106 The Old Demon of Black Mountain
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“No one knows the origin of the Black Emperor, but the Black Emperor has long been aware of you. It is easy for him to find us, but as long as Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva remains, we stand a chance. Once Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva perishes, with only me left, I alone cannot stop the Black Emperor.”
“Unexpectedly, even the Thunder God has fallen victim to the Black Emperor’s wicked hand.”
The Emperor of the Eastern Peak continued speaking.
“Then why wasn’t the Black Emperor eliminated back then? Just how powerful is his force now? This doesn’t even take into account his own strength.”
Li Xintian struck right at the heart of the matter. It was indeed puzzling—when they could have destroyed him, why keep him alive? And to make matters worse, now they couldn’t control the situation without the protagonist’s help.
“Amitābha, the Black Emperor is not something that can be destroyed at will. It depends on fate.”
Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva clasped his hands together and sat cross-legged on a cloud bed, replying.
“What you’re saying is that the Black Emperor is like the protagonist of heaven and earth, protected by the very fabric of existence. No one can destroy him; he kills whoever he wishes. To kill him, we must wait until heaven and earth cease to protect him?”
Li Xintian suddenly laughed.
“Brother Li, you truly embody righteous spirit; you’ve immediately grasped the core issue.”
The King of Hell joked, and even the Emperor of the Eastern Peak chuckled. Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva chanted “Amitābha.”
“No need for praise. Since...” Li Xintian began, but his words were cut off by laughter.
“What day is it today? Everyone’s here?”
With a flicker in the air, the Black Emperor appeared.
“Black Emperor, what brings you here?”
The Emperor of the Eastern Peak looked at him with displeasure.
“Li Xintian, so you’ve actually left your body and soul. I really wanted to have a duel with you, but unfortunately, I’m not targeting you right now.”
Ignoring the Emperor, the Black Emperor looked at Li Xintian with awe.
“Your underworld means nothing to me; you’re barely holding on. However, since your underworld helped me once, I must repay the favor.”
The Black Emperor spoke with a casual air.
“Why do you do this?”
Li Xintian was truly puzzled by the Black Emperor’s motives.
“Haha, why I do this? Perhaps in the future, you will understand.”
The Black Emperor laughed as if hearing a joke. Wearing a mask, his true face was hidden.
“Enough talk. Let me accompany you on your final journey.”
The Black Emperor ceased laughing, raised his right hand palm-up, and a giant dragon’s head appeared behind him. Its eyes glowed red, surrounded by darkness. Suddenly, the dragon head shrank to the size of a small snake, and countless bolts of lightning shot at the Emperor of the Eastern Peak, Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva, and the King of Hell.
Seeing this, Li Xintian summoned his righteous energy, forming a circular shield to protect himself as well as Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva, the Emperor of the Eastern Peak, and the King of Hell.
The lightning struck the shield, transforming into a net that enveloped it.
“Amitābha!”
Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva chanted, extending his palm and channeling Buddha’s power, manifesting a swastika symbol. From this symbol emerged countless smaller swastikas, which collided fiercely with the Black Emperor’s lightning.
The King of Hell flipped his hand, producing the Book of Life and Death along with the Pen of Life and Death.
“Brother Li, we can’t hold out much longer. I must tell you: in the future, you will need to establish a new order. You have that authority.”
The Emperor of the Eastern Peak said sternly to Li Xintian.
“Emperor of the Eastern Peak, that puts a lot of pressure on me. Can you at least give me a hint?”
Li Xintian felt the weight on his shoulders grow heavier upon hearing this.
“Brother Li, you will understand when the time comes. For now, I entrust you with the Book of Life and Death and the Pen of Life and Death. I hope you can find a suitable successor when the time comes to pass them on.”
The King of Hell placed the book and pen before Li Xintian.
“The Book of Life and Death and the Pen of Life and Death—I happen to need these.”
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The Black Emperor saw the Book and Pen of Life and Death, which were exactly what he sought. Obtaining the Pen would greatly aid him.
He raised his other hand, forming a suction force that drew the Pen of Life and Death toward him.
Li Xintian already held the Book in his hands.
“Black Emperor, return the Pen of Life and Death.”
The Emperor of the Eastern Peak raised his right palm, channeling Yin energy, which transformed into a tornado and surged toward the Black Emperor.
With a flick of his sleeve, the Black Emperor effortlessly dispelled it. The tornado only puffed up his clothes but did not tear them.
“Quite refreshing, not bad,” the Black Emperor nodded appreciatively.
“Amitābha, venerable Black Emperor, please hand over the Pen of Life and Death. I am willing to surrender it myself.”
Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva clasped his hands and spoke.
“Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva, it only costs me some effort to deal with you. If you want me to give up the Pen, forget it. How about this: give me the Book of Life and Death, and I will leave the underworld. When you’re all gone, I will return. How does that sound?”
The Black Emperor retracted the Pen.
“Amitābha, Emperor of the Eastern Peak, King of Hell, I must leave now.”
Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva said this and transformed into a relic, rushing toward the Black Emperor.
“Just in time.”
Unfazed, the Black Emperor waved his hand, creating a black hole that sucked in the relic. A massive explosion erupted inside the black hole, causing the underworld to tremble and shake. Fragments flew through the air.
The Black Emperor waved his hand, stabilizing the debris.
“Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva!”
The Emperor of the Eastern Peak, King of Hell, and Li Xintian were stunned by the Bodhisattva’s resolute actions.
“Brother Li, we must now follow Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva’s path. You need to find a chance to seize the Pen of Life and Death from the Black Emperor. We will send you back to your physical body.”
The Emperor of the Eastern Peak turned to Li Xintian and said this, then without waiting for a reply, waved his hand and sent Li Xintian out of the underworld.
“Why send him away? If he stays here to fight you, it might cost you some effort. If he leaves, it will be easier for the two of you.”
The Black Emperor clapped his hands, applauding.
“Black Emperor, don’t think we’re unaware of your scheme. You came for him. You’re probably trying to seize Brother Li’s physical body.”
The Emperor of the Eastern Peak spat and said.
“Haha, as expected of the Emperor of the Eastern Peak. Kṣitigarbha Bodhisattva noticed it too, so he disrupted my plan to seize Li Xintian’s body. Now, I’ll send you on your way!”
The Black Emperor laughed heartily, then stopped.
“We won’t make it easy for you either!”
The Emperor of the Eastern Peak glanced at the King of Hell and nodded slightly.
“Boom!”
The entire underworld shook violently, sweeping through everywhere.
“Self-detonating the primordial spirit? Is he trying to throw the underworld into chaos? Or trying to make it freer? Or what?”
A circular purple shield surrounded the Black Emperor, protecting him. With a wave of his hand, the swirling dust scattered in the wind. The underworld was destroyed, reduced to wails and howls, a true purgatory with no one in control.
“Old Demon of the Black Mountain.”
The Black Emperor floated in the underworld sky and spoke.
“Black Emperor.”
A towering black mountain appeared before him.
“Old Demon of the Black Mountain, establish a City of the Wrongfully Dead here and govern the underworld. You may recruit allies. I will have the Black Hound assist you in building your power base. Don’t let me down.”
The Black Emperor did not even glance at the Old Demon of the Black Mountain as he spoke.
“Thank you, Black Emperor.”
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The Old Demon of the Black Mountain felt immense joy at being given dominion over the underworld.
“Woof, woof, woof!”
The Black Hound barked at the Black Emperor.
“You’re not forbidden from returning. Once the Old Demon of the Black Mountain establishes the City of the Wrongfully Dead, you may naturally return to my side.”
The Black Emperor stroked his chin.
“Old Demon of the Black Mountain, your body is too large. Let me help.”
The Black Emperor snapped his fingers, gathering Yin energy into the Old Demon, who transformed into a three-meter-tall figure with a stone face and claws longer than his fingers.
“Thank you, Black Emperor. The Black Mountain will never betray your trust.”
The Old Demon knelt and said.
“From now on, the underworld is under your jurisdiction. I won’t interfere or offer further help. Do you understand my meaning? Here, take this Pen of Life and Death.”
The Black Emperor lifted the Old Demon with a hand in midair.
“Yes, Black Emperor.”
The Old Demon raised his head, understanding the implications. The underworld was now his domain. He accepted the Pen of Life and Death from the Black Emperor.
The Black Emperor turned and vanished.
“Haha, the underworld will be mine from now on!”
The Old Demon laughed loudly.
“Woof, woof, woof!”
The Black Hound barked at the Old Demon, unwilling to stay in this grim place and preferring the comfort of the Black Emperor’s side.
“I will handle the Black Emperor’s affairs immediately.”
The Old Demon’s laughter faded as he spoke.
Li Xintian returned to his physical body, surrounded by spirits and monsters. The Four Fierce Ones glared fiercely at him.
Zou Wu stood nearby, baring his teeth at them.
Upon seeing Li Xintian’s return, the Four Fierce Ones vanished silently.
The little sword also returned inside Li Xintian’s body.
“Wake up, don’t sleep anymore.”
Li Xintian gently patted Zhuerdan’s face. Night had fallen.
“Where am I?”
“My lady!”
Zhuerdan came to his senses, got up, and ran to Zhu Keshi. He found that Zhang Xiaoman’s head had indeed been restored by Lu Pan, and he wailed in despair.
“Zhuerdan, you have only yourself to blame.”
“Let’s go back.”
Li Xintian said, then leapt onto Zou Wu’s back. Zou Wu strode through the air, flying toward the capital city.
Outside the Chen Residence, soldiers surrounded it.
“Cousin, why have you returned? I thought you fled for your life these past days. There are so many soldiers outside, all wanting to drag you into the palace. Have you done something wrong? If so, you should leave.”
Chen Yuanwen was surprised to see Li Xintian return and pulled him aside.
“No, nothing happened. I had some matters to attend to these days; I wasn’t running away. I still have to go to the palace to see what’s going on.”
Li Xintian recalled Yao Shuang’s dragon aura and suspected it was related to the palace.
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