Chapter 205: 205. Chapter 205: Breaking into the Underworld, Fighting Tongbi Again

205. Chapter 205: Breaking into the Underworld, Fighting Tongbi Again

In a daze, Tongbi Yuanhou felt as if his soul had left his body, his entire being plummeting abruptly toward a certain place.

When he opened his eyes again, he discovered that the surrounding environment had undergone a drastic change.

In the distance, an ancient city radiated an endless aura of the netherworld.

Looking at the three characters "Youdu City" on the city wall, a sense of displeasure rose in his heart.

"Youdu City, isn't that the nether Underworld?"

Tongbi Yuanhou murmured, only to hear the sound of iron chains on his body; the Soul-Hooking Lock was hooked into his shoulder blades, dragging on the ground and making a clinking, clanking echo.

Beside him, the black and white figures of Hei Wuchang and Bai Wuchang had cold expressions, dragging him toward the city.

At this moment, Tongbi Yuanhou still felt his mind in a haze, subconsciously following the two ghost messengers into the city.

Youdu City, also called Fengdu City, was the Yincao Difu that the common people in the mortal realm spoke of.

It was a mysterious place shrouded in an atmosphere of endless gloom and terror.

Stepping into this dark Domain, a scent of decay and death rushed toward him, as if even the air were recounting ancient horror stories.

In the overcast sky, dark clouds gathered, churning with a darkness like ink, as if a terrifying storm could descend at any moment. Thick fog permeated the surroundings; this fog coiled around everything like Gui Mei, making it difficult to see the scene ahead and adding to the unknown fear.

The ancient city walls stood there, their mottled traces telling of the vicissitudes of time. The runes on the walls flickered with an eerie light, as if they were cursed symbols radiating evil power. These runes seemed to be guarding this gloomy city, yet also seemed to be tempting people to fall into an endless abyss of darkness.

The streets in the city were narrow and winding, the bluestone-paved road surface covered in cracks, with weeds growing in the gaps, adding a sense of desolation to this gloomy place.

The buildings on both sides of the street were dilapidated, some even collapsed, revealing rotting wood and broken bricks inside. These buildings seemed like ruins forgotten by Time, emitting a suffocating, decaying odor.

And Hei Wuchang and Bai Wuchang, this pair of soul-hooking messengers of the Underworld, were even more daunting. Bai Wuchang was tall and slender, his face as pale as paper, without a hint of blood, as if he were a zombie that had crawled out of a grave. His eyes were hollow and lifeless, yet they seemed capable of seeing through a person's soul, making one feel a bone-chilling cold under his gaze. A strange smile hung on the corners of his mouth, a smile that revealed an unspeakable gloom and terror.

Bai Wuchang wore a robe as white as snow, embroidered with black runes and eerie patterns; as he walked, the robe fluttered in the wind, appearing even more sinister and terrifying. In his hand, he held a long Mourning Stick, which was embedded with flickering light, as if it were absorbing people's souls.

Hei Wuchang formed a sharp contrast with Bai Wuchang; he was burly and sturdy, his skin as dark as charcoal, radiating a thick aura of death. The expression on his face was serious and cold, full of majesty. His eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, making one afraid to meet his gaze. His mouth was tightly shut, as if ready to devour everything.

Hei Wuchang wore a black robe embroidered with white runes and terrifying patterns, giving one a sense of heavy oppression. In his hand, he held a black chain that flickered with cold light, as if waiting to drag people into the abyss of hell.

Along the way, by the Bridge of Helplessness, the water of the River of Oblivion surged and churned, emitting bursts of chilling whistling sounds. The buildings of the Underworld were ancient and dilapidated, as if bearing the grievances and pain of countless years. The runes on the walls appeared and disappeared, radiating mysterious power, attempting to suppress all the evil spirits here.

However, today the Underworld had welcomed an uninvited guest, and the atmosphere of the entire Underworld became even more gloomy and terrifying, as if a great disaster could descend at any moment.

After a long while, Tongbi Yuanhou saw the legendary Ox-Head and Horse-Face. These two jailers of the Underworld were also chilling.

Ox-Head, with the body of a man and the head of an ox, had two huge horns on his head, curved like hooks, as if they could pierce through anything. His eyes were as large as copper bells, flickering with fierce light, making one shudder. His mouth was wide open, revealing sharp teeth, as if ready to devour someone at any time.

Ox-Head's body was massive and strong, full of power. His skin was a dark gray, covered in wrinkles and scars, as if he had experienced the baptism of countless battles. He wore a tattered suit of armor, embedded with iron plates and nails, giving a sense of being indestructible.

Horse-Face, with the body of a man and the head of a horse, had a ferocious face, like an evil ghost. He had the head of a horse, and hot air puffed from his nostrils, making one feel nauseated. His eyes flickered with green light, like the gaze of a wild beast, making one feel an inexplicable fear under his stare.

Horse-Face's body was covered in a layer of black hair, like the fur of a beast, giving a wild feeling. He wore a black robe embroidered with red flames and terrifying patterns, giving a sense of burning terror.

When he stepped into Yama Hall, his gaze met that of the Yama sitting at the very top.

King Yama, the ruler of the Underworld! His entire aura radiated a sense of majesty.

He sat upright on the throne, draped in a black robe embroidered with golden runes and gorgeous patterns, shining with light. His face was handsome and majestic, yet it revealed a cold and ruthless aura. His eyes were as deep as the stars, making one sink into them, unable to extricate oneself.

A ruby was embedded in King Yama's forehead, flickering with mysterious light, as if it were controlling all destiny. His hair was as black as ink, draped casually over his shoulders, giving a sense of unruliness. His beard was as white as silver silk, hanging neatly over his chest, further adding to his majesty.

His hands had distinct knuckles and slender fingers, as if ready to cast a spell at any moment. A powerful pressure radiated from his body, making one not dare to have the slightest disrespect in his presence.

Below King Yama, a group of Underworld ghost messengers surrounded him, holding various weapons, standing in battle formation.

The faces of these ghost messengers were equally filled with fear and ferocity, making one shudder. Eerie light flickered in their eyes, as if they were waiting for orders, ready to punish those who offended the Underworld at any time.

In Yincao Difu, it was shrouded in a gloomy aura all year round. Dim light radiated from the ghostly fires all around, barely illuminating this eerie space.

After Tongbi Yuanhou was hooked into Yincao Difu, his face was full of anger and unwillingness. He wore a black robe, and angry light flickered in his eyes.

At this moment, he had completely sobered up.

Tongbi Yuanhou immediately shouted loudly: "Where is this! Where are you taking me!"

"This is Yincao Difu!" Hei Wuchang and Bai Wuchang said in a sinister tone: "Tongbi Yuanhou, hurry up!"

"How preposterous!" Tongbi Yuanhou shook his hands violently, directly breaking free from the restraints of Hei Wuchang and Bai Wuchang.

He turned around abruptly, and with an angry face, said to Hei Wuchang and Bai Wuchang: "You even dare to hook the soul of me, Tongbi Yuanhou!"

"If you don't want me to wreak havoc in the Underworld, let me return to the mortal realm immediately!"

Tongbi Yuanhou pulled with both hands, and the Soul-Hooking Lock on his shoulder blades was snapped directly by him.

This level of soul-restricting Dharma Treasure could not imprison his magic power at all.

"Tongbi Yuanhou, you pulled out the Bohai Heaven-Supporting Pillar, causing millions of living beings to die, generating boundless karma; you are no longer qualified to become an immortal or a Buddha!"

King Yama sat high on the hall, looking at Tongbi Yuanhou seriously, and said loudly: "You influenced Sun Wukong and the others in their journey to the Western Heaven, causing all living beings to suffer more sinking, having committed too many sins. Today, I shall remove your immortal status, cast you into the demon status, and let you suffer the pain of mortal reincarnation!"

King Yama waved his large hand, directly erasing Tongbi Yuanhou's immortal status in the Life and Death Book Reincarnation Disk in his hand, and cast him into the demon realm.

In an instant, the immortal power and Buddha power on Tongbi Yuanhou's body dissipated, replaced by a monstrous demonic power.

The moment this demonic power surged out, it directly gave King Yama on the high hall a fright.

"A world-shocking great demon!"

Looking at Tongbi Yuanhou, he could not help but murmur, "It's over now."

Upon hearing this, Tongbi Yuanhou was instantly furious and roared: "I don't accept this! On what grounds do you say I influenced that Sun Wukong? What virtue or ability does he have to go to the Western Heaven to obtain scriptures? In what way is I, Tongbi Yuanhou, inferior to him!"

Having said that, his figure flashed, instantly appearing before King Yama, and he swung his fist at King Yama. Seeing this, the Underworld ghost messengers picked up their weapons and rushed up, attempting to stop Tongbi Yuanhou.

Tongbi Yuanhou was not afraid in the slightest; he unleashed powerful spells, his figure weaving through the crowd of ghost messengers like a Gui Mei.

Every move and style of his carried powerful force, beating the ghost messengers until they cried for their parents. Some ghost messengers were sent flying by his punch, crashing into the walls, causing cracks to appear on the walls instantly; others were hit by his spells and immediately turned into wisps of green smoke and dissipated.

The more Tongbi Yuanhou fought, the angrier he became. Seeing the Life and Death Book on the side and thinking of how Sun Wukong had once destroyed the Life and Death Book, the fire of jealousy in his heart burned even more fiercely.

He lunged forward, picked up the Life and Death Book, and tore it with force; the Life and Death Book was instantly torn into shreds.

A series of shrill screams suddenly rang out in the Underworld, as if the souls recorded in the Life and Death Book were wailing in pain.

While fighting, Tongbi Yuanhou shouted: "Sun Wukong can destroy the Life and Death Book, why can't I, Tongbi Yuanhou! I do not accept this injustice of heaven and earth, I do not accept that Sun Wukong suppresses me everywhere!"

King Yama said in terror: "Tongbi Yuanhou, you are acting against heaven, you will surely suffer divine retribution!"

Tongbi Yuanhou laughed loudly: "Heavenly condemnation? I, Tongbi Yuanhou, am not afraid! Today, I will let you all see that I am a hundred times stronger than that Sun Wukong!"

Just at this moment, Tongbi Yuanhou saw the Heaven-Supporting Pillar of the Bohai Sea; that Heaven-Supporting Pillar radiated powerful strength.

He brandished the Heaven-Supporting Pillar like a god of war, and wherever he went, the ghost messengers fell one after another. The power of the Heaven-Supporting Pillar was too great; every swing stirred up a powerful current of air, and the buildings of the Underworld collapsed continuously under this force.

In the process of wreaking havoc in the Underworld, the jealousy in Tongbi Yuanhou's heart toward Sun Wukong grew increasingly intense.

As he fought, he thought: "That Sun Wukong is nothing but a wild monkey; why is it that he can receive the reverence of the masses and go to the Western Heaven to retrieve scriptures, while I, Tongbi Yuanhou, strive for goodness yet end up in such a state? I am not resigned; I must defeat Sun Wukong and let everyone know that I, Tongbi Yuanhou, am the truly most powerful one!"

This feeling of jealousy burned in his heart like a flame, making his behavior become even more frantic and irritable.

Terrifying demonic Qi filled the entire Underworld, and those ghosts wandering in Fengdu City cheered completely at this moment.

Some old ghosts even remembered that five hundred years ago, in this nether Underworld, a similar scene seemed to have appeared as well.

Beneath the Yama Hall, the nineteenth layer of the Underworld.

Ksitigarbha looked up at the space above, silently turning the Buddhist beads at his fingertips.

"The World Honored One truly has a good plan!"

"The Four Great Spiritual Monkeys between heaven and earth all belong to the Buddhist sect."

"Once the Four Great Spiritual Monkeys grow up, each one is a top-tier existence."

He sighed and silently murmured in a low voice, "Amitabha."

Unlike the wailing in the Underworld, among the mountains, Huangmei Laozu sat cross-legged in silence at the place he had originally agreed upon with Tongbi Yuanhou.

He felt the increasingly full demonic Qi on his body, and his face suddenly wrinkled into a bitter melon.

"Sigh, it's over, it's over."

"Now that I have fallen into the demon world, I have completely become a demon."

"I can never go back!"

He murmured aloud, looking in the direction where the Great Hall of Maitreya Buddha was in the sky, and said somewhat distractedly: "I don't know if my junior brother will still recognize me as his senior brother if he sees me in this state."

Just at this moment, he felt a heaven-shaking demonic Qi, countless times more terrifying than his own, suddenly appear in this place! The moment this demonic Qi appeared, Huangmei Laozu felt as if the entire world had been instantly enveloped by demonic Qi.

"What kind of great demon is it that is actually so terrifying!"

Huangmei's brows were tightly locked, yet he sensed a familiar aura within this demonic Qi.

That was the aura belonging exclusively to his own junior brother!

"Junior brother! Junior brother!" He shouted toward the surroundings.

"Senior brother, are you calling me?"

Suddenly, Tongbi Yuanhou's voice sounded behind him.

Huangmei Laozu's heart jolted; Tongbi Yuanhou had arrived behind him silently, yet he had not discovered the slightest abnormality.

When he turned around and saw Tongbi Yuanhou's appearance, he was even more startled.

Before they parted, although Tongbi Yuanhou's injuries had not yet fully healed, his brows were permeated with the power of immortals and Buddhas, and the monkey looked heroic and spirited.

But at this time, Tongbi Yuanhou was surrounded by dense demonic Qi that was about to condense into substance.

This made him recall the words spoken by that Wanyao Queen in the Wanyao Kingdom! Tongbi Yuanhou's demonic nature was astonishing; if he became a demon, he would certainly be a heaven-shaking great demon!

"Junior brother, how did you end up in this state?" Huangmei Laozu asked with some confusion: "How did you also fall into the demonic path?"

Tongbi Yuanhou laughed loudly, "I pulled out the Heaven-Supporting Pillar at the Bohai Dragon Palace as a weapon, stirring up ten thousand zhang of floodwaters."

"Bai Wuchang dragged me down to the Yincao Difu, and King Yama erased my immortal registry!"

"He cast me into the demon registry!"

"I was not resigned, so I wreaked havoc in the Yincao Difu and forcibly struck my name from the Life and Death Book!"

Upon hearing this, Huangmei Laozu felt a chill in his heart.

It was over; now there was truly no going back.

And now, they were likely already ordered to be captured by the immortals and Buddhas.

"By the way, senior brother, how did you also become a demon?" Tongbi Yuanhou looked at the demonic Qi permeating from Huangmei Laozu's body and asked with some confusion: "Did you obtain the Wanyao Golden Core?"

Upon hearing this, Huangmei Laozu's gaze swept over Tongbi Yuanhou's body, and finally, he stared at him and said cautiously: "Junior brother, tell me the truth, do you have a thing with that Wanyao Queen?" (End of chapter)