Chapter 5: The Laughter of the Gods

Daji shook her head but remained resolute. "Let her have it; she is human and relies on food more than we do as spirits."

Xiao Lin is one of them. With tearful eyes, she repeatedly implores the old immortal in a white robe with a white beard, the Grand Supreme Elderly Lord. "Grandpa Immortal, can you let me return to the mortal realm? I beg you, my husband, Blue Sun, is in the human world, and I do not wish to be an immortal..."

In the Heavenly Court, there are houses, floors, corridors, and furniture all fashioned from pure white clouds. As the Morning Star led the skilled artisans through the path between the rows of heavenly soldiers, they heard the voice of the Queen Mother saying, "The Great Immortal in Purple Robes possesses great compassion, feeling the suffering of the mortal realm. She opens the Three Realms, her merits are boundless. From now on, let her cultivate the immortal arts with me in the Peach Blossom Paradise."

A figure stepped forward from the crowd, kneeling in reverence and saying: "Although Lingjiu Palace has indiscriminately killed innocent people, most of them are quite good. In the conflicts of the martial world, various sects kill each other, so how has Lingjiu Palace become devoid of good people..."

"You should also drink a bowl; it is essential for practicing the purification mantra," said the Bone Spirit. After feeding one bowl, she filled another, only to see Yi Yun gently shaking her head. "Please give it to her," the Bone Spirit said, turning to glance at Xi Er, who was also shaking her head. Unable to help it, she spread her frail, bony left hand, displaying a posture of helplessness and distress.

The White Bone Spirit silently finished feeding Ba Tian, picked up the wooden bucket, and left. She completely ignored Ba Tian, who had been shouting incessantly. This was because every person who delivered food had become accustomed to the fact that ignoring Ba Tian was the simplest, most direct, and most convenient method.

The Taibai Jinxing, upon seeing the Queen Mother, was greatly pleased and promptly said: "I report to Your Majesty that during this journey, I have learned some matters concerning the mortal realm. The Lingjiu Palace has been causing disturbances in the martial world for over a hundred years, indiscriminately slaughtering the innocent. This Lingjiu Palace was originally founded by the evil Tianshan Tonglao, and its disciple, Xiaoyunxi, is indeed the one associated with the legend of slaughter in the mortal realm, having fallen into the abyss of hell. Their malevolence surpasses that of their predecessors, and many of the killings in the martial world stem from the Lingjiu Palace. However, an extraordinary individual has emerged from the Lingjiu Palace, who has actually created a supreme power akin to that of the Zishan Daxian, mastering all methods. As the heavens have leaked this information, many in the mortal realm now know that mastering all methods allows one to ascend to the celestial realm..."

The Planet Venus, with a quick mind, immediately grasped the true intentions of the Queen Mother. He, the Planet Venus, was not the deity responsible for such duties; the Queen Mother specifically asked him because she knew that he could discern her true feelings and needed him to articulate them.

Daji drank the rice porridge in the bowl in one go, letting out a comfortable sigh. "It seems I will not give up after all"

The Queen Mother smiled and nodded, then turned to inquire of the Jade Emperor

This girl is unaware of the affairs of the world, with a pure and kind heart, viewing everyone as a good person; truly, her words are those of a child, unrestrained and innocent

The White Bone Spirit no longer persuaded further and instead went to feed Yi Yun. Daji could not let go of her hatred and was unable to turn to the Buddha; she also did not know why she was unwilling to serve Chiyou, preferring to remain on the magic lock. Kong Xuan, who had always been proud, despised Chiyou's methods and would never be his subordinate. Although he had always held admiration and gratitude towards the King of Hell, he repeatedly indicated that he could not diligently practice Buddhism. Having never shed a tear before, Kong Xuan, upon arriving in hell, deeply felt the suffering of the Avici Hell, and thus often gazed into the distant sky of hell, shedding tears of compassion for this reason. Although he had always held admiration and gratitude towards the King of Hell, he repeatedly indicated that he could not diligently practice Buddhism. Having never shed a tear before, Kong Xuan, upon arriving in hell, deeply felt the suffering of the Avici Hell, and thus often gazed into the distant sky of hell, shedding tears of compassion for this reason.

The faint mist of the dreamy haze adds a touch of mystery to the entire enchanting realm.

Before the words were finished, the Star of Tai Bai had already blocked the way. Xiao Lin looked up in astonishment, only able to see the slightly bent figure of the Star of Tai Bai.

Initially, Daji's disdainful reprimand silenced him. "A person like you, lacking in ability, is not even worthy of Chiyou's attention; how could the King of Hell, with his profound insight, be deceived by hypocrites? It would be best for you to quiet down early on!"

Hehe... Thank you very much. Xi'er finished drinking in one go, and indeed felt a sense of fullness that had not been experienced for a long time

Upon hearing the Jade Emperor's decree, everyone felt uneasy, each believing they had done something wrong, yet none dared to speak up

However, they were taken to the ethereal realm of the immortal world by the gate of the immortal realm, without any say in the matter

As the White Bone Spirit walked away, Ba Tian no longer had the strength to call out, his head hung low.

Since the opening of the Three Realms, many masters of divine skills who have been devoted to cultivating various techniques in the mortal world have been "forced" to ascend. Originally, they had no interest in the conflicts and battles of the martial world, so they never practiced martial arts, focusing solely on honing their skills. They were merely curious about the celestial realm and were unwilling to leave their familiar surroundings and friends to ascend to the celestial realm

Daji took several deep breaths before calming the excitement within her. A fox demon, imprisoned in hell for a long time, had long since succumbed to despair. Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of hope. Although the light of that hope remained faint, it had already added a touch of color to the pitch-black despair.

The celestial generals of the gods all received their orders and praised the Jade Emperor's wisdom

In the grand hall, before the divine thrones of the Jade Emperor and the Queen Mother, Zishan performed a respectful bow and gently stepped aside, a smile on her face, quietly standing beside the small sword

"Then... what about Chiyou? The Snake Elder just asked me not long ago, saying that Lord Chiyou has been looking forward to your assistance." As the White Bone Spirit spoke, she filled a second bowl of rice porridge and handed it to Daji. Noticing her confusion, she hurriedly explained, "I have been practicing the Purification Spell and have not consumed any grains for some time. This portion is meant for myself, but I give it to you, sister."

She walked past the empty magic-sealing racks, stopping directly in front of Daji. She filled a bowl with millet porridge and brought it to Daji's lips, patiently feeding her. The hollow eye sockets of her skull turned with a faint creaking sound, glancing towards Yiyun. "Still not giving up?"

Day by day, year by year, time flows by just like this... Except for Daji, no one else has ever kept track of the days, nor do they understand why she always needs to be so precise in counting the days

The demon-sealing arena, the stench of blood still lingers, sometimes intense, sometimes light. ... The demons locked on the demon-sealing racks all hang their heads, weary of the monotonous scenery around them. They desire nothing, their memories long forgotten, and all that is past only deepens their pain and sorrow

Sister, please eat. The red fox is also practicing the purification spell, and her portion has been designated for her. The red fox is also a spirit; although we are determined not to do harm anymore, we have yet to attain even a glimpse of the Buddhist teaching of emptiness. In the past, we all struggled on this magic confinement frame, and at most, we did not struggle for more than three years. In everyone's heart, each person admires those two.

The skilled practitioners who ascend to the celestial realm are all individuals who never engage in the conflicts of the mortal world, each possessing a pure heart. Therefore, they are granted this honor. In the past, they often heard of such circumstances, and when questioned by the Jade Emperor, they all nodded in agreement.

There was not a trace of surprise in Baigujing's tone; after so many years, she had long since become accustomed to saying this. Initially, she believed that Yiyun and Xier would soon give up, but later, she felt that it would only be surprising if these two ever decided to give up.

The excitement lasts but a moment, while the despair honed over long years is as deep as the sea, and that glimmer of hope is like a leaf, so insignificant amidst the waves

The Jade Emperor gazed at the group of skill masters brought back by the Tai Bai Jin Xing and asked indifferently, "Is the Ling Jiu Palace truly like this?"

Who will save me—Chiyou, I, Batian, am willing to serve you forever... Great compassion of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, I, Batian, will reform myself and wholeheartedly cultivate Buddhism... In the silent demon-sealing arena, Batian's cries resounded once again

Hell

Xi Er gazed at Yi Yun, sipping the rice porridge slowly until it was finished

The Taibai Jinxing, with a benevolent expression, chuckled softly and responded to skilled practitioners like Xiaolin with a single remark: "Some little children, unaware of the difficulty of becoming an immortal, only speak of amusing tales." He then paid no further attention and continued to wield his celestial powers, riding on a pure white cloud, taking a group of people to the enchanting fairyland.

What does the Jade Emperor think?

Some celestial beings present at the meeting were mostly taken aback, and they couldn't help but burst into a flurry of discussions. The Ximu Xianyun Mountain had been completed not long ago, filled with celestial energy and vast in area. It was originally intended to serve as a temporary palace for the Jade Emperor during his western journey. How could Taibai Jinxing dare to propose rewarding it to a newly ascended great immortal from the mortal realm?

The Dreamlike Wonderland serves as the center of the celestial realm, with the Heavenly Court established here

The one delivering the meal is a White Bone Spirit. She once attempted to consume the flesh of Tang Seng during his journey to the West to obtain scriptures. After spending thirty-seven years in this hellish realm of locked magic, she finally engaged in sincere reflection and became a disciple under the throne of Ksitigarbha.

A group of master skill practitioners exchanged glances, all taken aback by the unexpected outcome... While the Lingjiu Palace is indeed formidable, they are not people of the martial world and never believed that a sect could consist solely of ruthless villains without any good individuals. They interacted with characters from various sects, engaging in trade and business, and found that every faction has its share of evildoers, yet most were amicable and easy to deal with customers

At this moment, Xing stepped forward with a beaming smile and said, "The little old man congratulates the Queen Mother on the joyful acquisition of a beloved disciple!"

Yi Yun and Xi Er have long been celebrities, disciples under the throne of the King of Earth. Everyone knows there are two newcomers: a woman in red and a man in purple. For over twenty years, they have not given up on trying to break free from the chains of magic.

Everything returns to silence. Kong Xuan continues to gaze at the blood-red sky of hell, devoid of sun and moon, while Daji keeps her head bowed, allowing her disheveled long hair to obscure her features. Yi Yun and Xi Er silently cultivate their martial arts, simultaneously channeling their recovering internal energy into the slowly rotating Beiluo Zixiao Sword that is cultivating on its own.

The White Bone Spirit no longer dissuaded her, but instead brought over the bowls and fed Xi'er three bowls in succession

At this moment, she appeared as a ghastly figure, resembling a skeleton, with two frail bony arms carrying a large bucket filled with millet porridge, approaching with a crunching sound with each step. The King of the Earth has limited magical power; the grains nourished by the power of one person sustain over three hundred thousand living beings in hell, and the food is hardly abundant. Each person is allotted only one bowl of porridge per day, and the spirits in hell, unless they possess profound cultivation like Daji, do not waste their magical power and energy to transform into human form.

Daji and Kong Xuan had been listening for over twenty years and had long since grown accustomed to it. Ever since Batian learned that the information from inside and outside the Demon Locking Field could only be conveyed through the mouth of the Ksitigarbha disciples who delivered meals, he would start shouting loudly every day when it was time to eat. However, after shouting for so many years, Batian had actually lost all hope; his voice was weak and devoid of emotion, sounding mechanical and lifeless.

The Jade Emperor remained impassive, showing no signs of joy or anger, nor did he speak; he merely nodded.

If Ba Tian had known that Da Ji was pierced through her body by the Demon Binding Chain, rendering her unable to use any of her abilities, he would have been completely unconcerned. When it came time to eat, he still called out for himself.

Daji was momentarily taken aback, expressed her gratitude, and just as she was about to drink, she suddenly paused and glanced sideways at Xi'er beside her. "Good sister, give it to her."

After a while, she still held the bowl, bringing it to Xi'er’s lips, and advised her, "It is rare to share hardships with someone you love. All men cherish and protect the women they love. If he wants to give this to you, do not refuse it."

Xiaolin wanted to speak up, but she realized that her voice was completely drowned out by the laughter of the deities. She thought of Zishan and looked over with a pleading gaze, only to find that Zishan was whispering to Xiaojian and had not noticed her plea for help

Sister, what about you? Have you still not been able to let go of your hatred? The White Bone Spirit turned her head, her dark eyes gazing at Daji, with a tone that carried a hint of concern. Daji is a demon, and she is also a demon, so there is naturally a closer bond between them

Ba Tian often shouted in a frenzied manner, sometimes demanding that Da Ji and Kong Xuan speak with him, and at other times hurling insults or scathing remarks at Yi Yun and Xi Er. However, none of this elicited a response. It was precisely for this reason that he felt even more tormented. The days spent in such bondage seemed endless, with not a single person to converse with; even arguments or curses would bring some semblance of emotion, preventing the atmosphere from being so deathly silent. Yet, there was none... The days spent in such bondage seemed endless, with not a single person to converse with; even arguments or curses would bring some semblance of emotion, preventing the atmosphere from being so deathly silent. Yet, there was none...

Kong Xuan, after finishing the rice porridge, shook his head and softly said, "Please convey my thanks to the King of the Underworld on behalf of Kong Xuan." After speaking, he gazed at the sky of hell as usual, and a tear slowly flowed down from the beautiful peacock eye on his forehead

The young elder believes that the Great Sage of Twilight has never stained his sword with blood throughout his life, embodying the benevolent heart of the True Martial. This is truly admirable and commendable! He is to be conferred the title of the Unmatched Great Immortal of the Benevolent Ones of the Western Twilight Cloud Mountain, and the Western Twilight Cloud Mountain is granted as his place of cultivation

The celestial beings and heavenly generals burst into a fit of laughter at the nonsensical babbling of the infant

Since this is the case, the evil sect of Lingjiu Palace shall not be allowed to rank among the immortals. Both mortals and spirits may be killed to eliminate evil, which can be counted as merit

In the celestial realm, mist and clouds drift ethereally, with clusters of white clouds forming buildings of various shapes.

The White Bone Spirit spoke a few words as usual, then turned to feed Kong Xuan. "The King of Hell has asked you again."

Having thanked the King of Hell for his good intentions, I can never let go of the hatred in my heart!" Daji said, filled with rage, her apricot-colored teeth clenched tightly. Indeed, the hatred is deeply ingrained, and I cannot face it with indifference for even a moment.

Upon seeing him, the Queen Mother could not help but smile warmly. "The Great Sage of the Little Sword has already been summoned by the Tathagata of the Western Paradise; the celestial realm wishes to retain him but cannot. The Great Sage in Purple Robe has already been conferred the title of the unparalleled and unmatched sage of war in the mortal realm. How should we reward the Great Sage of Dusk?"

The Queen Mother furrowed her brows slightly, greatly displeased. After pondering for a moment, she gazed at the Jade Emperor