The Real World.

Inside the Palace of the Polestar.

Song Lin did not summon Divine Turtle Zhengxin and others. During his spare time, he took out a jade scroll and carved line after line of information onto it.

These were his insights into the Star Forging Body technique from the story world.

Song Lin carefully organized them and named it Star Immortal Nine Transformation Mysterious Skill.

The greatest characteristic of this divine skill was that it transcended merely tempering the physical body and incorporated Primordial Spirit cultivation.

The first step was Nine-Nine Returns to One, starting anew from the beginning.

Starting anew did not mean growing weaker but rather becoming significantly stronger.

Soon, Divine Turtle and others arrived at the back garden of the great hall.

"Paying respects to the Divine Lord."

"Dispense with the formalities. Look at this."

Song Lin traced his finger in the air, forming a complex array through golden light emitted from his fingertips.

Eight angles, two realms, six voids, one whirlpool.

It was the layout of the Returning Ruins.

Below it lay an endless black vortex of darkness, where all things would dissolve into nihility.

The Divine Turtle let out a soft "hmm" as if it discerned some mystical machine within.

"Divine Lord, this object…"

"This is the Returning Ruins. Is there a method to enter and exit it?"

"The Returning Ruins likely do not belong to this realm; it seems to be a passage leading to some other place. Entering is not difficult, but the method to exit requires thorough research."

Access to the Returning Ruins only allowed entry but no exit. Exiting the Returning Ruins was as difficult as making water flow upstream on its own.

"However, with external assistance, it is possible to both enter and exit the Returning Ruins. Let us study this further," said the Divine Turtle.

The group began calculating together, simulating trillions of outcomes within a single breath. Within roughly three days, they believed they could come to a conclusion.

"It is a great labor for all of you," remarked Song Lin.

After seeing them off, Shi Yinhua's dharma image awakened once again nearby.

As the Dean of both the Civil and Martial Arts Academy, he typically did not handle mundane affairs. Instead, Shi Yinhua, referred to colloquially as the Civil Minister, bore the responsibility of day-to-day governmental duties.

The affairs of the Kunlun Three Cities, the Hundred Demon Clans, the Mountain Gods and Water Masters, and the countless common folks were endless. Only by multitasking could they manage it all.

If in the past it might have felt burdensome, now, over time, there was even a sense of enjoyment in presiding over the Heavenly Court and governing the sun and moon's movements.

Imagine: the rain, the rivers' courses, and the cycle of the seasons all depend on your approval. What level of authority is this?

Moreover, Kunlun was an Immortal Realm even stronger than any blessed land. Studying dharma images daily in the Palace of the Polestar did not hinder cultivation. Soon, once the thunder tribulation was crossed, preparations to break through to the Primordial Spirit stage could begin.

Their speed of cultivation during the Transcendence Tribulation Stage paralleled that of Song Lin in his time.

The path of cultivation, beyond innate talent, relied on trees planted by forebears providing shelter for later generations.

In Song Lin's era, there were no favorable external conditions; everything had to be fought for individually.

Now, with Kunlun's stand, resources like Wealth, Comrades, Dharma, and Land were abundant. Fast cultivation speed was natural.

After all, as times changed, cultivators in the Qi Refinement Realm now had lifespans and stipends akin to those of the Purple Mansion from the past.

However, the laws were far stricter than before.

The Martial Arts Institute's Thunderbolt Prime Minister, Zhonghuang Zi, strictly enforced discipline. Violations in this regard would never be forgiven.

In the dharma image forest of the Palace of the Polestar, Shi Yinhua occupied the second seat on the left.

A White Bone Dharma Form was surrounded by Five Immortals.

This was the Five Directions Five Immortals Dharma Manifestation.

"Paying respects to the Divine Lord."

The dharma image opened its eyes and bowed deeply to Song Lin.

"What is the matter?"

"A matter concerning the Demon Country. A few days ago, blood qi surged up ten thousand miles in the west amidst the wails of ghosts and wolves. It seems the Demon Court has been established."

Shi Yinhua's expression was grave. The Demon Country's power had grown further.

The establishment of the Demon Court created a world where two Heavenly Courts stood in opposition.

The Human Clan's advantage no longer existed, and the dynamics grew far more intricate.

Had this been the only development, at least the situation of Eastern and Western Heavenly Sovereigns could be maintained.

But with the addition of Netherworld ghosts, amassing unknown quantities of Yellow Springs Ghosts over these days, the predicament could become even tougher than what Moyu Country once faced.

Thus, Shi Yinhua had no choice but to report it.

Song Lin pondered for a long time before responding, "Do not panic. Train harder, stockpile war materials, and ensure that everyone nationwide possesses ghost-killing talismans and magic artifacts."

"Rest assured, Divine Lord. All of this has been arranged. Additionally, in the Eight Sceneries World, three hundred million people of all ages and genders are armed to the teeth—even those without magic artifacts are equipped with black dog blood, rooster blood, and similar tools for exorcising evil."

At every household's door hung peach wood charms or consecrated images of deities.

These were sufficient to fend off ordinary small ghosts, and larger ghosts wouldn't waste their energy attacking common folk.

Kunlun remained the central target, after all.

"As for the future great war, I have my ways. The Human Clan will surely be victorious."

"Magnificent," said the dharma image before closing its eyes.

The Xia Country court.

Wu Yi donned a crown and ornate robes as the court officials cheered, "Long live the Emperor!"

"At ease. Today, I establish the Forbidden Curse Department and the Blessing Department. A vast recruitment of strange and alien warriors from across the world will begin. The latter will teach ways to exorcise evil and kill ghosts. The Forbidden Curse Department will be led by State Preceptor Yangg Xiao, and the Blessing Department by his Lady Yu Sheng. Below these will be ranks of Forbidden Curse Scholars, Doctors, Sacrificial Wines, Chief Envoys, Sub Envoys, General Flags, and small flags."

"Understood!"

The Xia Country swiftly carried out the decree.

From cities to villages, numerous Taoists emerged.

These individuals did not cultivate righteous skills but typically knew small exorcisms or blessing spells, reciting scriptures and incantations to deliver spirits.

Rather than roaming, they typically stationed themselves in one or several villages.

They were present during weddings, funerals, and auspicious events, passing down their roles for generations, living comfortably.

This formation was the folk magic vein.

Since they did not reach the level of cultivators, with no manifestation of divine skills, it was left to personal belief, and the Heavenly Court generally ignored them.

Strange powers and chaotic spirits had existed since ancient times, and someone needed to make sense of such matters. The folk magic vein conveniently fulfilled this role.

This era was the most chaotic, with ghosts even bold enough to kill in broad daylight.

Survivors reminiscing about these times would sigh, while later generations doubted its truth, saying, "There were no demons or ghosts; why have we never encountered them?"

Heavenly Court troops amassed heavily at the border. Beyond the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, another Demon Army loomed.

Millions of troops stared at each other across the distance, with an unexpected calm prevailing.

They all knew this tranquility was but the prelude to a much greater storm ahead.

With the Demon Court newly established, the Taishi Demon Emperor was busy organizing its system and could not spare attention. Moreover, time was on the side of the Demon Clan—the further into the future, the more ghosts would emerge.

Strangely, though, the Heavenly Court Master Song Lin made no moves. By all logic, this was the time to strike recklessly.

Thus, both sides passed one day after another in this peculiar stillness.

Three days later.

The Divine Turtle presented a map.

"Divine Lord, the method for entering and exiting the Returning Ruins has been devised. This is the Celestial Eight Formation Map. Eight individuals form the array, one more is chosen as the Array Eye, and sixty-four others serve as the array anchors. This can open a pathway for travel back and forth."

Over three days of effort, with countless trillions of calculations, they managed to create this formation.

"The Celestial Eight Formation Map? Excellent. You have worked hard. Take this to restore yourselves," Song Lin said.

Seeing their pale faces, Song Lin took out a bottle of Nine-Transformation Spirit Pills.

"This is merely our duty. The Divine Lord flatters us."

The Divine Turtle accepted the Nine-Transformation Spirit Pills.

After clarifying key points, Song Lin returned to secluded cultivation and reentered the story world.

With this, he could harness the waters to suppress the Candle Dragon. Without the Blue Candle, this dragon was doomed!

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