From God of Lies to Lord of All Worlds

Chapter 250: The Method of Establishing the Netherworld

While the crowd was still whispering among themselves, the white-robed monk, who had been walking forward, slowly came to a halt. His voice boomed out, "Is it really appropriate for you to hide your face like this, Your Excellency? To know so much about the Netherworld... which immortal or Buddha might you be? Or rather, what kind of demon or ghost?"

He had, of course, already used his abilities to discern the source of the voice that had just echoed in everyone's ears, immediately issuing his loud interrogation.

This sharp questioning left the crowd utterly speechless. Holy crap, was this bigshot trying to find an excuse to use them as sacrificial lambs?

"That is still better than a stray dog like you, is it not? Kinnara Bodhisattva? Or should I say... Wutian Buddha?"

An indifferent and casual voice rang out, causing everyone present to jolt in shock!

Damn, where did this fierce newcomer come from, exposing this Bodhisattva right out of the gate? And what did he mean by Buddha? Was it the Buddha they were thinking of?

So this Bodhisattva also held the identity of a Buddha? Good grief, wasn't this revelation a bit too explosive?

Upon hearing these words, the white-robed monk whipped his head around, glaring fixedly at an empty patch of ground. "Stop playing the devil, come out!"

"If you want me to come out, I will come out!" As the words fell, a man wearing Taoist robes materialized in the nearby clearing within this peculiar space, looking at the crowd with a beaming smile.

Meeting the gazes of the surrounding people, he nodded quite calmly and took the initiative to introduce himself. "I am Yubao Daoren, a Walker serving under the East Pole Green Brilliance Great Emperor. I came today specifically to inspect this newly established Netherworld, but to think I would run into a rebel like you!""Yubao Daoren?" Wutian's expression fluctuated uncertainly before settling into a look of sudden realization. "So it is you!"

"Indeed, it is I. The Netherworld of this realm has just been established, and the Great Emperor dispatched me here to survey its position. Only then can Gods be sent down to the Lower Realm to stabilize this heaven and earth, forging the domains of Fengdu, Samsara, and the Yellow Springs!"

Yubao Daoren spoke frankly, "I originally thought I would encounter a subordinate of Ksitigarbha here. I never expected it to be you."

"Ksitigarbha?" Hearing the other party's words, Wutian froze in astonishment. "Ksitigarbha has also become a Buddha? Has his great vow already been fulfilled?"

"Yes. During that battle of All Worlds, Hell was swept entirely clean, and the wandering souls and wild ghosts completely dissipated. Naturally, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva took the opportunity to attain Buddhahood! However, he still guards the Netherworld and remains its supreme sovereign!" Yubao Daoren remarked casually. "It seems you were not even aware of this?"

"In my era, Ksitigarbha had only recently made his great vow, and Guanyin had just sworn hers. Who could have known that everything would change so drastically!" Wutian sighed with deep emotion. "In that case, Maitreya Bodhisattva must have already become Maitreya Buddha, yes?"

Yubao Daoren nodded. "The Future Buddha has already been established. Presumably, the day the World-Honored One Tathagata passes into nirvana will be the time the World-Honored One Maitreya ascends to the throne!"

"Maitreya has already become the Future Buddha... Then what am I still fighting for?" Wutian suddenly mocked himself, his expression turning bleak. "If Maitreya takes the throne, I can naturally achieve my desired changes. Why would I need to rebel against the World-Honored One?"

The sheer volume of information hidden within those words was enough to shock even Yubao Daoren. He silently observed this Buddha before suddenly asking, "Since Mount Sumeru has yet to pay attention to this realm, could it be that you are the one who created this Netherworld?"

"This realm is newly settled, and I am the first Walker to awaken. Is it really impossible for me to establish it?" Wutian retorted.

Yubao chuckled. "True enough. Fixing the Buddha's will, following the Buddha's Light, and descending the path of the eighteen levels of Hell... other Bodhisattvas might fall short, but for you, Wutian Buddha, it is naturally as easy as catching a turtle in a jar!"

He gave his horsetail whisk a slight wave. "If that is the case, I will leave you to it. I will report this to the Heavenly Venerate myself, and Taishan Fujun will certainly be informed as well! But with actions like these, are you not afraid of offending Ksitigarbha?"

"If it were Guanyin or Samantabhadra, they might be somewhat displeased. But as you said, this place belongs to Ksitigarbha!" Wutian replied with a smile. "If it can save people and the world, Ksitigarbha would not care about such strict precepts and rules!"

"Fair enough. If he minded, he would not be Ksitigarbha!" Yubao Daoren sighed. Choosing not to argue right and wrong with the other party, he slowly asked, "So, Your Excellency, are you currently a Bodhisattva or a Buddha?"

Wutian laughed. "If it were before I came here, I would have definitely made you call me Buddha. But now, you should refer to me as a Bodhisattva!"

Hearing this, Yubao Daoren showed no great dissatisfaction or doubt, but rather a look of astonishment. "Oh... the implication of this title of Bodhisattva... Have you already made a great vow and found your own Buddhahood?"

Wutian gave a slight nod. "Yes, I have made a great vow. I am going to guide to enlightenment this sinful realm. For every day it remains unguided, I shall not advance a single step! The only trace of goodness in that city is something I ultimately cannot let go of!" Hearing this, Yubao Daoren subtly counted on his fingers, deducing the reason behind the other's words, yet he still seemed somewhat suspicious of the claim. "Then why did you build Hell first? Forcing me to make a special trip all the way out here?"

Wutian smiled faintly. "If they cannot be guided to enlightenment, then I will simply send those stubborn fools on a trip to the Avici Hell!"

"Tsk, now that aligns with your personality!" Yubao Daoren grinned. He knew something had been missing, and it turned out to be the lawless, defiant nature of the former Kinnara Bodhisattva and the subsequent Wutian Buddha.

He had actually thought this guy had learned his lesson and turned over a new leaf, but looking at it now, he had merely hidden his true colors deeper!

Meanwhile, the surrounding crowd who had overheard this exchange looked somewhat cowered, their figures trembling endlessly.

They were trembling with fear. What kind of decent person would strike up a conversation right off the bat about Buddhist secrets, special paths, great vows, or even sending the entire population of India to Hell?

Was this even right? They had received an invitation and had indeed come intending to pry into a few secrets, but wasn't this a bit too confidential?

Although they could not fully understand it, the Buddhist monk named Duxuan was continuously translating for them, making some of the diplomatic personnel want to cover their ears!

Stop translating, we do not want to hear this!

Was the topic of these two individuals' conversation something they were even allowed to hear? Were they going to be silenced?

Oh, wait, it should not be called silencing. It should be called guiding to enlightenment!

They wouldn't wake up tomorrow to find themselves in the so-called Lion Camel Ridge or just straight up in Hell, would they?

Listening to the previous descriptions, that was definitely not a good place to be!

However, neither of the two bigshots seemed to pay them any mind.

Yubao Daoren simply felt that this trip had been incredibly worthwhile. "Very well. Since you have this idea, I cannot just let you build such a place for nothing. Come, I will help you establish the Netherworld for this realm!"

"Since that is the case, you have my gratitude!" Zanluo said with a deep bow.

Yubao Daoren gave his horsetail whisk a flick. His entire being naturally exuded an ethereal, fairy-like aura, evoking a sense of awe and profound reverence among the surrounding onlookers.

He slowly guided out a streak of clear energy that resembled a faint glimmer of light. It swirled freely and surged with power, gradually expanding around everyone present.

"Since there are eighteen levels of Hell, according to the laws of the Heavenly Court, a Netherworld must naturally be established to bind the ghosts and spirits. The Ten Halls of Yama must be constructed to govern the various paths of Hell, and Fengdu City, the Gates of Hell, the Platform of Samsara, the Yellow Springs, and the Bridge of Helplessness must be built to formalize the path of the Netherworld!"

"By the decree of the Jade Emperor, draw upon the power of the True Realm, and descend the blessings of the Netherworld. Swiftly!"

As the edict was called forth, this bizarre, initially empty space actually began to slowly manifest streaks of immensely unique and vigorous power right before everyone's eyes!

Following that, exceptionally eye-catching structures gradually materialized before them. A breathtaking, monstrous river surged from the distance, a grand bridge formed across its waters, and a massive fortress pass thundered into place right in front of them!

Three distinct, gloomy characters revealed themselves upon the pass. Most people could not read the script, but everyone universally understood the meaning behind those three words: "Gates of Hell"!

And in a distant area, a colossal city settled into view. Although it could not be seen clearly, those who were well-read in the scriptures could guess that it was the city of the Great Emperor of Beiyin Fengdu—Fengdu City!

Such a scene, such a unique spectacle, and such a power of creating something out of nothing—all of it evoked deep terror and profound awe in everyone present.

Now, many could understand why these two had not bothered to avoid them when speaking such words and performing such deeds.

It was meaningless and entirely unnecessary, was it not?

What need did existences capable of shaping a world with a mere wave of their hands have to concern themselves with mortals like them?

Watching the scenes unfold before him, Wutian also slowly nodded. "In this way, the covenant between the Taoist Heavenly Court and the Buddhist Mount Sumeru can be enacted. This is the decree to guide souls to enlightenment, turn the wheels of reincarnation, bear the burdens of suffering, and stabilize the four directions!"

"However, with the Netherworld newly established, all deities and spirits have nowhere to be tracked. It seems you will not have any free time in the coming days, Zanluo Bodhisattva!" Yubao Daoren said. "This Lower Realm shall be temporarily managed by you! Thank you for your hard work!"

"This inherently carries great karmic merit, so how can we speak of hard work?" Wutian replied with a nod.

Just like that, amidst the understated conversation of these two figures, the Netherworld of this realm was abruptly and securely established!

And the crowd standing behind them served as its witnesses.