"Borrow my Book of Life and Death?"
Upon hearing Ye Ling's words, Cui Jue was first stunned, then sneered, "The Book of Life and Death is a supreme treasure of the Underworld, concerning the lives and deaths of billions of beings in the mortal realm. How can it be borrowed just like that?"
"Let alone you, even if the King of Hell himself came here, without a proper reason, he wouldn't be able to get the Book of Life and Death from me!"
"Guards, show the guest out!"
Seeing Cui Jue immediately issue a dismissal order, Ye Ling was also taken aback, finding it somewhat amusing.
He had wondered why Meng Po had mentioned Cui Jue to him earlier, and now it all made sense.
Cui Jue's fiery temper was truly extraordinary; he dared to confront anyone.
The other inhabitants of the Underworld, upon seeing him, the Emperor, were at least respectful and dared not offend, if not completely flustered.
But Cui Jue's attitude was entirely different.
However, Ye Ling was not angered by Cui Jue's temper. He smiled and said, "If you refuse to lend it, Judge Cui, what confidence do you have in protecting the Book of Life and Death from me?"
"It's not that I look down on you, but all the Underworld soldiers in this Hall of the Son of Heaven combined probably couldn't withstand a single finger of mine."
Cui Jue snorted, "Rumor has it that Emperor Ye Ling is an immortal who has transcended the Three Realms. Now it seems he is merely a mortal who bullies others with his immense power."
"While I admit I lack the ability to protect the Book of Life and Death, if you wish to take it from my hands, you will have to step over my corpse!"
Yang Qi, standing nearby, quickly interjected, "Lord Cui, we have no ill intentions in borrowing the Book of Life and Death; we only seek to save someone..."
*Slap!*
Cui Jue slammed his hand on the table, cutting off Yang Qi's words, and said sternly, "The Book of Life and Death concerns the balance of the Three Realms. Any slight deviation could disrupt it! Is this something that can be borrowed simply because you have no ill intentions?"
"Back then, that blind Stone Monkey forcibly seized the Book of Life and Death, allowing the monkey demons of Flower Fruit Mountain to escape the cycle of life and death. And what was the result? Although they gained immortality, they were ultimately punished by the Heavenly Dao, suffering a fate worse than death, and Flower Fruit Mountain turned into scorched earth!"
"That was merely altering the destinies of some mortal beasts with the Book of Life and Death, and it already provoked the Heavenly Dao's wrath, leading to an unprecedented war between the Heavenly Court and the demons. Now you want to take it to save someone? Isn't that going to bring disaster upon the mortal realm?"
"Peace in the Three Realms is hard-won. I will not let you destroy it so easily!"
Ye Ling sighed softly, "Judge Cui, you speak too harshly. I only wish to borrow the Book of Life and Death to find someone. As for the collapse of the Heavenly Dao and chaos in the Three Realms, it will not happen."
Although arbitrarily altering the Book of Life and Death would incur the Heavenly Dao's punishment, currently, the Heavenly Dao's consciousness had faded, and its authority was entirely in Ye Ling's hands.
Ye Ling was, in effect, the Heavenly Dao walking in the world. Not only would he not be punished for using the Book of Life and Death, but even if he destroyed it and plunged the world into chaos, Ye Ling himself would not be penalized.
Of course, Ye Ling was doing all this to protect the Three Realms, so he wouldn't do such a thing.
Just like now, Cui Jue was not at fault. Protecting the Book of Life and Death was his duty. If Ye Ling were to kill an important official of the Underworld simply because of Cui Jue's attitude, thus disrupting the Netherworld, then Ye Ling would be no different from a true demon.
Ye Ling did not wish for things to develop in that direction.
Seeing that Ye Ling was not as unreasonable as other saints, Cui Jue's expression softened considerably. "Hmph! What will happen if the Book of Life and Death is tampered with is not something you can determine with mere words. You should leave."
"Of course, I admit I am no match for you. If you try to forcibly seize the Book of Life and Death, I can only offer my life in return. But Emperor, if you do such a thing, the karma generated by the Three Realms as a result will be borne by you for eternity!"
Ye Ling smiled, "What if I told you that if you don't lend me the Book of Life and Death today, the Three Realms will be destroyed because of you? What would you do then?"
Cui Jue's expression flickered slightly, then he quickly regained his composure. "Stop trying to scare me. Could the person you want to save possibly be related to the safety of the Three Realms?"
Ye Ling: "It precisely concerns the safety of the Three Realms. Judge Cui, you see that I clearly have the power to forcibly snatch the Book of Life and Death from you, yet I am still reasoning with you here. I shouldn't be considered unreasonable, should I?"
"If I truly wanted to destroy the Three Realms, you wouldn't be able to talk nonsense to me."
Cui Jue subconsciously replied, "That's true..."
Since Ye Ling entered the Hall of the Son of Heaven, Cui Jue had felt an unimaginable pressure from him. Although he was temperamental towards Ye Ling, it was merely a way to mask his inner fear.
Cui Jue was, in fact, just a minor deity in the early stage of the True Martial realm. It was quite remarkable that he could remain defiant in Ye Ling's presence.
Ye Ling continued, "Judge Cui, I actually admire your upright and unyielding character. The King of Hell would likely not want to lose such a capable official. I will now explain the situation to you. If, after I finish speaking, you are still unreasonable, then do not blame me for resorting to force."
Hearing Ye Ling's words, Cui Jue's eyes narrowed slightly. After some deliberation, he ordered the Underworld soldiers surrounding Ye Ling and Yang Qi to retreat and said, "I am not an unreasonable person. Emperor, please speak freely. I have my own judgment."
"Then listen carefully..."
Ye Ling briefly recounted the story of Li Xiaomei and the leader of the Void organization, Huang, to Cui Jue. Cui Jue's expression shifted from suspicion to a deep frown.
"According to the Emperor, Huang's cultivation is currently supreme in the Three Realms, and only the Emperor can contend with him?"
Although Cui Jue found Ye Ling's words somewhat exaggerated, he had also vaguely heard of the organization "Void" and knew that it was a top-tier force in the Three Realms, capable of rivaling the major divine kingdoms.
And Huang, the leader of the Void organization, even if his strength was not as formidable as Ye Ling described, was certainly far beyond ordinary saints!
If such an existence truly harbored ambitions for the Three Realms, it would indeed be a catastrophe for all beings within them!
"Emperor, we've brought the Matchmaker!"
Just as Cui Jue was lost in thought, Black and White Impermanence dragged in an old man in red and said, "This trip cost our brothers quite a bit of effort. Bringing this Matchmaker to the Underworld was truly not easy. Emperor, you must credit us for our work!"
Hearing Black and White Impermanence's voices, Cui Jue snapped back to his senses. He happened to see Black and White Impermanence dragging the Matchmaker into the hall. His expression changed, and he slammed the table again, "You two scoundrels! Why did you bring the Matchmaker to the Underworld?"
Cui Jue's sudden roar startled Black and White Impermanence, causing them to stand ramrod straight. They looked at Ye Ling in surprise and whispered, "Emperor, why haven't you dealt with that fellow named Cui yet?"
Black and White Impermanence had assumed that Cui Jue had already been severely dealt with by Ye Ling and was now obedient, which was why they had entered so boldly.
Seeing Cui Jue still seated and Ye Ling standing in the middle of the hall, they were caught off guard and startled.
The Matchmaker was also somewhat bewildered. Trembling, he straightened his clothes and respectfully bowed to Ye Ling, "I-I don't know why the Emperor is looking for this humble immortal... What is it?"
He had been arranging marriages in the mortal realm in the Heavenly Court when Black and White Impermanence had secretly entered his room and forcibly abducted him to the Underworld. When he tried to call for help from the Heavenly soldiers, he was warned by Black and White Impermanence using Ye Ling's name!
Along the way, the Matchmaker had been wondering what offense he had committed to be targeted by the renowned Emperor Ye Ling of the Three Realms, and to be specially brought to the Underworld for retribution...
Now, seeing Ye Ling's true face, the Matchmaker was on the verge of tears from fear!
Ye Ling looked at the Matchmaker's apprehensive demeanor and found it both amusing and exasperating. He said to Black and White Impermanence, "Can't you two use more conventional methods?"