Chapter 1316: The Netherworld Also Engages in Yang Realm Operations (Combined Volume)

The function of "Mastering the Clear Mirror Platform" at Dajue Temple is to inspect, register, and manage population arrangements—surely it's not just these things. What heavenly authority would be something as trivial as inspection and registration? Its function is clearly man-made later on; innate authority should be what Huizhen said—essentially "appraisal," with the key being discernment—"

"Beidou Valley is the Green-Horned Corner"—a strange name, its function is to observe the celestial stars, determine stellar principles, and it should belong to governance. Could it be what Fei Taiyu said, that each person's fate changes are arranged? Increasing the probability of temporal development?"

"Shuyu Pavilion is the Great Abundance Stele"—Mengyao's former sect, with many female disciples, peach orchards, plum gardens, melon fields, vast territory, with many elders from the Huo Fire Sect dispatched externally. It should be a kind of prosperity, a planting-type authority, possibly the median fruit of governance, letting the Blood River Realm not fall into deathly silence, carrying out material circulation."

"Flying Crane Cave—"

"Red Earth Mausoleum—"

"All are aliases—"

Liang Qu flipped through the pages, re-organizing the information Huizhen the Monk had given.

All first-rank sects have no specific name for their position fruit; instead, they use names similar to divine weapons and artifacts, making it impossible to tell from the artifact's name what position fruit it actually is—perhaps a risk-avoidance tactic of the Huo Fire Sect.

Although Huizhen is a local Yaolong and a high monk of Dajue Temple, the functions of each sect's divine artifacts are not easily displayed—sometimes only a fraction can be used. Aside from his own Clear Mirror Platform, he only knows a "superficial bit" about other sects.

But among the nine major sects, there is one "divine artifact" position fruit that Liang Qu pays particular attention to.

"The Jade Phoenix Tower possesses the Slaughter Sword"—not belonging to the five major branches, its function matches its name, eight or nine out of ten, it should be the Yong Fruit!"

Warfare, slaughter—quite fitting.

Liang Qu's eyes gleamed as he quickly calculated.

Of the Four Calamities, the whereabouts of three are clear; he's really eager to get his hands on them—if the chance arises, he must obtain them.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do—in any place, follow local rules; if you can openly interact with something, don't sneak around.

And contacting the "Slaughter Sword" is very simple.

It can be taken and replaced.

Can the Heshen Sect also be made to flow upstream into a first-rank sect?

The Jade Phoenix Tower isn't particularly strong among first-rank sects—it's actually a merger of three second-rank sects, having upstreamed the former mistaken first-rank Qingqing Sect. It's a colossus, no doubt, but its strength can be said to be the lowest among first-rank sects—originally two households, two elites each, combined only six great powers, namely the Netherworld Celestial Dragon.

Although I don't know why I'd describe it as "just six," everything is relative—others have seven or eight as a baseline, you only have six, which currently looks few.

Of course, even six Liang Qu couldn't beat—together they could knock him into excrement, turning into a blood ape would still be enough to provoke him—but he can pull people in, he can cause internal divisions.

Stir up one faction, pull another—uphold the eternal truth of struggle.

The Jade Phoenix Tower was able to merge back then; now it might not be unable to split again. Don't they have an internal ranking of one, two, three? Does three willingly stay three, two stay two? Does one not rely on being one to bully men and dominate women? For example, forcibly taking three's wife, or three unwilling to accept the order, secretly seducing one's elder sister-in-law, gaining a sense of spiritual victory?

It's not Liang Qu deliberately fabricating this.

Once seated in power, with no external contradictions, internal contradictions will leap to become the main contradiction—this is an objective developmental law, unaltered by the elder sister-in-law's beauty.

First-rank sects have already peaked; below, all second-rank sects pose no threat—internal distribution will inevitably have friction.

Moreover, if they can merge, Liang Qu can too—Mount Jiuyi, Tianmen Sect, both are good choices; together the three make four Sixth Realm cultivators—no eternal enemies, only eternal interests. Although the Laozu Sect let him beat them into sleeping death, if he can ascend to first-rank, he'll surely come rushing over, panting and scrambling.

"If I'd known not to strike so hard—"

Liang Qu regretted.

Knocking Bu Shi into a deep sleep—perhaps he won't exhaust his lifespan like sleeping hundreds of years; a few years, decades are entirely possible, unless one wants to employ some method.

"This journey has yielded abundant gains, Venerable Yuan—do you still have questions? If not, this poor monk will seek a quiet place to focus on closed-door cultivation."

"Wait, there are—last two questions!" Liang Qu closed the book, "Master, what exactly is the so-called blood treasure? Is it truly useful in cultivation?"

"What is the blood treasure?" Huizhen gazed out the window at the flying snow, murmuring to himself, then shook his head: "I don't know. Whether it's useful or not, I also don't know."

"Don't know?"

"If Venerable Yuan doesn't ask, this poor monk naturally assumes the blood treasure is useful, greatly beneficial to cultivation—but since you've raised this question, such benefit might merely be superficial; thus, this poor monk doesn't know whether it's useful or not."

"Ah, I see."

"This is the first question—what is the second?"

Liang Qu regained focus, extending the paper and brush in his hand: "The second question is, Master Huizhen, could you leave me the original text of the Yogācāra teachings from your dream?"

On the page, the ink was still wet, rows of fine, dense characters.

Huizhen stepped on the accumulated snow and departed.

Both had obtained considerable answers, yet gained new problems—this journey's parting, each seeking their own path.

Liang Qu believed that upon their next meeting, there would surely be even greater gains.

He picked up the "Reincarnation Seal" on the table.

This is currently the only one of its kind—a "false certificate"—extremely precious; Huizhen the Monk never imagined Liang Qu would need so many, nor did he prepare extra.

Dream Dynasty————Dragon————King————Great Li Founding Ancestor————

As of now, combining scattered information from all sides, the "operational mode" of the Blood River Realm is already quite clear.

After death, Yang Realm people leave remnants, like compost soil—this is when the Blood River Realm takes them in, like tossing them into a washing machine for a spin, washing away all contents—memory, strength—then redistributing them, turning each into a brand-new individual unit, perhaps using the mature Yang Realm template as a framework, lowering cost, imitating the Yang Realm to construct parent-child, sibling, aging-illness-death cycles, to maintain the Blood River Realm's operation and circulation.

Liang Qu's own "smuggling" undoubtedly bypassed the "washing machine" mechanism—just this point alone shakes the vast foundation of the Blood River Realm, enough to make people feel like they're facing a great enemy.

Not hard to understand.

Great Li Founding Ancestor is a furnace, not a rainbow ascension. The Blood River Realm is deficient, not complete—otherwise, Great Li should long ago have ascended via rainbow, and the Huo Fire Sect wouldn't need to keep it around to patch and fill.

Why is the washing machine so important?

Liang Qu feels it's not just the Huo Fire Sect worrying about disturbing its own rule foundation.

Yin Realm people know they're dead, yet still have everything washed away—strength, memory—naturally they'll oppose the Huo Fire Sect, like Huizhen: knowing his condition, though the front line may not say it's united with Liang Qu, at least it's opposed to the Huo Fire Sect—if we can find more "Huizhens," they're all friends.

"Fei Taiyu told me about fate—yin realm masters were masters in the Yang Realm too; washed-away strength—could it actually not have disappeared?

Turned into a vast reservoir? Following blood treasure distribution, given to each person? Yang Realm people taking the same medicine have different effects—through this difference in absorption efficiency," you told me it's fate" to bluff me?"

Liang Qu's knowledge is limited; he can't imagine the Huo Fire Sect being like a supercomputer, calculating every person's life trajectory—including stepping on dog poop on the road—this is essentially omniscience and omnipotence.

He leans more toward it being some underlying structural rules achieving the same purpose.

If that's the case.

Where is the reservoir?

Great Li Founding Ancestor—is he secretly "drinking water"? Can Great Li Founding Ancestor drink water? Can others? Is "water" entirely turned into blood treasure, or into soil maintaining the Blood River Realm?

"In the eyes of Fei Taiyu and Wu Lingxu, I am someone who came here after dying in the mortal realm. If the upper limit is sealed shut, how can I, at the Sixth Realm, fill the gaps? Is there a way to let my Sixth Realm self—"

Liang Qu's brow twitched.

Shen Zhongliang said Fei Taiyu came looking for him—could it be—

A single person from the Tianhuo Sect, confused about the situation, but could there be a reference from the Yang Realm Whale Emperor?

At this very moment, he felt as if parting the clouds to see the blue sky.

He suddenly realized why Lao Yingtian used the supreme blood treasure, could sense the soul-summoning of the Great Snow Mountain, and successfully took over the magpie's nest.

As expected, the supreme blood treasure is actually a fusion of all beings, a super fusion material that anyone can absorb, and it has no rejection with anyone!

It is nearly equivalent to a universal solvent—stuffing Su Hebaru's soul fragments into it is the same as turning the whole thing into Su Hebaru's soul fragments.

Including why the Tianhuo Sect sent a monkey to guard the Peach Garden at Shuyu Pavilion.

"Ah, so that's it—Binglin!"

"Elder!"

Long Binglin appeared in a flash.

Liang Qu handed over the "Samsara Seal," explaining its use: "Take this to the Chu King, and by the way, bring back the harvest from Jiuyi Mountain. Also, before the Samsara Seal is mass-produced, let them keep a low profile, so no one notices—Long Hu Pavilion is already paying attention to them and organizing a bandit suppression."

"Understood."

The first crab definitely shouldn't be eaten by our own people—what if we get a stomachache?

After talking with Monk Huizhen for several hours, and it getting late, Liang Qu, having understood Shen Zhongliang's words, immediately set out.

Tianqiong Tower.

"Elder Yu truly has extraordinary talent—rising one rank per year for three years, opening his eyes wide!"

"Exactly—three ranks in three years. Looking across the world, who else could match such a hero?"

"I dare not accept—it's all thanks to the Tianhuo Sect's cultivation. Without such a good secluded environment, without so many first-grade blood treasures, how could I have my current strength?"

"Hahaha."

Laughter echoed in the vast hall—Fei Taiyu and Wu Lingxu sat on either side, Liang Qu standing below the dais.

Wu Lingxu clapped his hands: "Ruoyan!"

Fu Ruoyan, who had once noticed Liang Qu lacked the Samsara Seal, triggering a series of events where female disciples emerged from the side chambers, holding trays covered with thick red cloth.

Liang Qu had anticipated this, feigning surprise: "This is—"

Fei Taiyu reached out: "Elder Yu, why not open it and take a look?"

Liang Qu turned, pinched a corner, lifted the red cloth—red light blazed, filling his vision.

"Gulug."

The one swallowing saliva wasn't Liang Qu—it was Fu Ruoyan.

Seeing so many supreme blood treasures piled into a small mountain for the first time, Fu Ruoyan panicked and lowered her head: "Sorry."

Realizing what she had done, Fu Ruoyan quickly bowed her head: "Sorry."

"Beidou Valley, Long Hu Pavilion, Shuyu Pavilion—" Fei Taiyu listed them one by one: "According to notarization, these sects must each compensate the Heshen Sect with one supreme blood treasure—twelve in total, all here."

"Have all the major sects already prepared this so quickly?"

Fei Taiyu shook his head: "Naturally not—they didn't pay. My Tianhuo Sect paid on their behalf. I, the Tianhuo Sect, am covering the cost, first paying outstanding elders like Elder Yu. After all, Elder Yu has extraordinary talent—getting it earlier means cultivating earlier. In this world, nothing is more precious than time. Likewise, the creditor rights of all major sects now belong to my Tianhuo Sect."

"Thank you, Elder Fei, Elder Wu. The creditor rights belong to the Tianhuo Sect—just as it should be. But… the tray seems to have seventeen pieces?"

"That's right—twelve for compensation, the remaining five—" Wu Lingxu trailed off.

Fei Taiyu continued: "The Heshen Sect succeeded in defending against the reverse flow—rewarded one piece. Elder Yu promoted to First Elder of my Tianhuo Sect—rewarded one piece. Elder Yu advanced three ranks in three years, breaking the Tianhuo Sect record—extra reward of three pieces!"

Liang Qu stood stunned, then choked up slightly and bowed deeply.

"Yu, I am unworthy of this."

"—Elder Yu need not be so." Fei Taiyu lightly leapt down, took Liang Qu's hand: "Elder Yu, your talent is outstanding, you deserve this reward. Only thus can we inspire those who come after, to strive forward bravely."

"When Elder Yu first joined the Tianhuo Sect, he skipped the third rank and entered directly as second—already a special favor. Just now, after three years as a second elder, he was promoted to first—"

"." Fei Taiyu shook his head: "The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility. Why does my Tianhuo Sect have three elder ranks? It's simply a matter of matching strength to burden. If Elder Yu can defeat an eighth-rank cultivator, he is qualified to bear the burden of a first elder—why worry about formalities?"

Liang Qu murmured a few words, then suddenly straightened his body, lifted his head, and roared: "A single loyal heart to repay the sect—through a thousand autumns in history, surpassing the ennobled marquis!"

"Good! Good! A single loyal heart to repay the sect—through a thousand autumns in history, surpassing the ennobled marquis! Truly a fine poem! I never expected Elder Yu's cultivation talent to be extraordinary, let alone such poetic skill!" Fei Taiyu patted Liang Qu's arm: "My Tianhuo Sect needs talents like Elder Yu!"

"Serve with devotion until death!"

"Hahaha." Fei Taiyu handed over the documents and scrolls of the First Elder rank to Liang Qu: "Soon, the entire sect will announce this good news. As for Shuyu Pavilion, Elder Yu is now—"

"In charge of the Peach Garden."

"Then let him be the overseer of the three planting zones of Shuyu Pavilion—under him are dozens of orchards, each required to pay a fixed quota annually. Elder Yu only needs to ensure the quota is met without error."

Such a fat position?

Fu Ruoyan secretly eavesdropped, secretly startled.

Half an incense stick later.

Under the arrangements of the two core elders, Liang Qu's promotion to First Elder spread throughout the Tianhuo Sect and rapidly outward—everyone now knew Liang Qu had risen three ranks in three years, defeated an eighth-rank cultivator at the third rank, a heaven-defying feat. Most crucially, Liang Qu had almost no disciples under him!

Opportunity lay before him.

For a time, many disciples volunteered themselves.

Male disciples came to recognize him as adoptive father; female disciples came to bow as adoptive daughter.

Liang Qu refused them all, returned to his cave dwelling, and shook out an entire bag of supreme blood treasures.

The blood light illuminated faces as he wandered.

Seventeen!

Previously, needing just one, he couldn't find it no matter how he searched—yet in the blink of an eye—

Feeding pigs?

Three years, three stages, breaking the Heavenly Fire Sect's record————

Regarding this kind of record, Liang Qu himself has the most say. In Dashun, hunting the tiger, Entering Zhen Xiang, Heavenly Dragon were all him, but Dashun did it to boost morale, consolidate the imperial court's legitimacy, promote its might, and intimidate the wicked; what the hell are you learning to do in the netherworld? Never heard of anyone keeping records before; the fact that everyone can stand here shows they're all dead people, stop pulling these living-world stunts in the netherworld, okay?

Obviously, this is seeing that he can eat and grow; fattening up like an elephant in three years, they're going to force-feed him feed.

What can Liang Qu do about this?

Eat first, talk later.

"The Samsara Seal can be forged too?"

King Chu pinched the special blood treasure, his hair standing on end, fear enveloping him from above.

The Great Li Founding Emperor was originally just a legend; the world only knew of his great battle with the Mirage Dragon, but after personally witnessing his magnificent achievements, in his heart, the Great Li Founding Emperor leaped to become a peerless hero for the ages, but now————

——

Immortals' game!

It must be an Immortals' game!

What is Great Qian, what is the Guimu Sect, in a moment they'll all turn to dust.

As expected, Liang Qu is merely a chess piece of the Immortal behind the scenes.

"Great King, can this be used?" Yi Chen worried.

King Chu closed his eyes tightly: "Do you think we have a choice?"

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