Chapter 2429: The Third Day of the Third Month

Whether the wilderness's gaze was good or not was impossible to say. Jiang Wang felt no emotion under his gaze. Little Bao Xuanjing, in the eyes of this present-world deity, was also no more than grass and wood.

Out of a desire to protect Bao Xuanjing, the heavenly person dharma image opened its mouth and said: "Little friend Xuanjing, what path do you seek in the Chao Wen Dao Heavenly Palace?"

Revealing this matter, followed by the next question!

Bao Xuanjing first said "Oh!", stood up in disarray, and then looked bravely at Jiang Wang: "My grandfather often tells me, when your eyes are open, all things are curious one by one—Friend Jiang, I want to know, what was the light that fell from Friend Yuan Ye's body?"

He still wanted to ask. This also very much fit the demeanor of a child genius. The Dao in innocence!

Jiang Wang said: "Yuan Ye is the son of divine command, and a state temple sacrifice. The Original Heaven God's descent has come, and this body probably cannot bear it one by one—you see, it is Yuan Ye's own spirituality dissipating. Yuan Ye is already dead; looking now, his body also cannot last too long."

The heavenly person dharma image did not taboo the Original Heaven God, just as he did not hide the information he had obtained from the heavenly person.

Yuan Ye's face was expressionless.

Bao Xuanjing stood there, mouth open, a little surprised, and also a little scared.

In his heart, he was very satisfied.

His gaze swept from the Jade True nun beside him at an angle, and looked toward Jiang Wang who was sitting there. Once the White Bone Holy Maiden, and the only regret of the White Bone Dao Embryo, were all within his range of vision.

He felt his gaze was like a long sword, capable of easily piercing through these two people—if not in the Chao Wen Dao Heavenly Palace, but in another place.

The taste of coming out of the Netherworld was not easy to bear, because he had gone from an existence that possessed everything, controlled everything, and was as immortal as the Netherworld itself, to a weak existence that could be harmed, suppressed, and even killed. His life, from this point on, had the word "out of control", and he had to feel it long-term.

There were too many people and matters in the present world that did not follow his will. But it would not be like this forever. Coming out of the great world of the Netherworld was a necessary step on the path. He was not like those wastes who had already lost their enterprising spirit and lay in false permanence; he did not think he had an endpoint, nor did he recognize his height as a Netherworld deity.

But entering the present world with the position of a Netherworld deity was truly the most difficult thing. In this matter, he was not as convenient as a mere fur god. The more powerful one was, the more one was resisted. The weaker one was, the more one was ignored.

He tried every method, planned for a long time, and finally created a harmless White Bone Dao Embryo, truly descending and becoming a person of the present world.

All the realms outside heaven looked up to the center, and he, in the Netherworld world, had also been observing the present world for a very long time. It was always like looking at flowers in the fog, or the moon in the water; there was always a layer of haze.

Now the present world had opened its embrace to him, and he greedily sucked up everything in this world. He also solidified his initial concept, step by step weaving it into reality.

But before truly taking a big step towards the honorable position of a present-world deity, there was still one problem that needed to be solved—whether the contemporary present-world deities still had meaning in achieving their goals.

This originally shouldn't have become a problem! But the present-world deities now on the stage were truly not what people expected. There were only two present-world deities in the present world, and the situation... seemed not good for either of them.

The power of the grassland king suppressed the power of the god; Cang Tu God didn't even let out a fart—did he still exist? The Original Heaven God, however, was also a present-world deity, possessing a transcendence of honor—yet he was also too low-key!

Cang Tu God was at least glorious once; his god country was a hegemonic country, and he even had the possibility of unifying the present world and achieving the highest god position in the present world. You, Original Heaven God, don't spread god glory, don't spread faith, don't have a vigorous god country. Why hide around, letting people criticize you cheaply, like a watchdog, without even a bit of style?

The divine light was still there, but the divine might could not be embodied. Bao Xuanjing greatly doubted the weight of the honorable positions of these two present-world deities.

Of course, he didn't truly just look down on them. Deities losing their honor must have a cause. And he, in the past in the Netherworld, was deeply resisted by the present world, and basically had no way to understand this deepest layer of secret.

Was it that the honorable position of present-world deity was incompatible with today's era? Or was it the reasons of Cang Tu God and Original Heaven God themselves? He needed to understand clearly.

If it was the latter, then there was no harm. Cang Tu God and Original Heaven God were considered to have probed the path for him; the pits they stepped into, he would not step into again. If it was the former, then he needed to consider whether to give up the already prepared path of present-world deity and seek another door of transcendence.

He had just barely descended and been born into the present world; he would not go against the present world.

In fact, coming to Chao Wen Dao Heavenly Palace today, although it was to see Jiang Wang, it was also more to understand this world—he deeply knew that those who would be at Chao Wen Dao Heavenly Palace today must be heroes from all sides. The reality seen by different heroes, gathered together, was the truth of this world.

Encountering the Original Heaven God was an unexpected joy. The Original Heaven God's current state... was very problematic! This was a huge opportunity! But was there a possibility that he was fishing?

His ear had already heard the heavenly person dharma image's indifferent voice: "Next one."

Having experienced this care from Uncle Jiang towards him, Bao Xuanjing obediently sat down.

... Xiong Du stood up.

In the mighty and grand heavenly palace, a small figure sat down. In the cramped and dim prison cell, a figure sitting upright stood up.

This was Feng Du Ghost Prison. The Great Chu prince, Xiong Du, had been stripped of his honorable name and imprisoned here for thirteen years. Beforehand, no one expected that the Qin-Chu River Valley battle in Dao Calendar 3917 would actually become the node for Xiong Du's loss of power. That once favored prince, unmatched in the court and the wilderness, who once defied the monarch, became a prisoner in an instant.

But even more unexpected was that Xiong Du's reputation grew with each passing day while he was imprisoned in the ghost prison. In the vast Great Chu, there was no rootless duckweed. In a country with an extremely stable power structure and layers that were firmly unbreakable, the name would not reside with a person who had lost power. Because "name" was "power".

Slowly, many people also realized one thing—Xiong Du had neither lost his name nor lost his power. This prince, who was deeply loved by the court and the wilderness, was just imprisoned in the depths of the ghost prison. Those who wanted to build cold stoves couldn't, and petitions for the emperor to release Xiong Du increased every day. In recent years, they were even more like snowflakes, flying non-stop.

Just on this day. Dao Calendar 3930, the third month, the third day. The third day of the third month was the Seek Child Festival. It was said that the ancient human emperor, the You Xiong clan, was born on this day. So there was the saying "Third month three, born Xuan Yuan." Praying to the heavens on this day could result in an auspicious child.

This day was the opening day of the Chao Wen Dao Heavenly Palace.

Also on this day, the inner minister of the Chu Court came by decree and pushed open the door of the ghost prison! The light of the sky penetrated a gap and quickly expanded amidst the heavy creaking sound. The light changed in thousands of ways; the shadow determined the shape of the light. At this moment, it changed from a stabbing spear to a handle of a fan.

Xiong Du stood quietly in front of the prison door with his hands behind his back, wearing prisoner's clothes. No hair ornaments, no washing, no gold or jade adorning his body. His former lazy expression was just slightly restrained; today, without speaking, he naturally had a noble state that was high and unreachable, as if standing on a mountain peak! That road of skylight paved in front of him then became stairs. From the deepest trap of this country, it led to the most glorious place of this country. The straw in the prison cell seemed to have spirituality and automatically returned to the corner of the wall. Standing neatly, a gust of wind blew over in an instant, and they actually reborn as rice ears, as if on a field ridge—of course, rice ears that were full would then bow their heads, for a time bowing to the noble one above.

"Only have the prince, born in Cloud Terrace."

"Worrying for the country, loyalty unchanged."

"Bitter heart in Nine Hills, sitting imprisoned for ten years."

"Virtue a mirror to people's hearts, years and months fulfilled."

"Holding nature warm, good, humble, respectful, yielding."

"Restore his honorable name, return to Tai An Palace!"

Song Min, the inner minister of the Chu Court, held the imperial decree in both hands. With each step, he spoke a sentence. His voice was clear, his steps heavy. From pushing open the ghost prison gate, he walked step by step into the depths of the ghost prison, finally arriving in front of Xiong Du's door. The Governor of Feng Du, who always followed by his side, was like a black banner unfolding behind him, just floating over this road. At this time, he quietly took a step forward and opened the prison door. From this, there was no obstruction between Song Min and Xiong Du. Gorgeous official robes outside the prison cell, hemp cloth prisoner's clothes inside the prison cell. The inside and outside were separated, originally not firm.

Song Min held his two hands high and bowed with exaggerated amplitude: "Following the emperor's order, welcome Your Highness back to the palace! Your Highness, these years and months, you have suffered!"

Except for him, all the eunuchs and palace guards waited outside the ghost prison. Because the ghost prison was such a strict place, even for the emperor to proclaim a decree, not just anyone could enter.

Xiong Du was born in Yun Meng Ze. At the time of his birth, auspicious clouds were in the sky, gathering into a terrace. He had been in the ghost prison for many years, and he did not just chat with fellow inmates every day. He read books and wrote tirelessly, and even personally made notes on the Confucian classic "Jiu Ling"—this act was seen by many as his goodwill towards Shu Shan. The emperor released him from prison, but did not say that he was without sin, nor that he had redeemed enough sin; he only said "years and months fulfilled".

But when he was initially thrown into Feng Du Ghost Prison, it may not have said years and months. Many people thought he would be locked up until death, and did not consider the possibility of Xiong Du rising again.

Gu Chi stretched out his two hands flat and silently held out a set of ceremonial clothes. In the past, although he was in charge of the ghost prison, he did not show any false color towards Xiong Du. Today, he did not say a word, but he was already extremely humble and respectful. It seemed that he was first arrogant and then respectful, but both were skills of flattery.

Xiong Du glanced at him faintly and gave him an evaluation of being good at guessing the heavens' will in his heart. But he did not receive that set of ceremonial clothes.

"Where is the imperial honor's nobility in ceremonial clothes?" He stepped out of the prison cell, casually grabbed the roll of imperial decree, and walked past Song Min. Then, using this imperial decree scroll as a whip, he pointed to the opposite prison cell: "In this prison cell is my friend, Master Fan Shi Jue."

In that prison cell lived a shiny bald monk, sitting with his face to the wall. His lips opened and closed silently; it was unknown what dharma curse he was reciting. Although in the dim ghost cell, the Buddha light on his body was faint, and the straw beneath him was shaped like a lotus.

Xiong Du asked again: "Has the decree I requested arrived?" This sealed book of imperial pardon was not the decree he requested; it was a decision already made, the emperor's will. And his meaning was in the decree he requested.

"Arrived!" Gu Chi respectfully said: "This... Master Fan Shi Jue, his earlier entry into prison was originally a misunderstanding. Now it has been investigated clearly; he should be released without sin."

The decree had arrived early. The decree was to pardon that person, yet without name or surname. It was filled in as soon as Xiong Du spoke. Everything related to the person named "Master Fan Shi Jue" began to be woven from this point. When they walked out of Feng Du, Fan Shi Jue's past was established, Fan Shi Jue's present began, and Fan Shi Jue's future existed.

One word and the world changed; how could one thought not shake more than just one person's life? How could the taste of this power not intoxicate people? Wearing rough cloth clothes on his body, sitting in the ghost prison for thirteen years, he could, at such a moment, sober up a little. And there would be many such moments afterwards. Every time afterwards would be like this.

Xiong Du, how did you awaken yourself?

"I said Master Fan Shi Jue didn't look like someone who would do evil things; how could he be locked up here? It turns out it was a misunderstanding!" Xiong Du laughed lightly: "There are really many misunderstandings in this ghost prison, ah!"

Gu Chi lowered his head and did not speak. Chu Country had its own Ministry of Punishment, which punished crimes and penalized evil; it was not the turn of the Governor of Feng Du. The prisoners in Feng Du Ghost Prison had never been here because of crimes, ah.

"Your Highness." Song Min softly reminded: "His Majesty and the hundred officials are still waiting for you—"

"Release the master first." Xiong Du faintly instructed: "When the master goes out, I will go out."

Gu Chi quickly took two steps and stepped forward to open the prison door for Fan Shi Jue. "I have come to send the master." He said.

The chanting in that prison cell stopped at this moment. Although he was silent when he opened his mouth, when he closed his mouth, the ghost prison suddenly became less peaceful, with a kind of resentment that was hard to dispel. The monk named "Fan Shi Jue" pursed his lips and slowly stood up. His mind was pure, but he also understood what this step meant. But he did not hesitate.

He had stayed in Feng Du Ghost Prison for many days. Although he had not suffered any torture, he had experienced quite a lot. The answer he had sought for a long time, with Xiong Du's help, had also been found. Xiong Du was right; they should help each other.

He casually picked off a few pieces of straw stuck to his prisoner's clothes, gently placed them beside him, and just like this, walked out of the prison cell. Darkness and light had a clear divide. Now they all stood in the light. In the distance, continuous prison cells still held many, many people locked in the shadows. He did not know Song Min, nor was he particularly willing to get familiar with Gu Chi. He only quietly glanced at Xiong Du.

Xiong Du gave him an affirmative look. He then turned around and walked beside Gu Chi. Song Min stood expressionlessly to the side, only watching this scene with the corner of his eye—Fan Shi Jue and Gu Chi stood in the fan-shaped skylight.

Gu Chi was unobstructed by the light, his body connected to the dim shadow, standing in the light but different from the light. The skylight seemed to pass through his body, leaving only a virtual shadow of a human shape. Fan Shi Jue, however, was like his bald head, reflecting all the light. In the light, he had a clear shape. Every detail was present, clear as jade.

Both were in the light, while bright and dark intertwined. Gu Chi floated far away like a mass of dim shadow.

Fan Shi Jue followed behind the Governor of Feng Du, Gu Chi, walking step by step towards the outside. At first it was step by step, gradually each step produced a lotus. The Buddha light and the skylight could no longer be distinguished from each other.

Until both Gu Chi and Fan Shi Jue had left, and the ghost prison gate was only left with the skylight, like a huge light source. Song Min, standing at the edge of the light, then gestured to the side: "Your Highness, please proceed."

Xiong Du stepped forward and walked on the light. The skylight outside the ghost prison now poured in because of him, and at this moment, it also swept outwards as he left. With every step he took forward, the darkness behind him followed one step. In the seemingly endless depths of the ghost prison, a yin wind blew in waves, and among them, there seemed to be a faint voice—a "Boy, are you leaving just like that?"

In Feng Du Ghost Prison, many indefinite prisoners were locked up. Among them, several had existed since the time Feng Du Ghost Prison was established. Or to put it another way—Feng Du Ghost Prison was built for them.

Xiong Du did not turn his head and waved his hand: "Leaving!"

He took the last step, and the Feng Du Ghost Prison closed its door.

On the third day of the third month, there was the sound of thunder.