The resentment was dissipating, and the ghostly wailing was falling silent.
Watching this scene from below, the group of believers was filled with shock.
This was a true miracle.
To send ten million lost souls back to their home—what an immense act of merit!
Chen Zhou did not stop; his gaze turned toward the second category of ghosts.
This group accounted for about twenty-five percent of the total.
These ghosts were shrouded in the gray-black energy of sinful karma, the shackles of their past deeds.
Among them were low-level officials who had acted as accomplices but were not the masterminds, rank-and-file soldiers forced to execute orders under draconian laws, and pitiful souls who had harmed others in a desperate bid for self-preservation only to be consumed by regret afterward.
Their sins did not warrant death, but they could not enter reincarnation directly either.
"Your sinful karma has not been cleared, and your obsessions remain. To force your way into reincarnation now would lead to a bitter end,"
Chen Zhou spoke with majesty.
"I grant you two paths."
"First, enter the labor camp under my command. Use your labor to earn merit and offset your sins while dissolving your obsessions."
"Once your sinful karma is cleansed, you may re-enter reincarnation."
"Second, if your obsessions are too deep and you are unwilling to pass on, you may remain at this platform, turning into earth-bound spirits to guard the reconstruction of the provincial capital."
"However, you must strictly abide by the rules. You shall not harm anyone or cause trouble."
"Once the provincial capital is reborn and order is re-established, your obsessions may resolve on their own. At that time, we shall determine your final destination."
This was a choice offered to those souls with attachments, regrets, or unfinished business.
They could use labor and time to atone for their mistakes in exchange for a clean next life.
Or they could choose to stay and accompany this land in another form until they could let go of their mental knots.
The ghosts in this category looked at one another before falling to their knees one after the other.
"This sinner is willing to enter the labor camp!"
"I... I want to stay. I want to see the new city being built..."
They made their choices. Those willing to undergo labor reform stayed in place under the guidance of Xiao Bai and Xiao Ye.
Those who were unwilling bowed deeply toward the high platform, their soul-bodies merging into the stonework of the Looking-Home Platform.
Having handled these two groups, the remaining ghosts on the field were few.
Chen Zhou’s gaze turned cold as he looked at the third category.
They were small in number, only a few thousand, but each was immensely violent. Their soul-bodies were solid, radiating a thick malice.
Most had been wicked and evil in life, and their resentment after death had only made them more ferocious.
Having been through the tortures of the Provincial Capital Hell, they had completely lost their sanity, leaving only the instincts for destruction and slaughter.
They showed the strongest resistance to Chen Zhou's authority. Some even let out furious roars under the wash of golden light, attempting to lunge toward the high platform.
"Stubborn and unrepentant, your evil karma is difficult to dissolve."
"There is no benefit in keeping such wicked souls; they will only cause disaster."
"In my name, I decree—"
"May your souls be scattered and your spirits dissipated, vanishing for all eternity."
The Judge's Brush traced a massive character for 'Sin' in the air.
Boom!
The character descended into the group of malevolent ghosts, instantly transforming into karma-fire.
"Aaaahhh—!!"
The shrill, miserable screams lasted for only a brief moment before coming to an abrupt halt.
Thousands of malevolent ghosts were instantly reduced to ashes within the karma-fire.
Finally, Chen Zhou looked at the fourth group, which was the smallest and most unique cluster of souls.
There were very few of them, numbering only a few hundred.
However, they carried no heavy resentment and maintained relatively clear minds.
Chen Zhou’s gaze swept over them, matching their lives to what was written by the Judge's Brush. Suddenly, he called out several souls by name:
"In life, were you craftsmen of the Works Bureau? Experts in construction, hydraulics, and mechanics?"
Several souls that looked like artisans shuddered, their soul-bodies trembling as they instinctively nodded.
"In life, were you medical officers of the Imperial Medical Bureau? Or perhaps famous physicians among the people?"
Faint phantoms of medicinal herbs emerged around several souls. They bowed slightly; though they were now ghosts, they still possessed the refined grace of healers.
"In life, were you scribes of the Wenyuan Chamber, or officials familiar with the provincial capital's regulations, laws, census, and archives?"
Several souls dressed as scholars or officials looked at one another before finally nodding in admission.
Chen Zhou nodded and put away the Judge's Brush.
"You possess skills and knowledge that are necessary for the reconstruction of the provincial capital."
"I offer you a third path."
"Forego reincarnation and become Yin soldiers. Join the registry of my City of the Wrongfully Dead and follow the orders of the two Yin Commanders you see before you."
"Retain your memories and skills to serve in the reconstruction of this city and the protection of its people."
"Not only can you avoid the hardships of reincarnation, but if you attain perfection in the future, you may even cultivate the ghost path and live another life."
"Of course," Chen Zhou said indifferently, "if you are unwilling, you may choose the first two paths. I will not force you."
This was an extremely tempting choice.
Though they had lost their physical bodies, they would also escape the unknowns and risks of reincarnation.
Not only could they retain their memories, but they would also hold a position in the official registry and work under a true god.
For these people who possessed great skills but had mostly faced lack of opportunity or unfulfilled ambitions in life, this was simply a godsend.
After a brief silence.
Over eighty percent of the specialized souls floated a step forward and bowed deeply toward Chen Zhou.
"We... are willing to serve you with unwavering loyalty!"
With this, the disposal of the ten million wandering souls within the imperial city was finally settled.
Over seventy percent passed on to their next life.
Those in labor reform, the earth-bound spirits, and the candidates for Yin soldiers accounted for about twenty-five percent.
Those who were obliterated amounted to less than five percent.
As the last of the light-rain dissipated, the dark clouds in the sky finally vanished completely.
The long-lost sunlight pierced through the clouds and bathed the imperial city.
Standing atop the high platform, Chen Zhou was bathed in the sunlight and the phantom of the golden dragon, appearing like a descending god.
Hong Ling looked at the black-robed back, the fire of faith in her eyes burning even more intensely.
This was the deity she followed—one who possessed not only invincible power but also the wisdom and character to judge yin and yang and restore order.
"Long live the Lord!"
Shitou gripped his fists in excitement, wishing he could roar at the sky.
He didn't have as many complex thoughts as Hong Ling; he just felt that his lord was absolutely magnificent.
With a turn of his hand, he could command the clouds and rain; with a single word, he could determine the fate of ten million souls.
What majesty! What spirit!
"Namo Amitābha."
Zen Master Wu Hai pressed his palms together and chanted softly, his eyes filled with fanaticism.
No wonder the Ancestral Master could master the Great Dao of White Bones!
Compared to the Ancestral Master's methods, his previous ways of just fighting and killing were far too low-level.
It was no surprise the Bone Temple had declined in his hands.
But it didn't matter!
As long as the Ancestral Master was successful, it was enough!
He would follow in the Ancestral Master's footsteps even if it cost him his life!
Cang Che's eyes were shining even brighter.
What did he see?
What on earth did he just see!
He had actually seen the true form of the Dragon Ancestor!
Those golden outlines, those majestic dragon eyes, those elegant scales, and those enchanting dragon claws!
Even if it was just a phantom, that pressure originating from the bloodline was absolutely undeniable.
'So the Dragon Ancestor isn't just a bone dragon; he was a five-clawed golden dragon in his past life!'
Cang Che was frantically taking mental notes.
'And he can command yin and yang! This means the Dragon Ancestor has long since transcended the boundaries of life and death!'
'As expected of the Dragon Ancestor. Not only is he loving toward the people of the sea race, but he is even so just and compassionate toward these wandering ghosts of the outer races, granting them a place of return!'
Cang Che felt his admiration for the Dragon Ancestor reach a whole new height.
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