Chapter 515: A Sip of Meng Po’s Soup

“Human Sovereign’s strength truly exceeded my expectations. I wonder how he cultivated to reach such heights?” the female ghost official said with a cheerful smile. Four Golden Immortals were only worth four punches from Jiang Li.

The two walked along the Yellow Springs Road, casually chatting while fiery red spider lilies bloomed along the roadside. From a distance, the Yellow Springs Road appeared like a carpet woven from fresh blood.

Jiang Li answered without hesitation, as if stating the obvious. “It’s quite simple. Use limitless spiritual energy to break through the constraints of the Tribulation Transcendence Stage, reach the Mahayana Stage, then cultivate every single moment without pause. Naturally, you’ll achieve my current level of cultivation.”

“…Human Sovereign, you do love to joke. That’s impossible. We’ve reached the Reincarnation Sector now. King Pingdeng and King Lunzhuan, two of the Yama Kings, oversee this area.”

Jiang Li praised the arrangement, finding great learning value in the Underworld’s systems. “King Yama conducts the judgments, with one Yama King each for the Celestial Path, Human Reincarnation Path, and Beast Reincarnation Path. Four Yama Kings govern the four major hells, plus two more stationed here. The Ten Yama Kings each have their specific duties, creating such orderly operations in the Underworld. Truly impressive! Though I wonder which part Houtu Huangqi oversees?”

Before the Celestial Ascension Ladder broke, the Immortal Emperor served as the decision-maker in the Immortal Realm. He established the Heavenly Court, making it the orthodox authority, though his position as the Nine-Nine Supreme was somewhat awkward.

He was the youngest among the Primordial Chaos and Limitless Immortals. While Dao Ancestor, Buddha, Confucius Sage, and Primordial Ancestor nominally fell under the Heavenly Court’s jurisdiction, when it came time to actually contribute effort, whether these four would act depended entirely on their mood.

Still, the Immortal Emperor possessed genuine capabilities; otherwise he couldn’t have maintained his position as Heavenly Court’s ruler. Before Dao Ancestor unified his three corpses, they fought to a standstill, neither able to gain clear advantage over the other.

In comparison, ruling the Underworld proved much simpler, as Houtu Huangqi could exercise absolute authority.

To be specific, this meant Houtu Huangqi could choose not to handle affairs whenever she wished, with no one able to stop her.

The female ghost official forced a smile. “Houtu Huangqi oversees the overall situation without managing specific matters. Her position remains crucially important—she definitely doesn’t neglect her duties. Come now, let’s not discuss this further. Allow me to explain the reincarnation process to you.”

Jiang Li and the female ghost official weren’t the only ones traveling the Yellow Springs Road. Countless other spirits hurried toward their reincarnation destinations, though most weren’t heading for the Human Reincarnation Path but rather the Beast Reincarnation Path.

“Fewer and fewer worlds remain available for human reincarnation. Many worlds have lost all human traces, leaving only animals behind. These spirits proceed to the Beast Reincarnation Path for their rebirth.”

“I don’t mind telling you this, Human Sovereign—the Underworld currently operates at full capacity, nearly overflowing with spirits.”

The Underworld’s area far exceeded that of the Nine Provinces, yet no matter how vast it might be, it could never contain all the spirits from the myriad heavens and worlds.

“Why not consider expanding the Underworld’s boundaries?”

“Expansion isn’t possible. The Underworld manifests as the physical embodiment of the life-death reincarnation rules. How large it becomes isn’t something we can decide or change.”

The two reached the end of the Yellow Springs Road and stepped onto Naihe Bridge. Day Patrol Gods and Night Patrol Gods, both types of ghost officials, patrolled the bridge, while below flowed the foul and putrid River of Forgetfulness, its stench making approach unbearable.

Jiang Li leaned over to look and discovered numerous lonely spirits and wild ghosts in the River of Forgetfulness. These lost souls stretched up their arms as if trying to pull down the deceased spirits crossing the bridge.

Their efforts proved futile. With thousands of meters separating the River of Forgetfulness from Naihe Bridge, the lonely spirits’ and wild ghosts’ motions appeared somewhat ridiculous.

“What’s the origin of these spirits?”

“They’re all spirits who tried to reincarnate secretly. Some grew impatient waiting in line and attempted early reincarnation, while others refused to drink Granny Meng’s Soup to forget their past lives, choosing instead to swim across the River of Forgetfulness. As you can see, these spirits can neither escape the river nor achieve reincarnation. Forced to watch other deceased spirits proceed to rebirth, their jealousy drives them to try pulling others down.”

“Take that couple over there, for example. They died in a mutual suicide pact, swearing before death never to forget each other and to be together in their next life. They adamantly refused to drink Granny Meng’s Soup.”

The female ghost official snorted coldly. “How laughable! If they don’t forget their past lives and reunite in their next life, that wouldn’t be reincarnation—that would be reliving their lives! They completely disregard the Underworld’s regulations.”

“Who doesn’t have past experiences they wish to remember? Why should they receive special treatment? If everyone behaved like them, the order of life and death would descend into chaos. Such mischievous children.”

The female ghost official had encountered countless individuals like them. “When they finally come to their senses while in the River of Forgetfulness, that’s when we’ll fish them out.”

Reaching the bridge’s midpoint, Jiang Li saw a group of ghost officials holding bowls of Granny Meng’s Soup, offering it to the deceased spirits.

The female ghost official explained, “Previously, several Golden Immortals from the Immortal Realm found their way to the Underworld, breaking through the dimensional barriers and arriving precisely here. They allowed numerous spirits destined for reincarnation in the Nine Provinces to reach there without drinking Granny Meng’s Soup.”

“King Lunzhuan and King Pingdeng acted simultaneously, engaging the Immortal Realm’s Golden Immortals in battle. The Black and White Impermanence, who had been away on duties, rushed back immediately to protect the spirits. Otherwise, the Underworld might have suffered significant losses.”

Only then did Jiang Li understand the origin of the spirits that had drifted into the Nine Provinces.

“Why do I recall folk legends saying Granny Meng serves the soup herself?”

The group of ghost officials included men and women, old and young—none resembling the legendary Granny Meng in the slightest.

The female ghost official rolled her eyes. “Where did you get that idea about Granny Meng serving the soup? With so many spirits needing reincarnation, would we specifically seek out an elderly woman to serve the soup? They’re lucky anyone serves it to them at all.”

“If you truly want to find Granny Meng, she does exist.” The female ghost official pointed toward an elderly woman brewing soup at the bridge’s head. “Her name is Granny Meng.”

“…”

For some reason, Jiang Li suddenly thought of Yangzhou fried rice—where the chef named Yangzhou creates fried rice called Yangzhou fried rice.

Before drinking Granny Meng’s Soup, the spirits cried and screamed, unwilling to forget their past lives or reincarnate into the Beast Reincarnation Path. After consuming the soup, they all became dazed and confused—even those with cultivation levels experienced this effect.

Jiang Li noticed Granny Meng adding a bag of fine crystals while brewing the soup, which looked strangely familiar.

The female ghost official pursed her lips. “This Granny Meng’s Soup doesn’t work on Dao Ancestor. After he drank an entire pot, his evaluation was that it lacked saltiness. Ever since then, Granny Meng has added salt when brewing the soup.”

“However, this created a problem.”

“What problem?”

“No one can tell whether she’s added too much or too little salt. Those who drink Granny Meng’s Soup forget even the taste of salt, so how would they know if it’s salty or bland?”

“Does Granny Meng’s Soup work on Houtu Huangqi?”

“Uncertain. What if it did work? That would create enormous complications.”

“…”

The female ghost official asked, “Human Sovereign Jiang, would you like to try some?”

Jiang Li’s playful nature emerged, and he took a sip.

The female ghost official stared intently at Jiang Li. “Do you still remember that you’re the ruler of the Underworld, managing its affairs day and night without rest?”

“…Ghost Sister, I haven’t lost my memory. Also, this soup is too salty.”

Jiang Li suggested Granny Meng use only half a bag of salt instead of the full bag.

At Naihe Bridge’s end stood a stone stele. Countless spirits were drawn into the stele, their cultivation levels washed away, transforming into faceless infant-like souls.

Behind the stele stretched a passageway. The faceless infant souls entered this channel, transported to the myriad heavens and worlds.

When they found their reincarnation targets, their souls would gradually transform to match their next life’s appearance.

“Dao Ancestor’s cultivation ran profoundly deep. The Six Paths of Reincarnation Stele couldn’t completely erase his cultivation level. Eventually, the stele shattered before finally eliminating Dao Ancestor’s cultivation entirely.”

“The current stele was reforged by Houtu Huangqi.”