CHAPTER 444: CHAPTER 386: WATER MANSION ENSHRINED AS A DEITY, THE RITUAL OF THE EIGHT SCENIC SPOTS

Eight Sceneries World.

The Eight Sceneries World is the territory of the Ancient Xuanzhen Palace, with the palace’s headquarters located within this realm.

Back when Song Lin joined the Blessing Meeting, that mysterious Heavenly Venerate was a descendant of Xuanzhen Palace.

If he hadn’t used the Demon Seed Sky Filling Technique, it’s possible he would have fallen into the Heavenly Venerate’s trap.

The Eight Sceneries World is a realm independent of the True World, a level above a Grotto Heaven, classified as a minor world.

Within the world, there are eight distinct territories representing Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, Wind, Flower, Snow, and Moon. At the center lies the pitch-black Mother Tree of All Things, where the Heavenly Venerate resides.

Song Lin’s Eight Sceneries Divine Sword was refined in this very realm.

"As a sect of the Ancient Taoist School, the Xuanzhen Palace must have a Heavenly Master’s Token!"

Song Lin thought to himself.

The Heavenly Venerate’s strength at the time should have reached the Transcendence Tribulation Stage, coupled with the home-field advantage, possibly possessing combat power equivalent to a Primordial Spirit.

Not too strong, just needs some caution on his part.

The benefits of the Eight Sceneries World go beyond the Heavenly Master’s Token. This is a relatively large world, capable of accommodating tens or even hundreds of millions of people.

With its rich concentration of Heaven and Earth Essence Qi, taking control of it would allow Guu Yuchan and Yan Jiuge to migrate there, eliminating the need to seek treasure lands overseas.

The swordsman lineage, akin to cultivation, tends to have a broader impact during their refinement, so it’s better to relocate them all into that world.

Having thought this through, Song Lin had already reached a decision in his heart.

"Let’s consider it a new Dharma Assembly."

Song Lin summoned Shi Yinhua. This young fellow’s pale face appeared even paler, as white as a corpse.

It seemed he had been exceedingly busy lately. Fortunately, Song Lin had located the reincarnated parents of the Treasure Servant; otherwise, the burden would have still been on this young man.

Song Lin shared his plan with him.

Shi Yinhua let out a series of bitter smiles; more tasks had arrived, and now he felt like truly abandoning everything.

"Palace Master, I haven’t even finalized the candidates for the Jinhua Palace yet. The merger of the Five Qi and Qimen forests is ongoing, and the splitting and reconstruction of other sects and residences are still on the docket. There’s truly no one left to oversee these matters."

"Oh, is that so?"

Song Lin’s old face turned slightly red with guilt; he realized he might have shirked his responsibilities for too long.

"Indeed, and the Water Control Feast is nearing its conclusion but hasn’t yet finished. The alliance truly lacks people to handle these affairs."

Three thousand miles of the Yun River, with hundreds of tributaries, still required a significant number of Taoists to station and guard them.

The positions of Water Masters and Mountain Gods had not been fully staffed; even Earth Evil and Heavenly Slaughter had been called to assist.

"Alright, let’s put this on hold for now."

Song Lin decided he would contribute personally—he couldn’t afford to be too much of a slacker.

Yun River Water Mansion.

The Underwater Dragon Palace lies a thousand fathoms beneath the earth. As the mother river that sustains tens of millions in the Yunzhou area, its protection is of utmost importance. Where mortal eyes cannot see, hidden Ghost Soldiers stand guard.

Dragon River County.

The location of the Dragon River, a tributary of the Yun River.

At this time, the city was still under restoration. The recent chaos caused by demons had led to significant casualties. Now that the demons had retreated, with the assistance of the Taoist Temples, reconstruction had begun.

In the County Magistrate’s residence, the servants in the courtyard wore worried expressions, and the air was thick with the scent of medicine.

From the back residence came the faint sound of suppressed sobbing.

County Magistrate Li Shibai, only thirty years old, had ten years ago passed the imperial examinations but offended court officials of higher rank; as punishment, he was exiled to this remote, destitute land.

During the demon chaos, he was afflicted by demon energy. Even though a temple Taoist had intervened to save him, upon seeing his injuries, they tactfully delivered the final verdict: death was inescapable.

On the sickbed, Li Shibai lay under a thick blanket, his face pale as a wall, his breath faint, while a woman wept beside him, her tears flowing like raindrops.

"Cough, cough, don’t cry, don’t cry," Li Shibai said, stroking the woman’s hair. "After I pass, take the two children and find Taoist Lim Zheng at Taixu Temple. He will escort you back to your old home in Yizhou. Don’t stay here. Over the years, I’ve offended too many powerful figures. After I’m gone, there won’t be anyone to protect you."

As he spoke, Li Shibai grew even weaker.

"That will not be necessary!"

Whoosh!

In the void, a beam of white light appeared, converging into the figure of a young Taoist.

"Brother Lim?"

Li Shibai sat up abruptly.

Looking down, he realized his soul had already left his body; his physical form had ceased to breathe.

Lim Zheng ignored Li Shibai and turned to the woman, saying, "Sister, don’t weep. Look at this."

With that, he produced a white jade bottle.

Channeling his True Qi, a beam of green light flew from the bottle’s mouth and entered Li Shibai’s soul body.

Li Shibai immediately felt a wave of refreshing energy, as though plunging into a cool pool on a sweltering summer day.

His soul body gradually solidified, even manifesting visibly to the point that his wife could see him.

"What... is this?"

Li Shibai gazed at the Taoist in bewilderment.

Now, he could clearly sense the condition of his physical body. What’s more, he seemed to have acquired several Divine Skills, including entering dreams, teleportation, invisibility, and creating labyrinths.

"This is the Taiyin Refining Form Qi, entrusted to me by Senior Zhong, a Taiyin Refining Master. With this Qi, you can transform into a Yin Spirit and enjoy a lifespan of two hundred years. If the incense offerings are plentiful, you might even break through in the future."

Lim Zheng cupped his fists and gave a formal bow, his tone solemn. "Congratulations, Taoist, on your meritorious ascension to godhood. You are now the Dragon River Water Master! Please come with me!"

Telling his wife to wait momentarily, Li Shibai departed, escorted by Taoist Soldiers, toward the Yun River Dragon Palace.

Along the way, countless miraculous sights unfolded before his eyes, leaving Li Shibai deeply awed. He never would have imagined such wondrous places existed in this world.

Dragon Palace.

On the main seat sat an elder with green eyes and square pupils, exuding the aura of a True Immortal.

"Greetings, Master!"

Lim Zheng bowed respectfully.

Li Shibai noticed he wasn’t the only soul present; several others lingered nearby.

Yuanbo explained the reason for gathering everyone.

"You all have contributed greatly to the nation and the people. Therefore, upon death, you are bestowed with divinity, granted two hundred years of incense offerings. Now, I shall confer divine titles upon you. Li Shibai!"

"Present!"

At Lim Zheng’s signal, Li Shibai stepped forward to receive his orders.

"Li Shibai has protected the land and its people, saved countless lives, and accumulated immeasurable yin merit. He is hereby appointed Seventh-rank Dragon River Water Master. He shall govern three temples, one Underwater Yin Mansion, ten temple priests, twenty Ghost Servants, one hundred Water Soldiers, and five hundred Taoist Soldiers."

Yuanbo handed a talismanic certificate to Li Shibai, signaling his new position. With this token, he could command Water Techniques, Divine Skills, and mobilize Taoist Soldiers.

Soon, a total of twenty-one Water Masters were appointed.

"As members of the Donghua Alliance, you must adhere to the regulations: do not misuse personal will in place of the Heavenly Heart; do not deceive or cause chaos among the living; do not manifest yourself in the mortal world or proclaim yourself a god. Violation will result in the scattering of your soul!"

"Understood!"

The group was exhilarated.

Most of them had been mortal officials, philanthropists, heroic figures, or renowned filial children in their lifetimes.

They had believed that after death, all would become void, never expecting to ascend to the rank of Yin Gods, charged with protecting a territory. Truly, this proved that good deeds were indeed rewarded.

At this point, Li Shibai hesitantly asked:

"My lord, might we contact our mortal families?"

Yuanbo rejected the notion outright, stating:

"No. While you possess the Divine Skill of Dreaming, you may not use it to contact mortals without prior approval."

Dreaming was too intrusive a power in the mortal realm.

Allowing unrestricted use of such an ability would undoubtedly lead to chaos—merchants, officials, and other mortals would surely bribe ghosts and gods to uncover rival secrets. Such a scenario would spell disaster for the mortal world.

"However, I will permit each of you to contact your family in a single dream. Also, among the Ghost Servants you are granted, each possesses two Jiazi’s worth of yin life; you may guide up to twenty of your family members here after their death. Sixth-rank Water Masters may guide fifty, and Fifth-rank Water Masters, one hundred."

"The Taoist is merciful!"

The group, deeply moved, knelt in gratitude.

As the saying goes, "When one ascends, chickens and dogs rise alongside."

Indeed, it was no empty promise!

"Everything depends on yin merit. Act diligently, and the Taoist School shall reward you accordingly. Breaking past the two-hundred-year yin life span is not out of reach!"

"Understood!"

The Water Masters quickly took their positions.

"This framework is well-thought-out, Taoist Lim. It will surely encourage virtuous deeds in the mortal realm."

Song Lin suddenly appeared at this moment.

"Haha, it’s a mere humble effort," Yuanbo replied modestly, stroking his beard with a pleased expression.

"Not at all. We cultivators aspire to change the heavens and the earth. Though we lack the power for such feats now, fostering a culture of virtue and kindness among mortals is itself an extraordinary achievement."

Following several divine dreams and Yuanbo’s deliberate enactment of specific miracles,

mortals began to believe that there truly were gods three feet above their heads. Some even aspired to divinity themselves by striving with diligence.

As for deception or falsehoods, they stood no chance of escaping Yuanbo’s Dharma Eye.

Subsequently, Song Lin participated in Dharma Assemblies, eliminating remnants of bad practices and water demons from former residences, greatly accelerating the process.

Simultaneously, he created seventy-two avatars to assist Shi Yinhua, Wang Ziyue, Guu Yuchan, Guu Ling, Fei Hong, Zhengxin, and others in their efforts at reconstruction.

The Palace Master had truly outdone himself!

Everyone was astounded.

This Palace Master rarely appeared, but when he did, he was truly relentless.

Seventy-two avatars working on seventy-two tasks simultaneously.

Truly worthy of being the Palace Master and Hierarch of the Donghua Alliance.

Many who had never met Song Lin before now had their impression of him deepened significantly.

Even so, Song Lin realized that he was being too hasty.

The Donghua Alliance, ever since its establishment, had amassed too many tasks—taking on everything but excelling at nothing.

Song Lin and his avatars assured everyone:

"No new tasks will be added during this period. Until the Donghua Alliance’s reorganization is complete, and all new departments are operational, we will clear all pending obligations and resolve all lingering matters."

"Afterward, I shall convene a grand Dharma Assembly. On the one hand, it will celebrate our achievements; on the other, it will serve as a rallying call. Following this, we shall mobilize all our forces and launch an all-out campaign to conquer the Eight Sceneries World."

Dharma Assemblies in this world differ from ceremonial rituals of Earth.

Here, while the ritual aspect serves as a rallying ceremony, the agreement reached within is enacted with real efforts and actions.

Prayers for blessings lead to swift results like healing the sick and fostering crop growth.

When it’s about slaying demons, armies are dispatched immediately to eliminate evil.

Thus, initiating a Dharma Assembly signaled a commitment to genuine action.

The Eight Sceneries World held the Heavenly Master Seal and determined the survival prospects of the Donghua Alliance, making its conquest an undertaking of utmost importance.