Chapter 455

"What are your thoughts?" Zhang Taixuan asked.

"Ye Hei said we should draw lots—the one who draws gets reincarnated, the rest stay in the Underworld."

"Ying Zheng said we should enforce reincarnation in batches."

"Zhang Zhenren said good people should reincarnate as wealthy families, evil people as commoners. But most good souls don't want to become rich and oppress others, so they refuse!"

Zhang Taixuan nodded and turned to Nie Xiaoqian. "What about you?"

"I can't decide," Nie Xiaoqian shook her head. "No matter what we do, it feels wrong. Some ghosts spent their whole lives being good—now we're tormenting them in the Underworld. It's hard on the heart."

"How noble of you to say 'hard on the heart'!" Zhang Taixuan laughed heartily. "Xiaoqian, you still claim you can't be the King of Hell. In my view, you're already qualified."

Nie Xiaoqian frowned. "I'm qualified?"

"Exactly." Zhang Taixuan smiled. "A deity of the Dao must pity heaven and mercy all beings. If I wanted a King of Hell who ruled by force or tyranny, why go through all this trouble? I could've just picked an ancient official—wouldn't that be easier? Who knows coercion better than them?"

"But then, even if the Underworld reopened, it would still be the old Underworld—not what I want."

Nie Xiaoqian suddenly understood. "So the Dao Jun intends to rule with benevolence?"

"Precisely." Zhang Taixuan nodded. "As you said, good people spent their lives doing good—yet in the Underworld, they're oppressed by gods. How could I ever do such a thing?"

He didn't consider himself a good man, but he was willing, without harming his own interests, to ensure good people received good rewards—rather than gaining power and becoming no different from the past, oppressing the virtuous, forcing the innocent into vice.

"But if good people don't reincarnate, the cycle won't restart—humanity will face problems," Nie Xiaoqian frowned. "That's exactly what I worry about. Dao Jun, do you have a solution?"

"Then let the evil reincarnate," Zhang Taixuan said calmly. "Evil people reincarnate as commoners; ordinary evil ones become wealthy or royal. If any good soul wishes to reincarnate as human, let them enter the Heavenly Path—reincarnate into the mortal realm, with each sect responsible for guiding them onto the Immortal Path."

"Isn't this world still awaiting the War Against Heaven? We're short on hands. Of course, before reincarnation, we must inform those who lived virtuous lives—no coercion."

Nie Xiaoqian was stunned. "Evil people reincarnate into the mortal realm?!"

"Exactly." Zhang Taixuan nodded. "Since we won't force the good, we'll force the evil. Oppressing the good weighs on the conscience; oppressing the evil brings no guilt at all."

Nie Xiaoqian fell silent. "If the mortal realm is filled with reincarnated evil, won't it become chaotic?"

"No need to worry—the quality of Meng Po's Soup has been improved," Zhang Taixuan smiled. "After reincarnation, all past memories vanish. It's a fresh start—humanity won't be affected."

Nie Xiaoqian exhaled in relief. "That's good."

"Inform Ye Hei and the others of this decision. See if they have objections—if not, implement it directly," Zhang Taixuan smiled. "I'm returning to Dalaotian."

"Yes," Nie Xiaoqian bowed. "Dao Jun, take care."

Zhang Taixuan nodded and left immediately.

Chat group.

Nie Xiaoqian: "That's the situation."

Su Xiao: "I never thought some ghosts really didn't want to reincarnate as humans."

Hu Yifei: "Totally normal. After the Underworld was cleansed, the netherworld became paradise—while the mortal realm is full of injustice. You have to work, raise children, deal with endless troubles. How can it compare to the netherworld?"

Gaihakuri: "If there was a game, I'd pick the netherworld too."

Ye Hei: "Of course ordinary people think the netherworld is better. Sigh, the mortal realm really is miserable! Thank the Dao Jun for coming up with the evil-reincarnation solution—otherwise, our consciences would ache. You wouldn't believe how these ghosts weep before us—it's heartbreaking, soul-stirring. Making them reincarnate feels like we're the great villains."

Han Paopao: "Yeah, thank goodness we have this balanced solution."

Hu Yifei: "Actually, the Dao Jun could've just modified the netherworld's environment to make ghosts uncomfortable—or reduced their netherworld lifespan, forcing them to seek reincarnation willingly."

Bai Suzhen: "!!!"

Xiao Mai: "Wow, Teacher Hu is amazing—your face should be tattooed on the King of Hell's back."

Su Xiao: "Capitalist nodding in approval! Teacher Hu, what kind of streetlamp do you want?"

Gongshui Sanye: "Goosebumps—is this the power of modern intellectuals?"

Ye Hei: "Don't mock—modern intellectuals aren't like that. At least I couldn't do it. 【Shivering】"

Han Paopao: "Terrifying! I thought Teacher Hu was just violent-looking—turns out she's violent inside too."

Lin Fengjiao: "【Sweating】"

Hu Yifei: "No, I was just calmly analyzing solutions—I never said I'd actually do it."

Yuli: "Really?"

Xiao Sang: "Humans are so good at oppressing themselves—even kind-hearted Teacher Hu occasionally has such terrifying thoughts."

Yuki Yukino: "It's normal. Human development has always been tied to politics and scheming. Ordinary people may not master them, but they've absorbed plenty through osmosis."

Hu Yifei: "Of course it's true. I've taught for so long, I automatically think of solutions and propose options. If you asked me to actually do it, I couldn't."

Zhang Taixuan: "No need to overthink this—who doesn't occasionally have a fleeting evil thought?"

Nie Xiaoqian: "By the way, Dao Jun, I forgot to mention. 【Red Packet】 Cleansing the Underworld and mortal realm rewarded me with a lot of merit. I offer this merit as repayment to you."

Zhang Taixuan: "No need for repayment. Hand me your sword—I'll refine it again. I'll take half the merit as payment, how's that?"

Nie Xiaoqian: "Then I'm in your hands, Dao Jun. 【Red Packet】"

Dalaotian.

Back in the Taixuan world, Zhang Taixuan tossed the previously forged Yin Spirit Rebirth Platform into the Underworld, then used Creation Fluid to accelerate the growth of Heaven Thunder Bamboo, transforming it into the Six Paths Rebirth Platform, the Judge's Pen, and the Book of Life and Death.

...... 0

Once generated, the Taixuan world's Underworld was now fully complete.

After finishing, he opened the chat group and saw Nie Xiaoqian and the others' messages, collecting the red packets.

The next moment, two dou of merit appeared before him.

"I didn't expect Nie Xiaoqian still gained two dou of merit despite our involvement—so the chat group's merit rewards are given solely to the destiny-favored, and others' participation doesn't affect their gains."

He pointed a finger, splitting half the Earthly Merit and Human Merit, infusing it into the Yu Jun Sword, then formed a hand seal and imprinted numerous divine arts onto the blade.

Moments later.

The once brilliantly glowing Yu Jun Sword had transformed into a bright yellow longsword, its spine wrapped in swirling chaotic energy, radiating a force that suppressed all things—the first nine seals of the Chaos Ten Seals.

Now, this sword had ascended to the rank of Great Saint Artifact—in the Liaozhai world, it could already be called a Divine Weapon.

Yet why was the magic treasure only at the Great Saint rank, not the Emperor rank or even True Immortal-level weapon?