Chapter 215: Great Conferment of the Demon Horde

After Xu Jia's Primordial Spirit returned to his physical body, he regained consciousness and began to "confer titles" upon his disciples.

Xu Jia said softly: "In the past, the Ancestor Heavenly Master established the Dao of the Orthodox One Alliance, sweeping away the ancient ghosts of the Six Heavens and the Eight Vistas Demon Kings. He created unparalleled merit, laid the foundation for our Daoist gate, initiated our grand enterprise, and it has been passed down through the ages to this very day."

"Now that the chaotic age is approaching, demonic atmosphere is rising everywhere, and evil spirits are wreaking havoc; who can say that the return of Heaven's Mandate is merely a coincidence?"

"As the saying goes, when a nation is about to perish, monsters and demons will surely appear. Now that the world is in turmoil, although I, this poor Daoist, possess meager talent, I have been fortunate enough to receive the Heavenly Register and the mandate of the Wuyue Prefecture to oversee demonic affairs in the Jiangnan West Circuit. Therefore, I appoint you as the Shepherd of the Jiangnan West Circuit, to establish your office and raise your banners, so as to bring peace to this region."

"The ancients said: 'To hold office for a term is to bring prosperity to the people.' I now take this altar as the Zongtan to establish the teaching method of the Lingbao, which shall also serve as the office for demonic affairs."

"I am now forming an alliance with ghosts, gods, and demons to protect the Dao altar. Are you all willing?"

Hu Jinhua was so moved that tears streamed down her face, and Huang Pipo was also trembling as she knelt and bowed to the ground, her voice nearly sobbing: "This disciple is willing!"

Immediately, Xiaopangdun said: "I am willing too!" Jingchi, standing beside him, reminded him: "The True Person is forming an alliance with ghosts, gods, and demons; are you a ghost or a god?"

Xu Jia nodded slightly and spoke first: "Where is the Yushan Mountain God, Chang Yu?"

Chang Yu lowered his arrogant head, thinking to himself: This time, he will surely confer a title upon me.

Xu Jia said: "Chang Yu, I appoint you as the Earth Office Gouchen Altar-Suppressing Marshal! To guard the territory and protect the altar—do you have the will?"

"Gouchen? What is Gouchen? Is it a dragon?"

Xu Jia said: "Gouchen is an earth-element divine beast, also known as the Teng Snake. It has the ability to suppress the Dharma Realm and protect the deceased as they ascend to become Immortals. It is also a type of dragon, and its future is equally vast."

This simpleton, having suffered from a lack of education, felt that Gouchen was not bad, so he accepted. A chart flew out from Xu Jia's body; it was the "Desire Realm Mighty Spirit Alliance Register" separated from the Three Heavens Mighty Spirit Alliance Register. This Register evolved into a specific office, serving as the Earth Office Gouchen Altar-Suppressing and Mountain-Guarding position, which was achieved in conjunction with Chang Yu's original status as the Yushan Mountain God.

For a moment, while Chang Yu did not appear to change in reality, in the Dharma Realm, his massive Dharma image, which resembled a python or a Flood Dragon, began to transform. First, the head changed into that of a giant man, and then the tail changed into the head of a beautiful woman.

The origin of the Gouchen image comes from the "Candle Dragon," which is human-headed and dragon-bodied. Of course, it is also related to Nüwa and Fuxi, one male and one female, with their tails intertwined.

However, this image is actually more similar to the "tomb-guarding beasts" found in Han dynasty burials, possessing a distinct, strange, and alien appearance, with a sense of gloom and terror.

Subsequently, Xu Jia conferred upon Chang Yuying and Chang Yu'e the title of "Earth Office Lingbao Heavenly Maiden." Thus, their images in the Dharma Realm became human-bodied and snake-tailed, wearing colorful garments as Heavenly Maidens. They held Lingbao in their hands—one held a lingzhi-shaped ruyi, and the other held a treasure vase. Both emitted auspicious and peaceful light, all being Lingbao transformed from the spirit machine of Yushan. The two of them assisted Chang Yu in suppressing the altar and guarding the mountain, serving as "support."

After conferring titles upon these three, Xu Jia looked down and said to Hu Jinhua: "Hu Jinhua, you have accumulated merit through virtue and have practiced with compassion all along. I once promised you the fruit status of a God Immortal, and now this can be considered the initial fulfillment of that promise. I bestow upon you the Human Immortal Register Method and appoint you as the 'Earth Office Instructor,' in charge of educational and instructional affairs. You may choose a location to establish an academy."

Hu Jinhua immediately knelt and kowtowed respectfully. A golden light flew out from Xu Jia's body and resonated with the golden dot on Hu Jinhua's brow, entering within. It was the "Supreme Eight Vistas Human Immortal Register" evolved into the Supreme Eight Vistas Earth Office Heavenly Fox Register. Each Vista adds a tail; eight Vistas add eight tails, allowing one to obtain the power of the Eight Trigrams. Because she practiced the Fire Method, her fur was reddish, so she first obtained the "Li Trigram," and suddenly, a phantom red tail appeared in the Dharma Realm.

As for the three foxes—Touweiba, the one-testicle fox, and the lame fox—Xu Jia felt their virtue was insufficient, so he only bestowed upon them the "Child Register," one of the many Outer Registers evolved from the "Supreme Three-Five Dugong Register." Also receiving this Register were Huang Jiuniang, Huang Silang, Guiling Gao, Zhanying, and other minor demons.

The Child Register also has the function of encouraging practice and opening the wisdom of the young; as long as they are willing to learn, they will learn something and gain something.

Next was the Jin Chan. Xu Jia saw that he was still sitting on the Treasure Basin, but the Yin demons inside had already quieted down, pretending that nothing had happened.

However, Xu Jia had just cut three Yin demons from the Dharma King and sealed them, intending to refine a "Six Yin God-Dropping Banner." This banner is a tool for witchcraft curses and a method of using demons to control demons, passed down from the Yin Mountain Method, which Xu Jia discovered while organizing the minor methods of the Yin Masters in the underworld.

Evil Masters of the demonic path would inevitably use fresh blood and white bones to perform rituals to summon demon heads.

But Xu Jia already had four ready-made demons here; by finding two more, he could begin the initial refining. This item does not require much technical skill, one only needs to be careful of the demons' bewitchment.

"Duobao, step forward and listen to your appointment!"

Xu Jia deliberated for a moment and said: "You oversee the wealth and fortune of a region and the Wealth Treasury, so I appoint you as the Earth Office Money and Grain Military Official, in charge of the circulation of all money and grain for this altar. The 7,200 Debt Ghost Jin Chan under your command shall all be granted the Wealth Register."

This Register was also the Desire Realm Alliance Register method. Once it entered the Jin Chan's body, ten thousand rays of golden light appeared. This toad was previously just a hanger-on of the Jin Chan, but now it was truly enlightened and became a Wealth God. One could see the spirit in its eyes, and the bumps on its back had all turned into rubies, emeralds, and yellow gemstones, which were very precious. In its mouth, it held a coin, and the coin had wings, with the four characters for "Attracting Wealth and Treasure" on it. "Many thanks to the Master for the conferment. This minor god will surely remember the Master's words from now on: take wealth from the rich and use wealth for the people."

Huang Pipo thought she would be among the first three, but it hadn't reached her turn yet. She thought to herself that she must not have pleased him, ruining her first impression.

Xu Jia also conferred a title upon Huang Pipo, but only said: "Huang Pipo, you have your own family temple and your own Ancestor; you are a Great Demon of the Heavenly Immortal level, but you have fallen on hard times. I allow you to continue operating your family temple, which counts as joining me with your existing skills. Although you are clever, it is only minor cleverness. I had the intention to confer the Human Immortal Register Method upon you, just like Hu Jinhua, but after careful consideration, your ability does not lie there. You have the talent for governing a territory, not the talent for cultivation. In the end, you have no hope for Longevity."

Although Huang Pipo knew this was the truth, the truth was a sharp blade, and she was already disappointed.

"This disciple has no talent... yet I have received the favor of the High Master."

Xu Jia: "I will let you choose for yourself. I have the Capture Mountain and Water Essence Chart here, which can subdue mountain and water demons, refine mountain and water spirits, and manage mountain and water territories. Do you want to receive this Register, or do you want to receive the Human Immortal Register like Hu Jinhua?"

Huang Pipo thought that if she compared her practice to Hu Jinhua's, she certainly couldn't keep up. Although she had two hundred years of Daoist practice and Hu Jinhua only had one hundred, Hu Jinhua had been praised by Xu Jia several times for having sufficient virtue and a righteous heart. She herself had been told she only had minor cleverness and couldn't stand on the main stage, so it would be better to simply change tracks.

So she knelt down: "This disciple is willing to receive the Capture Mountain and Water Essence Chart to relieve the worries and troubles of Master Xu."

Xu Jia then bestowed the talisman upon her, but because she was not proficient in water, she only received the Capture Mountain Essence Chart and did not receive the Capture Water Essence Chart.

After receiving this Register, she was overjoyed, and changes occurred on her body. Her yellow fur developed some golden spots, as if she had become a "Red Leopard Patterned Civet." Her tail also became like a brush, with the tip turning red, signifying a "talisman brush." From then on, she could draw talismans and set prohibitions to awe the spirits and ghosts in the mountains.

Next were Qiu Jinsha and Jingchi. Qiu Jinsha was the Jinsha Creek God. Xu Jia used the Desire Realm Alliance Register to bind him as the "Altar-Protecting Dragon King." The "dragon" title that Chang Yu had been longing for was granted to this old mud loach without him even asking. For a moment, in the Dharma Realm, the image of the golden mud loach falling into dragonhood sprouted scales, though it had neither horns nor feet. But since mud loaches are scaleless, the fact that it grew scales meant it could already be considered a fish-dragon image.

Immediately following was Jingchi. He was a person of Buddhism, but Xu Jia did not place much importance on that. Previously, he had gifted him a Cool Treasure Pearl, and as he was originally a giant salamander, he was considered a mascot. He could hold pure water, and since pure water is hard to come by, Xu Jia said: "Jingchi, I wish to appoint you as the Well Dragon King, to protect the water consumed by the people, assist the Altar-Protecting Dragon King in widely distributing Dharma Water, and diligently provide sweet rain. What do you think?"

Jingchi was overjoyed, put his hands together, and bowed to Xu Jia.

Thus, an Alliance Register fell upon him. Although he was not a god in the true sense, nor even a "cultivator" of immortality, his essence was no different from a deity guarding a region, and he had even guarded purity for hundreds of years as if it were one day.

A Register flew out from Xu Jia's body; it was the Capture Water Essence Chart, separated from the Capture Mountain and Water Essence Chart. It was a Register for patrolling water veins, managing water spirits, establishing a Shuijingong in the well, and training shrimp soldiers and crab generals.

Jingchi smiled. Viewed from the Dharma Realm, he was originally a salamander, somewhat resembling a dragon. Now that he had been conferred a title, he grew dragon whiskers and a dragon tail, though he lacked dragon horns and dragon scales, and his body turned a mysterious black. Ancient books say that a hornless dragon is called a Chi Dragon; like Qiu Jinsha's fish-dragon image, it belongs to the sub-dragon category.

Xiaopangdun watched eagerly, wondering why it still hadn't reached his turn. The Daoist students of Shanju Guan beside him were also extremely envious, and some ghosts and demons were also hoping for a share.

Kan Yinwu was even more anxious, his eyes fixed on the scene.

He only waited for Xu Jia to confer the final title upon him, obtaining the office of "Earth Office News-Reporting Vanguard," which was basically a "runner"? The "Jijiru" of Jijiru Luling?

Responsible for delivering messages.

However, even if it was just that, because his hopes had just plummeted to the lowest point, feeling that there was no share for him, he was now extremely happy to have even such an office, which was also important, so he kowtowed and bowed.

In the Dharma Realm, his image changed into five mice; except for him in the center, the other four pointed in the four directions, like a signpost.

As for the others, except for the previously decreed Jijuezi Mountain God, Lüjue, who was appointed as an Immortal Spirit Protector, Xu Jia did not confer Registers upon the remaining ghosts and spirits, only telling them to accumulate merit and go to reincarnation when the time came, not encouraging them to stay on the altar forever.

This was also in accordance with the laws of Heaven and Earth.

After conferring titles upon the demons and forming alliances with the gods, Xu Jia continued: "Although the Dharma King has been executed, there are still various evils that have not dispersed. I now order you all to destroy their temples and break their altars! Return to purity!"

(End of chapter)