The judge took out a palm-sized, shuttle-shaped object and threw it onto the mud, whereupon it instantly transformed into a simple, ancient-style boat.

This was the first time Ruan Bei had ever seen such a magical artifact that resembled a means of transportation. He was incredibly fascinated by it, staring at it longingly, thinking that he would get one for himself later, preferably one that could fly—that would be so cool.

The judge glanced at him, a slight smile curving his straight lips upwards, and a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"Come on up." He was the first to step onto the small boat.

The boat didn't look very big, probably only big enough to carry five or six people. The judge stood on top, and the others didn't dare to get on first. Ruan Bei had Qin Gu help him up and struggled to pull his feet out of the mud to get on the boat.

Then it was Qin Gu's turn, and Ruan Bei reached out and pulled him up.

As the team leader, Xuan Ningcheng consciously stayed behind and selected a few more team members to board the ship.

After six people and one ghost stood on the boat, it wasn't crowded at all; in fact, it looked quite empty.

Then everyone understood that there might be some trick to this small boat, and they couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "As expected of a big shot from the underworld, his actions are extraordinary."

Xuan Ningcheng didn't dawdle any longer. He gave a shout, and the team members all climbed onto the boat.

The silt beneath the boat was clearly not very dense, yet the small boat didn't rock at all. All twenty or so people were on board, and it still didn't feel crowded.

The judge stood at the bow of the boat, and no one dared to approach him. In the end, Ruan Bei and Qin Gu were squeezed past him.

Ruan Bei wasn't afraid of him; the judge wasn't fierce at all.

Once everyone was on board, without the judge making any moves, the small boat shot off with incredible speed. Strangely, they didn't feel any strong airflow.

Surprisingly, the mud, which was directly in front of the boat, seemed to part the sea like Moses parting the ocean, quickly splitting a path through it, and then gathering back behind the boat after it passed.

But as the small boat passed by, the silt on its hull disappeared, making it seem as if the boat was flying in the air.

Ruan Bei couldn't help but peek over the camera several times, his amazement impossible to hide.

He had always been interested in learning how to make ritual implements. The last time he went to participate in the exchange competition, it was his fourth senior brother's uncle who took them along. Professor Feng also has a great reputation in the academic world.

Later, he was also asked to make the spatial ring. Ruan Bei had a lot of exchanges with him, and Master Feng also praised him for his talent. If he hadn't been a direct descendant of Xuanqing Temple, he might have accepted him as a disciple.

However, he already had a good relationship with Xuanqing Temple, and now he was considered half a master to Ruan Bei. He not only taught Ruan Bei how to make magic artifacts, but also taught him professional knowledge along the way.

They have already discussed it. Ruan Bei intends to pursue further studies. He likes his major and is willing to continue learning. Therefore, he will apply to be Professor Feng's graduate student in the future, which will fulfill their teacher-student relationship.

Qin Gu applied for a double degree last year, minoring in finance. He made the decision after discussing it with his father. He couldn't just call his father "Dad" and then not think about the responsibilities he would have to bear.

So in the past year or so, the two of them have spent less time together than before. Qin Gu went to the business school next door to take classes, while Ruan Bei received private tutoring from Professor Feng.

However, all for a better future, the two did not grow apart; on the contrary, they became even closer and more intimate because they cherished the time they spent together.

Now Ruan Bei has gained some experience in weapon crafting and is currently obsessed with it. Upon seeing such a novel magical artifact, he couldn't wait to take it home and study it.

But he didn't dare. Even if it was his senior brother's stuff, he would shamelessly ask his senior brother for it. This was the stuff of a big shot in the underworld!

So Ruanbei could only watch helplessly.

"You like this flying boat?"

Ruan Bei was taken aback when the judge spoke to him first. He paused for a moment, then nodded shyly, "I... I just wanted to take a look..."

The judge, without any expression, pulled out a fist-sized object and tossed it to him: "Here's a little gadget, take it and play with it."

Ruan Bei subconsciously thanked him before snapping out of his daze and looking at the thing in his hand.

It was a strange wooden carving that looked a bit like a puppy but had wings. He looked it over and over, extremely curious, and really wanted to try it right now.

"My lord, may I try?" Sensing that the judge seemed to have a high regard for him, Ruan Bei became bolder and asked with a bright smile.

The judge nodded noncommittally, and Ruan Bei immediately infused some spiritual energy into it. He didn't know how to use the magic artifact, so he decided to try it out by infusing some spiritual energy first.

As soon as the spiritual energy was injected, Ruan Bei felt a lightness in his hand, and a colossal creature instantly appeared before his eyes.

He was overjoyed: "Look, Kunkun, my puppy has grown bigger!"

Not only did it grow bigger, but the wooden puppy's eyes also became incredibly lively, and it would wag its tail and flap its wings constantly.

"This should be a good place to sit," Qin Gu said, stroking his chin.

Ruan Bei looked expectantly at the judge, who nodded, and Ruan Bei immediately climbed onto the big dog's back.

Its back is very wide, and because it is carved from wood, it feels a bit hard. Ruan Bei thought about asking his mother to sew him a cushion later. No, he should sew two. With such a wide back, two people can sit comfortably without feeling cramped. He can take Kunkun with him and fly together!

Thinking about flying, the big dog flapped its wings hard and actually took flight!

Although they didn't fly very high, they did take flight, but their ship was traveling at high speed, and they only drifted for a moment, leaving only Ruan Bei and his flying dog in place.

Ruan Bei: "...Oh no! Hurry, chase after them!!!"

Before Qin Gu could even worry about the sudden disappearance of the person in front of him, he saw the judge's lips twitch and he made a hand seal. Then, the sound of wind and screams came from behind. Ruan Bei was being carried by his flying dog and rushed over.

Qin Gu hurriedly helped him up, amused by his pitiful state of staggering and disoriented.

"Is it fun?" Qin Gu asked with a smile.

"It's so much fun!" Ruan Bei's voice was clear and bright, and her eyes sparkled. "It's so much fun, so exciting! I'll take you flying next time."

"Sir, thank you so much! I love this gift!"

The judge glanced at him and curled the corner of his mouth: "A little thing, not worth mentioning."

"That shows the master's extraordinary skill." Ruan Bei thought to himself, as expected of a big shot in the underworld, even a small gadget he casually tossed out was so powerful.

He had just tried it out. This magical artifact didn't require much spiritual energy, was easy and responsive to operate, and flew very fast. It was quite interesting.

Xuan Ningcheng shook his head with amusement. Xiao Bei was really popular with both people and ghosts. He was good-looking and had a sweet tongue. He even managed to charm the judge.

Having gone through this ordeal, Ruan Bei became even less afraid of the judge, chattering away beside him and trying to ask questions he didn't quite understand when he was learning weapon crafting.

Of course, he was very perceptive. He noticed that the judge didn't mind chatting with him, so he approached him. Otherwise, he would never have bothered him.

The judge has lived for countless years, and many of the cultivation methods and miscellaneous arts passed down in the world have been lost.

When Ruan Bei asked him questions, he was happy to answer and even taught him several special techniques for processing materials, which Ruan Bei treasured.

Not only did he take advantage of the situation himself, but he also dragged Qin Gu into it, making him learn from the adults as well.

Qin Gu had never known what it meant to be embarrassed, and he asked for advice earnestly. The judge also taught him some lost talismans, which made Qin Gu's eyes light up with admiration.

At this moment, Ruan Bei wished the road could be longer, but unfortunately the speed of the flying boat was too fast, and it soon rushed out of the muddy sea.

Once they reached the proper path to the underworld, the judge put away the flying boat and waved his hand, bringing everyone to the ground.

However, they were no longer within the grand formation of Yundang Mountain, and they weren't even in that province anymore. Someone in the team quickly checked and discovered that they had crossed almost half a country...

"We've arrived." The judge's voice was indifferent. After a moment's hesitation, he tossed something to Ruan Bei: "You can use this to contact me."

It was a jade pendant about half the size of a palm. Ruan Bei didn't know why he had managed to win over the judge, but it was still something to be happy about that someone/ghost liked him.

"My lord, would you like to see the human world as it is today?" Ruan Bei warmly invited, "The human world has changed a lot in recent years. Would you like to come and see for yourself? I will be your guide."

He, the ghost messenger, said that the road to the underworld had been blocked for decades, and that they, the ghost messengers, only came up in rotation during the Ghost Festival. As an important official of the underworld, such as the judge, he should not come to the mortal world casually.

The judge didn't refuse outright, and Ruan Bei, sensing an opportunity, became even more proactive: "Don't you like sunbathing? I have this."

He took out the Yu'an umbrella and held it up for him solicitously: "This is a birthday gift from Kunkun. It's so useful. This way, I won't get any sun at all."

The judge's smile widened slightly, and he nodded reservedly: "I can't refuse such kindness, so let's take a look."

Xuan Ningcheng immediately said, "I'll have someone bring a helicopter over. Xiao Bei, Kun Kun, you two stay with the judge."

Being able to cultivate good relations with high-ranking officials in the underworld is definitely beneficial. As for the rest of them, they can just go back by car. Why bother with a plane? It's not that precious.

"I have a flying artifact." The judge knew about airplanes. Decades ago, when he came to the mortal world on official business during the war, he saw them more than once and thought that the big iron lump was nothing special, just so-so.

Xuan Ning choked up, thinking that if it flew into the sky like that, it would be monitored by satellites.

The thoughtful Ruan Bei promptly came to the rescue of his senior brother: "My lord, our aircraft has improved a lot, and your flying artifact is too fast. You can enjoy the scenery on the ground while flying."

The judge was convinced, and once on the plane, he found that it did seem quite different from what he remembered.

The helicopter took off and quickly transported them to Jincheng, Ruanbei's territory, which he knew best. He had agreed to be the judge's guide.

The judge fell silent for a long time. From initially being indifferent, he now silently observed and scrutinized the skyscrapers, the congested traffic, and the technologically advanced new era. Everything about them filled him with astonishment.

In just a few decades, the world has changed so much, it seems like hundreds of years have passed.

Qin Gu, who had been silently observing him, spoke up at the opportune moment: "My lord, what do you think of the human world now? Has it changed a lot?"

The judge was silent for a moment: "Very good." Much better than he remembered.

"What about the underworld?"

The judge watched him silently, waiting for him to continue.

He had lived in the underworld for countless years, yet he had never seen any changes there.

Oh, the ghost's clothing and language habits have changed.

Qin Gu smiled and said, "My lord, there will eventually be a time when all that silt is dug out. Whether it's a person or a ghost, if they have the energy to cause trouble, they're just idle. It would be a waste not to use such good labor."

Judge: "?"

"Sir, these skyscrapers and bustling streets, this prosperous world, were also built with the help of those dead ghosts. They were capable when they were alive, and they were capable when they were dead."

"Let's learn about building a new underworld and achieving win-win cooperation between the two worlds."