Volume 4: The Revelation Unveiled Chapter 458: The Netherworld

Laojun said slowly, “The last time I saw Immortal Huangjiao was at a Peach Banquet. He appeared in a flash; though he used formations to conceal his true strength, my senior brother could tell that he had already surpassed us by far by then.”
Wukong pondered and said, “How he managed to cultivate so quickly isn’t the key. What’s puzzling is why he willingly submits to the control of the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother.”
Laojun replied, “I’ve thought about this too. The Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother’s cultivation has reached the peak of the Hunyuan Golden Immortals, and they can’t progress any further due to restrictions imposed by formations within their bodies. Naturally, this is the work of Buddha. Although their cultivation is low, they possess secret techniques to control eight or nine Golden Immortals and others. These techniques are similar to soul-extraction spells, allowing them to control others’ lives and deaths.”
“Soul-extraction spells?” Wukong was astonished. Truly, there were no limits—there even existed such methods to control people.
Laojun explained, “A soul-extraction spell involves drawing out a thread of a person’s life soul, then placing that thread under the control of a formation and casting spells like the Seven Arrows with Nail Heads. If that person later rebels, the formation activates, and even a sage cannot escape death.”
Mentioning the Seven Arrows with Nail Heads, Wukong recalled the spell he had used with Zhu Bajie’s pig tail. Such spells could be cast using just a strand of hair from the target, but soul-extraction spells relied on the victim’s own life soul—utterly ruthless. Yet this spell still seemed rather difficult to execute. Compared to Buddha, who could make three thousand Buddhas and countless Bodhisattvas submit with just a scripture, it paled in comparison.
Wukong said, “If we could break this formation and retrieve the life souls of those eight or nine Golden Immortals, Immortal Huangjiao, and the others, wouldn’t that be exciting?”
Laojun chuckled darkly, “Absolutely impossible!”
Wukong naturally knew that such an important formation would surely be kept in the safest place by the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother. But with his own secret techniques of the Mysterious Sky Art, plus the exquisite formations of the Primordial Lord, couldn’t he do it?
At that moment, the Primordial Lord spoke up, “This formation is within the bodies of the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother, along with over seven thousand life souls. How can you possibly obtain it?”
Wukong gasped. This formation was truly bizarre, showing that the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother’s greatest concern was controlling the eight or nine Golden Immortals in the Creation Furnace, as well as Immortal Huangjiao and the 108 others in the Jade Pool’s back garden.
Since the Primordial Lord said it was unsolvable, Wukong gave up on the idea. He asked, “At the Kunlun Immortal Island in three days, will you help me?”
The Primordial Lord replied, “It’s not right to seize it openly.”
“Oh?” Wukong hadn’t expected the Primordial Lord to refuse him. He asked, “Then can it be taken secretly?”

Yuan Shi said, “After all, we are Taoists. How can we harm ourselves and let others watch?”
Ling Bao Daozun smiled and said, “Your senior brother is right. But if the Buddha’s faction succeeds, we will naturally help you take it back.”
Wukong was about to thank them when Xuan Nu snorted, “If it weren’t for Wukong saving you three, you would still be suffering in the Buddhist hell!”
These words made the Three Pure Ones’ faces turn red and white alternately. Wukong hurriedly said, “The Three Pure Ones have their own reasons. Besides, quarreling with the Heavenly Court now may not be a good thing.”
Xuan Nu said, “If you won’t go, I will!”
Wukong was overjoyed. Knowing Xuan Nu’s high cultivation level, he believed that with her backing, their chances of success would greatly increase. Even if they couldn’t get all thirty-six thousand-zhang jade pieces, getting half would be good.
Xuan Nu agreed, and Wukong felt reassured. Then he brought up another important matter for this journey. He first said to Xuan Nu, “The Earth Spirit Pearl inside the Buddha’s body can be taken out.”
Xuan Nu nodded and said, “I’ve prepared it for you long ago.” She took out the Earth Spirit Pearl and handed it to Wukong. Wukong took the egg-sized, earth-yellow pearl and sensed a faint earth-based spiritual energy within. Apart from that, it seemed unremarkable, so he put it in his bosom.
Laojun, with a look of reluctance, took out the Wind-Flame Banana Fan from his bosom and said, “Sister, you’ve told me countless times—”
“Stop talking,” Xuan Nu snapped. She took the fan and placed it in Wukong’s hands, saying, “Heavenly treasures naturally belong to those of virtue.”
Wukong kept these two treasures and was overjoyed. He said to the four of them, “I still need to go to Mount Ling to ask Master Maitreya for help. I can’t stay long. Goodbye.”
After saying that, he left the hall. Behind him, Laojun’s voice was heard, “I’ve comprehended all eighty-one chapters of the Tao Te Ching, yet you claim I lack virtue…” What he said next was unclear, likely a debate with Xuan Nu.
Wukong leaped to Mount Ling with a somersault. He saw the mountain crowded with people—believers and monks packed tightly together, with an extremely vibrant atmosphere of incense. Watching this scene, Wukong sighed inwardly. It is said that a sincere heart leads to detachment from the world, while an egoistic heart leads to engagement with it; detachment is the Dharma of Buddhism, engagement is the Dharma of the world; detachment is emptiness, engagement is existence; detachment is the Dharma Body, engagement is the Karmic Body. Detachment is truth, engagement is illusion…
Thus, when the Buddha was alive, there wasn’t a single mortal on Mount Ling—only Buddhist disciples, giving it an air of grandeur and isolation from the world.
But now, Mount Ling’s temples were not tall or lavishly decorated, yet it had a stronger sense of incense and authenticity. It seemed that truth and illusion are one; without leaving the world, there can be no detachment. “No enlightenment without leaving the world” couldn’t be more accurate.

Since Buddha aims to save all sentient beings, he should not engage in arbitrary distinctions like ordinary people or cling to ascetic ideas. Wouldn’t such a situation be much more harmonious?
Upon arriving at the Great Hero Hall, he saw Guanyin sitting gracefully on a lotus platform, teaching the monks. Wukong naturally did not disturb her and went to find Maitreya and Ksitigarbha instead. He told them that in three days, the Tathagata would seize the thousand-zhang jade. Maitreya said, “We should help, but the Spirit Mountain is not what it used to be now; even I, who used to be idle, can no longer stay idle.” Realizing Maitreya was not refusing, Wukong nodded and said, “The Eastern Buddha values all sentient beings greatly—he is truly admirable. I certainly won’t insist.”
Ksitigarbha said, “I’ll go with you.”
Wukong glanced at Maitreya, who nodded and said, “Ksitigarbha’s cultivation far surpasses mine. It’s better if he goes.” Ksitigarbha, without any modesty, told Wukong, “Then let’s go.”
Wukong had originally planned to find an opportunity to meet the Dragon Maiden, but since Ksitigarbha was so eager, he decided to go with them. In truth, there was nothing urgent about his desire to see her; it was just that every time they met, he felt a strange connection, as if something was destined to happen between them. This feeling wasn’t romantic but seemed like fate itself was guiding their paths.
After leaving the Spirit Mountain, Ksitigarbha suddenly asked, “What’s become of the Netherworld now?” Wukong was surprised. After the Netherworld was destroyed, he had visited it once. The Southern Pole Immortal had become its ruler. Since there were no more disturbances in the heavens, it seemed the universe was thriving under his rule—clearly thanks to his efforts.
Wukong replied, “Now the Netherworld is under the control of the Southern Pole Immortal. As for how it is actually, I don’t know.”
Ksitigarbha said, “It’s been many years. We should go and take a look.”
To ordinary people, the Netherworld is naturally the place created by heaven to govern the cycle of life and death. But Wukong knew it was merely a tool used by the heavens to control fate. Thinking of this, he asked Ksitigarbha, “Ksitigarbha, when you took control of the Netherworld, you must have known it was built by the heavens and used by them to control fate. Does that make it a evil place?”
Ksitigarbha looked at Wukong and said, “Without the Netherworld, ordinary people would have nowhere to go after death and would become wandering spirits. Their fate would eventually be absorbed by those who practice cultivation. From this perspective, the Netherworld also has its advantages. Besides, it judges people’s next lives based on their merits and demerits, which is fair. How can it be called an evil place?”
Wukong said, “When you were in charge, it was indeed like that. I don’t know what’s happening now.”
The two arrived at the Abyss of Nine Netherworlds and saw a huge stone tablet beside a deep ravine, with three bold characters inscribed on it—Netherworld Realm.
What? A whole realm had formed here. After entering this abyss, would life and death be separated? The two weren’t concerned and flew down boldly.

Less than a hundred zhang had passed since they landed when four people emerged from the nearby rock wall, unfurling a giant net and throwing it down at the two of them. The two continued at full speed and ended up trapped in the net. As soon as Wukong entered the Abyss of Nine Netherworlds, he saw these four people—they were the sages he had encountered in the back garden of the Jade Pool. Now appearing in the Abyss of Nine Netherworlds, Wukong immediately understood the Heavenly Court’s intentions. Unable to find other sources of fortune elsewhere, they naturally wanted to keep the Abyss of Nine Netherworlds under strict control. If this place was lost, the Heavenly Court would truly have no way to obtain fortune.

Despite being attacked by four sages, Wukong and Ksitigarbha were not afraid. Wukong transformed his Heavenly Fate Staff into a long sword, which spun like a wind wheel, tearing the giant net apart. The two managed to escape. Wukong sneered, “Even great sages resort to ambushes?”

One of them said, “Those who dare invade the Abyss of Nine Netherworlds will be killed without mercy!”

Wukong glanced at Ksitigarbha, who replied, “I’m not here to invade; I just want to take a look and leave.” Ksitigarbha had never lied—he merely wanted to see if there was still any sense of justice and morality in the underworld. If good and evil were no longer distinguished, it would indeed go against his original aspirations.

How could those four dare let Wukong and Ksitigarbha enter? The Abyss of Nine Netherworlds had been severely damaged by the Buddha of Infinite Life in the past. With their extremely high cultivation levels, if they truly intended to cause trouble, no one could stop them.

Wukong sneered, “The Heavenly Court is used to being domineering. It seems we’ll have no choice but to fight.”

Just as they were about to attack, a person descended from the sky—Tai Bai Jin Xing and You Yi Ling Guan. Tai Bai Jin Xing shouted up, “Great Sage!”

Wukong smiled at him, “Jin Xing, it’s been a long time.”

Jin Xing asked, “How did the Great Sage end up here?”

Although Wukong was an enemy of the Heavenly Court, he felt no ill will toward Tai Bai Jin Xing. This old man had always handled things impeccably and had even helped Wukong before. Therefore, Wukong spoke to him in a much more polite manner, saying, “Today I came here with Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva to revisit this place, but our path was blocked. If you hadn’t come, I would have fought.”

Jin Xing laughed, “It’s just a misunderstanding.”

At that moment, You Yi Ling Guan whispered a few words to the four sages. After hearing this, they put away their torn net and, without saying a word, followed You Yi Ling Guan straight back to the Heavenly Court.

Jin Xing said, “Since Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva wants to visit the underworld, surely no one will stop him. Since we met today, let me accompany you both on this journey.”

Wukong guessed that Tai Bai Jin Xing and You Yi Ling Guan must have come to convey a message, ordering the four sages to return to Kunlun Immortal Island to prepare for battle. And since Tai Bai Jin Xing knew well Ksitigarbha’s character—knowing he was honest and upright and would not do anything to harm the underworld—he acted generously. Most importantly, Wukong and Ksitigarbha had such high cultivation levels, and the Heavenly Court was facing a major threat at the moment, leaving them no time to deal with the two of them.