"I'll cross them out from the Netherworld Book!"
"Don't try to fool me with that so-called copy of the Book of Life and Death!"
The Hall of Darkness was filled with yin energy, its chill permeating the air.
The underworld hall was thick with Yin energy, its air cold and eerie.
Sun Wukong looked wild and arrogant. A defiant, icy light gleamed in his golden pupils, and his fiery eyes bore down on King Yama.
Sun Wukong looked utterly defiant. Cold, unruly light gleamed in his golden eyes, and his fiery gaze stayed fixed on King Yama.
At those words, King Yama's heart lurched. His face turned deathly pale, and the Book of Life and Death and the Judge's Brush nearly slipped from his hands. He cried out:
At those words, King Yama's heart lurched. His face turned deathly pale, and the Book of Life and Death and Judge's Brush nearly slipped from his hands. He cried out:
"What?! You want to cross out names in the Netherworld Book?!"
"What?! You want to cross names out of the Netherworld Book?!"
The Netherworld Book was one of the Three Books of Heaven, Earth, and Man. It had been formed from a petal of the Primordial Green Lotus and governed the affairs of the Six Paths of Reincarnation.
The Netherworld Book was one of the Three Books of Heaven, Earth, and Man. It had formed from a petal of the Chaos Green Lotus and governed the Six Paths of Reincarnation.
It recorded the lifespans and deaths of every living being in the world.
It recorded the lifespan and fate of every living being in the world.
As for the so-called Book of Life and Death and the Judge's Brush, they were merely projections of the Netherworld Book!
As for the so-called Book of Life and Death and Judge's Brush, they were merely projections of the Netherworld Book!
In other words, they were nothing but copies!
In other words, they were just copies!
Even if Sun Wukong burned the Book of Life and Death, it would have no effect on the Underworld!
Even if Sun Wukong burned the Book of Life and Death, it would have no effect on the underworld!
The Netherworld Book could project another Book of Life and Death whenever it wished!
The Netherworld Book could project another Book of Life and Death at any time!
And the names Sun Wukong had crossed out before would simply be restored to the new copy!
And the names Sun Wukong had crossed out before would be permanently erased!
King Yama drew a deep breath of yin energy, suppressing his panic. His voice trembled, though he forced himself to sound calm. Fixing his gaze on Sun Wukong, he said:
King Yama drew in a deep breath of Yin energy and forced down his panic. His voice trembled, though he tried to sound calm, and he stared hard at Sun Wukong as he said:
"Immortal, the Netherworld Book governs life, death, and reincarnation. You can't tamper with it recklessly! If you damage the workings of karma and disrupt reincarnation, the Six Paths will fall into chaos. No one could bear the consequences!"
"Immortal, the Netherworld Book governs life, death, and reincarnation. How can you tamper with it recklessly? If you damage karma and disrupt reincarnation, the Six Paths will be thrown into chaos. No one could bear the consequences!"
Sun Wukong heard him out, then curled his lips into a cold smile. His unhurried tone carried an unquestionable authority:
Sun Wukong heard him and curled his lips into a cold smile. He spoke languidly, yet with an unquestionable air of authority:
"King Yama, you're the one who won't let me cross out the names."
"King Yama, you're the one telling me not to do it."
"If you won't let me do it, I'll leave right now! As for the consequences... you can explain them to the Buddhist sect and the Celestial Court yourself."
"If you won't let me, I'll leave right now! As for the consequences...you can explain them to the Buddhist sect and the Heavenly Court yourself."
Hearing this, King Yama gritted his teeth. Cold sweat trickled from his forehead down his temples.
At that, King Yama gritted his teeth as cold sweat trickled from his forehead along his temples.
Seeing this, Sun Wukong continued:
Seeing this, Sun Wukong continued:
"Besides, I'm only crossing out the names of a few old companions who've followed me in Flower-Fruit Mountain for a long time. Two hundred or so at most. I'm not crossing out the names of every monkey in Flower-Fruit Mountain, much less the entire demon race. It won't have much effect on the Netherworld Book!"
"Besides, I'm only crossing out the names of a few old companions from Flower-Fruit Mountain who've followed me for a long time—two hundred or so at most. I'm not erasing every monkey on Flower-Fruit Mountain, much less the entire demon race. It won't have much effect on the Netherworld Book!"
King Yama nodded at this. After considering it for a moment, he took out the Netherworld Book and handed it to Sun Wukong.
King Yama nodded at that, thought it over, then brought out the Netherworld Book and handed it to Sun Wukong.
"Immortal, this is the Netherworld Book! It governs the lifespans of every living being in the world. Once a name is crossed out, it can never be restored!"
"Immortal, this is the Netherworld Book! It governs the lifespan of every living being in the world. Once a name is crossed out, it can never be restored!"
"I hope you'll keep your word, Immortal!"
"I trust you'll keep your word!"
Sun Wukong narrowed his eyes and accepted the Netherworld Book. His fingertips gently brushed the pages. The aura of the Green Lotus flowed faintly through them, and it seemed he could hear billions of living beings whispering.
Sun Wukong narrowed his eyes and took the Netherworld Book. His fingertips gently brushed its pages. The aura of the green lotus flowed faintly through them, as if he could hear countless living beings whispering.
He gave a cold snort, his expression indifferent yet marked by deep resolve:
He snorted. His expression was indifferent, yet his resolve ran deep:
"Don't worry, King Yama. I know what I'm doing."
"Don't worry, King Yama. I know what I'm doing."
With that, he sat cross-legged on the spot, opened the Netherworld Book across his knees, and began to read.
With that, he sat cross-legged on the spot, opened the Netherworld Book across his knees, and began to look through it.
The ancient pages rippled like water. Names drifted up and down across them, while deathly energy seemed to swirl in the darkness.
The ancient pages rippled like water. Lines of names drifted across them, surrounded by a faint, deathly aura.
Before long, he found the names he recognized.
Before long, he found the names he recognized.
[Marshal Ma, Red-Buttocked Macaque, one of the Four Mischievous Monkeys. He understood yin and yang, knew how to deal with people, was skilled at coming and going, and could evade death and prolong life. Lifespan: 542 years.]
[Marshal Ma, Red-tailed Macaque Monkey, one of the Four Monkeys of Chaos. He understood yin and yang, knew the ways of the world, could come and go freely, and could evade death and prolong life. Lifespan: 542 years.]
[Marshal Liu, Red-Buttocked Macaque, one of the Four Mischievous Monkeys. He understood yin and yang, knew how to deal with people, was skilled at coming and going, and could evade death and prolong life. Lifespan: 568 years.]
[Marshal Liu, Red-tailed Macaque Monkey, one of the Four Monkeys of Chaos. He understood yin and yang, knew the ways of the world, could come and go freely, and could evade death and prolong life. Lifespan: 568 years.]
[General Beng, Long-Armed Gibbon, one of the Four Mischievous Monkeys. He could grasp the sun and moon, shrink a thousand mountains, and manipulate the universe. Lifespan: 438 years.]
[General Beng, Long-armed Ape Monkey, one of the Four Monkeys of Chaos. He could seize the sun and moon, shrink a thousand mountains, and manipulate Qiankun. Lifespan: 438 years.]
[General Ba, Long-Armed Gibbon, one of the Four Mischievous Monkeys. He could grasp the sun and moon, shrink a thousand mountains, and manipulate the universe. Lifespan: 395 years.]
[General Ba, Long-armed Ape Monkey, one of the Four Monkeys of Chaos. He could seize the sun and moon, shrink a thousand mountains, and manipulate Qiankun. Lifespan: 395 years.]
Looking at the names, a hint of warmth passed through Sun Wukong's eyes. His fingertips slowly traced across the page.
As Sun Wukong gazed at the names, a trace of warmth flickered in his eyes. His fingertips moved slowly across the page.
These were the brothers who had first followed him when he began building up Flower-Fruit Mountain and carving out a place for himself. They had stood by him through countless dangers, loyal to the end. Many of the monkeys had only mediocre talents. If they followed their allotted fates, they might not last more than a few years before their souls returned to the Yellow Springs.
These were the brothers who had first followed him when he'd built his power on Flower-Fruit Mountain. They had been through countless dangers and near-death experiences, remaining loyal to him through it all. Many of the monkeys had only modest talent, and if their fates held true, they might not last more than a few years before returning to the underworld.
He sighed, then his gaze turned cold. He picked up the Judge's Brush and lightly drew a line.
He sighed, then his gaze turned cold. Picking up the Judge's Brush, he made a gentle stroke.
A shadowy glimmer flashed, and the names quietly vanished from the Netherworld Book, as though they had never existed.
A dim light flashed, and the names quietly vanished from the Netherworld Book, as if they had never been there.
One after another, Sun Wukong crossed out more than two hundred names, each stroke firm and unhesitating.
Sun Wukong crossed out more than two hundred names, one by one, without hesitation.
With each name he crossed out, wisps of black energy seeped from the Netherworld Book into his fingertips, turning into karmic retribution that clung to him.
Each time he crossed out a name, wisps of black smoke seemed to seep from the Netherworld Book into his fingertips, becoming karmic burden that clung to him.
Yet his expression didn't change. He let that heavy karma settle on his shoulders.
Yet his expression never changed. He let the heavy burden of karma settle on his shoulders.
As long as these old companions could live on and cultivate in peace, they might one day attain the body of a Golden Immortal. Then they would truly escape the shackles of life and death and never again be bound by reincarnation.
As long as his old companions could survive and cultivate in peace, they might one day attain Golden Immortal bodies and truly escape the shackles of life and death, never again bound by reincarnation.
Yin winds gusted through the Hall of Darkness. King Yama watched in terror but didn't dare speak up to stop him. He could only stand respectfully to one side, cold sweat soaking through his clothes.
Cold winds swept through the underworld hall. King Yama watched in terror, but didn't dare stop him. He could only stand deferentially to one side, cold sweat soaking through his robes.
At last, the final name was crossed out.
At last, he crossed out the final name.
Sun Wukong gently closed the Netherworld Book. With what seemed like a sigh, he handed the blue tome back to King Yama and said coolly:
Sun Wukong gently closed the Netherworld Book, seeming to sigh as he returned the green volume to King Yama. He spoke coolly:
"All right. I'm done here."
"Good. I'm done here."
King Yama accepted the Netherworld Book with both hands. He let out a relieved breath and bowed, saying repeatedly:
King Yama took the Netherworld Book in both hands and let out a relieved breath. Bowing, he said repeatedly:
"Thank you, Immortal! I'm deeply grateful... At last, I'll be able to answer to the Buddhist sect and the Jade Emperor..."
"Thank you, Immortal. I'm deeply grateful... At last, I can give the Buddhist sect and the Jade Emperor an account of what happened..."
Sun Wukong glanced at him, gave a scornful laugh, then turned and strode toward the hall's exit.
Sun Wukong glanced at him, scoffed, and strode toward the hall's exit.
"King Yama, take care of yourself! I have important matters to attend to, so I won't waste any more time with you in this gloomy den of ghosts."
"King Yama, take care of yourself! I have important business to attend to, so I won't waste any more time with you in this dreary ghost cave."
Before his words had even faded, he swept his sleeve. The icy ghostly energy burst apart, and the monkey's figure took one step forward—and vanished.
Before he'd finished speaking, he swept his sleeve, and the icy ghostly aura exploded apart. The monkey's figure took a single step and vanished.
Only then did the countless little ghosts in the hall cautiously raise their heads. All that remained at the entrance was a fading image, while the defiant silhouette and arrogant laughter seemed to echo through the Hall of Darkness for a long time.
Only then did the countless little ghosts in the hall dare to look up. At the doorway, only a fading afterimage remained, along with the faint memory of that defiant back and boisterous laughter, which echoed through the underworld hall for a long time.
King Yama stared at the spot where Sun Wukong had disappeared, his expression shifting between dark and pale.
King Yama stared at the spot where Sun Wukong had vanished, his expression shifting between darkness and light.
Judge Cui swallowed and muttered under his breath:
Judge Cui swallowed and muttered under his breath:
"Your Majesty... that monkey's even more troublesome than we expected!"
"Your Majesty...that Mischievous Monkey is even more troublesome than we expected!"
King Yama's face flushed, then paled. He gritted his teeth and muttered:
King Yama's face turned pale, then flushed. He clenched his teeth and muttered:
"Now look at us! Not only did we give that monkey so many benefits, we'll have to pay tribute every year, too. Sigh! More importantly, that monkey crossed out names in the Netherworld Book!"
"Look where we are now. We've given that monkey so many benefits, and we'll have to pay him tribute every year. Sigh! Worse still, he crossed names out of the Netherworld Book!"
Judge Cui let out a mournful sigh as well. He put away the Judge's Brush and said with a furrowed brow:
Judge Cui sighed as well. He put away the Judge's Brush and said with a frown:
"Your Majesty, crossing out names in the Netherworld Book is an even graver crime than burning the Book of Life and Death. We should go report this to the Jade Emperor at once!"
"Your Majesty, what that monkey did by crossing names out of the Netherworld Book is even more heinous than burning the Book of Life and Death. We should report it to the Jade Emperor at once!"
"He's only a Taiyi Golden Immortal. If the Jade Emperor issues an order, what trouble could he possibly cause?"
"He's only a Grand Unity Golden Immortal. If the Jade Emperor issues an order, what trouble could he possibly cause?"
King Yama's brow remained furrowed. He gave a bitter smile and said:
King Yama's brow remained furrowed. He gave a bitter smile and said:
"I'm not worried about that monkey. He's only a Taiyi Golden Immortal! I'm just afraid Lady Pingxin will blame us for allowing those names to be crossed out in the Netherworld Book."
"I'm not worried about that monkey. He's only a Grand Unity Golden Immortal! I'm just afraid Empress Pingxin will blame us for letting him cross names out of the Netherworld Book!"
Hearing this, Judge Cui lowered his voice and said quietly:
Hearing this, Judge Cui lowered his voice and said quietly:
"Your Majesty, has anything that happened in the Netherworld ever escaped Lady Pingxin's notice?"
"Your Majesty, what happens in the netherworld that escapes Empress Pingxin's notice?"
"She hasn't said a word about it even now, so clearly she's given her tacit approval. You needn't worry!"
"She hasn't said a word, which shows she tacitly approved. You needn't worry, Your Majesty!"
Hearing this, King Yama nodded and gave a relieved smile. He turned to Judge Cui and said:
Hearing this, King Yama nodded and smiled with relief. He said to Judge Cui:
"That's right, that's right. You're quite right. I really wasn't thinking straight!"
"That's right, that's right. You make a good point. I must have lost my head!"
With that, King Yama straightened his robes and spoke again:
With that, King Yama straightened his robes and spoke again:
"I'll go to the Celestial Court and file a formal complaint!"
"I'll go to the Heavenly Court and lodge a complaint with the Jade Emperor!"
"Hmph, that monkey's good days are numbered. Now we'll see what the Jade Emperor does!"
"Hmph, that monkey's good days are numbered. Now it's up to the Jade Emperor!"
Before you continue