8: Can we talk

If you were to ask who held the most power in the Netherworld, many would undoubtedly say it was the Kings of Hell.

And that’s not wrong; the Ten Kings of Hell each perform their duties, and in terms of power, they are the undisputed authority in Hell.

However, if you were to ask who was the most respected in Hell… without a doubt, it would be Ksitigarbha!

Of course, some also believe it's Houtu Niangniang, as some consider her the Jade Emperor's only true wife, and her position is even higher than the Kings of Hell.

But everyone must understand that Houtu Niangniang merely holds a high status, while Ksitigarbha's grand vow is the reason he is most respected!

Hell is not empty; I vow not to become a Buddha!

With such immense Power Of Will, who in this world could compare?

Don't forget, a Bodhisattva's sincere vow is itself a form of Karma, and such a great Power Of Will and Karma surpasses even the Buddha of the Western World.

As for him being dead, Tang Ku didn’t believe it for a million reasons!

And his trip to Hell this time was precisely to find traces of Ksitigarbha!

“Netherworld?”

Looking up at the tall archway and the eerie characters, Tang Ku couldn’t help but rub his nose.

Throughout the Chinese mythological system, although this realm represents death, it’s also like a public restroom—many powerful individuals can come and go as they please.

Whether it was Sun Wukong or Ancestral Master Huaguang, or even Mulian in the later story of Mulian Rescuing His Mother, they all had glorious records of wreaking havoc in the Netherworld, and the Ten Kings of Hell and the various Netherworld deities simply couldn't control them.

Some say the protagonist in Mulian Rescuing His Mother was Ksitigarbha, but in reality, that’s a misconception.

Mulian is a Protector Arhat of Buddhism, completely different from Ksitigarbha!

As Tang Ku stepped into the Netherworld, he immediately felt that something was amiss!

The Netherworld is vast, incomparable to the Western Buddhist Realm; some people mistakenly think Hell is only as big as Fengdu City, which is a huge mistake!

Hell is enormous, so vast that ordinary Souls would get lost if they left Fengdu.

Evil Dog Village, City of the Wronged Dead, Scoffing Forest, Fengdu City, as well as the Platform of Gazing Home, the Reincarnation Well, the Bridge of Helplessness… and so on, are all famous 'tourist attractions' in Hell.

Besides these most famous places, there is also a place where Ksitigarbha preaches scriptures and guides ghosts in Hell.

Some call this the Scripture Listening Place, while others call it the Heart Washing Pavilion; it's a thatched hut built by the Bodhisattva to help evil people turn over a new leaf.

“Amitabha, well done, well done!”

Habitually stopping in front of the thatched hut, Tang Ku pressed his palms together, looking at the crooked sign of the Scripture Listening Place, feeling a strange sensation in his heart.

There was no Buddha Power, no Death Qi; there was only a deathly stillness!

Moreover, half of the thatched hut had already collapsed, indicating it had been abandoned for quite some time.

“It seems the Bodhisattva is not here…”

Tang Ku recited a passage of the Reincarnation Sutra, then turned and left; although he didn't understand why he was doing it, he did it nonetheless.

He had already toured the entire Hell, and strangely, all the Yin Gods in the entire Netherworld had vanished without a trace.

However, the Souls of those who died unjustly and those who died normally were still operating according to normal order; those who should be suffering in the Eighteen Levels of Hell were still suffering, and those who should Reincarnate were still Reincarnating.

Near the Reincarnation Well, a giant wine pot appeared, suspended in the air.

Drops of Meng Po Soup dripped slowly from the spout, and the ghosts needing Reincarnation calmly and consciously drank two or three drops, then jumped into the Reincarnation Well to Reincarnate.

Everything was as orderly as it was when the Ten Kings of Hell were still present, an orderliness that made Tang Ku feel a chill.

Sometimes, tranquility is often more terrifying than chaos.

Although he feared seeing ruins and the desolation of Hell, and feared seeing demons and evil spirits causing chaos in the Netherworld, this kind of tranquility made him feel an inexplicable sense of dread!

“No… there’s something wrong here!”

Looking at the ghosts queuing to drink the soup, Tang Ku suddenly remembered the grand vow Ksitigarbha had once made.

Hell is not empty; I vow not to become a Buddha!

According to his cultivation, Power Of Will, and Karma, Ksitigarbha had long met the standard for becoming a Buddha; even in the Western World, many Buddhas held him in great reverence!

So, conversely, what if Hell was empty?

“If Hell is empty, Ksitigarbha's vow will have been fulfilled, and he will naturally become a Buddha on the spot.

And with his Dharma Power, if he were to become a Buddha, he would undoubtedly be incredibly powerful… Could it be…?”

Tang Ku seemed to understand the deeper meaning beneath this tranquility and couldn't help but shiver.

“Although the other party sent that ox-headed fool with a large group of evil spirits to the human world, they did not completely clear out Hell.

Instead, they established some mechanism to keep it running as usual.

They wouldn't spend so much effort maintaining Hell without a purpose… And the only thing keeping it running can restrict is Ksitigarbha becoming a Buddha!

They fear Ksitigarbha, fear him becoming a Buddha, which is why they allow Hell to continue operating as usual!”

“Damn it!”

Tang Ku couldn’t help but curse, “These guys are cunning and malicious, and they understand Ksitigarbha’s past quite well.

By extension, they are not ignorant of this world; on the contrary, it’s highly probable that some of them understand this world very well, which is why they made these targeted arrangements!”

“This is difficult now, very difficult…”

He couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh, “If I could send all the remaining lonely ghosts and spirits in Hell to Reincarnation, or relocate them to the human world, then a phenomenon would surely occur when the Bodhisattva becomes a Buddha, and I would be able to find him.

But I am currently alone and powerless; I simply cannot do that!

Do I really have to rely on my bare fists to ‘deliver’ all the wronged Souls and evil spirits in the entire Netherworld?”

“That would be boundless slaughter… Heh heh, these guys are truly ruthless!”

Tang Ku narrowed his eyes slightly and said, “However, this also made me realize something: neither the Western Buddhist Realm nor other deities have truly died.

Otherwise, they would also appear in this world, queuing to drink Meng Po Soup!”

Those who die unjustly must enter Hell, even immortals and gods are no exception; this is the operating mechanism of this world!

In other words, in principle, if the Jade Emperor died, he would also have to come here for a visit, even if it was just a formality.

“The Buddhas of the Western World, including my wrongfully deceased disciples, their Souls must have been imprisoned or refined, but I can only believe it’s the former!”

Tang Ku muttered to himself, “But I don’t know how I can rescue them? Damn it, it’s so annoying!”

Buzz!

Before he finished speaking, a silver-white light suddenly descended from the sky, a dazzling blade light, like a bolt of silk, enveloped him from above, as if it wouldn't stop until he was dead.

Looking at the weapon, Tang Ku felt a wave of speechlessness and thought to himself, “I think we can talk…”