Chapter 2652

"Good." Yan Xizhong agreed, seeing that his parents had already made their plans.

"By the way, Mom and Dad, the first century is approaching. Are there any residents of the Underworld who wish to experience the mortal realm? Should we start collecting and verifying applications in advance?" Yan Xizhong asked.

Zhu Yanyi listened and said, "Ask Dad about this. I have no objections."

Yan Aohan did not think much about it. "Arrange it. Let the propaganda staff start promoting it early. Residents who have lived for a century can volunteer. Of course, for those who have lived for a century, it is voluntary. For those who have lived for over three centuries, reincarnation is mandatory unless they hold a Superior Underworld Resident Certificate."

Indeed, residents of the Underworld were divided into tiers: Superior, Secondary, and Third-class.

These resident levels were determined by their contributions to the Underworld. For example, Zhu Shun Yao and others were pioneers in developing the economy, so they held Superior Resident Certificates. With this certificate, they could expand production and hire workers from other tiers without limit.

Secondary and Third-class residents faced restrictions on hiring. Secondary residents could not hire more than five hundred workers, while Third-class residents were limited to one hundred. However, besides daily contributions, residents of all tiers could take exams to upgrade their status.

Reincarnation requirements also depended on resident tier. Superior residents could choose freely; if they liked reincarnation, it would be arranged. If not, they would not go.

Secondary residents enjoyed five hundred years of freedom. During this time, they could choose whether to reincarnate or not. But once five hundred years passed, reincarnation would be enforced.

Third-class residents had a limit of three hundred years. They could choose freely within this period, but after three hundred years, reincarnation would be enforced.

Since the Underworld had only been established for the first century, the mandatory period had not yet arrived. Therefore, even if reincarnation occurred, it was based on voluntary registration.

Because it was the first time, the number of people involved was small and manageable. The operation would not be difficult.

After Yan Aohan explained this to Yan Xizhong, the latter knew exactly what to do.

Seeing Zhu Yanyi take out a new batch of seeds, Yan Xizhong came over to help plant them. "Mom, you’ve planted a lot of medicinal herbs here. Grandpa says your herb garden is getting bigger and bigger."

Zhu Yanyi smiled. "The herbs in this garden are for the residents of the Underworld. Moreover, it’s not just me planting them; I also encourage the doctors of the Underworld to grow them."

Yan Xizhong tossed seeds into the soil. "Mom, you’ve been planting herbs for so long. Won’t you ever get tired of it?"

"How could I dislike something I love? It’s like you handling affairs in the Underworld Palace every day. Would you get tired of it?" Zhu Yanyi smiled gently. "Xizhong, our Underworld is different from other planes. The herbs here are only suitable for Underworld residents, and Underworld residents can only use herbs from the Underworld. So, son, do you think there are too many herbs here? I don’t think there are too many. In fact, I think there are too few."

Yan Xizhong looked at the endless herb garden. Hearing Zhu Yanyi’s words, she had to admit she was right. As the population of the Underworld grew, the supply of herbs was indeed becoming scarce.

"Okay, Mom, I was wrong," Yan Xizhong admitted immediately. "I shouldn’t have thought there were too many herbs here."

"Of course. Actually, I hope all residents of the Underworld think there are too many herbs," Zhu Yanyi said calmly. "That would mean there are fewer and fewer patients in the Underworld."

Yan Xizhong thought it made sense. "It’s strange. This is the Underworld, and most residents are converted from spirits. Yet they still get sick."

"Son, you don’t know," Yan Aohan laughed. "The Underworld is an independent plane. Although the residents here are converted from spirits, they are no different from mortals. They have flesh and blood bodies. Their conversion from spirits is like a mortal mother carrying a child during pregnancy. Once born, the conversion is complete."

"You see, if Underworld residents married and had children naturally, marriage is possible, but the chance of having children is very small. Because spirit bodies are inherently yin, the probability of pregnancy is low. For others, it might be one in a thousand. In the Underworld, it is one in tens of thousands. You can see how small the probability is."

"Therefore, we can only use spirit conversion. Once they become residents of the Underworld, they are no different from normal people, as long as they do not go to the mortal realm."

"Dad, is it because the mortal realm has too much yang energy that Underworld residents get into trouble when they go there?" Yan Xizhong asked.

"That is one of the reasons," Yan Aohan said seriously. "The entire Underworld plane is maintained by soul power to support the lives of its residents. In the mortal realm, there is no soul power, so Underworld residents cannot survive. This is also why I forbid Underworld residents from going to the mortal realm. Unless a spirit’s obsession is uncontrollable and needs to be resolved, going to the mortal realm is understandable."

Yan Xizhong nodded in understanding. He had always known that Underworld residents could not go to the mortal realm, but now he understood the reason behind it.

The family of three stayed until evening before returning to the Underworld Palace.

Yan Xizhong had matters to attend to. Upon arriving at the palace, she bid farewell to handle her duties. Yan Aohan and Zhu Yanyi exchanged a smile, rested briefly in the palace, and then went out for a walk.

"Xizhong always worries that we can’t let go of Xibei," Zhu Yanyi said slowly, looking at the increasingly prosperous Underworld.

Yan Aohan hummed. "Actually, Xizhong means well. He doesn’t want us to have distractions. But he doesn’t know that we have long had no such thoughts about Yan Xibei. However, out of kindness for Xizhong, it is fine to meet this child in two days."

Zhu Yanyi smiled. "Time passes so quickly. Before we knew it, decades had passed."

"Our time is endless. So, decades are but a snap of the fingers for us," Yan Aohan said, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.

The next day, Zhu Yanyi and Yan Aohan came to the Special Disposal Room.

Zhu Yanyi looked at the environment. "You haven’t changed it. It’s exactly the same as when I first came here as a soul."

Indeed, although it was now the Underworld, the Special Disposal Room remained unchanged, identical to the layout when Zhu Yanyi first arrived as a soul.