Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

Three years after establishing the Great Chu, they successfully defeated Fengjing, annihilated Great Chen, and unified the empire.

Starting from humble beginnings, Lu Zhang had begged for food, served as a soldier, and even led a rebellion, but eventually unified the empire, alone in his greatness. He was indeed a legend of his generation.

However, for him, the real challenges were just beginning: the shattered empire, the overwhelming power of the noble families, and the cultivators lurking in the shadows all needed careful sorting out.

It wasn't easy to conquer the world, and it was even harder to govern it. Even though Lu Zhang was a workaholic, he still felt utterly exhausted when faced with the mountain-like stacks of memorials to the throne.

Overcome with fatigue, he eventually fell asleep at his desk.

"Zhanger, wake up now!" A familiar voice awakened Lu Zhang, and he looked up to see his long-deceased father standing before him, looking at him with affection.

"So it was a dream, but seeing Father in my dreams is indeed wonderful," Lu Zhang murmured to himself.

"If you say it's a dream, you're not entirely wrong. Look around you," Lu Xing's words redirected his attention to his surroundings, and he then realized something was off.

Although it was still the imperial palace, many small details were different. The Great Chen imperial palace had many carvings of dragons and phoenixes, but this palace was mostly decorated with cloud patterns.

"What is this?" Lu Zhang asked.

"This is the foundation you have laid for our Lu Family. Our descendants shall rely on it to avoid the sufferings of reincarnation," Lu Xing explained to Lu Zhang.

Lu Zhang turned around and saw, without knowing when they had appeared, his mother, and his grandparents standing behind him, all looking at him with joy, just like in the old days.

"We are proud of you!" Lu Xing's voice rang out. However, Lu Zhang's vision began to blur, and the smiling faces of his loved ones were gradually swallowed by the mist, with only his father's words still echoing in his ears.

"Father!" Lu Zhang awoke from the dream, still calling out.

He opened his bleary eyes, only to realize that it had all been but a dream, yet the scenes from the dream felt so vivid, as if his relatives were right before his eyes.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

He rubbed his sore eyes forcefully, preparing to call for a eunuch to inquire about the current time.

Suddenly, he noticed a Scholar in a green robe sitting at the desk in front of him, happily eating a piece of pastry.

"Uncle!" Lu Zhang exclaimed with joy.

Tasting the craftsmanship of the imperial chefs, Lu Yu smiled and said, "Did you see my big brother and sister-in-law?"

"So it was all real." Lu Zhang suddenly understood, his heart filled with joy. If one could reunite with family after death, then death was no longer something to fear.

"The benevolence of a gentleman shall sever in five generations. Without the protection of the Dragon Court, the True Spirit of a person would be eroded over the span of five generations. If there is no reincarnation at that point, one can only vanish from the Three Realms.

Now that you have stabilized the realm and brought honor to your ancestors, naturally, the Nether Dragon Court will appear in response to the harmony between Heaven and Man. Henceforth, the descendants of the Lu Family shall have a place of protection," the Immortal said.

Upon hearing his uncle's words, Lu Zhang finally understood the importance of the Nether Dragon Court.

"On the day of Double Ninth Festival, I will confer divine positions to the gods at Chu Yun Mountain. You must go to this mountain and make a covenant with the gods, a pact you must not forget," Immortal Lu Yu instructed.

"Ah?" Lu Zhang was utterly confused, not understanding how this related to him.

"The deities being enshrined are from the Immortal Path of Ghost and they feed on the Power of Incense and Fire from the mortal realm. If they do not establish a pact with you, the Son of Heaven, how can they set up temples for worship on earth?

This is also a condition for the Underworld to support the establishment of the Nether Dragon Court," Lu Yu explained patiently, knowing his nephew lacked experience in these matters.

"What would happen if the Underworld did not support the Dragon Court?" Lu Zhang asked curiously, knowing such favorable treatment was likely because he had an uncle who was a divine figure.

"Without the support of the Underworld, relying solely on our family's virtue and fortune, either the realm would be unstable, resulting in a short-lived dynasty, or the Dragon Qi could disturb your mind as you age, compelling you to execute your meritorious officials and force these people to manage the Dragon Court in advance, to solidify the dynasty's fortune," Lu Yu explained.

Lu Yu's words deepened Lu Zhang's understanding of the significance of the Nether Dragon Court, making him secretly glad to have such a figure guarding his back, smoothing his path considerably.

"Nephew understands. I will certainly not fail Uncle in this critical matter!" Lu Zhang readily promised.

On the day of the Double Ninth Festival, at Chu Yun Mountain. It was a day of gentle breezes and clear skies, the air crisp with autumn.

Lu Yu had already been waiting at Chu Yun Mountain for the Imperial Decree from the Underworld. Soon, amidst billowing Auspicious Clouds and wafting fragrances, banners and canopies approached, flanked by Ghost Kings and stout warriors, escorting a person clad in an Imperial Robe and wearing the Crown of the Son of Heaven.

It turned out that King Qin Guang of the Ten Yamas of the Underworld had come in person.

Lu Yu hurried forward to greet him, "To think that Yama himself has come in person, forgive me for not greeting you from afar."

However, King Qinguang did not mind and said, "This conferment involving the City God concerns major affairs of the Underworld. As Yama, I must personally inquire into the matter. Do not panic and proceed as planned."

After saying this, he flicked his sleeve and a golden Imperial Decree flew from his cuff, landing in Lu Yu's hands.

Lu Yu held the Decree, placing it on the already prepared altar's central offering table, then purified himself, changed clothes, offered incense in a golden censer and poured out libations before circling the altar thrice. Then, he unfolded the Imperial Decree to read aloud:

"Hearken! The path between immortals and mortals is profound, and without substantial nurturing, how can one traverse it? The ways of gods and demons are distinct and not to be coveted by the deceitful. Though you have heard of the ultimate Dao, you have not proven the Bodhi.

Some of you, who willingly cultivate, are yet undetached from greed and ignorance; some, already sanctified, still cannot rid themselves of anger. Your past sins accumulate, and calamities seek you out. Whether embodying mortals to serve and repay the state, or inciting misfortune through your wrath, the cycle of life and death is endless, the pursuit of karmic debts is ceaseless. I deeply pity this!

Pitiful are those who fall prey to the blade, and as their loyal hearts sink into the sea of suffering, they drift rootlessly.

Lu Yu is hereby commanded, according to the weight of your karma and the merits of your status, to appoint you as City Gods to oversee the good and evil among men, and to supervise the deeds within the Three Realms. Your own actions shall bring fortune or suffering, and from today, life and death for you shall transcend, moving progressively with meritorious deeds.

You must adhere strictly to these broad regulations, indulge no personal whims, and avoid provoking faults, to avoid bringing grief upon your relatives, and always uphold the sacred scripts and perpetually hold the divine threads. Thus I decree, heed well!"

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After reading the Decree, Lu Yu turned, unrolled the earthly list, and immediately a gust of ghostly wind blew. For those named on the list, their souls emerged and stood below the altar. Among them were loyal officials and valiant generals, cultivators, and even bodies of demons. Now standing under the altar, none dared make a sound, for this concerned their fates.

In the center of the altar, Lu Yu called out their names. As called, the souls uncontrollably flew up to the altar. Lu Yu then announced their appointed positions as City Gods, and a spectral light flew out from the earthly list onto the souls, immediately imbuing them with an unfathomable aura.

Their forms had drastically changed, with the Power of Incense and Fire radiating from within them, and they were also clad in garments symbolizing their divine positions.