I built the Jade Capital with the Netherworld

Chapter 194 Was the Underworld Emperor also a preacher?
Ding Ran was like a different person after returning from the Celestial Court. His clothes seemed to still carry the aura of the Celestial Court. He delegated the business of the escort agency to his apprentice, and he would not respond when the neighbors invited him to drink. He spent his days either hanging out with friends or waiting at the Celestial Court's offices.

Upon seeing a celestial official wearing a celestial court badge, they would approach him and ask: "May I ask, celestial official, has the site for the Taoist academy been decided?", "Will the academy still be able to hold its opening ceremony and accept disciples this autumn equinox?", "Approximately how many celestial coins are required for the academy's tuition?"

He kept repeating these same questions every day, to the point that the celestial officials of the celestial court would avoid him whenever they saw him, as if they had encountered a debt collector.

Later, they simply borrowed a guest room at Baichuan Temple and stayed there temporarily.

His perseverance impressed even the abbot of Baichuan Temple, who considered taking him as a disciple.

Unfortunately, he lost interest before he could even exchange two words. With the Celestial Court having completed its inheritance, who would care about the remnants of the Hundred Rivers Temple?
This incident also greatly increased the sense of crisis for the head of Baichuan Temple. With the Taoist academy about to be established, he wondered what the future held for small sects like theirs.
However, since things have come to this point, the only option is to remain unchanged in the face of all changes.

That day, Ding Ran, who was meditating cross-legged, was following the signal of the morning bell at the Taoist temple when he heard hurried footsteps approaching.

"Fellow Daoist Ding! The Celestial Court has opened a Daoist academy!"

Before the person arrived, the sound had already reached him. Upon hearing it, Ding Ran hurriedly stopped his practice, almost losing his vital energy in the rush.

Stepping out of the room, he found himself with the young Taoist boy from Baichuan Temple, whom he had painstakingly befriended.

He quickly pressed for an answer:
"The Taoist temple is open? Where is it? Why haven't we heard anything from here?"

The young Taoist priest, panting, said, "The abbot has already gone to the Jade Mountain River ferry crossing south of the city."

"what?"

Upon hearing this, Ding Ran became extremely anxious. Before the young Daoist could finish speaking, he rushed out of the courtyard. After leaving the courtyard, he suddenly returned, handed over a piece of silver, and said, "Thank you, fellow Daoist!"

Then he turned and left.

Seeing this, the young Taoist priest hurriedly chased after him, saying, "You must come back and tell me!"

Before he could finish speaking, Ding Ran had already disappeared from sight. You could still vaguely see him raising his hand to wave, which made the young Taoist boy very envious.

He also wanted to see what the Celestial Court Taoist Academy was like.

Not long after Ding Ran left the Taoist temple, he received a message from a friend, which made him even more anxious and angry.

How did the Celestial Court Taoist Academy open so suddenly?

Why didn't we pass by Baichuan Temple?
Full of complaints, he traveled at breakneck speed and arrived at the Yushan River ferry crossing in the south of the city in less than half an hour.

Before I even arrived, I saw many pedestrians on the road.

When he arrived, he was immediately astonished and his eyes widened.

But now, at the once familiar Yushan River ferry crossing, a magnificent palace with blue bricks and gray tiles has sprung up, its scale grand and its presence imposing.

Outside the palace, a large crowd of people thronged the area, including cultivators, ordinary people, and even a faint scent of demons, indicating that there were also spirits hiding among them. It was a truly mixed and chaotic place.

People looked at the Taoist temple with its doors tightly shut, pointing and whispering among themselves.

Ding Ran approached and immediately struck up a conversation:
"May I ask, fellow Daoists, is this the Immortal Court Dao Academy?"

Some ignored it, while others were enthusiastic and replied, "I've heard that's true."

"When did this academy come out? It's so big, it must have taken at least six months to build!"

"You're so ignorant! Don't you even know whose academy this is? This is the Celestial Court! I saw immortals descend from the sky, ethereal and surrounded by auspicious clouds. As they chanted incantations and made hand seals, a scroll unfurled, and palaces flew out, landing as buildings. The scene was magnificent..."

Someone began describing it with great enthusiasm, drawing gasps of amazement.

"Dye the True Path!"

Ding Ran immediately realized what was going on and thought to himself, "As expected of Master Lu, his painting skills are truly those of an immortal!"

"Wasn't there a rumor going around that the Taoist academy would be opened in the capital? How come it's suddenly opening in this godforsaken place?" "What do you mean 'godforsaken place'? What's wrong with our place?"

"Exactly, exactly. Does a filthy place like the capital, where mortals gather, deserve to be called a sacred place for cultivation?"

"The Celestial Court has capable people who can see at a glance the outstanding people and resources of Bin County!"

While some people are discussing the location of the Taoist temple, many more are focusing on the temple's standards for accepting disciples!
"I wonder what the standards are for accepting disciples at the Taoist academy?"

"Master Lu said that regardless of whether one is a celestial being, a mortal, a spirit, or a monster, or whether one's talent is superior or inferior! The Master's word is law, and in front of so many people, he wouldn't go back on his word, would he?"

"Yes, yes! I heard that Master Lu intends to support rogue cultivators to fight against the Nine Great Mystic Sects? It's said that even the head of the Dao Academy is a remnant Daoist cultivator!"

"Is there any other way to say this?"

"We rogue cultivators have finally seen our day!"

As the discussion progressed, the crowd grew increasingly excited, and the atmosphere became more and more heated.

Unexpectedly, a sudden remark caused the room to fall silent.

"I'm worried there might be age restrictions!"

Upon hearing this, Ding Ran's heart skipped a beat, and an unspoken pressure surged into his heart.

Lies don't hurt, truth is the knife.

This was the very strike he feared most.

If the academy restricts age... he dared not imagine what kind of despair would turn all his anticipation into.

In the midst of the tense atmosphere, the crowd suddenly erupted in exclamations of "It's open!" "It's open!" "The door is open!"

Following the sound, they saw the Taoist temple's tightly closed gate slowly open, and two teams of celestial officials filed out, standing on either side of the temple's gate.

Then a young Taoist priest walked out from the main gate, cupped his hands, and said loudly:

"I, Su Zhiyuan, am deeply grateful for the Celestial Master's favor in appointing me as the Dean of the Daoist Academy within the Pass. Though I am lacking in talent and virtue, I am willing to emulate the Celestial Master's dedication to passing on the torch. I wish to work together with you all to strengthen our Daoist resolve and build a solid foundation for the Daoist path."

His polite words drew a chorus of responses.

Su Zhiyuan paused, then changed the subject: "The Celestial Master, out of compassion for humanity, established Taoist academies, opening the doors of education widely, regardless of rank or intelligence, teaching without discrimination. From young children to centenarian spirits seeking guidance, even those with unyielding talents, as long as they harbor a heart for the Tao, their names can be recorded in the Jade Register. If one cultivates the Tao for ten years, one will be granted the Great Tao."

After the sound faded, a deathly silence fell outside the Taoist temple.

Ding Ran stared blankly at Su Zhiyuan, her mind almost completely blank, as if her soul had flown away!

A moment later, a thunderous roar of cheers, like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing down, blew in his ears and pulled him back to reality.

After ten years of cultivation, one will be granted the Great Dao.

Does this mean... I can also cultivate the Great Dao?
Ding Ran didn't know how to get through the day.
All he remembered was that after the crowd erupted in cheers, they surged toward the Taoist temple, and he, in a daze, followed them there as well.

Because there were so many people, he did almost nothing; he just registered his name and got his enrollment date.

As for the Great Dao that he cares about most, he will have to wait until after the start of the semester, after receiving basic general education and passing the assessment, before he can receive the teachings from the immortals.

This explanation made him even more apprehensive.

Although the celestial official assured him that general education was very simple, just teaching some basic cultivation knowledge, and that he could pass without studying it, he could not have peace of mind for a day without attaining the Great Dao.

I can't wait for tomorrow to be the start of the school year!
The Southern Ming himself was also full of anticipation, but he was more surprised and uncertain. The Celestial Court wanted to impart the Netherworld Path to the world. Could it be that the Underworld Emperor was also a preacher?
(End of this chapter)