celestial Master. Congratulations, Celestial Master, on ascending to the fifth rank and reaching the pinnacle of the nine paths!"

As he bowed in submission, a complex emotion, a mixture of relief and regret, welled up within him.

He knew that his life or death was now in Lu Wujiu's hands.

"sit!"

Lu Wujiu raised his chin and asked, "How is the collection of the nine classic texts progressing?"

Hua Chaoge lowered her head and replied, "Everything is progressing smoothly. Various temples and monasteries are vying to donate books and volumes, and the Nine Great Mystic Sects are not lagging behind either. Currently, more than 100,000 books have been collected."

"How many? One hundred thousand copies?" Lu Wujiu frowned.

If I haven't been keeping an eye on things for a month, I wonder if the Court of Imperial Sacrifices has been using the celestial currency as toilet paper?
What happened to the installment payment plan?

Hua Chaoge quickly added, "Less than one percent of it was donated by the major temples and monasteries. Most of it was purchased from various markets with gold and silver. Although it contained a lot of dross, it was still valuable for cross-referencing. Most importantly, the cost was less than 100,000 celestial coins."

Lu Wujiu was somewhat surprised; he hadn't really thought of this detail.

That's right. As a celestial court, regardless of the quality of the books themselves, having them or not makes a huge difference. It's a good idea to collect all the books on the market to enhance our image.

Lu Wujiu asked again, this was his key question:

"Has it been included in the lineage of Daoist tradition?"

Hua Chaoge perked up and quickly replied, "Yes, we have already collected sixteen lineages. One of them stopped at the third level, three stopped at the second level, and the remaining lineages all ended at the Jiazi Great Perfection."

Lu Wujiu was overjoyed: "Send it here so I can take a look!"

Hua Chaoge replied, "Master Lu, this is probably not convenient. According to your rules, such core information must not be taken out of the 'Heavenly Book Pavilion' under any circumstances."

Lu Wujiu slapped his forehead, got up and left: "Look at my memory, let's go take a look."

Hua Chaoge was dumbfounded, and even more incredulous.

In the Nine Realms, each lineage can be described as "attacking each other and claiming supremacy." Only those lineages with complete traditions can catch their eye.

Aside from rogue cultivators and some second-rate temples, the Nine Great Mystic Sects completely disregard these lost lineages.

Why is Lu Wujiu still interested in these inheritances now that he has already reached the fifth level of cultivation?

Hua Chaoge was somewhat confused, but she still followed Lu Wujiu to the Diting Division, which was responsible for collecting books from all over the world and supervised by the Taichang Division.

On the way, Hua Chaoge seized the opportunity to hand over a jade tablet, saying, "This is the draft plan for the celebration of the Celestial Master's ascension to the fifth rank. Celestial Master, do you think there are any changes that need to be made?"

Lu Wujiu glanced at them and said, "Since it is a celebration, we should celebrate with the people. In addition to the people of the Immortal Palace, we should also invite some representatives of independent cultivators from temples and monasteries, regardless of their cultivation level."

Hua Chaoge nodded: "Yes, then let's set the date for the first day of the fifth month, is that alright?"

Lu Wujiu nodded: "Agreed!"

During their conversation, Lu Wujiu arrived at the Listening Bureau. Yan Qingsijun had received the news early and was waiting for him at the entrance of the Listening Bureau.

Unfortunately, after meeting Lu Wujiu, they didn't exchange more than a few words before he watched helplessly as Lu Wujiu rushed into the Heavenly Book Pavilion in a great hurry.

"What is the reason for this, Celestial Master?"

Yan Qing lagged a few steps behind and looked at Hua Chaoge.

"The Celestial Master seems quite interested in those remnants of the Daoist tradition."

"Oh? What about the celebration?"

"It's already decided, however, the Celestial Master requires that all independent cultivators from all over the world be invited, regardless of their cultivation level."

Upon hearing this, Yan Qing subconsciously turned to look at Lu Wujiu, who had already entered the Heavenly Book Pavilion, and then subconsciously looked at Hua Chaoge. They both saw a deep meaning in each other's eyes.

The Celestial Master cares so much about the remnants of the Dao, and he invites all the rogue cultivators in the world. Could it be that he intends to use the power of the rogue cultivators to suppress the Nine Great Mysterious Sects and balance the power of the Celestial Court?
Thinking about it carefully, this really is a two-birds-with-one-stone strategy.

First of all, the rogue cultivators who have practiced the incomplete Dao can only reach the second or third rank in terms of cultivation. If they want to maintain their status in the Celestial Court and protect their own interests, the only way is to support Lu Wujiu.

Moreover, Lu Wujiu is a disciple of the Netherworld Reincarnation Path. Even if his lifespan is exhausted and he dies, he can still be reincarnated.

Based on his experience, it might not be long before he returns to the top five and once again takes control of the Celestial Court.

In this way, it is highly likely that the regime will remain stable forever.

Thinking of this, a smile appeared on Yan Qing's lips, and he even breathed a long sigh of relief.

Because this plan, though seemingly perfect, actually underestimated a variable... that is, the nine great sects might also be able to advance to the top five.

At least, with his authority over the Diting Division, he has access to far more resources than the Shangqing Sect, which greatly increases the likelihood and success rate of his arranging the Five Jia Ritual.

Perhaps it won't be long before the Nine Great Mysterious Sects produce top-tier cultivators.

At that time, the balance of power will return to its original state.

In fact, what he was most worried about was that Lu Wujiu would find an excuse to slaughter all the top four experts of the nine major sects.

At that time, the Celestial Court may collapse, but the Nine Great Mystic Sects will suffer even greater losses.

Fortunately, it seems that Lu Wujiu still cares about the Celestial Court.

Of course, we can't rule out the possibility that he's slowly boiling the frog; if that's the case, then we'll have no choice but to take a gamble.

……

As news spread that the Celestial Court was about to hold the "Nine Heavens Celestial Masters' Golden Palace Ascension Ceremony," the news of Lu Wujiu, the Celestial Master, ascending to the fifth rank quickly spread throughout the Nine Realms. Countless cultivators were astonished by Lu Wujiu's rapid advancement.

This also indirectly confirms the conjecture that Lu Wujiu is an old monster who has reincarnated countless times!
In an instant, the Celestial Court became increasingly sought after, and the concept of "eternal reincarnation and longevity with heaven and earth" was fully embodied in Lu Wujiu.

The Celestial Court's Ascension Platform, located in the Nine Realms, was always overcrowded.

Unfortunately, the Celestial Court has too high a threshold for recruiting celestial officials, and many people go there to try their luck, only to be eliminated in the first test of their cultivation level.

They don't even have the qualifications to glimpse the gates of immortality.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, news came from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices that Celestial Master Lu, out of compassion for all living beings, wished to share joy with the people. Therefore, the Nine Heavens Celestial Master's Golden Palace Ascension Ceremony would also invite all cultivators from all over the world, regardless of their cultivation level.

Those who wish to participate in the Dharma assembly will be assigned by lottery upon registration.

The news sent shockwaves through the land of independent cultivators; it was truly a godsend.

If one can gain the favor of a noble person at the Dharma assembly, one's future is limitless.

At the very least, witnessing the grandeur of the celestial court would be excellent.

In no time, applicants flocked to the event like a swarm of locusts crossing a river.

Ding Ran was one of them.

If the ranks of cultivators are divided into nine heavens, then the ranks of rogue cultivators are also divided into nine heavens.

Ding Ran was the lowest level of the rogue cultivators in the Nine Heavens of Rogue Cultivators.

He was born a beggar. One night, while huddled on the street, he unexpectedly witnessed a chaotic battle among rogue cultivators. Although he was scared half to death, he unexpectedly obtained a Qi Refining Method from the corpse.

Despite being illiterate, he persevered with extraordinary willpower, eavesdropping on private schools and, stumbling along the way, managed to glean the Qi Refining Method, thus joining the ranks of independent cultivators.

Unfortunately, this method of Qi cultivation did not bring him a leap in social class.

Initially, the goal was simply to improve his physical condition and increase his ability to endure hunger.

It wasn't until he cultivated his Taoist skills for three years and his physical abilities finally far surpassed those of ordinary people that he had a turning point. He joined a security escort agency, made a living as a镖局 (security escort agency), and escaped his lowly status.

Now, after joining the escort agency for three or four years, although he has solved his basic needs and even made a name for himself, he is ashamed to mention the name of a cultivator.

In fact, he didn't even know any supernatural powers or magic.

It's all thanks to the primordial energy that strengthens the physical body.

After the Celestial Court appeared, he wanted to join it, but after making a few inquiries, he didn't even have the courage to get close.

Hearing that the Celestial Master Ceremony would be held by random selection, I gritted my teeth, made up my mind, and signed up.

The registration point was the renowned Baichuan Temple in the area. When he arrived, the place was already packed with people. Not to mention independent cultivators, many people who had not yet reached the Qi Refining stage had come to draw lots with great arrogance.

However, you must say, Master Lu truly lives up to his title as the Celestial Master of the Celestial Court; he draws lots for anyone who comes.

Those who are selected will have their names recorded on the spot. They are not allowed to buy or sell their names privately. If they are found to have done so, they will be disqualified.

When it was Ding Ran's turn, he looked relaxed, having long since given up hope of getting lucky. However, when he drew a bamboo stick and saw the scarlet character "仙" (immortal) on it, an indescribable joy exploded in his mind.

"It's a hit! It's a hit! It's a hit!"

The monks at the back of the line were even more excited than him, shouting and yelling at the top of their lungs.

This caused a stir at the scene, with countless people casting envious glances.

"Congratulations, fellow Daoist, you have won a celestial fortune."

The supervising official from the Court of Imperial Sacrifices smiled and said.

"It's all thanks to the Heavenly Master's great blessings, it's all thanks to the Heavenly Master's great blessings..."

Ding Ran was so excited that he kept repeating this one sentence over and over.

Completely bewildered, I was guided by the celestial official of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to have my name recorded, my soul lamp lit, and my invitation card taken.

He dared not show off, and although he guessed that no one would dare to rob him, he still nervously ran back to the escort agency in one breath, and only dared to take out the invitation after closing the door.

Look carefully.

As expected of an invitation from the Celestial Court, the paper is specially made of star-patterned paper used to engrave top-grade talismans, and it is surrounded by celestial energy. Holding it in your hand, you can tell it is extraordinary.

Upon opening it, one finds a line of bold and powerful regular script.

He glanced at it, his gaze lingering on the last line.

[...At the Nine Heavens Celestial Palace, on the Xuanji Terrace, at the Golden Palace, one ascends to the Immortal Realm to celebrate the Dharma Assembly. This letter is delivered upon ascending the Terrace; celestial officials will personally appear to receive you. Those who miss the appointed time will not be waited for; the Heavenly Rules are strict.]

"I never thought I would have the chance to go to the Celestial Palace."

Ding Ran couldn't help but grin as he watched it repeatedly.

In the days that followed, Ding Ran's Escort Agency became a gathering place for wandering cultivators in the vicinity. Everyone knew that his luck had turned around and he had won a divination.

There were congratulatory messages, people sharing in the good fortune, and others trying to establish a positive connection in advance... the list goes on.

The four seasons pass by like a circle with no end.

As the days slipped by unnoticed, the day of celebration quietly arrived.

Early that morning, Ding Ran, who had already burned incense and fasted for three days to avoid the embarrassment of needing to use the toilet, couldn't wait to put on his expensive custom-made robe and rush to Baichuan Temple. After presenting his invitation and having his soul lamp checked, he followed one of the three or five lucky ones and went with the celestial official.

"The rules of Heaven are strict. Once you arrive at the Celestial Palace, do not wander around or look about aimlessly. Just stay close to me. When I bow, you should also bow. Do not be impolite and displease our esteemed guest."

After giving some instructions, the celestial official opened the passageway leading to the celestial court.

Three or five lucky individuals gazed in awe at the mysterious passageway before following the guiding celestial official.

As the world spun around him, Ding Ran subconsciously looked around. Just one glance was enough to shake him to his core, and he dared not look any further.

"Please follow me, everyone!"

The celestial official who was guiding them gave a signal and then strode toward the Xuanji Terrace.

Ding Ran followed instinctively.

Looking down at the gleaming white jade beneath my feet, I felt inexplicably shrunk in its brightness.

In a daze, I had a feeling of being a beggar on the street back then, passing by the gate of a nobleman's mansion.

It wasn't until he arrived at Xuanji Terrace and the seating arrangements were made that he gradually came to his senses. Looking around, he realized that it was a white jade terrace suspended high in the clouds.

He was sitting almost at the very back, surrounded by rogue cultivators of low cultivation levels, which made him feel much more relaxed.

He gradually became bolder.

Turning my head and looking around, I saw a sea of ​​clouds all around, with occasional flashes of sword light and cloud chariots passing by, creating an ethereal atmosphere. In the distance, the double eaves of buildings resembled jade lotus buds, a sight to behold.

"I have long heard that the Celestial Court was built ten thousand feet above the Sumeru World. Now that I have seen it, I have no regrets even if I die today!"

"Yes, it's a pity that it can't be recorded. Otherwise, it would be a wonderful story for future generations."

The exclamations emanating from around him resonated deeply with Ding Ran.

He knew that this was something he could brag about for the rest of his life.

At this moment, he actually hoped the Dharma assembly would end quickly so he could go back and boast about it.

After all, he was the main character back then.

(End of this chapter)