Qi Refining Success and New Neighbors

In general terms, the existence of the Netherworld Underworld means that after people die, if they intentionally or unintentionally become ghosts, they have land to exist and live on. With the existence of Nether Energy, ghosts can also begin to cultivate.

As time passed, the number of ghosts in the Netherworld Underworld increased. Ghost Kings from all sides competed for supremacy, and even slowly opened up connecting passages between the various Netherworld Underworlds, calling it the Netherworld.

In the Netherworld, Ghost Kings from all sides stood tall, some strong and some weak, either fighting or cooperating, with endless disputes, even beginning to affect the living in the Yang Realm.

Moreover, these ghosts live in the Netherworld,not subject to the laws of the mortal realm (are not governed by the Yang Realm), and occasionally come to the Yang Realm to absorb some Yang Energy to satisfy their hunger, causing the Yang Realm court a headache.

Therefore, in order to deal with this force that affects their rule and stability, the courts of past dynasties would enshrine deceased officials and soldiers, using incense and the divine path to nurture their souls into spirits, stationing them in City God temples across the land, establishing the Netherworld Bureaucracy to deal with the ghosts in the Netherworld Underworld and ensure life in the Yang Realm.

Then...

After a hundred years of conquest, when a new dynasty is established, the City God of the previous dynasty becomes a Ghost King overlord in the Netherworld...

"This... is it an infinite loop?"

Daoist Priest Mingzhang shook his head. "There's no other way. Fortunately, the Great Jing Dynasty is strong. It was founded on military might, with many soldiers and generals. Now, six hundred years have passed, and it is said that many City Gods have already invaded the Netherworld."

Lu Zheng shook his head, thinking, What good will that do? Unless they can establish a Ten Kings of Hell system like in Chinese legends, otherwise...

Okay, Lu Zheng realized that the courts of past dynasties certainly wanted to do this, but they simply didn't have the strength.

Even in Chinese legends, there are Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and Fengdu Emperor sitting in the Netherworld, and various evil and harmful ghosts frequently appear.

No matter which world you are in, truth is built on the fist.

"The Nightfall King is a Ghost King in the Netherworld near Tonglin County."

Daoist Priest Mingzhang explained, "But although he is called a Ghost King, his strength is actually average, about the same as the Tonglin County City God."

"Um, can ghosts come out of the Netherworld at any time?"

"It's not that easy. Powerful people can indeed enter and exit at any time, but ordinary ghosts still have to use fixed channels, and these ghosts generally don't appear in the Yang Realm.

After all, in the Yang Realm, besides the City Gods who specifically target them, there are also various cultivators. It is very dangerous for them to come out."

"Then this Corpse Ghoul..."

"The Painted Skin Technique can conceal its aura, making it difficult for even powerful people to detect."

"Oh." Lu Zheng nodded, understanding. "Um, what about demons?"

He still remembered that Daoist Priest Mingzhang had just said that there were demons around Tonglin County!

"Demons..." Daoist Priest Mingzhang thought for a moment, "You'll know when you encounter them."

Lu Zheng, "..."

After talking for so long, the sky gradually darkened. Lu Zheng left all the Corpse Ghoul's belongings at the White Cloud Temple, and then respectfully bid farewell.

Although today's events seemed like a transaction, Lu Zheng actually received great benefits.

He eliminated future troubles, exchanged two methods he couldn't use for a breathing technique, and learned about the City God and the Netherworld.

Therefore, Lu Zheng was very grateful and was already preparing to purchase some gifts from the modern world that the White Cloud Temple could use.

This time, he returned to Tonglin County even later, but he didn't encounter any accidents.

After sending Uncle Li to rest, Lu Zheng returned to his bedroom.

"Improve!"

Then, three strands of the Light of Luck in the Jade Seal disappeared in an instant, and a faint wisp of Qi suddenly rose in Lu Zheng's dantian, beginning to circulate and wander through his body along the route Daoist Priest Mingzhang had pointed out to him.

"Tsk tsk, sensing Qi isn't that difficult after all."

Lu Zheng chuckled, "Improve again!"

"Buzz!"

A strand of Luck disappeared, and the Qi in his body grew stronger.

"Improve again!"

It wasn't until the fourth strand of the Light of Luck was consumed that Lu Zheng reached the adaptation period.

At this time, the Qi in his body had already grown stronger.

爽 (Awesome)! Lu Zheng stood up and allowed the true energy to circulate through his body.

He could feel that this true energy was slowly changing his body, slowly increasing his essence, energy, and spirit, making his body healthier, his spirit better, and his mind clearer.

Moreover, this was just a side effect. Lu Zheng could feel that the true energy clearly had more miraculous effects, but he just didn't know how to use them yet.

No wonder everyone wants to cultivate! So Lu Zheng didn't travel back to modern times, but instead washed up in ancient times, then went to bed.

After obtaining the breathing technique, Lu Zheng cultivated in both worlds, and the final theory he came up with was both pleasing and not pleasing.

He could actually cultivate in modern times, but the progress was so slow that it was almost negligible. The little bit of true energy that he cultivated was all condensed from his own body.

Therefore, Lu Zheng first proved that there was some kind of gaseous substance in the heaven and earth of ancient times that could accelerate cultivation, and second, he proved that modern times could also cultivate, but the effect was too poor.

In the next few days, Lu Zheng was investigating the pharmacies and candy shops in Tonglin County, and nothing else happened. Life entered a rare period of calm.

Later, he heard that a scholar in the county reported to the authorities that a girl had disappeared from his family, but it ended without any results.

"Well, there is a shop in Cong An Ward with a sign hanging up, but it actually costs two hundred strings of cash."

"Opening a pharmacy does only require a shop, but you have to hire a knowledgeable old man."

"Opening a candy shop requires simultaneously acquiring a sugar workshop as a disguise. Well, not necessarily, pretending to buy from a sugar workshop is also fine."

"No money... no people..."

Lu Zheng investigated both sides and only felt that things were very difficult.

No wonder everyone says that entrepreneurship is toxic chicken soup. I am a person with a cheat, but I still find entrepreneurship troublesome, which shows how difficult it is.

After wandering around the county for another day, Lu Zheng held the maltose he bought from the store, throwing it into his mouth as he walked.

Just as he walked into the alley, Lu Zheng saw several large carts parked next to his courtyard, with porters going in and out, carrying boxes of things inside.

"Oh, the next courtyard has been bought?"

In the street where Lu Zheng lived, there were both independent courtyards and several families living in one courtyard, and of course there were also empty courtyards.

He was new here and lived alone, and only had nodding acquaintances with the neighbors near the street, and did not have in-depth interactions.

Moreover, although the courtyard he chose was close to the street entrance, the two courtyards next door had been vacant and deserted, and no one lived there.

Now it seems that the courtyard next to him has been sold.

Passing by the door, Lu Zheng glanced inside and saw tilers and carpenters working. An old man who looked to be in his fifties or sixties was directing the porters to place things.

His eyes glanced over and saw Lu Zheng, so the old man went out with a smile on his face, cupping his hands and smiling, "This old man's surname is Liu, is this the young master Lu next door? This old man just came to visit, and the servants said you were out."

"Greetings, Mr. Liu." Lu Zheng also cupped his hands in return.

"I can't bear the title of young master or mister, just call me Old Man Liu." The old man said with a smile.

Lu Zheng smiled when he heard this, "Don't call me young master either, just call me Lu Zheng. Where did you come from, old sir?"

"I am originally from Yao Province, and now my family has settled in Tonglin County, preparing to open a clinic in the county. I will have to ask for your care in the future, young master Lu."

"You're too polite, I've only been here for less than a month, let's take care of each other."

After chatting casually for a few words, Lu Zheng then bid farewell and left to go home for dinner.

Thanks to the fellow daoist who just started playing and doesn't understand for the reward