Honghuang: My understanding is beyond belief. I am the first immortal of Jiejiao.

The golden light band connecting the soul and the body suddenly became several times thicker and more solid!
"Om-!"

A strange resonance emanated from Yuchi Gong's body and soul simultaneously!
All that could be seen was that on the edge of the terrifying, open hole in the chest of the suspended body, countless tiny fleshy buds began to grow, intertwine, and heal at a speed visible to the naked eye!
The broken bones automatically reconnected, the vanished internal organs were reshaped by golden light, and then filled with new flesh and blood! This process was astonishingly fast, yet it carried a sacred and mysterious rhythm.

At the same time, the soul that was sinking to the edge of the underworld and firmly "held" by the golden light seemed to receive an extremely strong call from the physical body. It suddenly shuddered, stopped all its downward trend, and began to slowly and firmly "return" to the suspended physical body along the thick golden light band!
Below, Li Shimin and all his soldiers held their breath, their eyes wide, staring intently at this almost miraculous scene.

They saw General Yuchi's charred body enveloped in warm golden light, his horrific wounds healing rapidly, his pale, ashen face gradually regaining its color, and even his chest beginning to rise and fall very slightly!

Hope, like a spark that ignites a prairie fire, burns ever brighter in their eyes!

However, just as Yuchi Gong's soul was about to completely merge into his body, at the moment when the golden light was at its most intense and his life force reached its peak—

A sudden change has occurred!

The depths of that netherworld seemed to be thoroughly enraged by these successive acts of defying the heavens! A backlash of laws, far greater, colder, and more undeniable than before, erupted like a sleeping behemoth whose tail had been stepped on!

It was no longer a simple pull, but transformed into an invisible, destructive impact capable of crushing ordinary true souls. Along the bridge built by the golden light of merit, it crashed fiercely against the soul that Yuchi Gong was about to merge with!

This backlash is not directed at Lin Zhu, but directly at the soul that "should not have returned" itself! It must be completely shattered and obliterated at the final moment of its return to the physical body, in order to maintain the "majesty" of the order of life and death!
"not good!"

Lin Zhu's pupils suddenly contracted! He hadn't expected the backlash from reversing life and death to be so fierce and direct! This had gone beyond what could be offset by simply "consuming merit"; it was the instinctive "rejection reaction" of the order of heaven and earth!
If this backlash were to strike, Yuchi Gong's soul would instantly be reduced to ashes, with no chance of reincarnation! The 40,000 merits he had previously expended would also be completely wasted!
In a flash, a fierce glint appeared in Lin Zhu's eyes! He suddenly raised his hand, not using the God-Slaying Spear or any other magical treasures, but instead pointing his fingers like a sword towards the direction from which the invisible backlash was coming, and pointed into the air!
"town!"

The low shout, though not resounding throughout the heavens and earth, seemed to carry a power that reached directly to the very source of the laws!
It was neither supernatural power nor magical force, but rather... the manifestation of his own "Dao" and "Intent," which, under the blessing of his merits, subtly touched upon a higher realm! It was a brief "declaration" and "suppression" of his own essential existence over a local world!
An indescribable, invisible "domain" that seemed to be able to stabilize the earth, water, fire, and wind, and suppress all laws and paths suddenly spread out from the center of Lin Zhu, instantly enveloping the small space where Yuchi Gong's soul and body were located!

The surging backlash of reincarnation crashed into this "domain field," like a raging torrent striking an ancient reef, producing a silent yet deafening roar that sent shivers down the spines of all living beings present! The backlash was forcibly blocked, neutralized, and dispersed!
But Lin Zhu wasn't faring any better! His body swayed slightly, his face paled even more, and veins bulged on his forehead. To directly confront the backlash of one of the fundamental laws of heaven and earth with one's own Dao, even in a very small-scale and short-duration confrontation, was an immense burden for him!

Taking advantage of this obstruction, Yuchi Gong's soul was finally able to merge completely into the body below, which had already been repaired to about 70-80%!
"Om...!"

An even brighter golden light erupted from Yuchi Gong's body, completely engulfing him. Within the golden light, life force surged forth like a volcanic eruption!
The last wound on his chest healed completely, his skin regained its luster and elasticity, and his strong heartbeat pounded like a war drum, growing stronger and stronger! The immense power of his blood and qi even formed visible faint red ripples that spread outwards!

The golden light slowly receded and dissipated.

Yuchi Gong's tightly closed eyes trembled violently a few times before he suddenly opened them!

What kind of eyes were those? At first, they seemed somewhat lost and empty, as if they had just experienced a long and dark journey. But soon, the familiar fortitude, loyalty, and a trace of lingering shock, anger, and pain quickly coalesced again!
He subconsciously took a deep breath, the long-lost air filling his lungs, bringing a real sense of the pain and exhilaration of life.

He raised his hand and stiffly touched his chest, which was completely intact and even felt stronger than before, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"I...I'm not dead?"

Yuchi Gong's voice was hoarse and dry, yet incredibly clear.

"Respect for virtue!!!"

Li Shimin could no longer contain himself; tears of joy and excitement streamed down his face. He rushed forward and grabbed Yuchi Gong's arm tightly, feeling the real warmth and strength in it, and trembled with excitement.

"You're alive! You're really alive! That's wonderful! That's wonderful!!"

"General Yuchi!"

"The general is alive! He's really alive!"

"Long live the Lord of Hell!!"

The soldiers around him were stunned at first, then burst into deafening cheers and shouts! Many people wept with joy and hugged each other. The somber atmosphere of grief and anger in the air was instantly dispelled by this miracle of resurrection!

Although the loss of hundreds of thousands of compatriots cannot be brought back, at least they lost an important commander who has returned! This is undoubtedly the brightest ray of light in their despair!

Amid cheers from the crowd and with Li Shimin's support, Yuchi Gong slowly descended from the sky, landing firmly on the ground.

He stretched his limbs, feeling the surging power within him, which seemed even stronger than before. He looked around at the familiar and excited faces, and finally, his gaze fell on the white-clad figure standing quietly not far away, his face slightly pale and his breathing a little unsteady.

Although he didn't know the specifics, the only warm light in the boundless darkness when his consciousness was sinking, the force that forcibly pulled him back from the endless abyss, and the overwhelming majesty he felt the moment he awoke... all pointed to this legendary God of Law Enforcement in the Three Realms!
Yuchi Gong pushed away the person who was being helped, strode up to Lin Zhu, and without the slightest hesitation, he knelt heavily on one knee as if pushing a mountain of gold and a jade pillar overturned, clasped his hands above his head, and spoke in a loud voice full of heartfelt gratitude and respect.

"This humble general, Yuchi Gong, thanks Your Excellency the Prison God for your life-saving grace! This grace is heavier than Mount Tai, and I will never forget it. I am willing to serve Your Excellency like a dog or a horse, even if it means going through fire and water, and I would not hesitate to die ten thousand times!"

Even this fierce and unyielding general had tears welling up in his eyes. To be brought back from the dead—this kindness was far beyond anything a simple lifesaver could receive.

Lin Zhu gently exhaled a breath of stale air, and her complexion improved somewhat.

He raised his hand in a gesture of support.

"General Yuchi, please rise. You are loyal and brave, and you have sacrificed your life for the country. You should not die here. Saving you is what I should do."

He had expended over 40,000 merits and even withstood a backlash from reincarnation, a considerable price to pay. But seeing Yuchi Gong resurrected, and witnessing the renewed hope and fighting spirit of Li Shimin and his soldiers, he felt it was all worthwhile.

This not only saved a great general, but also stabilized the morale of the Tang army, giving them a glimmer of confidence and hope in their fight against the Western Paradise.

"Lord Prison God..."

Li Shimin also stepped forward, bowed deeply, his voice still choked with emotion, but with a hint of relief and determination at having survived a calamity.

"Your Excellency not only saved our Great Tang from destruction, but also revived Jingde. This kindness and virtue will never be forgotten by the entire nation of our Great Tang! In the future, if Your Excellency has any needs, our Great Tang will do everything in its power to help you!"

Lin Zhu waved his hand, his gaze sweeping once more over the devastated battlefield and the ruins of Tiebi Pass in the distance, and said in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty, there's no need for further words of gratitude. The most urgent task is to handle the aftermath, appease the soldiers and civilians, and revitalize the border defenses. Although the Western Heaven has temporarily retreated, its ambitions remain undiminished, and that White Lotus Boy has also escaped back. He will surely cause trouble again in the future. Great Tang... must be prepared."

Li Shimin nodded emphatically, wiping away the tears on his face, his eyes rekindling the decisiveness and fortitude of an emperor.

"I understand! After this calamity, I am now irreconcilably at odds with the Western Paradise! Even if I am shattered to pieces, I will never let their conspiracy succeed, and I will never let the people of my Great Tang suffer such slaughter again!"

He turned around and solemnly addressed the soldiers around him.

"By my decree! Give a grand funeral to all fallen soldiers and civilians, and provide compensation to their families! Rebuild the border defenses and reinforce the city fortifications! From this day forward, the entire nation shall enter a state of war, intensify drills, and stockpile provisions! I will fight the Western Heaven to the bitter end!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!!"

The soldiers responded in unison, their voices echoing across the fields. Although they were still filled with grief and indignation, they were less desperate and more determined to fight the enemy together.

Lin Zhu looked at Li Shimin and the Tang army, who had regained their spirits, and nodded slightly.

That's all he can do for now. Next, he needs to return to the Heavenly Court to deal with the aftermath of Li Jing and the White Lotus Boy, and on the other hand... He touched the few Nine-Turn Great Rejuvenation Pills in his pocket, and then thought of the exorbitantly priced materials needed to repair the Golden Lotus of Merit, his eyes becoming deep.

It's time to have a good chat with our "old friends" in the Western Paradise.

Fifty thousand merits!

When Yuchi Gong coughed suddenly, sat up, and looked around in a daze and astonishment, Lin Zhu clearly sensed that the merit he had consumed for this "defying fate" had finally settled at a full 50,000!
Fifty thousand merits can save the soul of an ordinary person.

This number sent a jolt through Lin Zhu's heart.

He knew that reversing life and death was difficult, but after doing it himself, he truly realized how high the price was, far exceeding the understatement in the "legend".

This is only the case of someone like Yuchi Gong, whose cultivation was quite good, whose soul was solid, whose death was very short, and who had not yet truly entered the depths of reincarnation! If it were an ordinary mortal, or someone who had been dead for a slightly longer time, the required merit would probably be many times greater, or it might not even be effective at all.

"In myths and legends, those stories of people coming back to life at the drop of a hat... are either because the primordial spirit has not yet left the body or entered the cycle of reincarnation, or... because there is a supreme being like Houtu Niangniang who controls the cycle of reincarnation who intervenes and lets them pass directly."

Lin Zhu understood immediately.

"The price required to 'reclaim' a soul that has already entered the sequence from within the authority of the Goddess Houtu is so enormous..."

He gazed at the vast, deep crater ruins in the distance, and at the scattered remains of the elderly, women, and children lying in the scorched earth.

Lying there are 145,623 ordinary mortals.

Even if he has enough merit, even if he is willing to make sacrifices, how much of the memories and self of those mortal souls who have already returned to the underworld, or even passed through the judge's hall, drunk the Meng Po soup, and started queuing to wait for reincarnation... can they still retain? Is forcibly pulling them back really for their own good?

Life and death are preordained, and reincarnation follows a natural order.

These eight words feel so heavy and real at this moment.

Even he, faced with one of the most fundamental orders in the world, could do very little. Yuchi Gong's resurrection was more like a miracle achieved under extreme conditions and at a great cost. It slightly alleviated the despair and sorrow hanging over the Tang army, giving them a glimmer of hope and comfort.

But looking at the corpses of their compatriots scattered all over the ground, the heavy stench of blood and burnt flesh filling the air, the deep sorrow from the depths of their souls for the wanton slaughter of innocent lives still weighed heavily on everyone's hearts, and could not be truly dispelled.

"Respect for virtue!!"

Li Shimin rushed forward and tightly embraced Yuchi Gong, who had just sat up and was still somewhat dazed. The emperor could no longer control himself, and tears welled up in his eyes. They were tears of ecstatic joy at having something lost and found, but also tears of fear and heartache from surviving a calamity.

The surrounding generals and civil officials also had tears in their eyes and stepped forward one after another, their excitement overflowing.

Under the call and explanation of the crowd, Yuchi Gong quickly understood the cause and effect.

He struggled to his feet. Although his body was stronger due to the restoration of his merits, his eyes were filled with boundless gratitude and awe for Lin Zhu.

He tried to perform a grand salute again, but Lin Zhu stopped him by waving his hand.

"General Yuchi, there's no need for such formalities. Just rest well."

Lin Zhu spoke calmly, but the gratitude for saving his life was deeply etched in the hearts of every citizen of the Tang Dynasty present.

Li Shimin took a deep breath, straightened his disheveled dragon robe and composed himself, turned to face Lin Zhu with an extremely solemn expression, and was about to lead the way in bowing to Lin Zhu to express his gratitude.

Lin Zhu also raised his hand to support Li Shimin, and a gentle force lifted him up.

"Your Majesty, as I have already stated, the root of this matter lies with me, and rescuing General Yuchi is simply my duty. There is no need for such formalities."

Li Shimin, however, insisted on bowing slightly and said in a deep voice.

"The Lord of the Prison's grace is like a second birth to our Great Tang. This ceremony represents not only Shimin, but also the hundreds of millions of people of our Great Tang, to thank you for saving our lives, saving our generals, and saving our nation from peril!"

Behind him, all the generals and civil officials, along with Yuchi Gong who had just woken up, bowed in unison, creating a solemn and sincere scene.

Seeing this, Lin Zhu no longer declined and accepted the greeting readily.

He knew this was not just gratitude, but also an attitude—a closer connection and recognition between the Tang Dynasty and himself, or rather, between the Tang Dynasty and the guardians of humanity. (End of Chapter)