Chapter 327
Chapter 327
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: [Undisclosed]
Chapter Title: The Engraver of Death
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Soul-Chasing Judge Wang Fu and the other two Judges looked around, their faces instantly paling. The Twelve Great Void Realms stretched a thousand li wide, brimming with boundless power. At the same time, colossal thousand-zhang primordial spirits descended from the heavens, striding in from every direction.
These primordial spirits belonged to Returning Void Realm powerhouses. As they moved, the twelve Great Void Realms shifted in tandem, bearing down on them with immense pressure.
At the same moment, the sky above them suddenly turned transparent like glass. A hundred-zhang figure slowly rose, clutching a veil of green gauze like a fishing net. It twisted at the waist, spun around, and flung it downward with force.
"Swish—"
Green light filled the heavens as the net plummeted from the sky, forming a massive Azure Net Cover that enveloped a thousand li of heaven and earth.
Dozens more hundred-zhang giants descended from above, each holding a great banner that snapped and billowed in the wind. Upon landing, they planted the banners around the perimeter of the Azure Net Cover.
Lightning crackled across the banner surfaces. Azure dragons formed of thunderbolts climbed out from the banners, slithering upward with bodies stretching over ten li long.
The lightning blazed endlessly, and so did the dragons' bodies.
Chen Shi had once witnessed the Zhao family's Heavenly Dragon Locking Demon Array in Xinxian, but it was far smaller in scale than this one. Clearly, the Zhao family back then had only obtained an incomplete version of the formation.
The Zhao family's array had been meant to bind the Evil Bodhisattva, but this Locking Demon Array was even more powerful, aimed at trapping the three Judges and all the ghostly constables under their command!
"Does this heavenly net also seal off the mortal world at the same time?" Chen Shi wondered to himself. "If it doesn't block the mortal realm, then we can escape through there."
The Soul-Chasing Judge and the others couldn't enter the mortal world, but Black Pot could traverse between the yin and yang realms freely.
Suddenly, one of the ghostly constables under Wang Fu turned into a streak of green smoke, attempting to flee.
With a sizzling crack, the green smoke slammed into the Azure Net Cover and was struck by countless bolts of lightning, tumbling back down.
"No need to try escaping."
An elder with white hair approached, chuckling. "Soul-Chasing, Sin-Karma, Knife Mountain—you three Judges, the Yan family has been hunting you for a long time. Today, we can finally catch you all in one fell swoop."
Knife Mountain Judge Zhu Shun sneered. "You think the Yan family can hold us with that? Do you believe Judges like us are so easily taken?"
He drew his Judge's Brush. "The Yan family has betrayed the True King! Without this Judge's Brush in my hand, you can't control Knife Mountain Hell!"
His body blurred, instantly transforming into a thousand-zhang deity wreathed in brilliant golden light, forged as if from pure gold, surrounded by swirling incense and faith energy amid chants from countless worshippers. With a mighty roar, a vast and boundless Knife Mountain Hell materialized amid the surging incense.
Innumerable ghosts trudged across sword mountains and blade ridges within that hell, struggling in agony as their limbs bled profusely, filling the air with凄厉 screams.
This was a unique Ghost God Domain. Ghosts within suffered blade punishments—shredded to pieces only to regenerate and endure the torment anew, eternally cycling!
Zhu Shun's Judge's Brush condensed the power of Knife Mountain Hell, his mana surging like ocean tides, his voice thundering like rolling peals. "Under the True King's command, Patrol Governor of Xinxian Zhu Shun stands today to purge demons from the netherworld!"
Zhu Shun had been a cultivator from the True King era, appointed Patrol Governor of Xinxian. Beloved by the people like his own children, the common folk of Xinxian Province had built him a living shrine.
During a demonic upheaval, Zhu Shun fell in battle. Grateful for his benevolence, Xinxian's people sculpted a golden statue for him, and his incense offerings flourished.
Zhu Shun frequently manifested miracles, exceedingly efficacious.
When the Ten Palace Yama Kings' avatars descended to the netherworld and established its order, Judges were selected from great merit cultivators. The Yama King chose him from among the yin gods, appointing him Judge of Knife Mountain Hell and granting him the Judge's Brush.
Soul-Chasing Judge Wang Fu burst into laughter, manifesting his own thousand-zhang golden body and raising his Judge's Brush. He bellowed fiercely, "Under the True King's command, Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Wang Fu stands today to purge demons from the netherworld!"
He too was a powerhouse from the True King era, Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, who had earned shrines and golden statues for his service to the realm. After death, the netherworld deified him.
His duty was soul-chasing, pursuing departed souls across the world. He commanded all ghostly constables of the River of Forgetfulness—the Ghost Kings, Day Patrol Gods, Night Patrol Gods, Black and White Impermanences, Ox-Head, Horse-Face, Leopard-Tail, Bird-Beak, Fish-Gill, and Hornet, the Ten Great Yin Commanders.
Sin-Karma Judge Jia Yuan let out a long whistle, manifesting his thousand-zhang golden body and raising his Judge's Brush. Murderous intent boiled as he declared, "Under the True King's command, Prefecture Governor of Gongtian Jia Yuan swears to defend the netherworld's order to the death! As long as this god endures, the righteous path shall not perish!"
He too was a great merit bearer from the True King era, originally Prefecture Governor of Gongtian, adept at redressing wrongful convictions. After death, he was enshrined as Sin-Karma Judge, reviewing cultivators' sins to determine punishments!
Chen Shi gazed at the three Judges, their golden forms radiating dazzling divine light that pierced the heavens and earth. It scattered the netherworld's gloom and fog, forcing ghosts and demons to scatter, none daring to approach. He watched in a daze.
Though long dead, the three Judges bore no ghastly yin energy—instead, they exuded a majestic righteous qi, a sacred aura.
Unlike the netherworld ghosts and gods Chen Shi had encountered before, which wielded great power but reeked of eerie, malevolent yin qi...
Yet these Judges, though ghosts and gods, possessed righteous qi. Perhaps this was what they called merit.
Great merit bearers who became gods after death—even yin gods—radiated unyielding righteousness!
"With the three Judges wielding their three Judge's Brushes, facing the Yan family's encirclement should be no issue."
Chen Shi felt slightly relieved.
The twelve Returning Void Realm experts were formidable indeed, but the three Judges outmatched them. In this battle, those Yan family elites might all perish here!
At that moment, a surging tide of white bones swept toward them. Suddenly, countless bones flew up, forming a long bone whip grasped by a towering Judge who whipped it howling through the air.
That Judge was none other than the Earth Judge who had once battled Zhong Kui, his power astonishing. His voice boomed, "Soul-Chasing Judge, in this fight, aside from my Yan family's younger generation, we are here as well!"
No sooner had he spoken than the earth split open. Scorching geothermal energies erupted, rivers of magma gushing from below. Fire Judge emerged from the magma, wielding a molten river as his whip, brimming with killing intent.
This Judge was the other one who had besieged Zhong Kui that day—Fire Judge.
Chen Shi's heart stirred faintly. "Fire and Earth Judges, both from the Yan family? So it was the Yan family chasing down Zhong Kui back then?"
As the thought crossed his mind, more Yin Commanders approached, their auras powerful—though inferior to Fire and Earth Judges, still no trifles. Seventeen in total.
Wang Fu, Jia Yuan, and Zhu Shun's hearts sank deeper.
Over the years, the Yan family had schemed relentlessly, gradually eroding the Yama King's Hall left from the True King era, poised to supplant it entirely. Today, they aimed to claim final victory!
In the distance, the Red-Haired Ghost stood amid yin clouds, Young Lord Wei Yue on his shoulder, gazing remotely with a smile. "Today, my Yan family finally clears all obstacles for my father, Wei Ling.
The Thirteen Great Houses' goal advances another step.
These stubborn old gods are impediments. For the future era of peace and prosperity, they should have been uprooted long ago... Strange, how did Chen Shi get in there?"
He frowned slightly.
He had deduced Chen Shi's arrival in Immortal Capital and sent ghosts and gods to block him at his Origin Palace. Unexpectedly, the kid slipped out of Immortal Capital and came here to join the fray.
"The array's activation seals his doom," Wei Yue murmured. "The man has talent, pity he can't serve us."
Red-Haired Ghost said, "Young Lord, Chen Shi harbors over a hundred demon gods within. If he dies, they might erupt..."
Wei Yue laughed. "This is the netherworld—demon gods lurk everywhere. Let it be. My Yan family's millennium plan won't halt for one Chen Shi!"
Before his words faded, battle erupted.
Fire and Earth Judges lashed out with their whips at the three Judges. Meanwhile, Yan family Yin Commanders and ghostly constables unleashed treasures against them, while the twelve Yan great experts struck simultaneously from the mortal realm!
The Yan family had plotted this for ages, determined to seize control of Yama King's Hall!
Soul-Chasing Judge, Sin-Karma Judge, and Knife Mountain Judge looked grave, pushing their divine power to the limit and fighting back fiercely!
In the True King era, they had bathed in blood to forge that golden age. They never imagined later generations would covet their divine authority for personal ambition!
Wang Fu wielded his brush like a spear, severing Fire Judge's magma whip. The spear quivered, slicing the whip into three segments. He spun and thrust the spear at Fire Judge's skull.
Before the Judge's Brush could descend, spells, divine abilities, and treasures from all sides bombarded Wang Fu!
Beneath the Azure Net Cover, terrifying power roiled ceaselessly. Just as the heaven-shattering might was about to engulf Chen Shi and Black Pot, a massive stele smashed through the Azure Net Cover from above, crashing to the ground with a boom!
Netherworld mountains shattered and flew, several ghostly constables hurled backward by the impact!
The stele landed squarely before Chen Shi, shielding him from the spells' and divine abilities' shockwaves!
Chen Shi had planned to flee to the mortal world with Black Pot, avoiding the ghost gods' clash. Stunned by the stele, he abandoned the idea and looked up along its enormous surface.
The stele had a granite pedestal, carved smoothly and solidly. Its face bore a large chiselled frame—clearly a tombstone.
The deceased's name went in the frame.
Diligent descendants might add an epitaph or life deeds.
Now, a freshly chiselled name adorned this tombstone.
"Yan Shiji, born Jiajing 6587, died Jiajing 6643, sixth month, fourth day, zi hour, first quarter."
Chen Shi had just read this far when a Yan family Returning Void Realm powerhouse took a direct hit from Jia Yuan, his body crumbling, blood spewing from his mouth as he collapsed dead!
"Shiji!" An elder nearby cried out in grief.
Chen Shi froze. "The dead one is Yan Shiji? Matches the death time on the tombstone exactly!"
He traced the stele upward to a withered, massive hand, its knuckles thick, fingers long and rough, callused all over.
Following the hand up revealed an elder's deeply lined face.
The elder's features, weathered by wind and rain, bespoke extreme age and vicissitude, his countenance looming vast in the sky.
"The old man from the quarry!" Chen Shi's heart jolted.
The battling crowd also spotted the falling stele, each startled—but arrows loosed, they couldn't halt, compelled to fight on.
"Send men to the mortal world and kill that old codger!" Earth Judge bellowed.
Yan family experts immediately returned to the mortal realm.
Clanging echoes rang from the sky, like chiselling stone. An aged voice drifted from above.
"Yan Shichuang, born Jiajing 6592, died Jiajing 6643, sixth month, fourth day, zi hour, first quarter."
The chiselling ceased abruptly. Another massive stele plummeted from the sky, crashing down. The instant it landed, another Yan Returning Void elder screamed, blood streaming from all seven orifices as he perished!
Chiselling resumed.
The elder's aged voice echoed again from the sky. "Yan Jing, born Jiajing 6582, died Jiajing 6643, sixth month, fourth day, zi hour, first quarter."
Yet another stele thundered down from the heavens.
An old hag who had beaten Zhu Shun bloody suddenly dropped stiffly to her knees, unmoving. Her head slumped—she was dead!
"Go kill him, quick!" Sixth Uncle Yan Qinghu shouted.
Clanging chisels rang out. Yan Qinghu's face twisted savagely. Ignoring the encirclement of the three Judges, he pierced back to the mortal realm.
Moonlight bathed the icy snowscape. An elder surrounded by tombstones swung axe and chisel with clangs, inscribing them.
"Stop!"
Yan Qinghu unleashed his divine ability. In an instant, snowflakes across a hundred li froze midair, each transforming into razor-sharp blades slicing toward the elder!
This was a divine ability from the Yan family's Bell Mountain Hall records: Ice Heart Demon-Slaying Slash!
By then, the elder had finished one tombstone, murmuring lowly, "Yan Qinghu, born Jiajing 6556, died Jiajing 6643, sixth month, fourth day, zi hour, first quarter."
Yan Qinghu suddenly felt all vitality stripped from his body. In a blink, his flesh withered to decay and death.
"You're the Engraver among the Six Great Evildoers, Du Yiran!"
As if remembering something, a spark of vitality flared in his eyes. He staggered toward the elder, voice fervent.
"The Book of Life and Death—it's with you! Give it to me—"
The words barely left him before he collapsed, strength utterly spent.
His divine ability lost control, devolving into howling gales carrying snowflakes wildly, its power spent.
The elder ignored him entirely, swinging axe and chisel to carve the next stele.
"Boom!"
Another stele crashed from the sky into the netherworld. Accompanied by the aged voice from beyond, another Yan powerhouse dropped dead on the spot!
Horror gripped the crowd. Fire Judge roared, lashing his whip toward the elder as he hurled the stele into the netherworld!
A arc of light bloomed behind the elder's head. A primordial spirit hand spanning several li emerged from it, meeting the magma whip head-on.
The elder's body swayed slightly—yet he withstood the whip.
"Mahayana Realm!" Fire Judge's voice chilled. He retracted the whip and bellowed, "Everyone, retreat at once!"
He swept up the surviving Yan experts and fled howling on a fire dragon.
Earth Judge and the other ghostly constables and commanders, seeing this, dared not linger and fled as well!
The elder tossed down another stele, but Fire Judge had already carried the Yan crowd beyond its range, rendering it inert.
Soul-Chasing, Sin-Karma, and Knife Mountain Judges were covered in wounds, still reeling in shock and confusion.
Chen Shi laughed. "You three, stay put and wait for me here!"
He was about to ride Black Pot back to the mortal realm when he eyed the inert stele, eyes twinkling. "Judge Wang, watch this stele for me—don't let it get lost."
Soul-Chasing Judge Wang Fu opened his mouth to speak, but Chen Shi had already ridden the dog into the mortal world.
Amid the ice and snow, the elder had left a field of steles and vanished without trace.
Chen Shi rushed straight to the quarry, arriving soon outside and calling loudly, "Grandson of Chen Yindu, Chen Shi, seeks audience with Uncle Du!"
An aged voice came from the quarry. "Didn't that scoundrel Chen Yindu teach you? You should call me Grandpa Du! Unlike Granny Sha, I don't mind acting my age."
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