Hyperdimensional Player

Chapter 371 Reorganizing the Underworld, Emptying Hell, Making it easier to house people
The top of Mount Tai.

"Aren't you going to kill him?"

The phantoms of the Three Corpses appeared in Duncan's sea of ​​consciousness. Because he had severed the Dharma image of the Jade Emperor, he seemed to have gained some supernatural powers and transformations.

Duncan said calmly, "Even a piece of toilet paper has its uses."

"He's a smart and useful man, why kill him?"

The Three Corpses seemed to understand something upon hearing this and said, "That's true."

"Keeping them around is indeed useful, as long as they obey orders."

Duncan glanced calmly at the distant sea of ​​clouds and rosy clouds, and said lightly, "He will listen to me."

His divine consciousness has now split in two.

A portion of Duncan's primordial spirit entered the Lingxiao Palace, which was merged with the Southern Heavenly Gate. This was also part of the Heavenly Court. The Heavenly Court of this world was not a complete plane, but a product of gradual absorption and fusion, just like creating a plane. It grew a little bit by eating a little bit.

Initially, the Heavenly Court plane only had the South Heavenly Gate established by Duncan. Then, he used his cultivation to cleave space and used the bones of a demon god to prop open the boundary, forming a small grotto-heaven.

Now that Duncan has killed the Jade Emperor, the Lingxiao Palace has naturally been devoured by the Heavenly Court's plane.

The current Heavenly Court has the structure of 'South Heavenly Gate - Lingxiao Palace'.

To say that the Heavenly Court has many layers of heavens and many palaces is impossible. This world is the origin evolution plane, and everything originally did not exist. Duncan opening the Heavenly Court is basically creating a Heavenly Court kingdom from scratch.

One of his primordial spirits resides in the Lingxiao Palace of Heaven, serving as a part of the Heavenly Emperor to suppress the destiny of the Investiture of the Gods.

However, it is because of the harmony with the Dao.

Duncan's physical body possesses humanity, while his primordial spirit is essentially devoid of humanity. To put it bluntly, this is because the Dao merged directly with the divinity of the Heavenly Dao, overshadowing the human aspect of that primordial spirit's incarnation.

"Where are we going now?" the three corpses asked cautiously.

Duncan's figure soared into the air, as if he were stepping on the sea of ​​clouds, and calmly said, "To Fengdu."

Upon hearing this, the three corpses immediately became excited again.

He eagerly asked, "Shall we go to the underworld?"

"Should I lead the charge?"

He can't be the first to shatter the heavens, but if he wreaks havoc in the underworld, he can surely storm the Yama King's palace.

The Three Corpses have some self-awareness; they can't fight the heavens, but beating a few Yama Kings shouldn't be a problem.

Duncan's expression was ambiguous, and he said calmly, "Are you sure?"

Seeing his appearance, the Three Corpses hesitated. Their intuition told them there was a trap, so they decisively shook their heads and said, "Never mind."

"Judging from your posture, it's probably not as simple as causing a ruckus in the underworld."

"Are you going to find Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva?"

Duncan nodded calmly and said, "Of course. If he wants to take over the Underworld, who else should we turn to?"

"Whoever is in charge, that's who I'll go to."

Fortunately, he didn't rush to the front in a moment of impulsiveness. Upon hearing this, the Three Corpses shrank their necks and said, "Now that you have killed the Jade Emperor, if you were to kill Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva as well, the mythology of the last few hundred years would be completely different."

I didn't realize the killer aura was so strong!
After defeating these two major bosses, there will be no more rivals in the entire Central Plains.

All that's left is to push straight through.

Duncan seemed to have guessed what the Three Corpses were thinking and calmly said, "Do you remember a gameplay element in an open-world game?"

"Develop first and then take down the strongest boss."

"Then you clear out the numerous side quests, and finally, you get to the real gameplay: the creative mode construction and planning—that's Minecraft."

Minecraft?

The three corpses looked quite shocked and hesitated before asking, "Are you really going to create a Divine Martial Great Ming? Something like the Immortal Qin Empire?"

Duncan sighed softly, pointed to the sky, and said, "I'm drowning in high-interest loans."

"Either run away."

"Either you work honestly to pay off your debts."

"Besides?"

"Who said I was going to kill Ksitigarbha?"

Everyone owes Heaven a huge debt. Duncan's debt is self-evident, and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's great vow, "I will not become a Buddha until hell is empty," also shows he owes a considerable amount.

Duncan isn't a serial killer who kills this person or that person all the time. He went to see Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva because he had important business to discuss.

For example, let's discuss together how to repay the high-interest loan owed to Tiandao.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva owed the debt earlier than him, so he should be more experienced.

As long as there's still room for negotiation, Duncan won't easily overturn the table. Although the underworld is not as powerful as the heavenly court, the disaster caused by destroying the underworld is far more terrifying than smashing the Heavenly Palace.

No matter how fierce the battle is in the heavens, it's just a bunch of gods fighting amongst themselves. But when trouble comes to the underworld, it's a scene of a hundred ghosts roaming the entire map.

Fengdu.

gate of hell.

A group of underworld officials were escorting a densely packed mass of souls through the Gates of Hell. At the right entrance of the Gates of Hell, a tall, thin underworld official was talking to a short, stout man beside him: "I've heard that quite a few people have died in the human world recently."

"There are wars going on in the north and south, and natural disasters have struck the south. The gates of hell are almost overflowing."

The short, stout ghost messenger yawned, picked up the soul-binding chain, and pulled the dozens of ghosts behind him, who staggered to catch up. He complained, "That's right, I haven't slept for several nights."

"I thought becoming a ghost messenger would bring me blessings and filial piety."

"I never imagined that I would get up earlier than the chickens and go to bed later than the dogs every day, and my grandson would burn so many things for my maids and concubines that they wouldn't even have time to enjoy them."

The tall, thin underworld official scoffed, "What's so great about a paper doll?"

"Wouldn't it be wonderful to one day take in a beautiful, lonely female ghost?"

The mention of a beautiful female ghost immediately perked up the two underworld officials. Since they had a lifespan, they could still enjoy certain things.

"Shh!"

"Ox-Head and Horse-Face are here! Shut up!" At this moment, a ghost messenger reminded them.

The two men, one tall and one thin, one short and one fat, were startled and immediately shrank their necks to follow. Although Ox-Head and Horse-Face may seem like ghost messengers, they actually wield the power of life and death. Even ghosts that have been around for hundreds of years have to treat them with utmost respect.

"Work quickly!"

"Quickly escort these people to the gates of hell; there's a whole host of other souls to be lost!"

It was Horse-Face who spoke. He was so busy that his feet barely touched the ground. He neighed and said to his companion, "Didn't you say you were going to promote two Black and White Impermanence?"

"Why hasn't anyone been chosen yet?"

"We're really overwhelmed with this crisis."

Just as the bull-headed man was about to say something, he suddenly trembled and knelt down on the ground with a thud.

Horse-faced looked puzzled and asked, "Old Ox, why are you kneeling before me?"

Even if you kneel before me, you still have to do your own work. There's no way I'll do it for you.

As soon as the horse-faced demon raised its head, it knelt down on the spot with a thud.

The gates of hell trembled.

It seemed as if ten thousand golden rays appeared on the horizon, which was an extremely rare sight in the underworld. After all, the underworld had no such magnificent scenery as the heavens. There was only the ghostly mist and resentment that never dissipated. However, now they seemed to melt away like ice and snow. As a figure shrouded in thousands of rays of light descended, even the eerie ghostly atmosphere of the underworld dissipated considerably.

Thousands of underworld ghost messengers knelt down, followed by a dense mass of souls, stretching as far as the eye could see for dozens of miles.

Countless souls knelt and prayed, while others wailed and cried out for justice. The figure in the sky, draped in radiant light, merely glanced at them and casually waved his hand. A stream of primordial energy descended from the sky, instantly calming the countless souls and wronged spirits.

"You are lucky to have encountered a celestial being who has shown mercy and pardoned all your sins."

"Pack your things and go reincarnate."

Horse-face got up, turned around, and found his old friend Ox-head still kneeling, trembling on the ground. It cautiously looked up at the sky, and only when the immortal's figure disappeared into the distance did it shakily get up.

Look at you, so scared!
"I think I saw a bull's head?"

"Should we take its head off?" the three corpses whispered.

Duncan's expression remained unchanged as he calmly said, "It did do some decent work, so why kill it?"

"Just because it offended me in the past?"

Upon hearing this, the three corpses shrank back and quickly shut their mouths.

Outside the Hall of Yama.

Figures were already standing respectfully outside the main hall, but Duncan didn't even glance at them. He bypassed the Yama Palace and headed deep into the underworld. The endless wails of vengeful ghosts echoed from the direction of hell, never ceasing for years. But at this moment, it seemed as if something had choked them. Under the terrifying pressure, the entire hell became quieter.

It seems a powerful figure has arrived in the underworld. These evil spirits in hell cannot see the myriad rays of light, but only the endless blood clouds rolling in from the horizon, as if a sea of ​​blood and hell were boiling.

The Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Hall.

As Duncan's figure landed, a divine beast with a tiger's head, a single horn, dog's ears, a dragon's body, a lion's tail, and qilin's feet appeared. It knelt respectfully on the ground, like a well-behaved puppy, and said, "Your Majesty!"

“Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is already waiting for you.”

The Three Corpses looked at the divine beast before them and clicked their tongues in amazement, saying, "Is this Di Ting? It looks strangely clever."

"Like a little dog."

Duncan said calmly, "It was originally a puppy, and a white one at that."

After saying that, Duncan gently raised his hand and entered the Heavenly Emperor's perspective, seeing through all the Dharma forms. The Three Corpses focused their attention again and indeed saw a small white dog, just like a country dog.

Di Ting seemed to realize that its Dharma form had been seen through, but it remained motionless and obedient, even wagging its tail on its own initiative.

Duncan walked towards the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva Hall in front of him.

Buddhist chanting filled the air.

As Duncan stepped into the hall, all the Buddhist statues froze in place, and even the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, who was sitting cross-legged in the center, respectfully put his hands together and said, "Your Majesty!"

"You have come from afar, and I have failed to give you a proper welcome."

"Your Majesty, please forgive me!"

When they actually saw Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, the Three Corpses became timid and retreated back into Duncan's sea of ​​consciousness.

Duncan remained expressionless, surveying the magnificent hall before him and gazing at the image of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva. He calmly said, "I came here to find Kim Gyo-gak. If you continue to speak to me using the image of Ksitigarbha, then there is no need for further discussion."

These words immediately created a somewhat somber atmosphere.

I do not know how long it has been.

The form of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva changed, losing its solemn bodhisattva appearance and transforming into a highly accomplished monk who respectfully addressed Duncan: "Kim Gyo-gak greets Your Majesty!"

Legend has it that during the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty (the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang), Prince Kim Gyo-gak of Silla (present-day Korean Peninsula) crossed the sea with his white dog Seon-jung to Jiuhua Mountain in China to practice asceticism. His ascetic deeds were later regarded as an incarnation of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

This image was recorded in Tang Dynasty documents, but its explicit association with the Ksitigarbha faith only occurred after the Tang Dynasty.

During the Tang Dynasty, the belief in Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was combined with the local filial piety in the Central Plains. From the Five Dynasties to the Song Dynasty, the status of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva as the "Lord of the Underworld" was further strengthened by classics such as the Ksitigarbha Ten Wheels Sutra, and he was eventually established as one of the four great Bodhisattvas of Buddhism.

Kim Gyo-gak in front of us can be regarded as the human form of the Jizo faith!

God is a very complex concept.

The rise of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva can be said to have been driven by Buddhism itself, while the large-scale spread of His faith relied on Kim Gyo-gak's human incarnation.

Kim Gyo-gak, a Silla monk, commonly known as Kim Ji-zang, was a close relative of the Kim clan, the kings of the ancient Silla Kingdom (present-day southeastern Korean Peninsula).

Legend has it that he had "a prominent neck and unusual bones, a body seven feet tall, and the strength of a hundred men." He was "kind-hearted but had a fierce appearance, and was naturally intelligent." At the age of twenty-four, he shaved his head and became a monk, taking his white dog "Shanting" with him, and sailed from Silla to China. Upon arriving in Jiangnan, he disembarked and went ashore, passing through Nanling and other places to Jiuhua Mountain, where he attained enlightenment.

That's more or less.

Duncan nodded slightly, his expression softening a bit. The Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva image before him was at least more respectable than the Jade Emperor. If he were to use the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva image to put on airs, Duncan would have to give him a good talking-to. In fact, his seniority and status were not that much different from those of great figures like Shakyamuni, Yahweh, and Odin.

This is the proper attitude for discussing matters seriously.

Duncan sized up Kim Gyo-gak before him, feeling that he was similar to the legendary figure. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "In what year did you attain the form of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva?"

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva can be regarded as a fruition.

It's like a divine position in the Heavenly Court. At least in this world, whoever cultivates to this position achieves the Dharma form of Ksitigarbha.

Kim Gyo-gak put his hands together and said, "The tenth year of Zhenyuan."

Ok.

Around 794 AD, about two or three hundred years ago, the influence of the Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva faith grew rapidly during these two hundred years, especially after the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Because too many people died in the mortal world, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva gradually acquired the status of 'Lord of the Underworld'.

The two talked for a long time inside the main hall.

Duncan suddenly spoke up: "I want to reform Buddhism, and you are the only living Buddhist master in this world."

"Since I cannot find the image of Shakyamuni, then I will ask you."

"Do you have any comments?"

The face of Ksitigarbha slowly shook his head, put his hands together and said, "Your Majesty bears the destiny of the world. If you want to reform Buddhism, you don't need to ask me."

Very good, you can reason with people.

Duncan nodded in satisfaction and said, "Alright."

"If anyone disobeys, I'll send them to you so you can teach them yourself."

outside the hall.

Di Ting shrank back upon hearing this. Ever since he made his great vow, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva had remained in hell. Sending him here would be like sending someone to hell.
Only after Duncan left did Di Ting breathe a sigh of relief, and before leaving, it wagged its tail like a little white dog.

Since its name was changed from 'Good Listener' to 'Listener', this is the first time it has acted like a puppy, trying to please others.

"Buddha?"

"His Majesty just left like that?" Di Ting asked cautiously.

Inside the main hall, the image of Ksitigarbha sighed softly and slowly said, "With the Jade Emperor Daojun beheaded, the Daoist sect's hundreds of years of planning have come to naught."

"It seems that the Jade Emperor will not be able to appear again."

"He has come to hell this time."

"It contained both goodwill and malice."

"Listen carefully."

"I am going to the depths of hell, and I probably won't be leaving for nearly a hundred years. I entrust this great hall to you."

His Majesty himself is heavily in debt.

When he arrived here, he first urged the Heavenly Dao to pay its debts, directly forcing the Dharma form of Ksitigarbha to reside permanently in the depths of hell.

Duncan gave a target.

Since the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, all sorts of demons and monsters have emerged, and there are countless man-eating creatures. Hell is almost overflowing. Since you have made the great vow of "I will not become a Buddha until hell is empty," then please clean up the depths of hell a little.

There are still many people waiting to die up there!
Whoever is in charge should manage things well; it's unacceptable for someone to die at the top and things to fall into chaos below.

Duncan doesn't object to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva wanting a voice, but whoever wants power should just do their job honestly.

Otherwise, please put it on the Investiture of the Gods list!

It doesn't matter if people die. The laws of Heaven are engraved, and corpses can be used for work, although the efficiency is not very high. However, the Heavenly AI is trustworthy.

For Duncan.

Whether hell is empty or not is completely unimportant.

He came to discuss matters, and incidentally to collect debts on behalf of Heaven, to figure out how he would repay his debts in the future, and to make arrangements for the possibility that Hell might not be able to accommodate everyone.

Everything turned out better than expected. After all, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is a highly enlightened being who attained enlightenment on his own. Duncan was spared a major battle and there was no need to worry about turmoil in the underworld.

Do you think it's possible to find Shakyamuni in this world?

On the way back, the three corpses continued to chatter on and on, saying, "Didn't you already find out?"

"The great powers of this world all appear according to the original historical trajectory."

"And not myths and legends?"

"So you're looking for Kim Gyo-gak's face the moment you meet him?"

Duncan simply ignored him.

He had already beheaded the Jade Emperor of Taoism, and the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha of Buddhism had tacitly approved of his sweeping reforms of Buddhism. After dealing with everything above, all that remained was to handle the trivial matters of the mortal world.

It can be said that, unless Lao Tzu or Buddha were to reappear in this world, no one can stop Duncan from launching a radical reform.

Again.

If a high-ranking Buddhist monk has nothing to do after a full meal, he can first go to the Potala Palace to discuss the Dharma, and then go to the Ganges River in India to discuss the Dharma.

As for the Taoist sect, it's time for them to seriously pursue immortality.

Stop thinking about bestowing titles upon this Taoist deity or that Taoist deity all day long. No matter how many titles you bestow, it's not as good as becoming an immortal yourself.

They've gone astray in their pursuit of immortality.

Duncan wants to take strong action against Taoism, directly rectify its origins, and correct its ideology to prevent it from becoming a hybrid religion that creates gods. The core essence of Taoism is a guideline for cultivation, not something to be used for religious superstition.

He must suppress the three major sects of talismans; it's time to make internal alchemy cultivation the mainstream of Taoism.

…………

(End of this chapter)