The White Impermanence was the first to attack Ye Tiancheng. With the departure of the old man in red, Ye Tiancheng was left to face the Black and White Impermanence alone. Seeing Ye Tiancheng’s state, the Black and White Impermanence couldn't help but mock him. Although he was a cultivator, they were the lords of the underworld here, second only to King Yama.
Their authority surpassed even that of the Judges.
These two fellows, upon seeing Ye Tiancheng, naturally demanded their "ren shi," which referred to the paper money used in the mortal realm.
To them, such items were incredibly valuable. Mortals always burned paper money for them, and without it, they would have no means. This was because the underworld was forbidden from printing its own currency. Anyone who dared to do so would be violating heavenly laws and face tribulations for ten thousand years.
These rules were set by Heaven, which referred to the Jade Emperor, the supreme ruler of the mortal and divine realms. As the Lord of the Three Realms, his word was law, and no one dared to disobey.
Ye Tiancheng smiled upon understanding their intentions. "I am truly sorry, but I will not give you any benefits. You are thinking too much, and it is truly laughable. Perhaps some people do not realize that I am the one in charge here, aside from King Yama."
"What do you mean by that? Are you treating us, the Black and White Impermanence, as air? If we are displeased, we can simply twist your head off and use it as a torch. Do you believe it or not?"
"I believe your ghost stories."
Ye Tiancheng was completely unfazed by the threat. In his life, no one had ever dared to speak to him in such a manner. What Ye Tiancheng set out to do, no one could stop him from achieving. What Ye Tiancheng aimed to surpass, no one could ever outdo. Regardless of the circumstances, some existences were simply detestable, much like these two, the Black and White Impermanence. They were clearly asking for a beating.
"It seems you won't shed tears until you see the coffin. If you wish to return to the mortal realm, you had better show us respect. Otherwise, we will alter your life and death records, and you will remain a dead man. Do you wish to die here, or live?"
The Black and White Impermanence spoke in unison to Ye Tiancheng. Ye Tiancheng listened to their words and smiled calmly, appearing entirely at ease. To them, certain matters were simply not enough to provoke an emotional response.
Many times, his mood would become restless, all for the sake of obtaining better things. Sometimes, the reasons behind his actions were known to all, yet no one could truly comprehend them. To strive for something unattainable was akin to madness.
"Here, no one dares to defy our will. Don't you understand? To put it plainly, be obedient to us and do not test our limits lightly, or you will deeply regret it."
At this point, the two of them had reached their peak, constantly exerting pressure on Ye Tiancheng. They intended to subjugate him with words, as this would avoid a fight. Frankly, they were still worried that Ye Tiancheng might eliminate them.
Regardless, the power emanating from Ye Tiancheng was too peculiar. The aura he exuded clearly indicated that he was no ordinary individual.
They understood this principle: if something could be resolved with words, it should never be settled with fists. Since the old man in red had not arrived, Ye Tiancheng could only brace himself and engage these two in combat. He drew his Kunlun Sword and addressed the Black and White Impermanence.
"No matter how you have exploited and oppressed others in the past, before me, you are nothing. If you two do not wish to turn into ashes, it would be best to behave yourselves."
"Brat, do you want to fight us one-on-one? Although we are vile and dirty, we also represent the order of the Jade Emperor. If you dare to attack us, you will be violating heavenly laws, and even Heaven will not spare you. If you lay a hand on us, no matter where you flee, you will be pursued by heavenly soldiers. You may be powerful, but your friends, your family, and your interests in the mortal realm will be affected. In that case, you will have no end to your suffering."
Facing the threats of the Black and White Impermanence, Ye Tiancheng remained remarkably calm. He had already resigned himself to his fate. Facing this sooner or later was inevitable, so what was the harm in facing it now? Only through constant combat could one improve, and only through continuous slaughter could one acquire skills.
Sometimes, passive endurance did not guarantee safety. One's interests could only be protected through formidable martial power. Therefore, Ye Tiancheng paid no mind to the threats of the Black and White Impermanence. He had long since become indifferent to all threats, displaying an unruffled demeanor.
No one knew why he was so nonchalant. Some matters were simply beyond anyone's true comprehension. Even if many things had long since faded into obscurity, hidden in the darkest, most easily forgotten places.
Ye Tiancheng was, in fact, very intelligent. He simply chose not to reveal his most valiant side. His lengthy exchange of words with them was merely to express his most resolute stance.
"Then let me show you what death is. You group of scum who should have been cast into the dust, why are you barking at me?"
The Kunlun Sword unleashed a surge of power, its flames scorching the air and leaving it a charred mess. Intense heat radiated throughout the area. The Black and White Impermanence, being souls of Yin energy and residing in the cold underworld, could not withstand such immense flames.
The flames would extinguish their Yin energy. If the Black and White Impermanence were to die, they would dissipate into the air. Once a ghost died, it meant they were utterly annihilated. A living person dies to become a ghost.
A ghost that dies turns into ashes and smoke, its final traces vanishing without a trace.
"Old Black, together."
The White Impermanence said to the Black Impermanence. Although he saw the formidable sword energy emanating from Ye Tiancheng's Kunlun Sword, accompanied by immense flames, they believed that by joining forces, they could still gain an advantage against Ye Tiancheng.
Therefore, these two fellows did not take Wang Kefan's attack too seriously. When they heard Ye Tiancheng's name, their bodies were scorched by flames, and half of their bodies vanished. It was only through this incredibly brutal attack that these fellows finally realized they had been too careless.
The consequence of not taking Ye Tiancheng seriously was their own injury. However, their true forms were not significantly harmed, so the missing half of their bodies quickly regenerated.
In the underworld, there was an abundance of Yin energy, which they could use to rapidly repair their damaged bodies. They possessed the advantage of favorable timing, location, and human relations.
Looking at Ye Tiancheng, his use of flames was excessively draining his own Yang energy. The more he used it, the more it led to a critical error, causing his body to be constantly depleted and gradually lose combat effectiveness. This was because he had previously used the demonized Azure Cloud Lotus, which had weakened his aura. The battles along the way had further damaged him. If the old man in red had not appeared, he would undoubtedly have been reduced to ashes by these two.
Just as Wang Kefan felt his strength waning, the old man in red appeared between them. The Black and White Impermanence were filled with fear upon seeing the old man in red.
"Old Ghost in Red, why are you meddling in our affairs?" the two asked, utterly bewildered.
"Because I admire him, so I will help him. It's that simple. Do not interfere in my business. I will answer to King Yama for any issues." This statement was meant to convey that he was aware of their corrupt dealings in the underworld. Corruption in the underworld was an open secret, but King Yama had not intervened because he found them useful.
Without the assistance of the Black and White Impermanence, King Yama would have had no suitable candidates. Therefore, he had turned a blind eye to them, as long as they did not overstep their bounds. Over time, these two had developed such temperaments, oppressing the weak and extorting paper money from them.
The actions of the Black and White Impermanence greatly angered the tormented ghosts, but no one dared to speak out against them, as the Black and White Impermanence controlled their reincarnation.
If they offended them, they could be reincarnated into the animal path, which would be disastrous. After all, they were directly involved in these matters and could collude with corrupt officials to alter the Book of Life and Death. Those who were meant to be born into wealthy families could be sent to the animal path. Such actions were commonplace for them.
Thus, the entire underworld had become disgustingly corrupt. There was nothing anyone could do about it, as this was reality. In essence, if you couldn't afford to offend someone, you simply avoided them. In the face of absolute power, all kindness would be trampled upon.
Even if you suffered injustice, no one would help you. In this place where their word was law, any attempt to challenge their authority would be extinguished. He was likely already fed up, but due to his frequent use of true qi, it had been nearly depleted, making further combat impossible.
Now, he could only let them go for the time being and settle the score later. The appearance of the old man in red had saved Ye Tiancheng from disaster. At this moment, the old man in red said to Ye Tiancheng, "You brat are always looking for trouble. Who else could you offend but these two? If you can escape unscathed in the future, it would truly be a miracle."
"Why do you say that? I find it very strange."
"You created this mess, so you'd best handle it yourself. Otherwise, if it affects your friends and family later, it will be disastrous. They hold the power of life and death over mortals. If they collude with the Judges, you will truly have nowhere to survive. While I am powerful, I cannot interfere with their actions."
The old man in red complained and expressed his displeasure, feeling that in the face of such power, it was best to constantly refine and improve one's martial prowess to protect one's interests. Otherwise, the future would be bleak and devoid of benefits. A person's power stemmed from the infinite strength that supported their advantages.
Without the support of power, everything else was merely an illusion.
Having long witnessed the ebb and flow of the mortal world, Ye Tiancheng took his admonishment to heart. He would not be a fool who failed to understand who was targeting him.
Accustomed to the filth of the mortal world, he was no longer the naive youth he once was. Many things did not need to be told by the old man in red; he understood that everything was earned through his own efforts.
No one would easily tell you what they had experienced or what they would face. No matter how cruel the world became, all one could strive for was to become stronger, to protect their loved ones and friends.
Although Ye Tiancheng's parents had passed away long ago, he still had friends. Later, he would marry and have children. These individuals would become targets for others. Therefore, once a person harbored worries, they would be deeply concerned. They could not possibly be perfect in every aspect.
Even a slight oversight could provide an opportunity for others to exploit. Then, they would be doomed. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel anxious, his heart filled with apprehension. He already had a different plan in mind, but he would never reveal it easily. If he were to readily disclose these matters to others, it would reveal his lack of foresight.
Ye Tiancheng would certainly not reveal such things. Once revealed, he would appear quite useless.
After resolving this matter, he returned to the mortal realm, back to Huangjia Village.
Wang Youcai was overjoyed to see him return safely and have fulfilled Xiao Liuzi's wish. He smiled heartily and said,
"You are truly remarkable, managing to return from the underworld. I thought you would remain there forever, as legends say no one who goes there ever returns."
"Did many people offer incense and burn offerings, celebrating my supposed death there while I was gone?" Ye Tiancheng saw many people in Huangjia Village looking at the villagers with laughter. It had to be said that they truly hoped Ye Tiancheng would remain there forever, as the monsters from Binghu were inquiring about Ye Tiancheng's whereabouts.
If Ye Tiancheng had died there, those demon tribes would not have bothered Huangjia Village. Their thinking was truly foolish. If Ye Tiancheng had not been there, they would have long since been wiped out by those demon tribes.
Their way of thinking was not surprising, after all, humans are strange and selfish creatures. They never bothered to think about extraneous matters.
Because the entire world was like them, with few peculiar things existing. In reality, their thinking was truly foolish. The more they thought this way, the more significant problems would arise. These problems would naturally affect their outcomes, with significant issues constantly appearing. To find a solution to such problems,
They would have all sorts of thoughts in their minds, and what the final outcome would be, these fellows never considered. Ye Tiancheng couldn't help but feel he was too naive and adorable. Some people and some matters could not be described with words, nor could they be judged by one's imagination. After experiencing many setbacks, they would gradually realize that what they wanted to achieve was merely a laughable endeavor.
"You are truly thinking too perfectly. Those demon tribes will absolutely not spare you. If you think this way, you are gravely mistaken. They will not let you go. If Ye Tiancheng did not exist, Huangjia Village would have been blood-bathed long ago. You are still standing here safely because they cannot confirm Ye Tiancheng's death. If one day Ye Tiancheng truly ceases to exist, you will truly become a group of useless individuals, devoured completely, leaving not even a trace of your bones, not even your children or family."
Wang Youcai angrily berated the elders and youths of Huangjia Village. His eyes were wide, and veins bulged on his face. Seeing this fierce demeanor, the elders and youths of Huangjia Village were stunned into silence. Regardless, they remained foolish. Even if they were pushed to paradise, their thoughts could not be changed. Some people are simply so foolish, thinking about problems so simplistically and adorably, never having new ideas, never changing their stance.
Every arduous endeavor, in the end, would become an unforgivable mistake. Ye Tiancheng was such a person. He did many good deeds, but in the end, he would not be forgiven by these foolish people. In their eyes, Ye Tiancheng was an unforgivable mistake. When they truly reached the point Wang Youcai described, they would not think much of it, because they knew that everything they had done was merely a regrettable act.
"Why bother talking nonsense with them? I will be living here from now on. I will train the demon tribes."
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned. No one had ever dared to train demon tribes. Perhaps Ye Tiancheng was an anomaly, a person who dared to take responsibility. His thoughts were naturally perceived as strange. The reason for his peculiar and special ideas
was entirely because he intended to fight the underworld. In the future, he would absolutely need to rely on this strength to succeed. Without their assistance, Ye Tiancheng would have no chance of success; he might even die. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel extremely anxious. From this point on, what kind of place would this become?
Even Ye Tiancheng himself was unsure. If he was unsure, then the elders and youths of Huangjia Village also became anxious. Everyone was nervously apprehensive. No one had ever imagined that such a person would become this way. Ultimately, it would be a very unfortunate and terrifying matter. To put it plainly, they would be completely devoured, leaving nothing behind, because those demon tribes were evil beings. None of them were benevolent, and none of them could make others feel comfortable.
Because such individuals existed, the consequences that would arise were not something everyone could grasp. At least for them, many things had exceeded their imagination.