Chapter 570: Order of Time, Life and Death Distinguished; the Netherworld Ghost Realm, Azure Heavens and Yellow Springs

Boom—

Like the grandest sound of the Great Dao of heaven and earth opening, it echoes in the deepest part of every living being's soul.

Nüwa reformed the reincarnation process, redefining the iteration of souls; for humanity, its significance truly is not beneath Pangu's creation of the universe.

Indeed, it surpasses even that! After all, the era of heaven and earth's opening is already too far, too far in the past.

People have sung praises of merit and virtue for countless years, slowly becoming numb.

But reincarnation...

Such issues that need consideration in the present are more likely to attract widespread attention and discussion.

At the same time, even a slight change is more likely to be noticed and perceived by the careful.

After reincarnation is reshaped, the rebirth of the true spirit will be completely different from before.

In the past, what was reincarnated was the material of the true spirit—Pangu didn't care about your loves, hatreds, grudges, or past and present lives; he crushed everything into the smallest units of material, merging it into the great family of the True Spirit Sea.

It is ruthless, yet it also brings the simplest operation, and even a most marvelous experience—the realm of reincarnation transcends all worlds, so the same material might have once participated in the composition of a life's soul during the era of the fiends.

But the next soul reorganization occurred in the era of the dragon and phoenix.

Past lives are born in the future; former lives bury the present life.

This plays out to the fullest the fundamental of humanity—a soul buried by a Pangu, that Great Luo privilege—to toy with spacetime and invert causality.

Now, Nüwa has carried out a major update to the reincarnation system; this time reincarnation is no longer mere material, but the entirety of a living true spirit… which demands far more detail.

Including but not limited to revising reincarnation rules, uploading and storing lifelong memories, recompiling the chronology of time… it can no longer be as simple and brutal as before, for that would cause great problems.

A little thought makes it clear—how many who are unwilling to accept their past lives would try to change 'history'? If there's no chance, then forget it.

Once given the chance, to clearly understand that one has reversed the flow of ages, that future life arises in the past… who could still restrain their impulses? Probably very few.

Many people want to change the past—but that is a prerogative reserved for the Great Luo.

However, the three thousand Great Luo, humanity finds them exceedingly troublesome; fortunately, this group knows the rules and won't act recklessly, staying within control.

With hundreds of millions, even infinite numbers of Great Luo, and perhaps many who disregard martial virtue and act lawlessly… the terrifying karma caused by meddling with historical epochs is unimaginable.

When karma accumulates to the extreme, only a great calamity can barely maintain the stable operation of heaven and earth.

Moreover, this only treats the symptoms, not the root—before long, another will be needed.

If it truly comes to that, wanting to eliminate karma… perhaps only by wielding a knife against reincarnation, and moreover trampling the one who caused the present situation—Nüwa—ten thousand times!

As for this, Nüwa knows it full well in her heart.

So, while wielding the authority of Honghuang and reshaping reincarnation, she also added a procedure to determine the time epoch, and together organized the order of time.

Accompanying her actions, amidst the vast heavens and earth a faint, near‑transparent illusory river surges; it gradually shifts from turbid to clear, from chaotic to ordered, extending infinitely, expanding infinitely, until it ultimately becomes a wondrous sight that penetrates all directions, past and future, the Myriad Heavens and Ten Thousand Worlds.

The reshaping of reincarnation—

Order of Time established!

The three thousand Great Luo now, with a transcendent view, look down upon this scene, using the most macroscopic perspective to judge merit and fault; they can clearly perceive that Nüwa's such efforts have determined the temporal order within the realm of reincarnation, making the operation of the Honghuang heavens and earth run just a little more smoothly.

"Nüwa may say she harbors little selfishness, but in working on reincarnation she has hidden a bellyful of ill intent, her aim pointed at the Heavenly Court… yet what she can do is still merely a human affair." Historian Báizé laughed to Fuxi, "In the long term, establishing the order of time also counts as no small merit."

"So-so." Xihuang smiled faintly, a deep smile flickering in the depths of his eyes, as if seeing his silly sister jump into some big pit and still laughing proudly with hands on hips, enduring it with some difficulty—"Whether it's merit or not, I'm not really concerned."

"I'm just curious—after all this hard work, who is she doing it for?"

"Don't 'year after year, resentfully pressing gold thread to make another's wedding dress.'"

"Tsk tsk tsk..."

Xihuang clicked his tongue repeatedly, sighing without end, his tone full of deep sympathy for Nüwa.

Pitiable.

Lamentable.

In the eyes of that ancient Heavenly Emperor, Nüwa's struggles against her fate have never amounted to anything.

Not taking the orthodox path? Not properly inheriting the lineage of reincarnation?

Planning to innovate, planning to redefine the principles of reincarnation, to jump out of the clear‑cut life arranged by the 'Wàn'è' elder brother?

"My naive little sister!"

"You only know I'm scheming, but you don't know how deep my scheming goes."

"You've resisted… so what?"

"Still haven't escaped my palm, still arranged clearly as planned."

"Unwilling to work for me?"

"Hah."

"Laughable to death."

"Just obediently listen to me, and all you'll do is work for me."

"Insisting on independence, insisting on autonomy, standing out… tsk, the result is you went to work for humanity."

"And humanity… is actually secretly on my side!"

"After all the roundabouts, rounding up, you're still working for me, and you even found yourself a middleman to profit from the difference, happily there."

"If this gets out, surely those who hear it will be heartbroken and those who listen will weep…"

"Alas."

"Forget it, as long as you're happy."

Fuxi, for his sister, secretly shed a tear of crocodile tears in his heart.

Nüwa…

Horrible! Horrible! Horrible! Imagining the scene where Nüwa, upon learning the truth in the future, might burst into loud wails, Xihuang's mouth corners crank up wildly, matching the expression of the furtive Fengxi at this moment.

"Eh eh eh…" Báizé's interest sparked instantly—looking at Xihuang's expression, he deeply felt there must be some great secret here, "How how? Could it be that Nüwa's project to reshape reincarnation might still have variables?"

"Mm… you didn't just say that?"

The realm of reincarnation is not a good place; it's easy to touch taboos… let alone now Nüwa, with human Dao support and Honghuang backing her—she can be ferocious!

Look at our heavenly Majesty… Báizé glanced over, seeing the solemnly operating Zhou Tian Xing Dou Great Array giving Di Jun protection—the old coward afraid of death—"How quick the coward is!"

I'm not being cowardly; I'm just following my heart." Di Jun, amidst his busyness, found a moment to explain a few sentences: "Leave a useful body behind, so as to plot for the future."

Báizé, don't randomly fabricate rumors, slandering my image…… I reserve the right to protest with force at any time!

All right… Báizé the Yao Marshal sighed, "You're not cowardly; you're simply a true man who can bend and stretch."

But this also shows how terrifying Nüwa is now…… Who else could dare to tweak her tiger whiskers?

Just because it's not possible now doesn't mean it won't be later." Xihuang naturally diverted the topic, without mentioning whether he himself had dug a pit for Nüwa to jump into, using another fact to conceal the truth: "Nüwa has rebuilt reincarnation, controlling the great authority over human life and death…… This matter, you being anxious and angry is understandable, but there are others even more anxious and furious, trying every means to interfere and destroy."

That person, too, is not someone to be trifled with; very dangerous, and it's not certain they couldn't seize control of reincarnation.

Fuxi smiled faintly, his gaze flashing and fading, reflecting the shadow of the the Zixiao Palace, "And Nüwa, moreover, cannot always maintain such awe-inspiring power at this moment."

That's why I say, regarding the matter of reincarnation…… there are those who speak of the Dao.

One misstep, and Nüwa might take a nasty fall in this reincarnation, ending up doing the work for others.

Fuxi said as such.

From beginning to end, he never explicitly stated which strong person could pluck Nüwa's fruit…… but the hints between the lines always let people's imaginations run wild, leading them to think of that one in the the Zixiao Palace.

And upon mentioning Hongjun, many of the powerful beings present understood implicitly.

That's right.

This situation, the one who should be more anxious…… is the Dao Ancestor, right! The Dao Ancestor is the emperor…… this emperor isn't anxious, what are the eunuchs anxious about? "Imperial Elder Brother is broad-minded." Di Jun laughed and said, "If Hongjun truly took Nüwa's achievements, how would that be good?"

Let him take it, then." Xihuang answered indifferently, "Just consider it helping Nüwa learn a lasting lesson."

These years, Nüwa has been too flighty…… so flighty she can't even recognize herself.

That's not good.

She needs a good, educational beating to wake her up.

Actually, I'd be quite happy to see Nüwa take the worst fall of her life, enough to be etched into her bones.

Then… wouldn't Nüwa become the biggest joke of this era?" Báizé's expression turned odd.

That's not necessarily so," Fuxi said meaningfully, "How could someone who has taken a hundred steps laugh at someone who has taken fifty steps?"

Alright, future matters are uncertain for anyone; there's not much value in discussing them.

Xihuang directly shifted the topic, returning to the marvel Nüwa is currently constructing.

Everyone, you should still take a closer look at the rebuilding of reincarnation…… this might be the sole marvel of this necromancer era.

Barely passable, it can be compared to the Heavenly Dao's construction back then.

Miss this village…… and trying to find that shop later will be hard!

Fuxi smiled.

Exactly!

The gods nodded in agreement, jointly gazing at heaven and earth, and saw the illusory long river flowing through all directions, up and down, past and future—time's order, gradually fading, replaced by a strange light of black and white intermingling, filling the cosmos and its rivers.

Under that strange light, it separates life and death, and isolates yin and yang.

After this light, the era changes.

The world of the living has its order.

The world of the dead also has its order.

Between them, separated by the line between life and death, they are separated by the furthest worlds, making mutual interference difficult.

The reconstruction of reincarnation—

Life and death are distinct!

Nüwa holds the authority over the human Dao, operates the constancy of heaven and earth, judges the destination of life and death, establishes irrevocable rules, making clear the separate paths of humans and ghosts.

This is also as it should be.

In the past, "ghosts" weren't nonexistent, but they were rare.

Because, wanting to be a "ghost" also has a threshold! If one's cultivation is insufficient and the soul not strong enough, they cannot resist the reincarnation law set by Pangu; thus, one cannot even become a ghost.

But now, reincarnation has been revised and upgraded, becoming more "people-friendly"; the independent attribute of the true spirit is strengthened, making it much easier to become a ghost.

Perhaps a bit of obsession, a bit of persistence, will bring miracles and usher in an alternative rebirth.

Of course, this also easily leads to some "minor" problems—for example, the dead interfering in the world of the living, lingering and refusing to leave.

The revised and upgraded reincarnation now includes the benefit of reincarnation, which is indeed good.

But! If one can continue to cling to life, why not? Better to live poorly than die well! Even as a ghost, there are many unhappy aspects, unable to enjoy the pleasures that only the living can enjoy…

However, such "clinging to life" might, without warning, bring a turning point—no need for reincarnation, one could simply come back to life directly.

Reincarnation, how unreliable!

Whether the next life will be human or beast is uncertain; spend a 648 and who knows what twisted form it might become.

It would be better to inherit the original account, which would be more reliable.

——This is the choice of many life winners.

And even if one is not a life winner.

After suddenly facing the fate of death, do the dead have nothing left they wish to do? Yes! Many things! From worrying about the inheritance of their savings, directly sparing their family the trouble of proving they are themselves.

Down to the smallest, gritting one's teeth to open, the numerous web records, history bookmarks, and hard drive storage from one's life, to be wiped completely clean—

Not fearing even being smashed to pieces; to keep one's integrity in the human world! Death, before it arrives, is frightening, but once truly dead, it's just like that—mindset becomes calm, one lets go.

On the other hand, certain things…… such as special "spiritual cultural wealth", still go together with the deceased's passing, "to rest in peace in the earth", only then can the departed be at ease.

Otherwise…

Just thinking about the shocking discovery when future relatives and friends sort through the belongings, one is stunned to sigh at "×××" this thick-browed, big-eyed fellow, actually being such a…… a "fun" person? This is practically dying twice—

Social death! Though the person is already dead and the body cold, under such stimulation, a spark of obsession burning, likely in the dead of night the ghost would come running back, no need to doubt.

Even......

This ghost, if its obsession is to delete certain things, that's fine; but if the situation has already spread, a lifetime of 'reputation' being shattered and withered is already a foregone conclusion......

It's likely that, in the midst of a mental collapse, they let out the loudest shout——

This world, let it be destroyed! Such examples, one or two, are still barely acceptable, not too big a problem.

Ten, a hundred......

Thousands, tens of thousands...... even up to hundreds of millions, billions......

That pleasure would become unprecedentedly great, who knows how massive a karmic burden would be added to Honghuang's operation, becoming a hidden seed of calamity.

If slightly mishandled?

It can be imagined.

At that time, Houtu would certainly step forward, facing the vast multitude of humanity, to bow and apologize! So at this moment, Nüwa simply played her hand——

One clean sweep! It revised the universe's rules, reordered Honghuang's order, who knows how many Great Daos and laws were adjusted; from now on, they must yield to reincarnation at this point.

Life and death are distinct, humans and ghosts go separate ways! When such an order is established, the multitude of humanity suddenly feels something——that day, the sky seemed bluer; the clouds seemed whiter; Honghuang seemed more moist......

This is naturally not an illusion.

The sky is bluer, the clouds whiter, and Honghuang is likewise more moist.

Nüwa reordered the order, clearly arranging the future 'new ghosts'; as for the past 'old ghosts'…… not a single one could escape, all were caught in one sweep! Previously, relying on their own abilities, they had not been incorporated into reincarnation, happily wandering the Honghuang earth, living quite well——after all, without some ability, they couldn't even be ghosts!

Nowadays, Nüwa likewise, relying on her own abilities, reordered the rules of reincarnation, ordering them to handle finances within a time limit, cheaply sell off real estate, and start anew in a new circle.

There were old ghosts protesting.

"Houtu the Great God, you can't do this!"

The gods and spirits wailed, 'How many years did I spend occupying the mountain as king to build up my estate, only to have it given away for nothing like this?'

'There has never been anything like this before…'

Nüwa responded indifferently.

Protests were ineffective.

Opposition was ineffective.

She even dared to oppose the August Emperor—what are these gods' clamors? Moreover, from the standpoint of the greater picture, crushing a few mantises that block the wheel of history is perfectly normal.

Indeed, that is the case.

Once life and death were clearly distinguished by Nüwa, the operation of Honghuang also became smoother.

The dead no longer occupy the living's space, allowing certain resources to be used more reasonably……For humanity, this is still quite useful.

Therefore, Nüwa's actions are in line with the prevailing trend and beneficial to heaven, earth, and humanity.

Because it aligns with the trend, Nüwa is unstoppable! At this moment, not a single Great Luo dares to step forward and stand against her.

Hongjun does not dare.

Di Jun also does not dare.

Cang……then he dares even less.

Whoever dares to step forward, Nüwa dares to kill him and sacrifice to the flag! Such slaughter, humanity will not criticize.

To die then is to die in vain, purely giving away one's head.

Therefore, all the gods each keep to themselves, with no one stepping forward at this moment to 'plead for the ghosts.'

Such 'nitpickers' cannot be tolerated! Thus, the three thousand Great Luo watched coldly, whether supporters or opponents of Nüwa, all maintaining a relatively silent state.

As long as Nüwa walks the path beneficial to Honghuang, her road ahead has no formidable obstacles; whether support or opposition, to her they are like passing clouds, not worth mentioning.

Even if one is as strong as Hongjun, the strategies he can employ now are merely flattery to kill!

And these gods and spirits……

Although they possess some cultivation, facing the sweeping trend they stretched out their mantis arms, wanting to struggle a bit……but what could they change?

They could change nothing.

No need for Nüwa to act personally.

The vision of the samsara she reshaped, that flash of divine light separating life and death, swept away these remnants of past ages in one fell swoop!

A flash of divine light swept by, and life and death were no longer in one's control.

If Nüwa merely stirred a hint of killing intent, they would all turn to a handful of calamitous ash, never to exist again.

Fortunately.

They ought to be grateful.

Nüwa is a rare conscience among the innate divinities, ranking high on the virtue list, her personal character outstanding; she does not share her brother's decisive slaughter, and when ruthlessness is called for, she is more merciless than anyone.

Thus, those gods and spirits were condensed in the divine light and did not perish.

Afterwards.

In the blink of an eye, a new heaven and earth.

At the same time, another wondrous vision burst forth and shone in the Honghuang universe, dazzling the eyes of the world.

The reshaping of samsara——

the Netherworld Ghost Realm!

……

A vast dark world exists beyond all realms, being the interior and exterior of the True Spirit Sea.

In that world lies the deepest darkness and the utter stillness of decay; myriad ages have sunk therein, as if anything could be buried.

Whether time or space, here they all head toward their end, returning to eternal stillness.

This, then, is one of Honghuang's great secret realms, a pure land of death, the grave of 'existence,' called the Nine Nethers! The domain of the Nine Nethers lies beneath the seabed of the Sea of Blood and is two sides of the same coin with the vast sea of True Spirits.

Formerly, the reincarnation mechanism worked thus: when living beings died, their souls were drawn by the law of reincarnation, and under the unified system of the Sea of Blood, the Nine Nethers, and the True Spirit Sea, they underwent complete dissolution.

The Nine Abysses, where the lives of sinking sentient beings go, is a system of erasure.

The Sea of Blood holds the lingering intense obsessions and emotions.

The ocean of true spirits is the final destination for materials and the supplier for new life.

Today, Nüwa wages great war on reincarnation; how could this secret realm of the Nine Abysses escape?

Also drawn in! "Boom—"

Houtu's dharma manifestation, with a casual palm, caused this heaven and earth to collapse and explode.

Previously, the Nine Abysses' laws, rules, and procedures were all utterly destroyed at this moment.

Then followed a dazzling light that split Chaos, reconstructed yin and yang, shone across Honghuang, like a scroll slowly unfurling, revealing to all beings the most magnificent scene, a wondrous sight of reincarnation remade.

Transforming the Nine Abysses into the Netherworld, becoming a brand-new realm for the souls of the dead to dwell.

Changing heaven and earth?

No, this is already opening heaven and earth! It is myth! It is legend! At this moment, Nüwa's divine might is boundless, becoming the brightest star in the Wu–Demon era.

Her heroic bearing shocked and moved the gods.

"My sister Nüwa truly bears the likeness of Pangu." In the Heavenly Court, even Xihuang could not help but admit this, "If only you would obey a little more, that would be good."

"Alas…"

Xihuang fell silent.

……

The opening of the Netherworld is part of Nüwa's reincarnation renewal and underworld establishment strategy, and also her explanation to old souls and new ghosts, a pure land for their dwelling.

With this "Netherworld Ghost Domain," souls have a place to return, greatly enriching the world of the dead, leaving a plot of land for the special life circle that will surely form a sufficient massive scale.

Likewise.

This also reflects a small thought of Nüwa—in the Wu–Demon decisive battle, this realm will provide the Wu Clan with sufficient strategic depth and a sufficiently vast logistical base.

To this end, she exerted all her strength, strenuously opening the Netherworld, expanding it with all her might.

Taking advantage of having power in hand, with full support from the Human Dao, she gave it her all… Miss this village, and there will be no such shop!

Before Pangu, she would never again have such an opportunity.

So now, Nüwa fully exercises her creation divine power, creating something from nothing, creating all things.

At the same time, she casually reached out and scooped a portion of Honghuang heaven and earth into her own 'bowl'.

Having power but not using it leads to expiration and invalidation.

Reincarnation renewal, Human Dao support, special matters handled specially…

Then she would not be polite!

A single sword splits the heavens; the Heavenly River surges, drawn by it, pouring down.

A single sword pierces the earth; the Sea of Blood rolls, controlled by it, flowing endlessly.

Remaking reincarnation—

Azure heavens and Yellow Springs!

The Heavenly River and the Sea of Blood merge together, then, through Nüwa's wondrous creation, become an extraordinary river—

Wangchuan!

Wangchuan flows throughout the Netherworld, connecting all places.

This both enriches the terrain, preventing the Netherworld from being overly barren and shabby, and also contains a special purpose.

From Wangchuan, one can directly enter the Heavenly River and rush to attack the Heavenly Court headquarters.

Divine soldiers suddenly appear, impossible to defend against! This is the eruption of Nüwa's long-held resentment—being looked down upon from above by the Heavenly Court, the Wu Clan's key territories faintly lie under the cover of the Stellar Dipper Grand Formation, letting her have enough! Seizing the opportunity, she justifiably plants a stake; who knows when, she will dispatch troops along this little path to stab through and raze the Heavenly Court's old nest.

Even if it cannot be torn down.

It can also force the Demon Race side to dispatch heavy troops to guard, dispersing their main fighting strength.

As for saying… will this main route be used by the Heavenly Court? That is impossible.

Because as the opener of the Netherworld, Nüwa now wields authority akin to Pangu's, possessing sufficient privilege to set rules! For the use of this road, various rules are established, wholly favoring her side, making it easy to defend and hard to attack.

At the same time, this also counts as an explanation to the Nether River.

The Nether River Demon Ancestor intends to contend for heaven and earth… Nüwa is aware of this.

Her heart is also great, very tolerant.

Nether River, you want to contend? Good! I give you this opportunity and condition!

This road, you may use, to break the strategic disadvantage of the Asura clan.

The Sea of Blood connects to Wangchuan, then turns to the Heavenly River; Azure heavens and Yellow Springs both link, breaking free of shackles to walk the golden scales.

From then on, it is vast seas and open skies! Of course, in this Nüwa played a little trick…

After all, the door… is opened toward the Heavenly Court side; whether the Wu Clan stirs or the Asura clan sends troops, the one who should most worry has always been the Demon Race.

As expected.

The Heavenly Emperor rubbed his forehead and let out a deep sigh.

"So, I hate those permission‑seeking dogs the most."

Nüwa's actions are not concealed in the slightest; the cat‑nip of Wangchuan, Di Jun naturally sees it clearly.

But understanding is understanding.

Some things do not improve just because you understand them.

On the contrary.

One must still worry and be on guard.

Even if Nüwa never uses this little path for a surprise attack, as long as it exists for a day, the Heavenly Court's ministers will forever have a thorn in their hearts that cannot be pulled out.

The aspect that disgusts people is remarkably effective.

"Taiyi." Di Jun instructed Donghuang, "Go notify the Heavenly River Navy; be more vigilant during garrison duty, and also construct a defensive line."

I'll have the related military funds ready for you later.

Understood.

Taiyi nodded.

He had little worry in his eyes, instead full of fighting spirit; he seemed eager to have a match with the Wu Clan in this regard, to decide superiority.

Unafraid of battle, not avoiding it, meeting difficulties head-on, brave in combat.

Compared to the many worried officials of the Heavenly Court at this moment, he stands out uniquely.

PS: Updated seven thousand words... condition recovered well.

(End of chapter)