Zhu Yuanzhang, who commanded the wind and rain, lived a long and arduous life.

Chapter 27 You are... Zhu Shizhen, the patriarch of the Zhu family!

So, is that... an immortal?

Yang Ruchang's eyes reddened.

Although the immortal before him was wearing a mask, he was much as he had imagined, with an otherworldly air and a refined, ethereal beauty.

Fantasy and reality overlapped, and he felt that his pursuit in his life had not been wrong; he... had truly found the immortal!

Compared to the imperial astronomers of dynasties like Qin, Tang, and Song who searched for immortals, their luck was far, far better!

"You...you must be an immortal?"

Yang Ruchang's voice trembled slightly.

He even subconsciously lowered his body to look up at that person, subconsciously believing that he was inferior to the immortal.

"Yang Jianzheng, I don't know whether he is an immortal or not, so I leave it to you to judge."

Zhu Changye thought for a moment and continued, "Since you're here, you're a guest. Supervisor Yang, please come inside and have a few cups of tea."

Now, he is meeting Yang Ruchang wearing a mask.

He had considered blurring his face to meet people, just like last time, but since he lived in the mortal world, that would be too frightening. After thinking about it, he decided that a mask was better.

"No, I dare not drink with immortals."

Yang Ruchang lowered his body and then tremblingly took out the imperial edict from his bosom.

“My lord, I am here on behalf of His Majesty to read out the imperial edict concerning the appointment of a position in the Imperial Observatory.”

Zhu Changye nodded upon hearing this.

Yang Ruchang chuckled to himself, realizing that he was actually... really talking to an immortal.

Then, he shakily opened the imperial edict and began to read it aloud.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees... Yang Ruchang, the former Director of the Imperial Observatory, is hereby deposed... The Abbot of Tianyun Temple is hereby granted the title of Director of the Imperial Observatory... He is granted freedom, and no department of the court has the authority to transfer him..."

Throughout the entire recitation, Yang Ruchang looked up as he recited.

This is indeed the first time in the Ming Dynasty.

Zhu Changye was also somewhat taken aback when he heard his official title.

It turned out to be the Director of the Imperial Observatory.

His purpose in joining the Imperial Observatory was actually quite pure.

To continue improving his cultivation, he needed to be bound to the fate of the Ming Dynasty, and to influence the fate of a nation, he needed an official position in the imperial court.

After much deliberation, he decided that the Imperial Observatory was the most suitable position; as for other official posts, he, a cultivator, wouldn't be able to handle them properly.

Having a nominal position is enough.

Unexpectedly, it was the position of the head of the Imperial Observatory.

After reading it aloud, Yang Ruchang said, "Please accept the decree, Immortal."

Zhu Changye stepped forward and accepted the imperial edict.

In that instant, a voice rang in my mind.

[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have been bound to the destiny of the Ming Dynasty. The more prosperous the Ming Dynasty is, the stronger you will become.]

"Immortal, what's wrong?"

Yang Ru saw Zhu Changye receive the imperial edict, his hand hovering in mid-air without moving, and couldn't help but ask.

Zhu Changye snapped out of his daze and gave a faint smile: "It's nothing."

He put away the imperial edict.

Yang Ruchang continued to look at him, his face flushed: "Immortal... I never thought that I, Yang Ruchang, would actually meet one in this lifetime. This life has truly been worthwhile!"

As he spoke, his face became increasingly flushed.

Zhu Changye, however, frowned.

Because Yang Ruchang's aura was becoming weaker and weaker in his perception.

Count with your fingers.

Zhu Changye's eyes flickered, and he sighed, "Your time has come."

Upon hearing this, Yang Ruchang laughed and said, "I should have died long ago. That's what the imperial physicians also said. They don't know how I'm still alive, but I know for myself that it's the obsession with seeing the immortals that has kept me going until now."

Zhu Changye's expression was complicated: "Are you so sure I'm an immortal?"

Yang Ruchang laughed and said, "You and I have the same fantasy. So what if you are not real? The you in my memory will always be real."

"My lord, I hope you will continue to carry forward and enhance the Imperial Observatory."

Yang Ruchang looked as if he were giving his last words.

But he wasn't even panting when he spoke, making it hard for him to seem like a dying man.

However, the next moment, he slowly lay down on the ground and fell asleep.

he died.

Death in the secular sense.

His death was dramatic, but life is full of drama, just as reality is far more absurd than fiction.

In reality, there are also many elderly people who live on a single, unwavering belief, and they pass away on the same day they fulfill that belief.

She hadn't seen her child for many years and wanted to see her child one last time before she passed away. On the day her child came back, they had a happy meal together, and she was even healthier than before, but... she took a nap and never woke up again.

This is a final burst of energy before death.

There are many, many more examples that tell of people living by their obsessions.

Yang Ruchang was one of them.

Zhu Changye stared at him and said softly, "So be it. In the end, you will die because of me. I will send you to the Yellow Springs."

As he spoke, he produced an object in his hand that resembled the Imperial Seal of the State.

That's the seal of the City God.

As consciousness stirred, the City God's Seal lit up.

.

….…….….….….

"Where is this?"

Yang Ruchang woke up again.

However, the place where I woke up this time was completely dark, an endless expanse of darkness.

The surrounding area was filled with many statues of gods, whose faces were quite terrifying.

"Thump..."

The space around them began to tremble.

Then Yang Ruchang saw that the eyes of the surrounding statues suddenly seemed to come alive, filled with a sky full of black light. The black light did not stop there; it soared into the sky, almost tearing through the clouds.

From a distance, one could see a black ball of light slowly rising from the ground, gradually ascending until it reached the heavens.

The next second, a terrifying black light suddenly erupted, enveloping everything in an instant. It was extremely dazzling, and the light overlapped and contrasted with each other, scattering endless black rain.

The entire space was instantly plunged into a world of black rain.

In the dark rain, Yang Ruchang vaguely saw someone walking towards him with a weapon in hand.

Do not!

It wasn't a human; it was a humanoid monster with the head of a bull and the face of a horse.

Moreover, he was followed by an army.

They marched toward him in neat rows, like an army.

That is….

An entire army of underworld messengers!

Ox-Head, Horse-Face, Underworld Messengers…

Yang Ruchang's eyes widened instantly.

What on earth has happened to me?!

"Yang Ruchang, do you know your crime!"

When the underworld officials, including Ox-Head and Horse-Face, were ten meters away from him, a magnificent voice instantly resounded throughout the entire space, echoing and spreading far and wide, as if a deity were conducting a judgment, exuding utmost majesty.

Yang Ruchang was so frightened that he immediately knelt on the ground, trembling as he said, "I know my crime, I know my crime..."

He didn't know what crime he had committed, but the scene was too terrifying, countless times more terrifying than the harsh punishments of the mortal world, so he could only subconsciously confess his guilt.

"Thump..."

Upon seeing Yang Ruchang confess his guilt, Niu Tou stepped forward.

But the next moment, wisps of black energy swirled around him, coalescing into an old man holding the City God's Seal.

That person…

Yang Ruchang's eyes widened.

He had seen him before; he was the City God of Tianyun Temple.

The City God slowly spoke, but Yang Ruchang couldn't hear what he was saying. The next moment, Ox-Head and Horse-Face, along with the army of underworld messengers, dissipated like smoke.

The army of underworld messengers disappeared.

City God Zhu Changye walked towards him and said calmly, "I'm sorry, I'm new to the job and don't know much, so I got a kill order."

"My only intention was to take you to the Yellow Springs."

Upon hearing his voice, Yang Ruchang exclaimed in astonishment, "You...you are an immortal?"

Zhu Changye nodded: "Currently, I am the City God of the Underworld. I am also one of the two human gods of Taoism. Zhang Zhenren is an immortal in the mortal world, while I am an immortal in the underworld."

"Let's go, I'll lead you to the road to the underworld."

Zhu Changye walked ahead.

Yang Ruchang followed behind, still somewhat dazed.

Everything that happened after he met Zhu Changye was a bit of a shock to him, and... it felt like a dream.

The entire journey was speechless.

As they approached the Yellow Springs Road, Zhu Changye spoke, "You died because of me. Considering your merits, is there any message you have to send to the mortal world?"

Yang Ruchang said earnestly, "I want to see your real face."

Zhu Changye remained silent for a moment, then replied, "Alright."

He looked back.

They removed their City God hats, and also removed any coverings from the face of the City God statue.

His full face was revealed.

Yang Ruchang looked at him with trepidation, looking at him...

We're getting more and more familiar with each other.

Then, his voice was filled with disbelief.

"You...you are Emperor Renzu of Ming? The patriarch of the Zhu family?"

.

…….….….….….

P.S.: Thank you so much, lovely Bilian, for the 100 book coins reward!

Also, I should mention that this is a history book and will not be categorized as fantasy or martial arts. It is mostly historical content, but because it has a cultivation theme, there will be some fantasy or martial arts elements at times. Thank you for reading.