Running A Cemetery in North America-Chapter 387 - 263: The Collapsed Underworld

"Is this the Ghost Gate?"

"More terrifying than I imagined."

"My God... such an evil aura."

As Zhou Mangmang, Li Lang, Lin Yunzhong, and others arrived one after another, they all exclaimed in shock as they saw the gigantic gate tower.

The Ghost Gate, the legendary entrance to the Underworld.

It suddenly appeared before their eyes.

As Tomb Guardians, they all possess some form of Tomb Guardian presence and have long known that immortals once appeared in this world. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

But for some unknown reason, the immortals either perished or left.

And the evidence that could have proved the existence of immortals has long disappeared in history.

But now, the appearance of the Ghost Gate is an extremely significant discovery.

It means that the Mythical Era truly existed and has already begun to arrive.

"Let’s go in and see."

Lin Yunzhong couldn’t wait any longer and said.

Although the Underworld in legend is an extremely terrifying existence, not only with eighteen levels of Hell but with the Bridge of Helplessness, Wangchuan Stone, Yellow Springs, Black and White Impermanence, Oxhead and Horseface, and the Ten Halls Yama that send shivers down the spines of mortals.

But right now, the true Underworld is right in front of them; no one could resist the urge to enter the Ghost Gate and explore.

Perhaps behind the Ghost Gate, they might find something of even greater significance.

[Mission Requirement ②: Find the Ghost Gate ’Completed’]

[Mission Reward ②: Randomly obtain an unowned Holy Relic based on one’s Tomb Guardian Divine Statue]

[Obtained Tomb Guardian ’Monkey King’ Holy Relic - Locking Golden Armor]

Sun Yan was pleased, having already upgraded the True Monarch of Pure Origin and Mysterious Dao’s Divine Statue Quality to Immortal Grade.

And the Monkey King’s Divine Statue Quality had already reached Ultimate Grade, plus the Holy Relic from this reward, making the Monkey King the second statue to reach Immortal Grade.

Two Immortal Grade Divine Statues, such a foundation could be considered extremely rare even within the Grand Sacrificial Society.

Sun Yan looked at the Tomb Guardians beside him, and indeed, a smile appeared on each of their faces as well.

It seemed that each of them had received the reward for Mission ②, which amounted to a significant boost in strength.

"Let’s go in quickly and take a look before anything changes," Zhou Mangmang took the lead and headed toward the Ghost Gate.

Though the Ghost Gate was only slightly ajar, it was enough for a person to pass through easily.

Sun Yan and his group entered one by one, and behind the Ghost Gate, they saw an immense space with no end in sight.

The ground was weathered, with pits and collapses everywhere, and beneath them burned raging flames.

Above was darkness so deep, the eye could not see the end.

A large number of ruins, palaces, and pavilions floated in mid-air, slowly moving, like floating islands, which was incredibly stunning.

Sun Yan opened the Celestial Eye, even able to see the plaques on the gates of those shattered halls.

King Qin Guang Hall, King Chujiang Hall, Emperor Song Hall, King Wuguan Hall, Yama King Hall, King Biancheng Hall, King Taishan Hall, City King Hall, King of Equality Hall, King of Reincarnation Hall...

All were the illustrious Ten Halls Yama.

"Did the Underworld have a war back then? Who could have caused such destruction to the Underworld?" Li Bo couldn’t help but exclaim in shock.

"Look over there!" Lin Yunzhong pointed in a direction, unable to help but remind them.

Everyone quickly turned their heads to look, and instantly saw a gigantic mountain-like figure looming in the distant darkness.

Wrapped in a mass of black tentacles, binding half of its body tightly.

The enormous figure wore a precious crown and adorned with jewels, holding a treasure pearl in its left hand and a staff in its right, sitting atop a thousand-petaled green lotus.

It appeared incredibly benevolent, but its other half of the face was filled with distortion, world-weariness, evil, and ferocity.

"This is... Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva!" Lin Yunzhong, after pondering for a moment, suddenly exclaimed.

"What?"

Upon hearing this unbelievable name, everyone showed expressions of incredulity.

The Underworld, also known as Youdu, in traditional mythology, the Celestial Court, Human World, and Underworld coexist, collectively known as the Three Realms.

In the Zhou Dynasty, it was believed that humans had souls and spirits, where the Yang energy soul and Yin form spirit combined to make a person, and after death, the divine soul’s spiritual qi returned to heaven while the essence spirit’s form and body returned to the earth.

Yama, Lady Houtu, Emperor Dongyue, Emperor Fengdu, Ghost King Tulzi, City God, and others are gods who govern life and death.

In traditional mythology, Emperor Dongyue and Emperor Fengdu are the highest ranking immortals ruling the Underworld, in charge of the Netherworld, and are the ancestors of ghost souls worldwide.

Under them are the Five Ghost Emperors: Eastern Ghost Emperor Cai Yulue and Shen Tu, who govern Taizhi Mountain Ghost Gate.

Western Ghost Emperor Zhao Wenhe and Master Wang, who govern Fuzong Mountain. Northern Ghost Emperor Zhang Heng and Yang Yun, who govern Luofeng Mountain. Southern Ghost Emperor Du Ziren, who govern Luofu Mountain. Central Ghost Emperor Zhou Qi and Ji Kang, who govern Baodu Mountain.

Under them are the Luofeng Six Heavens: Zhou Jueyin Celestial Palace, Taisha Liangshi Religion Celestial Palace, Mingchen Offense City Celestial Palace, Tiao Amnesty Essence Qi Celestial Palace, Zong Ling Seven Non Celestial Palace, Dare Command Lianwanlu Celestial Palace.

Below are the Ten Halls Yama: King Qin Guang, King Chujiang, Emperor Song, King of Five Senses, Yama King, King of Equality, King Taishan, City King, King Biancheng, King of Reincarnation.

Then there are the Four Judges: Judge of the Department of Yin Law, Cui Jue; Investigation Judge, Lu Dao; Punishment Judge, Zhong Kui; Reward Virtue Judge, Wei Zheng.

At the bottom are the most familiar Black and White Impermanence, Oxhead and Horseface, Meng Po, etc.

Even though the Underworld’s Immortal System was mature, the Celestial Eye revealed the rise of Western Buddhism.

The Celestial Court was already taken over by Eastern immortals, leaving no room for Buddhism in the Underworld. It was then that Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva made his widely known vow.

Although the Underworld was the pure Eastern deities’ territory in the Three Realms, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, a Buddhist, appeared there.

But the question remains as to whether Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva holds any power in the Underworld at all.

The true power had long been distributed and controlled by the various gods in the Underworld, leaving no possibility of division.

But the presence of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva in the Underworld, a place supposedly free of Buddhist influence, was shocking.

Could it be that divine beings still exist in the world today?

"Could Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva still be alive?" Li Lang hesitated in his inquiry.

While they all knew of the existence of deities and Buddhas in the past, when a real divine figure appeared before them, the feeling was immediately different.

Humans look upon the statues of gods and buddhas and pray; can these divine figures truly feel it?

If they can, would they respond?

To gods and buddhas, are humans no different from ants?

"Look, there are two Taoists beside Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva!"

At this moment, Sun Yan, who had the Celestial Eye and could see distant objects, suddenly spoke up to alert them.

Zhou Mangmang and the rest immediately focused their gaze, and Hong Ming’s face changed drastically.

"Those, those are my missing brothers!"