Netherworld

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Netherworld (陰世)
Alias(es)	Netherworld Underworld; Netherworld Land
Type	Afterlife realm and place of reincarnation
Affiliation	The Three Realms
Occupation/Role	Receives the dead, administers judgment, and governs the cycle of reincarnation
Ruler	Netherworld Son of Heaven
Governing Institution	Netherworld Bureau
Status	Perfected and reorganized into a complete realm
First Appearance	Chapter 128, “The Netherworld” 128

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Reopening of Reincarnation	128	The Book of Life and Death opens within a Bronze Hall, announcing the Netherworld’s reopening and the resumption of reincarnation; a fleeing god-like figure is sealed, killed, and enfeoffed as the God of Si Qiong Mountain to suppress reincarnation. 128
Foundational decree system	140	Fang Xiu combines the Book of Life and Death with the binding principle of the Sea God’s Contract, strengthening its internal decree restrictions and establishing a hierarchy in which higher officials can grant or strip lower divine positions. 140
Expanding underworld	202	The growing number of Earth Deity Gods and the permeation of Yang World power cause the Netherworld to expand from an isolated island into a vast land, though its reincarnation system remains understaffed. 202
Independent realm	215	The Netherworld descends into the roots of the Necro Tree and evolves into an independent realm, forming a three-way balance with the Mountain Sea World. 215
Four-land structure	334	The Netherworld is described as a projection of the mortal world, with four great lands and four Dark Seas; only the Eastern and Southern Underworlds have established order at this time. 334
Netherworld Bureau perfected	374	Wandering souls cease accumulating around the Gate of Hell as Netherworld messengers and officials begin moving the dead through an organized system. 374
Perfected Netherworld Realm	619–620	The realm expands, forms a strengthened world barrier, divides into layered domains, manifests its Great Dao laws, and receives redefined divine positions, Merit Books, and new Divine Laws. 619 620

Background / History

The Netherworld reopened when survivors entered a Bronze Hall containing the Book of Life and Death, an artifact that controls reincarnation. When a god-like being attempted to escape, the book sealed and killed it before enfeoffing it as the God of Si Qiong Mountain, tasked with suppressing reincarnation eternally. The Bronze Hall then closed and the Netherworld’s gate shut. 128

Fang Xiu later refined the Book of Life and Death into a physical, weapon-like form and used the Sea God’s Contract as the basis for a stricter system of Nether Decrees. He sealed the White Bone Human Demon as the Lord of the Netherworld, enhancing both it and the Book’s decree restrictions. 140

As Earth Deities multiplied in the Yang World, their power permeated the Netherworld and enlarged it. This growth overwhelmed its original administration: tens of millions of souls awaited processing while the realm had only the Netherworld Son of Heaven and Dragon Hill Emperor Lord as major authorities. 202

During the transformation of the Mountain Sea World, the Netherworld separated into an independent realm beneath the Necro Tree. The Book of Life and Death protected Netherworld Son of Heaven City and Dragon Hill Emperor Lord’s residence during the transition. 215

By the time the Netherworld Bureau was perfected, messengers and officials actively escorted souls through the Gate of Hell, while divisions such as the Soul Hooking Division judged powerful cultivators and managed the dead. 374

The realm’s final major transformation came when immense power entered the Netherworld, expanding its space, dividing its land into layers, and elevating Netherworld Son of Heaven City into the sky. The Netherworld Son of Heaven subsequently redefined the realm’s hierarchy, laws, and divine positions. 619 620

Environment

The Netherworld is initially depicted as a dim, sunless realm of barren ground, jagged hills, stone pillars, gray skies, Yin winds, and death energy. 202 235

• It contains four great lands and four Dark Seas, mirroring the four continents and seas of the mortal Mountain Sea World. 334
• The Eastern Underworld and Southern Underworld developed organized Netherworld Bureau authority first; the Northern and Western regions remained desolate and chaotic for a time. 334
• The Northern Underworld is especially barren, icy, and sparsely governed, with few Ghost Cities, Blessed Lands, or high-ranking gods. 437
• The Yellow Springs River receives sinful or karmically burdened ghosts; an Earth Deity God seen falling into it was unable to resist sinking beneath its waters. 235
• After its completion, the realm gained newly formed black mountains, Yellow Springs waters, unique Netherworld life, layered spaces, and a strengthened world barrier. 619

Reincarnation System

Soul Intake and Judgment

All beings—including humans, demons, monsters, plants, and spirits—are summoned to the Netherworld after death and cannot escape reincarnation. The Netherworld Underworld judges the merits and sins accumulated in life before determining a soul’s karmic result and next existence. 202

• Ordinary plant spirits and animals often arrive with incomplete Three Souls Seven Spirits, sometimes retaining only part of a main soul. 202
• Damaged True Spirits that cannot enter reincarnation gradually dissipate within the Netherworld. 235
• The Gate of Hell leads the dead onto Yellow Springs Road, where they proceed toward judgment and reincarnation. 202
• The Gate of Hell suppresses unauthorized souls, demons, and Ghost Gods; even the Yama Devil Emperor was severely damaged when he attempted to force his way through it. 374

Book of Life and Death

The Book of Life and Death is the core artifact of the Netherworld’s reincarnation order. It records the past and present lives of all beings, contains laws concerning ghosts, life, death, and reincarnation, and is one with the Netherworld Son of Heaven. 203

• It carries the restrictive runes and divine decrees that govern Netherworld gods. 203
• Subsidiary copies are intended for local Netherworld Underworlds, allowing them to manage soul-hooking, judgment, memory cleansing, and local dead souls according to the Son of Heaven’s rules. 202
• The Reincarnation Platform, controlled by the Netherworld Son of Heaven, receives the remaining main souls and sends them through reincarnation. 202
• After the realm’s perfection, souls could enter the Six Paths and be reborn in the Mountain Sea World, Upper Realm Grotto-heavens, or Earth. 619

Netherworld Bureau

The Netherworld Bureau administers the realm and its reincarnation order. It initially had Six Ministries—Heaven, Earth, Netherworld, God, Human, and Ghost—though only the God and Ghost Ministries were operating when Chang De first arrived. 237

• God Ministry — Registers and appoints divine officials, including future Netherworld True Gods. 237
• Ghost Ministry — Operates alongside the God Ministry during the Bureau’s early administration. 237
• Soul Hooking Division — Escorts and judges cultivators; its Impermanence ghosts wield Soul Loss Staffs and enforce judgments. 374
• Emperor Lords — Govern major Netherworld territories and oversee reincarnation order within their domains. 620
• Prefecture Lords — Manage individual Netherworld Bureau Prefecture Lord Realms, whose standing depends on merit and the orderly prosperity of their assigned worlds. 620

Nether Decrees and Divine Positions

Nether Decrees bind Netherworld officials through contractual authority. Even mortals who receive one may become Earth Gods or City Gods, while higher-ranked officials can enfeoff or remove lower divine positions. 140

• Divine positions require capable cultivators rather than ordinary holders. 201
• Netherworld Bureau gods are assessed through merit, karma, and their fulfillment of duty. 237 620
• A Prefecture Lord who governs reincarnation effectively may receive further enfeoffment; failure can result in the loss of their God Position. 620
• The completed system introduces Merit Books and new Divine Laws for advancement and administration. 620

Access and Boundaries

• Natural passage of death — Souls of the deceased are naturally drawn into the Netherworld. 202
• Nether Capital Immortal Island — The Three Realms Abyss beneath the island directly connects to the Netherworld Underworld. 211
• Western Continent Earth Yin Eye — A cave descending through Earth Lung Yinsha connects the Yang World directly to the Netherworld; it also permits evil ghosts and fierce gods to emerge upward. 211
• Gate of Hell — The principal passage for the dead; access is restricted by tokens and the authority of the Netherworld Son of Heaven. 202 374
• Three Realms Abyss — Additional abysses are reported to exist in the Heavenly Realm, mortal realm, and Netherworld; a hidden Northern Underworld abyss can open an Immortal Realm Gate with an Ascension Token. 437
• Netherworld Law — The Netherworld is said to have an entrance but no exit; those entering without success may never return to the Yang World. 376

Notable Locations

• Netherworld Son of Heaven City — The central city of the Netherworld, containing the Bronze Hall, Reincarnation Platform, major Bureau offices, and the Netherworld Son of Heaven’s seat of authority. 202 237
• Bronze Hall — The Son of Heaven’s central temple, where the Book of Life and Death and Reincarnation Brush are kept. 203 620
• Gate of Hell — A towering gate that suppresses the dead and directs them toward Yellow Springs Road. 202
• Soul Hooking Division — A dark hall beside Netherworld Son of Heaven City, responsible for escorting and judging cultivators. 374
• Eastern Dark Sea — A dangerous sea where powerful aquatic dead may consume souls; the former Dragon Mother Qing Li became an unintelligent Ghost Dragon there. 334