The Secrets of the Cold Stove: A Mortal Borrowing a Divine Office!

The moment Lu Chen said that, the air in the room froze with a whoosh.

"What did you say?"

King Yama's voice carried thirty percent disbelief, thirty percent astonishment, and forty percent barely contained anger.

"You get to call the shots?"

"Your Majesty, please don't misunderstand," Lu Chen explained. "I have no intention of interfering with the Netherworld's normal operations. My request is simple—Netherworld Currency issued by me must henceforth be designated by the Netherworld as the sole valid currency for passage from the Realm of the Living to the underworld. If that condition is met, this disciple will gladly go through fire and water for the Netherworld's great cause."

"That simple?"

"Yes, that simple!"

The chill in the air vanished at once.

King Yama's voice softened as well. "You needn't worry about that. Other than you, I've never seen anyone with such capabilities. Even if others wanted to get involved, they couldn't."

Lu Chen said, "Better safe than sorry. It's best to make things clear beforehand and save trouble later."

King Yama pondered briefly. "Fine, I grant it. If you can truly carry out this plan, I won't treat you poorly. Giving you this small benefit is no great matter. But someday, if I have need of you..."

Lu Chen cupped his fists. "Rest assured, Your Majesty. This disciple understands!"

King Yama burst into hearty laughter. "Good! I enjoy dealing with clever people most! Go ahead and do it—I'll be the one backing you!"

With the major matter settled, Lu Chen immediately changed his tune. Rubbing his hands, he said with a grin, "Then... Your Majesty, shouldn't you give me an official post? And assign me some personnel and supplies? You can't expect me to be a general without an army, right? I'm not asking for much. Just give me a hundred thousand underworld soldiers."

"H-how many?!" Even King Yama was stunned. "A hundred thousand underworld soldiers? Are you planning to wage war on the Heavenly Court?!"

Lu Chen said, "..."

"Then ten thousand?"

"Dream on!"

"One thousand, then?"

"Get lost! At most, I'll assign you a pair of Ox-Head and Horse-Face, along with Black and White Impermanence. If you perform well and satisfy me, I may send a few more underworld constables your way later."

"Can't you add any more?"

"What do you think?"

"Fine... something's better than nothing." Though he said so, Lu Chen was already over the moon.

Ox-Head and Horse-Face, Black and White Impermanence—these were the Netherworld's golden partners. Black and White Impermanence captured souls, while Ox-Head and Horse-Face patrolled the underworld and escorted prisoners. One watched the roads of the living, the other guarded the paths of the dead—perfect for his plan.

And all four were highly capable. At critical moments, they could serve as bodyguards too. They might not be able to handle high-grade Spirit Cultivators, but dealing with Second or Third Grade opponents would definitely be no problem. That meant he now had four bodyguards, each at least Third Grade!

The next time he ran into trash like Zhao Zhihong, if he didn't beat him until shit came out, he'd write the character Lu backward!

"Your Majesty, what about my official post?"

King Yama thought for a moment. "How about appointing you a Day Patrol God?"

"A Day Patrol God? No, no." Lu Chen shook his head like a rattle-drum. "The Patrol Gods are on the same level as Black and White Impermanence. If I'm their equal, how am I supposed to command them?"

"You brat! You're a mere mortal without even a grade, yet you're dissatisfied with being made a Patrol God?"

"Your Majesty, that's not how it works. An official one rank higher can crush those below him. If I'm on their level, I'll be too constrained when carrying out tasks. That'd make it really hard for me to get work done." Lu Chen looked utterly sincere. "Without that authority, things won't be easy to handle."

"Then... how about making you a judge of the living?"

"A judge? Still no." Lu Chen continued shaking his head.

"Why not? Judges can already command the Netherworld's underworld constables. How is that unsuitable?"

"Your Majesty, I'm meant to be the vanguard general opening new territory for the Netherworld. Giving me a civil post doesn't fit the role."

"Then... I'll send you to the City God Temple and give you the nominal post of Deputy City God. Will that do?"

The City God was a local official appointed by the Heavenly Court. They protected local peace and helped handle underworld affairs. Strictly speaking, they were also the superiors of Black and White Impermanence and the Day-and-Night Patrol Gods.

As the deputy, the Deputy City God was no minor official either.

But after thinking it over, Lu Chen still shook his head. "Your Majesty, it still won't do."

"You presumptuous brat!" King Yama roared. "This won't do, that won't do—what exactly do you want?"

Lu Chen explained unhurriedly, "Your Majesty, think about it. What I'm doing is a major undertaking that concerns the entire Realm of the Living. If I only hold the post of Deputy City God, wouldn't that confine me to one city? How could I possibly spread my wings?"

"This..." Hearing that, King Yama found it somewhat reasonable. "Then tell me, what official post do you want? Don't tell me you want my seat?"

"Your Majesty jests." Lu Chen waved a hand. "How about this? What I'm doing will shake heaven and earth, so this official post can't follow the old rules either. Why not appoint me a Grand General? It would suit my role as an advance vanguard perfectly!"

"A Grand General?" King Yama paused, then laughed with mock annoyance. "You slippery little brat, you've got a belly full of schemes. Fine. If I don't give you a little sweetness, you won't let this go."

"I shall grant your wish. I appoint you Underworld Martial and Virtuous General, and bestow upon you my command token. You may use it to commune with the Netherworld and dispatch underworld constables."

"Furthermore, considering your cultivation is too low, I shall grant you a measure of divine power and an additional three years of lifespan in the Realm of the Living!"

The moment King Yama finished speaking, a beam of black light flew out of the memorial tablet and plunged into Lu Chen's body.

In an instant, Lu Chen felt himself form countless mysterious connections with heaven and earth around him. His five senses became exceptionally sharp, while an endless current of power surged through his body. Deep within his Spirit Sea, a Spirit Lamp suddenly lit up, shining brilliantly!

"This is... First-Grade Peak?!"

Whenever a Spirit Cultivator advanced by one grade, one Spirit Lamp would light up in their body. Ninth Grade meant nine lamps. And when a lamp's flame burned fiercely, it meant one had reached the peak of that grade!

Damn! King Yama was incredibly generous! He'd granted him a divine office, bestowed divine power, and even added three years to his lifespan! If he'd been this straightforward from the beginning, it would've saved so much breath!

"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Lu Chen immediately bent at the waist and saluted. At the same time, the back of his hand warmed slightly as a ghost-face pattern flashed and quietly vanished.

"This is... Yama's Command Token? I thought it would be a physical token. This is much more convenient." Lu Chen secretly rejoiced.

"Remember, there are several divine abilities within the token. But with your current divine power, you can only learn one: Underworld Divine Lightning. Comprehend it on your own. You crafty brat, are you satisfied now?"

"Your Majesty is so generous that this disciple is endlessly grateful! My admiration for Your Majesty is like the surging Yangtze, flowing on without end; like the Yellow River bursting its banks, utterly unstoppable!"

"Hmph, spare me the sweet talk. Let me warn you as well: if you fail to gather three thousand Incense Fire within three months, don't blame me for settling accounts with you! Take care of yourself."

"Huh? Three thousand in three months? Your Majesty, isn't that KPI set way too high? Your Majesty?"

But no matter how Lu Chen called out, King Yama gave no further response. He had clearly returned to the Netherworld.

"Just like that, he left? I was still planning to bargain him down." Lu Chen curled his lip. "Three thousand it is! Old Yama, you clearly know nothing about the power of viral spread!"

As long as he opened a channel between the underworld and the Realm of the Living for ancestors, let alone three thousand—even thirty thousand, three hundred thousand, or three million would be no difficult task!

"Once the Netherworld Currency business gets going and I accumulate enough military merit, my Lu Family's rise to New Nobility will only be a matter of time."

With the money issue resolved, Lu Chen naturally began harboring even greater ambitions.

As the sworn brother of Lord God of Wealth, the Orthodox God of the Heavenly Court's Wealth Department; the prospective godson of the Ten Halls of Yama; the current Underworld Martial and Virtuous General of the Netherworld; and the benefactor of the Sun family, one of Jiangdu City's four great families...

How could Lu Chen be content with forever struggling at the bottom?

Others could enter the New Nobility. Why couldn't Lu Chen?

And not merely New Nobility—beyond that lay Great Clans, Prominent Houses, aristocratic families, even royal clans!

If they could become them, why couldn't Lu Chen?

With heroic ambition surging in his chest, Lu Chen began tallying today's gains:

He had advanced to First-Grade Peak!

With this strength in his class, if he claimed second place, no one would dare claim first!

Even ordinary teachers were only around Second Grade.

Next, he had obtained Yama's Command Token and could command underworld constables, which was equivalent to gaining four bodyguards and thugs, each at least Third Grade.

Finally, as a mortal, he had borrowed a divine office!

He hadn't realized it before, but once he added it all up, even he was shocked.

He'd made an absolute killing!!

"Sure enough, tending a cold stove is truly delicious! The bolder the heart, the greater the harvest from the land!"

Suppressing his surging emotions.

Lu Chen immediately lit another stick of incense, intending to have another chat with Lord God of Wealth and ask him to bless his future paper-money business with meteoric success.

Just as he inserted the incense stick into the burner—

"Creak—bang!"

The door suddenly flew open.

Father Lu's excited voice came from outside. "Old Li, I'm definitely going to play several rounds with you tonight! Whoever loses the most treats everyone tomorrow!"

"Sure! With your skill, it'll be impressive if you can win even one round from me!"

Holding the incense stick, Lu Chen turned around and saw Father Lu, who had gone out for a stroll, standing at the door with his chess friend—Uncle Li from the same residential complex.

Father Lu and Uncle Li also spotted Lu Chen at once.

Uncle Li's gaze instinctively fell upon King Yama's memorial tablet behind Lu Chen.

Then...

Both sides fell silent.

Until Uncle Li let out a scream loud enough to blow the roof off:

"Oh my god! The Lu family actually invited King Yama into their home!!"

What followed was a chaotic series of thuds rolling down the stairs.

"Oh no!"

Mother Lu, who had been listening to the commotion outside from the inner room, went pale at once.

She knew paper couldn't wrap fire forever.

But she hadn't expected it to happen so soon.

"Lu Jianming, you're truly useless at success and more than capable of ruining things!"

Mother Lu gritted her teeth furiously, yanked open the bedroom door, and rushed out...