The vast, majestic voice from the heavens resounded across the entire Douluo Continent!
As the voice fell silent, the figure of Yue Guan, White Impermanence, grew clearer upon the heavenly screen.
His pure white mourning robes fluttered in the wind, and four blood-red characters stood out on the tall hat atop his head.
Fortune at First Sight!
Yue Guan held a pitch-black Mourning Staff, dense Nether Qi coiling around him. Though he merely stood there in silence, he seemed to have become one with the cycle of life and death throughout heaven and earth.
That terrifying divine power from the depths of the netherworld pressed down through the heavenly screen, leaving countless Soul Masters struggling to breathe.
At that moment, all of Douluo Star was plunged into unprecedented shock.
Shrek Academy in particular.
Yu Xiaogang stared fixedly at the heavenly screen, the contempt and mockery in his eyes long gone.
Not long ago, he had been certain that a mere Yue Guan, even if he had been lucky enough to return from death, could never threaten the gods of the Divine Realm.
But now?
The nether divine power that seemed capable of freezing heaven and earth was rushing straight at him through the heavenly screen.
Despite the boundless space and time between them, Yu Xiaogang could still feel the terrifying pressure it contained.
It was a power entirely different from Soul Power and divine power.
Icy, profound, ancient!
It seemed to have come from before the birth of heaven and earth, yet also to have spanned countless ages, witnessing the birth and demise of all living things.
Yu Xiaogang swallowed involuntarily, his face alternating between pale and ashen.
"Th-this is impossible!"
"Does Yue Guan really possess the strength of a God King?"
His voice trembled. Even he could hardly believe the words he had just spoken.
He had studied Martial Soul Theory for so many years, and his lifelong pursuit had been to prove his theories and prove that he was not a worthless piece of trash.
Yet now, Yue Guan, who had lived in the same era as him, had actually become a God King-level powerhouse standing above countless gods!
That fact was even harder to bear than a slap across his face.
The heavenly screen, however, paid no heed to Yu Xiaogang's feelings.
As the figure of Yue Guan, White Impermanence, fully appeared, the majestic voice rang out once more.
[For Yue Guan, White Impermanence, his daily work mostly consists of receiving and guiding virtuous souls.]
[All things in the world have good and evil.]
[In a person's lifetime, good deeds and evil deeds each have their own causes and consequences.]
[After a living being perishes, its soul leaves its body and naturally has a destination of its own.]
[White Impermanence Yue Guan is responsible for receiving and guiding the souls of those who have been judged and found to be virtuous.]
[Under White Impermanence's guidance, they will enter the Underworld and travel to their appointed destinations.]
The voice from the heavens echoed on, as though crossing the boundary between life and death to slowly reveal a world that the people of Douluo Continent had never truly understood.
For a moment, an eerie silence fell over the entire continent.
Then deafening cries of astonishment erupted!
"What? Souls?!"
"Souls really do exist after people die?"
"Heavens! Does that mean we don't disappear completely after death, but continue to exist as souls?"
Countless people gazed up at the sky, their eyes filled with shock.
For ordinary people, death had always been something to fear.
They had no great strength, no ability to extend their lives, and still less any means of reversing life and death.
When their lives came to an end, it seemed that only endless darkness awaited them.
But now, the heavenly screen had told them that death did not mean complete annihilation!
After a person died, their soul still existed.
And in this world, there were even gods specifically responsible for receiving and guiding the souls of the dead!
This overturned what people on Douluo Continent had believed for countless years!
"Yue Guan, White Impermanence... so he's a god responsible for guiding the souls of the dead!"
An elderly villager gazed up at the sky, his clouded eyes full of disbelief.
"Does that mean ordinary people like us might also have a chance to be guided by him after we die?"
"If that's true, that would be wonderful!"
As those words spread, more and more ordinary people began to talk.
Their eyes held both awe of death and curiosity about the unknown world.
Some people living in poverty even felt a hint of indescribable anticipation at that moment.
What if there really was a next life after death?
What if their souls could enter the Underworld and be properly cared for?
Then might they have a chance to live entirely different lives in another world?
The thought was like a faint spark, illuminating the bleak hearts of countless people at the bottom of society.
"If there's a next life, I'll definitely become a Soul Master!"
"Yes! If I could live another life, I'd never want to be like I am now, unable to control even my own fate!"
"If I could have a Martial Soul, even the lowest-grade one, it would be better than being trapped in this remote village my whole life!"
Voices filled with longing rang out across Douluo Continent.
For those born into poverty, being a Soul Master was more than a profession; it was their only hope of changing their fate.
Unfortunately, with the fall of Spirit Hall, the Martial Soul Awakening system that had once spanned the continent had long since ceased to exist.
It had become increasingly difficult for ordinary people to awaken their Martial Souls.
Opportunities that had once been within reach had now become unattainable dreams.
At that thought, countless people at the bottom of society could not help remembering Spirit Hall.
Though Spirit Hall had once had its share of conflict and strife, it had at least offered people like them, who had no backing, a path into the world of Soul Masters.
Now, that path had been completely cut off.
"If Spirit Hall could really return..."
Someone in the crowd murmured.
In an instant, the eyes of many nearby lit up.
They did not care about Spirit Hall's old power struggles, nor about the grudges and entanglements among its higher-ups.
All they knew was that Spirit Hall really had once given them a chance to change their fate.
Now, with the appearance of Yue Guan, White Impermanence, the wish they had long buried in their hearts burned once more.
Perhaps the day really will come when Spirit Hall returns!
Once the thought appeared, it could no longer be easily suppressed.
And Yue Guan, White Impermanence, on the heavenly screen seemed to become a symbol of that hope in their hearts.
Compared with the shock of the ordinary people on Douluo Continent, the atmosphere in the Divine Realm was no less tense.
Inside the Asura God Temple, the Shrek Seven Devils had still been debating the Underworld's origins, but as the heavenly screen revealed more, everyone fell silent.
They finally realized just how shallow their previous understanding of the Underworld had been.
This was no ordinary faction of the Divine Realm.
Still less was it something that could be dealt with casually by force.
After death, souls went to the Underworld.
That piece of information alone was enough to make everyone's scalp tingle.
After all, although they had become gods, they still had not truly mastered the power over the cycle of life and death.
But the Underworld was different!
According to the heavenly screen, White Impermanence Yue Guan's duty was to receive and guide the souls of the dead.
In other words, this mysterious faction could directly reach into the realm beyond a living being's death!
"Th-this is a little too incredible."
Oscar opened his mouth, but his usually eloquent tongue seemed to have failed him.
Ning Rongrong was no longer as relaxed as before, either.
She came from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and had been accustomed to seeing all kinds of rare treasures since childhood. She had also encountered many legends about gods.
Yet she had never heard of a faction called the Underworld that specifically managed the souls of the dead!
Even Ma Hongjun fell unusually quiet.
He had originally wanted to take this opportunity to make a few mocking remarks at Tang San's expense, but now, even he did not know what to say.
After all, if the Underworld truly controlled the cycle of life and death, could gods like them really stay entirely out of its affairs?
At that thought, Ma Hongjun could not help shivering.
Only Tang San seemed to have suddenly thought of something.
His pupils contracted sharply, and much of the color drained from his face in an instant.
"The Underworld..."
He stared fixedly at the heavenly screen, his lips trembling slightly.
"No way. Could it really be that Underworld?"
His sudden exclamation instantly drew everyone's attention.
Xiao Wu was the first to turn, looking at Tang San in confusion.
Dai Mubai stepped forward at once.
"Little San, do you know something?"
"Have you heard of the Underworld before?"
At those words, everyone's eyes turned to him in unison.
Even the usually silent Zhu Zhuqing could not help taking a few more glances at Tang San.
After all, Tang San had always been knowledgeable and possessed many trump cards unknown to others.
If he truly knew the Underworld's origins, that would undoubtedly be extremely important information for them.
Yet Tang San was in no state of mind to answer them.
Those words had completely stirred the memories buried deep in his mind!
The Underworld!
It was a place that had also existed in the legends he remembered from his previous life!
The netherworld, the Ten Courts of Yama, Ox-Head and Horse-Face, Black and White Impermanence!
These names, which had existed only in the legends of his previous life, were gradually overlapping with the scene on the heavenly screen!
That white mourning robe in particular, and the tall hat with "Fortune at First Sight" written on it, shattered the last trace of hope in Tang San's heart!
If this were merely a faction with the same name, that would be one thing.
But if... Tang San did not dare think any further.
Because if his suspicion proved true, the Underworld before him was probably far beyond anything the Douluo God Realm could easily handle!
"No, it can't be..."
Tang San muttered to himself, a fine layer of cold sweat appearing on his forehead.
He had originally thought that coming to Douluo Continent with the memories of his previous life had given him every advantage.
Those things that had once existed only in legend were merely knowledge he could use to aid his own growth.
But now, he suddenly realized that things seemed to have gone completely beyond his control!
If even the Underworld could truly exist, how many of the legends he remembered from his previous life about the order of heaven and earth and the cycle of life and death might also be true?
Just as Tang San was gripped by shock, Xiao Wu finally noticed that something was wrong with him.
She hurried forward, wrapped her arms around Tang San's arm, and comforted him softly:
"Third Brother, what's wrong?"
"I'm here. You don't need to be afraid."
"If you know something, tell everyone. No matter what happens, we'll be here with you."
Hearing her familiar voice, Tang San's nearly frozen thoughts finally began to stir.
He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the raging waves surging in his heart.
Then he slowly raised his head and looked at the Shrek Seven Devils, whose expressions all differed.
"If... this really is the Underworld from my memories..."
Tang San paused, his voice so low it was almost hoarse.
"Then I'm afraid we really are in serious trouble."
"Because that isn't an ordinary faction of the Divine Realm."
"It's a place that truly controls the cycle of life and death!"
As his words fell, the Asura God Temple fell utterly silent.
Dai Mubai and the others looked at one another, all trace of their earlier ease gone from their faces.
Even Xiao Wu could not help letting her smile fade.
Although they did not know just how terrifying the Underworld Tang San spoke of was, they could tell from his reaction that this time, they had likely encountered an unimaginable opponent!
Just as everyone was reeling, the image on the heavenly screen changed once more.
Yue Guan, White Impermanence, slowly raised his head.
That face, once familiar to countless people, now bore an indescribable majesty.
The pitch-black Mourning Staff in his hand trembled slightly, and Nether Qi spread outward like a tide.
The voice of the heavenly screen rang out again.
[For White Impermanence Yue Guan, receiving and guiding virtuous souls is indeed his duty.]
[But the power he commands is by no means limited to guiding the souls of the dead!]
[None can withstand a single strike of the Mourning Staff!]