Claiming the Throne of Gods, Starting from the Rebirth of Nezha
Chapter 159: Not a Bad Thing After All

Chapter 159: Chapter 159: Not a Bad Thing After All

The newly appointed General at Chentang Pass is named Lao Lechuan. Originally, he was a minor official in Zhaoge. Although he was adept at maneuvering, in a place like Zhaoge, there was no shortage of people skilled in such matters.

Without the right connections, no amount of maneuvering would help.

Lao Lechuan’s connection was Fei Zhong.

When the news of Li Jing’s death reached Zhaoge, it was passed up the chain of command until it was intercepted by Fei Zhong, who did not report it directly to King Zhou.

Fei Zhong knew that this was a great opportunity to make money.

The death of a General was not something uncommon, but when the Emperor appointed a new General, he would definitely ask for his opinion. At that time, whoever he recommended would depend on whose ’sincerity’ was more genuine.

So, Fei Zhong quietly released the news, causing those who had been sending him gifts recently to nearly break down his door.

The one who ultimately came out on top was Lao Lechuan. Not only did he sell all his family assets, but he also borrowed high-interest loans from well-known rich households in the city. Even Fei Zhong had to give him a thumbs up for his determination and praised him for his bright future.

But to Lao Lechuan, it was all worth it.

Although Chentang Pass was a remote small pass, the combined population of the military and civilians was over eighty thousand. By exploiting each household a little over two or three years, not only could he pay off his debts, but he could also have considerable surplus.

Then, he could either return to Zhaoge to retire or live out his days at Chentang Pass as a local king, both of which were fine prospects.

"Wang Er, I heard that the Pearl Gatherers at Chentang Pass are a marvel. Their waists are slender and powerful, with smooth and delicate skin. Is it really true?"

Wang Er, his personal servant, was articulate. After pondering for a moment, he seriously replied, "Master, I’ve never been there, but from what I’ve read, one should not jump to conclusions. You have to try the tenderness of those Pearl Gatherers for yourself when you get to Chentang Pass to know for sure."

"Makes sense! Makes sense!" Lao Lechuan patted the handrail of the carriage. "Ah, reading books was not in vain."

Since the Emperor’s decree, it had been three months since Lao Lechuan and his entire family traveled from Zhaoge to Chentang Pass after Li Jing’s death.

The journey was fraught with difficulties and dangers, giving Lao Lechuan a broad understanding. His first wife, with whom he had married young, also died of illness along the way. Lao Lechuan wept for a long time, but his mind often wandered to the rumored slender waist of the Pearl Gatherer, so he wasn’t too heartbroken after all.

"It’s not a bad thing."

He comforted himself by clapping his hands together, but when he actually arrived at Chentang Pass, he was dumbfounded.

"Master Zhang, what is going on here? Aren’t you exaggerating? How could all eighty thousand people from Chentang Pass just disappear overnight?"

Master Zhang was in distress too, as a big wind arose before the people of Chentang Pass vanished.

At first, he thought it was some demon attack and was glad his family was at least unharmed, with only a dozen servants missing.

But the more he investigated, the more something seemed off. If people were blown away by the wind, why weren’t there any pots and pans left in their homes?

This could be explained: the wind was too strong, and it blew away the pots and pans too.

But what about the cured fish in the cellars?

Even the stuff in the cellars was blown away?

Master Zhang couldn’t figure it out, but it was also difficult to report to Zhaoge.

Reporting it would result in severe consequences. Although it wouldn’t mean being dragged to Zhaoge for punishment, it could lead to execution on the spot and confiscation of family property.

But if he didn’t report it, where would he find the means to pay taxes to Zhaoge next year?

Moreover, such a big matter could not be concealed for long anyway.

So, he had been waiting here for Lao Lechuan, hoping that the man from Zhaoge, with his long-involved connections, might think of a way to save them.

After all, the two of them were now in the same boat.

Yet, upon hearing it, Lao Lechuan couldn’t contain himself and, without a word, he fainted directly backward.

It took a good while to revive him, and once he did, his eyes were unfocused, and like a madman, he endlessly murmured:

"Nine out of thirteen returns! Ten thousand taels of silver! Nine out of thirteen returns!..."

...

The populace of Chentang Pass had already been taken by Nezha to Outer World Town.

Upon arriving here, they had houses to live in and land to cultivate. Those who fished continued to fish in the grand lake, and those who conducted business continued their trade. There was no longer any heavy taxation or corvée labor, and life was indeed better than before.

However, Nezha was not in the town at that time.

He had brought Bi Yun and Cai Yun with him back to Skull Mountain.

The stone patio on the mountain was as usual, and the deer regarded as the mountain spirit was still basking in the sun on the stone patio. Upon seeing Bi Yun, it let out a cheerful cry.

As they walked forward, they saw that the shattered mountain gate of White Bone Cave had been repaired.

Exchanging glances, even the usually Nezha-averse Cai Yun was filled with nothing but confusion.

Could it be that Shi Ji wasn’t dead?

They continued towards the cave, and inside the belly of the mountain, the ceiling was crowded with gemstones, like a starry sky overhead.

Not far away on the platform, a Daoist robed in bright red Eight Diagrams Immortal Robe was levitating in the air, absorbing all inspiration within the body with eyes slightly closed, appearing to be mysterious beyond belief, but any attempt to spiritually discern her presence felt like passing through the most ordinary stone.

"Master!"

"Master!"

Seeing Shi Ji, Bi Yun and Cai Yun immediately knelt on the ground, addressing her as Master.

"Why are you crying, I’m not dead yet."

"Greetings to Lady Shi Ji."

"You two fools, wait outside while Nezha, you come to the platform to see me."

Bearing the brunt of being called fools, Bi Yun and Cai Yun merely continued crying.

Shi Ji raised them, serving as both master and mother. Though she often treated them like servants, during hard-fought battles with formidable enemies, she still risked her life to use the Array to send them away.

This tremendous gratitude was also clear in the brother-and-sister apprenticeship, and they’ve been worried about Shi Ji, feeling gloomy until they finally saw her and felt relieved.

Upon the stone platform, meeting Shi Ji this time was unlike any of Nezha’s previous encounters.

Previously, he perceived her as towering as the ocean and mountains, as radiant as a sun on the horizon, only to look up and unable to see directly.

This time seeing Lady Shi Ji, he felt nothing when closing his eyes; it was as if she were not there at all, despite being so close.

"Have you resolved the issue with Taiyi?"

Shi Ji asked, and Nezha relayed everything that happened in detail.

Upon hearing this, Shi Ji nodded with a sigh, "Had you not advised me to practice the Fire Resistance Technique earlier, even if it cost me a thousand years of cultivation, I might not have survived this calamity. Did you foresee this event back then?"

"Just a coincidence."

Some things, guessed by others are guessed, but speaking it aloud is different.

"If it truly was a coincidence, you are indeed blessed with good fortune."

"Lady is jesting, not too long ago some people were calling me a disaster star."

"Fortune and misfortune are intertwined, who can truly say, even immortals and mortals are merely struggling to endure day by day." Shi Ji opened her eyes, her azure gaze illuminated with sharp light. "The Nine-Pattern Divine Pill, vigorous energy like a tidal wave, unyielding with overwhelming momentum, its reputation is indeed well-deserved. Do you really intend to compete with Yang Jian in the future?"

"Thanks to your blessing, my lady."

Nezha spoke with considerable modesty, remembering the name Yang Jian. Although they never met, he longed for the encounter, hoping that he would not turn out to be as disillusioning as Jiang Ziya.

"Nezha has no grievances nor enmity with Yang Jian, and therefore no reason to compete. If possible, Nezha would rather be friends with him."

She merely smiled at these words, and after a while, coldly said, "The resources of heaven and earth appear limitless but are truly finite. If you want to cultivate to immortality and he wants the same, everyone strives to ascend. In the end, how can there be no competition?"

Nezha thought that this was just his lady being overly cynical. Could it not be, that I have what you want, and you have what I want, and we exchange what we need so that everyone is satisfied?

But soon after, Shi Ji asked again, "Stop dawdling, what do you plan on doing about Cai Yun?"

"What’s going on with Cai Yun, Senior Sister?"

Nezha was genuinely surprised, having only met Cai Yun once or twice before and never seeing a smile upon meeting.

This time around, owing to Shi Ji’s affairs, although their meeting did not result in direct conflict, it wasn’t exactly a welcoming encounter either.

What he hadn’t realized before was that Cai Yun was a female cultivator, and apart from being cold, she had an unusually delicate look.

Remembering that he had previously patted her butt, he silently chided himself: No wonder this girl bore such hatred towards me.

"You cheeky brat, pretending to be clueless. That young girl has come of age and yet to see the world, nor met any decent men, was enchanted by a kid like you, and what do you plan to do?"

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