Chapter 642: Go to Hell
“Yin Immortal, native of the Eight Desolations World, used merit power to raise his cultivation to the late-stage Earthly Immortal realm, died at age 6,300, cause of death: trampled to death by Jiang Li of the Nine Provinces… destroyed 432 worlds, directly killed 840 billion human path beings, indirectly killed 21.3 trillion human path beings…”
The number of beings indirectly killed by Yin Immortal exceeded even Supreme Immortal Baoyi.
“Yang Immortal…”
“Qian, native of the Eight Desolations World, Desolation Lord, peak Tribulation Transcendence Stage cultivation, died at age 4,120… destroyed 392 worlds, directly killed 3.2 trillion human path beings, indirectly killed 68.1 trillion human path beings…”
“Crimes of the most heinous nature, condemned by both humans and gods alike, shall suffer unlimited hell torture, to be personally executed by the Yama King presiding over hell!”
King Yama was utterly enraged, radiating death energy so intense it froze the surrounding space.
Having held this position for hundreds of thousands of years, he had witnessed many vicious criminals, but this Qian’s crimes made even those demonic path Celestial Immortals feel ashamed by comparison!
“Those personally executed by the Yama King presiding over hell are usually demonic path Celestial Immortals or Golden Immortals. Qian, you’re the first Tribulation Transcendence Stage cultivator to receive such treatment.”
Qian Desolation Lord shuddered, clearly sensing his treatment differed from others. Being personally executed by the Yama King—just imagining it was terrifying enough!
“Kun, native of the Eight Desolations World, Desolation Lord, peak Tribulation Transcendence Stage cultivation, died at age 4,010… destroyed 392 worlds, directly killed 3.18 trillion human path beings, indirectly killed 67 trillion human path beings…”
“Xun…”
“Zhen…”
Every time King Yama read out a Desolation Lord’s name, that lord would go limp, their face turning pale green, completely weak like noodles. At this point, two ghost officers would support them and drag them to hell for punishment.
Some Desolation Lords wailed bitterly, claiming they knew their wrongs and were willing to pay for their deeds, hoping King Yama would show leniency.
King Yama sneered coldly: “Willing to pay the price, yet still hoping for leniency? You haven’t truly recognized your errors at all! Acting, deceiving this king—your crimes are compounded!”
With that, King Yama added another mark, ensuring this Desolation Lord would suffer even more torture.
Other Desolation Lords claimed they were forced by fellow lords—that without doing so, they couldn’t integrate into their circle.
King Yama remained unmoved.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, all eleven from the Eight Desolations have been judged.” King Yama reported respectfully.
Houtu Huangqi stood up and invited: “Human Sovereign Jiang, would you accompany me to see hell?”
“Very well.”
Jiang Li wanted to witness with his own eyes what punishments these beasts would receive.
No, they weren’t even worth calling beasts—they didn’t even qualify for reincarnation through the Beast Path.
Eight Hot Hells.
Thirty-two black lines were drawn on Supreme Immortal Baoyi’s body. Ghost officers used rusty, blunt saws to slowly cut along these lines, dividing his soul into dozens of pieces before throwing them into a massive iron mortar. The ghost officers pounded and ground him into paste, bones and flesh completely shattered, blood flowing like rivers, then karma winds blew to restore him to life.
Avici Hell.
Qian Desolation Lord was bound to a scorching iron plate. Ghost officers used pliers to pull out his fingernails and toenails one by one, causing Qian Desolation Lord to scream in agony. Seizing the opportunity, the ghost officers poured molten iron into the wounds, whereupon the fingernails and toenails regrew, and the ghost officers continued pulling them out again.
Kun Desolation Lord lay on a desolate plain, his soul festering as vultures came to peck at it. Kun Desolation Lord could clearly feel the vultures’ movements but couldn’t move his body.
“The Eight Desolations World is truly a cancer among the myriad heavens and worlds.” Houtu Huangqi stared at each Desolation Lord and immortal undergoing judgment, wishing she could tear their souls to shreds.
But that wouldn’t do—it would be letting them off too easily. Better to let them continue suffering in hell.
“However, among the Eight Desolations cultivators, more than just these few deserve death.”
Houtu Huangqi looked at Jiang Li and asked: “What are Human Sovereign Jiang’s thoughts?”
“Those who invade other worlds yet remain proud and unrepentant deserve death. From my investigations, everyone from the Eight Desolations’ Unity Stage cultivators down to low-level practitioners likely participated in invading other worlds, becoming butchers.”
Houtu Huangqi glanced at Jiang Li in surprise: “I thought Human Sovereign Jiang was a gentle person who disliked killing, that you might spare these people.”
Jiang Li’s expression remained calm: “I truly dislike killing and avoid it when possible, but these people deserve death.”
“Sparing their lives—would the invaded and destroyed worlds, the killed people ever agree?”
Houtu Huangqi nodded: “I thought we might disagree on this matter, but unexpectedly our views largely align.”
“I came to the Underworld also to borrow the replicated Book of Life and Death. The Eight Desolations’ history is too long, involving too many people—Ji Zhi’s Double Pupils can’t cover everything.”
“Ji Zhi, I recall he’s Ji Shun’s descendant. The Ji family’s younger generation has come far indeed. The replicated Book of Life and Death can naturally be lent to you, but using it requires understanding of the life-death reincarnation cycle. Does Human Sovereign Jiang know this?”
Jiang Li sighed helplessly and continued: “Then I must trouble Your Majesty to assign another ghost officer.”
“I anticipated you’d say this. That ghost officer is already waiting for you at the Underworld exit with the Book of Life and Death. I won’t see you off.”
“In that case, thank you, Your Majesty.”
…
At the Underworld exit, Jiang Li’s eyes widened as he saw a familiar ghost officer.
“Senior Lu?”
This was truly an unexpected delight.
Old Human Sovereign Lu Yu showed some emotional fluctuation upon seeing Jiang Li, but considering he needed to maintain dignity before Jiang Li, he put on airs and nodded slightly: “King Qinguang told me there was a business trip assignment, so I reluctantly agreed.”
King Qinguang nearby, hearing this, recalled how when he asked who wanted to go on business to the Nine Provinces, the successive Human Sovereigns nearly fought themselves senseless.
Eventually Old Human Sovereign Lu Yu emerged victorious, entrusted by all previous Human Sovereigns to personally see the current Nine Provinces and return to tell them all about it.
Jiang Li hurriedly brought Old Human Sovereign back to the Nine Provinces.
Everyone seeing Jiang Li return asked whether the Eight Desolations people had been judged and how the remaining ones should be handled.
No one could see Old Human Sovereign, not even Commander Liu who had already become an immortal.
The living cannot see Underworld ghost officers. The people from the Zombie World could see Black and White Impermanence earlier because they were classified as dead in the Underworld’s Book of Life and Death.
As for Jiang Li, he couldn’t be judged by ordinary standards.
Clear disappointment showed in Jiang Li’s eyes, while Old Human Sovereign had expected this.
Patting Jiang Li’s shoulder, he laughed: “Being able to return and see the Nine Provinces is already satisfying enough. Asking for more would be greed. Haven’t I always told you—one should know contentment to find happiness?”
Everyone seeing Jiang Li’s expression thought something had gone wrong during his Underworld visit.
Jiang Li smiled and shook his head, explaining: “I’ve borrowed the Book of Life and Death from the Underworld and brought help, but you can’t see him.”
“So that’s what it is. I thought something was wrong.” Bai Hongtu laughed heartily, cupping his hands toward the space beside Jiang Li. “Brother Ghost Officer, thank you for your hard work.”