Refining the Dao into Godhood: A Tale of the Jie Sect
Chapter 77 [The Persistence of Virtues in the Underworld, The Netherworld Sun Hanging High] (Please Subscribe)

Chapter 77: Chapter 77 [The Persistence of Virtues in the Underworld, The Netherworld Sun Hanging High] (Please Subscribe)

Jie Sect summoned ten thousand immortals for an audience; not to mention three Ghost Emperors, even thirty or three hundred would be insufficient to win the sincere allegiance of all spirits in the Primordial World.

Daoist Duobao, being a Jie Sect disciple inheriting the mantle, indeed had the qualifications and strength, but his aspirations did not lie in this direction.

The same was true for Jin Ling Saint Mother.

Xuanqing, on the other hand, was quite interested in these authorities, but having already been decreed by Lady Houtu as the Tai Mountain Lord, he wielded even greater power than that of the five directional Ghost Emperors and was thus unsuitable to occupy the position of a Ghost Emperor.

"I think disciple Gongming and disciple Wudang would be a good choice!" Xuanqing pondered and said, "Both of them are now Daluo Golden Immortals. Serving as a Ghost Emperor would be more than enough for them! However, disciple Gongming is currently managing external affairs, and disciple Wudang is in seclusion; I wonder if they have the capacity?"

Xuanqing also felt a headache coming on.

The position of a Ghost Emperor was best filled by a Daluo Golden Immortal. Without sufficient cultivation, even with Emperor Shangqing’s presence, it would be hard to command respect from all manner of goblins and deities.

Among the Jie Sect, only a few core disciples had broken through to the level of Daluo Golden Immortal.

The rest fell short.

"If virtue does not match one’s position, disaster is sure to follow," this saying was no idle threat.

He thought for a moment and frowned, "Teacher, why don’t you ask some powerful allies who are friendly with you? Preferably those who have listened to the Daoist Ancestor’s teachings at the Purple Cloud Palace, or who are on good terms with the three sects of Xuan Sect! Loose Cultivators will also do!"

"The leading authority of the Underworld may rest with Lady Houtu and our Xuan Sect, but if all the disciples are from Xuan Sect, it won’t be long before someone starts gossiping!"

"The ideal structure is for Xuan Sect to take the lead with Loose Cultivators as allies, embracing compatibility and inclusivity!"

Where there are people, there will be gossip. Just as the Demon Clan currently controls the Nine Layers Heaven, with Emperor Jun strengthening the Demon Clan by capturing the essence of the sun, moon, and stars with large formations, it has led many cultivators to dissatisfaction with the Demon Clan.

Originally, the sun and the moon shone impartially, and all creatures in the Primordial World could draw from their essence. Now, however, it has become the exclusive property of the Demon Clan.

Being greedy for sole gain might lead to advantages for a while, but over time, it is sure to incur the wrath of both the heavens and people.

In Xuanqing’s view, the future downfall of the Demon Clan, with everyone calling for their destruction, is not without this reason.

"That’s an excellent point!"

Emperor Shangqing also found it to be very reasonable.

Subsequently, under the leadership of Emperor Shangqing, with assistance from Daoist Duobao and Xuanqing, countless Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures flew out, transforming into various Acquired Spiritual Treasures in their hands.

The Ghost Gate, Naihe Bridge, Fengdu City, Yama Palace, Sinful Mirror Platform, Reincarnation Pool...

These iconic infrastructure of the Underworld, as remembered by Xuanqing, were all forged by them and situated throughout the Netherworld, establishing the most fundamental order of the Underworld.

"Devastating Divine Thunder!"

After completing these tasks, Xuanqing took a deep breath and in the World of Darkness, established Twenty-four Prisons to judge the souls whose Karma was too heavy before their demise.

In his memory, the portrayal of the Underworld and reincarnation according to the future generations, were very different between Buddha Tao and Daoism; the Buddhist Sect taught about the Six Paths of Reincarnation and Eighteen Layers of Hell, while Daoism spoke of the Five Paths of Reincarnation and Twenty-four Prisons, with one less Asura Path compared to the Buddhist cosmos yet six more layers of Hell.

Could it be that in the future, disputes over the authority of reincarnation and conflicting philosophies would lead to a catastrophic destruction of the Six Paths of Reincarnation and the Underworld?

Moreover, in later generations, Minghe Ancestor and Asura Sect seemed to vanish without trace, as if evaporated from the human world, yet within the Eight Divisions of the Buddhist Sect, there was an additional Asura Department and several protector gods!

This could not help but give Xuanqing much to ponder.

Now that Xuan Sect held the leading authority in the Underworld, he naturally had to consider things more thoroughly.

All living beings’ parents and relatives should, upon death, establish charitable merits, so the souls would rise to heaven without falling into an evil path, be widespread across the realm, practice according to teachings, save souls from purgatory, and avoid Hell.

Should one practice Taoism, the merits are boundless; depending on the severity of sins, one receives just punishments. Or if one commits massive evil, neglecting all righteousness, one’s soul will, after death, be forcefully bound and sent to the Twenty-four Prisons, to be judged according to the law.

As the twenty-four "Devastating Divine Thunders" fell, the prisons such as Watcher Hell, Equalizer Hell, Nine Heavens Hell, Decree Hell, Qingleng Hell, Immeasurable Hell, Taizhen Hell... were instantaneously opened!

Daoist Duobao went all out, frantically refining artifacts on the side, with objects like the Mountain of Knives and the Sea of Fire being thrown into the Twenty-four Prisons in one go.

Thus, the Netherworld took on an embryonic form!

Heavenly Dao also sensed this and immediately bestowed Merit. Emperor Shangqing, Xuanqing, Duobao, Yunxiao, and Jiufeng, who was decreed by Houtu, all gained their rewards. The Primordial Golden Bowl even transformed into a Merit Spiritual Treasure.

The Primordial Golden Bowl, capable of severing the Three Flowers and extinguishing the Five Qi, even a Daluo cannot escape this tribulation. However, after the great tribulation, it contained a glimmer of faint vitality.

Now, having been cleansed by the merits of countless souls reincarnating, although it still was a treasure of the End of Tribulation, it no longer emitted the fearsome evil Qi as before!

"As the wheel of tribulation turns, virtues of Yin continue!"

Emperor Shangqing showed a satisfied smile, "Yunxiao, contemplate well upon this Spiritual Treasure!"

This was an unexpected joy!

He hadn’t expected that bringing many disciples of the Jie Sect to the Underworld would also unexpectedly transform the Primordial Golden Bowl, an artifact of the end of tribulation, into a Merit Spiritual Treasure.

"Yes!"

Yunxiao nodded slightly.

In terms of aptitude and insight, she was not inferior to Jin Ling Saint Mother. Tongtian Sect Master also intended to take her as a direct disciple. However, seeing her entangled with her two younger sisters, he did not actively propose it. Instead, he planned to observe for a while.

With well-established facilities in the Underworld, coupled with the many disciples of the Jie Sect and the addition of Taiyi True Master, Jiufeng, and Kua Fu, the operation of the Underworld and the Six Paths of Reincarnation immediately got on the right track, so much so that the Tribulation Qi between heaven and earth dissipated a lot.

As for Xuanqing, gazing upon the ever dark Netherworld, he was struck by an idea and had his Fire Dao Avatar "Suiren" retrieve the corpses of the nine small golden crows.

"I’ll trouble my Junior Brother Golden Hoop to refine nine golden hoops for me to restrain these nine golden crows!"

He did not rush to use the Creation Method to awaken and create fate for these nine golden crows, but found Golden Hoop Immortal to help refine the magic artifact that would restrain the golden crows.

Each technique has its own expertise.

Though he was also adept at the Path of Artifact Refining, when it came to the Forbidden Techniques, he was not as good as Golden Hoop Immortal.

"Okay!"

Golden Hoop Immortal, upon seeing the corpses of the nine small golden crows, couldn’t help but feel a chill run down his spine. Although he rarely traveled in the Primordial World, he was aware of what these nine golden crows represented.

But then he thought that he was a disciple of a Saint and couldn’t help but let go of his fear.

Could Emperor Jun even kill his way into the Underworld?

"Enlightenment and Fate Creation!"

Seeing the golden hoops refined by Golden Hoop Immortal, Xuanqing immediately used the Creation Method to awaken the Yin Gods of the nine great golden crows, which were still entwined with countless grievances of the Witch Clan.

These were the members of the Witch Clan they had killed!

Moreover, some of them were beings accidentally involved by the "Ten Suns Patrol Heaven Formation"!

"Kill!"

The nine great golden crows, having been executed by Hou Yi, were filled with unvanquishable resentment and hatred. As their shadowy souls were just revived, they showed signs of transforming into fierce ghosts and evil spirits.

Xuanqing hurriedly released a beam of "Upper Pure Immortal Light." In the twinkle of the light, the Evil Qi instantly dissipated, restoring clarity to the spiritual platforms of the nine small golden crows.

"Golden Hoop, restrain!"

Immediately following, he waved his hand, and the nine golden hoops, like relentless parasites, merged into their Yin Gods, preventing them from maintaining their arrogant disposition.

"Pain!"

"So painful!"

The Great Golden Crow Bo Huang’s eyes nearly split apart as he shouted, "Who are you? How dare you cast such a wicked curse on this Crown Prince? Aren’t you afraid of my father, the emperor, tearing you into ten thousand pieces?"

"Torn into ten thousand pieces?"

Xuanqing let out a cold laugh, then summoned the "Sun Essence Wheel," unleashing the Power of the Great Sun: "You should look at your current state. How dare you be so brazen? Had you not recklessly slaughtered beings, would you have been slain by Hou Yi? Had your mother Xi He not sent the ’Sun and Moon Essence Wheels,’ I would have long since scattered your souls!"

Yin Gods feared the power of the great sun most, even though the nine golden crows were sons of Emperor Jun, transformed from the essence of the sun, they still could not avoid this flaw of the Yin Gods.

"Ah!"

The nine golden crows screamed miserably under the radiance of the Power of the Great Sun, their shadowy souls immediately billowing with wisps of white smoke.

"I was wrong!"

The Great Golden Crow Bo Huang immediately bowed his proud head.

Seeing this, Xuanqing also withdrew the "Sun Essence Wheel," and cast a ray of light: "This is the method for Ghost Immortals to cultivate. From now on, you shall cultivate in this Netherworld and become the Netherworld Sun, illuminating all beings in this Netherworld! Should the day come when you’ve cleansed your sins, it’s not impossible for you to leave the Netherworld!"

"Yes!"

The Great Golden Crow quickly nodded.

The remaining eight golden crows also echoed one after another, their golden feathers rendering into pitch-black Netherworld Feathers under the influence of the Yin Qi.

Xuanqing immediately summoned the Ghost Dao Avatar.

Upon seeing this, the Ghost Dao Avatar used the "Undying Tree" and endless Yin Qi to evolve a vast Ghost Path Daluo Heaven, where the True Spirits of the nine golden crows were hosted.

"From now on, you’ll take turns patrolling the Netherworld, shining over the vast Netherworld!"

Xuanqing coldly scrutinized the nine great golden crows.

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