Chapter 655
Yin Yang Divine Path
Jia Min, daughter of Jia Daishan, was severely injured by the Youquan Black Dragon driven by Wu Zhao and fell into the mountains.
Because Jia Daishan was stopped by Wu Zhao when he went to rescue her, Jia Min was rescued by Lin Ruhai, the water god of Songjiang, who happened to be passing by.
Lin Ruhai came to Qiongya Prefecture at the invitation of the mountain god of Wuzi Mountain to attend a banquet, but he never expected to save a woman on his way back.
Although Lin Ruhai is the water god of Songjiang, he is not a dragon, but a civil official who served the Great Emperor of Nanyue.
Later, a spiritual spring was discovered in the Songjiang River area. This spring was extremely pure and sweet, making it an excellent ingredient for refining immortal wine.
Therefore, the Great Emperor of Mount Heng sent Lin Ruhai to take up the post of Water God of Songjiang and to manage the Songjiang Spirit Spring.
Over the past few hundred years, Lin Ruhai has been able to pay two million purple coins to the Nanyue Divine Palace every year, all thanks to the income from the Songjiang Spirit Spring.
Therefore, Lin Ruhai's water mansion was naturally exquisitely and magnificently built, resplendent in gold and jade.
Almost a month has passed since Jia Min was rescued, and with the treatment of various precious elixirs and medicines, Jia Min's injuries have basically healed.
On this day, Lin Ruhai came to visit Jia Min again. Lin Ruhai was handsome and dashing, while Jia Min was beautiful and stunning.
Upon seeing Lin Ruhai, Jia Min immediately stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Thank you so much, Fellow Daoist Lin, for saving my life. I will repay you handsomely."
Lin Ruhai was slightly taken aback upon hearing this and asked, "What is this, fellow Daoist?"
Jia Min sighed softly and said, "I've been recuperating here for over a month now, and I'm afraid there's still no news from home. Now that I've fully recovered, I should go home to avoid worrying my parents."
Upon hearing this, Lin Ruhai immediately smiled and said, "I see. But I wonder where your family lives?"
Jia Min said, "Please forgive me, Fellow Daoist Lin. I have not revealed my family background these days for fear that the news would be leaked and implicate you. Now that I am leaving, it is alright."
At this point, Jia Min introduced herself, saying, "I am the daughter of Marquis Rongxiang, Jia Daishan."
"Oh?" Lin Ruhai raised an eyebrow, then smiled broadly and said, "So you are the apple of Rongxiang Marquis's eye. I have been rude."
Although Lin Ruhai was also a sixth-rank celestial official, the difference between having a marquisate and not having one was vast.
Lin Ruhai said, "It's still over 80,000 li to Yangzhou. It wouldn't be safe for you to go back alone. How about this, if you don't mind, I'm willing to lead 5,000 soldiers from the Water Palace to personally escort you back. What do you think?"
Looking into Lin Ruhai's bright, star-like eyes and his sincere expression, Jia Min's heart stirred. She lowered her head and said, "Wouldn't this be too much trouble for Fellow Daoist Lin? Besides, Fellow Daoist Lin has many affairs to attend to at the Water Mansion."
"Not at all," Lin Ruhai said with a smile. "The affairs of the Water Palace are assisted by Prime Minister Turtle, so there is no need to trouble yourself. I also need to go to Yangzhou on business, so I will take you back on the way and pay a visit to Marquis Ningxiang and Marquis Rongxiang."
Upon hearing this, Jia Min smiled slightly and nodded, saying, "Then I'll have to trouble Fellow Daoist Lin."
So Lin Ruhai selected five thousand sailors, loaded a hundred boats with the Songjiang Spirit Spring, and sent them to various immortal mountains and caves in Yangzhou to escort Jia Min all the way to Yangzhou.
Chang'an Prefecture, Lingtai Taoist Palace.
Wu Zhao, Bao'er, and Hongxian returned to the Dao Palace to report back to Zhuang Yan and also informed him of their interception by the Jia family.
Chi Ling had already returned from Buzhou Mountain. After hearing Wu Zhao and the other two report, she immediately asked Zhuang Yan, "Your Majesty, should we go to the Jia family to question them?"
Zhuang Yan waved his hand, took out a scroll of reports from his sleeve, and said, "The memorials from Marquis Ningxiang, Jia Yan, and Marquis Rongxiang, Jia Daishan, were sent to me via the Western Mountain Divine Palace two days ago."
"Oh?" Chi Ling looked surprised, took the report from Zhuang Yan, glanced at it, and then said, "They explained what happened that day and apologized to His Majesty?"
"It's obvious that the Great Emperor of Nanyue is protecting them," Zhuang Yan said. "After all, Jia Yan and Jia Yuan were the Great Emperor of Nanyue's trusted generals. Although Jia Yuan is dead, hasn't Jia Daishan inherited his title again?"
Unlike the ranks of celestial officials, even if a father is a first-rank official, he cannot inherit that rank if he loses his son.
However, the title of Marquis is hereditary, passed down from father to son, and passed down through generations.
At this point, Zhuang Yan put Jia Yan's memorial aside and said, "Forget it, since he wants to protect him, let's leave it at that."
Then Zhuang Yan looked at Bao'er and Hongxian and asked, "When are you two planning to become immortals?"
Bao'er scratched his head and said, "It's good not to become an immortal. None of those immortals can beat me."
"That's because you're relying on the power of the White Bone Sword," Zhuang Yan said with a smile. "Without the White Bone Sword and the 'Agile Technique' I bestowed upon you, who could you possibly defeat?"
Upon hearing this, Bao'er immediately looked pitiful and said, "Master, are you going to take these back?"
Zhuang Yan smiled and said, "I won't accept it, but you must also work hard to cultivate and become an immortal as soon as possible. Relying on external things is not a long-term solution."
Bao'er breathed a sigh of relief, then bowed to Zhuang Yan and said, "I will follow your teachings, Master."
Hongxian then said to Zhuang Yan, "Master, I feel that my cultivation level has reached the required level, but the opportune moment has not yet arrived."
Zhuang Yan nodded slightly, glanced at Hongxian, and then said, "That's right, as long as the opportunity comes, you can become an immortal on the spot."
Just then, Yan Junzhi arrived at Xuanqing Book Pavilion and reported to Zhuang Yan, "Your Majesty, there is a fairy maiden outside the Dao Palace who claims to be the head of the Taixu Illusionary Realm and is requesting an audience with Your Majesty."
Zhuang Yan raised an eyebrow and immediately said, "Summon them." Yan Junzhi bowed and accepted the order, then turned and left. Soon after, he led Fairy Jinghuan to the Xuanqing Book Pavilion.
Upon seeing Zhuang Yan, Fairy Jinghuan immediately bowed and said, "Your subject, Fairy Jinghuan, the Master of the Illusionary Realm, pays respects to His Majesty the Great Emperor of the Divine Firmament."
Zhuang Yan said, "Rise."
Fairy Jinghuan bowed in thanks and rose. Zhuang Yan then asked, "What brings you to see me?"
Fairy Disenchantment said, "Your Majesty, when I was observing the reincarnations of the Twelve Beauties in the Realm of Illusion, I discovered that their souls had disappeared for a period of time."
"Hmm?" Zhuang Yan asked in surprise, "Disappeared for a period of time? What do you mean?"
Fairy Jinghuan pondered for a moment, then said, "Your Majesty, you know about 'soul scattered and spirit dispersed', right?"
Zhuang Yan said, "Your soul has vanished and your spirit has scattered, leaving no trace in all worlds. Continue."
Fairy Disenchantment responded and then said, "The souls of the Twelve Beauties disappeared for seven days in a state of complete dissipation. At the time, I thought their souls had met with misfortune in the cycle of reincarnation, but they reappeared after seven days without any abnormality."
Zhuang Yan frowned and asked, "Are you sure?"
Fairy Jinghuan said with a serious expression, "I am absolutely certain that ever since I was ordered by Your Majesty to arrange the reincarnation of the Twelve Beauties, I have been paying close attention to their reincarnation in my spare time."
Finally, Fairy Jinghuan raised her hand and said, "If I have uttered even the slightest falsehood, I am willing to accept the punishment of deceiving the emperor."
"Okay." Zhuang Yan nodded and said, "You go back first, I will take care of this matter."
Fairy Jinghuan bowed and accepted the order, then took her leave.
Zhuang Yan stood up and said to Chi Ling, "You all stay in the Lingtai Dao Palace. I'm going to take a trip to the Underworld."
Chi Ling bowed and said, "Your subject obeys the decree."
After saying that, Zhuang Yan took a step forward and went straight to the underworld city of Fengdu.
The moment Zhuang Yan entered the underworld, divine light shone brightly throughout the underworld. The Ten Kings of Hell and all the gods of the underworld bowed down in worship, while the Five Ghost Emperors and the Six Heavens of Luofeng greeted him with open arms.
When Zhuang Yan arrived outside the Northern Yin Divine Palace, all the gods and their officials came forward to greet him.
Amidst the respectful welcome of the gods of the underworld, Zhuang Yan arrived at the main hall of the Yin Division. The Great Emperor of Fengdu was personally waiting there. He was dressed in a ceremonial robe with twenty chapters and a crown with twelve tassels, looking solemn and majestic. Upon seeing Zhuang Yan, he cupped his hands and said, "Divine Emperor of Shenxiao."
Zhuang Yan returned the greeting with a cupped hand, saying, "Emperor of the Northern Yin."
One ruled the human world, and the other ruled the underworld. Not only were their positions equal, but their powers were also the same.
Then the Great Emperor of Fengdu in the Northern Underworld invited Zhuang Yan to take the seat of honor in the hall. Both emperors came to the hall and were seated cross-legged on the auspicious clouds. The gods of the underworld were below them.
Then the Great Emperor of Fengdu asked, "What important matter brings the Divine Firmament Emperor to Fengdu?"
Zhuang Yan then told the Great Emperor of Fengdu in the Northern Underworld what Fairy Disenchantment had reported. The Great Emperor of Fengdu was greatly surprised after hearing it, "Is that so?"
Then the Great Emperor of Fengdu in the Northern Underworld said, "I hold the power of the Underworld and govern the Six Paths of the Netherworld. How could I not have noticed this matter?"
Zhuang Yan said, "If Fairy Jinghuan is not lying, then there is something fishy about this matter. That is why I came to Fengdu in person, hoping that you would allow me to go and take a look in the Six Paths of Reincarnation."
You can't just enter the Six Paths of Reincarnation at will. Even if you are a great emperor, if you enter the Six Paths of Reincarnation haphazardly, you will only have one path: reincarnation.
However, the Six Paths of Reincarnation not only have the Reincarnation Channel, but also the Yin-Yang Divine Path. This Yin-Yang Divine Path is the central hub of the entire Six Paths of Reincarnation, and the authority to enter the Yin-Yang Divine Path is in the hands of the Great Emperor of Beiyin Fengdu.
That's why Zhuang Yan came directly to the Great Emperor of Beiyin Fengdu; otherwise, even he couldn't find a way to enter the Yin-Yang Divine Path.
The Emperor of Fengdu pondered for a moment, then said, "I will go with the Emperor of Shenxiao to investigate."
Zhuang Yan nodded and smiled, "Okay."
The Great Emperor of Fengdu said, "Great Emperor Shenxiao, please come with me."
So the two emperors transformed into two beams of divine light and flew toward the Reincarnation Platform under the gaze of the gods of the underworld. Then, everyone saw a yin-yang symbol appear above the Six Paths of Reincarnation, and the divine light that the two emperors had transformed into disappeared into the yin-yang symbol.
The next moment, in a space filled only with Yin and Yang energies, Zhuang Yan and the Emperor of Fengdu revealed themselves.
Zhuang Yan looked up and saw a magical passage in front of him. It contained only Yin and Yang energies, but they were perfectly balanced. The Yin and Yang energies complemented each other, neither increasing nor decreasing, neither adding nor subtracting, each containing the other.
On both sides of this passage, above the spatial barriers formed by the yin and yang energies, the scene of the six paths of reincarnation is revealed.
The Emperor of Fengdu waved his sleeve, and the scenes rapidly changed. Then, the souls of the Twelve Beauties, who were waiting for reincarnation in the Six Paths of Reincarnation, appeared on the scenes.
Upon seeing the souls of these twelve beauties, both Zhuang Yan and the Emperor of Fengdu frowned. (End of Chapter)