However, all of this was enveloped in a light that blended and merged blue, yellow, and green hues.
Whether it's mountains and rivers, or the vegetation on the desolate land, everything stands quietly, a kind of quietude that is eerie and unnatural; in short, the light is gloomy and dark, but not dim, instead it has a bright feel.
There was no sign of life; no birds or beasts could be seen, and no insects chirped or the wind rustled.
The scenery before my eyes seems so close, yet it feels like it's a thousand miles away.
Xu Zhengyang was in a daze. He felt as if he were standing on a cloud, looking down at this strange and peaceful world... Was this really the underworld? Where were the Yellow Springs Road, the River of Oblivion, the Other Shore Flower, the Bridge of Helplessness, the Terrace of Longing for Home, the Three Lives Stone, the Hall of Yama, and Hell?
Where are the ghosts? People who die in this world become ghosts, but where are they?
Unconsciously, Xu Zhengyang lifted his leg and took a step, only to find himself standing in mid-air. He was walking on air, a light mist swirling beneath his feet supporting his body. Looking up at himself, he saw he was wearing the red robes of a judge, the judge's pen lying in his right hand, while the judgment book remained in his left. On his way here, fearing something might happen, he had kept his mind firmly gripping the judge's pen and the judgment book.
Looking back, one sees a black wall blocking the way, gloomy and cold, neither stone nor iron; the black wall is so high that its top cannot be seen, and so low that its bottom cannot be seen, stretching endlessly to the left and right.
Where did the Gates of Hell go?
Where did I come in from? And where should I go out from?
No, I want to go back!
With a thought, as if time were passing and starlight were twinkling, Xu Zhengyang suddenly stood up, breathing heavily.
Looking inside, the room was still dimly lit, with only the faint glow of streetlights filtering through the curtains. The verdict book remained in his left hand, and his right hand still gripped the judge's pen tightly. Xu Zhengyang picked up the alarm clock from the bedside table. He checked the time; only a dozen minutes had passed. Carefully recalling what he had just witnessed, Xu Zhengyang was certain he wasn't dreaming; it was all real.
"Great, great, fantastic!" Xu Zhengyang muttered excitedly to himself in a low voice.
The mere thought of supernatural powers granting him the ability to freely travel between the mortal realm and the underworld—what a sense of peace and security this was! What was there to fear? Nothing! I'm not afraid anymore… Lighting a cigarette, Xu Zhengyang smoked slowly, pondering the scene he had witnessed in the underworld. He found it strangely beautiful, a serene beauty that broke his heart, a breathtaking sight.
After finishing his cigarette, Xu Zhengyang lay down, put the judge's pen and the case book into his body, and with a thought, his soul left his body, leisurely traversing the void between the human world and the underworld, arriving in the underworld world.
This time, he didn't look back at the gloomy, dark wall. Instead, he walked straight through the air, heading into the distance. This act of walking in the void reminded him of a legendary martial art from wuxia novels—shrinking the earth to an inch. Because he wasn't flying like a deity, but simply walking slowly, the mountains, rivers, vegetation, and all the scenery below rapidly receded behind him, as if he hadn't moved at all, but rather the scenery below was moving at high speed.
This is getting interesting; this is the kind of skill a deity should have!
Xu Zhengyang, caught up in a playful mood, would sometimes rise higher and sometimes lower in his mind, floating and drifting in the high sky of the Netherworld.
Unhindered by mountains and rivers, I feel carefree and like an immortal.
If one could achieve such a feat in the human world, what a magnificent and impressive thing that would be!
While he was happily playing around and reveling in the beauty of flying, Xu Zhengyang suddenly caught a glimpse of a change in the scenery below out of the corner of his eye. He immediately steadied himself and looked down.
Below, the scene shifted from a desolate expanse to a barren grassland after traversing towering, overlapping mountains. Well, to be precise, it wasn't a grassland, but rather a greenish wasteland bathed in the surrounding light, covered in sand and gravel, utterly devoid of life. Even after arriving here, and seeing the eerily silent, deathly landscape from above, the sight still made Xu Zhengyang's heart sink. Why was the deathly atmosphere here so heavy?
Then, stretching outwards for several miles from the mountains, the scenery abruptly changes. A road suddenly appears out of nowhere in the desolation. It's not quite a road, but rather dim and gloomy, with yellow mist swirling above. The road is several feet wide, and in the dim mist, countless figures seem to be moving forward.
What surprised Xu Zhengyang the most was that both sides of this wide road were covered with blood-red flowers, dozens of meters wide. The flowers were so bright red that they looked like fire and blood, and they exuded a strong sense of menace, making people think of a scene of blood flowing like a river.
This, this, this is the red spider lily!
That misty, dimly lit road in the middle is—the Road to the Underworld!
Xu Zhengyang's heart trembled. The thing he had come to the underworld to find had finally appeared.
Having confirmed his thoughts, Xu Zhengyang moved his mind and his soul rapidly floated downwards, instantly appearing above the billowing, dim yellow mist. Looking closely at the spider lilies on either side, the fiery red blossoms now resembled a carpet laid out, accompanying the ghosts on the road to the underworld, stretching into the distance…
In the dim, yellowish fog, ghostly heads thronged, jostled, numb, and moved forward uncontrollably.
Xu Zhengyang watched for a while, then suddenly found it boring and strode straight ahead—well, let's call it flying, since it was very fast.
After a cursory glance, we had traveled for nearly a thousand miles when towering peaks rose abruptly ahead, shrouded in wisps of mist. The mountains were covered in verdant pines and cypresses, a scene of breathtaking beauty, like a fairyland. However, this beautiful scenery appeared overly tranquil in the eerie light. Even though the scenery was beautiful, the tranquility ultimately felt lifeless, instantly making one feel depressed.
Because there wasn't a single sound; it was extremely quiet.
It evokes an intense and terrifying sense of loneliness in one's heart.
The path to the underworld abruptly ends at the foot of the mountain, and the ghosts involuntarily leap into the river that lies before them. Though called a river, it only gives the initial impression of flowing water; in reality, it's not water at all, but rather a viscous liquid, or rather, something like pus… a blood-yellow color, constantly emitting wisps of steam. Countless ghosts float and sink in this blood-yellow liquid, yet remain silent, numb, seemingly devoid of any feeling. The cliffs on both sides are covered with blood-red spider lilies. Dozens of meters higher, the spider lilies disappear, replaced by layers of thin, cotton-white mist, seemingly completely isolating the area above and below. Above, verdant pines and cypresses create an exceptionally beautiful and serene landscape.
This must be the River of Oblivion, right?
Xu Zhengyang stood in mid-air, looking down at the blood-yellow river that was dozens of feet wide, and suddenly felt a little nauseous and wanted to vomit.
After resting for a while, the nausea and vomiting gradually subsided, and Xu Zhengyang continued to soar through the air along the disgusting river.
The river meanders among the mountains, but after passing two bends, it is split in two by two towering peaks that rise abruptly as if cleaved by a knife and axe, dividing into three rivers. These rivers then flow parallel to each other among the continuous mountain ranges, with varying speeds, some rapid and some slow. And the various ghosts within them finally burst into heart-wrenching cries.
There were angry curses, repentance, wailing, screams, and laughter...
Xu Zhengyang stood in mid-air above the river in the middle, a look of enlightenment on his face. "Hmm, so this is what the River of Three Crossings and the River of Oblivion are like! There's no record in historical records or legends that the River of Oblivion splits into the River of Three Crossings."
However, the slowest-flowing river, which should have been the resting place of the ghosts of those who had committed grave sins in their lives, was now deserted, flowing quietly and gently. Meanwhile, the two rivers flowing at varying speeds—one in the middle and the other on the other side—were the resting places of the ghosts of virtuous people and ordinary people, respectively, leading to the cycle of reincarnation much faster than the other river. These two rivers, however, were teeming with ghosts, their noise incessant.
Does that mean there are no evil people in the world? That's utter nonsense!
Xu Zhengyang cursed inwardly, wondering if there was a mistake in the legend. Since they had arrived at the River of Three Crossings, the first of the Ten Palaces of the Underworld, the Palace of King Qin Guang, should appear here; and if they continued downstream along the River of Three Crossings, the second palace, the Palace of King Chu Jiang, should be there.
However, looking around, all that could be seen was the thick, pus-like, blood-yellow liquid in the river and the countless ghosts within it, as well as steep mountains, blood-red spider lilies growing on the cliffs, and above that, towering pines and cypresses against steep rocks. Where was there any palace?
Xu Zhengyang hesitated for a moment, then decided to test the river below to see if it was indeed the legendary Sanzu River.
He waved his hand and summoned the ghosts of the bandits he had killed and captured on the night of the fifteenth of August from the case file, intending to throw these ghosts into the slowest-flowing, almost still river. If the record was true, then this river should have been highly toxic and corrosive, capable of eroding the ghosts' bodies and causing them unbearable, endless pain.
However, after summoning the ghost, he felt it was inappropriate and recalled five of them, leaving only one. He decided to try it out first; if it didn't work out, he wouldn't have given them all away so easily.
Thinking of this, Xu Zhengyang kicked the ghost, who was staring blankly and curiously looking around, down from the sky before it could even speak.
The ghost cried out in alarm and immediately plunged into the river below.
When the ghost was still a few meters from the river's surface, the slowly surging, viscous liquid suddenly surged into a huge wave, like a demon's hand grabbing the falling ghost and swiftly sweeping it into the river. Immediately afterward, heart-wrenching screams and agonizing cries echoed through the cliffs above the river.
Volume 3, Judge Chapter 131: The Underworld is so vast, where are the homes of the gods?
Looking at the bizarre scene just now, and hearing the shrill screams coming from below, Xu Zhengyang was stunned for a moment.
Holy crap, is it really that bad?
Looking to the other side, the ghosts who had been wailing and howling in the two rivers were also silenced by the loud and mournful cries from this side. They obediently drifted downstream with fear on their faces, afraid that they would suffer the cruel punishments they had heard about in their lives in this underworld.
Xu Zhengyang waved his hand, summoning the other five ghosts, and asked with a sinister smile, "Do you know where this is?"
After emerging from the river, the five ghosts heard a mournful scream from below. Looking down, they vaguely recognized their companions. Looking at their surroundings, they felt a chill and trembled. They prostrated themselves on the ground, weeping and begging Xu Zhengyang to forgive their sins.
"I let you have a good time in the case file for a while, and in the end, you all actually lived comfortably..." Xu Zhengyang sneered.
Indeed, at first, the ghosts were terrified, fearing they would face the cruelest punishments in hell. However, as time went on, they discovered that this judge didn't seem to have any real power; besides summoning them in and out and saying a few frightening words, he had no other skills. So they eventually accepted it, and when Xu Zhengyang occasionally summoned them to scare them, they even chose to sneer and ignore him.
This was outrageous! Enraged, Xu Zhengyang immediately dragged out several ghosts in broad daylight and threw them into the sun to be exposed to the elements.
They truly suffered greatly. If the case file hadn't hurriedly reminded them that this behavior violated the laws of nature, Xu Zhengyang would have exposed them all until their souls scattered.
Now things are different. Although he has become the chief judge, he still doesn't have the Soul-Slaying Whip mentioned in the case book, which is an upgraded and enhanced version of the Soul-Locking Chain, a divine artifact that the wandering judge and the acting chief judge could possess. However, the highly corrosive and toxic liquid in the River of Three Crossings below is enough to make them suffer greatly, allowing Xu Zhengyang to vent his anger to his heart.
Besides, wasn't my original plan to throw them into hell to suffer?
Thinking of this, Xu Zhengyang sneered and said, "This is the River of Three Crossings. Below is where you will suffer endless pain. Go down!" As soon as he finished speaking, Xu Zhengyang kicked them down one by one.
Then the thick, blood-yellow liquid flowing slowly in the river below stirred up huge waves again, swallowing and swirling the ghosts into the river.
Instantly, a shrill scream echoed through the mountain stream, but there was not a single echo.
Watching the six ghosts struggling in the thick magma below, their faces contorted in pain and screaming in agony, yet unable to even faint, enduring excruciating agony, Xu Zhengyang couldn't help but feel a pang of pity and fear.
She shivered and pouted. Xu Zhengyang, standing there, muttered dismissively, "Is it really necessary? A real man..."
Then, Xu Zhengyang leaped into the air and continued to walk downstream along the three parallel rivers.
As for those six ghosts... let them suffer inside and earnestly repent for their sins. Also, they'd better pray that after enduring the endless pain in the River of Three Crossings, they don't run into Xu Zhengyang again, otherwise, there might be more suffering waiting for them later.
After all, Xu Zhengyang had not yet seen the various Yama Palaces responsible for judging ghosts, nor had he seen the so-called eighteen levels of hell, which were the most terrifying places.
But where is this palace? And how far is the River of Three Crossings?
After Xu Zhengyang had been walking in the air for a long time, he found that he still hadn't reached the end. The ghosts in the two rivers below could no longer hear the shrill screams of the six ghosts in the distance. So the ghosts below were now making a ruckus, crying, shouting, and laughing...
After looking for a while, nothing seemed particularly special, except for the winding Sanzu River, the fiery red spider lilies on the cliffs, the quietly standing mountains, and the mist-shrouded pines and cypresses within them. There was nothing else new or interesting. So Xu Zhengyang climbed higher again, flying to an even greater height, looking around, hoping to see something else special or novel.
Beneath his feet stretched endless mountains and rivers, winding their way into the distance. To his astonishment, further away from the River of Three Crossings, there were similar rivers nestled among the mountains. What were they? Xu Zhengyang flew down to observe them closely. He realized they were the River of Three Crossings where the souls of livestock and beasts entered. Flying further afield, he saw another River of Three Crossings, filled with the souls of birds; beyond that, there were fish, shrimp, clams, insects, and other such creatures…
Xu Zhengyang couldn't help but sigh: In another world, humans are the noblest and most intelligent animals, able to control the life and death of all living beings; however, after death, they come to this underworld, just like other living beings, entering the River of Three Crossings, suffering and tormenting, thinking about their past lives, repenting, and fearing the possible punishments of hell they may face.
With his hands behind his back, Xu Zhengyang strode across the vast, boundless mountains. He no longer cared about the surrounding scenery or the human, animal, and ghostly beings in the Sanzu River below. Instead, lost in thought, he walked back to the upper reaches of the Sanzu River and followed the river into the distance. Occasionally, he would glance around to see if the legendary underworld, Yama's Palace, existed there.
I don't know how much time passed or how far I traveled, but the mountains ahead disappeared, and the Sanzu River had flowed into the plains.
But then, at the end of the mountains, between steep cliffs and above the Sanzu River, a magnificent stone bridge seemed to rise from the sky. Amidst the swirling clouds and mist, ancient pines and cypresses stretched out their branches and leaves, and some vines hung down with long stems and abundant leaves... In the dim and quiet light, there was an atmosphere of deathly stillness.
It is beautiful, but strange, indescribably eerie.
In the endless black sky, a white jade orb still hangs, unable to emit any light.
Xu Zhengyang flew down and landed on the stone bridge. Standing quietly at one end of the seemingly solid bridge, he was immediately filled with a sense of ancient desolation.
On the gray boulder standing at the bridgehead, three large characters were written in dark ink: Bridge of Helplessness!
However, at neither end of the bridge was Meng Po, the woman who brewed the soup of forgetfulness that could make ghosts forget their past lives. Xu Zhengyang wasn't too surprised, but he wondered why, according to legend, ghosts had to undergo the judgment and punishment of the Ten Courts of Yama, then cross the River of Three Crossings or the River of Oblivion, reach the Bridge of Helplessness, and then drink Meng Po's soup before they could be reincarnated.
Now? The Bridge of Helplessness exists, but Meng Po is no longer there; and the ghosts are still at the bottom of the abyss shrouded in mist, in the meandering River of Three Crossings. How can they possibly come up and cross the Bridge of Helplessness?
The Bridge of Helplessness has no connecting paths between its two ends. It simply floats in mid-air, seemingly linking the two high mountains on either side.
Where is the Terrace of Longing for Home? And the Stone of Three Lives?
Xu Zhengyang stood at the bridgehead, lost in thought for a long time, then leaped down, floating lightly into the mist below, and down, down...
When they landed only a few feet above the Sanzu River, Xu Zhengyang saw two smooth, mirror-like, pitch-black cliffs on either side, with a line of large golden characters written vertically on each cliff:
Repentance for past lives revealed numerous sins, with good deeds outweighing evil deeds;
Thinking of reincarnation. So much painstaking effort, yet the mortal world finds it hard to comprehend.
Xu Zhengyang frowned and thought for a while, then couldn't help but sigh softly.
Then it dawned on me that this Bridge of Helplessness, this Bridge of Helplessness, is what it means.
Looking at the ghosts who have drifted here with the current, each one has experienced the long journey of the Sanzu River. They have long lost the liveliness and clamor of the beginning. Each one has a calm and numb expression... When they see the two lines of large characters on the steep cliff, they can't help but show bitterness and sigh.
Xu Zhengyang suddenly thought of a question: Could it be that these ghosts can't see him?
It's worth noting that Xu Zhengyang had observed ghosts up close on his way to the underworld, yet none of them expressed any doubt or pleaded with him, which was rather strange.
Following the Santu River, Xu Zhengyang walked out of the mountain stream and into the plain, where his view suddenly opened up.
On the seemingly endless plain, rivers flowing from between the mountains all flow into circular pools of varying sizes, with narrow, straight channels connecting each pool.
And on the dark green ground beside the round pools on this plain, pavilions and towers with upturned eaves rose up one after another, surrounded by trees that resembled both willows and locust trees. However, the pavilions were all black, solemn, ancient and dignified.
Xu Zhengyang flew to the front of a two-story pavilion and landed. He saw that the pavilion faced the mouth of the river connecting one round pool to another. In front of the pavilion stood a dark stone tablet with dark red characters on it. The characters looked gloomy, but they were very clear: Those who did good in their past lives will be blessed in reincarnation.