In the void of darkness, bursts of celestial music echoed.
Wishful thoughts coalesced, and the Thunder King opened his eyes, beholding a magnificent palace.
Before him stood countless officials, half-bowed, their hands hidden within their sleeves, gazing from where they appeared towards a distant, vast world. There were pavilions and houses, great rivers and stone bridges, artisans and common folk, a bustling, vibrant life.
"I've been tricked, and ultimately, I've arrived here."
This underworld had become like this. What the Song Dynasty had said was indeed true. Though he had died, he hadn't entirely perished. As long as his name and birthdate were recorded in the Book of Life and Death...
What were the three Books of Life and Death?
They didn't just govern whether a person's lifespan had expired. When necessary, the methods of Sun Wukong in "Journey to the West" could also manifest.
After stealing the power of the Eastern Peak from human temples and seizing the three Books of Life and Death, this was the opportunity in the underworld. Now, the underworld could truly "sentence you to death at the third watch, and not keep you past the fifth," or "your lifespan has not yet ended, new dates will be added."
The living could be born from death, and the dead could live in death.
What difference was there between the realms of Yin and Yang? It seemed the Great Dharma Realm of the underworld had also fully taken shape.
The Thunder King sighed. Among the officials before him, one stepped forward: "The Three Heavenly Sovereigns have been waiting for a long time. Today, the Thunder King arrives here, adding another great general to our underworld."
"You all knew long ago that I was bound to die?" The Thunder King looked at the celestial official and suddenly asked, "I say... people from your Myriad Longevity Palace, you didn't tamper with the Book of Life and Death, did you!"
"My name and birthdate are written on it. Perhaps my death this time was also orchestrated by you. The last time you came here, our conversation was very unpleasant. If it weren't for considering the possibility of future life-and-death crises, I wouldn't have left a contingency with you."
"How could that be possible?" The celestial official stroked his beard and said slowly, "If an immortal's lifespan could be so easily altered, we would have returned to the human world long ago. Why would we linger in this land of the dead?"
"As far as is known, the only ones who can alter an immortal's fate are the powerful beings behind Biyou Palace, the Confucian great master named Chang Le Lao."
The Thunder King was puzzled: "Confucianism... manipulating me, making me a vessel for the Thunder Ghost, a container for the divine power of the Thunder Ancestor Heavenly Venerate. The Thunder Law Immortal Scroll I obtained was deliberately given to me. I declared myself to be the descending Jade Purity True King of the Nine Heavens Thunder Ancestor, and now I have truly become a Heavenly Venerate's vessel."
"But the Thunder Ancestor Heavenly Venerate is a deity of Taoism. Does Confucianism want to obtain the orthodox heavenly thunder laws of Taoism?"
"Not quite. It seems the people of Biyou Palace want to establish themselves independently. Thus, they seized the treasured scriptures of the Thunder Department Heavenly Venerate during this Heavenly Heart War... wanting to transform into a heavenly god. Such things have happened before, it's not unusual."
"However, a dead person becoming a heavenly god, and a living person transforming into a heavenly god, are different concepts. Zhang Daoling died and became the Ancestral Heavenly Master. It took generations of worship at the Heavenly Master's Mansion to nurture such a great deity. Other sects followed suit, allowing the great Heavenly Masters to ascend to celestial positions."
"Receiving the divine position of a heavenly god while alive does not equate to becoming a heavenly god... The key is to become the divine body of a heavenly god, the divine tablet... it should have disappeared by now."
...The celestial officials led the Thunder King deeper into the Myriad Longevity Immortal Palace. The Thunder King inquired, "Speaking of which, you people are also from the Confucian school. Even if you've become ghost immortals, doesn't Confucianism still accept you?"
The celestial official slowed his steps, and a dark fire flickered in the hollow eyes of the surrounding celestial officials.
"The Zhaoming World, the World Beyond the Shore... that is a world of righteous and brilliant vastness, and naturally, it cannot accommodate sinners like us."
"One group fails, so another group takes their place. We are the failed group. To be accepted again by the Zhaoming World, we must eliminate the current Confucianists in the mortal world. Only then will our value be demonstrated."
"Otherwise, we cannot enter."
The celestial official sighed, "To have one's name recorded in history is to have a place in the Zhaoming World. Failures have no place. Confucianism has endured since the Han Dynasty, possessing its own means of promotion, suppressing other schools, including Taoism and Buddhism. Among the Three Teachings, Confucianism is supreme and unshakeable."
The Thunder King entered the inner palace, where the Heavenly Net King appeared to greet him, beaming and calling him a capable general.
"Thunder Law is the most rigid and yang. Now that I have fallen into the underworld, my physical body destroyed, leaving only an immortal soul of immortal cultivation, how can I be considered capable? I can't even use thunder laws now."
The Thunder King gave a wry smile. The Heavenly Net King chuckled, "There's no need to worry about that. In the underworld, thunder can still be used. I will fetch you a piece of thunder-struck wood to sculpt a body."
"Heaven and Earth are divided into Yin and Yang, and thunder also has Yin and Yang. During the Tang Dynasty, someone cultivated 'Yin Thunder' and 'Karma Wind,' both supreme methods for ghost immortals. You have entered my Yin Court and shall be a great general. You can cultivate this art."
The Thunder King's expression was filled with surprise. The Heavenly Net King was also in good spirits, but he soon inquired about the details of the battles in the human world. The methods of the Heavenly Heart experts were extraordinary, beyond the comprehension of these chaotic immortals.
Yuan Huang was not present, nor had the Great Venerables in Jingling Palace fully awakened. They were also unable to investigate matters involving top experts like the Great Sun Tathagata.
"That person repelled the Great Sun Tathagata... truly formidable."
"The Buddha Ghost... possessed by the Great Sun Tathagata, it is likely dead."
The Thunder King recounted his experiences in the human world. Although he was dragged into a dream by the Eastern Flower Immortal Maiden, he could still see parts of the battle outside the dream. The power of the Heavenly Heart permeated reality and illusion, affecting even dreams.
Upon learning the outcome and some details of the battle, the Heavenly Net King fell silent. His brow furrowed instantly, and a look of worry filled his entire face.
Previously, the Chaotian Hou was killed, and now it was refined into one of the avatar forms of the Northern Pole True Person. The plunder of the eighteen hells was halted, and it could not be continued. Now, Ji Xiang had repelled a Heavenly Heart expert, his strength growing to a terrifying level.
Of course, the Thunder King was unaware of how the Great Sun Tathagata was defeated; many details were unclear.
"It seems we must act in advance. If we give him more time to grow, we will be useless."
The Heavenly Net King shook his head repeatedly. The underworld's exchanges with the human world had been repeatedly interrupted, everywhere. Otherwise, the goal of returning to the living would have been achieved long ago.
Now, it seemed the original plan was no longer suitable.
Of course, one matter brought the Heavenly Net King great joy.
The Buddha Ghost was dead!
"The Buddha Ghost who cursed my Song Dynasty in the past has finally become a vessel for a more powerful Buddha to possess and descend! The cycle of karma is inescapable, and retribution is just!"
Even if the Buddha Ghost was not truly dead, the fact that he had died once brought the Heavenly Net King immense satisfaction.
The Heavenly Net King found the other two Yin Heavenly Sovereigns and informed them of this matter. Unfortunately, the divine position of the Nine Nether Sin-Removing Heavenly Venerate had not yet been found, and the underworld was attacking the Crow's Cry Kingdom, with the battle stalemated and not yet conquered.
"No rush. The Freely Dwelling Heavenly Venerate said that a great event will occur next. For now, let us not meddle with the human world."
Lai He Tianzun spoke, his expression somewhat cautious. The Heavenly Net King was puzzled: "What great event?"
"The Sacrifice of Qingqiang... is about to be opened. The Heavenly Venerate has stated that ancient evil gods will emerge from it, devouring all spirits to grow stronger. It involves the origin of Taoism and is related to the Jade Purity Heaven. It cannot be easily touched."
Divine Illusory Great Ming.
You Zha Xian Yu reminds you: Please remember to collect after reading.