It is common knowledge that judges, as Yin Messengers, generally do not come to the mortal realm. Even if something of great importance occurs, due to the rules of separation between the living and the dead, they would not set foot on land.
This is because they have no physical form.
Furthermore, it would be a violation of regulations.
Therefore, it is necessary to find someone of sufficient seniority and status, someone who could bring a judge to the mortal realm without facing punishment for the deed.
Upon considering these conditions, everyone's gaze instinctively shifted towards Yan Hua, Chen Xi, Jin Yan, and Yu Yuan.
"Don't look at me. The idea of bringing in a judge to determine if those cursed individuals are killable is a good one, but I have no connection with the judges. I can go down and apprehend people, but what if the judge is unwilling?" Jin Yan finished by shrugging and adding, "It doesn't matter if the judge is willing or not. What if he's unwilling to go to the mortal realm and struggles with all his might in my hands? What if I, in a fit of anger, kill him?"
Jin Yan believed he was speaking the truth.
Everyone stared at him with darkened expressions, finally having no choice but to shift their gaze to Yu Yuan beside them.
Yu Yuan met their gazes, remained silent for a few seconds, and then, with genuine sincerity, asked, "When we encountered such matters before, didn't you always look to Yan Hua first? Why are you looking at me this time? I don't mind, and I wouldn't kill a judge. It's just that I don't particularly like the Underworld. It always feels rather gloomy."
Yan Hua glanced at the nine-foot-tall giant furiously attacking the barrier not far away, then turned and glared at Yu Yuan, "You are the most senior. You'll have the fewest troubles. Who else would you have go? The Heavenly Emperor?"
Yue Zhiyin's face showed a hint of embarrassment.
Since ancient times, apart from the Black and White Impermanence, other Yin Messengers were forbidden from casually entering the mortal realm. This rule applied even to judges, and indeed, even to the Ten Kings of Hell.
The rule was the rule.
The Black and White Impermanence were permitted in the mortal realm only for the purpose of apprehending ghosts.
If there were malevolent gods or fierce ghosts that needed to be captured, and the Black and White Impermanence lacked the strength to do so, then the task would fall to the Nine Heavens.
Mortal cultivators could also assist, and if they succeeded, it would count as merit.
However, in any case, Yin Messengers were not allowed to enter or leave the mortal realm without authorization.
Yue Zhiyin himself was the Heavenly Emperor of the Nine Heavens. If he were to casually go to the Underworld and drag a judge up, it would lead to gossip among the Nine Heavens.
Yu Yuan rolled his eyes in exasperation. Seeing that everyone agreed, he could only turn and head to the Underworld to apprehend a judge.
After a considerable wait, the judge finally arrived. He held the Book of Life and Death in his hand and was being carried by Yu Yuan. Before he could even catch his breath, he quickly retrieved the Book of Life and Death and began to search through the records of those who had been cursed. Once he reached a conclusion, he bowed slightly, paid his respects to Yan Hua and the others, and replied:
"According to the Book of Life and Death, apart from specific illnesses and other external factors, no one among these individuals has died as a result of this curse."
After speaking, the judge looked back at the nine-foot-tall giant before him. He couldn't help but feel utterly bewildered. "However, these cursed humans have mutated to this extent. To think they can still recover their normal forms later is truly unfathomable."
It wasn't just the judge who found it incomprehensible; everyone present was baffled.
Including Qi Yu.
In the two options presented by the Heavenly Dao, no matter which choice was made, casualties in the mortal realm were inevitable.
But what was the situation with absolutely no casualties?
With this thought, Qi Yu asked the judge, "Could you be more specific? Does what you just said mean that everyone will be alive in the end, or that those who are alive now will not die later?"
"This, what's the difference between the two?" The judge was confused.
Si Qing explained, "At least twenty to thirty people have died from the curse so far, and there are others who haven't been counted. My elder sister means to ask if the list you just compiled includes these twenty to thirty people? These twenty to thirty people are already dead. Did these deceased individuals die because of the curse, and there were no subsequent changes like resurrection?"