Transmigrating to another world, starting as a mountain god

Zhengtai Biao set off happily, taking Li Xiaoan with him.

Sending Li Xiaoan is purely for training purposes.

Zhengtai Biao is the real trump card for defending the title.

After they left, Li Yuan intended to return to continue his intensive study of the seventy-two profound arts of the Earthly Fiend Path.

But in the darkness, a voice seemed to be softly calling out.

Li Yuan stood atop Anshan Mountain, gazing into the distance with a somewhat solemn expression.

He seemed to hear... countless voices calling out firmly—

Come back home.

As Li Yuan was deep in thought, a wisp of black mist suddenly emerged from the earth.

Dark clouds gathered on the horizon, and the sunlight seemed to shy away at that moment.

Despite the bright sunshine, there was a patch of shade on the top of Anshan Mountain.

A hunched-over skeletal figure emerged from the yellow earth and bowed slightly to Li Yuan.

"The underworld, the immortals of the netherworld?"

Li Yuan was somewhat uncertain.

The skeletal figure was draped in a black robe, its eyes flashing with eerie green fire, and it leaned on a black banner.

A large red character '引' (yin) was written on the flag.

"I am a fifth-rank guide in the Department of Salvation under the Six Paths of Yama, the King of Hell in the Underworld."

"I have come seeking help, and here I pay my respects to the righteous deity of the Heavenly Court—the Mountain God of Anshan."

The skeletal figure's voice was hoarse, like the sound of bones grinding together.

As the skeletal figure spoke, a series of mournful wails echoed throughout the world.

Golden light involuntarily emanated from Li Yuan's body, as if neutralizing the deathly aura emanating from the skeletal figure.

"Please get up."

"What is it that requires the attention of a lowly mountain god like myself?"

Li Yuan remained expressionless and returned the greeting formally.

Although the underworld is also under the rule of the Heavenly Court, it is a world of its own with a rather complex system.

There is usually little contact between the celestial gods and the underworld immortals. When they do meet by chance, they treat each other with respect.

The skeleton guide sounded somewhat helpless.

"To the west of this territory, there is a battlefield for mortals."

"The three mortal kingdoms were engaged in a direct battle there."

"With the outbreak of this war, there will naturally be many dead."

"The task of ferrying souls is therefore quite arduous."

Li Yuan nodded, used his immortal power to conjure a cup of tea, picked two tender leaves, and invited the skeleton guide to sit down and talk.

The skeleton guide solemnly accepted the tea, sat cross-legged on a blue stone in front of Li Yuan, and savored it carefully.

"The divine power transforming into tea, truly wondrous..."

"We immortals of the underworld are shrouded in the aura of death, so drinking this tea made with pure immortal energy is like savoring a delicious delicacy."

The green will-o'-the-wisps flickered a few times in the empty eye sockets of the skeleton guide.

The tea entered its mouth, but instead of flowing out of its bones, it transformed into streams of immortal energy and disappeared.

Li Yuan smiled, then reached out and produced several fresh fruits out of thin air.

He even picked some of the tender branches and leaves of some medicinal herb seedlings.

Li Yuan, who frequently peruses the "Hundred Records of Immortals," already knows how to entertain the immortals of the underworld.

The Underworld Immortals reside in the netherworld year-round, surrounded by malevolent energy, and are most fond of things full of life.

"The guides have worked hard, so they should eat some simple food to replenish their strength so they can continue to work for the underworld."

Looking at the somewhat reserved guide, Li Yuan smiled faintly.

Upon hearing this, the Skeleton Guide also gave Li Yuan a 'friendly' smile.

Although Li Yuan found it extremely ferocious.

After a few polite words, the skeleton guide steered the conversation back to the main topic.

"The matter of guiding souls is the duty of us guides."

"No matter how much ordinary mortal souls yearn for the world or how deep their attachments are, they cannot withstand our gentle waving of the guiding flag."

The skeleton guide pointed to his black flag and said.

Li Yuan nodded, indicating that he was listening attentively.

The skeleton guide suddenly looked somewhat troubled.

"The battlefield is filled with a heavy aura of life and death, and is a place where the souls of hundreds of thousands of mortals gather after their deaths."

"Even we guides must be careful when ferrying souls."

"We will be more lenient towards the souls of those ordinary soldiers who died in battle."

"Most of the soldiers' souls obediently followed us."

"However, it seems that the souls of most of the soldiers from An Yue Kingdom are particularly fixated on returning home for one last look..."

"this......"

The skeleton guide looked at Li Yuan with a troubled expression.

It's quite remarkable that the skull face could express emotions so humanly.

Li Yuan sighed.

"Those soldiers fought for their country and were buried in foreign lands. Naturally, they wanted to come back and take one last look at the homeland behind them."

Even the skeleton guide sighed.

"Such obsession is something we guides usually wouldn't pay attention to."

"But the souls of those soldiers did not wish to leave with me, and I could not force them to go..."

"If we ask other guides for help, not only will our reputation be weakened, but the reward of Netherworld Essence will also be divided up..."

Li Yuan understood that the skeleton guide was somewhat helpless against the large number of dead souls with strong malevolent energy.

Too many souls refused to return, their obsessions too strong, exceeding the capabilities of the guide.

If we ask other underworld guides for help, our performance quota will be taken away from us.

So, after asking those lost souls, the skeleton guide came to Li Yuan for help.

Anyway, Li Yuan is a celestial being from the Heavenly Court, and he has no need for that Netherworld Essence.

"How can the guide assist me?"

Li Yuan inquired.

Heaven forbids him from interfering in war, but he should be able to do something about this.

The green will-o'-the-wisps flickered a few times in the skull guide's eye sockets:

"The souls of those soldiers who died in An Yue all chanted the name of the Anshan Mountain God, yearning for someone to take them home for a final look."

"If the Anshan Mountain God is willing to take action, he can step forward and order them to return with me."

Li Yuan remained silent for a moment.

"May I bring them back to see?"

The skeleton guide slightly opened its jaw, revealing a terrifying smile:

"The souls of mortals are fragile. If they want to cross mountains and rivers, they will dissipate without sufficient divine protection."

"Moreover, this is an act against Heaven, and it does not please Heaven. Every step you take is burning your merits and incense to compensate the souls of the living."

"The journey is long, and the price paid by the Anshan Mountain God is far too great."

Li Yuan's eyes gleamed:

"So, I can bring them back without overstepping my bounds."

"Heaven's displeasure doesn't mean Heaven's refusal, right?"

Now it was the Skeleton Guide's turn to fall silent.

"Mountain God of Anshan, why have you gone to such lengths?"

It sighed, and the will-o'-the-wisps in its eye sockets flickered a few times.

"If you were to bring back so many souls, it might burn away all the merits you have accumulated."

"Why go to such a great cost just to let them see their home one last time?"

"Once you enter the cycle of reincarnation, you will forget everything."

Why should people's thoughts trouble their minds?

Li Yuan gazed into the distance.

The memory of the battle at that mountain still lingered in his mind like a thorn.

If we were to bring those fallen heroes home, our cultivation would inevitably suffer a great loss, and our merits would be scattered.

This is clearly not a wise move.

However, Li Yuan simply couldn't do what the Skeleton Guide had said: appear on the battlefield and order the heroic souls to return.

Those were all heroic soldiers who sacrificed their lives for their country, and passionate and fearless souls.

"I'm going to bring them back."

Li Yuan closed his eyes, as if he had made up his mind.