Qi Refining Achieved and New Neighbors

Qi Refining Achieved and New Neighbors. Broadly speaking, the existence of the Netherworld Underworld meant that if people became ghosts after death, whether intentionally or otherwise, they had land where they could exist and live. With the presence of Nether Energy, ghosts could also begin cultivating.

Thus, as time passed, more and more ghosts gathered in the Netherworld Underworld. Ghost Kings from all walks of life vied for supremacy, even gradually opening passageways connecting the various Netherworld Underworlds, collectively known as the Netherworld.

Within the Netherworld, Ghost Kings stood in great numbers, some strong and some weak. They fought or cooperated, their disputes never ceasing, and had even begun affecting the living in the Yang World.

Moreover, these ghosts lived in the Netherworld beyond the Yang World's control. From time to time, they would come to the Yang World to siphon off some Yang Energy for a snack, leaving the imperial courts of the Yang World frazzled.

Thus, in order to deal with this force that affected their rule and stability, the courts of every dynasty would confer titles upon deceased officials and soldiers. They nurtured their souls into spirits through the Incense God path, stationed them at City God Temples across the land, and established the Netherworld Bureaucracy to contend with the ghosts in the various Netherworld Underworlds and safeguard life in the Yang World.

And then...

After a hundred years of campaigns, once a new dynasty was established, the City Gods of the previous court would become mighty Ghost Kings of the Netherworld once more...

"This... is an endless cycle?"

Daoist Priest Mingzhang shook his head. "There is nothing to be done about it. Fortunately, the Great Jing Dynasty is powerful. It was founded through martial might, with countless soldiers and generals. Now that six hundred years have passed, it is said that many City Gods have already fought their way into the Netherworld."

Lu Zheng shook his head, thinking, What good would that do? Unless they could establish a system like the Ten Kings of Hell from China's legends...

Well, Lu Zheng realized it then. The imperial courts of every dynasty had naturally wanted to do just that; they simply lacked the strength.

Even in China's legends, the Netherworld had Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and the Fengdu Emperor presiding over it, yet all manner of ghosts that committed evil and harmed people still appeared time and again.

No matter the world, truth was built upon fists.

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

Daoist Priest Mingzhang explained, "Though he is called a Ghost King, his strength is actually rather ordinary. He and the City God of Tonglin County are about evenly matched."

"Uh, can ghosts come out of the Netherworld whenever they want?"

"How could it be so easy? Great powers can indeed enter and leave whenever they please, but ordinary ghosts still have to use fixed passageways, and they generally do not appear in the Yang World.

"After all, aside from the City Gods specifically targeting them, the Yang World also has all sorts of cultivators. It is dangerous for them to come out as well."

"Then this Corpse Ghoul..."

"The Painted Skin Technique can conceal one's aura. Unless one is a great power, it is difficult to detect."

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

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

"Demons..." Daoist Priest Mingzhang thought for a moment. "You will know when you encounter one."

Lu Zheng: "..."

After talking for so long, the sky gradually darkened. Lu Zheng left everything belonging to the Corpse Ghoul at White Cloud Temple, then respectfully took his leave.

Though what had happened today seemed like a transaction, Lu Zheng had actually received enormous benefits.

Not only had his future troubles been eliminated, but he had traded two methods he could not use for a breathing technique, and learned of the City Gods and the Netherworld.

Thus, Lu Zheng was deeply grateful. He had already decided to buy some gifts in the modern world that White Cloud Temple could use.

He returned to Tonglin County even later this time, yet encountered no mishaps.

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

"Upgrade!"

Then, in an instant, three strands of Light of Luck in the Jade Seal vanished. A threadlike Qi Sensation suddenly rose within Lu Zheng's Dantian and began circulating through his body along the route Daoist Priest Mingzhang had taught him.

"Tsk, tsk. Sensing Qi really is not all that difficult."

Lu Zheng chuckled. "Upgrade again!"

Buzz!

One strand of Light of Luck vanished, and the Qi within his body grew a little stronger.

"Upgrade again!"

Only after the fourth strand of Light of Luck had been consumed did Lu Zheng reach the adaptation stage.

By then, the Qi within his body had grown by an entire measure.

Wonderful! Lu Zheng rose to his feet and let True Qi circulate through the heavenly cycle within his body.

He could feel that this True Qi was slowly changing his body, gradually strengthening his essence, Qi, and spirit. It made his body healthier, his mind sharper, and his thoughts clearer.

And that was merely a side effect. Lu Zheng could sense that the True Qi clearly possessed even more wondrous uses; he simply did not know them yet.

No wonder everyone wanted to cultivate! Thus, Lu Zheng did not return to the modern world. Instead, he washed up in the ancient world, then fell straight into bed.

After obtaining the breathing technique, Lu Zheng cultivated in both worlds. The conclusion he reached in the end was both pleasing and disappointing.

He could actually cultivate in the modern world as well, but progress was so slow it was nearly negligible. The tiny amount of True Qi he cultivated was all condensed from within his own body.

Therefore, Lu Zheng first proved that the heavens and earth of the ancient world contained some gaseous substance that could accelerate cultivation, and second proved that cultivation was possible in the modern world too, though the results were simply terrible.

Over the next few days, Lu Zheng inspected the apothecaries and sugar shops in Tonglin County. Nothing else happened, and life finally entered a rare period of calm.

Later, he heard that a scholar in the county had reported to the authorities that a young woman from his household had gone missing, but the matter ultimately came to nothing.

"Hmm, a shop in Cong An Ward has been listed for sale, but the asking price is actually two hundred strings of cash."

"To open an apothecary, I really only need a storefront, but I would have to hire an experienced old man."

"To open a sugar shop, I would also have to acquire a sugar workshop as a cover. Hmm, perhaps not necessarily. I could pretend to purchase from a sugar workshop instead."

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

As Lu Zheng investigated both sides, he found the whole matter exceedingly difficult.

No wonder they said entrepreneurship was poisonous chicken soup. Even with a cheat like mine, I still find starting a business troublesome. That says it all.

After wandering around the county for another day, Lu Zheng held a piece of Malt Sugar bought from a shop, popping it into his mouth as he walked.

The moment he entered the alley, Lu Zheng saw several large carts parked beside his courtyard. Porters moved in and out, carrying box after box of things inside.

"Huh, has the courtyard next door been bought?"

On the street where Lu Zheng lived, there were standalone homes with their own courtyards, homes where several families shared one courtyard, and naturally, vacant courtyards as well.

Having only recently arrived and living alone, he was merely on nodding terms with the neighboring residents and had not formed deeper ties with them.

Moreover, although the courtyard he had chosen was near the mouth of the street, the two courtyards beside it had always stood vacant and dilapidated, with no one living there.

Now, it seemed the courtyard next to his had been sold.

As he passed the entrance, Lu Zheng looked inside and saw masons and carpenters at work. An old man who looked to be in his fifties or sixties was directing the porters as they placed things inside.

The old man caught sight of Lu Zheng from the corner of his eye. With a smile piled across his face, he stepped outside, cupping his hands as he laughed. "This old man is surnamed Liu. Might you be Young Master Lu from next door? This old man just paid you a visit, but your servant said you had gone out."

"Greetings, Mister Liu." Lu Zheng returned the salute with cupped hands.

"I cannot accept being called Mister by a Young Master. Just call me Old Man Liu." The old man smiled warmly.

Lu Zheng smiled at that. "Then do not call me Young Master either. Just call me Lu Zheng. Where have you come from, old man?"

"I am originally from Yao Province. My family and I have now settled in Tonglin County, and I intend to open a medical clinic here. I hope Lu Lang will look after us in the future."

"You are too polite. I have only been here for less than a month myself. Let us look after one another."

After casually chatting for a few moments, Lu Zheng finally took his leave and went home to eat.

Thanks to fellow daoist Just Started Playing, Don't Quite Understand, for the reward.