[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl":3,"chapter-the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-277":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Great Jin's Most Iron Rice Bowl",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1897051,2531,"Chapter 277: Coveting the Physical Body","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-277",277,"\u003Cp>After learning about the connection between the Nine Passes and the Five Sacred Lands, Hua Changxi asked again, \"What kind of place is the Netherworld exactly?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Squad Leader fell silent for a moment before speaking: \"Bloodshed. Everywhere there is endless slaughter and combat. The Netherworld is a place where strength reigns supreme; without strength, one cannot survive there.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Saying this, he smiled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you know? The most stable and peaceful area in the entire Netherworld is the Nine Passes.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi asked, \"What kinds of beings are slaughtering and fighting?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Squad Leader looked at her: \"Demon clans, ghost clans, soul clans, and... human cultivators. Put simply, the Netherworld is chaotic, but if you have strength, you can do whatever you wish.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi frowned and asked again, \"What is the story behind the Ghost Market established at the Nine Passes?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, the Squad Leader was surprised that Hua Changxi knew of the Ghost Market: \"It seems Peak Master Hua has already descended into the Netherworld.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging from Hua Changxi's previous questions, she seemed to know almost nothing about the Netherworld or the Nine Passes; he had assumed she was a novice who had never once descended there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi looked at him: \"There must be many cultivators who have descended into the Netherworld.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Squad Leader paused, then smiled: \"That is true. The entrances to the Yellow Spring Road at various locations in the mortal world have been opening one after another as the recovery of spiritual energy accelerates. It is no longer like before, when one needed a specific token to guide them to find an entrance to the Yellow Spring Road.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Hua Changxi's heart stirred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So that dark, gloomy, and terrifying long road was the Yellow Spring Road.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The token the Squad Leader mentioned must be the black token carved with a skull that Eunuch Lin had given her back then.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now one can descend into the Netherworld without a token?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Are the entrances to the Yellow Spring Road easy to find?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Squad Leader smiled: \"Is Peak Master Hua sensitive to yin energy? The Yellow Spring Road is rich in yin energy; when an entrance opens, yin energy is bound to spill out.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi showed understanding on her face: \"Just now, Squad Leader mentioned tokens for entering and exiting the Ghost Market. How did these tokens enter circulation?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Squad Leader smiled: \"The recovery of spiritual energy actually began long ago. The first batch of cultivators in the mortal world to seize the opportunity of this recovery either stumbled upon or deliberately sought out entrances to the Yellow Spring Road, then descended into the Netherworld.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"After these people established a foothold at the Nine Passes, they crafted tokens capable of triggering fluctuations in yin energy. Relying on these tokens, cultivators could descend into the Netherworld.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As far as this humble officer knows, these people used the tokens to recruit large groups of followers for their own use; nowadays, they should all be powers ranked among the top in the mortal world.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi hurriedly asked: \"Does Squad Leader know which powers these are?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Squad Leader laughed: \"Well, that is something Peak Master Hua will need to investigate yourself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing he would not say, Hua Changxi had no choice but to ask again: \"Squad Leader still hasn't explained the situation regarding the Ghost Market.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Squad Leader sighed: \"The Ghost Market... it should really be called a market district.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Peak Master Hua has been to the Ghost Market, so you should know it is located just outside the Pass Fortress. That area was originally meant to be the rest and living zone for the Demon-Suppressing Guards.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In ancient times, because the Demon-Suppressing Guards needed to purchase cultivation resources and daily necessities, each pass spontaneously formed its corresponding market district.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"However, as spiritual energy went into extinction and contact between the mortal world and the Netherworld was severed, the Netherworld fell into silence. When the recovery of spiritual energy began, the ghost clans and demon clans were the first to rise in the Netherworld.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Nine Passes were supposed to be human territory, but nowadays, apart from the Demon-Suppressing Guards who remain firmly entrenched within the Pass Fortresses and rarely venture out, the outer areas of the Nine Passes are either occupied by ghost clans, occupied by demon clans, or seized by powerful soul cultivator families.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nowadays, only Li Pass, due to a major upheaval that occurred there, was opportunistically occupied by the Demon-Suppressing Army from the Central Sacred Land. Otherwise, none of the outer perimeters of the nine passes are under human control.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi's eyes flickered; the great upheaval at Li Pass must have been the one she triggered during her first descent into the Netherworld.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Long-Browed Arhat used his death to exchange for the Demon-Suppressing Army's successful capture of Li Pass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since the ghost clans, demon clans, and soul cultivator families have already occupied the outer perimeters of the Nine Passes, why haven't they further breached the various pass fortresses?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Squad Leader replied: \"They naturally want to, and have attacked the fortresses several times, but the Nine Passes fortresses are protected by the power of merit, making them not so easy to breach.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In recent years, the ghost and demon clans have grown too rapidly. Originally, we Demon-Suppressing Guards worried that the power of merit would not last much longer, but who would have expected that Heaven favors humanity.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Just last year, the Fusang Divine Tree reappeared, the Soul Star lit up, and Li Pass and Xun Pass awakened one after another.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Although the other divine trees remain dormant, now that the Fusang Divine Tree has reappeared, the other divine trees will also gradually reemerge in the Netherworld.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Speaking to this point, the Squad Leader looked at Hua Changxi with burning eyes: \"I heard that when the Danyuan Peak appeared, the Undying Divine Tree of the Dan Saint Hall once flashed into existence. Perhaps Peak Master Hua should visit Gen Pass and Zhen Pass more often; maybe you could cause the Undying Divine Tree to reappear in the Netherworld ahead of schedule.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi spoke vaguely: \"The flashing of the divine tree probably has nothing to do with me.\" Then she asked again, \"By the way, why do none of the Holy-Guarding Guards have physical bodies?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Squad Leader's eyes flickered: \"The Netherworld was sealed and silent. Peak Master Hua wouldn't think humans could survive for long in a place bred by yin energy, would she?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Before the recovery of spiritual energy, there were no humans in the Netherworld. Only after the recovery of spiritual energy began did figures of humans gradually appear in the Netherworld.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Hua Changxi furrowed her brows: \"If there were no humans, then from where were so many Demon-Suppressing Guards recruited?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Squad Leader lowered his eyes: \"What does Peak Master Hua think?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi's heart skipped a beat: \"Could it be that the current Demon-Suppressing Guards are selected from the demon clans, ghost clans, and soul clans?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Squad Leader said: \"Demon clans cannot enter the Pass Fortress, but indeed, the current Demon-Suppressing Guards are almost entirely composed of soul clans and ghost clans.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In the past two years, a very small number of cultivators who could no longer survive in the mortal world have also successfully become Demon-Suppressing Guards.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing this, Hua Changxi's expression immediately sank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No wonder, no wonder General Liu, who guarded Li Pass, would stand by and watch outsiders and demons breach the formation eye; it turns out they weren't human at all!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Hua Changxi's expression change, the Squad Leader thought for a moment and explained: \"Anyone who joins the Demon-Suppressing Guards must swear a Heart Demon Oath, vowing to defend the Demon Prison unto death.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi nodded; without this restriction, the seal of the Demon Prison would likely have broken long ago.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"By the way, Squad Leader, what conditions are required to recruit Holy-Guarding Guards?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Squad Leader smiled: \"This humble officer does not know. I only know that the recruitment of Holy-Guarding Guards requires the approval of the Commanding General of the Pass Fortress. As for the specific conditions, Peak Master Hua will likely need to discuss them in detail with the General.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi asked: \"Commanding General? The highest authority in the Pass Fortress?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Squad Leader replied: \"Yes. Each Pass Fortress has one Commanding General. Below the General are two Assistant Regional Commanders. Below the Assistant Regional Commanders are the Garrison Commanders, and below them are the Myriad-Man Commanders.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing this, Hua Changxi did not know what else to ask. Having descended into the Netherworld only twice, she knew far too little. She stood up and said: \"Thank you, Squad Leader, for your clarification.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, the Squad Leader also stood up: \"If Peak Master Hua wishes to know anything else in the future, feel free to come find me. If I do not know, I can go ask the Company Commander.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hua Changxi nodded, watching the Squad Leader leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She now had a slightly better understanding of the Nine Passes: the outer perimeter of each pass is territory belonging to the demon clans, ghost clans, and soul clans; the inner perimeter is the Pass Fortress, the territory of the Demon-Suppressing Guards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she wanted to enter the Pass Fortress to recruit Holy-Guarding Guards, she would first have to cross through the territory of the demon clans, ghost clans, and soul clans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Recalling that both her previous descents into the Nine Netherworlds had involved battles to the death, Hua Changxi dared not take the Nine Netherworlds lightly in the slightest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike Meng Qingyao, Gu Xing, and Yan Qianying, who sought to seize control of the Medical Bureau, recruiting Holy Guards was not an urgent matter for her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She would descend into the Nine Netherworlds, but not now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, she had two tasks: first, to elevate the grade of her pill refining, and second, to wait for Tong Yao to refine a spirit-displaying artifact, recruit more apprentices, and set the Danyuan Secret Realm on the right path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, after the Squad Leader departed, he went straight to the Company Commander and reported all the questions Hua Changxi had asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Upon hearing this, the Company Commander said, \"Hua Changxi is the Peak Master of Danyuan Peak, the Director of Qihuang Hall Number Thirteen, the Master of the Shenmu Secret Realm, and it was she who summoned the Alchemy Cauldron Altar.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"In the entire Medical Bureau, the one person we must not underestimate is this Hua Changxi.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Squad Leader nodded. \"Fortunately, the matters she inquired about today are all common knowledge.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Company Commander fell silent for a moment. \"In the future, if you encounter Hua Changxi, be extremely cautious; it is best to avoid excessive contact with her, lest she ruin our plans.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he spoke, he looked at the Squad Leader.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"During your patrols, have you found any suitable physical bodies?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Squad Leader immediately laughed. \"The Pill Saint Temple truly lives up to its reputation as a sacred land; there are so many gifted prodigies with excellent aptitude. Before coming here, I thought finding good physical bodies would be difficult, yet unexpectedly, they are plentiful.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Company Commander also laughed, but after the laughter faded, his face grew grim. \"Do not provoke those from prominent noble families; seek out only those without any foundation.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Squad Leader replied, \"Rest assured, my lord; this subordinate understands.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1920,"2026-06-12T02:51:23.636Z",1,"Qwen3.5 397B","26cb1b0a92d673ec4b1c7271fe532337532e82d2b71c40610e7ff1a41d77687f","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-278","the-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-chapter-276",558,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-great-jin-s-most-iron-rice-bowl-cover.jpg"]