Seeing Sikong Yu's mischievous smile, Shi Jian guessed it wouldn't be anything good, otherwise he wouldn't look so gloating.
"Stop the nonsense, speak quickly. I'm not in the mood for jokes."
"Senior Disciple Brother, unfortunately, the three Ancestral Masters have appointed you as a Soul Collector. From today onwards, you must travel between the human and ghost realms to collect souls."
"Fortunately, my fellow disciples and I have been appointed as Judges, controlling the eighteen levels of hell!"
As he spoke, Sikong Yu gesticulated wildly in front of Shi Jian, his attitude incredibly arrogant, no less than a meditating Arhat.
"Soul Collector? Shouldn't I be assigned to the Six Cases Officer?"
Upon hearing that he would have to travel between the human and ghost realms to collect the souls of the deceased, Shi Jian immediately became displeased.
Setting aside the fact that a Soul Collector gained less merit than a Six Cases Officer, just the thought of constantly traveling between realms and collecting souls day and night was enough to give him a headache.
If he became a Soul Collector, he wasn't even sure if he would have time to cultivate.
"Senior Disciple Brother, you're overthinking it. The Ancestral Masters want you to gain more experience in the Soul Collection Department. Cherish this opportunity. I, your junior disciple, wish you success."
Seeing Sikong Yu's obnoxious demeanor, Shi Jian promptly punched him and sent him flying.
"Junior Disciple, I truly thank you for bringing me such wonderful news. I'm not going to be a Soul Collector. Whoever wants to be, can be."
After venting his frustration, Shi Jian decided to shamelessly stay in the Guangjiu Residence and resolutely refuse to be a Soul Collector.
"What's wrong? Is the Thunder Punishment Judge unhappy with this arrangement?"
A golden light appeared before everyone. As the golden light gradually dissipated, the figure of the Lord of Mount Tai materialized in mid-air above the Guangjiu Residence.
"How dare I, how dare I! I am extremely satisfied with this arrangement. I will go to the Soul Collection Department for my appointment immediately!"
Seeing that the visitor was the Lord of Mount Tai, Shi Jian immediately plastered a fawning smile on his face and greeted him.
The Lord of Mount Tai, also known as the King of Mount Tai, held a slightly lower status than the Great Emperor of Dongyue. His cultivation was at the Da Luo Golden Immortal level, and his strength ranked among the top of the Five Sacred Mountains gods. He truly dared not voice any complaints.
"I distinctly heard you say just now that whoever wanted to be, could be. Did I mishear?"
"You must have misheard, Lord of Mount Tai. How could I possibly say such a thing? The Soul Collection Department is such a wonderful place; I've always longed for it!"
Shi Jian, driven by his strong survival instinct, began to flatter the Lord of Mount Tai profusely, fearing any displeasure from him.
"That's for the best. This Guangjiu Residence will be managed by your junior disciples. You will go to the Soul Collection Department for your appointment; they are critically short of personnel."
"Do not worry, the Four Yin Commanders, Black and White Impermanence, and Ox-Head and Horse-Face, will assist you in apprehending souls in both the human and ghost realms. I must attend to matters concerning the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha and cannot linger here."
The Lord of Mount Tai gave Shi Jian a few instructions and then departed for the palace of the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha.
"Finally, he's gone. I almost got lectured again. Fortunately, I admitted my mistake promptly."
"Why didn't you guys tell me? If I had known the Lord of Mount Tai was coming, I could have avoided him and stayed in the Guangjiu Residence."
Seeing that escape was impossible, Shi Jian had no choice but to leave the Guangjiu Residence and head to the Soul Collection Department.
At this moment, Sikong Yu, who was lying on the ground, let out a pig-like snort of laughter after the Lord of Mount Tai had left.
"Junior Disciple Sikong, it seems you are very happy that I have been transferred to the Soul Collection Department!"
At some unknown time, Shi Jian's figure suddenly appeared before Sikong Yu, with lightning of four different colors manifesting simultaneously around him.
"No, Senior Disciple Brother, please listen to my explanation. I am this happy because I have become a Judge, not because I am mocking you."
Seeing the Zixiao Divine Lightning, Sikong Yu quickly explained the reason for his furtive laughter.
"Is that so?"
"Why do I feel like you are mocking me, Junior Disciple?"
However, Shi Jian did not easily believe these specious words and proceeded to discipline Sikong Yu with the Zixiao Divine Lightning.
Screams of agony echoed through the Guangjiu Residence, lasting for several minutes.
"Senior Disciple Brother, that's enough, stop hitting me. You should hurry to the Soul Collection Department. If the Lord of Mount Tai returns, you'll be in trouble."
Sikong Yu, thinking quickly, directly used the name of the Lord of Mount Tai to intimidate Shi Jian.
"You brat, wait until I'm transferred back by the Ancestral Masters, and I'll deal with you, you unrepentant fellow."
Upon hearing that the Lord of Mount Tai would return, Shi Jian hastily fled the Guangjiu Residence and went to the Soul Collection Department for his appointment.
Before leaving, he did not forget to issue a threat, vowing to teach Sikong Yu a lesson in the future.
"I, a Taiyi Golden Immortal, am being assigned as a Soul Collector. What are the three Ancestral Masters thinking?"
On the way to the Soul Collection Department, Shi Jian grumbled incessantly until he finally stopped outside the department.
"Soul Collector, we are Yin Officers sent by the Lord of Mount Tai to assist you with matters in the human and ghost realms."
Upon arriving at the Soul Collection Department, Shi Jian saw Ox-Head and Horse-Face, along with Black and White Impermanence, leading a group of ghost envoys to welcome the new official.
This made him feel that being a Soul Collector was somewhat advantageous, as he could command the Four Great Yin Commanders under the King of Hell.
Among them, Black and White Impermanence had been tricked by him with a "Weeping Ghost Stick" before. Now, seeing them again, he had become their superior.
"Black and White Impermanence, I never expected that upon our reunion, I would become your superior."
Before Shi Jian could bask in his newfound authority for a few seconds, Ox-Head and Horse-Face presented a thick ledger.
"Esteemed Soul Collector, these are the names of the people to be collected today. Time is of the essence. We should organize the ghost envoys and depart immediately to the mortal realm to collect souls, lest we miss our appointment."
Shi Jian looked at the ledger before him and was utterly bewildered.
There were at least tens of thousands of names presented. He had never imagined that the Soul Collection Department had to collect the souls of over ten thousand people daily for the Underworld.
"Esteemed Soul Collector, are you alright? There are several powerful Ghost Kings further down the list who require your personal attention."
"Ahem, I'm fine. What are you dawdling for? Quickly organize the ghost envoys to collect souls. I and Black and White Impermanence will handle a few Ghost Kings."
Upon receiving the order, Ox-Head and Horse-Face organized hundreds of ghost envoys to head to the mortal realm for soul collection.
"Esteemed Soul Collector, you have a special tool for traveling to the mortal realm and do not need to expend your divine power personally."
Seeing Shi Jian about to leave the Underworld to apprehend the Ghost Kings, Black and White Impermanence quickly reminded him from the side.
"This Soul Collector has a mode of transportation?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the sound of hooves echoed from outside the Soul Collection Department. Two horses with glowing green eyes, pulling a carriage, arrived outside.
"This mode of transportation is truly magnificent and befitting my Taiyi Golden Immortal status!"
Shi Jian quickly boarded the carriage, with Black and White Impermanence acting as the coachmen outside, driving from the Ghost Gate all the way to the mortal realm.
The carriage he was traveling in was invisible to ordinary people. Only those whose lifespan was nearing its end and whose three souls and seven spirits were briefly separated could see the carriage.
Therefore, there was no need to worry about the carriage or Black and White Impermanence being exposed in the mortal realm.
"This carriage is interesting!"
Shi Jian opened the curtain of the carriage and looked outside. The previously bustling villages and towns appeared lifeless, with no one roaming the streets.
Moreover, the entire sky was dim and devoid of light, as if he had entered another world. (Third update, delivered late!)