Chapter 510: The Fifth Hundred and Eighth Taishan Fujun
In a Space Below Mount Tai, enveloped in black mist, a vast Ancient Hell slowly floated within the black mist.
This was the most ancient Hell in the World, and the ones imprisoned within this Hell were not mortals, but Gods who had passed away.
There comes a time when human life ends, and even Planets and Universes have moments when they step towards destruction. Gods are naturally no exception.
After these Gods died, their souls would be guided into this ancient Hell. This was the God Prison, and the Master of this God Prison was Taishan Fujun, a God even more ancient than the Queen Mother of the West.
At the entrance of this ancient Hell, a large tree stood towering into the Cloud Layer, its branches extending three thousand li, its crown submerged within the Cloud Layer formed by the black mist. Its trunk was entirely emerald green, faintly marked with countless blood-colored energy channels. Among the branches of this tree, the woods were lush, and countless peach blossoms the size of washbasins bloomed within the green shade.
It was hard to imagine such a peach tree in this kind of Underworld Administration place. However, this peach tree was clearly no ordinary thing. The surrounding black mist was constantly devoured by the peach tree, and the peach blossoms among its branches emitted streaks of pink radiance. These red light pushed back the rolling black mist and also illuminated the Ghost Gate not far away! Among the branches of the peach tree, two figures stood at the end of a branch. Both were enveloped in a ball of golden mist, from which emanated myriad radiance, concealing their figures.
Whenever a Yin Wind blew through the peach tree, causing the peach tree woods' leaves to rustle and tremble, the two would fix their gaze intently on the Ghost Gate.
The place where the Ghost Gate was located was a patch of black mist, sometimes gathering, sometimes dispersing. When dispersed, it was a mass of hazy black mist; when gathered, it faintly formed a portal several thousand meters high.
The entirely profound black Portal was carved from an unknown material. The left and right Gates were respectively carved with two lifelike door gods. One held a rope lasso, and the other held a peach branch. Upon closer inspection, they were precisely the two figures standing on the peach tree branch.
The two were Shen Tu and Yu Lei, each considered a God, responsible for guarding this ancient God Prison. Their names were famous even in the Mortal Realm. One was named Shen Tu, and the other was Yu Lei. Both were two divine beings from ancient legend capable of subduing evil ghosts, and later generations regarded them as door gods!
Legend has it that in ancient times, Shen Tu and Yu Lei were a pair of brothers. Both brothers were skilled at catching ghosts. If evil ghosts came out to harass the common people, Shen Tu and Yu Lei would capture them and tie them up to feed the tiger.
Later, people drew images of Shen Tu, Yu Lei, and tigers on their doors to ward off evil, which also had the effect of driving away ghosts and avoiding evil, and this was passed down through later generations.
The one on the left Gate was called Shen Tu, and the one on the right Gate was called Yu Lei. The common people called them door gods, and they were also the most ancient door gods in the World.
Seeing the Ghost Gate taking shape, on the peach tree, the Shen Tu and Yu Lei brothers both frowned.
"Those evil ghosts are causing trouble again. They come out and make a fuss every once in a while. If they aren't tired of it, I am!"
Yu Lei, holding the peach branch, looked at the several masses of black mist forming inside the Ghost Gate and said impatiently.
Accompanied by piercing screams and roars, nearly a hundred masses of black energy crashed and bombarded the Ghost Gate from within. The commotion was so great that it caused the Underworld black mist within a thousand li radius to tremble. Even the treetop where Shen Tu and Yu Lei stood felt a clear vibration, the momentum was terrifying! However, Shen Tu and Yu Lei were clearly accustomed to this scene. Shen Tu commented indifferently, "These evil ghosts were Gods who were worshipped by tens of thousands of people in their previous lives. Having always been high and mighty, how could they endure the bitter and suffering days of Hell? Every single one dreams of returning to reality, not knowing that there is no longer any position for them in the Current World. Why bother coming here!"
"But why is the Ghost Gate forming so early this time! According to calculations, it should be another three hundred years before the Ghost Gate opens!"
At this time, nearly a hundred masses of black energy jointly attacked the Ghost Gate continuously. Although they caused the Ghost Gate to shake non-stop, the Ghost Gate still stood firm! It seemed that the attacks of these black energy were nothing but a joke in front of the Ghost Gate. After a chaotic barrage, these nearly a hundred masses of black energy let out a frantic, hysterical stream of curses at the Ghost Gate, and then, as if by prior agreement, they simultaneously revealed their figures.
These figures were dressed in ancient Qin and Han clothing, or old Tang and Song dynasty attire, and some were even wrapped in beast hide. Among them were men and women, old and young, tall and short, fat and thin. There was every kind of appearance among these people.
But no matter what their outward appearance was, a frantic aura of hysteria constantly flowed from their eyes, and their scarlet eyes were filled with undisguised negative emotions.
A Middle-aged Man, tall and wearing Qin armor, frowned as he looked at the Ghost Gate before him. This Middle-aged Man was nine chi tall, with handsome features, and the outline of his face was like it had been carved by a knife and axe, showing a resolute personality. Most importantly, his eyes did not contain the madness seen in the eyes of others.
He stared intently at the Ghost Gate, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes: "This Ghost Gate seems to be suppressed by something. To destroy it, its foundation must be destroyed!"
A Strong Man beside him snorted coldly: "It's that peach tree Outside. To destroy the Ghost Gate, you must first cut down that damned bird tree! It's a pity that damned peach tree is Outside, otherwise, I would have burned it down long ago!"
"Peach Tree! When I was escorted here, I did see that giant tree extending a thousand li. It won't be easy to destroy it!" The Middle-aged Man pondered for a moment and shook his head.
"Of course, it's not easy. That bird peach tree grows Outside the Ghost Gate. To cut it down, you must first break out of this Ghost Gate, but to break this Gate! You must cut down this peach tree!"
The Strong Man became more and more agitated as he spoke. His eyes, which had been somewhat clear, became frantic: "Shen Tu, Yu Lei, you two watchdogs, get out here!"
His words seemed to trigger a chain reaction. The group of people around him began to target Shen Tu and Yu Lei, their mouths filled with insults towards the two.
The Middle-aged Man, however, had no intention of joining them. He glanced at the Strong Man who had just spoken to him, a God from the Land of San Miao during the later Han Dynasty. It seemed that because a Taoist Priest named Zhang Daoling cut down mountains and destroyed Ruined Temples, this God lost his incense offerings / faith power, and after death, his soul was captured and brought to the God Prison.
And most of the people here, or rather, most are malevolent spirits after the death of Gods. Conversely, Ordinary People like him who were imprisoned after death were a minority.
"Can this Hell only be entered and not exited? What if the administrators of this Hell want to go out?"
The Middle-aged Man looked at the Ghost Gate and asked an Elder who seemed relatively clear-headed.
"Administrators? This is Helheim at the foot of Mount Tai, the most ancient Hell for imprisoning the souls of all Gods. Besides those two brothers Outside, there are no administrators here!" The Elder glanced at the Middle-aged Man and laughed mockingly.
"You're new. How is it that the style of your armor looks like it's from the Qin era?" The Elder looked at the Middle-aged Man suspiciously.
"I've been staying in the Mortal Realm. A few hundred years ago, the Ghost Messengers from the Underworld wanted to take me to the Underworld for reincarnation, but they couldn't find a ferry boat on the Yellow Springs that could carry me. Later, that guy named Yu Lei escorted me here!"
"Even the ferry boat on the Yellow Springs couldn't carry you, no wonder. It seems you're not an ordinary mortal either! Since you're here, just endure it slowly. I've been here for over a thousand years and haven't seen anyone escape!"
The Elder sighed: "Oh, right, what's your name?"
"Bai Qi!"
"Hiss!" Upon hearing the Middle-aged Man's words, the Elder's expression immediately became somewhat strange. He was originally an old wolf from the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties period. Later, by chance opportunity, he gained sentience, and even stole the incense offerings / faith power of a God to become a God in the mouths of mortals.
However, due to the dynastic changes in the Mortal Realm at that time, these not-so-great Gods were also affected. If he had known that becoming a God meant coming to this ghost place after death, he wouldn't have coveted those ownerless incense offerings / faith power! The Elder had naturally heard of the name Killing God Bai Qi, and it resonated like thunder.
"So it is Lord Wu'an. This old man has been rude!" The Elder bowed slightly towards the Middle-aged Man.
"The Great Qin has been destroyed for a thousand years. There is no need to mention the words Lord Wu'an!" Because of some matters from that year, Bai Qi's soul lingered in the Mortal Realm for over two thousand years. He personally witnessed the successive changes of dynasties in the World. As time brought vast changes, he had come to terms with many things! The Elder and Bai Qi stood side by side not far from the Ghost Gate, watching the nearly hundred figures futilely attack the Ghost Gate that led to freedom. The Elder sighed: "These people have been trapped for too long, and each one has become a madman! Alas!"
"Has no one ever escaped from this God Prison!" Bai Qi looked at the boundless Netherworld Sea behind him, a hint of sharp glint flashing in his eyes! "Unless you are confident you can defeat Taishan Fujun, there is a possibility of overturning this God Prison!"
"Taishan Fujun!" Bai Qi muttered the name.
The Elder's expression suddenly became serious. He quickly reached out and calculated the time: "No, the Ghost Gate shouldn't appear at this time. Not good! Someone in the Mortal Realm is performing a ritual for Taishan Fujun, this is the Lord's departure! Quick, go!"
After reminding Bai Qi, the Elder's figure transformed into a streak of black energy and turned to plunge into the Netherworld Sea.
Before the black energy the Elder transformed into could disappear into the Netherworld Sea, the Netherworld Sea surged and rolled. Countless black lightning flashed across the Sea, slowly spreading outwards, extending who knows how far.
The boundless Netherworld Sea parted to both sides, revealing a golden path. At the end of the path, there was a golden portal. Threads of golden light sprayed out from the portal, and the portal slowly opened. A nine-dragon chariot pulled by nine ancient black dragons slowly emerged from the portal. The nine-dragon chariot rose into the sky and slowly flew towards the Direction of the Ghost Gate. That Ghost Gate also slowly opened at this moment.
"Opportunity!" An idea popped into Bai Qi's mind. He was about to take this opportunity to fly out of the Ghost Gate, but when he saw the nearly hundred figures transform into black energy and rush out first, he paused alertly.
Under Bai Qi's gaze, as the streaks of black energy formed by the dead souls of Gods were about to rush out of the Ghost Gate, nine dragon shadows suddenly rose from the nine-dragon chariot. As the nine dragon shadows leaped, their heads suddenly elongated, blocking the entrance before the black energy could dart out of the Ghost Gate. These dragon shadows opened their large mouths and, with a single devour, like a giant whale in the Sea devouring small fish, directly swallowed these black energy into their bellies. After finishing, the nine black dragons pulling the chariot lazily let out a satisfied burp and pulled the chariot out of the opened Ghost Gate! This scene made Bai Qi's scalp tingle. Looking at the opened Ghost Gate, he momentarily couldn't even muster the thought of escaping, and watched helplessly as the Ghost Gate slowly closed!
"Now you know why no one has been able to escape from this God Prison for so many years. No matter what your identity was in your previous life, even if you were some Ancient Great God, once only your soul remains, only a fraction of your magic power is left. Trying to escape from this God Prison is simply a pipe dream!"
A wisp of black energy landed beside Bai Qi. It was the Elder who had just fled.
Bai Qi glanced at him: "Since you know you can't escape, why did you come here when the Ghost Gate appeared?"
The Elder's words, however, left Bai Qi stunned: "Of course, to watch the fun, to watch these poor wretches fight for hope that doesn't exist, to watch them become the meal of those nine long worms—"
The Elder seemed completely unaware that he was also one of the poor wretches. The madness subtly revealed in his words made Bai Qi move slightly away from him. Indeed, there were no Normal People in this Hell.
Bai Qi's gaze fell on the closed Ghost Gate, his eyes flashing. It seemed impossible to leave when Taishan Fujun was traveling, but he would eventually return. He wondered if there would be an opportunity to escape then!
Above the Magic City, a vortex appeared out of thin air. From the vortex, a black cloud drifted out, dyeing the entire horizon bluish-black. Within the black mist, a pair of majestic eyes looked down, landing on Acha. In the black cloud, on the nine-dragon chariot pulled by nine ancient black dragons, Taishan Fujun had arrived to collect his sacrificial offering.
Acha raised her head, looking at the majestic figure in the chariot within the black mist.
"Lord! These are my sacrificial offerings. According to the Rules of the Lord's Sacrifice, I offer two souls. My request is that you return half of my brother's soul, and also, take his soul away!"
Acha held the souls of Constantine and Harley Quinn in her hand, while pointing her finger in the Direction of Tang Song, "Chi You's soul is very valuable. Even if it's only half, it's not something that can be exchanged for ordinary souls!"
In the black mist, Taishan Fujun, wearing a black emperor's crown and a flat-topped crown, with an extremely majestic appearance, looked at the two souls in Acha's hand. His previously calm expression showed a slight fluctuation.
"Two foreign souls! That's enough!"
After Taishan Fujun finished speaking, he looked in the Direction Acha was pointing. At first glance, he saw the mostly pulled-out golden thread in Tang Song's hand.
"My Dao is complete!" This was the first thought that appeared when Taishan Fujun saw the golden light in Tang Song's Palm.
He completely disregarded the Lord's Sacrifice or Chi You's soul at this moment. He now had only one thought: to obtain that golden light, to obtain it!
As long as he obtained it, he would not need to be confined to this World. At first glance, he knew that the golden light was his Foundation for Attaining the Dao, his opportunity!
With a single thought from Taishan Fujun, the nine ancient black dragons pulling the chariot directly pounced towards Tang Song. As they pounced, they were accompanied by strange dragon roars.
This dragon roar had a strange power that could separate the soul from the physical body. As the dragon roar echoed, within hundreds of kilometers around, countless people in their sleep had their souls leave their bodies and uncontrollably fly towards the mouths of the black dragons like young swallows returning to their nest. "Dong!"
The nine black dragons ferociously pounced towards Tang Song. Before they could even get close to Tang Song, they were like flies hitting transparent glass. Before these nine ancient black dragons could figure out what was happening.
Tang Song spread his five fingers. Without chanting any spell, the nine ancient black dragons felt the transparent barrier in front of them disappear, and they crashed directly in.
The next moment, Tang Song's palm slightly pressed downwards. Crack. The nine ancient black dragons were directly encircled by a river of stars and ground into the finest Primordial Qi particles.
"What kind of Divine Being are you, daring to kill my mount! How audacious!"
Seeing his nine black dragons pulling the chariot turned into ash by Tang Song with a backhand, Taishan Fujun rose and stepped out of the chariot, his eyes dark as he stared at Tang Song. Boundless Netherworld Qi flickered with flowing light around his body.
Tang Song raised his hand and beckoned. A golden bell spun and landed in his Palm, covering the golden model resembling a half-ruined palace that he had pulled out from Xia Dongqing's soul body's Sea of Consciousness.
It was precisely the Main God's Remnant Artifact he had been searching for. This thing was truly hidden deep, concealed within the thoughts of Xia Dongqing, who had two souls in one body. If it hadn't stubbornly revealed a slight trace, Tang Song might not have been able to grasp it!
"As for me, I'm just a passerby. However, I see that Your Excellency seems very interested in this thing in my hand. Just now, Your Excellency released your dragons to harm people. Are you trying to snatch my things!"
Taishan Fujun narrowed his eyes, and two streaks of black light shot out from his eyes. At first, they were only three cun thick straight lines, but they grew larger the further they went, finally covering the four directions and eight extremes. Although he greatly desired to seize the treasure in this Taoist Priest's hand, he couldn't gauge Tang Song's strength for a moment and wanted to see his origin.
As the first Underworld King of the Underworld, the true Lord of the Underworld, Taishan Fujun held sway over the cycle of samsara of all living beings in the entire World. Anyone born or dying in this World could not escape his eyes.
Even Gods had to be under his jurisdiction after death! "You are not a living being of this World. How dare you! So you are an outer realm heavenly demon!" Taishan Fujun calculated but could not find Tang Song's origin. His heart trembled, and he immediately accused Tang Song of being an outer realm heavenly demon.
Tang Song put away the Main God's Remnant Artifact with a backhand and smiled: "If you want to snatch things, just say so directly. You are at least an Innate Deity with a Golden Immortal rank, yet you act like a small-minded person!"
Taishan Fujun's face darkened upon hearing this: "Outer realm fiends cause chaos in the World and should be executed. The object in your hand, at first glance, is a treasure conceived in this World. How can it fall into the hands of an outer realm fiend like you!"
"I see that you, this Taoist Priest, are not very old. Although you are an outer realm fiend, this Lord pities your youth. Leave the things you stole and leave this World, and I will spare your life. Otherwise, you will suffer endless punishments in Hell!"
Taishan Fujun's tone changed, and he surprisingly spoke kindly to Tang Song, advising him.
"Your words sound familiar to me. It's rare to find an existence with a Golden Immortal rank in this World. Although your strength is derived from the Divine Position of Taishan Fujun, you are qualified to Discuss the Dao with me!"
Tang Song said, glancing at the Underworld King who was looking on expectantly not far away. Did these Underworld Administration Gods all like to scare people with the Eighteen Levels of Hell! Seeing through the reality of the Taishan Fujun before him, from the perspective of strength, this Taishan Fujun was even stronger than the Queen Mother of the West Ancient God, having clearly taken that step.
He was an existence who had cultivated to the Golden Immortal stage, just like himself. However, his Golden Immortal stage was somewhat illusory, clearly supported by the Heaven and Earth Position, just like the Ziwei Emperor among the Four Sovereigns of Heaven! "You want to Discuss the Dao with me? If I win, you will yield that treasure to me!" Taishan Fujun stared at Tang Song.
"If you win the Discussion of the Dao against me, I will spare your life!" Tang Song chuckled.
Taishan Fujun was furious: "You dare to deceive me!"
Following Taishan Fujun's sharp shout, waves of Netherworld Qi surged. This rolling Netherworld Qi was like smoke and mist, formless and intangible. Within the Netherworld ghost mist, there was a series of mournful howls like ghosts crying and gods wailing. As Tang Song heard it, he felt his Primordial Spirit and Soul jump, and before his eyes appeared a scene of myriad fierce ghosts and yin souls baring their fangs and brandishing their claws, appearing sinister and terrifying as if they would devour someone.
At the same time, Tang Song could feel the space around him suddenly sink, as if countless large mountains were pressing in from all directions at once, and the entire Space seemed to condense into a single entity in an instant.
This method of imprisonment was no less effective than some Divine Abilities like Body Immobilization Technique that he knew. If it were an Ordinary Person, they could only watch helplessly as myriad yin souls drifted and flew towards them, suffering the pain of being devoured by ten thousand ghosts.
However, for Tang Song, this was just a small trick. Seeing the myriad yin souls and vicious ghosts attacking from the rolling black tide, Tang Song's Magic Power surged. With his current Cultivation Base and physical body, he could be described as immune to all evil and not confused by any demons. His Magic Power was vast, and the Body Immobilization and Imprisonment Spell had no effect on him. He merely shook lightly and shattered the Body Immobilization and Imprisonment Spell.
Tang Song flicked his daoist robe sleeve. The cuff was like a Black Hole, directly drawing in the rolling black mist. Tang Song shook the cuff of his daoist robe, and in his hand appeared a ball of black mist the size of an egg.
"Fellow Daoist has some Divine Ability, but a mere grain of rice dares to shine brightly? If Fellow Daoist only has this much ability, then I won't be polite to your Underworld!"
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