A Twist of Fate Leads to the Underworld

"I really don't have much time left. Before I die, I want to hear you tell me about your experiences over the years."

The clan chief looked at the Stone Monkey with a kind expression and said.

Afterwards, Sun Wukong told the clan leader about his experiences since leaving Flower-Fruit Mountain, and how he met Red Sparrow, who was the most important friend to him besides them.

He recounted how he found the immortal's cave abode, how he successfully became the immortal's disciple, how the immortal bestowed upon him the name Sun Wukong after his successful apprenticeship, and how he understood the immortal's meaning and successfully learned his true skills.

After Sun Wukong finished speaking, the clan chief remained still. Sun Wukong, with trembling hands, checked the clan chief's breath and found that the clan chief was simply asleep. Sun Wukong breathed into the clan chief's body, then left and went to his own residence to lie down on the bed and rest.

In his dream, Sun Wukong felt as if he had arrived at some place. When he opened his eyes, he found a huge city in front of him. The words "Netherworld Realm" were written on the city gate. At this moment, he was bound by chains and led by two soul-collecting messengers.

"This Netherworld Realm is the abode of the Yamas of the Ten Courts. Why did you two bring me here?"

Sun Wukong spoke directly to them and asked.

"Your lifespan has ended today. We two have been ordered to come and collect your soul here."

The two soul-reapers walking in front of him turned around and answered.

"I have attained immortality, transcending the Three Realms and the Five Elements, and my lifespan is equal to that of heaven. Why have you two come to arrest me? I want to see the Yamas of the Ten Courts and have a proper discussion with them, or you two will lose your heads."

Sun Wukong stated directly that he wanted to meet the Yamas of the Ten Courts.

Logically, Sun Wukong, having already been granted the Netherworld Realm Sun Wukong. Yet, such a mistake has occurred today.

This time, the two Soul-Hooking Stones in front ignored Sun Wukong and instead used all their strength to try to take him somewhere.

Sun Wukong was immediately enraged. He forcefully broke free of the iron chains binding him, and after pinning the two soul-reaping messengers to the ground, he wanted to kill them with his fist, but then he remembered what Old Ancestor Bodhi had told him.

"After becoming strong, you cannot use your strength to do evil. If you can reason with someone, try to reason with them. If you can't reason with them, then use your fists. You must understand the principle of 'courtesy first, then force'."

Thinking of this, Sun Wukong simply knocked the two of them unconscious, then stormed into the Netherworld Realm, causing a ruckus in the city, but without intentionally harming anyone, constantly shouting that he was going to see the Yamas of the Ten Courts.

After witnessing Sun Wukong's strength, and given that he only had this request, one person mustered up his courage and stepped forward, leading him to the location of the Yamas of the Ten Courts.

"Who are you, and why are you causing such a ruckus in the Netherworld City?"

As soon as Sun Wukong entered, a Yama (King of Hell) spoke up.

"I am Sun Wukong from the Water Curtain Cave of Flower-Fruit Mountain. I am beyond the Three Realms and outside the Five Elements. By all accounts, my lifespan should be as long as heaven's. Yet you sent the Soul Reaper to lure me into this Netherworld Realm. I said I wanted to reason with you, but they all tried to stop me. If I hadn't made this scene, how could I have seen you?"

Sun Wukong, neither humble nor arrogant, explained his origins and the reasons for his actions.

Are you the Yamas of the Ten Courts?

Sun Wukong then inquired about their identities.

"To us are the Yamas of the Ten Courts you are looking for. We are King Qin Guang, King Chujiang, King Songdi, King Wuguan, King Yanluo, King Pingdeng Deng, King Dushi King Mount Tai, King Biancheng King Zhuanlun."

At this moment, King Qin Guang, who had just asked about Sun Wukong's origins, answered his question.

"You just said you've attained immortality and live as long as heaven, yet you were still summoned here by our soul-reapers. I suspect there's some misunderstanding. There are countless people in this world with the same name; perhaps they summoned the wrong person. I apologize to you here."

King Qin Guang sensed Sun Wukong's strength and knew he wasn't lying, so he apologized to him.

"I don't believe your story. There's no such thing as 'seducing the wrong person.' Let me see your Book of Life and Death."

Sun Wukong expressed his disbelief and demanded to see the Book of Life and Death.

King Qin Guang knew he was in the wrong, so he didn't argue with Sun Wukong and instead sent a junior judge to take Sun Wukong to see the Book of Life and Death.

After searching through a large number of Book of Life and Death, Sun Wukong did indeed find the one with his name on it. It read: Sun Wukong, one of the Four Lords of Chaos, the Numinous Stone Monkey, with a lifespan of 586 years, died peacefully.

"It says here that my lifespan is 586 years. Even if I don't cultivate immortality and live as long as the heavens, it shouldn't be at this time that they come to take my soul."

Then Sun Wukong picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and changed his lifespan.

Sun Wukong then found the monkeys' register of life and death, changed the lifespan of each of their names to endless, said to Yama of the Snowy Land that this was compensation, then put down the Book of Life and Death and Death and the pen, and left Hall of Yama.

"Sun Wukong, you probably don't know the way back. We'll send two soul-reapers to take you back."

Even though two soul-reapers came out after the king finished speaking to Sun Wukong, they walked in front of Sun Wukong and gestured for him to follow them.

"Then thank you very much for King Qin Guang's kindness."

Sun Wukong turned and bowed to King Qin Guang to express his gratitude, then followed the Soul Reaper.

The Soul Reaper did not travel very fast. After about an hour, Sun Wukong finally left the Netherworld Realm and returned to Flower-Fruit Mountain.

"Alright, you two go back now. I can walk the rest of the way myself."

After leaving the Netherworld Realm, Sun Wukong waved to signal the two soul-reapers to return. The two soul-reapers bowed to Sun Wukong and then disappeared. Sun Wukong was not surprised and flew straight towards the Water Curtain Cave. After a while, he arrived next to his body. He lay down and his soul and body merged into one. He woke up shortly afterward.

It was already dawn, and the sky began to lighten with the first hint of dawn. Not long after, the sun gradually rose from the sea in the east, and by then almost all the monkeys had gotten up.

At this moment, the group leader suddenly appeared and all the monkeys gathered together.

"Today I have to announce something to everyone: my time is running out, and I may die soon. Sun Wukong, also known as the Stone Monkey, will be your next king. From now on, you must obey his orders. Do you understand?"