I built the Jade Capital with the Netherworld

Chapter 206 The Birth of the Immortal Palace

As dawn breaks and all things begin to awaken.

The rising morning mist was torn into fluffy strands by the sea breeze, hanging between the mountains and deep valleys, like a dreamlike land.

Wu Yazhi, however, had no interest in appreciating the view. His gaze swept across the distant sea, which seemed to merge with the clouds, and landed on his close friend Zhang Jichuan standing on the edge of the cliff. He exclaimed in shock:

"Are you really going to seek refuge with the Eighteen Seas?"

Zhang Jichuan's full head of gray hair, casually tied into a Taoist bun, appeared even more disheveled and aged, accentuated by the jade hairpin.

He smiled and turned his head slightly to look at his friend:
"Yeah, what about you? Want to come along?"

"You, you're insane! Going against the Celestial Court, you don't want to live anymore."

"Even if I do nothing right, how can I survive?"

Wu Yazhi was taken aback and subconsciously asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Zhang Jichuan laughed and said, "I entered the Dao at the age of sixteen and have experienced many ups and downs. Even though I have cultivated for twenty years, I am still going to die. I don't want to die, so I want to try my luck in the Eighteen Seas."

Wu Yazhi finally realized that after the Eighteen Seas issued the order to purge the court of corrupt officials, they had widely issued invitations to recruit talented individuals.

It is said that as long as one pledges allegiance to the Eighteen Seas, one can gain three months of lifespan.

This has made many independent cultivators eager to try their luck.

"The matter of lifespan is utterly illusory; do you really believe the nonsense from the Eighteen Seas?"

"If he lies, he will only alienate himself from the world!"

"But you're only fifty. In this age of great strife, you could very well join the ranks of immortals and be reincarnated. Why risk seeking more lifespan?"

"Isn't it risky to be in the Celestial Court?"

"The Celestial Court possesses nine great mystical gates..."

"What does that have to do with you and me? Aren't you and me also on the front lines?"

"But in the end, the Celestial Court has a better chance of winning."

"The Sea Guardian Sect Master has already reached the fifth rank, and he has eighteen fourth-rank sea monsters under his command. In terms of strength, he far surpasses the Celestial Court."

"The Celestial Court also has the Jade Emperor..."

"This is a small world. The Jade Emperor cannot descend here. Even if he could, he would only be a fifth-level cultivator. The Sea Guardian Sect Master is already invincible. This world will surely be divided in two: the land will belong to the Celestial Master, and the East Sea will belong to the Water Official."

Zhang Jichuan spoke with absolute certainty, seemingly to his close friend, but in reality, he was convincing himself.

Wu Yazhi remained silent.

After a long silence, he cupped his hands and said, "We'll meet again someday. We're enemies, not friends. Take care!"

Zhang Jichuan remained silent for a long time, then bowed in return, jumped off the cliff, and disappeared into the morning mist.

Wu Yazhi remained silent for a long time before turning and leaving.

On this day, a similar scene often unfolded in the Nine Paths Land.

With the announcement of the purge of corrupt officials in the eighteen sea areas, and the promise of a long life and generous rewards, countless people are eager to take advantage of the situation, and some have even already defected to the authorities.

Compared to the ethereal cycle of reincarnation and rebirth in the Celestial Court, the visible lifespan offered by the Eighteen Seas is undoubtedly more attractive to those nearing the end of their lives.

Most importantly, the strength displayed by the Eighteen Seas is not weaker than that of the Celestial Court on the surface. With Lu Jun, a great cultivator who has also reached the fifth rank, suppressing them, they naturally attract countless supporters. As one side gains and the other loses, many people in the Celestial Court feel lost!

This is something that the Six Ren Immortal Master, Xuanbing Sijun, feels most clearly!
He hurriedly knocked on the door of the Celestial Master's Mansion and said succinctly, "Celestial Master, something terrible has happened. Ever since the rebels started using lifespan as a reward to recruit soldiers, the Xuanbing Division's recruitment has been much worse than before. If this trend continues, I'm afraid there won't be enough soldiers!"

As he spoke, he handed over a jade slip, which detailed the events described in detail.

"Ok?"

Lu Wujiu frowned, and his expression darkened slightly as he scanned the jade slip with his divine sense.

An unforged sword will always lack seven-tenths of its sharpness.

The Celestial Court was established without bloodshed and death, resulting in a mixed quality of soldiers in the Xuanbing Division.

With the sudden outbreak of war, we have no choice but to recruit temporarily.

Unexpectedly, with the purge of corrupt officials from the eighteen seas, the enthusiasm of the common people to sign up was far lower than the celestial court had imagined.

Most temples and monasteries are taking a wait-and-see approach!

"Master, in my humble opinion, the reason why people have this attitude is that the threshold for reincarnation is too high, far less clear and visible than lifespan. Therefore, the enthusiasm for registration is not high. Do you think it possible to lower the threshold?"

The Six Ren Immortal Master tentatively inquired about the matter.

That's right. The merit required for reincarnation is extremely high. Once you're on the battlefield, the merit you painstakingly accumulate might not even be enough for reincarnation, so naturally, people lack enthusiasm.

There's something the Six Ren Immortal Master hasn't said yet.

That is, not only is there a lack of enthusiasm among the common people, but the morale of the soldiers of the Xuanbing Division is also low.

The Celestial Court was ultimately a hastily established, makeshift organization.

Lu Wujiu fell into deep thought, and after a long while said, "Using lifespan to fight against reincarnation is a way to fight tooth and nail. In this way, all those who join the army and go to the front lines will enjoy a reincarnation opportunity."

Upon hearing this, the Six Ren Immortal Master's pupils dilated, and he exclaimed with great joy, "The Celestial Master is wise!"

Lu Wujiu remained expressionless. Was this wise? He was clearly forced into this situation.

Once this door is opened, the number of people joining the army will inevitably surge, but what about the aftermath of those who die in battle?

Did they all reincarnate into the human world?

It's not that it's impossible, but Lu Wujiu always felt that it would be against the natural order. After all, once war breaks out, the death toll will inevitably be in the tens of millions. With the population of the Nine Paths, such a scale would be easy to digest, but the frequency would be too high, which might cause turmoil in the world.

It's important to know that in places where powerful and wealthy people have the right to have their first child, women in ordinary households are often killed by being thrown to their deaths during their first pregnancy.

If people discover that they have been reduced to breeding machines, any fetus exhibiting abnormal behavior may be slaughtered.

While the Celestial Court could offer compensation, Lu Wujiu remained concerned about the possibility of extreme situations.

Human nature has always been emotional.

'If only there were magic spells like artificial wombs.'

Thinking of this, Lu Wujiu suddenly had a bold idea.

After seeing off the Six Ren Immortal Master, he flashed into the Broken Soul Cliff, reached out and pointed in the air, a drop of ink floated out, quickly dispersed, and transformed into a pregnant woman.

Lu Wujiu looked the remnant soul up and down, then grabbed a remnant soul and threw it into the Broken Soul Cliff.

Under the influence of rising clouds and mist, the remnant soul quickly transformed into a wisp of soul water and fell into the cycle of reincarnation.

This time, however, Lu Wujiu deliberately interfered, directing the reincarnation path towards the woman in the painting before him.

Immediately, the remnant soul fell into the passage.

Lu Wujiu tensed up, his gaze fixed on the woman in the painting. He could clearly feel a wisp of remnant soul entering the woman's body, as if merging with the "deceptively real" fetal energy.

This time, however, there was no feedback from the innate primordial energy.

"Is it done?"

Lu Wujiu's heart pounded.

Just as he was about to control the woman in the painting to give birth, he saw that the wisp of remnant soul suddenly decay rapidly, turning into ashes in an instant and disappearing into the world.

"This is……"

Lu Wujiu frowned slightly: "Is this because of a lack of innate primordial energy?"

He pondered for a moment, then waved away the figure in the painting before him, and with another flick of his finger, conjured another figure from the painting.

The difference is that the primordial energy within the human body in this painting is incredibly pure and even surging.

Lu Wujiu then summoned another remnant soul and threw it into the Broken Soul Cliff. As the remnant soul passed through the reincarnation passage and fell into the body of the person in the painting, Lu Wujiu's heart immediately jumped into his throat.

One breath, three breaths, five breaths... the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

As time passed, this remnant soul not only showed no signs of decaying, but instead grew stronger.

"It really is because of the remnant soul!"

Lu Wujiu was overjoyed and immediately used magic to induce labor. A moment later, a baby was born, but Lu Wujiu's pupils suddenly contracted…

After reaching the fourth rank, Ranzhendao, who had made little progress, actually made a visible advancement at this moment.

"Is this because... you deceived the Heavenly Dao?"

Lu Wujiu murmured.

Looking at the baby in front of him again, his eyes turned grotesque, and he realized with a start that he was challenging human ethics.

He took a deep breath, cleared his mind of distractions, and silently observed the baby in front of him.

The true path of defilement is one that cultivates the ability to mistake the false for the true and to paint the fake as real.

But no matter how realistic the painting is, it is still fake.

Once the magic power of the painting is exhausted, everything immediately collapses.

What if it's a baby?

Lu Wujiu watched coldly. Under his precise control, after three incense sticks had burned, the infant turned into a puddle of ink.

On the ink stain, a wisp of an infant-like remnant soul stands alone.

“It’s feasible, but the problem of the true power of the Dao must be solved! What if the remnant soul carries the Yin Talisman and reincarnates, using the Yin Talisman for power? In the future, as long as the cultivator’s primordial energy is not exhausted, the physical body will naturally remain forever.”

Lu Wujiu quickly came up with a solution.

He flicked his finger and shot a Yin talisman into the remnant soul's body, then cast it back into the cycle of reincarnation.

As the baby was born, the physical body, which should have dissipated after three incense sticks burned, was able to continue this time, supported by the Yin Talisman.

"It's done!"

Lu Wujiu's pupils contracted sharply, and his whole body trembled slightly.

Because he vaguely realized that he seemed to have pushed open a door to terror.

He looked at the figure in the painting that had not yet faded away. Under the influence of Ranzhendao, although she was lifeless, she looked like a real person, her face radiating maternal glow, making it unbearable to look at!

"call--"

Lu Wujiu took a deep breath, pondered for a moment, and then reached out and pointed at the air again. A black seed appeared out of thin air, landed, and immediately blossomed and grew.

In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a towering tree, with flesh-colored fruits growing from among its branches and leaves.

At first glance, it looks like a fruit, but upon closer inspection, it seems to be throbbing, as if it were alive!

Lu Wujiu remained expressionless, reached out and grabbed a dozen remnant souls, throwing them into the Broken Soul Cliff.

A moment later, the flesh-colored fruits on the tree began to throb more joyfully, as if they were giving birth to life.

Before long, the fruit ripened, split open, and a large amount of amniotic fluid poured out, from which a baby was born!
"feasible!"

Lu Wujiu's eyes twitched, and even the towering tree seemed a bit out of place.

After thinking it over, he waved his hand, and everything before him vanished like dust.

He pointed into the air again, and a drop of ink fell, turning into a pool of water. The water was clear and seemed to contain nothing.

Another batch of remnant souls fell into the Cliff of Broken Souls.

Lu Wujiu silently gazed at the pool in front of him.

This time, he was disappointed. The pool remained calm and still, not only failing to nurture a baby, but also failing to retain a remnant soul.

"Should we still follow certain laws of life?"

Lu Wujiu murmured, and then began to try it patiently.

He changed the shape of the pool water time and time again, testing the limits of reincarnation and rebirth little by little, and even changing the initial form.

After an unknown amount of time, Lu Wujiu finally tested his limits and waved away everything in front of him.

His figure flashed and disappeared from the Broken Soul Cliff, reappearing above the Immortal Palace.

He surveyed the area where the Nine Offices were located, pondered for a moment, and then slowly landed behind the Lingxiao Palace.

The Lingxiao Palace, in name, is the place where the highest power in the Celestial Court resides, and the office of the Jade Emperor.

However, because the Jade Emperor never appears in person, this place has become a spiritual totem, with no one else besides a few maids and guards who maintain the environment.

So much so that no one noticed Lu Wujiu when he appeared.

That’s fine!

Lu Wujiu's heart stirred, and he drew a brush out of thin air and began to draw.

With each splash of ink, buildings rise from the ground.

Only then did the guards of the Lingxiao Palace react, and were shocked. They rushed over, only to bump into Lu Wujiu. They were so shocked that they secretly groaned in despair.

"Go out and keep watch; no unauthorized personnel are allowed to approach!"

Lu Wujiu reprimanded.

The guards responded with a resounding roar. Once outside the building, they discovered that this suddenly appearing structure was shrouded in mist and clouds, and was breathtakingly beautiful.

It looks exactly like the shape of the Bagua (Eight Trigrams).

Then I remembered that in that fleeting glimpse just now, I had vaguely seen a pool recessed in the center of the building.

Is Master Lu planning to build a hot spring?

The guards were lost in thought when Yan Qi, the Goddess of Fertility who had suddenly received a decree from the Celestial Court, rushed to the scene, also looking surprised.

"This humble servant, Yan Qi, greets the Sect Leader."

Yan Qiying made a gesture of blessing, not mentioning the Heavenly Master, but instead referring to the leader of the sect, her ulterior motives obvious.

Lu Wujiu didn't take this little trick seriously and casually asked, "How has Old Lushan been lately?"

Yan Qi pursed her lips and said, "To be honest, the Liangyi Sect is becoming increasingly prosperous, but the nursing home is declining. Apart from the original group of elderly people, the nursing home rarely accepts any more elderly people."

Lu Wujiu asked in surprise, "Oh, what's the reason for this?"

Yan Qi said, "With the emergence of the Nine Dao Academies, everyone pursues longevity with Heaven and Earth. Even if some people join the Yin-Yang Sect, they mostly cultivate the Netherworld Path."

Lu Wujiu was taken aback, then suddenly realized what was going on.

That's right. The Taiyin Refining Form Path was originally a flawed path that he modified. He no longer cultivates it, let alone his disciples.

Since no one is practicing cultivation, the ascension ceremony at the nursing home is naturally unnecessary.

If he hadn't personally overseen the admission of the first batch of elderly people to the nursing home, the Liangyi Sect would probably have expelled them all.

Reviving the Yin-Yang School?

The thought had barely crossed his mind when Lu Wujiu shook his head and rejected it.

Products that are outdated are meaningless to revive, no matter how much effort is poured into them.

"Go back and tell the Liangyi Sect that even if they have to abandon the Taiyin Refining Form Dao, they must ensure the safe departure of the elderly people who were initially taken in by the nursing home."

"Your humble servant obeys!"

Yan Qi bowed deeply.

"How is the Palace of the Goddess of Fertility doing these days?"

"Thanks to the blessings of the Master, I am highly respected in the surrounding villages, and the Palace of the Goddess of Fertility is thriving!"

"Really? Do you have any plans to take up a position in the Celestial Court?"

The Celestial Master is indeed nostalgic... Yan Qi was overjoyed upon hearing this and was about to shout "I do!" but then she hesitated and quickly said, "I am still atonement for my sins. If I were to rashly join the ranks of immortals, I fear it would damage the Master's reputation and be detrimental to him."

Lu Wujiu pondered for a moment and said, "It's alright, it's not impossible to atone for one's crimes by performing good deeds."

Yan Qi was overjoyed: "I will obey the sect leader's orders in everything."

Lu Wujiu nodded: "Very good. From this day forward, you will be the master of the Birth Immortal Palace."

(End of this chapter)