Chapter 140: Truly Reaching the Ears of Heaven

"Righteous and loyal, noble in character, with the legacy of the ancient sages of the Central Plains..."

As the Guan Guan Chenghuang wrote with a flourish, quickly leaving a line of seal script on the page of "Life and Death Book: Xiang Xiaoyu."

General Guan Tianyang, who was standing on the side, looked shocked and read it out word by word.

"Guan Laozu, are you really going to give away such a large amount of underworld merit to Xiang Xiaoyu for nothing?"

The Guan Guan Chenghuang closed the Life and Death Book, put down the judge's pen, and sighed lightly, "This is the duty of a Guan Chenghuang! Monitoring the good and evil of the human world, punishing evil and rewarding good, is part of my daily work."

General Guan Tianyang couldn't accept it and shouted, "This paragraph is just a casual comment by a dissolute person. Why do you have to treat it so solemnly?"

The Guan Guan Chenghuang said lightly, "Have you not heard the public opinion in the human world these past few days?"

"Not to mention Tianmen Town, even in Yingxiang Mansion, the people on the streets are talking about the story of 'Xiang Xiaoyu, Righteous and Loyal,' who fell into the dust but generously gifted the Jin Yang Guan Chenghuang position."

"So what!" General Guan Tianyang said unconvinced. "The people are like water, following the wind to create waves."

"When this wind passes, it will be the same as it was."

The Guan Guan Chenghuang said coldly, "Fool! Every thought of a person is known to ghost gods. If no one knows, this deity can pretend not to know. Once anyone knows, and this deity does not know, it is this deity's dereliction of duty."

"Now it's not one or two people who know, but soon the entire West, and even the East Sand Domain across the Flowing Sand River, will know that there is a strange woman in Tianmen Town who, even though she fell into the dust, still possesses the noble character of the ancient sages of the Central Plains."

"She doesn't just have a false name."

"Her behavior and reputation are indeed such that she gave away the Guan Chenghuang god position that even immortals covet to a wild ghost on a barren mountain. Even if you are not a scholar, you are still a direct descendant of the Guan family and have read poetry and books since childhood."

"Tell me, among those storybooks recording ancient sages, who has done the same thing as her?"

General Guan Tianyang muttered, "The things ancient sages did were much greater than hers, it's just that the sages were noble, and no one fell into the teaching workshop."

The Guan Guan Chenghuang slapped the Life and Death Book on the table and shouted, "You are truly stupid. The more she falls into the teaching workshop and the lower her status, the more noble her act of gifting the Guan Chenghuang god position is. Is this simple truth something you don't understand?"

"If she were a prince or noble, the act of giving away the Guan Chenghuang god position would not be worth writing about, and there would not be much underworld merit."

"Now it's not that this deity is specifically adding underworld merit for her, but that her behavior and reputation are causing the Life and Death Book to actively generate underworld merit for her!"

General Guan Tianyang lowered his head and said softly, "She said she intended to give the Guan Chenghuang god position to Huchen... I think it might not be the truth. You are the Guan Chenghuang, you can definitely expose her lies."

The Guan Guan Chenghuang shook his head and said, "What she thinks in her heart can only be fully revealed when she dies and faces the Life and Death Book in the King of Hell's Hall in a soul state."

"As for what she said..."

The Guan Guan Chenghuang's expression became hesitant, and his tone was also uncertain, "The day she had a secret talk with Daoist Priest Qingsong in the private room of the Red Sleeve Workshop, no one knew exactly what was said."

"Little Daoist Priest Qingsong intentionally concealed the Investiture of the Gods, only telling Suiyuanzi and Liu San—met an old acquaintance, caught up on old times... No matter what they talked about at the time, it shouldn't have involved Huchen; Huchen had already left the Shu Kingdom."

"But you and I must both admit that if it weren't for that stupid woman Wen Danxia's tossing, if she were still Guan Yu, the Jin Yang Guan Chenghuang position would definitely belong to the Guan family."

General Guan Tianyang really couldn't refute this.

He sighed bitterly, "Wen Danxia harmed Huchen and also harmed Wenlong."

"Guan Qiong sent news that Wenlong vomited blood the night before last because of Xiang Xiaoyu's gifting of the god position."

He also had to admit: now everyone in the Guan family regrets abandoning "Guan Yu."

Just thinking about the Guan Chenghuang position flying away like a cooked duck makes their whole family ache to death.

A Guan Guan Chenghuang allows the entire Guan family to "ascend."

The Jin Yang Guan Chenghuang is ten or a hundred times more valuable than the Yingxiang Mansion Guan Chenghuang.

It is enough to allow the Guan family to complete a qualitative transformation.

And if "Guan Yu" were still in the Guan family, the Guan Chenghuang position would eight or nine out of ten fall on Guan Wenlong.

He is Huchen's own brother!

Huchen has immortal eyes and still wants to fight for a great future.

Wen Ruyu understands this truth, General Guan Tianyang understands it, and Guan Wenlong understands it even more clearly.

But he was one of the masterminds who abandoned "Guan Yu," although he was also forced by Wen Danxia.

At this time, the person who is most painful, most regretful, and most sorrowful is him.

"Things have come to this, vomiting more blood has no meaning." The Guan Guan Chenghuang said lightly.

General Guan Tianyang muttered, "Can the Investiture of the Gods really not be modified?"

The Guan Guan Chenghuang said, "What do you think the Investiture of the Gods is? Can the people on the list be changed at will?"

The Guan Chenghuang Guan said, "What do you think the Investiture of the Gods is? Can the people on the list be changed casually?

The Eastern Imperial Envoy personally canonized twenty-eight prostitutes as gods; do you think he is very happy, very pleased, and very honored?

Or, was Gongsun Wujiu, who hosted a banquet for Yu Fengxian that day, simply trying to inquire about the Investiture of the Gods?

His regret in his heart is probably only slightly less than Wenlong's.

If he had known earlier that Yu Fengxian could obtain a Guan Chenghuang position, do you believe he would have married her as his primary wife on the spot... even if she were willing, he could have worshipped her as his foster mother, changed his surname to 'Yu', and called her 'Mother', as long as he could get the Guan Chenghuang position, anything would be fine."

General Guan Tianyang stomped his feet and shouted, "It's all the fault of the Marquis of Lieyang for misleading everyone! What was his attitude toward Yu Fengxian before? Who could have imagined he actually fought for the 'First Merit of the Battle of Flying Immortal Crossing' for her."

The Guan Chenghuang Guan said, "What was his attitude before?"

"He disregarded Yu Fengxian's life and death and used her as a target!"

The Guan Chenghuang Guan sneered, "You could have guessed that way that day, but to think so now is too stupid."

General Guan Tianyang was stunned, "It wasn't the Marquis of Lieyang's intention, it was in the Fire Crow Army... it was Cai Fengnian and Gao Xianjue!"

A thought occurred to him, and he shouted angrily, "Damn it, those two dog thieves not only hated Yu Fengxian for eating the Bone-Changing Pill, but also wanted to use Yu Fengxian to harm our Guan family!"

By now, he finally realized: letting "Guan Yu" become famous throughout the world, the one being nailed to the target was not her, but the Guan family!

The Guan Chenghuang Guan said indifferently, "Saying these things now has no meaning; Yu Fengxian has already given away the divine position."

General Guan Tianyang said bitterly, "I'm just worried... I feel Yu Fengxian hates our Guan family; the less she shows it, the more worried I am.

Although from the reports of Guan Qiong and Wen Jiju, she has always been content with her lot and has no complaints about us.

But this is clearly impossible; she is not dough, and even dough shouldn't have this kind of reaction.

So it can only be that her city is too deep.

So deep that it makes me afraid.

I would rather she gnash her teeth at Wen Danxia and our Guan family from time to time."

The Guan Chenghuang Guan smiled faintly, "Do you really think underworld merit is so easy to get?"

General Guan Tianyang said in confusion, "She has a reputation abroad, and you also wrote a comment in the Book of Life and Death..."

The Guan Chenghuang Guan said gloomily, "The reputation of 'righteousness reaching the heavens' and 'ancient sage' is too big and too heavy; ordinary people cannot carry it; obtaining it is a disaster, not a blessing."

"Guan Laozu, I don't understand, what is the trick in this?" General Guan Tianyang asked in shock and suspicion.

If Huchen were here, he would understand as soon as he heard it.

But some things the Guan Chenghuang Guan had only taught Huchen and had never told other Guan family members at all.

Now the Guan Chenghuang Guan did not intend to explain either.

He waved his hand and said, "This deity acts impartially according to the law and did not specifically target or favor Yu Fengxian.

You and the other Guan family members and Wen family members should not always feel that Yu Fengxian owes the Guan family something, and feel bad whenever you see her doing well.

She owes us nothing, and we owe her nothing.

She once had deep entanglements with the Guan family, but now the grievances are settled and the cause and effect are severed.

Even if a Duty-Officer is arranged to watch her now, it has nothing to do with the Guan family; it is the order of the Monarch of the Shu Kingdom."

General Guan Tianyang bowed respectfully and said, "Guan Laozu's teachings, Tianyang will keep in mind, but Wenlong and Wen Danxia and the others..."

"If they don't understand, you teach them to understand!" The Guan Chenghuang Guan said impatiently.

"Understood."

This day, above the Thirty-Three Heavens.

The High Heaven Sage, Great Compassionate and Benevolent Jade Emperor, Great Heavenly Venerable, Mysterious Vault High God... referred to as the "Jade Emperor," sat in the Lingxiao Precious Hall of the Golden Palace Cloud Palace, gathering civil and military immortal officials for the morning court.

Celestial Zhang Tianshi held a tablet, stepped out of the ranks to bow and report under the palace steps, saying, "Your Majesty, the Grand Guardian of Great Qin, Protector of the West, and Imperial Envoy of the Xisha Region, Dongfang Shuo, built an altar to canonize gods five days ago, canonizing the various gods of the stove, well, leak, room, and eaves in the Xisha Region.

At noon today in the mortal world, Dongfang Shuo burned a memorial again to report to the Heavenly Court, requesting Your Majesty to examine the newly canonized gods and register them."

Upon hearing this, a faint look of disgust appeared on the Jade Emperor's face, and he said calmly, "I already know; you handle it, my beloved official."

Many deities in the great hall—mainly the "old immortals" from the era of the Investiture of the Gods—cast angry and contemptuous looks at Celestial Zhang Tianshi.

Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King Li even snorted, and the sound was not soft.

Celestial Zhang Tianshi had already attained the Flawless Immortal Body, but at this moment he was still sweating profusely.

"Your Majesty, should I send a Talisman Envoy to the Luodu of the Shu Kingdom in the Xisha Region to proclaim the decree?" He asked, biting the bullet.

"Has a decree been proclaimed in the past?" The Jade Emperor asked.

Celestial Zhang Tianshi lowered his head even further and said, "In the past, when the Human Emperor canonized gods, he only sacrificed to heaven and earth and the Three Emperors, and never requested instructions from the Heavenly Court..."

By the time he finished speaking, his voice was almost inaudible.

Immediately after, he added, "Now that the Human Emperor Ying Zheng has passed away, when Dongfang Shuo canonized the gods, he specifically chose the night instead of noon, and almost no one watched the ceremony, unlike in the past when it was announced directly to all living beings.

Before ascending the altar to canonize the gods, he also wrote a formal memorial to report to the Underworld Yama.

He also requested the underworld ghosts and gods to verify the identity and qualifications of the people canonized.

Now that the canonization is over, he has offered the Investiture of the Gods list at the altar, requesting Your Majesty to send an angel to examine it... Your humble servant believes that since Dongfang Shuo has the heart to respect the Tiangong, he should not be easily discouraged."

The Jade Emperor was silent for a moment and said, "Sending a Talisman Envoy is unnecessary. A few days from now is the Queen Mother's birthday; as a beloved disciple of the Eastern King Father, he may come to the Tiangong to attend the banquet."

Celestial Zhang Tianshi sighed secretly.

Human Emperor Zheng has passed away, and the world is on the verge of chaos; the Dao Palace in the mortal realm requested him, this old ancestor, to help mediate the relationship between Great Qin and the Tiangong.

It is not that he is unwilling to do his best, but there is truly nowhere to exert his strength.

The Gao Tianming is set; Great Qin must perish!

The Jade Emperor is the embodiment of Gao Tianming and rules; he can never actively break the Gao Tianming, nor will he destroy the rules of heaven and earth.

While sighing, Celestial Zhang Tianshi also felt some resentment: when you Great Qin immortals were arrogant, defied the Heavenly Emperor, and privately set up divine laws, why didn't you consider what an awkward dilemma I, this Dao Palace old ancestor, was in at the Heavenly Court?

The Jade Emperor had already expressed his stance, and he dared not say anything more, so he bowed his head and retreated.

Stove God Star Lord stepped out, hurried to the palace steps, and bowed, saying, "Reporting to Your Majesty, in the Western Sea Spirit Kingdom of the Western Continent, there is a 'Jima Village'.

There are four hundred and thirty-two stove fires in the village; the common people do not do good, live by evil, commit great evils, do not believe in immortals or Buddhas, do not respect the Heavenly Emperor, and often have rebellious words."

The Jade Emperor was furious upon hearing this and said, "Where is the Plague God?"

Plague Department Orthodox God Lu Yue stepped out, "Your servant is here!"

The Jade Emperor shouted, "Immediately arrange a group of plague envoys to go to the Western Sea Spirit Kingdom and wipe out all the people in Jima Village."

"Western Plague-Spreading Envoy Zhu Tianlin can take on this task," Lu Yue said.

The Jade Emperor said, "Approved!"

Seeing that there was still anger on the Jade Emperor's face, Star Lord Taibai Li Changgeng had a thought, stepped out and reported, "In the Western Shu Kingdom of the Western Continent, there is a miraculous woman whose righteousness reaches the heavens; her name is 'Yu Fengxian'. Since she was young, she has respected heaven and earth and worshipped Your Majesty the Emperor.

Now, not yet at the age of a golden hairpin (12 years old), she already has the legacy of ancient sages, does not covet the position of ghosts and gods, and even though she herself has fallen into the dust, she is willing to give the Guan Chenghuang position of Jin Yang to a ghost of a desolate mountain."