Chapter 713
The Heavenly Prison's Inhumanity Shocks the Three Realms
A deity, his face flushed, jumped up, his eyes flashing with a crazed light of "we'll die together."
"Such horrifying, insane... no, such earth-shattering, outrageously extravagant news must spread throughout the Three Realms! Let everyone come and 'behold' the 'shabby' and 'poor' Nine-Story Heavenly Prison! I'm going to the Old Man of the Moon, I'm going to the Peach Garden, I'm going to the Heavenly River Barracks... tell everyone I meet!"
"Yes, yes, yes! Let's go together! It's better to collapse together than to collapse alone!"
Immediately, more than a dozen immortals responded. As if greatly stimulated, they disregarded their decorum, some riding clouds and others escaping in the light, chanting incantations, and frantically rushing towards various key departments of the Heavenly Court and immortal caves, clearly wanting to spread this explosive news as quickly as possible.
Nezha tried to stop them, but how could he stop the crowd rushing in from all directions like people who had lost their parents? His outstretched hand froze in mid-air, and he sighed helplessly.
While many others didn't run wildly, the gazes they cast towards the Nine-Story Heavenly Prison became extremely complex. There was awe, fervor, bitterness, and... a hint of schadenfreude?
"Hehe, it's good that the news is spreading, it's good that it's spreading..."
In a corner, a priest belonging to another minor official post stroked his beard, his eyes dark and unfathomable.
"Let the Three Realms know what the standards are for entering the Nine-Layer Heavenly Prison. From now on, let all those self-proclaimed extraordinary demon geniuses and rogue cultivator giants squeeze in here! Let them fight! Let them scramble! The more fiercely they scramble, the more peaceful it might be for us old departments, to pick up the fish that slip through their net..."
Clearly, some have already foreseen how, as the "terrifying" treatment and entry requirements of the Nine-Layer Heavenly Prison become widely known, elites from all realms aspiring to "establishment" status will flock here in a frenzy, and how fierce the competition will become.
But for other relatively "mediocre" departments, perhaps... it's not necessarily a bad thing?
Nezha took in the reactions of everyone around him and felt completely overwhelmed.
He seemed to already see what kind of faces Amitabha Buddha, Tathagata Buddha, and the three thousand Buddhas would have when the news that "the nine-story heavenly prison was built with spiritual agate, a hundred million Buddhist soldiers served as servants and raised pigs, and acquired spiritual treasures were given away at will" reached the Western Paradise.
It's probably not as simple as just vomiting three liters of blood, is it?
The thought of the monstrous waves that might be unleashed, sweeping across the three realms, sent a chill down Nezha's spine. But at the same time, deep within him, a strange, indescribable excitement and anticipation rose within him?
With a boss like that, life is never boring.
He gripped the spatial artifact in his hand, inside which lay quietly "building materials" powerful enough to make the Western Paradise bleed and drive the Three Realms mad, as well as a legend about to begin, to be created by one hundred million "high-level decorators".
Lin Zhu, who had hurriedly returned to his quiet room with a pretense of "feeling poor," instantly lost his "embarrassment" as soon as he closed the door, replaced by an almost lazy comfort and self-righteousness.
He sprawled out on the cloud bed carved from millennia-old warm jade without any regard for his image, and let out a long sigh of relief.
"Tsk, this trip was a bit far and made a lot of noise, but... the harvest was definitely worth all the hard work."
He squinted, his consciousness sinking into the vast storage space, and began to take stock of the total gains from this "deep tour" of the Western Paradise.
He wasn't afraid at all. He'd found the treasure through his own skill, so why should he be guilty? As for the Western Paradise's possible reaction afterward? Lin Zhu curled his lip. Attack them? Where was the evidence? Even if there was evidence, the Western Paradise, having just been thoroughly thrashed by the Dragon Clan and had its resources largely depleted, would have the guts or the resources to provoke him, this "plague god," again in the short term?
Perhaps they felt that the remaining bricks and tiles of their own sacred mountain were too intact. Of course, there are regrets as well, such as the fact that the dome of the Great Thunderclap Temple, which is painted with images of Buddhas preaching and inlaid with stars and luminous pearls, was not removed. If there is an opportunity next time, we will definitely make up for this deficiency.
Just as they were leisurely taking inventory, a faint yet deeply concerned and worried atmosphere wafted from outside the quiet room.
Lin Zhu raised an eyebrow and got up to open the door.
Outside the door, a slender and beautiful figure stood quietly; it was none other than the Fairy of Rainbow Robes.
She seemed to have been waiting there for a long time. Her dress was damp with the night dew, and her beautiful face showed obvious signs of fatigue. Her eyes, as clear as autumn water, were staring unblinkingly at the doorway. When she saw Lin Zhu appear unharmed, her eyes instantly shone with an indescribable light, but it was quickly covered by a thin layer of moisture.
Not far behind her, three figures, shrunk in size but still enormous—Qiu Shou Xian, Ling Ya Xian, and Jin Guang Xian—stood obediently against the wall, even somewhat reservedly, with their heads bowed and eyes lowered, not daring to even breathe loudly, like three large canines being punished for doing something wrong.
"Master!"
The Fairy of Rainbow Robes called out softly, her voice tinged with a barely perceptible sob. She quickly stepped forward and carefully examined Lin Zhu from head to toe, as if to confirm whether he was truly unharmed.
Lin Zhu felt a warmth in his heart, reached out and took her slightly cool hand in his, and said gently.
"What happened? I've only been gone a few days, how come you look so haggard? Did someone bully you?"
The Fairy of Rainbow Robes shook her head vigorously, gripped his hand tightly, and whispered.
"No one has bullied me. It's...it's because I heard that you, my husband, have been captured by the Western Paradise...and even His Majesty the Jade Emperor personally intervened? There are all sorts of rumors circulating outside, and I'm terrified..."
She looked up, her eyes filled with lingering fear and deep self-reproach.
"It's all my fault for being useless. My cultivation is too low, and I can't help my husband at all. I can only wait here..."
So that's what it was for.
Lin Zhu chuckled, gently pulled her into his arms, and comforted her.
“Silly girl, you believe everything you hear. Who am I? Who can arrest me? I went to ‘visit’ them and picked up some ‘souvenirs’ on the way back. His Majesty the Jade Emperor was just there to watch the ‘show’ and lend me some support. Look, I’m back safe and sound, and I even brought a few new colleagues with me.”
He pointed to the three demon immortals who were being punished by standing over there.
Upon hearing this, the three demon immortals quickly forced out what they considered to be the most "kind" smile, which was still somewhat frightening, and nodded slightly to Fairy Ni Chang as a form of greeting.
Only then did Fairy Ni Chang notice them, sensing the three ancient and powerful demonic auras that, though they were trying their best to contain them, were still immense. She was startled again, but seeing Lin Zhu's casual attitude, she knew there was nothing to worry about and was slightly relieved.
She buried her face in Lin Zhu's chest and whispered.
"It's good that you're alright, my husband. Next time... next time if you do something so dangerous again, be more careful. I... I will definitely work hard to cultivate myself in the future, even if I can only share a little bit of your burden, it's better than worrying here in vain."
Although the words were spoken softly, the determination they contained moved Lin Zhu slightly.
He patted the fairy in the rainbow dress on the back and laughed.
“Alright, my Ni Chang is the most ambitious. But there’s no rush with cultivation, take your time. Right now, your husband has just made a windfall and needs a quiet place to count it properly.”
After coaxing her for a while and promising to have dinner with her that evening, Lin Zhu finally persuaded the Fairy of Rainbow Dress, whose emotions had calmed down, to go back to her room to rest.
As for the three "new colleagues," Lin Zhu casually tossed them a few bottles of pills that would help stabilize their cultivation and cleanse them of the remnants of Buddhist restrictions. He then sent them to the side hall of the Star Palace to adapt on their own, familiarize themselves with the Heavenly Court environment, and get to know their future colleagues.
After dealing with these trivial matters, Lin Zhu returned to his quiet room, set up numerous restrictions, and calmed down completely to begin formally organizing the outrageously large amount of spoils.
First, there was the record of merits. Lin Zhu took out a jade book and began to record using his divine sense as a pen.
"In Jambudvipa, a conflict broke out between the Buddhist Kingdom of India and the border army of the Tang Dynasty. You rescued thousands of elite soldiers of the Tang Dynasty who were being ambushed by Buddhist cultivators, thus averting a calamity on a mortal level. You were recognized by the Heavenly Dao and awarded 150,000 merits."
“Ao Lie, the third prince of the West Sea Dragon King, offered his savings and some of the treasures of the West Sea Dragon Palace, which, when converted into merit, amounted to about 200,000.”
"The journey to Mount Ling in the Western Paradise mediated the conflict between the Dragon Clan and the Western Paradise, which objectively prevented a greater catastrophe and added another 200,000 Heavenly Dao merits."
"Resurrecting the dissipated primordial spirit of the White Dragon Ao Lie is a feat that defies fate and averts a great calamity. He has been directly rewarded by the Heavenly Dao with 500,000 units of merit water!"
"In the hidden space beneath the lotus throne of the Tathagata Buddha, I retrieved a privately stored 100,000 liters of the Divine Water of Merit."
"In the Eight Treasures Merit Pool, taking advantage of the chaos... uh, I was fortunate enough to obtain the Divine Water of a Million Merits!"
Lin Zhu looked at the total in the jade book.
"Accumulated Merit Water: 1.6 million! Direct Heavenly Merit: 500,000!"
Even though he was mentally prepared, he couldn't help but feel his heart racing.
This is real, hard currency that can directly improve cultivation, refine magic treasures, unleash great supernatural powers, and even "exchange" certain permissions with the Heavenly Dao! Many Great Luo Golden Immortals have painstakingly accumulated for tens of thousands of years, and having 100,000 merits of divine water by their side is considered quite wealthy!
Next came an even more dazzling array of magical treasures.
Lin Zhu categorized them and took stock of them one by one.
Acquired Spiritual Treasure Level. "Li Jing's Qiankun Bow and Three Heaven-Shaking Arrows." "Eye-Piercing Pearl and Throat-Sealing Needle." "The White Lotus Boy's Nameless Short Knife."
The following are supreme treasures: "Taiyi Tengshe Scissors," "Yuyi Immortal's Winged Sword," "Golden Relic," and "Three Muni Fixed Light Pearls."
A treasure of merit and virtue. "The measuring ruler of the heavens by the ancient Buddha Dipankara!"
Lin Zhu picked up the seemingly simple and unadorned jade ruler, his eyes gleaming.
"This treasure is on par with the Shennong Cauldron. It can measure heaven and earth, distinguish between the pure and the impure, and contains the profound principles of space and creation. It is a true treasure!"
A primordial spiritual treasure. "The Three Lights Divine Water!"
A small, crystal-clear jade bottle, radiating the colors of the sun, moon, and stars, was solemnly taken out.
"It restores all things, creates life, and is a key catalyst for upgrading the Golden Lotus of Merit to a higher grade!"
A top-grade innate spiritual treasure: the Azure Lotus Banner!
A small flag, its surface a chaotic blue-green, seemed to have the phantom of a chaotic blue lotus floating on it, exuding a profound and obscure aura that made the surrounding space subtly unstable. "Killing without incurring karma! Although I, Lin Zhu, do not seek indiscriminate killing, this flag in hand is the greatest deterrent!"
This is enough to make those bald monks in the Western Paradise think twice before interfering in the war between the humans in the Southern Continent. They'll have to consider whether they can afford the consequences of being confronted and punished by me using this banner!
Special item. "Fragment of the Eastern Emperor Bell!"
In Lin Zhu's palm lay a fragment that was neither gold nor jade, covered in ancient, mottled marks, yet naturally exuding an aura of a ruler who could govern all demons and suppress all heavens. "A symbol of the demon race's imperial power... If there is an opportunity in the future to help me ascend to the throne of the Great Emperor Gouchen, this will be one of the most legitimate 'coronation' tokens!"
There were more than fifteen magical treasures in total, and the vast majority of them were the finest of the finest, many of which would cause a bloodbath if placed in the outside world.
Some of them, such as the Measuring Ruler, the Winged Sword, and the Golden Relic, still carry powerful restrictions unique to their original owners or Buddhist sects. With Lin Zhu's current cultivation level and methods, it will be difficult for him to completely remove and refine them in a short period of time.
"No rush, we'll find a 'tool' mentor to help us handle it later."
Lin Zhu stroked his chin, thinking of his master who seemed omnipotent and was always moved by his "filial piety".
These magical artifacts with their protective seals can serve as gifts for their master next time. As for those that are already usable, Lin Zhu already has a plan in mind.
Prioritize arming the core high-ranking members of the Nine-Layer Heavenly Prison, such as Nezha, the Primordial Eagle, the Golden Turtle of the Abyss, and the three newly joined Qiu Shou Xian brothers. It is imperative to raise the overall equipment level of this direct lineage to a level that will impress the Three Realms in the shortest possible time.
After taking stock of the magical treasures, Lin Zhu's gaze returned to the massive amount of merit-based divine water.
How to use such a huge amount of merit requires careful consideration. Should it all be used for personal cultivation? Lin Zhu temporarily rejected this idea.
He vaguely sensed that his opportunity was approaching, and he seemed to have touched the barrier to advancing to Quasi-Saint, but this required a natural progression, not simply the accumulation of merit. In his eyes, the Divine Water of Merit was a strategic resource.
"It can be used to mass-produce upgrades to the core combat capabilities of subordinates."
Lin Zhu pondered.
"With enough merit to aid them, combined with their own accumulation, perhaps five more Great Luo Golden Immortals could be born! At that time, the high-end combat power of the Nine-Layer Heavenly Prison will be unprecedentedly strong."
Of course, he also needed to reserve a sufficient amount for his own advancement to Quasi-Saint. Although he felt it might not be enough, he couldn't rush it and put it aside for the time being.
After taking stock, even with Lin Zhu's resilient nature, he couldn't help but feel a sense of exhilaration, like he had suddenly become rich overnight.
He stretched and a smile appeared on his lips.
“The Buddhas of the Western Paradise are indeed all ‘benevolent and generous’ ‘good people’. I, Lin Zhu, will remember this ‘contribution’.”
After the initial relief came the urgency. This journey to the West, though seemingly a resounding success, had also exposed a fatal weakness – insufficient defense! Last time, when the Medicine Buddha ambushed him with the Illusory Light of Glazed Glass, if it weren't for his quick reflexes and numerous trump cards, he would have almost had his soul pierced through.
Now that relations with the Western Paradise have completely broken down, and given how badly I've damaged their Spirit Mountain, the enmity runs deep. If I were to encounter a similar sneak attack again, they would undoubtedly be even more ruthless and decisive, and I might not have the same luck as last time.
"The most urgent task is to upgrade the Golden Lotus of Merit!"
Lin Zhu's expression turned serious as he summoned the Golden Lotus of Merit, which he had obtained from the Medicine Buddha's crystal bowl and subsequently repaired and upgraded to the thirteenth rank. The golden lotus spun rapidly, scattering rays of peaceful golden light, but upon closer inspection, its essence remained somewhat unstable; its defensive power was still insufficient against targeted attacks of the same or even stronger level. (End of Chapter)