Chapter 355: A Chinese Ghost Story

It was mine first...

Near Lingxiao Hall, on a cloud path, Bian Zhuang, the deputy commander of the Tianhe Water Army, leaned on his jiuji dingpa and gazed at the two figures departing on clouds in the distance.

He even caught snippets of their conversation carried by the wind...

"How does this outfit look on me, Water God?"

The unfamiliar heavenly general, clad in purple armor, chuckled and spread his arms, turning in a small circle on the cloud.

The Water God nodded with a smile. "The general's demeanor is as impressive as ever."

"Ha ha ha!"

That triumphant laughter...

Bian Zhuang was overcome with infinite resentment, his body trembling, hands and feet turning cold, tears streaming down his face. He truly wanted to rush over and shout:

'Can't we both flatter the Water God together?'

A call came from behind:

"Bian Zhuang, His Majesty is summoning us."

"Coming!"

Bian Zhuang shrank his neck, slung his jiuji dingpa over his back like a great sword, and hurried over to join the dozen or so heavenly generals and deputy commanders, rushing into the Lingxiao Bao Hall.

According to the earlier orders from Tongming Hall, the twelve divisions of the Heavenly Court's armies were about to begin recruiting a new batch of heavenly soldiers and generals.

This summons from the Jade Emperor was likely for this very matter...

Li Changshou's immortal sense captured the scene and, with the Jade Emperor's second incarnation, Zhao Dezhu, he discussed the details of expanding the heavenly soldiers.

Currently, when the Heavenly Court recruits heavenly soldiers, they lure them in with promises and directly assign them to various divisions for training by the commanding officers.

The reform measures Li Changshou proposed were not radical; they simply added one more step to the existing system:

Establish a Storage Soldiers Hall, where all newly recruited heavenly soldiers would undergo unified training. Once they mastered formation techniques, they would be selected by the various divisions and incorporated into the Heavenly Court's twelve divisions.

This way, the time for new heavenly soldiers to become combat-ready would be greatly reduced, and it would also balance the strength across divisions...

Zhao Dezhu transmitted his voice: "My dear minister Changgen, regarding the issue of troop sources you mentioned earlier, I have thought about it extensively. It's true that recruiting enough heavenly soldiers in such a short time can't rely solely on the celestial beings from the lower three heavens.

As you said last time, the scattered cultivators from the Five Parts Continents and the Three Thousand Worlds are not significantly different.

However, judging a person's character solely based on merit and karma is still insufficient.

Although the number of heavenly soldiers is large and they do not hold divine positions, the Heavenly Court is a place of harmony, so we must select those with excellent character..."

Li Changshou laughed. "Why not recruit disciples from the immortal sects to serve the Heavenly Court?"

"We have tried that before, but the response was minimal," Zhao Dezhu said with some helplessness. "The Heavenly Court is established, yet no one knows about it."

Li Changshou pondered for a moment and added, "Using rewards like merit treasures for such utilitarian purposes will make it hard to ensure that the recruited heavenly soldiers are truly loyal to the Heavenly Court. In the face of tough battles, they might scatter and flee..."

"Do you have a clever solution for this, my dear minister?"

"I have three methods: quick, medium, and slow strategies."

Li Changshou took a scroll from his sleeve and handed it to Zhao Dezhu.

The latter opened it with a serious expression.

"Heavenly soldiers taking a collective oath upon enlistment... Super heavenly soldier plan... Three Thousand Worlds training base for heavenly soldiers...

Excellent, my dear minister!"

Li Changshou transmitted his voice: "This humble servant has pondered this for a long time. Your Majesty, please review it on the way. If anything is unsatisfactory or if I have overlooked something, please point it out, and I will revise it immediately."

It was truly a discussion before submitting the memorial.

Zhao Dezhu praised it repeatedly, finding nothing amiss, and carefully studied the scroll. But he soon put it away...

There was no choice; they had arrived at the Water God Manor.

A princess who had been waiting for some time leaped onto the cloud, bowed to Li Changshou, blinked her eyes, and asked a bit uncertainly:

"Water God... are we going this time?"

"Yes," Li Changshou replied with a smile. "This General Zhao and I are going to the underworld on official business, and we might head to Beiju Luzhou afterward. Would you like to join us?"

"Yes, yes!"

Long Ji's eyes lit up, and she nodded enthusiastically.

Li Changshou cautioned, "Your Highness, you'll need to hide your identity later. For now, just call me 'senior brother.' Don't reveal your background to others.

And show proper respect to General Zhao; he is a trusted general of His Majesty."

"Long Ji greets General Zhao!"

"Understood," Zhao Dezhu nodded calmly. He wanted to say something but felt a bit awkward, so he glanced at Li Changshou, who was smiling with narrowed eyes, and sighed:

"Water God, let's set off now."

"Very well."

Li Changshou flicked his whisk, leading the father-daughter pair toward the East Heaven Gate.

At this time, the underworld was not yet under the Heavenly Court's administration, so there was no direct path. They had to take a detour from beyond the East Sea to reach the Netherworld.

Perhaps because of the extra living person, Long Ji was much quieter than before. Her skirt fluttered, her long hair danced lightly, and the serene young woman exuded a refined and elegant aura...

Li Changshou transmitted his voice to Zhao Dezhu with a laugh: "Your Highness the Princess is both beautiful and wise, intelligent and quick-witted. Though young now, she will surely help alleviate Your Majesty's burdens in the future.

But, Your Majesty, why haven't you granted her any titles yet?"

Zhao Dezhu shook his head and chuckled in response: "We'll wait until the Heavenly Court is thriving. For now, it's still unstable, and her cultivation is low, so there's no need to rush.

By the way, my dear minister, do you truly have no intention of taking a disciple?"

Li Changshou sighed. "Your Majesty, to be honest, this humble servant has only been cultivating for a few hundred years, and Princess Long Ji..."

"Why should cultivators concern themselves with age?"

Zhao Dezhu laughed. "You've already said Ji'er is intelligent and quick-witted, and she admires you greatly. According to her mother, she talks about you constantly, even murmuring your name in her dreams.

Though I am the Heavenly Emperor, I cannot force you. This matter is for you to decide...

Actually, if taking her as a disciple doesn't work out, arranging a marriage might not be bad either. A three-thousand-year age difference isn't insurmountable."

Li Changshou was at a loss for words, swallowing his retort.

This feudal patriarch, arbitrarily deciding his daughter's romantic fate—if this were from his previous life, he'd be in for a beating!

He glanced at Zhao Dezhu, then turned to Long Ji and said with a smile:

"Long Ji, would you still be willing to call me 'teacher'?"

Long Ji, who had been quietly imagining the "drama" between the Water God and Zhao Dezhu, was stunned. Her face flushed red, she leaned forward, and even stood on tiptoe.

"Yes! Long Ji is more than willing!"

"I can't guide your cultivation, but I can teach you strategies and scheming," Li Changshou said, taking a jade talisman from his sleeve. "This is a military treatise compiled by Ao Yi; consider it your introductory gift."

Long Ji was overjoyed, hugging the jade talisman tightly and cherishing it. She then bowed three times to Li Changshou and softly called out:

"Teacher..."

"Very well, study this military treatise first. Ask if you don't understand."

Li Changshou spoke gently, then turned to Zhao Dezhu.

Zhao Dezhu shook his head slightly, his eyes showing a hint of disappointment...

Disappointment?

Was His Majesty that eager to marry off Long Ji?

Was it the same reason as when "Xiong Lingli was knocked out"?

She was still just a child! A child whose youth would last at least several thousand years!

Of course, while inwardly complaining, Li Changshou still continued his voice transmission and light conversation with Zhao Dezhu.

As an ordinary minister, he had to maintain some professional courtesy—flatter the superior a bit, use the right words to keep the Heavenly Emperor content, and ensure his own merits kept flowing.

They had just left the East Heaven Gate when they encountered Ao Yi leading a large group of dragon soldiers to offer tribute to the Heavenly Court. The East Sea Dragon Palace was remarkably efficient.

Upon seeing Li Changshou, Ao Yi's previously dim eyes brightened instantly. He called out, "Big brother teacher," his voice a bit hoarse.

Li Changshou went to meet him, handed Ao Yi a pill to nourish his spirit, and without mentioning the dragon clan's disasters, simply asked:

"Have you recovered a bit?"

Ao Yi managed a weak smile and nodded, then stepped back half a pace, bowed to Li Changshou, and said nothing more in thanks.

Li Changshou said, "Hand over the tribute duties to others. Come with me on a trip outside to clear your mind."

"Big brother," Ao Yi didn't agree right away and whispered, "Most of my clan members are still unsettled. There are still sporadic battles in the Four Seas..."

"It'll only take half a day of your time," Li Changshou advised warmly. "If you can't pull yourself together, how can you comfort others?"

From the side, Long Ji added, "Fellow Daoist, don't push yourself. You need someone to help you through this too."

Ao Yi sighed softly, bowed to Long Ji, addressed her as "Your Highness," and agreed to go out for some fresh air. He instructed the dragon soldiers delivering the tribute to enter the East Heaven Gate on their own.

Li Changshou added, "Before we go, bow and kowtow to the Lingxiao Hall; no need to ask why."

"Yes," Ao Yi replied without questioning, lifted the hem of his battle skirt, and kowtowed three times toward the Lingxiao Bao Hall.

Beside him, Zhao Dezhu nodded with a smile, glanced down at his current incarnation, and felt a touch of quiet dissatisfaction.

Oh well.

Being a Heavenly Emperor revered by all spirits wasn't so bad.

Three hours later, in the Netherworld, at the eastern pass of Fengdu City.

At the cliff top near this "One-Line Heaven," two burly men who had just feasted lay back against a large rock, each holding their headgear.

They hummed contentedly, smacked their lips with lingering flavor, and sniffed the air, savoring the satisfaction...

"Hey, Bull, when can we go find the Water God again?

Wandering around with the Water God is way better than sitting here bored out of our minds. Moo!"

"Stop with the moo without your headgear!

The dragons got hit hard by the West this time. The Western teachings, backed by two saints, are even more ruthless than those ancient demon ancestors."

Bull Head snorted. "But weren't they thwarted by the Water God?

So what if the sea eye was opened? It got blocked, didn't it?

Man, the Water God is incredible— even a contaminated spring could be sealed."

Horse Face patted his belly and muttered, "It's probably just stabilized for now; there might still be risks... Burp."

Just then, a voice transmission reached their ears:

"Two fellow Daoists..."

Bull Head and Horse Face's eyes widened, and they jumped up, fumbling to put on their headgear.

"Water God!"

"It's me. After our parting, have you two been well?"

Bull Head and Horse Face nodded vigorously, peering toward the east, and soon...

They remembered their Yuan Shen wasn't very strong, so their detection range was limited.

At that moment, all they could see were masses of souls and true spirits drifting from afar overhead, and a few cultivators flying below the cliff on their way to the underworld for business...

Li Changshou's voice transmission came again, laced with amusement: "I'm still miles away, bringing a heavenly general with me.

This general has an extraordinary background, and his visit to the underworld is to inspect its conditions. A single word from him to the Jade Emperor carries more weight than ten from me.

If the underworld wishes to come under the Heavenly Court's jurisdiction and gain the Heavenly Emperor's protection, you'll need to perform well and handle this carefully."

Bull Head and Horse Face perked up at this, exchanging excited glances.

Bull Head shouted, "Quick! Horse, go tell the great shaman to liven up the city! Moo!"

"Neigh!"

Horse Face turned and dashed off, leaping hundreds of feet in a single bound, sprinting along the cliff top while pulling out a stone comb to smooth his silky mane.

Bull Head rubbed his hands, jumped down to the checkpoint, and bellowed orders, sending the hundreds of shamans guarding the place into a frenzy. This also startled the few cultivators trying to pass through.

When Li Changshou arrived on his cloud with Zhao Dezhu, Long Ji, and Ao Yi, still a mile away, Bull Head spotted them and turned to shout:

"Bring the drums!"

Several shamans carried over a worn-out large drum, and Bull Head grabbed the drumstick, beating out a segment of the shamans' war rhythm.

Boom...

Drums echoed throughout Fengdu City, shaking half the Netherworld.

From afar, Li Changshou saw this and smiled faintly.

Zhao Dezhu transmitted his voice with a laugh: "Changgen, it seems you've already made quite a few arrangements in the underworld."

"Your Majesty misunderstands," Li Changshou replied. "This humble servant did nothing. The underworld heard about the dragon clan's submission to the Heavenly Court and knows of the Heavenly Emperor's benevolence, so they wish to join of their own accord."

Zhao Dezhu's eyes crinkled with a smile, though his misunderstanding deepened...

Behind them, Long Ji glanced at Ao Yi and whispered:

"Teacher has been transmitting voices the whole way."

Ao Yi nodded but said nothing, his refined face showing a hint of thought.

As they flew on the cloud to the One-Line Heaven, Li Changshou had just descended when he heard dozens of shamans chanting chaotically in their native tongue.

The shamans stripped off their underworld guard armor, wrapped themselves in animal skins, restrained their blood aura, and danced energetically to the drumbeat, performing a powerful group dance.

Once the shamans finished and stepped back, Zhao Dezhu clapped and nodded in approval.

"Moo! Make way! Get the ink and brushes ready!"

Bull Head called out, and the underworld guards at the checkpoint turned in unison, holding up ten large stones on either side. The stones were inscribed with ten large characters in what appeared to be blood:

The Underworld Welcomes You!

Reincarnation Is No Problem!

"Pfft!" Long Ji couldn't help but cover her mouth and laugh, while Ao Yi also smiled faintly.

Zhao Dezhu smiled warmly and, along with Li Changshou, boarded the underworld's prepared... ox cart.

This time, Bull Head personally led the ox in front, and before they even left the One-Line Heaven, he enthusiastically introduced the "tourist attractions" of the Netherworld.

Li Changshou asked with a smile, "Why don't I see Fellow Daoist Horse Face?"

"He's gone ahead to prepare! Moo!"

Bull Head replied casually. As they pulled the cart out of the One-Line Heaven and exited the array's seal, a sudden gust of yin wind blew in, and eerie, seductive laughter echoed from all directions.

In the distance, mournful music played, accompanied by this desolate tune, as graceful shadows flew in from everywhere.

She came, they came, with stiff smiles and chilling yin energy, all flying toward them!

They carried flower baskets, scattering petals of the other shore flower...

They hummed ballads, like the soul-snatching melodies from the mortal world...

"How's that, Water God?"

Bull Head grinned proudly. "This is our underworld's highest reception standard. If it's not enough, we can get more! We've got plenty!"