No one expected Monkey to appear in the Netherworld, because he had no reason to be there.
But unfortunately, he did show up in the Netherworld.
For a Monkey driven mad, he needed no reason at all.
The Ghost Messengers abandoned the stunned souls and retreated in terror. Even the White Reaper tried to flee, but as soon as he turned, Monkey pulled him in with a single swipe.
“G—Great Sage, I’ve never offended you…”
“You haven’t?”
“Really, I haven’t.”
“Then why are the souls of Blossom Mountain always harassed when they enter the Netherworld?”
“Th—That’s all His Majesty’s decree! It has nothing to do with me!” the White Reaper wailed.
All this time, the White and Black Reapers—symbols of death—turned out to cry just as hideously as any mortal.
Monkey yanked him close, baring his fangs as he leaned in and whispered in his ear, "It doesn’t matter whose decree it is. The point is you carried it out. And now, I need a reason to kill you. This reason… is enough."
When he heard those last three words, the White Reaper’s face turned even paler.
Before he could even scream, Monkey tossed him up and skewered him with a single blow from the staff.
……
Inside Mi’luo Palace, the two seated figures suddenly froze in unison.
"He’s left two hundred thousand troops at South Heaven Gate untouched, and instead gone to the Netherworld? What’s he planning?" Lord Skygate frowned. "Picking the soft target first? Killing ghost soldiers to vent his rage? Looks like he hasn’t completely lost his mind."
"The Netherworld’s ghost soldiers must number at least six or seven hundred thousand. Though all are dead, they’ve cultivated for years. If he really kills them, it will have some effect."
Lord Skygate calculated on his fingers and murmured, "He’s about to step into the Great Luo Immortal realm. Unless a few of us intervene, no one can restrain him."
Lord Genesis smiled faintly. "Let’s wait a bit longer."
……
"General Lee should have already passed through the South Heaven Gate."
"Summon him to see me immediately," the Jade Emperor said through gritted teeth.
As he spoke, General Lee was already striding into the hall from outside.
All the immortals turned to look at him, whispering among themselves.
General Lee walked step by step to the center of the grand hall, knelt on one knee, and said, "Your Majesty, I have a report to deliver."
"Speak!"
General Lee straightened slightly, glanced left and right, and casually cast a silencing spell.
Now, none of the immortals present could hear General Lee's report.
Fortune Star smiled helplessly, glanced at Grandmaster White beside him, and whispered, "When did it become customary to use silencing spells in the High Sky Throne Hall?"
"Probably ever since there was a traitor in Heaven," Grandmaster White replied calmly.
"A traitor? I really can't understand why anyone would give up being a proper immortal just to collude with the demon monkey."
"There are plenty of things you can't imagine. We've known each other for so many years—let me give you some advice: don't get involved in this matter. Otherwise, it'll be a thankless task."
"What do you mean by that?" Fortune Star asked hurriedly.
Grandmaster White only smiled faintly and did not answer.
From afar, they saw General Lee explaining something slowly, while the Jade Emperor, gripping the dragon table, stared with widening eyes, and in his agitation swept the pen rack to the floor—startling the nearby court herald.
"Can you guess what they're talking about?" Fortune Star asked in a low voice.
"No idea," Grandmaster White replied lazily, stretching his neck. "But judging by the look of it, I don't think the Jade Emperor is venting his anger on General Lee."
"Then who is he angry at? The demon monkey?"
"Heaven only knows," Grandmaster White said with another faint smile. "Maybe... it's someone even harder to deal with than the demon monkey."
At that moment, the Jade Emperor pointed at General Lee and said something. General Lee frowned deeply, bowed his head with hands clasped, then slowly raised his head and replied.
"What's happening now?"
"His Majesty must have given some order, but General Lee declined it. Looks like General Lee's trip wasn't in vain," Grandmaster White said, stroking his long beard and clicking his tongue with a smile.
The more Fortune Star listened, the more confused he became.
...
Meanwhile, in the Netherworld, five hundred thousand ghost soldiers had already set up tight defenses around the Hall of Life and Death.
The Hall of Life and Death remained intact, but the rest of the Underworld was another story.
Standing inside the Hall of Life and Death, one could see raging fires blazing across the land, illuminating the normally pitch-black Netherworld. Thick smoke billowed upward, blotting out the sky. Countless masterless souls drifted everywhere, their mournful howls echoing in every corner.
The Ten Judges of the Underworld paced anxiously back and forth in front of the hall.
A ghost soldier hurried over and knelt before King Brightcourt.
"Have Heaven's reinforcements arrived?"
The ghost soldier quickly shook his head and said in a low voice, "Reporting to the Judges, the demon monkey has already reached the Eighteenth Hell, killed the Ghost Messengers, and released all the imprisoned souls..."
King Brightcourt was momentarily stunned, then waved his hand and said, "It doesn't matter. Let him do as he pleases; if the souls escape, we can send people to recapture them later. The real issue is whether Heaven's reinforcements have arrived."
"Not... not yet."
"Go and check again!"
"Yes, sir!"
Before the Ghost Messenger could turn, a grating, piercing laugh rang out.
"Does Heaven even have any reinforcements left to send? Aren't you overestimating them?"
Looking up, they saw Monkey standing tall atop the spire of the Hall of Life and Death, leaning on his Golden Staff and grinning at the Ten Judges of the Underworld.
Looking up, they saw Monkey standing tall atop the spire of the Hall of Life and Death, leaning on his Golden Staff and grinning at the Ten Judges of the Underworld.
His laughter echoed over the burning Netherworld, mocking the defenders below.
"You really think Heaven has any reinforcements left to send? You're dreaming."
The Ten Judges of the Underworld stared up, faces ashen, as Monkey stood above them, the fires of Hell raging all around.