Chapter 2115: Reincarnation Underworld

“Since Xingtian has set out on his journey beyond the realm, and Houyi was slain by the Yao Emperor Luya and cast into the cycle of reincarnation... the burden of the Wu Clan’s future revival now rests on your shoulders.”

Standing before the Reincarnation Underworld, Lady Houtu addressed the group of Wu powerhouses led by Zhong Kui[1].

Zhong Kui had not originally been part of the Wu Clan. In fact, he had once been a ghost immortal of the human race.

But just as the dragons and sea kings of Magus World had gradually become part of Magus World’s extended family, the Wu Clan, which governed the Reincarnation Underworld of Primordial World, had also begun accepting outsiders tens of thousands of years ago through methods such as blood essence inheritance.

The Immortal Realm Civilization was constantly evolving. Even the traditionally staid and conservative Wu Clan of Primordial World were making progress!

And it was not only ghost immortals like Zhong Kui who had been accepted. In recent years, the Wu Clan had adopted an approach somewhat reminiscent of Sect Master Tongtian’s principle of teaching all without discrimination.

As long as ghost cultivators in the Underworld possessed decent innate potential and the right character, they could join the Wu Clan.

A number of them had even advanced to Rank Four and above, thus becoming ghost immortals.

The benefits of joining the Wu Clan went far beyond status and recognition.

In addition to enjoying certain privileges throughout the Underworld and within the territories governed by the Ten Underworld Palaces, the Wu Clan’s blood essence also granted these ghost cultivators and ghost immortals something they had long yearned for—the ability to procreate.

According to Magus World’s explanation, ghost cultivators were essentially a type of “undead being”.

How could the undead possibly produce offspring?

The Immortal Realm, however, had its own understanding of the Dao.

In their view, ghost cultivators belonged to Yin. By introducing an ultimate Yang force into their bodies, Yin and Yang could nourish and balance one another, allowing them to regain the ability to procreate.

The problem was that most ultimate Yang forces were precisely the sort of things ghost cultivators went out of their way to avoid.

The Wu Clan’s blood essence was different. As a rare and extremely pure Yang substance, it had no significant adverse effect on ghost cultivators. On the contrary, it could even help them reconstruct physical bodies of their own.

Zhong Kui, who now stood at the forefront of the Wu powerhouses, was the best example. He had once been a renowned ghost immortal.

Yet judging from his solid physique, powerful muscles, and sturdy frame, there was hardly anything about him that resembled the eerie, incorporeal appearance of a typical ghost cultivator.

Today, Zhong Kui was one of the Four Grand Underworld Judges of Primordial World and was even considered the most likely candidate to become the next Chief Judge.

His decision to lead the Wu Clan forces into battle on the Magus Civilization’s battlefield had been entirely voluntary.

The other three Judges, Wei Zheng of the Department of Rewarding Good, Lu Zhidao of the Department of Investigation, and Cui Jue of the Department of Yin Laws, would not be accompanying him.

Due to personal circumstances and the responsibilities tied to their respective positions in the Underworld, none of them could leave for such an extended period.

As Lady Houtu spoke of her hopes for the younger generation of the Wu Clan, the powerhouses below Rank Seven, led by Zhong Kui, listened respectfully.

Even within the Immortal Realm Civilization, there were powerhouses who preferred traveling abroad rather than remaining in Primordial World or the star domains controlled by the Immortal Realm.

Xingtian, the God of War among the Wu Clan, was merely one such example.

Among the many top-tier powerhouses who had emerged since ancient times, there were quite possibly others who had chosen to live as free spirits, wandering through distant star domains far beyond Primordial World.

However, this practice of venturing beyond the borders of the Immortal Realm Civilization had only truly become widespread within the past two hundred thousand years.

Of course, there was little need to worry that too many top-tier powerhouses would abandon their home civilizations to travel abroad.

In truth, sage-level beings willing to leave their home realms for extended journeys were few and far between, regardless of which world civilization they came from.

At their level, most already had families, factions, and responsibilities of their own. Unless they encountered a bottleneck in their cultivation or simply possessed a natural desire to wander, few would willingly leave their home civilization for extended periods.

Newly ascended Rank Seven overlords were even less likely to do so.

Many of them still carried lofty ambitions. They wanted to lead their legions into battle, expand the borders of their home civilizations, carve their names into history, and perhaps one day become figures revered and worshiped by generations to come.

At this moment, the Reincarnation Underworld remained dormant, releasing only faint waves of energy into its surroundings.

Instead, what drew the attention of many nearby powerhouses were the two world-class secret treasures held by the ancestral witch.

Both were innate spiritual treasures of extraordinary grade.

The first was the Registry of Life and Death, a high-tier world-class secret treasure.

The second was the Judge’s Brush, a mid-tier world-class secret treasure.

The Registries of Life and Death currently used by the Ten Underworld Palaces were all the ethereal manifestations formed from the laws of this world-class secret treasure.

It was somewhat similar to the Arcane Light found within every divine tower across Magus World, whose true source resided in Sky City.

The Judge’s Brush, meanwhile, was primarily used by the Four Grand Judges of the Underworld.

Unlike the Registry of Life and Death, however, there was only one Judge’s Brush. The one currently held in Lady Houtu’s hand was the actual treasure itself.

Who would ultimately wield the Judge’s Brush depended entirely on the abilities of the Four Grand Judges. It was also entirely possible that someone might one day rise above them and claim control of the secret treasure for themselves.

From a certain perspective, the Registry of Life and Death and the Judge’s Brush formed a complete set of world-class secret treasures. When used together, they could unlock certain functions of the Reincarnation Underworld.

In other words, mastering the Judge’s Brush could very well grant its wielder the opportunity to replace the Ten Underworld Courts in the future, take control of the Registry of Life and Death itself, and thereby gain a degree of influence over the operation of the civilizational treasure known as the Reincarnation Underworld.

Naturally, Lady Houtu did not openly reveal such secrets.

As for the members of the Wu Clan heading to the Magus Civilization’s battlefield to hone themselves, Lady Houtu had already made the necessary arrangements with Magus World.

Simply put, they would receive treatment similar to that of the rogue cultivators from the Immortal Realm and be deployed to the main battlefield of the Magus Civilization.

Unlike Celestial Venerable Yuanshi, who had offered only a few brief words of guidance, Lady Houtu gave these powerhouses far more detailed instructions. Her gaze also carried far greater expectations.

As her speech drew to a close and the Wu army prepared to depart alongside a legion of hundreds of millions of ghost cultivators, Zhong Kui, the chief commander of the expedition, sought out his good friend, who was also one of the Four Grand Judges.

“Brother Lu, while I’m away, please look after the Department of Punishing Evil on my behalf,” Zhong Kui said.

“Rest assured, my junior brother. I hope you’ll lead our forces to a resounding victory,” Lu Zhidao replied with a smile.

Zhong Kui nodded without saying anything else.

Although Ancestral Witch Houtu had personally appointed him as commander of the expedition, the actual command of the Wu people and ghost cultivators on the battlefield would fall to the various grand Wu and ghost emperors of their respective factions.

The grand Wus were the leaders of their respective tribes.

The ghost emperors, meanwhile, were well-versed in commanding underworld soldiers and arranging battle formations.

In their respective fields, they far surpassed Zhong Kui.

Zhong Kui’s main responsibility was to coordinate the various factions and represent the Wu Clan in their dealings with the Magus Civilization.

Beyond that, he was also the strongest individual among the Wu Clan heading to the Magus Civilization’s battlefield.

Glancing down at the Soul-Snaring Hook in his hand, Zhong Kui felt a faint sense of anticipation stirring within him.

He had never once ventured beyond the borders of the Immortal Realm Civilization, so he was rather looking forward to seeing Magus World for himself.

“Well then, we’ll meet again,” Zhong Kui said, cupping his fist toward Lu Zhidao.

1. Translator’s Note: As mentioned before, the “Wu” here can mean witches/shaman/sorcerers/magi. According to mythological fiction and ancient-style fantasy lore (popularized in Chinese web novels and creation mythology), the drop of Pangu's essence and blood transformed into the mighty Wu Clan. These people possessed indestructible physical bodies, immense strength, and natural command over physical elements rather than practicing traditional internal cultivation or magic. They are led by the Twelve Ancestors of Sorcery, who embody different natural elements and fundamental forces like space, time, weather, and the core elements. Houtu is one of them, and she is the Ancestor of Soil. ☜