Chapter 13

Awakening raised his head and saw a scroll that emitted myriad rays of golden light, blocking out the sun. It was densely covered with tiny names, and the decree of King Yama echoed in his ears. A smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Looks like a little life has been born, mother and child safe and sound. Was she named Yan Li and bestowed the title of Princess of the Netherworld?" Awakening muttered softly, glancing at the little demon Yaksha beside him. "Hey, Yaksha, do you know what that thing is?"

Awakening rolled his eyes and pointed at the sky.

"Me?" The little demon Yaksha was taken aback, and his fierce, demonic face showed a fawning expression. Awakening was now in the position of the Lady of Forgetfulness, which, in terms of rank, made him a first-class ghost official.

"The scroll unfurled in the sky is the Ten Thousand Spirits Decree, which records all the residents of the Ghost Kingdom, from the Ten Kings of Hell to the common people, all are listed there," the little demon Yaksha answered respectfully.

Awakening was dumbfounded, his mouth wide open as if it could hold a goose egg.

"The Ten Thousand Spirits Decree, so enormous, how many names are recorded in it?" Awakening recovered and sighed, deeply impressed by the grandeur of the Netherworld. His human perspective was greatly impacted and expanded.

"I've heard that the current Ten Thousand Spirits Decree is not its complete form," the little demon Yaksha said, his eyes twinkling as he continued to flatter, revealing all the information he knew. "The Ten Thousand Spirits Decree was once burned, and when it is in its complete form, it can stretch to the edge of the Ghost Kingdom—the Ghost Gate!"

"Oh?" Awakening murmured, his eyebrows lowering as he pondered.

The little demon Yaksha smiled fawningly, his eyes narrowing into a strange crescent moon, but he found nothing more to say. His position was low, and he had no access to the depths of the Netherworld, nor did he know the purpose of the Ten Thousand Spirits Decree.

Ding, ding, ding...

Awakening stirred the large spoon, hitting the iron pot, and shouted, "Line up, line up, come to get the Lady of Forgetfulness's soup."

Awakening skillfully moved his arms, gracefully and swiftly, as if performing an arm dance. Unconsciously, five large blue porcelain bowls filled with the Lady of Forgetfulness's soup were lined up at the front of the stall. The ghosts queued up, each taking a bowl of soup, drinking it, and then reincarnating.

After becoming proficient, his movements were extremely fast, allowing him to squeeze in some rest time. Awakening's eyes involuntarily glanced at the mysterious drawer of the stall.

"What's inside?"

Curiosity killed the cat, and now Awakening felt like a cat had been stuffed into his chest, its soft, fleshy paws continuously scratching, not painful but very itchy.

Awakening gritted his teeth, glanced around, and found no ghosts paying attention. "Just a quick look, as a reward for helping the Lady of Forgetfulness."

He easily convinced himself, his hand trembling slightly as he quickly pulled out the drawer.

The drawer was not large, containing only a blue-bound ancient book with five large characters on the cover—*The Great Forgetting Scripture of the Lady of Forgetfulness*!

"The Great Forgetting Scripture of the Lady of Forgetfulness?" Awakening's eyes lit up, and his body's instinctive impulse was to take it away.

"This must be the cultivation method of the Lady of Forgetfulness, probably not inferior to the *Ghostly Senra Scripture* practiced by the third-class ghost generals or the *Impermanence Scripture* practiced by Brother Song," Awakening muttered, his left hand heavily slapping his right hand to suppress the impulse to take it.

"Ah, old habits die hard, always wanting to possess good things," Awakening sighed, quickly pushing the drawer back, estimating that the Lady of Forgetfulness would be back soon.

At the peak of a famous mountain, in the Imperial Hall, the Lady of Forgetfulness received the reward from King Yama. Dark clouds rose beneath her feet, and she quickly headed to the other side of the River of Forgetfulness, worried about the order of the ghostly cycle.

Awakening had no enchanting voice, no cultivation method, and no ghostly aura in his body, making it impossible for him to subdue the evil and fierce ghosts who did not want to drink the Lady of Forgetfulness's soup.

The dark clouds descended, and the Lady of Forgetfulness looked down at the orderly queue of ghosts drinking soup, rubbing her eyes. "Am I getting old and my eyes failing me?"

The Lady of Forgetfulness's face showed an incredulous expression. Unexpectedly, the chaos she imagined did not occur. Regardless of the type of ghost, they all queued up voluntarily, drank the Lady of Forgetfulness's soup, and reincarnated, with not a single troublemaker. Moreover, the Lady of Forgetfulness noticed that Awakening's movements were very fast, not inferior to hers, and even contained the key points she had mastered over a thousand years of ladling soup, with perfect angles and force.

The Lady of Forgetfulness descended the dark clouds, her feet touching the ground, and the clouds disappeared automatically.

"How fragrant." The Lady of Forgetfulness said, her wrinkled face showing a kind smile. Five bowls of the Lady of Forgetfulness's soup were placed at the front of the stall, emitting a rich aroma that wafted to the other end of the Bridge of Sighs, making the ghosts crave it from a distance.

"Young man, I didn't misjudge you. You are indeed suitable to be the Lady of Forgetfulness," the Lady of Forgetfulness said with a chuckle.

"What!" Awakening's legs went weak, and he leaned on the stall, his eyes twinkling. "Grandma, you must be tired. Have a bowl of the Lady of Forgetfulness's soup."

Awakening smiled brightly, like a sunny boy next door, extremely friendly, easily dispelling any suspicion in people's hearts, like a gentle spring breeze or a rising sun.

The Lady of Forgetfulness was taken aback, her withered hand lifting the blue porcelain bowl, preparing to take a sip, but her movement froze instantly.

"Brat, I can't drink the Lady of Forgetfulness's soup, or I'll lose my memory!" The Lady of Forgetfulness glared, putting down the blue porcelain bowl. "I almost fell for your trick."

"Ha ha, really? How would I know that the Lady of Forgetfulness drinking her own soup would cause her to lose her memory? Isn't the Lady of Forgetfulness the one who cooks it? Haven't you ever tasted it?" Awakening inwardly regretted, but he showed an innocent smile.

"Is that so?" The Lady of Forgetfulness looked at Awakening suspiciously, taking the copper spoon and blue porcelain bowl from his hand.

Awakening chuckled, standing to one side, rubbing his hands. "Grandma, do you think I can reincarnate...?"

"Reincarnate?" The Lady of Forgetfulness shook her head repeatedly. "No, no, you haven't lost your memory, so you can't reincarnate."

Awakening's face fell, having already anticipated this answer but still feeling disappointed. Reincarnating with memories would truly be living another life, and all the wisdom and treasures he carried would turn to nothing.

"Then I can't stay here forever, can I?" Awakening asked.

"Indeed." The Lady of Forgetfulness ladled soup for the ghosts while chatting with Awakening. She thought for a moment and took a bound book from the drawer, handing it to Awakening.

"What is this?" Awakening took the bound ancient book, a flash of joy crossing his face, which he quickly concealed, feigning confusion.

The bound ancient book was naturally *The Great Forgetting Scripture of the Lady of Forgetfulness*, but Awakening pretended to see it for the first time.

"This is a token. Take it to the City God of Fengdu. He will arrange an identity for you, making you an official citizen of the Ghost Kingdom, allowing you to reside in the Netherworld," the Lady of Forgetfulness said.

"Oh." Awakening responded indifferently, but his heart was bursting with joy.

"By the way, remember to return this *The Great Forgetting Scripture of the Lady of Forgetfulness* after you're done using it," the Lady of Forgetfulness added, her hands never stopping as she served the ghosts.

"Sure, thank you, Grandma!" Awakening nodded solemnly. "I will definitely return it to you after I'm done using it!"

"Right, you don't have the ability to enchant souls. How did you make the ghosts drink the Lady of Forgetfulness's soup obediently?" The Lady of Forgetfulness recalled something and asked curiously.

"Ah." Awakening exclaimed, pointing at the little demon Yaksha nearby. "Grandma, it was the little demon Yaksha who helped subdue them. A few lashes of his bone whip, and even the fiercest ghosts became obedient."

The little demon Yaksha?

The Lady of Forgetfulness nodded, and the little demon Yaksha smiled fawningly.

"So that's how it is..." The Lady of Forgetfulness nodded, believing it to be true.

"Go, I'll send you off." The Lady of Forgetfulness waved her sleeve, and a dark cloud appeared beneath Awakening's feet, carrying him back to Fengdu, swaying gently.

This was the second time Awakening experienced flying on a cloud, though it wasn't his skill, he truly felt the divine sensation, an unforgettable experience.

Awakening clung to the dark cloud, his eyes wide open, muttering to himself, his expression growing increasingly curious and yearning.

"Really flying on a cloud, so amazing!" Awakening examined the dark cloud thoroughly but found no secret, finding it incredible that science had not explained how to fly on a cloud.

Finally, Awakening gave up on his research, lying comfortably on the dark cloud, stretching out his limbs, and gazing at the sky, sighing, "The world of the gods, I never thought I would experience this."

The sky of the Netherworld was gray and overcast, with no clouds or sun and moon, and birds were rare, as if always shrouded in a gloomy mist, filled with resentment.

Considering the vast lands beyond the Ghost Kingdom, perhaps the sky above the Yellow Springs was the most beautiful, reflecting an amber color, with dragons flying and dancing, like stained glass, with not a single cloud, the sky clear and blue, making one feel refreshed and at ease.

"If only I had a cup of wine, I would be as happy as a god!" Awakening felt extremely relaxed and wanted to drink. In his previous life, he was not a heavy drinker, but he always enjoyed a sip of wine when resting alone, finding it comfortable and pleasant.

Fengdu was vast and enormous, with the River of Forgetfulness running through it. The Bridge of Sighs, the Three Lives Stone, and the Platform of Longing were all within Fengdu, spanning at least ten thousand miles. The actual city was far from the Bridge of Sighs.

The dark cloud moved slowly, carrying Awakening to the outskirts of Fengdu, where it automatically descended and disappeared.

Awakening patted his knees, no longer feeling the dizziness from his first experience with the Lady of Forgetfulness's soup. He looked up, gazing at the massive city, his heart filled with an indescribable emotion. A vast and bizarre world gradually unfolded before him.

"Life is like a journey, never stopping, always moving forward, passing through various cities, seeing various landscapes, and meeting various people," Awakening sighed, walking toward Fengdu.

"First, I need to find the City God, get a 'residence permit,' become a 'citizen' of the Ghost Kingdom, and officially reside in Fengdu. Before my new life begins, I need to change my motto. 'I am not a good ghost, but I am not a bad ghost,' 'If ghosts do not offend me, I will not offend them, but if they do, I will repay them tenfold!'"

Awakening's eyes were bright, his back straight like a dragon, his waist as firm as a spear, exuding a dominant aura. He was once soft and smooth like silk, but now he was a sharp dagger, his sharpness fully revealed!

"Look, there's a new ghost who is very arrogant and cocky!" A nearby wandering ghost shouted, immediately surrounding Awakening and pummeling him without a word.

Two fists were no match for four hands. Awakening was about to resist but was quickly knocked to the ground by seven or eight ghosts and beaten up.

"Stop, stop, my boss is Yuan Liunian!" Awakening clutched his head, curling up on the ground, and shouted with all his might!

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