The Humble Netherworld!

Seeing Sun Qingcang's demeanor,

Lu Chen was delighted and immediately returned the salute with cupped fists. "You're too courteous, Patriarch Sun. My name is Lu Chen. I truly don't deserve to be called 'sir'!"

A rare smile appeared on Sun Qingcang's face. He nodded. "Then I'll call you Young Friend Lu. I never expected that, at such a young age, Young Friend Lu would already have done something so earth-shaking. In my forty years, Sun Qingcang has seen countless heroes, but someone like you may not appear even once in ten years. Today, my eyes have truly been opened!"

Lu Chen waved a hand and got to the point. "Patriarch Sun, it's getting late. Let's act as soon as possible. Oh, and worshipping the Underworld Office isn't like worshipping heavenly gods. The fewer people around... the better."

Sun Qingcang nodded. "Sun understands that."

He turned to Zhao Zhihong beside him. "Supervisor Zhao, please help me obtain a few sticks of incense for King Yama. Which kind does Young Friend Lu require?"

Lu Chen said, "This is also my first time worshipping King Yama, and my Divine Service Rating is still zero. How about this—please get three sticks."

Sun Qingcang froze. "Three sticks will be enough?"

Lu Chen nodded. "Success or failure will be decided within these three sticks!"

If three sticks still weren't enough,

then there was a high chance it would never succeed.

Sun Qingcang took a deep breath and answered solemnly, "Alright! We'll do as Young Friend Lu says! Supervisor Zhao, then I'll have to trouble you!"

Zhao Zhihong was fucking speechless.

When they needed him, it was "I'll have to trouble you."

When they didn't, it was either "shut up" or throwing their weight around.

Sure enough, not a single one of these big shots was any good.

Originally, Zhao Zhihong had wanted to say a little more about destined affinity and attack Lu Chen a few times.

But judging by Sun Qingcang's attitude, saying even one more word would only make himself look bad.

Helpless, he could only take his leave first and go obtain incense for Lu Chen.

Damn it, he was a Third Grade Spirit Cultivator, the Zhao family's steward, and the person in charge of Zhao Clan Temple—yet he had to fetch incense for some little brat who hadn't even entered the ranks.

The more Zhao Zhihong thought about it, the more stifled he felt.

Lu Chen led the way, with Sun Qingcang and Song following close behind.

Sun Xingwen looked up at the sky, which was about to darken. Thinking of where they were headed, he couldn't help but shudder and whisper to Sun Yourong, "Sis, are we really going to that place?"

Sun Yourong shot her brother a glance and spat coldly, "Where did all that bravado from earlier go? Keep up!"

Sun Xingwen shrank his neck and could only follow helplessly.

Seeing that the spectacle had a 2.0 version, the worshippers all planned to continue following along.

Unexpectedly, the Sun family's bodyguards blocked their way without the slightest courtesy, forming a wall of bronze and iron that not even a mosquito could fly through.

Meanwhile, as the path grew narrower, the scenery became increasingly desolate.

Coupled with the falling night,

the group truly felt, in a daze, as though they were walking down a gloomy road to the nether realm.

"Young Friend Lu, there's something Sun doesn't quite understand. I'd like to ask for your guidance once more."

Sun Qingcang was, after all, a man who had seen the world. He paid no heed whatsoever to the surroundings.

"Please speak, Patriarch Sun."

"You said earlier that King Yama can grant people a longer life. Is there any concrete basis for that? Forgive Sun's limited knowledge, but this is truly the first time I've heard such a claim. I always believed King Yama only had authority over ghost envoys and the power to determine life and death. I never knew he possessed such divine abilities. If not for how certain you sounded, I would've asked earlier."

Although Sun Qingcang didn't know much about the Yin Gods of the Underworld, he at least possessed some common knowledge.

Everyone said King Yama hunted souls and claimed lives, yet now he suddenly had the ability to bestow blessings and extend one's lifespan. It truly sounded novel.

"Patriarch Sun, you said it yourself—King Yama's divine power is to determine life and death. Since he can determine death, naturally he can determine life as well."

Lu Chen didn't slow his pace. He turned back to glance at Sun Qingcang.

"If you insist on evidence, King Yama possesses a treasure called the Book of Life and Death. The life, death, and lifespan of every living being in this human world are recorded in that Book of Life and Death. If you can obtain King Yama's blessing and have him add just a tiny stroke to it, your father naturally won't have to die.

Taking a step back, even if he can't add years to the Book of Life and Death,

don't forget—who handles the work of hunting souls and claiming lives?

Black and White Impermanence!

And who commands Black and White Impermanence?

Lord Yama!

As long as Lord Yama shows mercy, tell me, can your father still die?

That's what they mean by the county magistrate being no match for the official in charge."

Listening to Lu Chen's explanation,

Sun Qingcang suddenly felt as though he were a green recruit before him.

He'd been bluffed into a daze.

The key was, after hearing it all, he genuinely couldn't find anything wrong with it!

"The Book of Life and Death? This is my first time hearing of such a treasure."

At that moment, Sun Yourong's puzzled voice came from behind them. "Mr. Lu, where did you hear such strange tales?"

Lu Chen said, "..."

Seriously? They didn't even know about the Book of Life and Death?

It seemed the Spirit Cultivators of this world had developed the Underworld far too poorly.

It would've been one thing to look down on the Netherworld tactically, but they actually despised it strategically too?

No wonder they didn't know King Yama could restore life and grant longevity.

Lu Chen truly couldn't be bothered explaining it to these novices and merely smiled faintly.

Seeing that Lu Chen was unwilling to say more, Sun Qingcang's heart tightened. This kid is anything but ordinary!

After a pause, he began flattering him again. "Young Friend Lu is so learned and knowledgeable that Sun's eyes have truly been opened. You seem about the same age as my son, but comparing the two of you only makes that son of mine look utterly worthless."

Sun Xingwen said, "Huh?"

Wait, I didn't even say anything!

But Sun Qingcang continued, "Young Friend, your ideas are unique and blaze a new trail, yet they're not without method. They're indeed worth trying!

However, from ancient times until now, whenever mortals speak of the Netherworld, they turn pale at the mention of it and avoid it like the plague.

As you know, my Sun family has a God Temple and also worships the Underworld.

But that is merely to make up the three numbers of [Heaven], [Earth], and [Man].

To establish a temple and open its doors, we had no choice but to worship it.

But throughout history, as far as I know, aside from certain evil cultivators who once worshipped the Netherworld in exchange for power,

normal cultivators all keep the Netherworld at a respectful distance, fearing they might be tainted by the Underworld Office's evil aura and suffer cultivation deviation.

Now you wish to pray to the Netherworld for my father's blessing and longer life. Whether you win or lose, you may become entangled in Karma.

Aren't you afraid?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Chen answered with a question instead. "Patriarch Sun, you said that opening a temple requires making up the three numbers of [Heaven], [Earth], and [Man]?"

Sun Qingcang nodded. "A God Temple communicates with the Three Realms, so [Heaven], [Earth], and [Man] are all indispensable.

But compared to the gods in heaven and the worshippers of the mortal world,

the Yin Gods of the Netherworld are instead the simplest link.

Usually, all one needs is to set aside a side room and hang up a plaque for the Underworld.

Then place a few memorial tablets at random.

There's no need for special communication. One can connect to the Netherworld and complete the [Earth] number among the three numbers of [Heaven], [Earth], and [Man].

It isn't like the heavenly gods, where every deity must be specifically contacted and invited to descend.

The procedures are cumbersome, and the funding immense.

At the slightest provocation, you need to mold a golden body or build a palace.

At the very least, you need to erect a shrine and set up a ritual ground."

"So that's how it is."

After hearing this, Lu Chen suddenly felt a little sorry for those Yin Gods of the Netherworld.

Wasn't this far too humble?

They were all gods, so how had they ended up like this?

Their treatment was truly one in the heavens and one underground.

And Lu Chen had also picked up on something else.

In order to seize the market in the mortal world, the entire Netherworld practically reeked of desperate bootlicking.

They had lowered the requirements as far as possible, just short of making entry completely barrier-free.

Unfortunately, they didn't understand one truth.

A bootlicker is a bootlicker—lick until the end, and you'll have nothing!

After all these centuries,

whenever people mentioned the Underworld, they still trembled at the mere rumor and fled in panic.

Meanwhile, the aloof heavenly gods enjoyed unceasing Incense Fire and boundless adoration.

No wonder they had collectively become a century-old cold stove no one bothered to visit!

The Netherworld itself needed to seriously reflect on this.

They needed to learn that rarity makes things precious!

Lu Chen shook his head with a chuckle before finally answering Sun Qingcang's earlier question. "Don't worry, Patriarch Sun. I'm not afraid! Though the Underworld is filled with Yin Gods, they're also properly enfeoffed Orthodox Gods. What is there to fear? As for those evil cultivators you mentioned, they're even less worth mentioning.

If a kitchen knife is used in the kitchen, it's a good helper for chopping meat and cutting vegetables; if it's used on a person, it's a deadly weapon for murder.

The knife itself isn't wrong. The one at fault is the person wielding it!"

Sun Qingcang raised a thumb and laughed heartily. "Young Friend Lu truly has courage and insight. Sun admires you."

As they spoke, the group had already arrived at their destination.

At the very end of the small path stood a tiny thatched hut leaking wind from all sides.

Even compared to the desolate rear courtyard, the hut's dilapidation was still shocking.

It was truly difficult to imagine that in the outer hall less than a hundred meters away, any god with even a little fame enjoyed a magnificent palace.

Yet this divine hall representing the entire Netherworld was so broken that it seemed a single gust of wind could make it collapse with a crash.

Before they even drew near, they saw an old plaque hanging before the rickety hut's door, bearing four large characters as crimson as blood:

—UNDERWORLD.

The setting sun was blood-red, making the words appear even more sinister.

"Gasp—"

Sun Xingwen sucked in a cold breath, feeling the temperature around him plummet as bone-piercing chill assailed him from every direction.