Volume Four: The Buddha Saves No One, Only I, the Demon, Deliver Them - The Treasure That Holds the Springs (Part One)

"Please follow me, Exalted Immortal." Lord Emperor did not state his request outright. Instead, he led Luo Qian beneath the Underworld Capital. "This is one of the Ninefold Nether Springs' sources," he said as they descended a suspended stairway. "The entire Netherworld was built upon the Ninefold Nether Springs. Without the yin energy they release, no creature here could survive, just as humans cannot live without air. But if that energy erupted unchecked, it would be a disaster for the Netherworld."

"So when the Netherworld was founded, five treasures were placed over the five spring sources. They kept the yin energy of the Ninefold Netherworld Springs flowing slowly enough to prevent disaster. Every three thousand years, though, the springs' yin energy taints the treasures and robs them of their power. It has been two thousand eight hundred and ninety years since they were last replaced. Finding new treasures is now urgent."

Lord Emperor looked at Luo Qian expectantly. "Exalted Immortal, those five treasures were Buddhist Treasures of the highest order. The treasure in your hand also appears to be a Buddhist artifact, so I hoped you might help us obtain five Buddhist Treasures." Luo Qian relaxed. As long as he doesn't want my Purple-Gold Alms Bowl.

Even so, he dared not agree too quickly. Could anything capable of holding down the entire Netherworld be easy to obtain? If he promised now and those bald heads in the Buddha Realm refused to give him what he needed, he would be caught between a rock and a hard place.

"Let me see what these treasures are," he said. Delighted that Luo Qian had not refused outright, the emperor hurried ahead. "This way, Exalted Immortal." Luo Qian grew curious. "Why not ask the Immortal Emperor for help?" The emperor looked troubled. "The Immortal