Chapter 141: The Jade Emperor is Slapped in the Face on the Spot

Just hearing "respects heaven and earth," the lingering micro-anger on the Jade Emperor's face dissipated completely.

Hearing again that the "strange woman" Xiang Xiaoyu had fallen into the dust herself, and still wanted to give the Guan Chenghuang god position to a wild ghost on a barren mountain, he added a point of surprise and two points of curiosity to his face, saying, "Beloved Official, tell me in detail."

Seeing the Jade Emperor's reaction, Taibai Star Lord Li Changgeng was very calm, not surprised at all.

He laughed and told in detail about Xiang Xiaoyu building temples on the sand dunes, leading the barbarians to respect heaven and earth, sacrifice to the Three Pure Ones, the Jade Emperor, and the Buddha, and the two things of righteously gifting the Guan Chenghuang god position.

In fact, he was not deliberately flattering the Jade Emperor, telling auspicious things to please the Jade Emperor.

No matter how the human emperor confers gods, the underworld ghost gods conferred belong to the Underworld.

Here, the Guan Guan Chenghuang had just recorded Xiang Xiaoyu's deeds in the Life and Death Book, and the King of Hell and the judge of the Underworld immediately knew.

It's a bit like the "filial piety and integrity" of the human world.

If you only help an old grandmother or grandfather who fell down at the entrance of the village, the nearby neighbors will only say "this young person is not bad," but they will not pass the reputation to the ears of the county magistrate and the prefect.

If you do a major event that shocks the world, such as cutting your own flesh to boil medicine for your sick mother, even the county magistrate knows, and the county magistrate may report your filial piety to the above.

Eventually, you become a filial and integrity person of a county, and the prefect will certainly report it to the imperial court, letting the imperial court register it.

Then, the big shots in the imperial court who manage this matter will also know that a filial and integrity person has appeared in a certain place, what righteous deeds the new filial and integrity person has that are worth praising, and so on.

The King of Hell is only the boss of the King of Hell's Hall, not even the boss of the Underworld.

And the Underworld is only a department of the Heavenly Court.

The Underworld is also divided into several government offices, such as the Reincarnation Division, the Judge Division, and the Underworld Division—the Guan Chenghuang belongs to the Underworld Division.

Thus, "Xiang Xiaoyu, Righteous and Loyal" was first praised by the people of Yingxiang Mansion, and then the Guan Guan Chenghuang, according to the rules of the Underworld, wrote "Righteous and Loyal" into Xiang Xiaoyu's page in the Life and Death Book.

"Righteously gifting the Jin Yang Guan Chenghuang god position" was also a very sensational major event for the Underworld.

The judge and the King of Hell of the Underworld Division both knew, and then reported the news to the Heavenly Court.

Li Changgeng knew, and he also handled it.

He could report it to the Jade Emperor, or he could not disturb the Jade Emperor with such small things.

Just like the Stove God Star Lord, he could punish the villagers of Jima Village himself, or pretend not to know or ignore it, or he could make a big deal out of it and report to the Jade Emperor that there were villagers who did not respect heaven and earth.

Such things might not be reported, but once they are said in the Lingxiao Lingxiao Lingxiao Bao Dian, the ending is always the same: the Jade Emperor is furious and wants to punish severely.

Now the Stove God Star Lord first reported the small matter of the villagers not respecting heaven and earth, disturbing the Jade Emperor's mood, so Li Changgeng decided to "regulate yin and yang"—take a good thing to neutralize the Jade Emperor's mood.

"Solving worries for His Majesty" is also his Taibai Star Lord's duty!

"Look at this Xiang Xiaoyu of Western Shu, she is still a barbarian who hasn't been educated! She knows how to thank heaven and earth for their creation and grace."

Regarding Xiang Xiaoyu's past building of temples to sacrifice to heaven, earth, gods, and Buddhas on the sand dunes, the Jade Emperor gave a very high and very clear comment.

But regarding the righteous and loyal, gifting the god position, he did not give praise immediately.

He asked, "Has a Talisman Envoy been sent to the human world to confirm it?"

There are too many examples of using fraudulent means to raise filial piety and integrity in the human world.

If it is exposed, the imperial court loses face, and the emperor is furious.

If it appears once in the Heavenly Court, it is a scandal that cannot be washed clean for ten thousand years.

Taibai Star Lord replied, "Since the Underworld Division of the Underworld passed the news up, this servant has, according to past practice, sent a Talisman Envoy to the lower world to investigate the truth of this matter for the first time."

"Several days have passed in the human world, has the Talisman Envoy sent back any news?" The Jade Emperor asked.

Taibai Star Lord said, "Part of the news has been confirmed. Xiang Xiaoyu did indeed gift the Jin Yang Guan Chenghuang god position to the ghost of the Three Fork Ridge, Duan Yuhan."

He told the whole story of Xiang Xiaoyu burying the bones of the Duan family father and son, the Duan family father and son repaying the grace, leading her to walk the Grabbing Wuchang Dao to avoid the "Eight Trigrams Heavenly Blade," and a series of causes and effects.

Finally, he added, "The matter involves the Daoist Priest Qingsong of the Taiyi Orthodox Palace. Daoist Priest Qingsong is full of evil and has monstrous sins, and is currently serving his sentence in Fengdu. It is a bit troublesome for the Talisman Envoy to see him, and it will take some time."

"Secondly, even if the matter of righteously gifting the god position is confirmed, the Talisman Envoy will continue to record Xiang Xiaoyu's behavior for a long time."

"As the saying goes, cover the coffin and conclude the matter."

"Before the time of covering the coffin, all changes are possible."

The Jade Emperor laughed, "No matter what, she is in the dust, but she can give the god position to others. This is great benevolence!"

After a pause, he added, "Ordinary people cultivate the path of merit, and at least five hundred good deeds are needed to have the possibility of becoming an immortal."

"Today, I pity Xiang Xiaoyu for her barbarian background and falling into the dust, so I specially grant her a favor: as long as there is no major mistake in her life, and a total of three hundred good deeds are accumulated, I will send an immortal envoy to invite her to the Tiangong to be a virtuous female immortal!"

"Your Majesty's benevolence is incomparable, and all living beings in the Three Realms look up to you!" Li Changgeng bowed and shouted.

The Jade Emperor smiled and stroked his beard, "All living beings in the Three Realms need education, and the best education is an example."

"Xiang Xiaoyu's achievements are not only her own righteousness and loyalty, and the demeanor of an ancient sage, but more importantly, she has set a good example for the world."

The Jade Emperor smiled while stroking his beard and said, "All living beings in the Three Realms need to be educated, and the best education is an example.

Yu Fengxian's merit is not only her own righteousness reaching the heavens and her ancient sage-like demeanor, but more importantly, she has set a good example for the world.

Whose background could be lower than a barbarian from the Northern Wilderness?

Whose experience could be more tragic than falling into the dust as a youth?

With such a life, Yu Fengxian still adheres to great righteousness and respects heaven and earth; shouldn't others be even more—"

"Report~~~"

Before the Jade Emperor finished speaking, a report sound suddenly came from the Tongming Hall outside.

Immediately after, an immortal boy hurried inside, knelt under the palace steps, and reported, "Your Majesty, there is a Talisman Envoy, Zhang Tianyang, who has come specifically to report on the matter of Yu Fengxian."

Li Changgeng's expression changed slightly.

Duty-God Zhang Tianyang was the Talisman Envoy he had arranged to monitor Yu Fengxian.

The Jade Emperor smiled and said, "One day in heaven is one year on earth. In the time it took me and my beloved official to say a few words, several days have passed in the mortal world, and the Talisman Envoy has returned."

After laughing, he said to the immortal boy, "Bring the Talisman Envoy in."

Before long, the disheveled Talisman Envoy walked into the Lingxiao Lingxiao Lingxiao Bao Dian with staggering steps and shouted, "Your Majesty, Yu Fengxian is rebellious and arrogant; not only did she insult you, but she also wanted to kill your humble servant!"

Li Changgeng said sternly, "You are a Talisman Envoy; you only need to describe what you saw in detail; as for how to decide, that is for His Majesty!"

The Jade Emperor frowned and said, "Zhang Tianyang, why are you injured? And why do you say Yu Fengxian is rebellious and arrogant?"

The Talisman Envoy shouted with a crying voice, "Yu Fengxian is cruel and ruthless; she killed people in the street and wanted to kill everyone; she clamored, 'I have decided to kill people, and even the Emperor cannot stop me,' and so on.

I reasoned with her, and she slashed at me with a sword and told me not to meddle in other people's business."

Li Changgeng said in a deep voice, "I told you to describe the ins and outs in detail, not to act as a victim and file a malicious complaint!"

"Your humble servant dares not file a malicious complaint; after your servant descended to the mortal realm, I first went to Tianmen Town in Western Shu, and then went to the Zhengyang Palace in the Central Plains to find the Daoist priest Qingsong..."

One day in heaven is one year on earth.

Before Li Changgeng reported the deeds of "Righteousness-Reaching-the-Heavens Yu Fengxian," the Talisman Envoy had already descended to the mortal realm and toured the entire Xisha Region.

Not only the Shu Kingdom, but he also went to the current Jin Yang of Xilu and met Duan Yuhan and his son.

Then he turned and went to Nanzhan Zhonghua.

First, he went to Taishan, the head of the Five Sacred Mountains, to find Great Emperor Dongyue Huang Feihu.

A mere Talisman Envoy, even a Tiangong Talisman Envoy, could not see Great Emperor Dongyue himself.

Besides Great Emperor Dongyue, the Taishan Underworld also had ten underworld generals under his command, known as the "Ten Great Taibao of Dongyue."

"Daoist priest Qingsong is in Fengdu. Talisman Envoy, wait a moment, let me summon the Taiyi Zhang Lingguan for you, and the Zhang Lingguan will lead you to see the Daoist priest Qingsong." Li Taibao, who was in charge of reporting in the Palace Affairs Department, received the Talisman Envoy and arranged for a ghost envoy to notify the Taiyi Sect.

Upon receiving the news, the Taiyi Sect did not send a Zhang Lingguan to see the Talisman Envoy immediately, but instead immediately had the Zhang Lingguan go to the Fengdu Hell.

"Qingsong, a Heavenly Court Talisman Envoy wants to see you; you must change places immediately."

The one who went to Fengdu to find the Daoist boy Qingsong was Xiao Yu's acquaintance, Divine Mace Taibao Zhang Songzhi.

When the Divine Mace Taibao found the Daoist boy Qingsong, Qingsong was wearing white clothes and white trousers, his face was deathly pale, his lips were dark blue, his hair was disheveled, and he was sitting cross-legged in a fairly spacious hall, with his five hearts facing the sky, eyes closed, meditating to nourish his spirit.

Around him were dozens of dead ghosts dressed the same way.

"What is the Heavenly Court Talisman Envoy looking for me for?" Qingsong asked in confusion.

"Looking for you to inquire about Yu Fengxian; just say whatever you know; it's not a big deal."

Time was tight; the Divine Mace Taibao did not explain in detail and immediately called a Bai Wuchang.

Under the instruction of the Divine Mace Taibao, the Bai Wuchang quickly used chains to tie Qingsong into a rice dumpling and dragged him floating quickly outward.

Passing through the gloomy, quiet, and peaceful "urban area," entering the back of the ghost city, and arriving at the purgatory area where blood evil condensed into thick clouds in the sky, they directly threw the Daoist boy Qingsong into a boiling oil cauldron to fry.

That oil cauldron was even larger than Xianyang City, like a sea of oil; the oil was boiling, like wind and waves on the sea, and inside every wave were countless shrill, wailing ghost souls.

One could see that many of the ghost souls inside were not in human form.

"Awoo~~~" Upon being thrown into the oil cauldron, the Daoist boy Qingsong wailed shrilly.

He looked just like a loach coated in fried chicken powder, struggling desperately in the oil cauldron, wailing shrilly, his body surface gradually becoming crispy, and gradually being fried through.

"Hold on, it will be done soon!" The Divine Mace Taibao gave a word of advice and ran away quickly.

Before long, the Divine Mace Taibao returned, followed by the Heavenly Court Talisman Envoy.

"The Heavenly Court Divine Envoy has arrived; little ghosts, immediately bring the sinful evil Daoist priest Qingsong over; the Heavenly Court Divine Envoy wants to question him!" The Divine Mace Taibao's expression was solemn, his voice was majestic, and he exuded an upright and unyielding aura.

The Bai Wuchang who had thrown the Daoist boy Qingsong into the oil cauldron earlier also seemed to have just seen the Divine Mace Taibao, with a look of confusion on his pale cheeks, confirming with his eyes again and again before greeting his companions and using a huge fork to reach into the oil cauldron.

Like poking a fried white fish, he pierced through Qingsong's half-cooked body.

The sharp iron fork emerged from his chest.

Like a dinner fork piercing vegetables, he forked Qingsong out, but kept the posture of piercing through his chest all along, without pulling the fork out.

The reason it was half-cooked was that every time the ghost soul was fried through, it would immediately return to its original state, repeating the frying process.

The Divine Mace Taibao was fast, but it would ultimately take some time to go to Taishan and bring the Talisman Envoy over.

In less than half an hour, Qingsong had been fried through at least a hundred times.

"Qingsong, I ask you, on the day you were assassinated by the Western immortal, what did you say to Yu Fengxian?" The Talisman Envoy shouted.

With the reminder from the Divine Mace Taibao, Qingsong did not ask much and just said everything he knew.

"Hmm, not bad, truly righteousness reaching the heavens, with the legacy of ancient sages."

The Talisman Envoy nodded in full appreciation and sighed, "Although she gave up the Ducheng Guan Chenghuang position, there were reasons for her yearning for the Dao of Immortals and not wanting to become a ghost god, but she did not sell the divine position to a noble from a superior state in exchange for divine pills, spiritual medicine, or opportunities to cultivate immortality."

After speaking, he bowed to the Divine Mace Taibao and disappeared in an instant.

"Your humble servant has offended you just now; Daoist priest, please do not blame me!"

As soon as the Talisman Envoy left, the Bai Wuchang floated over to bow and scrape, while the other Impermanences quickly untied the chains on Qingsong and slowly helped him down from the fork.

Qingsong waved his hand to drive the Impermanences away and asked, "Righteousness reaching the heavens, legacy of ancient sages—what does that mean?"

The Divine Mace Taibao smiled, "Although you haven't awakened the memories of your past life, in this life you are still a Daoist with hundreds of years of cultivation; don't you understand the rules of the Heavenly Court?

The matter of Yu Fengxian giving the divine position to Duan Yuhan has spread, causing a sensation in the West.

Li Changgeng not only sent a Talisman Envoy to descend to the mortal realm to monitor her, but at the morning court in the Lingxiao Lingxiao Lingxiao Bao Dian today, he even specifically reported this matter to the Jade Emperor!"

A look of sudden realization appeared on Qingsong's pale, almost transparent cheeks, "The Heavenly Court is going to record underworld merit for Yu Fengxian."

"More than just underworld merit; the Jade Emperor promised that as long as she accumulates three hundred good deeds, she will immediately ascend to the Heavenly Court to become a benevolent female immortal," the Divine Mace Taibao said.

Still the same saying, one day in heaven is one year on earth.

In the Lingxiao Lingxiao Lingxiao Bao Dian, the Jade Emperor had just bestowed grace, the Heavenly Mandate had already appeared, and all the gods knew it.

And in the few days that had passed on the ground, the Dao Palace, which had many connections in the Heavenly Court, received the news immediately.

"This is immortal blessing~~~"

The Daoist boy Qingsong sighed and then smiled, "I'm afraid she won't be able to grasp this heaven-splashing blessing."

The Divine Mace Taibao thought so too.

Relying purely on cultivating merit to become an immortal is too difficult.

Unless one is a true sage or a person of great perseverance, it cannot be done.

"Even if she cannot reach the sky in one step and become a female immortal in one lifetime, at least she can accumulate a little immortal blessing to leave for her next life or for her descendants," the Divine Mace Taibao said.

Immortal blessing, immortal root, immortal fate—isn't that how they come about?

In this world that emphasizes "good and evil have rewards, cause and effect circulate," no blessing appears out of thin air.

The price must either be paid in advance or paid in the future.

Of course, one can also let others pay—by inheriting the merit and good fortune of one's ancestors.

And being born into a blessed family with remaining underworld merit requires cultivating merit in a past life or, like the Daoist boy Qingsong, being able to pull strings and walk through doors even after arriving at the Underworld.