Chapter 999: Tide Rising

Underworld City was now in the deepest part of the netherworld. Ksitigarbha, meditating there, remained utterly unaffected by the nether energy. To Ji Yuan, Ksitigarbha's cultivation had reached a level vastly superior to that of Zhao Long or Monk Jue Ming, as he remembered them.

As Ji Yuan stepped out of the small meditation courtyard, he glanced back. Through his spiritual eye, he could perceive faint pulses of Buddhist light emanating. Though seemingly insignificant in the vastness of the netherworld, this light signified a tranquil Buddha-nature. It also possessed the capacity to influence the karma of the entire netherworld, channeling it through a section of the Yellow Springs within Underworld City. As Ksitigarbha’s cultivation advanced, this influence was destined to expand.

"Mr. Ji, about the netherworld affairs..."

Xin Wuya hesitated before posing a question to Ji Yuan. The conversation Ji Yuan had just held with Master Ksitigarbha inside the meditation courtyard had been entirely open, audible to everyone waiting outside.

Ji Yuan calmly met his gaze.

"Does the Emperor wish for my assistance?"

Xin Wuya swiftly shook his head.

"Sir, you've misunderstood. That's not what I meant. I merely found your previous words very sensible. Matters of the netherworld are best resolved within the netherworld itself. I believe it's not just me; all the ghost gods across the various underworld authorities would prefer no external intervention in netherworld affairs."

Holding a high position and having frequent contact with other underworld authorities in recent years, particularly since the emergence of "The Yellow Springs," Xin Wuya and many ghost gods understood that significant changes were impending in the netherworld. None of them wished for interference from the mortal realm. To put it plainly, they sought to preserve the independence of the netherworld's system, a concern especially vital to Xin Wuya as the Emperor of the Underworld.

"Emperor, it's best you realize this: during this impending tribulation, even if you desire it, the outside world may not have the capacity to offer assistance."

"I am aware, but I merely wish to ask Mr. Ji when this netherworld tribulation will descend?"

Xin Wuya's face was serious, yet Ji Yuan, looking at him, suddenly broke into a smile.

"Hehehe... Emperor, while I, Ji Yuan, know many things, I don't know everything. You are more familiar with the affairs of the netherworld than I am. That is the truth, and it should be so."

Xin Wuya nodded slightly, then cupped his hands in a respectful bow to Ji Yuan.

"Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Ji!"

"Alright, let's go observe the end of the Yellow Springs. We shouldn't disturb Master Ksitigarbha's meditation any further."

"Yes, please, Mr. Ji!"

Xin Wuya gestured politely. After Ji Yuan began to walk away, he cast one last look at Master Ksitigarbha's meditation courtyard, then cupped his hands towards Xiezhi and Lu Min, who stood nearby, before quickly following.

Xiezhi remained still, and Lu Min did not move either. Xiezhi pointed towards the meditation courtyard and said to Lu Min:

"See, this is precisely why I believe following Ji Yuan holds such promise!"

Though Lu Min didn't entirely grasp the implication, he nodded subconsciously, prompting Xiezhi to immediately burst into laughter.

"Why are you nodding? Do you even know what I'm talking about?"

"Uh, well..."

"Come on, let's go. Otherwise, I'll leave you here in this netherworld full of spirits."

With that, Xiezhi went off, chasing after Ji Yuan. Lu Min shook his head with a wry smile. Despite being a True Sword Cultivator of considerable attainment, he felt like a child in this situation. Perhaps that was indeed how Xiezhi viewed him.

From a corner of Underworld City's wall, Xin Wuya stood with Ji Yuan and the others, pointing towards a dense mist at the distant end of a vast, surging river.

"Mr. Ji, that day the Yellow Springs suddenly originated from this very spot, precisely as foretold in the book. It also appears to have some connection with Master Ksitigarbha."

"Yes, there is a connection."

Ji Yuan gazed at the distant source of the Yellow Springs. Unlike other rivers that typically begin small and widen as they gather tributaries, the Yellow Springs was unique; its source was the broadest, flowing from Underworld City like a vast lake veiled in mist.

"Mr. Ji, may I ask one more question? The Yellow Springs has appeared, yet we still haven't discerned the intricacies of the reincarnation method. Do you have any pointers?"

For all other matters, whether simple or complex, Xin Wuya possessed countermeasures. However, regarding the method of reincarnation, the netherworld could only observe the few rare individuals who had already reincarnated, without being able to discern any patterns themselves.

"Emperor, rest assured, it will come. It's simply not the right time yet."

Typically, when Ji Yuan spoke with such finality, Xin Wuya would not press further. However, the matter of reincarnation was of paramount importance to the netherworld, and equally so to him personally. It served as a vital link in his interactions with various underworld authorities, represented the future's greatest reliance for Underworld City, and offered a path to enlightenment for countless ghost cultivators. Thus, Xin Wuya risked another question.

"May I ask, Mr. Ji, if you could reveal what conditions are still required?"

Ji Yuan narrowed his eyes, observing the Yellow Springs' source for a moment, then shifted his gaze, not to Xin Wuya, but to Xiezhi.

"This is a method that truly seizes the creation of the Heavenly Dao; therefore, one must naturally possess the ability to enact the creation of the Heavenly Dao. While I have some ideas, I cannot achieve it yet. As for what it entails, perhaps it requires surviving this tribulation!"

Xin Wuya dared not inquire further. This was the first time Ji Yuan had offered him such insight into the method of reincarnation. The phrase "seize the creation of the Heavenly Dao" carried too much weight and was too astonishing; Xin Wuya feared that speaking more might even invite heavenly tribulation upon himself.

Among those present, only Xiezhi truly grasped Ji Yuan's words. He met Ji Yuan's gaze with a similarly serious expression, though Ji Yuan quickly shifted his eyes away.

Upon Zhuyan's death, Ji Yuan's cultivation dramatically increased once more. While this was undeniably due to the refinement of his sword dao through his cultivation and insights over the past seven years, part of the reason also stemmed from his reclaiming, during Zhuyan's demise, a portion of the Way of Heaven and Earth that Zhuyan had seized in ancient times.

To Xiezhi, Ji Yuan's meaning was crystal clear: while the great tribulation of heaven and earth was undoubtedly an immeasurable calamity for all beings, it also represented an opportunity for heaven and earth to be reborn through destruction.

A crucial manifestation of this was that Ji Yuan must eliminate the other "chess players" during this great tribulation. Only then would he likely possess the capability to truly establish the path of reincarnation in the netherworld.

Having said his piece, Ji Yuan remained by the wall of Underworld City, watching the Yellow Springs. His gaze followed the flowing water into the distance, towards the various regions of the netherworld where the different underworld authorities resided.

"Emperor, many parts of the netherworld are widely separated. In the future, if spirits from distant regions wish to travel to the end of the Yellow Springs for rebirth, have you considered methods other than the Yellow Springs Road?"

Upon hearing Ji Yuan's words, Xin Wuya, who had long contemplated this very issue, nodded and responded:

"To answer Mr. Ji, boats can indeed navigate the river. We can refine ferry boats, engrave formations upon them, and then use a counter-current method to leverage the Yellow Springs' flow, achieving speeds that could even surpass those of realm-crossing ferries!"

"Hehe, interesting. So, according to you, the Emperor of the Underworld, when it comes to long-distance travel in the future, powerful individuals could simply detour through the netherworld, taking a Yellow Springs ferry to various locations, which would be faster than traveling in the mortal realm?"

Xin Wuya shook his head.

"I wouldn't dare boast. Immortal ferries in the mortal realm make stops at various ports and navigate winding routes, whereas Yellow Springs ferries travel directly to destinations within the netherworld. They are not comparable."

"But it would certainly be much faster, wouldn't it?"

Xiezhi reiterated his question. Ji Yuan, observing Xiezhi's evident interest, smiled and inquired:

"Then, if you had to choose, would you take a realm-crossing flying boat or a Yellow Springs ferry?"

"Yellow Springs ferries are for the deceased, and the scenery is utterly monotonous. I'm not ill; why would I choose that?"

"Exactly."

Ji Yuan then turned his gaze to Xin Wuya.

"Furthermore, these Yellow Springs ferries are not for just anyone to ride."

Xin Wuya smiled too.

"Mr. Ji is absolutely right! In the future, there might not even be enough seats for the deceased. Too many underworld authorities across the world are excessively distant from Underworld City; perhaps hundreds, even thousands, of Yellow Springs ferries would need to operate ceaselessly just to meet the demand."

Lu Min, standing nearby, was slightly surprised, not by the sheer number, but by how few it seemed. However, upon reflection, under normal circumstances, not every underworld authority would constantly experience mass deaths, and spirits in the netherworld still possessed "yin life" to enjoy. So, hundreds or thousands of Yellow Springs ferries traversing the river would indeed be sufficient.

Suddenly, Underworld City seemed to begin trembling. Ji Yuan's gait wavered twice, as if he were slightly tipsy.

A deep rumble echoed...

"Mr. Ji, what's the matter?"

Xin Wuya asked anxiously. Ji Yuan looked at him, then towards Underworld City. It seemed he was the only one who perceived the tremor. No, Xiezhi was also frowning now; he must have felt it too.

"It's nothing serious. I must depart. Emperor, you too must exercise great caution in the netherworld."

He had initially hoped Ji Yuan would remain for a few days to observe the netherworld's changes and offer further guidance. He hadn't anticipated such a sudden departure, yet Xin Wuya dared not try to dissuade him.

"Yes, I will certainly heed your teachings, Mr. Ji, and, together with the myriad ghost gods of the netherworld, cautiously navigate these changes, ensuring no minor evil spirits stir up trouble."

Ji Yuan said no more. After a nod, he departed with Xiezhi and Lu Min, flying off through the Ghost Gate newly opened by Underworld City itself.

This tremor must signify the arrival of the new annual tide. In previous years, it began in late spring, but this year it had arrived earlier. Therefore, he needed to leave the netherworld swiftly to meet an old friend.

While he did not wish to burden the Ying clan excessively, the matter was simply too important to leave them entirely uninformed. Otherwise, he would find it difficult to face them in the future.

Once outside the netherworld, Lu Min immediately felt much more at ease. Although his cultivation would prevent any discomfort there, he had never visited before and was, after all, more accustomed to the mortal realm.

However, upon flying to a central region of Da Zhen, Ji Yuan spoke to Lu Min, who was eagerly anticipating seeing Lady Ying, reputed to be the Dragon Clan's foremost divine maiden.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, below is Bing Province of Da Zhen. There's a Cloud Mountain there, and atop it, a Cloud Mountain Temple. It's an ideal place for your recovery. Go ahead, and tell them I sent you. You won't be able to return to Jingxuan Sea Pavilion for now. You can consider other plans once your injuries have healed."

Lu Min opened his mouth, then simply agreed.

"Thank you for your kindness, Mr. Ji. I shall depart then. Please take care, Mr. Ji, and Mr. Xiezhi!"

Lu Min was not a naive person. He understood that these two esteemed figures were far more powerful and ancient than the world imagined. It was no exaggeration to say they were destined to shoulder the great tribulation of heaven and earth—the very "tall ones" who would bear the burden if the sky were to fall. The immense pressure on their shoulders was thus clear to him.

Lu Min bowed respectfully. Ji Yuan returned the gesture and said, "Fellow Daoist Lu, take care!"

Xiezhi, meanwhile, draped an arm around Lu Min's shoulder and leaned in to whisper:

"Listen, Lu Min, we've grown quite familiar on this journey, haven't we? Your Mirror Sea was broken, right? While the Thousand-Layer Heavy Water flowed away, those Water Spirit Treasure Fish didn't perish; they escaped into the world's waterways. Tsk tsk, you've been fishing for so many years, you must have some tricks up your sleeve. Try to find three to five of them someday. Ji Yuan's way of cooking these fish is truly unparalleled, and I haven't even had a taste yet!"

Lu Min instantly recalled the experience of smelling that aroma aboard the realm-crossing flying boat. Several decades, while not a brief span for an immortal cultivator, weren't exceptionally long either, yet now it felt like a very distant memory.

"I will certainly do my utmost!"

"Alright, it's settled then!"

Watching Xiezhi and Ji Yuan disappear into the clouds, Lu Min performed a quick calculation before flying solo towards Cloud Mountain. He had spent years unsuccessfully fishing for Mirror Sea Golden-Scaled Sturgeons, but he hoped he would finally find one, and perhaps have the opportunity to treat Mr. Xiezhi to some fish...

At the Tongtian River Dragon Palace, Ying Ruoli also perceived the subtle tremor and immediately dispatched messengers to summon the hundreds of flood dragons already awaiting orders in the Tongtian River.

Soon after, hundreds of flood dragons assembled in the Dragon Palace's main hall. Ying Ruoli stood regally above, surveying those below.

"This year's tide has arrived early, proving that our efforts to impact the desolate sea over the past few years have been remarkably effective. Now, at the northeastern boundary of the desolate sea, its waters are almost entirely clear. The time has come to break through the limits of heaven and earth and transform it into a pure sea. We, within the next few years..."

Ying Ruoli paused in her speech, looking up slightly as she flung her right sleeve behind her back.

"We shall expand the sea by a hundred thousand li!"

The dragons below stirred with excitement, shouting in unison:

"Expand the sea by a hundred thousand li!" "Expand the sea by a hundred thousand li!" "Expand the sea by a hundred thousand li!"

In their fervor, the dragons felt as though expanding the sea by a million li within a century would be no arduous task. They believed that through cultivation, training, and the accrual of merit, they would surely accumulate the necessary capital for enlightenment, and some individuals were destined to emerge victorious!

Ying Ruoli was now perfectly at ease commanding the vast assembly of aquatic creatures. She was about to speak when a yaksha quickly approached from the side and whispered an urgent report to her.

"Oh? Uncle Ji is here!"

Ying Ruoli's face lit up with pleasant surprise. She dismissed the dragons to prepare, then hurried to another part of the palace where the Old Dragon and the Dragon Prince had already received Ji Yuan.