I built the Jade Capital with the Netherworld

Chapter 201 Preaching in the Flowing Sands

Outside Xiajiazhai, in the Flowing Sand Sea, lies a no-man's-land.

As night falls, the desert's chill seeps into every grain of sand. Stars pierce the sky like quenched silver nails, and the cold moonlight pours down, gilding the dunes with a silvery glow and illuminating the arena where scorpions and sand pythons fight.

"Clap!"

A figure emerged from outside the sand dune, startling the sandworms into scattering and fleeing.

Lu Wujiu glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then waved his hand and summoned several ghosts and several demonic beast puppets.

Under his control, these ghostly puppets, like normal living beings, invoked celestial incantations, and instantly, a passage to the Celestial Court opened.

The puppets stepped inside, and their figures vanished without a trace.

"feasible!"

Lu Wujiu was overjoyed upon seeing this.

It turns out that the body in question is still a shadow puppet.

The Human Skin Book remains in the Land of Nine.

Since we're going to test whether the celestial talisman can traverse between the two realms, instead of coming in person, we might as well use a puppet to test the waters.

If someone brings the Human Skin Book and loses its location, making it impossible to return, then things could get really messy.

Fortunately, everything went smoothly!
This also means that the Netherworld Path can also spread in the Central Plains, but the ascension ritual needs to be redesigned.

This will be related to Lu Wujiu's power, and can also serve as a coordinate for traversing the two worlds.

As a preacher, his strength will come from his disciples.

Thinking of preachers, a sense of urgency rose in my heart.

With the establishment of the nine Daoist academies and the spread of the Netherworld Dao, Lu Wujiu's understanding of preachers is gradually deepening!

He had realized that the design of the Ascension Ritual was less about arbitrary selection and more about following the Great Way and selecting those who were in harmony with it.

Because after the fifth level of cultivation, one must form a Dao body to be qualified to advance further; otherwise, a weak physical body simply cannot withstand the erosion and destruction of the Great Dao.

The Fire God Daoist cultivates a blazing body.

What about the Netherworld Path?
Lu Wujiu, whose thoughts had drifted to this point, shook his head, too lazy to think about it anymore.

Instead of working in isolation, we should learn from those who have gone before; the Central Plains should have no shortage of relevant information.

Now that it's confirmed that the Immortal Scroll can traverse between two realms, we can act more boldly from now on.

The next moment, another figure appeared beside the shadow clone.

—This is Lu Wujiu's true form.

He looked up at the starry sky, and those invisible shackles that followed him shattered inch by inch under the moonlight pouring down from the starry river.

At this moment, the gentle breeze was like heavenly music to his ears, and the roaring sand dunes resonated with the Dao, making him feel so comfortable that he wanted to look up to the sky and roar!

For a long time in Fan Cage, he returned to nature.

The fifth rank will no longer be his limit; he can ascend to the sixth rank or even higher at any time.

Of course, it's unlikely that one can reach the sixth rank through the Netherworld Path for the time being.

But the Fire Element Sword Style is not necessarily out of the question!
The fire spirit skull tied to his celestial palace hasn't been used up yet!
In the eighteen sea areas, there are also seventeen spare fire essences.

However, now is not a good time to ascend. He is worried that after ascending to the sixth rank, he will not be able to return to the Nine Paths Land.

"I wonder if leaving the Fire Element Sword Seed in the Central Plains will allow me to return to the Nine Paths? However, the Great Dao follows one's heart, and if this fails, it will undoubtedly greatly weaken my control over the Celestial Court! To be on the safe side, I should find a reliable method before seeking to break through to the next realm, or at the very least, refine a puppet with the cultivation of a fifth-grade cultivator..."

As he pondered, Lu Wujiu gradually came up with several directions, but it would take time to verify them.

He didn't linger any longer and turned to head towards Xiajia Village.

He walked slowly, occasionally checking the subtle differences between the Nine Paths and the Central Plains.

By the time they arrived at Xiajia Village, the east was already showing a hint of dawn, and Xiajia Village had long since woken up from its slumber.

The adults were busy casting spells to ripen crops, condense water droplets, and feed sandworms;
The young children ran back and forth;
The most difficult situation was for the older children, who were running around the village to toughen their bodies.

When Lu Wujiu came into view of Xiajia Village, he immediately attracted the attention of the villagers.

Not long after, Xia Han led three or five people out to greet them.

"Senior, you're back!"

Xia Han approached, his face full of excitement, as if he were worried that Lu Wujiu would never return.

"Ok!"

Lu Wujiu nodded.

Seeing this, Xia Han quickly introduced the people beside him: "Let me introduce you, senior. This is Xia Hong, the Great Elder of Xia Family Village, and this is Elder Xia Zhuoqun, who is also the Transmission Elder..."

Lu Wujiu nodded to each of them, his gaze sweeping over the busy villagers before settling on the half-grown children running outside the village. He asked, "Why aren't these people imparting the Dao to me?"

Xia Han said, "To be honest, senior, survival in the desert is extremely difficult. It takes at least a year to cultivate one's Dao intent, and at most three to five years. Rather than wasting it on ordinary people, it is better to focus on improving one person."

Lu Wujiu nodded; he was already aware of this.

The transmission of the Great Dao is like a core, containing the most essential nutrients of a fruit tree. To rashly allow it to branch out and spread is tantamount to weakening the cultivation of the one who imparts the Dao.

Just like the Pure Yang Sword Dao, each sword type is the condensation of a year's cultivation.

This is true for most other paths, even the Netherworld Path.

Therefore, let alone the Flowing Sand Sea where survival pressure is extremely high, even in the Nine Paths Land, the principle is that "the law is not lightly passed on, and the way is not cheaply sold."

There was a reason why he asked that question.

"When all living beings help each other, profound virtue arises; when countless streams converge, the Dao's energy endures. Therefore, I, Lu, will be staying in the village for some time. Having nothing else to offer, I will bestow upon them the inheritance of the Great Dao!"

Lu Wujiu said casually.

As soon as the words were spoken, everyone subconsciously exchanged glances, and each saw a hint of joy in the other's eyes.

They usually impart the Great Dao only after they have cultivated to the Great Perfection and reached a point where they can no longer advance. Only then will they expend their primordial energy to pass on the Great Dao.

Therefore, the number of places is extremely limited.

Lu Wujiu's willingness to pass on the Great Dao will, if not a qualitative change, certainly result in a quantitative improvement in the strength of Xia Family Village.

"Won't doing this interfere with your cultivation, senior?"

"It doesn't matter."

"How many people does the senior wish to pass on his teachings to?"

Let's set the number at fifty for now!

"Very well, I will make the arrangements right away!"

Xia Han was overjoyed upon hearing this, while the elderly Elder Xia Hong beside him looked at Lu Wujiu with a thoughtful expression in his eyes.

Before long, cheers erupted throughout the vast village, and one could faintly hear shouts of "Long live Senior Lu!"
Lu Wujiu smiled slightly upon hearing this.

On this day, the entire Xiajia Village was filled with joy, and the sounds of fighting could be heard from time to time.

Lu Wujiu inquired briefly and learned that in Xia Family Village, those below the second-class level were judged by their martial prowess, so talent selection was mostly decided through martial arts competitions. The sudden release of fifty slots naturally attracted a chaotic cacophony of fighting sounds everywhere.

The competition lasted all day, and by dusk, fifty people had finally been selected.

When Lu Wujiu went outside and saw what was happening, he almost burst out laughing.

The courtyard was packed with people with bruised and swollen faces. They had paid a “terrible” price to compete for these spots!
However, at this moment, these people did not feel embarrassed. On the contrary, they were in high spirits and looked at Lu Wujiu with bright eyes and full of expectation.

'This scene should be shown to the students of the nine major academies. To be granted the Great Dao after only ten years of cultivation—the benefits are simply too good to be true!'

Seeing this, Lu Wujiu mentally complained, then said loudly:
"Lu inherited the flaws of the Heavenly Dao, and the Dao of the Netherworld he passed down can govern the spirits of the Nine Netherworlds, command ghost soldiers, and suppress evil spirits. Upon reaching a high level, one can even forge the Yellow Springs, establish Yama, and wield the judge's pen to confer titles upon the gods of the underworld."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the courtyard was overjoyed and extremely excited.

Not to mention them, even Xia Han and the others showed signs of interest.

Lu Wujiu, who had just casually introduced himself, immediately waved his hand, and fifty Yin Talismans burst forth, like a celestial maiden scattering flowers, showering everyone's eyes.

Everyone looked at the Yin Scroll that had fallen from the sky as if it were a precious treasure, eagerly trying to put it into their bodies.

Even more remarkably, some sit cross-legged as if no one else is around, silently contemplating the mysteries of the world.

Seeing this, Lu Wujiu nodded secretly.

— Casting the Yellow Springs and establishing Yama, which is his redesigned ascending ritual, is essentially the ascending ritual of the Human Skin Book.

Because the Netherworld Path, which spreads throughout the Central Plains, will be unable to utilize the power of the Human Skin Book.

It wasn't that Lu Wujiu was stingy; it was simply that there were countless experts in the Central Plains, and using the power of the Human Skin Book was tantamount to opening a passage to the underworld.

For experts, breaking in is not a problem, but for Lu Wujiu, the risk is too great. So he simply delegated some authority, allowing them to build their own underworld.

As for where the underworld will be built?

Then it's all up to you.

Whether it's set in a deep mountain forest, or cultivated within a painting scroll or magical artifact, if one has the ability to open a Netherworld within a spiritual artifact like a landscape painting, that would be even better.

As for the future, we'll make detailed plans after he reaches the top.

For now, it's best to establish an anchor in the Middle Kingdom.

However, this is not enough.

He smiled and looked at Xia Han, saying, "Would you gentlemen like to cultivate the Netherworld Path?"

Xia Han looked pleasantly surprised: "Even a junior can do it?"

Lu Wujiu laughed and said, "You have all cultivated to the third or fourth rank and are experienced. If you also cultivate the Netherworld Path, you can also give some pointers to the disciples in the stronghold."

As he spoke, he flicked his finger, and several Yin Talismans flew towards the leaders of Xia Family Village, startling and delighting them.

Having finished imparting his knowledge, Lu Wujiu did not linger and turned back into the house.

As for the specific methods of cultivation in the Netherworld Path, he had already inscribed them in the Yin Register, so there was no need for him to elaborate.

That night, the vast Xia Family Village was almost shrouded in an eerie atmosphere, which solidified Lu Wujiu's status as a senior figure in the family lineage.

Lu Wujiu didn't stand on ceremony and demanded all sorts of magical techniques he had accumulated at Xia Family Village that very night.

Lu Wujiu was particularly envious of the techniques used to cultivate plants, gather water, and raise sandworms in the desert.

In his view, this was one of the most valuable things in the quicksand sea.

If these things were introduced to the Nine Realms, they would surely cause a massive explosion in the productivity of the people. In this way, more people would be able to cultivate the Netherworld Path and help them ascend to the realm of profound mystery.

Xia Han didn't stand on ceremony.

In his view, these spells were actually the least valuable things.

Therefore, he handed it over generously. Seeing that Lu Wujiu was looking at it seriously, he couldn't help but ask, "May I ask, senior, is there anything mysterious about these spells?"

Lu Wujiu said, "The cultivation of the Great Dao emphasizes drawing inferences from one instance to another. Don't underestimate these methods of using primordial energy. If you can master them, you are no less capable than the Great Dao itself."

Xia Han nodded, appearing to agree, but inwardly he remained noncommittal.

The Flowing Sand Sea has existed for thousands of years, witnessing the passing of countless generations and accumulating countless primordial energy techniques. However, if the Way of Primordial Energy were truly powerful, how could it remain unknown to this day?
However, although he did not agree in his heart, he tried to please him by saying, "If you like it, senior, I know some merchants and can collect some magic spells, which will not be a problem."

Lu Wujiu, understanding the implied meaning, casually condensed some innate primordial energy and handed it over: "If it's convenient, the more the better!"

Xia Han took it, his face beaming with delight: "Yes!"

Lu Wujiu then asked, "By the way, cultivation is extremely difficult. What does Xia Family Village usually exchange for cultivation resources?"

Xia Han didn't hide anything: "The village's income is quite varied, and can be roughly divided into three categories!"

"One type is quicksand sea monsters, such as sand anacondas and poisonous scorpions. However, this kind of harvest is not stable, as the area around the village has been completely looted, so it all depends on luck."

"The second is the smelting of Xuansha Gold..."

Xuansha gold is a specialty of the Liusha Sea and has many medicinal uses.

However, most people are not good at crafting weapons and rarely care about such things. The main buyers are said to be Buddhist sects in the Western Regions and Xuanmen sects in the Central Plains.

Upon hearing this, Lu Wujiu frowned and said, "If I remember correctly, you once said that the Great Serpent Sect refines Xuansha Gold by raising sand serpents. Can the Xia Family Village also refine this substance?"

Xia Han laughed and said, "Not only Xia Family Village, but almost all forces in the Flowing Sand Sea refine this substance. However, the cost is lower for the Great Serpent Sect! It is said that the Great Serpent Sect only needs to continuously add sand and secret medicine, and those sand serpents can continuously devour and digest it, spitting out Xuan Sha Jin."

Lu Wujiu frowned: "Such a powerful weapon, I don't believe that other forces can't steal it?"

Xia Han sighed: "To be honest, senior, those sand serpents are not rare. They are everywhere in the desert. Only the sand serpents of the Great Serpent Sect can eat sand and spit out gold. This is a unique secret of the Great Serpent Sect and is related to its inheritance."

Lu Wujiu seemed to understand something upon hearing this, and continued to ask, "What about the other type?"

Xia Han hesitated for a moment before replying, "Human blood."

Lu Wujiu's gaze suddenly sharpened.

"The people of the desert are all cultivators, and their blood contains spiritual energy, making it an excellent tonic. Therefore, it has always been in short supply. Many desert bandits not only plunder property but also indiscriminately kill innocent people, and what they seek is human blood."

"Does Xiajiazhai also sell blood?"

"Survival in the desert is extremely difficult, so they regularly extract blood to sell in exchange for survival supplies."

At this point, Xia Han keenly sensed Lu Wujiu's displeasure and quickly tried to cover it up:

"Xiajia Village is considered to be in a better situation, only needing to have blood drawn once a month. Some weaker villages can have blood drawn as many as 104 times a year."

"One hundred and four times?" Lu Wujiu exclaimed in surprise, "Doesn't that mean I have to bleed every three to five days?"

"Yes, if it weren't for the fact that it's only once every three days, which is already the limit for the body's essence and blood to recover, I'm afraid the frequency would be even higher!"

Lu Wujiu gave Xia Han a meaningful look, then remained silent.
He finally understood why a village of a thousand people could support two fourth-level cultivators.

This is almost unimaginable in the Nine Realms.

So that's where the root of the problem lies!

To see the whole leopard from a single spot, one must know that even members of the same tribe have their blood drawn once a month; people from other tribes must have their blood drawn countless times.

One hundred and four times is probably a conservative estimate based on sustainable development.

Of course, he was not qualified to comment on this matter. The way of man is to take from the insufficient and give to the excessive. His innate primordial energy was nothing more than a more refined way of exchanging spiritual liquids and other things for innate primordial energy.

I wonder if the human skin book can draw upon primordial energy in the Central Plains?
(End of this chapter)