Chapter 226

“How is this possible!”

A minor immortal cried out in disbelief, staring wide-eyed at the enormous black gate hanging upside down in the sky—so vast it seemed to devour half the heavens as it slowly opened.

The Gate of the Underworld was supposed to exist only in the Netherworld! How could it suddenly appear in the mortal realm? Judging from the suffocating tide of yin energy spreading for hundreds of miles, could it be that the ones arriving were—

Before anyone could finish the thought, the gate was fully open.

From within the darkness, six colossal figures emerged, descending like shadows made solid. Their dharma bodies were mountain-high, towering between heaven and earth, making the proud immortals in the sky look like crawling ants. Endless waves of yin aura poured from them, driving away all traces of celestial energy in an instant.

“The Yama Kings of the Underworld!”

Zhu Yan’s heart sank, his face draining of color. Six of the Seven Yama Kings had appeared in person—something that hadn’t happened in countless ages!

The disciples of the Heavenly Master Hall were just as stunned. They had occasionally encountered ghost envoys while subduing spirits, but Yama Kings—the rulers of life and death themselves—appearing together? That was unimaginable.

The six massive dharma bodies stood like a wall of souls around the Heavenly Master Hall. They did not immediately address the immortals above. Instead, the central figure turned toward the main hall, bowing slightly with his vast phantom hands.

“King Youling, Daoist Yun—long time no see. As you instructed, I, King Xiuling, have gathered the Yama Kings of all regions.”

The disciples below were struck dumb. Daoist Yun was clearly their Yun-shang Master… but King Youling? Who on earth was that?

(⊙_⊙)

“You’ve done well, King Xiuling,” Yun Jiao replied with a calm nod. Then she turned to the old man beside her—who was currently trying very hard to stay inconspicuous—and gestured toward the sky.

Your cue, Youling!

The old man waved his hands frantically. No way! I don’t even have a dharma body—it’d be too embarrassing to show up like this!

Yun Jiao’s lips twitched. After all these years serving as a Yama King, and he still hadn’t mastered his own manifestation—typical. With an exasperated sigh, she pulled out a talisman and slapped it onto his chest, activating the Yama Command Seal hidden within him.

The old man suddenly felt his body lighten, and something burst free from within him. A towering phantom—identical in appearance to him—rose into the sky.

The disciples of the Heavenly Master Hall: “……”

Meow… meow what?!

Master Bai is… King Youling?!

Did that mean that for all these years, they had been personally learning ghost-banishing arts from an actual Yama King of the Underworld?!

Σ(°△°|||)︴

“Junior Brother Bai,” greeted King Jiqi of the Earth-Shadow Domain, nodding politely toward the newly revealed Bai Yu.

“Senior Brother Ji,” Bai Yu blinked, startled to find himself in a vast spectral form like the others.

So I did have a dharma body after all…

Looking around, he saw the other Yama Kings nodding at him in acknowledgment. Instantly, he straightened his back, adopted his most dignified official expression, and glared furiously at Zhu Yan.

Now, all seven Yama Kings of the Underworld were present.

Zhu Yan’s composure cracked completely. If all seven had gathered, there would be no talking his way out of this. Worse, one of them had been hiding in the mortal realm all along—meaning everything he had done was already known. He instinctively took a step back, panic beginning to creep up his spine.

The Daoist immortals of the Xuanmen, however, breathed a collective sigh of relief. Yuanjiang immediately spoke up,

“May I ask why the Yama Kings of the Underworld have descended upon the mortal world?”

King Xiuling took one step forward, his voice like rolling thunder.

“Of course, for the matter of the souls stolen from my realm!”

His cold gaze fixed on Zhu Yan.

“All seven domains of the Underworld have received reports from ghost judges: tens of thousands of mortals who should have been recorded in the ledgers of death have vanished. Their souls never arrived in our realm, nor could they be found wandering the world of the living. It was not until Daoist Yun informed me that we discovered the culprit—this object!”

He raised his hand, revealing a pearl white as bone.

Zhu Yan’s pupils contracted. It was the Soul Origin Pearl—the very treasure he had come to retrieve for the immortal vein.

“This thing devours souls and spirits alike,” King Xiuling said coldly. “Because of it, tens of thousands of souls were scattered into nothingness. All beings that die belong to my Underworld. Tell me, Immortal Lord—by what right do you withhold souls from my domain? Has the Celestial Realm grown so arrogant that it disregards even the Underworld’s authority?”

Zhu Yan’s complexion turned ashen. For once, he had no excuse ready.

“The Pact of the Two Realms still stands,” Xiuling continued sharply. “For you to act like this—does it mean the Celestial Realm bears resentment toward the Underworld? Or perhaps your Southern Court seeks conflict with us?”

Zhu Yan was struck speechless. Those were the same words he had used earlier to threaten Yuanjiang’s group—but now the tables had turned. He had tried to hide behind the Southern Court’s banner, confident that no one would risk breaking inter-realm balance. Yet the Underworld had just drawn out an even greater banner—one that outranked his entirely. Mortal souls might not concern the Celestial Realm, but they belonged to the Underworld.

“Hmph!” Xiuling’s tone hardened. “To destroy tens of thousands of our souls—did you truly think the Underworld fears war with the Heavens? You incited the beast that wrecked my capital, and now you’ve stolen our spirits as well. The Celestial Realm has gone too far!”

His fury crackled like thunder. The other Yama Kings, too, were brimming with wrath.

“If we do not seize you today,” Xiuling declared, “the Celestial Realm will truly believe our king sleeps forever and that the Underworld stands empty!”

Without further warning, he raised a hand and unleashed a massive surge of dark energy straight toward Zhu Yan.

Zhu Yan panicked. He lifted his golden wheel and conjured a wall of flames to block the blow—but his strength as a mere Golden Immortal was far too weak against the power of a Yama King.

The inferno on his wheel flickered, nearly snuffed out by the overwhelming yin force. Desperation flooded his face as he shouted,

“Stop! You cannot kill me! I am a Celestial Lord of the Southern Court! If you harm me, the Celestial Emperor will not forgive you!”

Xiuling ignored him completely, his attack only growing stronger. The darkness surged forward like a tidal wave.

In blind panic, Zhu Yan grabbed a nearby lesser immortal and flung him into the path of the attack.

The yin energy struck instantly, ripping the unfortunate immortal’s soul from his body. Using the distraction, Zhu Yan turned and fled, hurling more of his followers backward as shields.

The small immortals screamed as their spirits were dragged from their bodies by the Yama Kings’ soul-snaring energy. Meanwhile, Zhu Yan was almost out of sight.

“Trying to run?”

A Yama King on Xiuling’s right sneered. In the next breath, the others joined him. Dozens of tendrils of dark energy shot outward, weaving into a vast net that sealed the sky.

Zhu Yan froze, terror twisting his face as the shadowy web closed in.

“You dare—! Celestial Emperor! Save me!”

The Yama Kings drew their power tight. The soul-snaring net shimmered, moments away from ripping his immortal soul free—

When suddenly—

A bolt of violet lightning split the heavens, striking the net with explosive force. The yin energy shattered instantly.

Cracks splintered across the dark gate above, and within moments the massive Gate of the Underworld itself began to crumble and fade.

Blinding golden light burst through the clouds, tearing apart the lingering shadows. The sky seemed to open like a wound, flooding the world with dazzling radiance.

A crushing aura of divine might descended, so immense that even the seven Yama Kings staggered, their vast dharma bodies trembling under the pressure.

From the heavens came a cold, disdainful male voice—its echo shaking the earth.

“Hmph. Mere ghost kings of the Underworld dare to provoke my Southern Court?”

(End of Chapter)