"How did this happen?" By lunchtime, Qin Ye was already standing in front of the silicone doll with an ashen face.
It had been a hellish morning. In the end, when it was announced that he was ranked fifth in the Combat Department, he still had to maintain a perfect smile. His heart could not be more stifled!
Arthis was watching the horror movie Ju-on. She didn't even bat an eyelid when she heard that, "Don't you know what kind of person you are?"
"Wait … didn't we agree that Emissaries of Hell would be able to crush their opponents of the same level?
Even Cao Youdao didn't feel any pressure when I killed a few Hunter-class experts. Why do these geniuses of the mortal realm feel as though they've been possessed by the God of Spring?
One is fiercer than the other? "
"This ghost … it's an incarnate being … can there be an incarnate being in the Fu Sang Country?"
Arthis frowned at Kayako. Several seconds later, she finally reacted, "Remember what I've said. Only ghosts of the same rank are capable of crushing ghosts of the same rank. This does not include humans of the same rank."
"How am I supposed to act cool in the future?"
"Silly."
Arthis yawned and noticed that there was a reply on QQ. She clicked on it and took a look. "My heart is full of Europium."
Have you seen him? "
Qin Ye's nerves instantly tensed up.
Arthis's silicone fingers danced in the air as she replied, "Scram."
Holy shit … this evolution is way too fast … Not only can I understand the Martian language, I can even reply …
Qin Ye had a bad feeling about this.
Arthis closed the chat window and said calmly, "Simple."
"The First Academy of Cultivators - no, in fact, the entire cultivation world - is all about purging ghosts.
Did you just say that you're currently in the Combat Department?
There would definitely be countless missions in the future.
As long as the school knows about your results, no one will dare to criticize you. "
"But I can't show off in front of the school. I keep feeling like I'm lacking something …"
Arthis slammed her keyboard impatiently, "Your goal right now is to hang on!
Do you understand?
As a husky, can't you have some self-awareness of a husky?
Do I have to attract attention when I'm in a wolf pack?
Aren't you afraid that you won't be exposed fast enough?
If you ask me, you did very well today. "
Qin Ye was somewhat vexed, "I don't want to, but … the order of instructors is likely to determine the distribution of resources and students. We're going to Mount Tai City right away, and the first batch of students will arrive as soon as we're done with our studies.
I don't have that much time! "
Arthis finally shifted her gaze away from the computer screen with great difficulty and thought for a moment, "Actually, it's not like there's no other way …"
She glanced at Qin Ye, "This morning, I've familiarized myself with a few aspects of society. First of all, I've learned a thing or two about schools.
You have to remember that although you are now secretly hiding in the cultivation world, its name is the school.
As long as it's a school, the assessment isn't just about actual combat. "
"As time goes by, they'll naturally learn of your achievements against the ghosts.
But before that, the school must have other secret tests, such as … organizing lectures. "
Qin Ye's eyes lit up.
Arthis tapped lightly on the keyboard, "No matter what, you're not official teaching staff. Even if you've been trained, how can the academy possibly rest assured?
There would definitely be school officials who would attend the class like ordinary schools.
It's not that I'm looking down on them, but with the current strength of the human world, they probably haven't even heard of many ghosts. "
"For example?"
"For example, a parasitic spirit."
Arthis explained placidly, "A person born with innate Yin veins and lives in the Nine Yin Lands. As soon as he's possessed by a ghost, the ghost will think that he's one of their own, and they'll live in the human body as a parasite. It's fine if it doesn't erupt, but if it does, it'll at least be at the level of an evil spirit!
In the era when I was in charge, there were three cases of parasitic spirit eruptions, all of which were at the level of an incarnate revenant. As soon as they appeared, the entire village was immediately wiped out, and the area within a hundred miles radius became a nest of evil spirits. "
"Another example would be the Intergenerational Spirit.
The probability of occurrence is even more unique. The mother is a ghost, and she'll give birth to a ghost infant before turning into a ghost. After several generations, the offspring may even mutate into a ghost without coming into contact with any Yin spirits.
Furthermore, the level of the parasitic spirit is equally high, and it's at least at the level of an Anitya Hellguard! "
"There's also the mother-child spirit, nightmare spirit, and so on. As long as you toss out a few topics, no matter how extravagant the other instructors' lectures are, you're bound to come out on top."
There's such a thing?
Hang on … I mean, your level of comprehension is quite astonishing … Qin Ye gazed deeply at Arthis, somewhat regretting opening the door to the internet for her.
"But is this the time to be concerned about such things?"
Arthis spoke calmly, and her voice grew solemn, "The commencement of the academy competition signifies that Hell has been fully formed. Don't you … want to see your territory?"
Of course I'm going!
Qin Ye didn't do anything else in the afternoon. He didn't want to be tormented by Arthis, so he went out for a stroll with Wang Chenghao and watched two movies. By the time he returned in the evening, it was already almost time.
Night, twelve o 'clock
"Hold the other shard of King Yanluo's Seal in your hand. You can enter the new Hell as long as you want to." Arthis naturally held onto his hand.
Qin Ye glared at her, "Let go."
"Let go. I can't get in!
Do you think I want to? "Arthis glared back at him.
Qin Ye asked Arthis to tug at the corner of his robes in disgust, and then pulled out the other shard of King Yanluo's Seal. He drew a few deep breaths, and then everything went black.
By the time he regained consciousness, he was already standing in the middle of a vast expanse of land.
Whoosh … The sky was filled with a howling gale, while the clouds in the distance looked like a tsunami.
It was pure black, and airtight.
The place was approximately two to three square kilometers in size.
The ground was dry and cracked, brownish-yellow in color.
It was covered with cracks, and jade-green netherflames flickered from time to time. Qin Ye could even vaguely hear the wails of souls.
Black trees covered with scarlet leaves swayed gently on both sides of the road.
It was a scarlet forest.
And right at the end of the blood-stained passageway was a massive building.
It was a palace.
It occupied an area of approximately a kilometer.
There was a square cauldron at the entrance. It was three meters wide and six meters tall, and it was lit with pale candles.
Green smoke lingered in the air.
The richly ornamented palace was decorated with white spirit streamers, while paper money fluttered about from time to time. Black tiles, white walls, and exquisite carvings of xiezhi were engraved on the eaves of the roof.
It was an ancient palace with ancient doors and windows.
Through the window lattices, one could see that the candles inside were all lit by Torch Dragons. Yakshas, Rakshasas, Anitya Hellguards, ox-heads and horse-faces were placed in an orderly fashion.
A table hundreds of meters long was placed in the direction of the entrance, with hundreds of black chairs behind it. The table was covered with a white cloth.
The front of the table was divided into hundreds of rows by black wooden railings.
Right at the top of the hall, a black wooden plaque was inscribed with three large words - Hell's Gate.
Below the plaque was a line of couplets.
The first couplet read - Three lives in the mortal realm, all crimes committed by you.
The second couplet read - Who has Hell spared since time immemorial?
The third couplet read - You're finally here.
"Heh …" Arthis looked at the couplet with some measure of emotion, "It's been a long time … since I've seen this couplet."
"Kid … you have a lot of power right now.
You can't imagine it. Don't ever lose yourself. "Arthis gazed deeply at Qin Ye," Otherwise, I'll be the first to kill you. "
Qin Ye retracted his smile and cupped his hands respectfully at the couplet.
This was the purpose of Hell's existence.
It didn't matter how evil or deceitful you were. Even if you were a sixty-year-old old man, the mortal realm wouldn't be able to do anything about it.
Even if the police wanted to settle the matter privately.
But your sins have already been engraved in the Book of Life and Death of Hell.
Either you live with a clear conscience, or you die and be skinned alive in the Eighteen Abysses of Hell.
He heaved a sigh of relief and looked at the railings in front of him, "What's this?"
Arthis responded, "This is the first thing you see upon entering Hell. It's commonly known as the Yin Gate.
No matter what kind of soul it was, it would enter from here.
Do you see the side doors on both sides of the palace?
That's where Emissaries of Hell come and go.
Apart from here, nobody can enter or leave Hell. This is the rule of the Heavenly Dao. "
Qin Ye gave it a try and walked around the palace.
However, not even he was able to do so.
It was almost as though he had been blocked by an invisible wall, and he couldn't move at all.
Arthis continued, "These partitions are where the Yin spirits of Hell enter and exit from.
The chairs at the back are where the examiners sit. In the mortal realm, these examiners are commonly known as the 'Death Inquisitors'. "
"Ox-head and Horse-face summons the soul. The Emissary of Hell will lead the way. Once you're here, you'll need to verify that the name of the other party is recorded in the Book of Life and Death, and whether any Emissary of Hell has committed a dereliction of duty by removing the name of a person who shouldn't have died."
Qin Ye was astonished, "There's such an Emissary of Hell?"
"Of course there is." Arthis responded affirmatively, "Emissaries of Hell … are all evil ghosts that have gained sentience.
No matter what, you're the only exception. Everyone else is a ghost!
Ghosts that have gained sentience are no different from humans. Naturally, they have their own way of thinking. "
"Every year, the Book of Life and Death of King Yanluo Dian records the names of those who should have died that year, down to the minute and second.
But some of the Emissaries of Hell arrive too late, or some of the souls undergo other changes, such as turning into evil ghosts.
If they can't complete the task, but don't want to expend resources to ask for help from others, then there will naturally be Emissaries of Hell who will randomly write off the names. "
"These dead souls have regained their sentience as soon as they arrive here, and they'll start lining up to enter. After that, they'll enter the Yin Yang Road, the skeletal bridge, and finally the ferryman."
Qin Ye nodded thoughtfully. Then, his eyes suddenly flickered, "Then … why aren't there any souls here?"
This shouldn't be the case.
Hell has already opened up, and there would definitely be souls arriving today. So why is it completely empty?
Arthis sneered, "Even though you're a part of Hell, your influence can only extend to a village within the City of Salvation.
How many people can die in a village?
It's normal to not see any souls for three to five days. "
Qin Ye nodded and gazed at Hell's Gate with some measure of emotion. Although the long row of tables and chairs was completely empty, he could still imagine the sight of hundreds of Emissaries of Hell writing in unison, while countless Emissaries of Hell and Soul Hunters escorting groups of souls in and out of Hell.
Can I … really start by poaching the people of the Special Investigations Department … and rebuild such a massive realm?
Hang on …
He suddenly recalled something, and he turned around to look at Arthis with trembling lips, "Speaking of which … where are the civil servants?"
"Oh?
You've realized something? "Arthis covered her mouth and chuckled softly," Naturally … there aren't any. "
"Holy shit!!"
Qin Ye nearly jumped up, "You're not asking me, a King Yanluo of Hell, to become a civil servant, are you?!"
Arthis smiled sinisterly as she sat down on the table and gently tucked her hair behind her ear. Her silicone face was filled with a kind expression, "Little Comrade Qin … I don't think you're too clear about the current state of Hell …"
"First of all, I'd like to tell you that even though Hell is newly established, and the area of its influence is only a village, all Yin spirits would be able to sense it when it was first established. It's an instinct, and it's part of the Heavenly Dao.
Therefore … "
Qin Ye stared at the sky in despair, "A large wave of Yin spirits is on their way here?"
Arthis nodded affirmatively, "All forces, crush them."