Chapter 12

In Fengdu, the grand and majestic Heavenly Son Hall stands at the center, resembling a king beast dominating the plain, its imposing presence shaking all directions. The eaves and brackets are intricately carved, and the roof slopes in four directions, like a broad umbrella, sheltering the netherworld!

Before the famous mountain, a massive archway stands, like a gate between heaven and earth, towering alongside the gloomy sky, enveloping the entire mountain. Looking straight ahead, the Heavenly Son Hall, built atop the mountain, sits above the massive archway, symbolizing a height surpassing the heavens!

On the front of the massive archway, three large black characters are inscribed—Heavenly Son Hall—personally written by the Benevolent King of the Netherworld, Yama. The strokes of the characters seem to emit a world-shaking sword aura, and one can faintly hear the clanging of metal. The characters, smooth and flowing, resemble a long river leading to the sea, subtly implying the pacification of the netherworld. On the back of the archway, the characters "Yōudū" (Netherworld) are inscribed.

Below the massive archway stands a three-person-tall dark green rock, smooth as a mirror, serving a similar function to the Sin Mirror Platform in the First Hall. As ghosts pass by, it reveals their sins from their past and present lives, known as the Sin Examination Rock.

Yama originally presided over the First Hall of the Ten Halls of Yama, but due to his great compassion and pity for wrongful deaths, he often released ghosts to the living world to clear their names while in charge of the First Hall. As a result, he was demoted to the Fifth Hall, overseeing the Calling Earth Hell and sixteen smaller hells, as well as the Platform of Longing and the Sin Examination Rock, which were also moved.

After Qin Guang Wang took over the First Hall, he built the Sin Mirror Platform!

In the Heavenly Son Hall, which surpasses the palaces of the human world, numerous ghost officials and servants hurriedly moved in and out, carrying jade trays with red covers, containing rare treasures of the netherworld, all to save the life of the Heavenly Son Empress who was having a difficult childbirth.

Ghosts giving birth is extremely difficult, and the Heavenly Son Empress, who is gentle and beautiful, has a weak body, relying on the "Yin Life Ghost Scripture" and countless treasures of the netherworld to sustain her life.

"Make way, Lady Meng is coming!" a distant cry from a large night-fork echoed. Lady Meng, holding the hem of her skirt, hurriedly climbed the famous mountain and arrived at the Heavenly Son Hall.

"How is the Heavenly Son Empress?" Lady Meng, out of breath, urgently asked a ghost servant.

The ghost servant's heart trembled, and he stammered, "Lady Meng, please hurry. The Heavenly Son Empress's face is as pale as paper, and her soul is almost transparent. It might be..."

The ghost servant hesitated, not daring to continue.

"It seems the situation is really bad. Quickly prepare hot water and towels, ten thousand-year-old Blood Yin Ghost Ginseng, five Life-Extending Yin Mushrooms..." Lady Meng quickly said, rushing into the palace.

With Lady Meng's arrival, the numerous ghost officials and servants seemed to have a backbone, no longer panicking but working in a tense and orderly manner. The Heavenly Son Hall's treasure vault was opened, revealing countless treasures of the netherworld, their light piercing the sky, the auspicious aura colorful and splendid, and the pure Yin energy filling the entire mountain.

In the main hall of the Heavenly Son Hall, two towering wooden pillars are inscribed with a couplet, deeply etched: "Without class, all must pass through here, step by step; without distinction, all seek enlightenment, this life is not this life."

Here, there is no class, no distinction, no hierarchy; after death, all souls must return to the netherworld, awaiting judgment by the Heavenly Son, seeking rebirth.

Another couplet reads: "No matter how great a villain, here they should lose their courage; no matter how cunning, once inside, they cannot deceive."

This couplet warns ghosts that no matter how deceitful or cunning they were in life, the Heavenly Son will still suppress them, and it is better to be honest and loyal as a ghost.

The hall is dim and dark, with the Yin Prince Yama seated on a sixty-zhang-high throne, like a mountain, wearing a golden crown, dragon robe, and jade belt, holding a jade tablet, his eyes wide open, solemn and majestic. However, ordinary ghosts cannot see his true form, only a gentle golden sun.

On either side of the Yin Prince stand the six case clerks, below them are the four judges, and the ten Yin generals!

Each of them is twelve feet tall, mighty and awe-inspiring, like stars of the netherworld, ready to execute the orders of the Heavenly Son. Each has their own strengths, leading their own troops, punishing evil, and rewarding good. No matter how powerful a sinful ghost is, even if they can ascend to heaven or descend to earth, they cannot escape their grasp.

These true great figures of the netherworld, whose footsteps shake the netherworld and whose gestures decide life and death, are rarely seen, yet they are all gathered here!

What great matter has brought all the powerful figures of the netherworld to the Heavenly Son Hall!

"This matter is entrusted to all of you!" Yama said, his voice calm and filled with supreme authority, echoing throughout the entire Heavenly Son Hall.

"Yes!" the six case clerks, four judges, and ten Yin generals responded in unison, like thunder, the echo of a deity!

"Go!" Yama waved his hand, saying calmly.

In an instant, the six case clerks, four judges, and ten Yin generals transformed into black beams, shooting into the sky and disappearing.

Yama glanced at the now empty Heavenly Son Hall, a faint sigh echoing in the dim darkness. He stood up from the dragon throne, walked down the dragon platform, and as he moved, his sixty-zhang-tall body gradually shrank, the golden crown and dragon robe disappearing, replaced by a spotless long robe with sky-blue cloud patterns and a golden five-clawed dragon embroidered in gold.

The sternness on his face disappeared, replaced by anxiety. He was once the supreme ruler of the netherworld, the mighty Yama, but now he is a husband anxiously waiting for news, a father hoping for the safety of his wife and daughter.

"Cui Yu, why haven't you left yet?" Yama, now in casual attire, suddenly said, his eyes like lightning, illuminating the entire hall.

"Not bad, Yama, Heavenly Son of the Netherworld."

A gentle and mild voice echoed, and suddenly, a large ghost appeared in the hall, none other than Judge Cui Yu!

Cui Yu, who had left with the six case clerks, ten Yin generals, and other judges, had not truly left, waiting for the moment when only Yama remained.

"Is there something you need?" Yama said calmly, having already guessed that Cui Yu had not truly left and suspected that there was a problem among the six case clerks, ten Yin generals, and other judges.

"Ha, as expected, nothing can escape your notice, Bao." Cui Yu smiled warmly, calling Yama by his name.

However, Yama did not blame him, his face stern, and he said seriously, "You can only call me by my name in private. In the court, you must address me as Yama!"

"Yes, yes." Cui Yu laughed, walking up to Yama, "Who knew that the stern Bao has a heart of gold? So compassionate, that's why you gave up the First Hall to Qin Guang Wang."

Few ghosts in the netherworld know that Judge Cui Yu, whose fame is second only to the Ten Halls of Yama, is actually a close friend of the Heavenly Son Yama. Many decisions affecting the netherworld are made in private by Cui Yu and Yama.

Yama's face darkened, and he glared, "Do not privately criticize the Ten Halls of Yama. After all, you are a judge, a subject of Yama. And Qin Guang Wang earned his position in the First Hall. Under his management, the netherworld has been peaceful for many years."

"Alright." Cui Yu shrugged, taking out the Book of Life and Death, "Let's talk as we walk. I know you're anxious about your wife."

Cui Yu's casualness is partly due to his close friendship with Yama, and partly because, in the netherworld where strength is paramount, Cui Yu is not inferior to the Ten Halls of Yama!

Thus, the two great figures of the netherworld, while making decisions that affect the entire ghost kingdom, walked toward the place where the Heavenly Son Empress was.

Numerous ghost servants and officials were busy, the Heavenly Son Hall's treasure vault was fully open, and the treasures of the netherworld were being used generously. With the efforts of Lady Meng, the first midwife of Fengdu, they finally succeeded.

"Wow!"

A loud cry echoed through the netherworld, filled with the aura of death, reverberating above the Heavenly Son Hall on the famous mountain of Fengdu, marking the birth of a new life!

On the top floor of the pavilion, Yama, who had been pacing back and forth, suddenly looked up, his eyes wide open, a sun-like light shining from them, his face filled with joy.

Cui Yu, standing beside Yama, looked down at the palace below, a smile on his face, knowing that the Heavenly Son Empress and the newborn were inside.

"Mother and daughter are safe!"

A shout from the palace silenced the noisy Heavenly Son Hall, and then a thunderous cheer erupted, the sound waves like ocean waves, spreading quickly. Soon, the entire Fengdu was celebrating, the city rejoicing!

"Congratulations, Brother Yama, the Heavenly Son Empress is safe, and you have a new princess." Cui Yu bowed slightly, smiling and congratulating him.

"Ha ha ha, congratulations indeed!" Yama, overjoyed, his stern face relaxing, like a flower blooming.

"Quick, give the princess a name." Cui Yu said.

"A name?" Yama paused, then nodded, "Yes, a name..."

Yama lowered his head, deep in thought. A name is the first gift parents give to their child, and it needs to be carefully considered.

"Let's call her 'Li,' Yama Li!" Yama suddenly looked up, speaking seriously.

"Yan Li, surpassing the three realms... indeed, a wonderful name!" Cui Yu mused, savoring the words, his eyes suddenly brightening, "Yama Li is a ray of life in the netherworld, naturally in harmony with Yin and Yang, containing the vitality of life within death, a perfect fusion of two extremes, a precious treasure of the three realms, destined to be the most beautiful in the three realms!"

"Ha ha ha ha ha..." Cui Yu's sincere words made Yama laugh heartily. These words were not flattery; as great ghosts, their eyes are sharp, able to see through the thoughts of ghosts, and lies or flattery are easily detected.

"I, Yama, the Heavenly Son of the Netherworld, hereby name my daughter Yama Li and bestow upon her the title of Princess of the Ghost Kingdom!" Yama raised his head, standing at the top of the pavilion, his mouth opening, each word worth a thousand pieces of gold, his decree echoing throughout the Heavenly Son Hall, Fengdu, and the entire ghost kingdom.

With a whoosh, a thousand-zhang scroll rose above the Heavenly Son Hall, unfolding to cover the sky, emitting ten thousand rays of golden light. On the scroll, countless names appeared, and before them, six golden characters shone—Princess of the Ghost Kingdom, Yama Li!

Yama's bestowal of the title of Princess of the Ghost Kingdom is a great event, celebrated by all!

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