Uncle Nine quickly explained the reason for summoning the spirit.
"Disciple Ling Xiao, respectfully welcomes Ancestor Qing Yun!"
Ling Xiao also respectfully bowed to the ancestral tablet.
This Ancestor Qing Yun had lived seven hundred years ago and was an extremely powerful ancestor. In life, he had reached the Fifth Heaven of the Heavenly Master Realm, making him one of the most powerful cultivators of his time.
It was said that after his passing, he became a Nether Envoy of the Department of Soul Ferrying in the Underworld, a figure of considerable influence even there.
"Buzz!!!!"
Just then, the ancestral tablet radiated a brilliant light.
The light instantly enveloped Ling Xiao's entire body.
It seemed to be scanning Ling Xiao's state.
Uncle Nine held his breath.
The ancestor was checking whether Ling Xiao carried any trace of evil energy.
If there was, it would mean that Ling Xiao had strayed into dark practices.
In that case, not only would he be barred from joining Mount Mao, but news of this would spread to all the ancestral spirits of the sect. Ling Xiao would then face the sect's purge.
However, at that moment, something unexpected happened.
"Dong dong dong dong!!"
The ancestral tablet suddenly began to tremble violently halfway through the scan.
"Crack!!!!"
The next moment, the tablet actually cracked open.
"What... what's going on!?"
Uncle Nine's face changed dramatically at the sight.
A terrible thought flashed through his mind.
"What's happening!? Could it be because I practice the Corpse Nurturing path?"
Ling Xiao frowned deeply. But though he nurtured corpses, he had never harmed innocent people.
"Approved!!!!"
Just then, a slightly agitated voice came from the cracked ancestral tablet.
The sound immediately relieved Uncle Nine.
It was likely the tablet had simply aged and couldn't bear the ancestor's presence anymore.
"Many thanks, Ancestor, for your approval!!!"
Uncle Nine quickly bowed again with great respect.
"Thank you, Ancestor, for your approval!"
Ling Xiao did the same.
"Buzz!!!!!"
As the two finished speaking, the yin energy emitted by the tablet instantly withdrew back into it, as if nothing had ever happened.
"Master, that's it!?"
Qiu Sheng looked confused.
Just summon the ancestor to ask one question?
"Of course it's done. Since the ancestor has approved, he will now send word in a dream to Mount Mao's Sect Leader and all the old ancestors in the Heavenly Master Realm. At that point, the Sect Leader will personally record your Senior Brother's name in the Mount Mao Register!"
Uncle Nine stood up from the ground and spoke with a smile.
Ling Xiao being admitted into the Mount Mao Register meant that, at the very least, he had not strayed into evil.
That was what made Uncle Nine the happiest.
"Master, you've been talking about this Mount Mao Register all along. What exactly is it? What's the benefit of getting your name in there?"
Qiu Sheng asked Uncle Nine curiously.
Ling Xiao was also intrigued.
Uncle Nine immediately grew serious.
"That's a great question. The Register is the most important item for all sects that can communicate with the Underworld. It records the names and life information of certified disciples.
Your birth date, even whether you're alive or dead.
As soon as you die, the Mount Mao Register will reflect it. Mount Mao will be the first to know of your death. Then, the ancestors in the Mount Mao Underworld will arrange for ghosts to fetch your soul as quickly as possible so that it won't fall into the hands of evil cultivators who refine souls!
And once you're in the Underworld, they can even help expedite your reincarnation. If you accumulated enough virtue in your previous life, you might even become a ghost official.
Of course, becoming a ghost official isn't limited to cultivators. Many highly virtuous people can qualify as well."
Uncle Nine clasped his hands behind his back, looking solemnly at the ancestral tablet as he spoke.
Ancestor Zhong Kui was one such figure—he had slain countless demons in life, and after death directly became one of the great judges of the Underworld, presiding over the Department of Sin Enforcement.
After hearing this, Qiu Sheng and Ling Xiao finally understood.
The information logging wasn't much, but being quickly led into the Underworld and reincarnated had tremendous advantages.
Uncle Nine had said before that reincarnation wasn't immediate upon death—you had to queue.
With the number of people dying these days, getting reincarnated could take decades.
And even then, you weren't guaranteed to be reborn as a human.
Of course, had this been in his previous life, Ling Xiao might have laughed it off, but in this life, he knew—Mount Mao and other Taoist sects truly could communicate with the Underworld.
"Right, Master, didn't you once say that even the living could become ghost officials in the Underworld? Is that true?"
Suddenly, Ling Xiao remembered something Uncle Nine had once mentioned.
And according to the original work, he remembered Uncle Nine held an official position in the Underworld.
"That's correct. Cultivators from our major sects do have a chance of becoming Nether Envoys of the Underworld while still alive. However, this requires enough virtue and a cultivation level of at least the Fifth Heaven of the Earth Master Realm.
If they're recommended by an ancestor from the Underworld, they can communicate with the Underworld through their soul and become what's known as a Nether Envoy Assigned to the Mortal Realm.
Of course, this is easier said than done. The qualification requirements are terrifying. Even in Mount Mao, only the Grand Elder and the Sect Leader have reached that level. You should know, the Sect Leader is at the peak of the Earth Master Realm.
And the Grand Elder is a Heavenly Master Realm cultivator. Both of them have lived for over a hundred years to accumulate enough merit."
As Uncle Nine spoke of the Nether Envoy of the Underworld, he sighed helplessly.
This was why Mount Mao Taoists descended the mountain to slay demons—not just to help people, but to one day become Nether Envoys of the Underworld while still alive.
So that after death, they could be promoted.
And become someone of rank in the Underworld.
Unfortunately, that dream was still far away.
"I see! Then I really have to work hard! Wouldn't it be awesome to strut around as a Nether Envoy of the Underworld?"
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。