239: Chapter 239 Shennong's Plea for a Mandate - Virtue Spreads to the Underworld

As the most powerful Saint of the star domain, Jiang Chen let his thoughts stir, and he began to deduce the heavenly secrets.

After only a moment of calculation, his expression changed abruptly.

"A heaven-shaking calamity, beginning with the Journey to the West!"

"After the Journey to the West, Buddhism will rise, the Three Realms will fall into chaos, and the world will change hands!"

"Heh!" He sneered, "I have just established order in the Three Realms, and you in Buddhism already want to seize power?"

"No wonder Jieyin and Zhunti refused to enter my Yang Heavenly Realm, preferring to stay in the Western Paradise—it turns out they had a plot all along!"

"Very well, since that is the case… then regarding this Wukong, I shall strike first!"

With his mind made up, he tapped his fingertip lightly. A wisp of Chaos energy surged down from the star domain, traversing the void, sinking into the Dongsheng Divine Continent on Earth, and quietly drilled into the body of the newborn stone monkey.

At the same time, he secretly made arrangements: he ordered Patriarch Bodhi to descend to the mortal realm and personally teach Wukong supreme techniques.

If Wukong's heart is won over, the path of the Journey to the West will surely be rewritten entirely!

After finishing this matter, Jiang Chen saw Houtu step into the star domain. A flash of light appeared in his eyes, and he immediately spoke:

"Houtu, how about you guard the Underworld, take charge of the Netherworld, and oversee the Six Paths of Reincarnation?"

"But… I still want to build a palace in the Heavenly Realm." Houtu looked troubled.

She was also a Saint; how could she be willing to reside in the cold and dark Netherworld for long?

"How about this," a gentle female voice suddenly rang out. Nuwa walked over slowly, "I will supervise the reincarnation; you can rest assured and stay in the Heavenly Realm."

"Ah?" Houtu was stunned. After struggling internally for a moment, she finally nodded in agreement.

After all—the person before her would be the future Chaos Empress; how could she dare to disobey?

Fortunately, she could still cultivate and live in the Yang Heavenly Realm, and she could also attend to the affairs of the Underworld.

"Whoosh—" The wind rose suddenly. She summoned the Six Paths of Reincarnation, which transformed into six massive nebulae, suspended within the star domain.

The six nebulae rotated ceaselessly, with life and death alternating, governing the reincarnation of all things.

Jiang Chen looked up and stared at this surging sea of reincarnation nebulae, his brows slightly furrowed.

"It is still unstable."

He clasped his hands together, and the taiji diagram pattern emerged from his palms. Strands of Chaos runes wove together and were branded into the reincarnation nebulae.

In an instant, the nebulae became as stable as a rock, with orderly rules. Because they were infused with the power of the Heavenly Dao, they appeared even more just and strict, with a well-ordered cycle.

From then on, the Six Paths of Reincarnation were under Nuwa's control.

Houtu happily moved into the Yang Heavenly Realm and set about building her own palace.

And Nuwa, as Jiang Chen's woman, also officially entered the star domain and began to perform her duties.

"Keep a close eye on all practitioners, especially… the current Buddhism." Jiang Chen pondered for a moment and gave a solemn order.

Now, Buddhism had taken root in the Western Heaven, and Tathagata had already descended into the world.

That person was none other than the transformation of the Daoist Duobao, the first disciple under the former Sect Leader Tongtian.

The future trend of the world might truly be as the deduction showed: Buddhism ruling the world, causing chaos in the Three Realms.

It was precisely because Jiang Chen had refined the Sect Leader Tongtian that the karma of today was planted in this Chaos.

In all things, success depends on preparation; without preparation, failure is certain.

Having Nuwa keep a close eye on Buddhism was absolutely the right move.

After all, the current mortal world had already changed its flavor—Daoist Cihang had entered the world to cultivate, and had actually changed into a female form, becoming Bodhisattva Guanyin.

"Evolve the Netherworld!"

With no constraints in his heart, Jiang Chen stood above the Chaos and raised his hand to guide it. A beam of divine Chaos light tore through the void. Under the guidance of the taiji diagram, it transformed into a vast barrier, slowly enveloping the dark region deep within the star domain.

At the same time, his voice spanned the universe, resounding throughout the Primordial World, penetrating Earth and the stars of the heavens:

"All demons, monsters, ghosts, and spirits, all wandering souls, hurry to the star domain to seek a place for cultivation!"

"This is an opportunity bestowed upon you by the Chaos. If you persist in your stubbornness, when the Netherworld is fully formed, I will surely wash the mortal realm in blood and purge all evil!"

Before his voice had even faded, the Three Realms trembled.

Whether they were spirits hiding in wild mountains and old forests, or ghosts entrenched in ancient tombs and dark caves, they all broke their seals and rushed into the star domain, scrambling to seize those dead, lightless planets, declaring themselves kings and establishing sects.

It was not just the demons.

Even the dead souls lingering in the Six Paths of Reincarnation of the Underworld, as well as the lonely spirits wandering the mortal world unable to be reborn, could no longer hold themselves back upon hearing that there was a path for cultivation.

In an instant, ten thousand souls surged forth, rushing toward the sea of stars like a tidal wave, just to fight for a chance to defy their fate.

Even Jiang Chen's former subordinates all set out.

To them, this was simply a tremendous stroke of fortune.

They were originally bodies of immortal yin souls, unable to absorb yang energy, making it difficult to cultivate the proper path. Now, this dark star domain was their Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The method of forging the Yin Netherworld was identical to that of the Yang Heavenly Realm.

It was merely sealing all the yin-filthy and dark places with a barrier, making them a self-contained entity.

This time, there were no more waves.

Ever since Jiang Chen swallowed the Sect Leader Tongtian, who would dare to jump out and provoke him?

However, just as he was fully concentrating on constructing the Netherworld, a person stepped through the air and approached, which surprised him slightly.

Shennong!

The Flame Emperor Shennong, one of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.

In the Primordial World, this person had a very high reputation.

It was he who taught humans to cultivate the five grains, creating agricultural civilization; it was also he who tasted a hundred herbs, determined pharmacology, and laid the foundation for the medical path.

Farming nourishes life, and medicine extends life.

These two great merits directly supported the backbone of the entire human civilization.

For thousands of years, the people have relied on the heavens for food, depending on agriculture to survive—all of this began with Shennong.

And the rise of medical arts allowed people to live longer, cure illnesses, and avoid premature death; his merit was immeasurable.

The current Shennong had long since transcended his mortal body, achieved divinity, and was known as the "God of Shennong."

Seeing him arrive in person, Jiang Chen felt respect and went to greet him personally.

"I am willing to become the Great Emperor of the Netherworld, to take charge of the order of the Underworld, and I implore the Chaos Sovereign to grant this!"

Shennong stated his purpose directly; he had actually taken the initiative to petition for the role.

To control the Netherworld, one not only needed heaven-defying means but also supreme virtue.

Jiang Chen knew deeply that Shennong's character was pure and honest, and his grace benefited all living beings, so he felt quite admirable.

But in terms of combat power and divine abilities, the other party was indeed slightly inferior.

Moreover, the Netherworld affected reincarnation and was linked to life and death in the mortal world; how could any mistake be tolerated?

"Tell me," Jiang Chen's lips curled slightly, his gaze deep, "how do you intend to govern the Netherworld?"

This question was blunt, but it was also a test.

"In the mortal world, there are tribal leaders, and now there are emperors, kings, and generals. After death, most of them bring their yin armies into the Netherworld. If one can first control their military power and gradually incorporate them, one can firmly grasp the authority of the Underworld."

Shennong was concise and clear in his thinking.

After hearing this, Jiang Chen chuckled.

The Heavenly Realm was already established, and the Jade Emperor was in charge of the Heavenly Court.

The Netherworld would also be completed, and it indeed needed a ruler.

He already had a decision in his heart—this person could be used, but needed a little refinement.

"Nuwa, come out for a moment!"

He immediately sent a voice transmission, summoning Nuwa, who was stationed in the Yang Heavenly Realm.

After only a moment, the wind rose and the clouds moved; Nuwa descended gracefully.

At the same time, she also reported all of her insights into the Six Paths of Reincarnation.

The Six Paths of Reincarnation—the Human Path, the Ghost Path, the Animal Path, the Asura Path, the Immortal Path, and that supreme Higher Immortal Path.

These six paths were not false legends, but the power of the strongest laws of heaven and earth that controlled the mortal world and the Netherworld.

The Human Path was the channel for mortals to be reincarnated, and the other paths also had their respective duties. The Asura Path and the Higher Immortal Path led directly to the end of the firmament, piercing through the origin of Chaos; they were the true paths to ascending to the heavens.

"Now, the Six Paths are entirely in my control."

Jiang Chen's tone was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable pressure.

"Coupled with the blessing of the taiji diagram you provided, the Six Paths operate like a wheel, extremely stable and unobstructed."

"In other words—" his lips curled slightly, "the current mortal world and the Netherworld are already within our grasp. There are no more variables, no need to worry."

Nuwa's eyes shifted, filled with smiles.

As a Saint and the Mother of Humanity, now possessing the imperial position, her state of mind was naturally unprecedentedly cheerful.

Jiang Chen had already taken control of the Chaos, and even if the position of Chaos Empress had not yet been finalized, she had long regarded him as her own.

"The reincarnation nebulae, like the sun, moon, and stars, have their own trajectories, repeating in cycles, without the need for constant control."

"But the Netherworld is different; it must have a ruler. I intend to appoint Shennong as the Nether Emperor. You should check the actual situation of the Netherworld and see what else needs to be instructed?"