Chapter 712
One Hundred Million Buddhist Soldiers as Laborers
"With my background and cultivation level, what right do I have to step into such a palace? Standing inside, I probably wouldn't even be able to absorb many strands of the spiritual energy that automatically gathers within, only making myself a laughingstock... Below the Golden Immortal realm, taking even one step inside would be a sin, utterly shameful..."
It turned out that he was showing faint signs of becoming withdrawn.
The atmosphere on the scene suddenly became very subtle. The original intention of building such a luxurious palace was to boost morale and demonstrate strength, but now it seemed to have the opposite effect, making its own brothers feel inferior.
Nezha frowned as he watched this scene, feeling both annoyed and amused. Just as he was about to say something to boost morale, he saw Lin Zhu walking over.
Lin Zhu's gaze swept over the pile of dazzling materials, then looked at his several subordinates who looked uneasy and even began to "shut themselves down." Instead of dissatisfaction, a faint hint of regret appeared on his face. He stroked his chin, clicked his tongue, and muttered to himself.
"Alas, what a blunder... We were so focused on dismantling the chairs, walls, and corridors that we forgot to also remove the ceiling of the Great Thunder Temple, which was painted with the 'Buddha Preaching the Sutra' and inlaid with 365 luminous pearls representing the stars of the heavens."
"If we used that ceiling material for the dome of our main hall, that would be truly magnificent, commanding respect, and the brothers would be brimming with confidence, walking with a spring in their step. The materials we have now… are still a bit too plain; it might affect everyone's work enthusiasm."
Nezha.
"..."
He nearly choked on his own saliva. Simplicity? Paving the floor with spiritual agate and using star-patterned purple gold as pillars—that's simplicity? Boss, do you have some misunderstanding about "simplicity"?!
Lin Zhu seemed genuinely troubled by this. He patted Nezha on the shoulder and spoke in a tone that was both comforting and self-encouraging.
"Nezha, don't be discouraged. Although our main hall is a bit low-end and the materials are a bit meager, it does look unworthy of our Nine-Layered Heavenly Prison's future status as the number one law enforcement hall in the Three Realms, and it might give the brothers the wrong impression that 'our family is too poor'... But it's okay!"
He abruptly changed the subject, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.
"If the hardware isn't enough, we'll make up for it with software! I've already figured it out. Once the main structure of the hall is completed, we'll undertake a large-scale, high-standard interior renovation! I've calculated it, and it will probably require... well, a hundred million renovation workers, working day and night for several months, meticulously crafting every detail to the extreme!"
"At that time, with its carved beams and painted rafters, and auspicious clouds everywhere, I guarantee that everyone who walks in will immediately forget the 'ordinary' materials and only feel the profound wealth and boundless resources of my Nine-Story Heavenly Prison! It will surely reverse our 'impoverished' image in one fell swoop!"
"One...one hundred million construction workers?"
Nezha's eyes widened in surprise at the number, and he counted on his fingers.
"Boss, even if we include all the people who can breathe, our Nine-Level Heavenly Prison has no more than 100,000 in total, including logistics and reserves! Where are we going to find 100 million workers? Even if we conscripted laborers from the mortal world, we wouldn't have that many! Besides, asking ordinary mortal cultivators to carve spirit source agate? They wouldn't even be able to touch it, would they?"
Upon hearing this, Lin Zhu gave Nezha a mysterious smile that seemed to say, "You've finally hit the nail on the head." He leaned closer to Nezha and whispered.
"Who says the workers have to be our own people? We have plenty of labor, so why not use it? Didn't I tell you to temporarily house those 100 million Buddhist soldiers in the 'Galaxy Secret Realm'?"
Nezha was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized what was happening. His eyes widened instantly, and his voice rose eight octaves.
"Boss! You mean... we'll have those 100 million Buddhist soldiers... come and be our construction workers?! To use their own Lingyuan Agate and Starry Purple Gold from Mount Ling... to carve and build walls?!"
"Yup!"
Lin Zhu nodded as if it were nothing to be surprised about.
"Otherwise, why would I go through all that trouble to 'convert' so many building materials from the Western Paradise? Do you really think it's just for us to practice on? These materials are a perfect match for those 100 million Buddhist soldiers!"
The materials represent 'fate,' the Buddhist soldiers represent 'separation,' and together they represent 'destiny'! To have them use bricks and tiles from their own hometowns to build their future 'new homes'—what a profound form of labor reform and re-education!
This not only demonstrates the magnanimity of our Heavenly Court, giving them a chance to be 'human' again, but also solves our urgent labor shortage, and incidentally expends their excessive energy so they don't cause trouble while idly wandering in the secret realm.
This achieves multiple benefits in one fell swoop, and is a truly meritorious deed!
Nezha was a little dizzy from Lin Zhu's "fate and labor theory". He tried to digest this amazing plan and subconsciously worried.
"But boss, those 100 million Buddhist soldiers...theoretically, they are prisoners of war, spoils captured by His Majesty the Jade Emperor. According to the old rules of Heaven, prisoners of war of this size should either be incorporated into the Heavenly Army, or...His Majesty the Jade Emperor may have other plans. Is it appropriate for us to keep them as laborers on our own? Will His Majesty the Jade Emperor blame us?"
"The Jade Emperor?"
Lin Zhu pursed her lips.
"When I came back, did you notice the look in His Majesty's eyes? The meaning was very clear. I don't want people! Feeding a hundred million mouths and having to worry about whether they are truly loyal is too much trouble. His Majesty is busy with countless affairs of state, how could he have time to deal with this?"
As for incorporating them into the Heavenly Army? Even more impossible. The Buddhist soldiers' training system and fighting style are completely different from our Heavenly Soldiers and Generals. Forcibly mixing them would pose even greater risks. Therefore, His Majesty is happy to pass this hot potato to us to handle.”
He paused for a moment, then continued his analysis for Nezha.
"Besides, although our Nine-Story Heavenly Prison has been doing well these past few years, we can't afford to support a hundred million idle people who just eat and do nothing! The Heavenly Court doesn't provide extra positions or rations. If we don't let them work and create value, are we just going to support them for nothing? We are a law enforcement agency, not a charity."
Therefore, labor reform and self-reliance are the only way out, and also a demonstration of responsibility to His Majesty and the Heavenly Court's finances! If His Majesty knew, he would only praise us for being good at managing our finances and knowing how to be thrifty.
Nezha thought about it and realized... that did make sense. Perhaps the Jade Emperor really couldn't be bothered with the specific arrangements for those 100 million Buddhist soldiers, as long as there was no trouble. And the Heavenly Prison simply couldn't afford to house so many prisoners.
"So... how exactly should it be arranged?"
Nezha asked.
"Even if all 100 million Buddhist soldiers were used to build this Law Enforcement Hall, it wouldn't be that many, right? No matter how big the hall is, a million able-bodied laborers are enough for the main construction. What about the rest?"
Lin Zhu, already confident, counted on his fingers. "First, select the twenty million Buddhist soldiers most skilled in architecture, carving, and formations as the main force for decoration, responsible for the exquisite carving and internal formation installation of the Enforcement Hall. The schedule is tight and the task is heavy, so have them work in three shifts to ensure that the hall is completely transformed within three months, achieving the standard of 'a scene at every step, a treasure in every brick'."
“Secondly,” a shrewd glint flashed in his eyes.
"Once the main hall is completed, our nine-story prison's officially registered law enforcement officers, as well as those core members who have passed the assessment and performed exceptionally well, will each be assigned... well, let's say a thousand per person for now, and Buddhist soldiers will be assigned as 'household servants'."
"A servant?!"
Nezha was shocked once again.
"A thousand per person? Boss, we don't have that many core members right now. Even if we include reserves like Xiaotianquan, we'd still have tens of millions left after distributing them!"
"Yes, so there's a third step."
Lin Zhu answered calmly.
"The remaining Buddhist soldiers will be selected from the best—those who are physically strong and hardworking—to form the 'Northern Continent Special Breeding Brigade.' They will be taken to Northern Continent to reclaim wasteland, cultivate land, and raise spirit beasts. I remember there are a few abandoned ancient spiritual mountains there, with decent geological veins, which can be put to good use."
The spirit pigs and birds raised will definitely be of high quality. Some will be supplied to our Heavenly Prison canteen to improve our meals; the rest can be used for barter with other celestial departments, or sold to Yaochi or Doushuai Palace to generate revenue!
Nezha was stunned and subconsciously began to do mental calculations.
"Twenty million for renovations, and based on the current number of core members, the cost of servants would probably be several million... That would indeed leave tens of millions to raise pigs in Beiju Luzhou... But, boss, those Buddhist soldiers... Many of them were originally Vajra or Arhat level in Mount Ling, with considerable cultivation, at least at the Celestial Immortal realm. Sending them to raise pigs..."
"What's wrong with being a celestial being? Doesn't a celestial being need to eat? Can't a celestial being do manual labor?"
Lin Zhuyi spoke with righteous indignation and stern words.
"Higher cultivation level means greater strength, making us more efficient at farm work and raising spirit pigs! We must break the outdated notion that 'all other professions are inferior, only cultivation is superior'! Labor is the most glorious! No matter what you did before, once you come here, if you don't work, you won't eat! This is an ironclad rule! Our Nine-Level Heavenly Prison does not support idle gods, much less idle Buddhas!"
Looking at Lin Zhu's determined "thrifty and hardworking" demeanor and then thinking about the future of those 100 million Buddhist soldiers who were about to become decorators, servants, and pig farmers instead of the majestic guardians of Mount Ling, Nezha suddenly felt... although it was a bit... well, it seemed... quite reasonable? At least it solved the practical difficulties and made the best use of those Buddhist soldiers.
“Oh, right,” Lin Zhu added, as if suddenly remembering something.
"It's not enough to just make the brothers work; there's no incentive."
So, once the main hall's renovation is nearing completion, you can select three thousand of the best-quality magical artifacts I brought back, each at least a mid-grade or higher acquired spiritual treasure, and award them a "Distinguished Contribution Award for the Construction of the Law Enforcement Hall" as a year-end bonus... oh no, as a temporary consolation prize.
Those Buddhist soldiers who participate in the construction and perform exceptionally well can also be rewarded with one or two items to boost morale. Otherwise, people outside might say that our Nine-Story Heavenly Prison uses materials and soldiers from the Western Paradise, yet is stingy and shabby, making us look pathetic.
Having said all that, Lin Zhu seemed to have finally explained the construction plan and the placement of the Buddhist soldiers. He breathed a sigh of relief, but then, as if remembering something, a barely perceptible hint of... embarrassment appeared on his face. He hurriedly waved to Nezha.
"Alright, that's the general plan. You handle the details. I need to go back and 'take stock' of the other gains from this trip... I feel like we haven't brought out anything particularly impressive or classy to bolster our image. Sigh, we're still too 'poor'. We need to think about it some more..."
Before he finished speaking, Lin Zhu's figure had already transformed into a streak of light, disappearing towards his quiet room deep within the Nine-Layer Heavenly Prison. His back view revealed a hurriedness that was almost humble, born from his "conscious poverty."
Nezha was left standing there, clutching the spatial artifact containing countless treasures from the Western Paradise. The sounds of "a hundred million Buddhist soldiers for renovations," "one thousand servants per person," "pig farming in Beiju Luzhou," and "three thousand artifacts as a consolation prize" echoed in his ears. He was stunned for a long time.
Not far away, the onlookers who hadn't dispersed and had been straining their ears to eavesdrop, trying to get firsthand "insider information from the Heavenly Prison," were now completely petrified.
What did they hear?
A "shabby" hall built with Lingyuan agate and Xingchen purple gold?
Does it take 100 million Buddhist soldiers to "renovate" the house to salvage its "impoverished" image?
After completion, each law enforcement officer will be assigned a thousand Buddhist soldiers and servants.
The remaining Buddhist soldiers were taken to Beiju Luzhou for "special breeding"?
Three thousand magical artifacts at the level of acquired spiritual treasures are just a "consolation prize"?
Lin Yushen, the mastermind behind all of this, was still troubled by his "lack of impressive talent" and "poverty" when he hurriedly left.
"Thump," "Thump"...
As if struck by an invisible hammer, dozens of immortals with slightly lower cultivation and weaker mental endurance collapsed to the ground, their faces ashen and their eyes unfocused, as if they had just experienced a brutal battle of the Dao heart and suffered a crushing defeat.
"So...so that's why..."
An old immortal with a white beard pointed his trembling finger at the construction site where the precious light was shining brightly, and then at the direction where Lin Zhu had left. His voice was hoarse, filled with bewilderment and despair after his worldview collapsed.
"I used to think I was on the first level, and that Lin Yushen was on the fifth level... I was so shallow, so foolish! Lin Yushen... he's not on the fifth level at all! He's piled up a thousand-layer cake at the South Heavenly Gate, and stacked the Book of Murder at the Lingxiao Palace!"
Another celestial official, who appeared to be middle-aged, clutched his chest, feeling a sharp pain in his heart, and murmured bitterly.
“Building a temple with Lingyuan Agate... 100 million Buddhist soldiers as laborers... a consolation prize of a spiritual treasure... and still complaining about being poor and lacking prestige... I... I have cultivated for over 10,000 years, and the little wealth I have accumulated is not even comparable to a paving brick or a sweeping servant in other people’s lives!”
I spent all my time trying to pull strings and find a job during the prison's expansion... Did I even deserve it? I felt ashamed just standing as a stone lion at the entrance of the main hall!
"Yang Jian! Yang Jian has ruined me!"
Suddenly, a celestial being beat his chest and stamped his feet, shouting in grief and indignation.
"Years ago, he told me that the Temple of Justice offered good benefits, a prestigious and respectable position! What good is prestige? Can prestige be used as a substitute for spiritual agate? Look at their nine-tiered Heavenly Prison! How could I have believed his nonsense and not tried to get in? Now look what's happened, their entry requirements are so high that they're bordered with golden lotuses of merit, I'll never get in in this lifetime! Waaah..."
This cry seemed to ignite some kind of emotion. More immortals, who had recovered from their shock and inferiority, were then overwhelmed by a mixture of extreme envy, jealousy, and regret for "why am I not a prisoner of heaven?" Their mental state collapsed on the spot.
"No! We can't be the only ones who get upset!" (End of Chapter)