Chapter 1629 - 296:

Li Zhiyuan: "Great Emperor, is it through suppressing them in this manner that you gain merit from the Heavenly Dao?"

Shadow: "No."

Departing from this layer again, proceeding to a higher level, this is the topmost layer, much smaller in area than the two below, with only a very small palace.

Because the master here doesn't need to proclaim his majesty in such a way, under normal circumstances, it is impossible for ghosts to reach this place.

Pushing the door and entering, inside is a contiguous space, not divided for other uses.

A long table is placed here, carved with noble patterns, and adorned with a plethora of exquisite delicacies.

These are offerings from sacrifices.

Li Zhiyuan's gaze begins to roam over the offerings.

The table is too long, and there are too many offerings, making it difficult to find what he's looking for.

As if knowing what the young boy is searching for, the shadow leads him to the depths and stands there.

"What you are looking for is here."

This section of the table is separately partitioned, where exquisite dishes no longer adorn the surface, replaced by numerous body parts.

Especially in the middle, there is a large bronze cauldron containing two enormous dog testicles.

"Master, I must have misunderstood, you don't like these after all, so from now on, I'll offer something nice to you during festivals."

The shadow says nothing, merely lifting the boy's hand, guiding it towards the cauldron.

Li Zhiyuan's eyes slowly widen.

Thankfully, the dreadful event did not take place.

The boy's hand was not asked to touch or lift the dog testicles but was aligned at the center of the cauldron.

Patterns on the cauldron shimmered and engraved themselves into the boy's palm, permeating his soul at remarkable speed.

Behind him, the shadow's voice carries an imposing tone:

"From today on, you shall inherit my lineage in skill!"

Upon the words ending, Li Zhiyuan perceives that behind him, another gaze appears and takes a good while to fade away.

That pair of eyes should be the shadow of inheritance from his own causality.

No need for him to use the Red Line for deduction anymore, the shadow of the Great Emperor behind him is undoubtedly exceedingly clear now.

With this as a catalyst, the power of his Fengdu Twelve Commandments receives further enhancement, no, it's practically a qualitative leap.

The method he originally researched was using Feng Shui Power to fake the emperor's aura, to enhance the power of skill, but faking can never compare to genuine recognition.

Thus, the straightforward and efficient yet bloodily grotesque master-apprentice ritual comes to an official end.

Li Zhiyuan believes, once he returns, "Walking River Behavior Regulations" can detail this experience further, allowing companions who weren't present to feel as if living through it.

A separate article titled "Underworld Travel Journal" should be written.

However, while the second task is completed, Li Zhiyuan hasn't forgotten the first task, the young boy asks again:

"Where's Meng Meng?"

"Brother Xiao Yuan?"

Yin Meng's voice arises from afar.

The shadow leads Li Zhiyuan over, the table is overly long, and the space here is exceedingly vast, only after covering a long distance does Li Zhiyuan see Yin Meng similarly exploring towards them.

Yin Meng is clad in a very retro long dress, and her skin is even paler.

"Brother Xiao Yuan!"

Yin Meng reveals a delighted smile, just now she vaguely heard Brother Xiao Yuan inquiring about her location.

Upon arriving at such a place, Brother Xiao Yuan still cares about her, making Yin Meng's heart deeply touched.

"Let's go, I'll take you back."

"Brother Xiao Yuan..."

Yin Meng doesn't move.

Li Zhiyuan immediately senses something amiss, he lowers his gaze, on the deep floor, he sees a slender lock chain, binding Yin Meng's ankle.

Yin Meng is chained here!

This makes Li Zhiyuan instantly recall the suppressed beings from the two layers below.

Li Zhiyuan: "What does this mean?"

Shadow: "Her sacrificial vow is to offer herself, seeking my protection for your safety.

When she appeared at my table, she immediately knelt before me, pleading for my protection over you, for which she is willing to be a slave here for eternity."

Li Zhiyuan: "A slave? But she's your descendant, your Yin family's descendant!"

Shadow: "Once you achieve Changsheng, you will also learn to see some things lightly."

Li Zhiyuan: "But you don't need her!"

Shadow: "I am merely a shadow, following Zhai Quming throughout life, having forgotten many things, unable even to close a single Ghost Gate now.

Shadow, after all, is shadow, meant to stand behind man.

Now in the Underworld, having someone from the Yin family bloodline seated here, combined with my cooperation, can portray Emperor Fengdu, intimidating the wraiths."

Li Zhiyuan: "You promised me I'd take her away!"

Shadow: "You can take her away right now, I'm not stopping you."

Li Zhiyuan: "You..."

Now all his actions are controlled by the shadow, how can he have the ability to unlock chains and take someone away?

Shadow: "Previously the Yin family bloodline roamed free without issue, but now the Underworld is at a special juncture, her presence outside could draw some entities specifically targeting the Underworld, thus staying here ensures her safety.

Don't think you can hide her; the Heavenly Dao will guide those entities to find her position.

I defeated Ksitigarbha but ended in mutual defeat, so how do you think the Heavenly Dao will act if given a chance?"

Li Zhiyuan: "Then should I thank you for not killing her directly to eliminate future troubles?"

Shadow: "She is yours, and you are my blade. I won't kill her, isn't this the reason you chose to stand by me and thrust the blade towards Ksitigarbha?"

In essence, if Yin Meng hadn't met me before, continuing to run the coffin shop on Ghost Street, her fate today would be...

So, this has nothing to do with any oath made by Yin Meng, nor with Yin Meng's own actions, because she was destined long ago, unable to leave this place.

Yin Meng smiles: "Brother Xiao Yuan, I'm willing to stay here, I'm fine, and this place is actually quite good."

Li Zhiyuan momentarily pauses, he speaks: "I will return for her."

This sentence is spoken to the shadow, but also serves as a promise to Yin Meng.

Other words, regardless of how many, are meaningless now.

Shadow: "I'll be waiting."

Li Zhiyuan exits the palace, standing outside, the shadow controls his right hand, tightening around the boy's neck.

The Ghost Gate is closed, theoretically barring him from leaving.

But Li Zhiyuan has one more means to exit, that is to die here.

Li Zhiyuan: "You ultimately failed one promise, I need compensation."

Shadow: "Speak."

"What I've seen on this journey, is it the true Fengdu?"

"Isn't it?"

"I will return here; hence, before that, I want to see the real Fengdu. I want to behold the true Emperor Fengdu!"

"As you... wish."

The platform begins tremoring, precisely speaking, it's the towering, boundless cliff from which platforms extend, currently shedding.

As the shedding continues, the existence hidden within the cliff gradually emerges.

First, a face appears at the top, followed by the neck, then shoulders, arms, chest, legs... a posture so enormous it evokes despair, is revealed.

Its eyes are bleeding, simultaneously rotting extensively, and the blood mingled with pus gathers at its jaw, dripping and forming the inverted Yellow Springs.

Its chest is opened, ribs individually protrude, constructing here as platforms in stair form, extending all the way downward, including the Eighteen Layers of Hell below.

Under its feet, circles of continuously struggling golden light persist, that's the Bodhisattva just suppressed by it.

Turns out, the Great Emperor didn't create Fengdu; the true Fengdu is itself!

Earlier, Li Zhiyuan asked the shadow, regarding the emperor's method of gaining merit from the Heavenly Dao through suppressing realms below?

The shadow answered no.

The Great Emperor's way of gaining merit from the Heavenly Dao is by suppressing himself!

Witnessing this scene, shock surfaces in Li Zhiyuan's eyes; little did he realize, his previous jest has now become reality:

"So, the Great Emperor really is an ancient... Deadman!"