Chapter 129: The First Underworld Construction Industry Summit (Part Two)

In the silence, everyone was racking their brains.

The real estate industry, building houses, was really just that simple—following the blueprint. But now there was no blueprint, no construction equipment, so there was nothing to discuss.

The sales office was out of the question too… after all, they were all brothers and sisters… all impoverished, low-level members of the Communist class…

So, to make a deep impression on this lord, they had to start from somewhere else.

“The drainage system,” Sun Anshan suddenly spoke, his voice low and serious. “It just rained heavily. Since this is a city, there must be a corresponding drainage system. Every summer in recent years, news has reported some city becoming an island in the sea. I believe our new Underworld should rigorously focus on the drainage system from the very start.”

That single sentence lit up everyone’s thoughts. Zhao Guangliang immediately spoke: “These things are part of urban planning. Such top-tier talents are at the State Council; provincial capitals and city governments have their experts. My lord, perhaps you could…”

Qin Ye nodded. “I will pay attention. But before that, we cannot remain idle. All of you are industry elites; you should come up with a charter.”

Li Chuanyi spoke up: “Generally, urban planning adapts to local conditions. I looked into it earlier. The new Underworld has no mountains, so we could adopt the flat layout like Rongcheng. Centering on Ghost Gate Pass, we can develop a surrounding construction chain.”

“That requires a professional surveying team. What is the total area of the Underworld now? What proportion does Ghost Gate Pass occupy? How much land is usable? Should everything be fully utilized? Where will the ghost communities be? Should parks be reserved?”

“We need a professional design institute expert,” Hu Feng summarized. “You decide the overall style of the Underworld, then they can produce the blueprints… My lord, forgive me for speaking frankly, but none of us here can do this.”

Qin Ye understood.

He now needed technical experts even more, to enable these management talents to function properly.

“I understand. I will contact the design institute immediately. Get them to produce the blueprints as quickly as possible. Also, the construction equipment might arrive in the next few days; please keep an eye out for it.” He pressed his brow, rubbing it as he stood. “Anything else? If not, we will adjourn for now.”

As he stood, several exchanged glances—an unspoken understanding passed between them. Qian Tianyi was the first to rise and said, “My lord, don’t you think now is the perfect time to consolidate the Underworld’s construction industry?”

Qin Ye, sharp as ever, smiled deeply at those words.

The Underworld was a society.

No one would not seek their own future.

These men were perceptive, and now they were offering their loyalty: I want to follow you.

He slowly looked at each of them; all responded nervously to his gaze. After a few seconds, Qin Ye said quietly, “Once you board my ship, there’s no getting off.”

A soft swallow could be heard, then all seven nodded deeply.

Qin Ye smiled. “Either we sail toward a new continent, or… the ship sinks and all perish. No one can disembark midway. In our current impoverished state, you really dare to board?”

The words were weighty. No one responded immediately, and Qin Ye was in no rush. In this awkward silence, Hu Feng suddenly gritted his teeth and said, “My lord, we are not children; we understand. It is easy to add flowers to brocade, but hard to offer charcoal in snowy weather.”

Song Ming also spoke earnestly: “Indeed, you said the old Underworld is gone. And now, the new Underworld has only you. But I believe that even if the Underworld is shattered, it can never disappear. You said our lives are endless; if we don’t seize this opportunity to cling to your side, what else do we have?”

“Yes… boundless life… boundless death… we must find a goal for ourselves. Continuing our work from before isn’t bad at all.” Zhao Guangliang stood and bowed sincerely. “Real estate was initially just a way to make a living, but later… at least those of us who have reached this level love it.”

“Just imagine… a vast new Underworld, Fengdu Ghost City, rebuilt through our efforts. My name may not live forever while I’m alive, but at least after death, it can be immortalized.”

All eyes full of hope turned to Qin Ye. He pondered deeply for a full twenty minutes before nodding slowly.

Not because of the seven’s pledges, but because… the new Underworld’s construction must be controlled by himself.

Like in Huaguo, which company dominates the construction sector?

Shunda? Fangyuan?

Neither.

There is a company called China State Construction Group, whose strength surpasses them all!

The Underworld’s organization was still in chaos, but at least this first industry had shown a sign.

If he didn’t seize it, what was he waiting for?

“Very well.” Qin Ye finally spoke, looking at everyone. “Record this: January 18, 2019, Underworld Construction Company is officially established at the new Underworld’s temporary headquarters in Baoshi City.”

The recorder enthusiastically scribbled, as if documenting a historic meeting.

Qin Ye continued, “Abbreviated as: Yin Jian Si.”

“Seven construction divisions will be established. Division One, led by Hu Feng; Division Two, Qian Tianyi; Three, Song Ming; Four, Zhao Guangliang; Five, Li Chuanyi… the order is not ranked.”

“Gentlemen,” he leaned on the table, his voice solemn, “this is only the first construction summit.”

“You may think it’s laughable, crude even. But remember, our lives in the Underworld are infinite. In a hundred years, or a few hundred years, you will see great cities rise from your hands, recreating the glory of the Underworld! ‘Ghost officers take souls, the idle stay away’—these eight words will make all ghosts tremble in retreat!”

He straightened and scanned the lightly excited faces of the ministers.

“Also, ministerial posts are not permanent. If you perform poorly, you must step down. You have no manpower; all personnel must be recruited from the arriving spirits. When the true Higher Legal Department, the advisory corps, and other think tanks arrive, I will introduce a series of reward and punishment measures. These will be your performance evaluations every ten years.”

Having said this, he was about to leave when suddenly he remembered something.

“Ah, right.”

He smiled at the group. “In the mortal world, you all earn four or five hundred thousand annually, managing hundreds of people beneath you—and yet you’re being led by a young boy like me… Aren’t you resentful?”

He chuckled lightly, then vanished like a ghostly wind from the meeting hall.

The seven looked at each other in surprise; after a moment, Zhao Guangliang whispered, “Was that last sentence a warning to work sincerely and not harbor ill will?”

“Probably,” murmured Sun Anshan. “A warning not to be duplicitous… you saw what he’s capable of.”

“No need to worry,” Hu Feng shook his head with a bitter smile. “No matter how powerful, that’s still the mortal world. Here in the Underworld, it’s a fresh start. And do you really believe his true form is what we see now?”

They all recalled Qin Ye’s grim ghostly appearance before and shuddered.

Qin Ye paid no mind to their thoughts—combining kindness and severity, he had never done this before but was willing to learn.

At this moment, he arrived before Ksitigarbha, bowed deeply, then took out the Underworld Register.

For the first time, he was about to officially appoint a ghost officer!

Aside from himself, the second official of the Underworld!

The Underworld Register floated before him, as if held by an invisible force, opening up.

Only one line of text appeared:

Name: Qin Ye (nickname: Dog Egg).

Origin: Liu’ertuozi Village, Gazi Valley, Tang’an County, Qingguang City.

Family: Grandfather (deceased), Parents (deceased).

Date of Birth: First day of the month.

Position: Soul Capturer, 260 points. Still short of Wuchang.

He took a deep breath to calm his mood. Reaching into the void, he summoned a brush dipped in ink and solemnly wrote a name.

Su Dongxue.

At that moment, Su Dongxue, sitting at the door, suddenly shuddered and looked in disbelief toward the main hall.

She saw a modest figure beneath Ksitigarbha, holding a brush and writing—yet to her, he appeared as tall as a mountain.

Unable to contain herself, she rose unsteadily, covering her mouth, tears streaming endlessly, biting her lip tightly as she rushed toward Qin Ye.

Qin Ye was focused. Just as he finished the last stroke of the character for “Xue” (snow), the ordinary Underworld Register suddenly exploded with vast golden light, sweeping across the entire hall!

Where the golden light passed, the dark green ghost flames flickered, and the gloomy, ghostly atmosphere became filled with a Buddhist serenity. Even the eerie and terrifying sculptures softened in appearance.

“Ding…” From somewhere in the void came a bell chime. Immediately after, Su Dongxue, kneeling behind Qin Ye, touched her forehead to the ground. Her entire body quickly flooded with yin energy, enveloping her in a two-meter sphere of yin aura.

The seven who had just left the side hall saw this scene, gasping in fright and dared not advance further.

Five seconds, ten seconds… thirty seconds later, the yin aura exploded. Su Dongxue stood at the same spot, trembling gently with closed eyes.

She no longer wore a cheongsam.

Instead, she was clad in a black silk lady’s robe, wearing a hollowed-out unified hat, a delicate gilded folding fan hung at her waist on a red cord belt, and a small token inscribed with two characters: Ghost Officer.

On the Underworld Register, the second entry finally appeared:

Name: Su Dongxue.

Origin: Zisang Village, Changshui County, Fengyuan City, Huisheng Province.

Family: None.

Date of Birth: Eighth day of the month.

Position: Newly appointed ghost officer.

Su Dongxue opened her eyes; she was still herself, but there was an undeniable difference.

Perhaps it could be called… transformation.

A profound metamorphosis.

“My lord…” her voice choked with tears, revealing unrestrained joy, even crying from happiness as she kowtowed deeply. “I never imagined I would one day hold the position of a formal ghost officer…”

“I have been dead nearly a hundred years… yet… I can enter the Fengdu system after death… My lord, your great kindness needs no thanks. I would face mountains of blades and seas of fire without hesitation.”

As she finished, she bowed fiercely three times.

Qin Ye was momentarily dazed.

He had not expected spirits to be a hundred times more moved by becoming ghost officers than mortals are by becoming civil servants.

“My lord… what is this?” The seven approached, uncertain.

“Nothing,” Qin Ye said lightly. “A formal ghost officer possesses certain abilities to travel in the mortal world and manage spirits. As the rank of ghost officer rises, one can be promoted to county magistrate, mayor, even provincial governor. Of course, this depends on our city being well-built.”

“Do well, and your achievements will surpass hers.”

To walk in the mortal world!

These words almost made the seven’s eyes redden. They suddenly bowed deeply.

“Rest assured, my lord, we will never betray your trust!”