Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Death God Order of the Nine Netherworlds

Laugh at the world, where tales of love and hatred linger like fevered dreams—when will they finally end? Behold the mortal realm: a graceful figure, tea flowers scenting the air, unconcerned with the affairs of the world. Roam the ends of the earth, light winds accompany drifting clouds and fallen leaves, the universe at ease within one's breast. Smell the fragrance of flowers: a fleeting bloom, opening not for infatuation, but for its own fragrance.

Leng Bingyan teleported back to the Valley of the Ends, but when she pushed open the familiar door to her little house, she found it empty and silent. Thanks to the Old Ancestor’s powers, the entire cottage remained untouched by dust, as clean as if someone tended it every day.

She felt a strange unease; where had Grandpa Mo gone? She searched everywhere, but found nothing. “Hm?” At that moment, she noticed an envelope resting on the table. Bingyan picked it up and opened it to read.

“Bingyan, by the time you read this letter, Grandpa will have already departed. Our meeting was a matter of fate. In this vast world, among the endless throngs, suitable people, at the right time and place, are required for a fitting encounter. When I rescued you, our destinies became intertwined, but all banquets must come to an end, and this parting was destined. It is not something deliberately sought, but a mix of chance and necessity.

The Demon God Realm cannot exist without its Ancestor of Ten Thousand Demons, but I know that without me, you, Bingyan, will gain a brand new perspective. If you ask what is the shortest path in the world? The path of life. Every road in the world can be walked a thousand times, but the path of life only once—once, never to return. Therefore, I hope you carefully consider each action, think deeply before you act, plan thoroughly, and when you step forward, never look back with regret.

Grandpa has nothing much to leave you after I go, only a token—take it as some memory of me.” Bingyan turned and saw indeed a black-purple metal token on the table, its material unknown. When she picked it up, a deep, ancient power of sinking washed out from it.

Astonished, Bingyan examined it closely. The token was entirely black-purple, and on its front and back were two gilded characters each, the front reading “Nine Nether,” exuding a threatening aura as if the words themselves pressed down upon her; the back read “Death God,” echoing the front, but with a greater sense of death. Each side held its own meaning, but together they formed the “Nine Nether Death God Token,” a seamless unity, two contrasting qualities coexisting in strange harmony within a single token.

“This token is the 'Nine Nether Death God Token,' my symbol of identity in the Nine Nether Demon God Realm. Whoever sees this token sees me. With its appearance, all gods are commanded, and the Nine Nether Demon Gods must bow in submission. Of course, the Spirit Ghost Realm below the Nine Nether is also under its jurisdiction. Bingyan, keep it—even if you never use it, it’s good for amusement.”

Bingyan was stunned by the authority of the small token in her hand—“With this token, all gods are commanded, and the Nine Nether Demon Gods must bow in submission.” What power was this? Yet she could only smile wryly; Grandpa had given her such an important item and said to use it for amusement? There was only a bitter laugh, yet a warmth hard to describe lingered in her heart.

She continued reading, “There is another very important matter I must tell you.” At this, Bingyan felt solemn and focused. “Perhaps you’ve noticed, Earth—which we call Source Star—its spiritual energy is scattered. When the Three Sovereigns forged and Emperor Yu set the Nine Provinces Barrier, the Nine Provinces Divine Dragon Cauldrons gradually shifted out of position. The barrier itself shattered a hundred years ago. Ultimately, the problem lies with the spiritual veins within Source Star.

Although I suppressed it with supreme powers while I was here, and slowly improved it, hoping one day to restore Source Star to its former glory during the age of gods, fate cannot be forced, perhaps Heaven’s will intervenes. Heaven and earth are indifferent, treating all things as straw dogs. My hopes are unfinished. Yet it is nearly complete; the recovery of Source Star’s spiritual energy is inevitable, but the problems it may cause are unpredictable. The energy is abundant, but not stable, and in the short term could cause disaster. The world is changing, seeking balance anew. Therefore, for the sake of our land of China, I want you to quickly gather all Nine Provinces Divine Dragon Cauldrons, and with your power, reset the Nine Provinces Barrier. I believe this should not be difficult for you. If not, you can ask the sword spirit of Purple Sword—she will tell you how.”

“That’s enough, I won’t say more. If fate allows, we grandfather and granddaughter shall meet again! Finally, I leave you these words: When Heaven and Earth first opened, existence and nothingness merged, born before Heaven and Earth. Silent and desolate, standing alone, unchanging, moving in cycles, never faltering, it can be called the mother of Heaven and Earth. I do not know its name; I force myself to call it the Way. If forced to define it, it is Great. Great means passing, passing means distant, distant means returning. Thus, the Way is great, Heaven is great, Earth is great, and Man is also great.”

“What does that mean?” After finishing Mo Wuxie’s letter, Bingyan was reluctant to leave. Mo Wuxie had put great effort into teaching her, and had let her experience the joy of familial love once more. In her heart, Bingyan asked Ziling, puzzled.

“Stupid!” In her mind, Ziling scolded Bingyan unceremoniously. “That last sentence Grandpa Mo left you is a supreme truth. Its meaning cannot be explained in a few words; it is the summary of the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Demons’ millions of years of cultivation!”

“Wait, stop! Could you explain it to me? Just keep it simple,” Bingyan quickly interrupted Ziling. Ziling was remarkable in every way, but her vast knowledge made Bingyan feel like a newborn in front of her, leaving Bingyan quite frustrated.

Ziling paused, perhaps considering how to express it succinctly. After a while, she said, “Simply put: Within the domain, there are four great things. All spirits reside among them. Thus, man follows earth, earth follows heaven, heaven follows the Way, and the Way follows nature. All things are mutually born and restrained; extremes will reverse, and all depend upon each other.”

Listening to Ziling’s explanation, Bingyan nodded with an “Oh”—she understood. “Isn’t this directly related to what Grandpa often said: ‘Under the Great Way, Heaven and Earth are the foundation, all existence is the Way’?”

Ziling glanced at Bingyan in her sea of consciousness, meaning: You’ve gotten smarter! She said, “Exactly. The Great Way is everywhere, the Way is everywhere…”

“Right. Grandpa wants me to gather all the Nine Provinces Divine Dragon Cauldrons and reset the barrier. But isn’t the Divine Dragon Cauldron already in my hands? Should we go set the barrier now?”

“What nonsense! Who told you you’ve already gathered all the cauldrons? There are nine Divine Dragon Cauldrons: Number One, Prison Ox; Number Two, Yazi; Number Three, Chaofeng; Number Four, Pulao; Number Five, Suanni; Number Six, Bixi; Number Seven, Bi’an; Number Eight, Fuxi; Number Nine, Chiwen. You only have one, the Number One Divine Dragon Cauldron—Prison Ox!” Ziling shook her head dramatically, as if regretting ever following the wrong master.

“Even if I was wrong, you didn’t have to compare me to a dung wall! That’s so mean.” Leng Bingyan’s heart ached, her face full of grievance. “How could I know there are nine cauldrons? No one ever told me.”