In the distance, the black-green sky flickered with streaks of light. Swarms of strange beasts—creatures I had only heard of, never seen—flew one after another over the mountain walls across the River of Forgetfulness. Now, the mountain walls between the Nether Hell and the River of Forgetfulness had been torn open, leaving one massive breach after another.
Lady Meng's body was slowly starting to recover, but this was only due to the power of Desire Force. As long as she still clung to the thought of living, Desire Force would keep her alive. But this was no long-term solution.
The rumbling continued without pause. From time to time, fierce flames crashed into hell, instantly burning through the infernal depths. These flames were terrifying—I still couldn't discern their true nature, but they felt identical to the unknown power within the Ghost Ancestor's body.
"Why didn't you choose to cooperate with them this time?"
I asked. By now, Fifth Tribunal Yama was standing behind me, looking a bit disheveled. His gaze was heavy as he stared at Lady Meng.
"What's wrong, Heizi? No need to look so grim. Release the Six Paths."
My eyes widened. Fifth Tribunal Yama nodded.
"This is our last resort."
Looking at Fifth Tribunal Yama's face, it was especially grave. There was a sense of helplessness in his expression. Just as the God Emperor had said, they were already dead, long since devoid of souls. We couldn't harm them, not even with my Endbringer power. Their current state could only be described as the final stage.
Like the sand on the ground—there was nothing left. Just a pile of sand lying here quietly. Nothing we did could change that.
"So what's the plan?"
I asked. Fifth Tribunal Yama gazed into the distance at the River of Forgetfulness, shaking his head with a bitter smile.
"Come with me. Help clear the obstacles ahead. How much longer can you hold on?"
Fifth Tribunal Yama asked. Lady Meng managed a pale smile.
"I'll wait for Yvette to arrive."
I drew the Endbringer Blade and instantly shifted to a distant spot, then leapt again. Fifth Tribunal Yama had only just taken off behind me. I smiled faintly, gazing at the countless unknown beasts filling the sky—some as massive as the white-boned monsters crawling out of the Infernal River, others as small as cats and dogs. Their numbers were overwhelming, pouring forth endlessly from the far edge of the Sea of Red Spider Lilies.
A thunderous roar erupted beside me. The largest beasts had begun to clash with the bone monsters. Suddenly, a giant, sharp-beaked creature with massive wings lunged at me. I raised the Endbringer, turning into a streak of black lightning that sliced through the beast, cleaving it in two. In the violent black lightning, it disintegrated into dust.
Scattered bolts of lightning, under my control, slashed through the air like blades. One by one, the beasts turned to dust. I pressed forward, black deathbane aura swirling around me, fused with the black lightning, shooting out in all directions like arrows.
The rumbling continued, black lightning pouring down like a waterfall from the sky. When it struck a beast, it spread outward, obliterating swathes of them into dust. I instantly leapt through space, the black lightning behind me raging in sync with the surging deathbane aura, swelling like a tidal wave.
The exhilarating rush of power surged as I kept leaping forward, smiling faintly. A clear path had been carved out. Fifth Tribunal Yama lagged far behind, his condition dire. Gradually, I could see the end ahead.
The river in the distance had dried up—we'd arrived. Suddenly, a two-headed beast leaped out from the water below. I shifted downward in an instant, my fist slamming mercilessly into one of its heads.
With a thunderous crash, the beast was instantly pierced by black deathbane aura, then reduced to ashes by the black lightning.
"Open!"
Fifth Tribunal Yama reached the dried riverbed of the River of Forgetfulness, raising one hand. A blinding light appeared before us, followed by layer upon layer of interlocking discs spinning in the air like gears, forming a wall of light.
It was my first time seeing how to enter the Six Paths. Zhang Qingyuan had once swum in from the river, but without Mr. Brown, he couldn't have made it.
Chains of black metal pulled taut around the inscribed discs, which began to expand outward, opening a passage. I saw massive spheres lined up one after another, rising from below.
I entered the Six Paths. Fifth Tribunal Yama clutched his chest in pain as the gate behind us slowly closed. Just then, a beast burst through, and with a sickening crunch, its body was severed by the closing door, turning to ash with a final wail.
"Amitabha!"
From afar, I heard Buddhist chanting. On a floating stone, a monk in an old, faded blue robe was standing—Saint of the Underworld was there too.
"Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva!"
Fifth Tribunal Yama floated over and called out. I landed before the Saint of the Underworld, who gazed quietly at the Six Paths ahead.
"This calamity has claimed countless lives—ghosts, humans, and all things in existence!"
"Everything that begins must end. Whether tangible or illusory, all things will one day perish!"
Saint of the Underworld smiled and nodded. I asked again.
"What are you waiting for? Emperor God and the others have already stormed into hell. If you don't act now, everything will be lost."
Saint of the Underworld only smiled and shook his head.
"Every karmic thread has its conclusion. Why should fools like us try to force it?"
I shook my head. I still wasn't sure what the Saint of the Underworld was waiting for, but he couldn't possibly stay here forever.
"Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, it's time. Nether Hell can't hold out much longer."
Saint of the Underworld nodded. Fifth Tribunal Yama waved his hand, and a series of Infernal Judge's Seals turned into streaks of red light floating in the air, lining up in a row. Riding the stone beneath his feet, the Saint of the Underworld slowly drifted to the row of seals, pressed his palms together, and made a Buddhist gesture.
"Amitabha!"
As he spoke, the Saint of the Underworld performed rituals on each Infernal Judge's Seal, chanting softly.
A moment later, golden light radiated from the Saint of the Underworld. A massive halo appeared behind him as he slowly ascended, hands in a Buddhist gesture. Tiny, crystalline beads appeared, neatly circling the halo behind him.
"Buddha's Manifestation!"
I stared in shock, but soon noticed—there were only eleven, one was missing.
"All things have their conclusion! Namo Amitabha!"
With a sharp crack, the Saint of the Underworld pressed his palms together. Instantly, the eleven Buddha manifestations behind him shot beams of golden light, spiraling upward toward the Six Paths.
In the sky, countless words appeared, along with a giant golden swastika. Suddenly, with a grinding noise, the Hell Realm was the first to change—chains appeared across its surface. I saw masses of black figures emerging: the evil ghosts of the Hell Realm.
Wails rose all around me, accompanied by incomprehensible words.
"The Buddha will open the gate of mercy for countless evil souls!"
As the Saint of the Underworld spoke, waves of Sanskrit chanting filled the space, accompanied by clear, melodious bell tones. The Hungry Ghost Realm and Animal Realm began to descend. The Heavenly Realm erupted with intense golden and black-and-white light, the powers of Buddhism and Daoism evenly matched, controlling the Six Paths. The Asura Realm slowly descended, radiating furious energy.
"Sacrifice yourself for righteousness, and you may enter the Western Pure Land! Amitabha."
The Saint of the Underworld spoke. I heard the sound of shattering— the power of the eleven Buddha manifestations was pulling and tearing at the Six Paths. Looking behind me, I saw the entire space cracking apart, enormous red inscribed discs shattering, the whole realm collapsing.
Then I saw countless evil ghosts from the Hell Realm, missing their lower halves, only bodies, hands, and heads—their lower bodies like tattered rags. With waves of frenzied joy, the ghosts burst out from the cracks, more and more surging forth.
A dense, dark mass. The Hell Realm crashed into the wall of discs like a meteor, smashing through and plunging straight into Nether Hell.
"So this is your plan?"
I understood at once: they were using the power accumulated in the Six Paths to counter Emperor God and his forces. I saw countless beasts pouring from the Animal Realm—bugs, fish, birds, and beasts—all growing larger as they surged toward Nether Hell.
Last came the Hungry Ghost Realm. Hordes of white, starving ghosts flew out, rushing toward the battlefield, mouths wide open, wailing as if they smelled endless delicacies.
"If you do this, you won't come out unscathed, Saint of the Underworld!"
As soon as I finished, I looked at the Saint of the Underworld. The golden glow around him was fading, turning slightly black. I knew he was alone, struggling to maintain the balance of the Six Paths. Now, this was the only way.
With a thunderous crash, I saw a three-headed, six-armed asura standing before us, exuding an aura of authority.
"Ksitigarbha, you mean what you say, right? If you don't keep your promise, I'll tear your head off myself."