Primordial Era: The Witch Clan's Dog-Headed Strategist

After Pan Xuan replenished the Heavenly Dao with the Fallen Treasure Coins, the merit rain on the summit of Mount Buzhou had not yet completely dissipated.

The countless purple-gold specks of light, like numerous tiny fireflies, fell from the heavens and merged into every node of the divine network.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches and the Three Pure Ones stood around the altar, each sensing the two newly added law meridians in the divine system.

The Great Way of Transaction and the Way of Acquired Wealth have now officially become part of the framework of the Heavenly Way.

"The Heavenly Way has been established; the Earthly Way will follow."

Pan Xuan withdrew his gaze from the sky and turned to look at Houtu.

"Sister Houtu, since the Great Way of Trade and the Way of Wealth have been incorporated into the Heavenly Way, they should also be integrated into the Earthly Way."

The Underworld governs the cycle of reincarnation. Before a soul can be reborn, it must undergo judgment. The judgment itself is a transaction, exchanging one's merits and demerits in life for blessings or misfortunes in the next.

However, such transactions have traditionally been determined by the Book of Life and Death, lacking any legal or regulatory framework.

If the paths of trading and wealth are integrated into the underground passage, the judgment process will be more precise, and the cycle of reincarnation will operate more smoothly.

Houtu nodded slightly, and the mark of the Lord of Reincarnation and the Ancestral Witch of Earth lit up simultaneously between her brows.

She raised her hand and took the Book of Life and Death from her sleeve. The dark gold book opened automatically in her palm, and countless names of the dead and their merits and demerits appeared on the pages that moved without wind.

With her other hand, she held the judge's pen, and with a light stroke of the pen in the void, a rift in the laws of the underworld appeared out of thin air, the other side of which led to the underworld.

The six radiant wheels of the Six Paths of Reincarnation are slowly rotating in the center of the underworld, the Hall of Judgment stands majestically, and the spider lilies on both banks of the River Styx are in full bloom.

Pan Xuan summoned the Fallen Treasure Coin back from the Heavenly Dao.

The wings on the copper coin fluttered gently the moment of its return, and the chaotic energy within the square hole resonated strongly with the laws of the netherworld.

Using the authority of the Fengdu Emperor as a guide, he infused the core of the Six Paths of Reincarnation with the principles of trading and the fundamental power of acquired wealth.

Houtu simultaneously activated the authority of the Lord of Reincarnation, connecting these two new laws with the existing laws of the underworld, the laws of judgment, and the laws of solace.

The entire process was smoother than when the Heavenly Dao was mended.

It's not because integrating into the tunnels is easier, but because the tunnels are a dimension of laws that the Wu tribe created themselves.

It shares the same origin as the Shinto network and there is no rejection reaction.

After the rules of trading were incorporated into the courtroom, the operation of the rules before the judgment seat became more precise.

Every good deed performed by the deceased during their lifetime will be rewarded accordingly.

Every evil deed is converted into corresponding karmic punishment, and the standard of judgment no longer relies solely on the judge's experience and intuition, but has a quantitative standard at the level of law.

The path of wealth is integrated into the path of rebirth in the six realms of reincarnation.

Those with profound merits will be reborn in the heavenly realm or the human realm, while those with heavy karma will fall into the animal realm or the hell realm.

These destinations in the afterlife follow a certain logic of "equivalent exchange".

The inclusion of financial principles transformed this logic from a vague causal relationship into a clear and predictable set of rules and regulations.

After doing all this, Pan Xuan retrieved the Treasure-Losing Coin, and Hou Tu also put the Book of Life and Death and the Judge's Pen into her sleeve.

The two looked at each other and nodded, without saying anything more.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches and the Three Pure Ones witnessed the entire process around the altar. Zhu Rong patted Gong Gong on the shoulder in a carefree manner, but surprisingly, he didn't make a sound.

For the first time ever, Gonggong did not dodge, but silently watched the afterglow of merit gradually dissipate above the altar.

When everyone returned to the Pangu Palace, the seven Calabash Brothers had been waiting for them there for a long time.

Chi Yan lay on the stone platform, idly playing with the flames of the Nanming Li Fire with his fingertips.

Biluo was weaving a small vine crown for Huang Yue, while Qingxiao leaned against a pillar in the palace and closed his eyes to rest.

Jin Chen, Lan Yuan, and Zi Xiao were discussing something in hushed tones. Zi Xiao was gesturing animatedly with the famous lightning bolt, Jin Chen occasionally offered a few cold corrections, and Lan Yuan, as always, nodded silently.

Seeing Pan Xuan and the Ancestral Witches enter the hall, the seven Calabash Brothers stood up in unison, and Chi Yan was the first to ask:

"Grandpa, the Heavenly Dao has been mended, and the Earthly Dao has been merged. What do we do next?"

Pan Xuan glanced at him, smiled slightly, and gestured for everyone to take their seats first.

He walked to the center of the hall, stood with his hands behind his back, and slowly swept his gaze over the Twelve Ancestral Witches and the Three Pure Ones before speaking:

"Now that the foundation of the divine way has been established, the divine office under the Heavenly Way is established."

Mountain God, Water God, Earth God, City God, Sky God, Mountain God Inspector, Water God River God.

These clerical systems have become quite sophisticated.

However, there are still many vacancies in the clergy beneath the tunnels.

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall fell silent.

The underground passage is a dimension of law that was personally opened up by the Wu tribe.

Centered on the six realms of reincarnation, with the Great Hall of Judgment as its hub.

The park features the River Styx, the Bridge of Helplessness, the Red Spider Lily, and the Meng Po Pavilion as supporting facilities.

But the actual operation of the entire underworld.

It was only through Houtu's reincarnation avatar and Randeng, the Heavenly Venerable of Soothing Souls.

The presence of four sage avatars guarding the four cardinal directions and the Netherworld Marshal Styx commanding the Blood Sea army is far from sufficient.

In the courtroom, judges are needed to assist Houtu in dealing with the countless souls that flood into the underworld every day.

Ferrymen are needed on both sides of the River Styx to guide the souls of the dead across the Bridge of Helplessness.

Someone needs to brew the Meng Po soup at the Meng Po Pavilion, and someone needs to guard the Gate of Hell.

The Wheel of Reincarnation needs maintenance, and the temporary abodes of countless souls before they enter reincarnation also need management.

All of these clerical positions are currently vacant.

"I plan to hold a public selection for the positions of the gods of the underworld in the primordial world."

Pan Xuan's voice was steady and powerful, and every word clearly reached the ears of everyone present.

"Regardless of background, origin, or cultivation level, anyone who is willing to serve the underworld can sign up to participate."

The selection criteria were jointly formulated by us.

The test assesses not only one's cultivation level, but also one's sense of justice, wisdom of judgment, and understanding of the laws of the netherworld.

This will be the largest recruitment of talents since the founding of the Shinto system.

The hall was quiet for a moment, then Zhu Rong was the first to slap his thigh and burst into laughter:

"Great idea! Openly select the gods of the underworld, choosing the best candidates! That's a good idea!"

Among the rogue cultivators in the primordial world, there are many hidden talents, but in the past, there was no way for them to stand out.

We'll have an open selection process; whoever has the ability will be selected—it's fair and just!

Gonggong nodded and said in a deep voice:

"The primordial world is vast, with countless independent cultivators, among whom there are many who have unique insights into the laws of the Netherworld."

Open selection is indeed the best method.

Dijiang slowly spoke: "The divine positions of the underworld are different from those of the gods of mountains, rivers and lakes."

Mountains and rivers need to be in harmony with the earth's veins and water veins, and the officials of the underworld need to have an understanding of the laws of the netherworld and a sense of justice.

Open selection and merit-based recruitment are indeed more appropriate than direct appointment.

Lao Tzu stroked his beard and nodded: "The divine system is based on justice, and open selection is precisely the embodiment of justice. I think it is feasible."

The Primordial Heaven interface stated, "The assessment criteria need to be formulated in advance. Fairness and Netherworld insights should be given equal importance, while cultivation level is secondary."

Tongtian went even further: "The underworld has been without officials for so long, it's time to fill the vacancies. Brother Panxuan, whatever you say goes."

Pan Xuan nodded and then gave a brief overview of the detailed assessment plan.

The first test examines one's understanding of the laws of the underworld.

Houtu used the Book of Life and Death as a guide to set up a Law-Based Questioning Array.

Those seeking the Dao step into the formation and use their understanding of the Dao of the Netherworld to pass the test of the laws. Only those who can persist in the formation for the duration of an incense stick can advance to the next level.

The second test examines the heart of fairness, with the Three Pure Ones setting up a Heart-Testing Illusion Array using the Great Dao of Yin and Yang, the Dao of Chaos, and the Dao of Sword.

Seekers will face numerous trials and tribulations within the formation.

Faced with souls whose merits and demerits are equal, and with vengeful ghosts who died unjustly.

The key to overcoming this challenge lies in maintaining impartiality and fairness when facing powerful and domineering individuals who use their authority to coerce you.

The third trial was personally overseen by Pan Xuan, who used the authority of the Fengdu Emperor to create a Fengdu illusion.

Those seeking the Dao must confront various challenges in the operation of the underworld within the illusion, demonstrating their ability to coordinate and adapt.