Chapter 296

Before he died, Zhao Yi didn't pay much attention to his own appearance in death.

Because in his heart, he was still shocked by that operation performed by the one surnamed Li.

In the past, he had only heard of "breaking ground on the head of Tai Sui," but today, Young Master Zhao witnessed something even more extreme,

called:

Changing the lock before the Ghost Gate Pass.

At that moment, Zhao Yi really wanted to pick up Runsheng's shovel and crack open the head of the one surnamed Li to take a closer look.

This was no longer a question of whether a normal person would dare to do it, but that a normal person wouldn't even imagine such an operation was possible.

Zhao Yi's greatest regret before dying was probably that he couldn't stay alive to continue witnessing the final development of the situation.

At this moment, the black shadow also asked the same question; his voice was warm, like a benevolent teacher.

It was as if the previous disregard and indifference were merely the manifestation of a stern teacher, hoping his disciple wouldn't rely on his master for everything, so that he could become stronger and more independent, even though the disciple was currently almost melting into a puddle.

"How did you think of doing this?"

"Because I believe you, Master, can win."

This wasn't flattery; it was the honest answer.

It is difficult to fully control the specific dynamic details of how things develop, especially when it involves the level of "gods fighting."

Li Zhuiyuan couldn't predict the specific fighting process of the two "gods" in advance, so he could only grasp the key nodes.

Based on the belief that the Great Emperor had a better chance of winning, the layout only needed to follow this line of thought.

The Great Emperor would win, the Bodhisattva would lose; he didn't know how the Great Emperor would win, nor did he know how the Bodhisattva would lose, but in the end... the Great Emperor who won would definitely go home.

The train of thought suddenly became clear.

The complex problem of "gods fighting" was instantly simplified to "you must close the door when you go home."

Xue Liangliang was a backup move Li Zhuiyuan had arranged.

Old Zhai's real-world identity and the figure behind him were already exposed at that time; the Great Emperor had been laying out plans with Old Zhai for so long, he must have had some goal, and Old Zhai, without even knowing it himself, had ordered Zheng Hua to prepare the reporter introduction booklet.

At first, not taking this reporter identity was probably out of concern that taking over early would cause too much karma turbulence, fearing the Bodhisattva would perceive it, but in the end, it definitely had to be taken.

Letting Xue Liangliang help get stuck at that point allowed him to demand some compensation from the Great Emperor in advance, so that he and his partners wouldn't just be dismissed with a basic wage (keeping their lives).

Of course, Xue Liangliang's performance indeed exceeded Li Zhuiyuan's expectations.

Li Zhuiyuan truly didn't expect that Brother Liangliang could be so strong, being able to hold on for so long when facing the Great Emperor's shadow.

This was an unexpected joy.

But when formulating the plan, one cannot treat such uncontrollable variables as constants; it could only be a case of "hitting the tree three times whether there are dates or not."

The real trump card still had to be held in one's own hands.

Only in this way could he ensure his final gains.

Black Shadow: "You child, you really have a lot of little thoughts."

Li Zhuiyuan: "Isn't it because you spoiled me, Master?"

Things could have been less complicated.

Even if the Great Emperor did nothing and gave nothing, Li Zhuiyuan was determined to stand on the Great Emperor's side to deal with the Bodhisattva.

This decision was made long ago; when the teenager sent Zhao Yi and Runsheng back to break the situation, he hadn't thought about extracting extra benefits from the Great Emperor.

There was no way around it; he had truly witnessed what happens to those who act as the Bodhisattva's white glove. After using you, the Bodhisattva would even find you dirty, fearing your existence would affect His pure reputation, and would destroy you after use.

The Great Emperor, at least, was truly not angry and didn't care.

Just like when the black shadow walked past him just now, they just throw you away after use.

But it just so happened that the Great Emperor, while in the guesthouse, deliberately let him hear that phrase "lineal disciple."

In this world, no one is omniscient, omnipotent, and perfect; even the Heavenly Dao was once severely deceived and toyed with by Wei Zhengdao, and to this day has developed post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Great Emperor's superfluous action was His biggest flaw, breaking the silent tacit understanding between the two sides.

It should be that for the things he did before, even if the Great Emperor wasn't truly angry, He should have frowned and been disgusted.

The Great Emperor truly didn't dare to give him the recognition of an official disciple, didn't dare to openly increase his permissions.

When you start calculating against me, then I can also calculate against you; after all, you were the one who started it.

Black Shadow: "Disciple, you performed very well this time; as your master, I must reward you well."

The conversation proceeded very briefly, with a very obvious sense of rhythm and purpose.

Li Zhuiyuan's face was too thin and too tight at this moment, so he really couldn't show the shy smile he was accustomed to.

But the teenager still said very sincerely:

"A disciple helping his master is a matter of course; I dare not ask for a reward."

After saying this, the teenager couldn't help but recall the sentence Li Lan had once said to him over the phone:

"Li Zhuiyuan, you make me feel sick."

The teenager himself felt that what he said was very disgusting, but he was deliberately trying to disgust the Great Emperor.

By comparison, the dog testicles Zhao Yi sent were truly of a lower grade.

True anger would be finding a way to transmit a dharma decree from afar to directly annihilate the Jiujiang Zhao, rather than "performing anger" with you.

The black shadow's hands became further solidified.

He placed his hands behind his back.

At this moment, the Great Emperor truly felt killing intent.

At the same time, the black shadow's eyes became even brighter.

He had lived for so long; at his stage, there were very few things that could make him angry, but it also made him feel increasingly fresh, like a small pebble thrown into a pool of stagnant water.

The black shadow walked toward Li Zhuiyuan, came before the teenager, and slowly squatted down.

Li Zhuiyuan just watched him like that, watching how he walked over and how he walked back.

The one before him was the Great Emperor's shadow; perhaps it was unwise to provoke the Great Emperor's anger at this moment, but Li Zhuiyuan did it anyway.

Because it was exciting and interesting, just like when he first opened the books in his great-grandfather's basement and came into contact with the Xuan Sect.

"The reward that should be given must still be given; this is the rule."

Only those who can sit at the table to eat are qualified to talk about table etiquette.

The dog under the table only deserves to eat the meat that falls from the chopsticks.

"Master, then may I speak?"

"Speak, your master is listening."

The black shadow raised his hand and gently stroked the teenager's head, not daring to use force, fearing that if he were careless, he would pull off the teenager's already floating scalp.

"Master, originally I only wanted one thing in my heart, now I have two."

"Speak, child."

"I want Mengmeng."

Mengmeng was not within Li Zhuiyuan's demands at first, and the teenager didn't expect that after Yin Meng died, she didn't return to the truck with everyone else but disappeared.

Although Li Zhuiyuan didn't know the Great Emperor's purpose in "taking back" Yin Meng, Yin Meng was his partner.

If everyone returned and found Yin Meng hadn't come back, his great-grandfather would nag.

Black Shadow: "Good, then what about the second one?"

"Master, your disciple hasn't performed the official apprenticeship ceremony yet."

The black shadow's gaze became almost tangible, hitting the teenager.

Li Zhuiyuan looked straight into his gaze, not dodging under this pressure.

The teenager knew that the Great Emperor had been avoiding this matter.

The Great Emperor knew what he really wanted, but the Great Emperor just wasn't willing to give it.

Standing from the Great Emperor's position, when there was reality but no name, this kid could already bring Him so much trouble and karma; if he were truly made legitimate, then this Huang Quan... would become too lively.

He didn't even know how many things he would be dragged into, helping this kid clean up his mess!

Most importantly, this kid was heavily focused on by the Heavenly Dao.

The Great Emperor most detested the gaze from the Heavenly Dao.

If He truly gave an official master-disciple relationship, given this kid's terrifying ability to drag others into things, if one day this kid went crazy and fought the Heavenly Dao, He would inevitably be unable to stay out of it.

Li Zhuiyuan was quietly waiting for the Great Emperor's consent.

Yes, the teenager was certain that the Great Emperor would inevitably agree.

Because if it dragged on any longer... the Bodhisattva who had just been dragged down might just run back out!

By then, the fruits of victory that the Great Emperor had painstakingly laid out and already harvested would be washed away.

Li Zhuiyuan was able to change the lock successfully by relying on his strongest formation attainments and the brains he and Zhao Yi had both drained, but the fundamental reason was still here: Li Zhuiyuan had obtained the permission tacitly allowed by the Great Emperor.

Li Zhuiyuan could change this lock, so the Great Emperor could definitely change it back.

But the problem now was that after the Great Emperor's main body pulled the Bodhisattva into the Ghost Gate, He might be implementing a seal, or He might have fallen into a deep sleep after paying a huge price; in short, He temporarily lacked the ability to act again.

And the Great Emperor's shadow before him lacked the ability to complete this task; his mission was to attach himself to Old Zhai, and overly strong strength would instead become an unnecessary burden, having a negative effect.

What Li Zhuiyuan grasped was this time gap.

The black shadow smiled and said:

"Indeed, your master still owes you an initiation ceremony."

"Thank you, Master."

"Close the door first."

"Good."

Logically speaking, one should pay and deliver the goods at the same time.

But Li Zhuiyuan was willing to deliver the goods first and then take the money.

He believed in the Great Emperor's promise, and he could only believe it; after all, if the Great Emperor truly wanted to go back on His word, even if the money and goods were cleared, the Great Emperor could still overturn the account afterward.

"3765, 8249, 5612..."

Li Zhuiyuan reported a string of numbers.

The black shadow stood up, facing the Ghost Gate.

Ripples appeared before him, striking toward the Ghost Gate.

Once a clear path appeared, solving the problem of the Ghost Gate was very simple.

But if there weren't these numbers representing the formation points, with his ability, he couldn't complete it in a short time, and he lacked the strength to smash the Ghost Gate shut with one punch.

"Crack..."

The Ghost Gate, which was in a static state, began to close again.

Black Shadow: "A very good method, the effect is very good."

Li Zhuiyuan: "You probably won't take on any more disciples."

Black Shadow: "Does it matter?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "So as a closing disciple, being good at closing doors is also very normal."

The black shadow's fist became solidified again.

Killing intent surfaced once more.

But this time, there was no need to hide it.

The fist soon loosened.

Daring to disgust Him before completing the transaction was understandable;

but daring to tease Him even after completing the transaction.

This made the black shadow appreciate him very much.

He didn't want this thorny disciple, but since he had promised, he didn't want his disciple to lose face for him outside.

A disciple could die outside, but he had to die with dignity.

Immediately following, the black shadow walked behind Li Zhuiyuan; he became illusory again, his body slowly leaned forward, and finally, he merged into Li Zhuiyuan's shadow.

"Hiss..."

A violent pain struck, and Li Zhuiyuan perceived a force pushing him to stand up.

The teenager felt that he was now like a spring couplet at the end of the year, forcibly torn off from the door frame, with the process also mixed with using a small knife to constantly scrape away the remaining traces.

But such severe injury and intense sharp pain didn't kill him; his brain became even clearer.

The black shadow took a step, and Li Zhuiyuan also took a step; at this time, the black shadow had fully mastered control of Li Zhuiyuan's body.

This wasn't the usual consciousness entry or possession, but pure external force assistance.

Li Zhuiyuan actually hoped the other party would take the traditional route, so he could avoid this sharp pain; now, it wasn't him moving, but the pain all fell on his perception.

One step, one blood print, with pus flowing behind, as if peeling off jelly and rolling it back and forth on a gravel ground.

Li Zhuiyuan walked toward the Ghost Gate and, before the Ghost Gate closed, walked inside.

"Master, why come inside?"

"Because, one must come inside."

When he was outside before, Li Zhuiyuan observed the Ghost Gate and felt it was more like a crack; the fact was indeed so. As soon as he entered, the teenager perceived the raging gale here, which was actually filled with the Qi of Proper Yang.

You must know, this kind of aura is the nemesis of ghosts; the vast majority of ghosts would dissipate upon touching it.

If he hadn't come in personally, who could have imagined that the layout behind the Ghost Gate was actually like this.

But thinking about it carefully, it wasn't strange.

The one who established the Huang Quan was the Fengdu Great Emperor.

With the Great Emperor Himself sitting in command, there was naturally no need to worry about external enemies invading; instead, one had to consider the little ghosts inside sneaking out.

The howling gale here wasn't used for external defense, but for internal suppression.

Of course, there should have been a special passage here for Yin messengers to enter and exit normally, but it couldn't be seen now; it should have been erased in the previous entanglement between the Great Emperor and the Bodhisattva by the power overflowing from the two.

After traveling through the long gale-raging zone, Li Zhuiyuan was finally able to formally enter the Huang Quan.

Which is the... Huang Quan of the Huang Quan in myths and legends.

Li Zhuiyuan had once seen a magnificent underground building under Mount Yulongxue; the zombie that had self-suppressed under the high tower wanted to imitate the Fengdu Great Emperor and build its own terrestrial divine kingdom here.

However, without comparison, there is no harm.

Under Mount Yulongxue, it could only be called a majestic and gorgeous underground palace complex, while what was placed before the teenager's eyes now was a new world in the true sense.

It should have boundaries; there is no such thing as truly boundless in this world, but the perception it gave you, your gaze, your ears, including the probing from yourself, could not reach its edge zone.

Ahead was a giant pit; this space was like a piece of bread, forcibly dug open from the middle.

Its predecessor should have been an extremely special environment, a secret realm, finally settled in by Yin Changsheng, who built it into his own Daoist arena.

Because, if the scene before him had been created by the Great Emperor Himself from the initial state, then the Great Emperor's power would be somewhat unimaginable, and He wouldn't need to take down the Bodhisattva by way of layout.

The position Li Zhuiyuan was standing in now was the middle position on the opposite side; directly ahead was a huge platform, like a square that was difficult to measure with specific data.

There should have been many buildings on the platform, but now, it was a ruin, incomparably dead and silent.

There was a rich sense of absurdity; you had clearly entered the "Huang Quan," yet here, you couldn't even see a single ghost.

Yet this place was recognized by the world as the place with the most ghosts.

Moreover, there was no feeling of ghostly aura; instead, the air felt fresh.

Li Zhuiyuan's lungs had long since fibrosed, yet he could still experience a hint of coolness here.

The ghosts on the platform had been completely erased just now, and even the ghostly aura here had been purified.

No need to think much, that must be the Bodhisattva's influence, and the Bodhisattva was definitely not voluntary.

Looking at the completely destroyed buildings on the platform and those terrifying gullies, the teenager could mentally reconstruct how the Bodhisattva was thrown here and then forcibly dragged along.

Even if it was "gods fighting," after stripping away the bizarre appearances, it was actually very primitive.

If Li Zhuiyuan hadn't witnessed it with his own eyes, he would have found it hard to believe that the Great Emperor's method of suppressing the Bodhisattva into the Ghost Gate was actually a test of strength with both sides pulling at the door.

Really, even if this scene were told, I'm afraid no one would believe it.

Just like longevity is not as beautiful as imagined, myths and stories also applied too many filters to those existences.

To put it plainly, the only thing that is truly realistic is their power; apart from that, too many things are far-fetched or purely fictional.

The position Li Zhuiyuan was standing in now was one side of the giant pit, while the platform ahead was built on the other side of the giant pit.

It couldn't be said to be built against a mountain, because Li Zhuiyuan had never seen any mountain in reality that could be so towering and high.

The teenager's body was driven by the black shadow and walked forward.

Walking out of the platform, stepping into the air, he didn't fall, but continued to move forward very steadily.

The distance was extremely remote, yet the speed of travel was bizarrely fast.

It didn't feel like he was walking over, but more like the place you wanted to go was actively closing the distance with you.

Originally, the black shadow was just moving forward quietly; he was attached to the teenager.

But as he walked, without stopping his steps, the black shadow's face detached from the teenager's back of the head and came to the teenager's side.

The teenager's gaze was focused on looking downward.

The black shadow looked at the teenager's eyes, then looked below.

He knew what the teenager was doing; he was memorizing and learning his footwork.

Even if the body had melted into mud, as long as there was still one breath left, it couldn't change the teenager's instinct to learn.

Things like "hanging one's head from a beam and stabbing one's thigh with an awl" could be called enjoying comfort in front of the teenager.

An outsider's perspective would definitely deviate from the person himself; the real situation was that Li Zhuiyuan was in too much pain now and had to find a way to divert his attention; learning was a more suitable path, equivalent to giving himself an anesthetic injection.

"Did you learn it?"

"I memorized it."

The reason he didn't learn it was that this couldn't be learned.

He could walk this footwork now because the black shadow was attached to his back, helping him shave off the pressure.

In reality, relying solely on himself, without having practiced martial arts, if he rashly walked this footwork, he would soon be crushed into blood.

However, it wasn't that there was no compromise method; it had to be modified.

After modification, it couldn't be used for traveling, as that would still be unbearable, but it could be used for short-distance rapid movement in a short time.

At this time, Li Zhuiyuan had already walked to the empty central area.

As the distance closed, things that couldn't be seen when viewed from afar also presented themselves.

Above the large platform ahead, there were layers of platforms, not as large as it and shrouded in darkness.

A surging yellow waterfall fell from the highest point, passing through every platform.

This should be... the Huang Quan.

It's just that this Huang Quan wasn't flowing horizontally, but vertically.

Below, there were also many platforms, more numerous and denser.

Moreover, unlike the upper platforms being shrouded in darkness, these lower platforms had their own colors revealed.

Some had lava flowing, some had steam rising, some had cold light intersecting, and some had boiling waves... the Eighteen Levels of Hell?

Golden light flashed from the deepest part below; the light source was even further below the eighteenth level.

The moment it lit up, it gave Li Zhuiyuan an illusion, as if in the next moment It would rush up from the deepest part.

It's just that this light flickered violently and was suppressed quickly.

The Bodhisattva was right at the very bottom.

The Great Emperor had suppressed the Bodhisattva in the deepest part of the Huang Quan; in the future, if evil ghosts entered the Huang Quan and the Eighteen Levels of Hell couldn't dissolve them, they would be sent to the Bodhisattva.

After arriving at the huge platform before his eyes, he could more clearly feel the severity of the destruction here, and could also imagine the "noise and bustle" that originally existed here.

Before a cracked altar, the black shadow stopped.

He raised his right hand, which was raising Li Zhuiyuan's right hand.

A force like a clear spring surged into Li Zhuiyuan's parched and decaying body.

"Do you know what to do?"

"I know."

Li Zhuiyuan operated the Twelve Dharma Decrees of Fengdu.

In the center of the damaged altar, ghostly green fire ignited; this was the main platform, and lights also lit up in multiple corners of the large platform, not neatly, because most had been destroyed.

This was a kind of ritual, a recognition of identity.

Before it was destroyed, there should have been countless dead souls here; after the teenager lit the altar, they would collectively kneel and bow to confirm the teenager's identity as the Great Emperor's successor.

Now, hell was empty.

Sure enough, when going through the motions, whether there were spectators outside didn't affect the progress of the process.

After the ritual ended, the black shadow walked off the altar and came before the surging Huang Quan.

Li Zhuiyuan wanted to go down and see; after all, the most exciting part of the Huang Quan must be below.

But the black shadow chose to go upward.

After walking into the upside-down Huang Quan, he instantly lost his sense of direction; clearly it was a waterfall, but at this moment it became a normally flowing large river.

Li Zhuiyuan's feet stepped on the river surface, waves swept and slapped against his sides; before they reached him, they were bounced away, revealing a large number of white bones still with flesh and blood remaining.

Occasionally, the waves were surging, allowing a glimpse into the deeper parts, where crystalline white bones could be seen inside.

Li Zhuiyuan recognized these white bones; they were in the truck.

They seemed to be some kind of substitute, the principle was very similar to puppets, but in essence, they were poles apart.

Li Zhuiyuan believed that the "Book of Life and Death" of the Huang Quan had the ability to make people report to the King of Hell immediately.

He had witnessed it with his own eyes on Zhao Yi during the Three Sticks of Incense; it was more like a terrifying and powerful curse.

But if you said the "Book of Life and Death" could make dead people resurrect on the spot, Li Zhuiyuan wouldn't believe it.

If that were possible, wouldn't it mean that longevity here had become a wholesale price?

The problem should have occurred during the thick fog that everyone experienced while taking the truck to Ghost Street.

At that time, everyone on the truck had already been "replaced," but no one could perceive it.

Those crystalline white bones filling the inside and outside of the truck were like a kind of life conduction.

Li Zhuiyuan had no way of knowing exactly how it was done; he only knew that the real them were actually still in the truck all along, and the dead them were not the real them; this could explain why everyone in the truck was naked, and their luggage, weapons, and equipment were not by their sides.

There was another possibility, which was that the real them had already died, and it was just that their respective souls were collected by the Great Emperor, who re-kneaded new bodies for them.

This possibility was extremely low; the reason it could be listed was that the Great Emperor was powerful enough; His power made this seem somewhat possible.

There was another more extreme conjecture, which was that the so-called real and fake were not fixed, but determined by the Great Emperor's free will.

If the Great Emperor felt you were dead, then even if you were fake, you became real; if the Great Emperor felt you weren't dead, then the real could also become fake.

In short, these ancient existences pursuing longevity each had their own understanding of life and death, and also had taboo means.

What the Great Emperor had revealed so far wasn't particularly exaggerated; at least there were traces to follow, and Li Zhuiyuan could attempt to make a shallow analysis and understanding.

And that big turtle in the depths of the East Sea could even let the real and the fake meet face-to-face, and both believed they were real; that was truly inconceivable.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Eternal life."

"Do you want longevity?"

"I don't want eternal life."

Saying "longevity" was more appropriate, but Li Zhuiyuan had to avoid the taboo of the Venerable.

"Indeed, longevity is not something you need to consider right now."

"Hmm."

"Better find a way to live to adulthood first; It won't allow you to live to adulthood."

"I can perceive it."

"This body of yours has no traces of martial arts practice at all."

"Hmm, I didn't want to overdraw my body in advance; I wanted to wait until adulthood to practice."

"Is it really like that?"

"Otherwise?"

"I thought you were afraid of stimulating It and were deliberately leaving yourself weaknesses."

"I didn't consider that step."

"But you made such a decision based on feeling; survival is a natural instinct.

Longevity is about avoiding Its gaze.

Actually, you are already on the path of pursuing longevity.

And,

you are walking much, much earlier than I was."

"I won't have eternal life."

"People often cannot master the path they want to take; when you are already standing on this path, all you can do is continue walking."

"There is another choice."

"Hmm?"

"Suicide."

The black shadow was silent.

This silence lasted until they walked into the upper platform.

There were ten palace complexes here; although the destruction was also very severe, apart from three being completely submerged, seven main halls were preserved.

The reason those three didn't survive should be that their owners were not inside the halls.

This reminded Li Zhuiyuan of the three-colored light that had once entered the tomb owner's body.

Skipping the three ruins, the black shadow brought Li Zhuiyuan into the first large hall.

The hall was magnificent; not only was the space large, but all the furnishings inside were enlarged versions of those in reality.

Especially the desk and chair in the deepest part, which were simply like small mountains.

On the chair sat a rotting mountain of flesh; it was wriggling, as if trying hard to knead itself back into a human shape.

On the ground were fragments of official robes and a broken crown; seeing these, you could "recognize" what it originally looked like and how majestic it was.

But after the catastrophe of the Bodhisattva being dragged here, what was destroyed wasn't just its palace, but also its appearance.

The rich and terrifying corpse stench, with corpse water constantly surging, was nauseating while also making one feel fear.

Additionally, Li Zhuiyuan also noticed that between its folding and wriggling rotten flesh, iron chains could be seen embedded firmly within.

It was... locked dead on this chair symbolizing power.

Being high above was just a false appearance; the real situation was that it couldn't control its own destiny at all.

Why is it that throughout history, the level of Yin messengers who could come out of the Huang Quan was never high, and judges found it very difficult to appear in the Yang world? That's because the existences with truly high levels in the Huang Quan had no freedom to speak of; they were all suppressed.

If it weren't for the fact that before entering here, this place had been destroyed by the Bodhisattva and the disguise had been torn off, Li Zhuiyuan would have found it hard to imagine that the true reality was actually like this.

At this time, Li Zhuiyuan finally understood why those with extremely high positions in the Huang Quan would choose to secretly stir up trouble behind the Great Emperor's back, and in the end, even go so far as to join forces with the Bodhisattva.

If the Great Emperor treated His subordinates like this, then the subordinates' betrayal was truly too normal.

Back at the Three Sticks of Incense, six out of the ten appeared; the four who didn't act shouldn't have been loyal to the Great Emperor, but afraid of the Great Emperor.

In folk legends, various special meanings were endowed to the ten of them, and even historical celebrities were compared and written into them.

Where could ordinary people imagine that the high-and-mighty Yama Kings were actually living days like this.

Not only were they suppressed forever, but they also had to reorganize the Huang Quan and work for the Great Emperor who personally suppressed them.

The first palace was in this situation, and the next six palaces entered were basically in the same situation.

The only difference was probably that the one in the last palace had more skin on his body; it wasn't just simple wriggling rotten flesh, but like a mended rag bag wriggling there.

These existences were so unlike humans that even Li Zhuiyuan couldn't distinguish which statue in the temple they corresponded to.

After walking through every hall, the black shadow brought Li Zhuiyuan up the Huang Quan again and came to the upper layer.

At this platform, there were five barriers, located in five directions.

The barriers were destroyed, and the mountains and rivers that should have been inside were also ruined; only huge figures, dragging iron chains, were constantly wailing and roaring after being severely injured.

Wherever the black shadow went, that place became quiet and knelt down in submission.

What these huge guys showed wasn't respect and reverence, but extremely simple fear.

Like poor animals facing the thugs who abused them.

And Li Zhuiyuan was now the successor of the thugs.

The five groups of existences on this layer were much better than those on the layer below; they were just covered in blood and flesh, but they still had human shapes.

Moreover, through their movements, Li Zhuiyuan realized that the wriggling in every hall he passed through on the layer below was actually them bowing to him.

It's just that their images were too distorted, and Li Zhuiyuan didn't realize it the first time.

Li Zhuiyuan: "Master, are you obtaining merit from the Heavenly Dao by suppressing them in this way?"

Black Shadow: "No."

Leaving this layer again and coming to the layer above, this was the top layer; the area was much smaller than the two layers below, and there was only one very small palace.

Because the owner here didn't need to use this method to promote His majesty; under normal circumstances, it was impossible for any ghost to be able to come here.

Pushing the door and entering, inside was a space connected together, without dividing other usage parts.

A long desk was placed here, carved with noble patterns, and filled with dense delicacies.

These were all offerings presented.

Li Zhuiyuan's gaze began to wander over the offerings.

The desk was too long and there were too many offerings; it was really hard to find for a moment.

Seeming to know what the teenager was looking for, the black shadow took the teenager and walked to the depths, standing there.

"What you are looking for is here."

This desk area was separated individually; what was placed on the exquisite bowls and dishes above was no longer the delicacies and fine wines that looked extremely delicious before, but a large amount of corpse parts.

Especially in the middle, there was a huge bronze tripod, and inside the tripod were two giant dog testicles.

"Master, I misunderstood; it turns out you don't like these, so I will offer you something better on holidays in the future."

The black shadow didn't speak, but raised the teenager's hand and grabbed toward the tripod.

Li Zhuiyuan's eyes slowly widened.

Fortunately, the terrifying thing didn't happen.

The teenager's hand wasn't asked to touch and pick up the pair of dog testicles, but was placed in the center of the tripod.

The patterns on the tripod flashed and flowed, branding into the teenager's palm, and then permeated into the teenager's soul at an extremely fast speed.

Behind him, the black shadow's voice was full of majesty:

"From this day forward, you are the successor of My Daoist lineage!"

As soon as the words fell, Li Zhuiyuan perceived that there was an extra pair of eyes behind him, which only disappeared after a long while.

That pair should be his own inheritance shadow in karma.

He didn't even need to use red thread to deduce it himself; the Great Emperor shadow behind him must have become incomparably clear now.

Taking this as an opportunity, the power of his Twelve Dharma Decrees of Fengdu also obtained a further enhancement; no, this was almost a qualitative leap.

The method his main body had researched back then was to forge the Great Emperor's aura with Feng Shui power to enhance the power of the arts, but how could something forged compare to genuine recognition.

From then on, the simple, efficient, yet bloody and disgusting apprenticeship ceremony officially ended.

Li Zhuiyuan felt that after he went back, the "Code of Conduct for River Walking" could be written in more detail about this experience, so that partners who didn't come could also be immersed in the scene by reading it.

It should be listed separately and write a "Travel Notes of the Huang Quan."

However, the second thing was completed, but Li Zhuiyuan hadn't forgotten the first thing; the teenager asked again:

"What about Mengmeng?"

"Brother Xiaoyuan?"

Yin Meng's voice sounded from afar.

The black shadow brought Li Zhuiyuan over; this desk was truly too long, and the space here was indeed too vast; after traveling a long distance, Li Zhuiyuan finally saw Yin Meng, who was also actively groping her way here.

Yin Meng was wearing a very retro long dress, and her skin was even whiter.

"Brother Xiaoyuan!"

Yin Meng showed a happy smile; just now she faintly heard Brother Xiaoyuan asking for her location.

In a place like this, Brother Xiaoyuan was still caring about her, which made Yin Meng feel incomparably moved.

"Let's go, I'll take you back."

"Brother Xiaoyuan..."

Yin Meng didn't move.

Li Zhuiyuan immediately realized something was wrong; his gaze moved downward, and on the deep floor, he saw a thin, long chain locking Yin Meng's ankle.

Yin Meng was locked here!

This made Li Zhuiyuan immediately think of those existences permanently suppressed on the two layers below.

Li Zhuiyuan: "What does this mean?"

Black Shadow: "Her sacrificial vow was to use herself as a sacrifice to ask me to keep you all safe.

When she appeared at my desk, she immediately knelt before me, begging me to protect you all; for this, she is willing to be a slave and servant here forever."

Li Zhuiyuan: "A slave and servant? She is your descendant, a descendant of your Yin family."

Black Shadow: "After you achieve longevity, you will also take some things lightly."

Li Zhuiyuan: "But, you don't need her!"

Black Shadow: "I am only a shadow of myself, following Zhai Quming for a lifetime, forgetting many things; now, I can't even close a Ghost Gate.

A shadow is, after all, a shadow; it needs to stand behind a person.

The current Huang Quan has a person with Yin family blood sitting here, who can act as the Fengdu Great Emperor with my cooperation to deter ten thousand ghosts."

Li Zhuiyuan: "You promised me you would let me take her away."

Black Shadow: "You can take her away right now; I won't stop you."

Li Zhuiyuan: "You..."

Now his own actions had to rely on the black shadow to drive him; how could he have the ability to open the shackles and take someone away?

Black Shadow: "It was fine for the Yin family blood to be wandering outside before, but now the Huang Quan is in a special period; if she is outside, she might be seized by some things to target the Huang Quan, so staying here, she is safe.

Don't think you can hide her; the Heavenly Dao will guide those things to find her location.

I defeated Ksitigarbha, but both sides were heavily injured; what do you think the Heavenly Dao would do if it had the chance?"

Li Zhuiyuan: "Then do I have to thank you for not killing her directly to eliminate future trouble?"

Black Shadow: "She is your person, and you are my knife; I won't kill her, and isn't this the reason you chose to stand on my side and stab the knife toward Ksitigarbha?"

Actually, the implication was that if Yin Meng hadn't met him back then, but continued to run the coffin shop on Ghost Street, then her fate today would be...

So, this had nothing to do with what vow Yin Meng made, and even had nothing to do with Yin Meng's own actions, because she was already destined to be unable to leave here.

Yin Meng smiled: "Brother Xiaoyuan, I stayed here voluntarily; I'm fine, this place is also quite good."

Li Zhuiyuan was silent for a while and said: "I will come to pick her up."

This sentence was said to the black shadow, but it was also a promise made to Yin Meng.

No matter how much more was said, it was meaningless.

Black Shadow: "I'll wait."

Li Zhuiyuan walked out of the palace and stood outside; the black shadow controlled his right hand and pinched the teenager's neck.

The Ghost Gate had already closed; logically speaking, it was impossible to leave.

But Li Zhuiyuan still had one way to get out, which was to die here.

Li Zhuiyuan: "You did break your promise on one thing; I need compensation."

Black Shadow: "Speak."

"On this journey, what I saw, is it the real Fengdu?"

"Isn't it?"

"I will return here, therefore, before that, I want to see the real Fengdu; I want to see the real Fengdu Great Emperor with my own eyes!"

"As you... wish."

The platform began to tremble; to be precise, the towering, boundless cliff walls that extended out from these platforms were peeling off.

As the peeling continued, the existence hidden within these cliff walls slowly surfaced.

First was a face at the very top, followed by the neck, then the shoulders, arms, chest, legs... a sitting figure so huge it was despair-inducing was revealed.

His eyes were bleeding and also rotting on a large scale; blood mixed with pus gathered at the jaw and dripped down, forming this upside-down Huang Quan.

His chest was opened, and his ribs were folded out one by one, constructing the platforms here in a staircase form, extending all the way down, including the Eighteen Levels of Hell below.

Under His feet, He stepped on a circle of golden light that was still struggling constantly; that was the Bodhisattva who had just been suppressed by Him.

So, it wasn't the Great Emperor who created Fengdu; the real Fengdu was actually Himself!

Li Zhuiyuan had asked the black shadow before if the Great Emperor was obtaining merit from the Heavenly Dao by suppressing the various existences on the platforms below.

The black shadow answered no.

The way the Great Emperor obtained merit from the Heavenly Dao was by suppressing Himself!

Witnessing this scene, astonishment appeared in Li Zhuiyuan's eyes; he didn't expect that his joke from before had actually become reality at this moment:

"So, the Great Emperor really is an ancient... dead-fallen!"

(End of chapter)