Chapter 78: The Underworld Path

Xu Jia smiled and invited the two deities inside, entering the Ming Tang, while explaining: "I was capturing the soul of an Evil Master from the Longevity Sect. After escaping that tribulation, I began my cultivation. What I said before about dying and returning to life is indeed true, but the common people cannot be allowed to know too much about the Longevity Sect, otherwise it will trigger unrest."

"The scourge of the Longevity Sect?!" The Earth Deity nodded: "I have heard that the yin and yang in Nansheng have long been in chaos. Various Ghost Kings and demons are constantly stealing human temples. People are frequently resurrected, and what they practice is all about deceiving the Underworld to have their names struck from the Death Registry, henceforth living carefree in the human world. Although they become unregistered households, they enjoy longevity, and the evil karma they commit cannot be calculated against them..."

Upon hearing about the Longevity Sect, Gui Suishou also looked surprised: "This sect is a great scourge. It seems it has already reached my Yushan. A few days ago, the creek water flowing down from Yushan carried an Evil Aura. The Lord of the Jinsha Xi Shuifu and I speculated that something must have gone wrong over there..."

The Qingtian Dam Earth Deity was not particularly aggressive toward Xu Jia. To tell the truth, he had investigated before coming. The day Xu Jia opened an altar to engage in dharma combat, he was not very low-key, and the act of sealing and decreeing the Jijuezi Mountain Mountain God gave the Earth Deity a small shock.

There were many things he intended to pretend he did not see, did not know, and did not understand.

He did not expect Xu Jia to take the initiative to come to him, and even bring a business deal, wanting to split the Incense Fire fifty-fifty with him. How sophisticated this was! This was the typical style of the Gentry—reasonable and cooperative. It was impossible for him to be from an evil sect! However, he still wanted to probe: "I heard that you have some connections in Fengdu... If this old one wants to be promoted, I just have no connections to use."

"Ah? That? I awakened memories of my past life. In my past life, I was a practitioner and held a position in the You Ming, but the past is the past, and this life is this life. As for the Earth Deity wanting a promotion, I do indeed have a path here... but..."

Xu Jia left him hanging, introducing the path to Huang Zhenren, not knowing if there was a commission.

"But what?" The Earth Deity was hooked and asked.

Only then did Xu Jia say slowly: "I remember an Earth Deity who used a path to get promoted by one rank to become a Judge. It requires passing the Underworld selection examination, but there is also a path one can take to get the exam questions, it just requires about twenty thousand Dharma Money."

The Earth Deity was stunned. His small temple could not be considered efficacious, and the Incense Fire was ordinary. Over the course of a year, between the common people making and fulfilling wishes, there wasn't even one or two hundred Dharma Money. Aside from handing over a portion, the County City God even had to subsidize him during festivals...

But as long as there was a path, it was fine. Two thousand Dharma Money—no matter what, he had to find a way. If he were promoted to Judge, the treatment would be much better than that of an Earth Deity.

Gui Suishou also seemed to have something he wanted to say but hesitated, unable to open his mouth. Finally, he said: "This old one came to thank the benefactor on behalf of my grandson. The Ink Pill during the day was a gift from the Lord of the Water Mansion to support the imperial examinations. I did not intend to ask for anything, but Jinsha Creek has no independent place of worship. I had intended to offer congratulations after your father passed the examinations..."

Xu Jia waved his hand: "Old Man Gui, what do you take me for? Although Jinsha Creek is small, it is still the water territory of my ancestors, irrigating the fields and bearing the daily needs of the people of Yushan County. Establishing a place of worship is perfectly normal. My father has already agreed to handle this matter and is willing to provide one hundred taels of silver. Anything that can be solved with money is a small matter!"

Xu Jia feigned generosity to fool them, packaging himself as someone sent down from the center of the Underworld for training, someone with a great history and a great background.

In any case, these minor deities would never come into contact with that level in their entire lives; at most, they could have some dealings with soul-capturing messengers.

This was also the essence of the Great Lushan Dharma: one must be strong enough to bluff gods and ghosts, making them willing to work for the mage.

However, Xu Jia's path was not fake. If he could really contact Huang Zhenren, Huang Zhenren had great Divine Ability, and with money to pave the way, it would certainly succeed.

Xu Jia worked in the Underworld for over fifty years before he managed to scrape together one hundred thousand Dharma Money to exchange for a spot to Return to Soul. This meant one hundred thousand people had to make a wish, not too big or too small, and then have it fulfilled, and only then could he receive one hundred thousand Dharma Money.

Xu Jia chatted happily with the two deities. Especially since Xu Jia had lived over a hundred years in his past life, there was nothing he hadn't seen. When receiving two figures of the village official level, he could make them feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.

Although they only drank some tea, their attitude had changed from Xu Jia begging them to them begging Xu Jia. The matter of the Fox Immortal Hall was thus accomplished. Before leaving, the Qingtian Dam Earth Deity even gave a big red envelope as a gift, telling Xu Jia where a jar buried by a predecessor could be found. The jar was full of silver, and the Cause and Effect had already been cleared.

He said that since he was building a temple, how could he let Xu Jia spend money in vain? This jar of silver contained a full two hundred taels.

After sending the two out of the Xu Residence, Xu Jia calmed down. Fooling ghosts was one thing, but one must never fool gods. It is easy to invite a god but hard to send one away, especially these minor deities.

However, as long as Father Xu passed the imperial examinations, these would no longer be problems. Only if the County City God sent someone to inquire might there be some issues, but they would not be big. The Earth Deity was already on his side now and would speak for him.

But as the saying goes, the means are not the end; the end justifies the means.

Early the next morning, Father Xu went out and headed toward the Xu family ancestral land. He did not return until nearly dusk, revealing a look of exhaustion.

"The matter at the old home has been settled. The clan's meaning is that I, this scholar, should open the school to enlighten the young, and lean more toward the clan."

"This clearly shows they don't think I'll pass the imperial examinations. But back then, your grandfather was just a poor boy and didn't receive much help from the clan. Later, he bought an official position, and I studied, only then did we start managing these things. They are all insatiably greedy."

"There was even a clan elder who wanted to have a grandson adopted by me. It is clear they are already planning to seize our family's assets."

Xu Jia sneered: "They must have heard that I had died. Even if the news of my resurrection spread, they still think I am a sickly person. Father, you going to discuss this matter with them instead became a sign of our family's emptiness and weakness..."

Father Xu shook his head: "This cannot be blamed on them. It is just a pity that our family line is thin. If only you could take a concubine into the house first and give birth to a son."

Xu Jia practiced the Small Heavenly Circuit and could not break his pure yang body, otherwise, it would be much harder to form the Golden Core in the future.

Therefore, he said: "I am not in a hurry. In any case, as long as you, Father, pass the imperial examinations, all of this will be solved."

Father Xu did not urge him. In fact, whether or not to have children was not that important. He had gradually grasped the essence of his studies. Returning to the countryside this time was mainly because he was angered, but now that his anger had dissipated, it was nothing.

Originally, there was no interaction with the clan; they gathered for profit, which could not be considered family affection.

He returned to the clan also to prepare for his own imperial examinations, but now that he hadn't taken them yet, the clan didn't really believe his level was enough to pass.

"Wait for the spring examinations! I also need to prepare to go to the provincial capital."

(End of chapter)