Chapter 67: King Qin Guang, King Chu Jiang
“The Scripture of the Nether Way…” Suddenly, Lin Hao’s pupils contracted sharply, a surge of surprise rising within him. As contemplation flickered in his eyes, he gazed at an ancient, unassuming scripture on the bookshelf, his gaze filled with astonishment as he murmured to himself, “A scripture… can it truly be cultivated?”
After a brief moment of thought, Lin Hao had already taken the Scripture of the Nether Way in his hand. With eyes shimmering in deep contemplation, he opened the cover. At the instant those archaic and majestic characters appeared before him, a profound brilliance ignited in his gaze. Lin Hao felt as if an ancient, ageless voice echoed in his mind:
“The Nether Way, from the beginning of Azure Nether, ferries the resentment of the world, repents through endless time, and ultimately falls.
The Nether Way, remembers all beings across myriad realms, suffering and wounded, returns to the void with no desire for the world.
The Nether Way, the realm spirit has a master, its nether body is a turtle, traversing the boundless, so that even the endless stars cannot find it.
The Nether Way, its laws are the source of countless changes, comprehending its spirit allows restoration of the void.
The Nether Way, governs the cycle of reincarnation, leads all beings through cause and effect, controls the Dao of endless time, continues with the power of realms, thereby enabling rebirth.
The Nether Way, all transformations return to the origin, its changes never leave the heavenly design; at first understanding, the Nether Court may be opened, and successors may recall their predecessors.
The Nether Way, the power to seal demons, carries the cycles of tens of millions of years; the bodies of ghosts and monsters, sustained by constant goodwill—when your domain becomes Nether, then it is complete!”
As the ancient voices rang in his mind, Lin Hao’s gaze grew increasingly bewildered. He felt as though he had undergone the baptism of countless ages, as if he stood atop the entire starry sky, as if he himself were the chief deity of all realms, revered by all. Unconsciously, Lin Hao began to murmur:
“The Nether Way, from the beginning of Azure Nether, ferries the resentment of the world, repents through endless time, and ultimately falls. The Nether Way, remembers all beings across myriad realms, suffering and wounded, returns to the void with no desire for the world.
The Nether Way, the realm spirit has a master, its nether body is a turtle, traversing the boundless, so that even the endless stars cannot find it.
The Nether Way, its laws are the source of countless changes, comprehending its spirit allows restoration of the void.
The Nether Way, governs the cycle of reincarnation, leads all beings through cause and effect, controls the Dao of endless time, continues with the power of realms, thereby enabling rebirth.
The Nether Way, all transformations return to the origin, its changes never leave the heavenly design; at first understanding, the Nether Court may be opened, and successors may recall their predecessors.
The Nether Way, the power to seal demons, carries the cycles of tens of millions of years; the bodies of ghosts and monsters, sustained by constant goodwill—when your domain becomes Nether, then it is complete!”
“…Then it is complete.”
When those last words fell, Lin Hao suddenly felt an unprecedented clarity sweep through his heart, and a brilliant light shone in his eyes as an aura of utter dominance radiated from him. A noble presence surged about him, though it vanished in the blink of an eye, as though hidden deep within his heart. Though all this seemed slow, it happened in a flash, from the moment Lin Hao read the scripture, a subtle change occurred and disappeared, all within an instant.
Yet in his heart, everything had changed utterly!
He vaguely felt that this scripture had been placed here deliberately, waiting for him.
He could not explain why, but Lin Hao knew—he seemed, once, to have been the master of this starry sky…
It was a ludicrous notion.
But it truly existed, as if—even if he died at this moment—he would not truly perish, but enter a second cycle of reincarnation…
Such cycles seemed to number in the hundreds of thousands…
Suddenly, a sharp pain struck Lin Hao’s mind. At the instant intense agony arrived, his pupils contracted fiercely, and once again, the ancient, weathered voice echoed in his mind:
“The Ancient Nether has its sovereign, beneath whom sit ten courts. The Yama King holds the divine seat.
The First Court, King Qin Guang Jiang, birthday on the first day of the second month, presides over mortal longevity and death, oversees fortune and misfortune in the Nether, guides virtuous souls at their end, leading them to ascend. Those whose merits and faults are balanced are sent to the Tenth Court to be released, returning to the world; men become women, women become men. Those whose evil outweighs good are brought to the high platform on the right, called the Mirror of Retribution, where they gaze upon their own hearts, revealing their deeds in life, then sent to the Second Court to suffer.
The Second Court, King Chu Jiang Li, birthday on the first day of the third month, governs the Living Great Hell, also known as the Pavilion of Stripped Garments and the Ice Hell, with sixteen minor hells. Those who harm limbs, steal, or kill in the world are thrust into this hell, then sent to the sixteen minor hells for suffering. When their term ends, they are transferred to the Third Court for further punishment.
The Third Court, King Song Di Wang Yu, birthday on the eighth day of the second month, presides over the Black Rope Hell, with sixteen minor hells. Those who defy elders, incite lawsuits in the living world are sent here, to suffer hanging upside down, eye-gouging, and bone scraping. When their sentence is served, they are transferred to the Fourth Court.
The Fourth Court, King Wu Guan Lü, birthday on the eighteenth day of the second month, governs the Combined Great Hell, also known as the Blood Pool Hell, with sixteen minor hells. Those who evade taxes, cheat in transactions are sent here, further judged and made to suffer in the minor hells. When their term is up, they are sent to the Fifth Court for investigation.
The Fifth Court, Yama Emperor Bao, birthday on the eighth day of the first month, formerly of the First Court, moved here for compassion toward wronged deaths, often returning souls to life. Presides over the Shouting Great Hell and sixteen minor hells of heart punishment. Those sent here are brought to the Platform of Homeward Longing, made to see their family suffering from their crimes, then thrust into this hell, their deeds closely examined, sent to sixteen minor hells where their hearts are hooked out and fed to snakes, their bodies guillotined (Bao was skilled with the guillotine), suffering until their term ends, then sent to other courts.
The Sixth Court, King Bian Cheng Bi, birthday on the eighth day of the third month, governs the Great Shouting Hell and the City of Wrongful Death, with sixteen minor hells. Those who are unfilial are sawed apart by two little demons. Those who complain against heaven, weep to the north while defecating, are sent here. Their crimes are examined, and they suffer iron spikes and burning tongue. Then sent to minor hells for suffering; when their term ends, transferred to the Seventh Court for further examination.
The Seventh Court, King Tai Shan Dong, birthday on the twenty-seventh day of the third month, presides over the Furious Heat Hell, also known as the Meat Grinder Hell, with sixteen minor hells. Those who steal corpses, mix medicines, separate kin are sent here. After suffering, transferred to the Eighth Court for further scrutiny. Those who steal, falsely accuse, extort, or murder for wealth suffer the boiling oil punishment.
The Eighth Court, King Du Shi Huang, birthday on the first day of the fourth month, governs the Great Furious Heat Hell, also known as the Steaming Pot Hell, with sixteen minor hells. Those who are unfilial and cause their parents or elders sorrow are thrown here, further sentenced in the minor hells, suffering until transferred to the Ninth Court, where they are transformed, becoming animals forever.
The Ninth Court, King Ping Deng, birthday on the eighth day of the fourth month, presides over the Iron Net City and Avici Hell, with sixteen minor hells. Those who murder, set fires, or execute justice in the living world are sent here, tied to hollow bronze pillars, chained hand and foot, burned by fire, their hearts and livers seared, then sent to the Avici Hell for punishment. Only when all victims have been reborn are they released, sent to the Tenth Court to enter the Six Paths (Heaven, Human, Asura, Beast, Hungry Ghost, Hell).
The Tenth Court, King Zhuan Lun Xue, birthday on the seventeenth day of the fourth month, specializes in sorting all souls from the courts, distinguishing good and evil, determining ranks, and sending them to rebirth in the Four Great Continents. Life span, wealth or poverty is detailed for each, and monthly reports are sent to the First Court for registration. Especially evil ghosts are made to transform through egg, womb, and moisture, living and dying within a day. Once their sentence is served, they return to life, reborn in barbarian lands. Before rebirth, they are handed to Lady Meng at the Platform of Forgetfulness, where they drink the soup of oblivion to forget their past lives.”
“I am the righteous deity beneath the Heavenly Emperor, King Qin Guang!”
“Today, with the sacrifice of my blood, I summon the return of the Emperor!”
Suddenly, a hoarse, thunderous shout exploded beside Lin Hao’s ear. His pupils contracted, and a tidal wave of shock surged within him!
An unprecedented sorrow swept through him, and blood tears streamed down his face.
“King Qin Guang…”
Murmuring the description of King Qin Guang, Lin Hao did not know why his heart was so grieved, as if this man had followed him through countless ages, and now, was about to utterly perish!
“The First Court…”
“The First Court, King Qin Guang Jiang… birthday on the first day of the second month, presides over mortal longevity and death, oversees fortune and misfortune in the Nether, guides virtuous souls at their end… leads them to ascend…
Those whose merits and faults are balanced are sent to the Tenth Court to be released, returning to the world; men become women, women become men. Those whose evil outweighs good are brought to the high platform on the right, called the Mirror of Retribution, where they gaze upon their own hearts, revealing their deeds in life, then sent to the Second Court to suffer…”
As he murmured, brilliant violet light surged in Lin Hao’s eyes. He scanned his surroundings, and the entire world seemed frozen—even Bai Li, who stood beside him, could not move a muscle.
Only he, ablaze with purple light, could move…
This feeling was hard to accept…
Then, Lin Hao’s pupils contracted once more, a surge of indescribable sensation flooding his body, and his eyes burst forth with a killing intent beyond compare!
An ancient, hoarse voice again sounded by his ear…
“The Immortal Emperor has spirit; let his subjects recall the heights.
I am favored by the Immortal Emperor, registered as the Yama of the Second Court, holding the divine seat—King Chu Jiang!”
“The First Court, King Qin Guang Jiang, birthday on the first day of the second month, presides over mortal longevity and death, oversees fortune and misfortune in the Nether, guides virtuous souls at their end, leading them to ascend. Those whose merits and faults are balanced are sent to the Tenth Court to be released, returning to the world; men become women, women become men. Those whose evil outweighs good are brought to the high platform on the right, called the Mirror of Retribution, where they gaze upon their own hearts, revealing their deeds in life, then sent to the Second Court to suffer. The Second Court, King Chu Jiang Li, birthday on the first day of the third month, governs the Living Great Hell, also known as the Pavilion of Stripped Garments and the Ice Hell, with sixteen minor hells. Those who harm limbs, steal, or kill in the world are thrust into this hell, then sent to the sixteen minor hells for suffering. When their term ends, they are transferred to the Third Court for further punishment.
The Third Court, King Song Di Wang Yu, birthday on the eighth day of the second month, presides over the Black Rope Hell, with sixteen minor hells. Those who defy elders, incite lawsuits in the living world are sent here, to suffer hanging upside down, eye-gouging, and bone scraping. When their sentence is served, they are transferred to the Fourth Court.
The Fourth Court, King Wu Guan Lü, birthday on the eighteenth day of the second month, governs the Combined Great Hell, also known as the Blood Pool Hell, with sixteen minor hells. Those who evade taxes, cheat in transactions are sent here, further judged and made to suffer in the minor hells. When their term is up, they are sent to the Fifth Court for investigation.
The Fifth Court, Yama Emperor Bao, birthday on the eighth day of the first month, formerly of the First Court, moved here for compassion toward wronged deaths, often returning souls to life. Presides over the Shouting Great Hell and sixteen minor hells of heart punishment. Those sent here are brought to the Platform of Homeward Longing, made to see their family suffering from their crimes, then thrust into this hell, their deeds closely examined, sent to sixteen minor hells where their hearts are hooked out and fed to snakes, their bodies guillotined (Bao was skilled with the guillotine), suffering until their term ends, then sent to other courts.
The Sixth Court, King Bian Cheng Bi, birthday on the eighth day of the third month, governs the Great Shouting Hell and the City of Wrongful Death, with sixteen minor hells. Those who are unfilial are sawed apart by two little demons. Those who complain against heaven, weep to the north while defecating, are sent here. Their crimes are examined, and they suffer iron spikes and burning tongue. Then sent to minor hells for suffering; when their term ends, transferred to the Seventh Court for further examination.
The Seventh Court, King Tai Shan Dong, birthday on the twenty-seventh day of the third month, presides over the Furious Heat Hell, also known as the Meat Grinder Hell, with sixteen minor hells. Those who steal corpses, mix medicines, separate kin are sent here. After suffering, transferred to the Eighth Court for further scrutiny. Those who steal, falsely accuse, extort, or murder for wealth suffer the boiling oil punishment.
The Eighth Court, King Du Shi Huang, birthday on the first day of the fourth month, governs the Great Furious Heat Hell, also known as the Steaming Pot Hell, with sixteen minor hells. Those who are unfilial and cause their parents or elders sorrow are thrown here, further sentenced in the minor hells, suffering until transferred to the Ninth Court, where they are transformed, becoming animals forever.
The Ninth Court, King Ping Deng, birthday on the eighth day of the fourth month, presides over the Iron Net City and Avici Hell, with sixteen minor hells. Those who murder, set fires, or execute justice in the living world are sent here, tied to hollow bronze pillars, chained hand and foot, burned by fire, their hearts and livers seared, then sent to the Avici Hell for punishment. Only when all victims have been reborn are they released, sent to the Tenth Court to enter the Six Paths (Heaven, Human, Asura, Beast, Hungry Ghost, Hell).
The Tenth Court, King Zhuan Lun Xue, birthday on the seventeenth day of the fourth month, specializes in sorting all souls from the courts, distinguishing good and evil, determining ranks, and sending them to rebirth in the Four Great Continents. Life span, wealth or poverty is detailed for each, and monthly reports are sent to the First Court for registration. Especially evil ghosts are made to transform through egg, womb, and moisture, living and dying within a day. Once their sentence is served, they return to life, reborn in barbarian lands. Before rebirth, they are handed to Lady Meng at the Platform of Forgetfulness, where they drink the soup of oblivion to forget their past lives.”
“I am beneath the Heavenly Emperor… King Chu Jiang!”
“All races rebel, the Emperor enters reincarnation once more!”
“Any who betray—shall be utterly destroyed!!!”
As that ancient, thunderous shout resounded again, Lin Hao’s pupils contracted, and an intense killing intent surged from his heart, accompanied by an indescribable, terrifying power that flooded his surroundings!
The entire world began to tremble violently, as if shuddering before collapse, intending to plunge all beings into endless terror!
Sensing all this, Lin Hao’s heart was swept by an unprecedented tidal wave of shock!
As his pupils contracted, a deep, weighty voice echoed in his ears, and within his heart, the surging waves only grew more tumultuous!