Starting with the Earth God, the path to immortality is deduced!

The golden light dissipated.

Heaven and earth returned to silence.

But the night in Fengzhou City was no longer that lifeless darkness.

But in Zhou Yuan's eyes...

The night was bathed in a soft, warm yellow glow.

That's popularity.

It is also a hope.

Zhou Yuan stood in front of the window of the mortuary and slowly exhaled a breath of stale air.

The divine seal of Fengzhou Township within the body is as warm and smooth as jade.

They are no longer as restless as before.

Rather, it is like a powerful heart.

It beats steadily.

Every pulse.

They all possess a rich, mellow divine power that flows along the meridians to the limbs and bones.

Cool!

So cool!

If the former Lishe land was a babbling brook.

That's the current land in Xiangting.

It's a rushing river!

Levels of power.

They're not even in the same league.

Zhou Yuan closed his eyes.

His divine sense stirred slightly.

boom!

My mind exploded instantly.

Countless sounds surged in like a tide.

"May the Earth God protect us, please don't let my old ox die, it's the family's only hope..."

"May the Earth God grant my wish and bless my son so that he may pass the provincial examination and become a scholar..."

"Cough cough... Earth God, this old man doesn't ask for a long life, I only ask that my departure not be too painful..."

"May I become rich! May I become very rich!"

"May Old Wang next door suffer! May he definitely suffer!"

Men, women, young and old.

Joys and joys.

There were even some trivial, or even dark and lewd, thoughts.

All of it rushed into Zhou Yuan's ears at once.

If it were in the past...

Zhou Yuan would probably be overwhelmed by this massive amount of distracting thoughts and become a fool on the spot.

But now.

He merely frowned slightly.

A thought suddenly crossed my mind.

"So noisy!"

The divine seal trembled slightly.

An invisible barrier opened up in the sea of ​​consciousness.

Those noisy sounds.

It was filtered out instantly.

Only the most devout and urgent prayers remain.

Transformed into specks of golden starlight.

It floated in his sea of ​​consciousness.

This is...

Is he the ruler of a hundred miles of land?

Zhou Yuan opened his eyes.

A playful smile curled at the corner of his lips.

He has too much power.

These ears are certainly not quiet anymore.

but.

This feeling of being in control of everything.

It's so addictive.

He looked out the window.

His gaze seemed to pierce through layers of walls.

I saw the streets and alleys of Fengzhou City.

I also saw the crisscrossing paths of the eighteen village pavilions outside the city.

I used to watch these.

It's about enjoying the scenery.

Now look at these.

They were looking at their own backyard.

Since it's your own garden.

Then someone needs to manage it.

Zhou Yuan lowered his head.

Looking at the brand-new divine seal in his hand.

Divine senses probed into it.

A cryptic message surfaced in my mind.

The head of a village or pavilion may establish his own government and military headquarters.

[By imperial decree, he is appointed as a messenger of the underworld, to command wandering souls!]

Zhou Yuan's eyes lit up.

Establish your own residence and build a dental clinic!

This is the proper treatment for an official!

The previous village land was just a figurehead.

If anything happens, I have to run errands myself.

it's good now.

You've been given a permanent position!

Although not many.

But at least they managed to put together a team.

Zhou Yuan touched his chin.

His gaze swept around the mortuary.

At last.

My gaze lingered on that trembling shadow that had been hiding in the corner.

That was the original ghost of the mortuary.

An old ghost who has been dead for over a hundred years.

He doesn't usually have any special skills.

It's just to help guard the door and scare away thieves.

When Zhou Yuan first arrived at the mortuary.

This old devil still wanted to give him a hard time.

As a result, Zhou Yuan showed off his skills a little with "Strange Tales of the Gods and Monsters".

He knelt down on the spot.

From then on.

They were loyal and devoted, always at the beck and call of their masters.

"Old ghost."

Zhou Yuan called out softly.

The shadow in the corner trembled suddenly.

It then immediately coalesced into the appearance of a middle-aged man wearing a tattered long robe and with a pale face.

It tumbled and crawled over.

With a thud.

He knelt before Zhou Yuan.

They didn't even dare to lift their heads.

"My lord... my lord!"

"Yes, sir!"

"What can I do for you?"

Old Ghost's voice was trembling.

He personally witnessed how Zhou Yuan burned that terrifying Black Bone General to ashes.

The current Zhou Yuan.

In his eyes.

That's a god descending to earth!

The oppressive aura emanating from him.

It was so heavy it felt like his soul was about to scatter.

Zhou Yuan looked at his cowardly appearance.

He smiled.

"Stand up and speak."

"The ground is cold."

Old Ghost dared not get up.

He kowtowed repeatedly, as if pounding garlic.

"It's not cold at all!"

"The little one just loves the ground!"

"My lord, your divine might is unparalleled! I kneel here with peace of mind!"

Zhou Yuan shook his head helplessly.

A finger lightly taps the air.

"Alright."

Stop flattering me.

"I have something important to ask you."

"How long have you been staying in my mortuary?"

Old Ghost thought for a moment.

Carefully extend three fingers.

"Reporting to my lord."

"In my previous life, I was a scholar in the previous dynasty."

"Because my obsession didn't end after death, I've remained here."

"If you count the days... it's been 130 years."

Zhou Yuan nodded.

One hundred and thirty years.

"It's not short either."

"You seem to be quite diligent usually."

"Although he's a bit timid."

"But their advantage lies in their obedience."

Old Ghost heard this.

My heart skipped a beat.

Is this an attempt to get rid of me?

Do they still think I'm useless and want to use me to feed that bronze lamp?

Just thinking about the terrifying flames inside that bronze lamp...

The old ghost was so frightened he nearly jumped out of his skin.

"My lord, spare my life!"

"Though I am timid, I have no disloyalty to my lord!"

"Please, my lord, don't kill me!"

"I'll definitely guard the gate better from now on!"

"Not even a fly can be let in!"

Zhou Yuan was amused by his reaction.

I gave him a light kick in the butt.

"Who said I was going to kill you?"

"I'm asking you."

"Do you want to be an official?"

Old Ghost's crying stopped abruptly.

His head jerked up.

Those originally murky ghost eyes.

I am filled with confusion.

"To...become an official?"

"My lord, please don't joke with me."

"I'm just a lost soul..."

Zhou Yuan's smile faded.

His expression turned solemn.

He raised the divine seal in his hand.

Divine power surged.

A magnificent golden light shone forth.

"I, Zhou Yuan, today take the name of Fengzhou Township Pavilion."

"By imperial decree, you are appointed as the Righteous General of the Fengzhou Righteous Estate!"

"Bestowed with the body of a ninth-rank underworld official!"

"To manage the wandering spirits around the mortuary and maintain peace in the area!"

boom!

As Zhou Yuan finished speaking.

Within the divine seal.

It shot out a dazzling golden light.

It was injected directly into the old ghost's forehead.

"ah!!!"

The old ghost let out a miserable scream.

But in that cry...

There is no pain.

There was only shock and ecstasy.

All I could see was his tattered long robe.

Bathed in golden light.

It melts away rapidly.

Instead.

It was a black official's uniform.

A large character "令" was embroidered on his chest.

He also had a ghost-head dagger at his waist.

Originally, it was an illusory and ethereal soul.

At this moment, it was so solid that it looked just like a real person.

A faint divine aura emanated from it.

It emanated from him.

Old Ghost stared blankly at his hands.

He touched the official robes he was wearing.

He then touched the ghost-head sword at his waist.

Tears.

It just flowed out in a flash.

Ghosts don't shed tears.

But the tears he shed were those of his soul.

One hundred and thirty years!

He was a wandering ghost for 130 years.

Being disliked by others.

They were being chased by the Taoist priest.

did not expect.

Today, he's achieved incredible success!

He became a proper underworld official!

What a stroke of luck!

What a great favor this is!

thump!

Old Ghost kowtowed heavily once more.

This time.

Their heads banged so hard it shook the heavens.

"Thank you, my lord, for your life-saving grace!"

"I...no!"

"Your subordinate swears to serve your lord to the death!"

"We'd brave mountains of knives and seas of fire without batting an eye!"

Zhou Yuan nodded in satisfaction.

"Starting today."

"Don't call me 'Old Ghost' anymore."

"I bestow upon you the name... Yellow Springs."

"I hope you can help me guard this gateway between the realms of Yin and Yang."

Old Ghost... no, he's now the God of the Underworld.

He was so excited that his whole body trembled.

"Your subordinate is in the Yellow Springs!"

"Yes, sir!"

Personnel appointments have been completed.

Zhou Yuan waved away Huang Quan.

Let him go out and recruit some wandering souls who haven't lost their minds yet.

The first ghost soldier squad was formed.

The staffing has been finalized.

We also need to increase manpower.

As for Zhou Yuan himself...

He then sat cross-legged on the futon again.

It brought forth the "Tales of Gods and Monsters".

That's his essence.

Shinto practice.

Having authority alone is not enough.

We also need to have the means.

Otherwise, you'll run into a tough opponent.

Talking won't do.

"Splash—"

The pages of the book are turned.

Stay on the page for 【Xiangting Land】.

The above is an introduction to the clergy.

It has become more detailed.

Zhou Yuan took a deep breath.

This will release the yin energy accumulated during this period.

There was also a trace of divine gift he received when he was promoted.

We've poured everything into it.

"Deduction!"

"I want even stronger supernatural powers!"

hum!

The pages of the book shimmered with golden light.

Lines of text.

They began to swim like tadpoles.

At last.

These two chapters have come together to form two entirely new chapters.

[Supernatural Power: Imperial Decree]

[Words become law; by borrowing the power of heaven and earth, all evil is subdued!]

[Note: This requires a large amount of incense and divine power; the higher the divine rank, the greater the power.]

[Supernatural Power: Summoning Souls]

[Through the highest heavens and the deepest hells, as long as your true name remains, your soul will instantly return!]

[Note: It can forcibly imprison living souls and awaken lost spirits.]

Zhou Yuan looked at the two new supernatural powers.

His eyes flashed with a sharp light.

nice one!

It's practically tailor-made for you!

The previous methods.

Most of them relied on brute force or the flames of the blue ghost lamp to burn them.

Although it is very powerful.

But there is a lack of change.

Now there is an imperial edict.

That is the true meaning of words becoming law.

Encountering those minor demons and monsters.

You don't even need to lift a finger.

A voice shouted, "Kneel down!"

That will make them lie on the ground and unable to get up.

That's classy.

They went up in an instant.

As for [summoning the soul].

It's an amazing skill.

From now on, who would dare to play the disappearing act in front of him?

Or perhaps someone's soul was damaged.

This move is a killer weapon.

Zhou Yuan closed his eyes.

I began to carefully comprehend the mysteries of these two supernatural powers.

The ability to analyze Shinto.

This was fully demonstrated at this time.

Those obscure and difficult-to-understand runes.

In his eyes.

It's as simple as one plus one equals two.

I don't know how much time passed.

Zhou Yuan felt his mind become completely clear.

Understanding of Shinto.

It's gone deeper.

Just then.

A sudden commotion erupted in the courtyard.

"Ouch!"

"I'm exhausted!"

"Gun Gun, you're so heavy!"

"Would it kill you to get down and walk around a bit?"

Zhou Yuan opened his eyes.

A smile appeared on his lips.

That crazy girl is back.

He got up and pushed open the door.

Just then, they saw Ma Ling'er jump down from the wall looking disheveled.

He also carried that chubby iron-eating beast on his shoulder.

Gun Gun was holding a bamboo shoot that had been gnawed in half.

He looked at Ma Ling'er with an innocent expression.

"Awoo?"

(Is it my fault?)

As soon as Ma Ling'er landed.

They threw the panda on the ground.

He collapsed onto the stone bench, utterly disheveled.

He picked up the teapot on the table and poured it into his mouth.

"Gulp, gulp..."

He drank a whole pot of tea in one go.

She finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Cool!"

then.

She looked up.

Then I saw Zhou Yuan standing at the door.

The movement froze instantly.

"Wow!"

Ma Ling'er's eyes widened.

It was like seeing a ghost.

He looked Zhou Yuan up and down.

"you……"

What did you eat?

"Why does it feel different?"

The previous Zhou Yuan.

Although it's also very impressive.

But it gives people a certain feeling.

It's like a sharp sword that's just been drawn from its sheath.

Its sharp edge was fully revealed.

But now.

Zhou Yuan stood there.

His aura was completely contained.

It's like a mountain.

A sea.

Unfathomable.

That kind of invisible pressure.

Let Ma Ling'er, the successor of the witchcraft, be the one.

They all felt a pang of heart palpitation.

Zhou Yuan smiled.

I walked over and sat down opposite her.

"It's nothing."

"He just got a promotion."

Ma Ling'er pursed her lips.

"cut."

"Stop pretending to be so profound."

"Isn't it just about destroying those black bones?"

"I've heard about it too."

"It's being spread all over the place now."

"They say you're a god descended from heaven."

"That's just praising you to the skies."

Speaking of which...

Ma Ling'er suddenly moved closer.

Extend a hand.

Palms facing upwards.

She looked at Zhou Yuan with a smile.

"that……"

"Zhou Da Tu Gong".

"The previous accounts."

"Shouldn't we settle this?"

"One hundred taels of silver."

"Add ten jars of Drunken Immortal Wine."

"One penny less."

"I'll tear your mortuary down!"

Zhou Yuan didn't waste any words.

He pulled a silver note directly from his pocket.

It was slapped into Ma Ling'er's hand.

"Two hundred taels."

"The wine is in the storeroom."

"Go move it yourself."

Ma Ling'er held the silver note.

His eyes instantly turned into stars.

"Wow!"

"The boss is so generous!"

"I love your straightforwardness!"

She happily put the banknote away.

Then a smile appeared on his face.

It gradually subsided.

It became somewhat serious.

"I've received the money."

"But there's something I need to discuss."

"I have something to say to you."

Zhou Yuan looked at her expression.

My heart sank slightly.

"explain."

Ma Ling'er looked around.

He lowered his voice.

"These three days."

"I traveled to all eighteen villages and towns in the surrounding area."

"The demons and monsters in plain sight."

"I've almost finished cleaning up for you."

"but……"

"I've noticed something's not right."

Zhou Yuan raised an eyebrow.

"Something's not right?"

Ma Ling'er extended her finger.

Dip it in tea.

He drew a simple map on the stone table.

"Look."

"This is Fengzhou City."

"These are the surrounding villages."

"I'm in these places..."

She is located in one of the few remote villages.

I added a few black dots.

"Traces of the Wukong Sect have been discovered."

Zhou Yuan's eyes narrowed.

"The Wukong Sect?"

"Isn't Lin Xuan already dead?"

"The stronghold of the City God Temple has also been destroyed."

"They're not all dead yet?"

Ma Ling'er shook her head.

He looked solemn.

"Not only did they not all die out."

"On the contrary, they've hidden it even deeper."

"Those traces were very well hidden."

"It's not a proper altar."

"But rather in some farmers' homes."

"There are strange wooden plaques enshrined there."

"That's what's engraved on it."

"Not gods or Buddhas."

"It's an eye... with only the whites of the eye showing."

Zhou Yuan was startled.

Eyes with only the whites showing!

That's the totem of the Wukong Sect!

You mean...

"Have they infiltrated people's homes?"

Ma Ling'er nodded.

"That's right."

"and."

"I discovered these villages."

"Things have been a bit strange lately."

"Some children."

"I suddenly became lethargic for no apparent reason."

"It's like..."

"It's like I've lost my soul."

Zhou Yuan's fingers.

Gently tapping the stone table.

It makes a tapping sound.

"My soul is gone..."

"It seems so."

"These rats from the gutter."

"We've changed our strategy."

"Since we can't win in a direct confrontation..."

"They started playing dirty tricks."

"We want to address the root cause."

"You've ruined my family's lineage."

Zhou Yuan stood up.

The murderous intent in his eyes.

It vanished in a flash.

"Dream on."

Ma Ling'er looked at him.

"What are you planning to do?"

"Those villages are too far apart."

"Moreover, the people of the Wukong sect mingled among the common people."

"They're hard to catch."

Zhou Yuan sneered.

"Difficult to catch?"

"That was before."

"This area now."

"I'm in charge."

He suddenly flicked his sleeve.

A beam of golden light shot towards the gate of the mortuary.

"The Underworld!"

"exist!"

The Yellow Springs God General has already changed into his official robes.

They appeared in the courtyard in an instant.

He exuded a sinister aura.

A murderous aura emanated from them.

Ma Ling'er was startled.

I almost fell off the stone bench.

"Wow!"

"What happened to that old ghost?"

"That aura..."

"It's almost as powerful as the vengeful ghost my second uncle keeps!"

Zhou Yuan ignored Ma Ling'er's surprise.

He gave the order directly to the Yellow Springs.

"Issue my decree!"

"I hereby order you to lead your Yin army."

"Head to these villages immediately."

Zhou Yuan pointed out the locations of those black dots.

It was implanted into the mind of the Yellow Springs.

"Investigate!"

"Any household that displays a wooden plaque of an evil deity."

"Mark all of them!"

"Anyone who carries evil spirits."

"Lock them all up!"

"In case of resistance."

"Kill them without mercy!"

"yes!"

Huang Quan roared.

The demon-head sword was drawn.

The cold light was biting.

"Brothers!"

"Follow me!"

Whoosh—

In the shadow of the mortuary.

A dozen or so ghost soldiers dressed in simple paper armor emerged.

Although it still looks a bit shabby.

But that chilling, murderous aura...

But it's absolutely true.

A troop of ghost soldiers.

It turned into a gust of cold wind.

It roared away.

Ma Ling'er was dumbfounded.

"You're too cruel!"

"A ghostly army passing through?"

"Aren't you afraid of scaring the people?"

Zhou Yuan looked in the direction the ghost soldiers had left.

He said it casually.

"Scared?"

"It's better than losing your life."

"and."

"I want everyone to know."

"Within the territory of Fengzhou."

"Three feet above your head."

"There really are gods!"

Ma Ling'er smacked her lips.

Looking at Zhou Yuan's profile.

Suddenly I realized...

This boy is even younger than me.

Things have really changed.

That's a kind of...

The demeanor of a king.

"Alright."

"Since you've already made all the arrangements..."

"Then I'll just wait and see."

"but……"

Ma Ling'er changed the subject.

He pointed to the map on the table.

finger.

It slowly slid towards the edge of the map.

That was the border between Fengzhou City and the neighboring county town.

"There's something else."

"When I came back."

"Just passing by."

"The territory of Qinghe County."

Zhou Yuan looked in the direction she was pointing.

"What's wrong?"

Ma Ling'er frowned.

A rare hint of unease appeared on his face.

"There……"

"It's very quiet."

"It's too quiet."

"and."

"The paper cranes I released to scout the way."

"After flying into that area."

"They... just went missing."

"Not a single message has come back."

Zhou Yuan's heart skipped a beat.

Qinghe County!

That's a neighboring county of Fengzhou.

It is also the territory of this prefecture.

A populous county.

Logically speaking...

There is a proper county god in charge there.

Shinto should be even more prosperous than Fengzhou.

How could they not even tolerate a paper crane?

Zhou Yuan closed his eyes.

Directly mobilize the authority over the [Xiangting Land].

Divine thoughts surged forth like a tide.

Following the earth's veins.

It extends towards Qinghe County.

Ten miles.

Fifty li.

Baili.

The moment his divine sense touched the border of Qinghe County.

A nauseating, bloody smell.

Coming!

No.

It's not the taste.

It's a feeling!

That feeling.

It felt like sticking your hand into thick, sticky blood.

It was cold and damp.

Slippery.

It was filled with despair and deathly silence.

Zhou Yuan's divine thoughts.

It felt as if I had run into an invisible wall of blood.

No matter what, there was no way to make any progress.

And behind that wall of blood.

A series of chilling chewing sounds could be faintly heard.

"Crunch... crunch..."

It looks like countless mouths.

Gnawing on bones.

"That is..."

Zhou Yuan suddenly opened his eyes.

His face turned deathly pale instantly.

Cold sweat streamed down his forehead.

"What's wrong?"

Ma Ling'er saw this.

He asked hurriedly.

"What did you see?"

Zhou Yuan was panting heavily.

The golden light in his eyes trembled.

He stared intently in the direction of Qinghe County.

Hoarseness.

With a hint of barely concealed horror.

"There……"

"There is no light."

"What?"

Ma Ling'er was taken aback.

Zhou Yuan took a deep breath.

He slowly uttered four words.

"Shinto……"

"collapse!"

In that instant of perception.

He could not sense the presence of the City God of Qinghe County.

I couldn't sense any clergy presence.

There was only endless darkness.

And that suffocating crimson.

The sky there.

collapsed.

The gods there.

died!

"The Wukong Sect..."

Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth.

His fists were clenched so tightly they cracked.

"Their appetite."

"Far more than we imagined..."

"Much bigger!"

The crisis in Fengzhou City.

Perhaps this is just the beginning.

A storm swept through the entire Great Ling Dynasty.

Even a catastrophe for the entire world.

It is in that unseen darkness.

It was brewing quietly.

Zhou Yuan raised his head.

Looking up at the still blue sky above.

His gaze gradually hardened.

Since the divine way has collapsed.

Then it's my turn...

Let's rebuild!

Since the world is in chaos.

Then it's my turn...

Let's fight our way to a bright and clear world!

"Prepare the horses!"

Zhou Yuan gave a sharp shout.

"Where to?"

Ma Ling'er asked subconsciously.

Zhou Yuan looked in the direction of the blood.

His gaze was like a knife.

"Qinghe County!"

"I want to go take a look."

"Who exactly is this person?"

"Dare to live next door to me."

"Let's poke a hole in the sky!"