Chapter 174: Chapter 173: The Daluo Palace Is Built

The Daoists split up, while Gu Zhao returned to Daluo Palace with the women.

On the way home, the Silk Embroideress tried to return the Cyan Feather Fan to Li Qingshuang, but Li Qingshuang pushed it back into her hands.

"This was my sister’s keepsake, but it was also a Magical Artifact she took great pride in. She would have wanted it to protect its owner in Magical Combat, to save their life and secure victory," Li Qingshuang said with a smile. "But in my hands, it will rarely be used."

"Besides..." Li Qingshuang glanced at Gu Zhao. "You were the ones who avenged my sister, not me."

Li Qingshuang told them her sister and Xu Kongting’s story.

Li Qingxue was a Spirit Monarch from the Spirit Court. By chance, she discovered a Scholar whose Divine Soul was compatible with her own. She brought him into the Spirit Court, cultivated in Harmony with him, and they eventually married.

That Scholar, of course, was Xu Kongting.

However, even though their Divine Souls were in Harmony, their natural talents were only average. Even by the most optimistic estimates, they would only reach two or three hundred years of Dao Practice by the end of their Cultivation, with no increase to their lifespans. After a hundred years, they would turn to dust.

Over a decade ago, the Spirit Court acted collectively to slay a Red Corpse Fiend with eight hundred years of Dao Practice, obtaining a copy of the *Red Slaughter Corpse Refining Skill*.

The book was supposed to be handed over to the Spirit Court for sealing, but Xu Kongting coveted it. He volunteered to escort the tome back, but along the way, he ambushed his wife—his partner in Harmony—and fled with the book.

Li Qingshuang searched for a long time before she accidentally discovered that Xu Kongting had fled to Wanling Jiangnan. She then crossed the Wanling River in pursuit.

And everyone knew what happened after that.

...

"Is Daluo Palace finished?"

As soon as he returned to Cui Mountain Village, Gu Zhao heard the good news from Elder He.

"Four halls, three courtyards. The Spirit Official Hall, Four Imperial Lords Hall, Jade Emperor Hall, and Three Pristine Hall—each one built higher than the last."

"The God of Wealth Hall for seeking wealth, the Wenchang Hall for seeking official positions, the Medicine King Hall for health, the Yuelao Hall for marriage, the Salvation Hall for blessings, and the Thunder Ancestor Hall for driving away evil spirits—they have all been completed."

Although she had already heard about it from the Silk Embroideress, Li Qingshuang was still visibly shocked as she toured Daluo Palace.

Gu Zhao looked back at her. "Since the Xuanwei Divine Sect has withdrawn from Jiangnan, they’ve naturally given up the Incense from its people. It’s better that we take it than let the Golden Wind Sect have it."

Li Qingshuang shook her head. "You’re mistaken, Young Master Gu. Even in Wanling Jiangbei, there are other Incense and Candle Sects. Although the Xuanwei Divine Sect is the Great Ning National Religion, it isn’t that domineering."

"Oh?" That was something Gu Zhao genuinely didn’t know.

"It’s just that these Incense and Candle Sects have all been sanctioned by the Xuanwei Divine Sect and share their Incense with them," Li Qingshuang explained. "Also, most of these sects worship their own leaders or patriarchs. Daluo Palace, however, seems different."

As she spoke, Li Qingshuang looked up at the Divine Statue enshrined in the Wenchang Hall to the side. "’Auxiliary Origin of the Nine Heavens, Lord of Enlightenment, Responsive Spirit of the Seven Meanders, Guardian of Virtue and Benevolence.’ The proclamation for this Wenchang Emperor alone is extraordinary."

Gu Zhao was beginning to understand. The Xuanwei Divine Sect doled out a portion of the Incense—perhaps even some it couldn’t collect on its own—allowing the existence of sects that posed no threat and could provide assistance. This also helped the Xuanwei Divine Sect manage the local areas.

However, Daluo Palace was not one of those small-fry local sects.

Of course, he couldn’t say that now, so Gu Zhao just smiled faintly. "The ones we worship are, in fact, the patriarchs of our lineage."

Li Qingshuang gave Gu Zhao a curious glance, then looked toward the four great deities enshrined in the Four Imperial Lords Hall. "The Daluo Palace lineage has this many patriarchs?"

"It never hurts to worship a few more," Gu Zhao said meaningfully. "What if one of them happens to be listening?"

Li Qingshuang didn’t understand, but she didn’t press the issue.

Zhuo Qingyan spoke up from the side, "The Spirit Court patrols the world, but it doesn’t concern itself with matters of Incense, does it?"

Li Qingshuang gave a faint smile. "Daluo Palace protects this region. Even in Wanling Jiangbei, the Xuanwei Divine Sect wouldn’t stand in your way."

Li Qingshuang had been imprisoned in the Changping Prefecture Yamen for years, and Yuan Wenrui was the man who had murdered Zhuo Qingyan’s father. The two women had found common ground, and their relationship had grown much closer on the way back.

Gu Zhao showed Li Qingshuang around Daluo Palace, then had Zhuo Qingyan arrange a place for her to stay and recuperate.

Although she had used a Heaven-Reaching Treasure Light Talisman, her Vitality had still not recovered after years under the Restriction. Her internal injuries were not yet healed, and she needed more time to recuperate peacefully.

As for Gu Zhao, aside from occasionally returning to the modern world to reply to messages and spend time with his two girlfriends, he spent most of his time here in Cultivation.

Although he rarely took action himself after recruiting others to do the work, Taoist Yan Song and his group gave him a share every time they harvested Evil Qi. The Five Thunders Order, in addition to condensing Thunder Seeds, would then feed that power back into his own Cultivation.

Now that Bian the Old Turtle, the two kings of Three Extremes Mountain, the Stone King Cave Master, and the Golden Wind Divine King were all dead, the Five Thunders Order’s process of refining Evil Qi and feeding it back into his Cultivation had doubled his progress. By now, he had accumulated nearly five hundred years of Dao Practice.

He was just waiting for the right opportunity to achieve a Realm Breakthrough.

He was now torn about what to do next: should he go recruit the old Daoists from Qingcheng Mountain or Dragon Tiger Heavenly Mountain, or should he find new people in a new place?

However, before he could make up his mind, the third Thunder Seed finished condensing. Taoist Yan Song and his men had already eradicated all the Golden Wind Halls in eight counties.

They arranged for the County Magistrates in each county to repair the halls and rebuild them as Daluo Temples. They also had the subjugated personnel switch their allegiance and issued new precepts.

...

For the next few days, the five Daoists were so busy they were practically flying, while Gu Zhao stood leisurely atop Cuiluo Mountain, gazing down at the magnificent palace that now belonged to him.

The cold wind howled, and the ground was blanketed in snow.

The entirety of Cuiluo Mountain was covered in a blanket of snow, yet at Daluo Palace, built on a plateau halfway up the slope, flowers were in full bloom. This magnificent earthly vista left the worshippers within the palace breathless, and they all rushed to offer their Incense with reverence.

Wisps of pure Power of Incense and Candlelight drifted with the curling smoke throughout Daluo Palace, where they were slowly absorbed by one Purple Sandalwood Divine Statue after another.

While Daluo Palace was under construction, visitors had only come from the surrounding towns and villages, with the farthest traveling from Xiuyue County.

But now, according to the Firework Taoist’s report, visitors were coming from all eight counties of Changping Prefecture. Wealthy households were even driving their carriages all the way from Linping County, the farthest county to the Northwest, just to pay homage and offer Incense. There were even pilgrims from Bai Shi Prefecture.

"Tell them that as long as they perform good deeds, accumulate virtue, and commit no evil, Daluo Palace will protect them from malevolent spirits," Gu Zhao instructed. "Investigate their backgrounds. To any family known for its good deeds, give them a Celestial Spirit Protection Talisman."

"Yes, sir!" The Firework Taoist acknowledged the order and withdrew.

"You are truly kind-hearted, Brother Gu."

A gentle compliment reached his ears. Gu Zhao turned to see Zhuo Qingyan and Li Qingshuang approaching together.

Li Qingshuang added pointedly, "It’s just that with an order like that, Brother Gu, you’re beginning to act in the stead of the Government Office." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Gu Zhao spread his hands. "Daluo Palace rewards good and punishes evil. We can’t very well protect the cruel and wealthy, leaving wronged souls to suffer injustice with no hope for vengeance even after death."

A glint appeared in Zhuo Qingyan’s eyes, while Li Qingshuang shook her head and let out a laugh.

The two women came to Gu Zhao’s side and looked down at Daluo Palace, wreathed in the smoke of Incense. Zhuo Qingyan’s eyes were filled with contentment, while Li Qingshuang’s held nothing but admiration.