The Netherworld's edge, Hall of Listening and Judging.
This hall was where Ran Deng's Evil Corpse Clone performed his duties, specializing in converting those stranded resentful souls who, because of their excessive obsessions and overwhelming resentment qi, could not enter the cycle of reincarnation normally.
The hall was deep and shadowy, its lamps burning eternally. Yet they offered no warmth—instead, they cast the unique, dim glow of the Spirit Coffin Palace Lantern, imbued with the meaning of salvation and annihilation.
Ran Deng's clone was a plainly featured Daoist, his compassionate expression tinged with a trace of cold desolation.
He sat upright on the ritual platform in the hall. The palace lantern in his hand glowed like a bean-sized flame, yet illuminated the countless struggling, wailing phantoms of resentful souls within. Wherever its light reached, resentment qi lessened and obsessions gradually faded, allowing them to drift toward the entrance to reincarnation in a daze.
At that moment, the spell in his hand paused slightly. His deep-set eyes lifted, as though piercing through the many obstacles of the hall and the Netherworld to gaze toward Longevity Mountain in the Eastern Lands.
Almost at the same time, West Kunlun, Yaochi Immortal Realm.
Immortal clouds curled through the air, spiritual springs tinkled, Strange Flowers and Exotic Herbs flourished, and immortal cranes danced gracefully.
Upon the Cloud Bed, the Queen Mother of the West Main Body—the Head of Female Immortals, dignified and noble, with the wisdom accumulated through the years—slowly awoke from deep meditation.
She opened her Phoenix Eyes. A complex, unreadable light flashed within them: relief, resolve, and a faint wistfulness for the days gone by.
She gently raised a hand. A soft immortal radiance flew out of the hall, and before long, an extraordinary Azure Luan with a body of blue-green feathers led