Chapter 697: The Master of the Netherworld
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Upon the seeing the Flower of the Other Shore, Zhenren Yuding found it to be very familiar but he could not point out why. At that moment, he knew that this flower was no ordinary flower because as long as something was familiar to him, he should rightfully have a clear memory of it.
Shen Lian spoke, “Buddha said of the Red Spider Lily, emotion is not karma, and fate foreordains life and death. You have attained the Way because of fate. If you die, it will also be because of fate. This is the will of heaven.”
The Flower of the Other Shore was precisely the Red Spider Lily, the sacred flower of the Yellow Springs!
The blood-red Red Spider Lily was like a red cinnabar. Its color did not fade even though Shen Lian used it to once again write Yuding’s name on the Register of Life and Death.
Like blood, Yuding’s name was written in bright red.
The world changed once again and at that moment, Shen Lian and Yuding appeared at the side of the Sea of Blood. Its waves undulated but not the slightest sound of water was heard. The Red Spider Lily bloomed, extending to the other shore.
From the Sea of Blood, a monk rose with a pagoda on his back. On top of the pagoda, there was a Bodhi Buddhist ray.
“World-Honored One Kṣitigarbha, The Buddha of Wisdom.”
Vast Buddhist chants resounded in the Sea of Blood, reaching the ears of Yuding.
He coldly chuckled, “The Kṣitigarbha Body.”
At that instant, there were strands of Underworld Qi restricting Yuding’s whole body, rendering him incapable of any movement. That was the power of the Register of Life and Death, as well as the Great Way’s pull of reincarnation.
The sword gleam of his Celestial Slaying Flying Sword was innumerable, slicing the restrictions of the register. It was all in vain, however, for the Buddhist ray was already covering Yuding.
It was a Bodhi Buddhist ray that originated from the Daoist Master. Shen Lian knew of the Daoist Master – the one Shen Lian saw on Mount Fang Cun.
Below the Buddhist ray was the pagoda, which in turn had the whole of the Sea of Blood below it. In the end, it placed pressure on Yuding.
Finally, this broken piece of the Netherworld expanded continuously, causing an uncountable number of Red Spider Lilies to bloom on the shores of the Sea of Blood.
Shen Lian could feel the Netherworld getting bigger and bigger with no sign of stopping. At the same time, there was an addition of laws which he could not understand.
The temple at the Eastern Barbarians, originally for his enshrinement and worship, suddenly had an extra line of words etched to its board –’Qing Xuan Heavenly Lord of Salvation from Misery’.
When that happened, Shen Lian could immediately feel it.
Two viewpoints appeared in his mental state. One was a Godly portrait coming from the temple, the other was that of him in the present. Both were Shen Lian.
It could also be said that when he placed his attention on the temple, he became the Qing Xuan Heavenly Lord of Salvation from Misery. The Register of Life and Death also appeared in the hands of the Qing Xuan Heavenly Lord of Salvation from Misery, and he could finally see and understand all the laws of the Netherworld. He could immediately know the whole life’s sufferings of any person who was within the scrutiny of his viewpoint,
Putting it simply, he could see the suffering of every single being.
The entire Netherworld, having living creatures in every corner, became a borderless sea made of all suffering. It made him sad but it also created a sense of mercy in his heart that spurred him to save every living being.
Similarly, in the Sea of Blood, the reincarnation at the trial of Daoist Yuding was broken down without continuously. Innumerable clean divine thoughts flew out, eventually being swallowed by Rāma. His Kṣitigarbha Body became more and more complete, and it could be seen that he enjoyed the endless benefits.
That may be the reincarnated body which was the peak existence of Daluo. Inside there surely lied many of Daluo’s secrets. Even if Rāma was not yet a Daluo, he was undoubtedly the peak existence of Taiyi.
Shen Lian may have had an extra duplicated self in being the Qing Xuan Heavenly Lord of Salvation from Misery but even he did not dare to say with absolute certainty that he was a match for Rāma.
He found it quite amusing that Daoist Yuding was already written off so early in the game. It was no wonder that Rāma did not set himself against Shen Lian and instead displayed more friendliness and goodwill.
Shen Lian was precisely the bait with which Daoist Yuding could be caught with. The Bodhi Buddhist ray was obviously the treasure that truly delivered Daoist Yuding’s reincarnation at trial to the land of the dead.
Regardless of what was said, Daoist Yuding was still the peak existence in Daluo. Even if it was a mere reincarnation at trial, he should still not be lightly written off. There will inevitably be other connoisseurs who will get involved.
After Rāma swallowed up Yuding’s reincarnation at trial, another variable popped up, adding to the wielding of the Netherworld that he originally had. That variable was the Qing Xuan Heavenly Lord of Salvation from Misery.
At that time, Shen Lian inadvertently set foot on the path of Shen and it became the current source of his strength.
Shen Lian was none other than the Qing Xuan Heavenly Lord of Salvation from Misery. In that capacity and from that viewpoint, he was able to feel the inseparability of himself and the Netherworld. The Register of Life and Death became even more reverent of Shen Lian, unequivocally declaring him to be the true ruler of the Netherworld, befitting of wielding life, death, and reincarnation.
He was still on the shore of the Sea of Blood, while Rāma was amongst its waves.
The both of them were separated by the blood water as if they were in completely different worlds.
Rāma’s voice transmitted towards Shen Lian, “Rumor has it that before Daoist Master Taiyi attained Dao, he entered into the spiritual path and was incarnated as a deity named the Heavenly Lord of Supreme Oneness and Salvation from Misery, and became the Master of the Netherworld. Today the divinity of this deity is bestowed upon yourself. It appears that he passed the mantle of Heavenly Lord of Salvation from Misery to you. If benefactor Shen is willing to let go of this position on his own initiative, poor monk would be willing to assist you in hindering a disaster.”
Shen Lian casually replied, “Master, it seems you know that Shen has some constant troubles, and I appreciate your goodwill but now I invite you to leave the Netherworld. After all, it is simply too much for someone like you, wishing to stay and benefit from another’s expense even though you have already done just that.”
Rāma said, “Even though the Heavenly Lord of Salvation from Misery is the true ruler of the Netherworld, Kṣitigarbha has also refined the Netherworld and enabled it to transcend beyond its dependence on the world. The mantle of Kṣitigarbha has also been passed down to poor monk. Therefore on close scrutiny, poor monk can be considered to own half of the Netherworld. Even if benefactor Shen wishes to chase me away, there are no grounds for it.”
Shen Lian squinted at him and started walking towards the Sea of Blood. However, with a pointing of Rāma’s finger, a vast mountain range appeared on the shore of the Sea of Blood – it was Mount Yin.
Moreover, this Mount Yin was borderless, far more vast than the Mount Yin of Qing Xuan Earth and Star. Shen Lian was unable to cross over with a mere one step in between.
Shen Lian knew that Rāma had no desire to be involved in an entanglement. He would want to digest what he had just obtained first.
Shen Lian did not proceed because even though he disposed Yuding’s reincarnation at trial, the true problem just started. Yuxu Palace bore many connoisseurs such as the Perfected Lord of Qingyuan Miaodao, and Bajing Palace would also not just sit around and watch him go about his business.
He had completely exposed himself. These two schools were directly handed down by the Daoist Master thus, they would not simply let him get away with it for the sake of Daoist Master Taiyi’s reputation.
As vast and obscure as the universe was, it was as if there were no longer any place where he could truly fit in.
Truth was, the spirit tablet of Heavenly Lord of Salvation from Misery was an unfathomable mystery but Shen Lian would not give up easily. He already had a connection with Daoist Master Taiyi. In the face of the pressure from the Daoist Master, it was also none other than the Daoist Master himself who could help him.
Although Daoist Master Taiyi’s thoughts deep down were unknown to Shen Lian, to voluntarily relinquish the spirit tablet would be to sever his link to Daoist Master Taiyi. Even if Shen Lian accepted the assistance of Rāma, the gains did not make up for the losses.
With one thought, he arrived at Zhaoge City. Wen Zhong and co were already defeated. The resisting force of Yinshang was not worth mentioning when faced with the crowd of cultivators from Flying Celestial Formation Chart.
It was as if Shen Lian had completed half of his game to rule the Netherworld.
Song Qingyi was the first to step forward to Shen Lian, asking, “Does that mean you have disposed of Tianyi?”
A moment ago they were clueless regarding Tianyi being the reincarnation of Yuding at trial. Shen Lian also did not intend to talk about all this.
Shen Lian nodded, “I am now the Master of the Netherworld.”
Everyone else had a cheerful look on their faces. Shen Lian had become the Master of the Netherworld. All of them had contributed, meaning they would inevitably be rewarded.
Fahai said, “Zhenren Shen, next up we would like to cultivate until the State of Heavenly Immortals, is it possible for us to depart to the Netherworld?”
His question was what everyone had been thinking to themselves all along. After all, if Shen Lian was like Lu Jiuyuan and declined to let them go, they would not be very happy at it despite the fact that they had a better chance of a breakthrough in the Netherworld.
Shen Lian replied, “As I said before, having reached the Netherworld, everyone is free to come and go as they please.”
They all felt as if the weight in their hearts were finally let go, but they did not know that the current Netherworld was no longer the same as the Netherworld of the past. Without so much as a breath or a whisper, the laws of heaven and earth had changed completely.
