Chapter 546: Chapter 546

Like, what is that? Tell me already, will ya?

Sun Wukong sounded rather frustrated while saying that.

King Yama couldnt continue ignoring his question since he sounded agitated. At that moment, Sun Wukongs eyes were already gradually turning golden in hue.

For what reason did you and your brother come here?

Dunno.

You dont know?

Sister-in-law said that we needed to come here, so I came. She didnt tell me why, though.

Still as simple as always, I see.

Hey, thats an insult, isnt it?

Sun Wukongs expression crumpled in irritation, but King Yama had already turned his head by then. He was looking to change his conversation partner.

Hercules stood to the side with his arms crossed and said something, There is a prophecy in Olympus.

What does that prophecy say?

It says that this universe will one day be threatened with its true destruction. This prophecy has existed since the founding of Olympus. Father told me that day has come, and its today.

You are the son of Zeus, indeed.

King Yama recognized Hercules from this brief exchange.

He then continued to scan the surroundings, finally realizing that a face was missing.

Didnt Zeus come with you?

He needs to stop by somewhere first. Thats what he said, at least.

Is that so? In any case If you want the details, youll get a better explanation from that being instead of me.

King Yama glanced at s.h.i.+va before fixing his gaze on Lang Mei.

As for you, youre going back with me.

Im sorry?

Look, Yama, s.h.i.+va suddenly interjected. Can we talk for a bit first?

Even if its you, I cannot humor this request. The dominoes will start falling one by one the moment you break the law, after all.

Its not even a ma.s.sive request, to begin with. All I want is a few minutes to chat to everyone here.

King Yama pondered something and then nodded in acceptance.

Ten minutes.

Thats more than enough.

Snap

s.h.i.+va snapped his fingers and gestured at the others to come closer.

Su-hyeun walked over, wondering what s.h.i.+va could be thinking of. The rest of the scattered group also came together, but Sun Wukong, in particular, stared at s.h.i.+va with a great deal of interest.

Wow, seriously, its an exact match.

He circled s.h.i.+va, his eyes sparkling brightly, so much so that one had to wonder if his earlier serious att.i.tude toward the story related to Master Subhuti was genuine or not.

However, in stark contrast to him, the Bull Demon Kings expression got stiffer the closer he got to s.h.i.+va. Even Lang Mei was sticking very close to her husbands side.

Fella, it seems that weve already met.

More or less.

It is quite unpleasant, isnt it? Having that face is a serious violation of rules, too.

The Bull Demon King was biding his time ever since that matter with Lang Mei. He was planning to get very violent if he ever found s.h.i.+va.

However, he couldnt do that right now because, for some unknown reason, s.h.i.+va looked the same as Su-hyeun. Not only would it feel like hes attacking his little brother, but he also couldnt help but worry that there had to be a reason for Su-hyeun and s.h.i.+va to share the same face.

My apologies for what happened back then. Still, that made you come out here, didnt it?

Are you talking about back when you tried to hold my wife hostage?

Something like that, s.h.i.+va replied dryly.

The Bull Demon Kings brows furrowed ever so slightly. However, the intense killing intent leaking out of him still rushed toward s.h.i.+va like deadly arrows.

It seems that you need to be taught a lesson first.

Even if he usually didnt lose his temper, the Bull Demon King would erupt like a volcano once he did. Especially when the matter concerned Lang Meihe would not hold himself back.

The Bull Demon King extended his hand toward s.h.i.+va, no longer caring about the situation. His sharpened hand blade shot straight at s.h.i.+vas face as if he was going to rip out an eyeball or some such.

Its not over yet, though? s.h.i.+va spoke up, prompting the Bull Demon King to stop. Ten minutes, I mean.

Why are you not evading?

I dont mind getting hit once, at least. Besides, its not just King Yama Im trying to convince today, you see.

In that case?

Im also trying to convince you, oh Great Sage who Pacifies Heaven.

The Bull Demon Kings expression became unreadable at what s.h.i.+va said. Su-hyeun, too, was puzzled by this development.

What is he planning? he thought.

The Bull Demon King had sharpened his blade ever since s.h.i.+va targeted Lang Mei back in the Path to Reincarnation. s.h.i.+va knew about her connection to the Yogoe, and that was why he approached her in the first place.

Despite creating this situation, he was planning to convince the Bull Demon King somehow?

Does he have a way?

Some half-baked arguments would never win over the Bull Demon King.

Feeling curious, Su-hyeun paid closer attention to s.h.i.+va.

Do you know what the Book of Life and Death is?

The Book of Life and Death, he said?

Even Su-hyeun had heard that name before but only from a story. However, it seemed that the Bull Demon King was more knowledgeable about the subject.

Isnt it a ledger managed by King Yama, which records the names of all the dead on its pages?

Yes. Nine thousand universes transformed into h.e.l.ls, creating nine thousand Books of Life and Death. And King Yama possesses eight thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine of those.

What about the missing one, then?

Right after that question was asked

I have it.

Shu-rururu

Flap

A long piece of paper materialized and unfurled from s.h.i.+vas hand. This paper landing on the snow was so incredibly ancient and so long that one couldnt even guess its actual length.

Unknown letters were written on the papers surface. However, seeing how the letters seemed to be organized systematically, they must have been the names of people.

No, wait, its not just names, is it? Su-hyeun inwardly considered.

This long roll of paper didnt just record names but also contained countless souls.

Just how many souls were contained in it?

Su-hyeun briefly used Insight to take a closer look, only for a dizzy spell to a.s.sault him.

s.h.i.+va rolled the ledger back up while continuing from where he left off, The first universe didnt have its netherworld. Thats why those who died didnt have a place to go to. As for reincarnating? Such a concept didnt even exist back then.

An unfortunate tale, indeed, but what about it?

King Yama wants thisthe Book of Life and Death from the very first universemore than anything else in this entire universe, s.h.i.+va lightly waved the scroll around. Even I dont know why hes so hung up on it. Still, I can tell how much he cares about his h.e.l.ls. Also, he wishes to save all the souls trapped in this Book of Life and Death.

Save the souls?

Even though the nine thousand universes had repeated themselves, these souls never got to experience reincarnation. Not even once. King Yama wishes to gift them with the cycle of reincarnation. Since thats the case, what do you think Ill be doing with this Book?

Stop beating around the bush and out with it.

Ill use this to bargain for Lang Meis name to be struck off the current Book.

The Bull Demon King wasnt the only one shocked by what he heard.

Even the others listening alongside, Su-hyeun and Sun Wukong, who knew the relations.h.i.+p between their First Brother and Lang Mei, got the shock of their lives.

Su-hyeun sneaked a glance in the Bull Demon Kings direction.

The latter was doing his absolute best to hide his expression. Even so, no one had seen him as stunned like this.

He closed his eyes for a few moments to calm his chaotic thoughts and then opened his mouth to speak, What is it that you want in return?

Before dropping this bombsh.e.l.l, s.h.i.+va confidently said that he would convince the Bull Demon King.

Meaning he had something the other party needed. As it turned out, the card in s.h.i.+vas possession was an absolute must-have in the Bull Demon Kings view.

About seven minutes had pa.s.sed by at this stage.

Only around three minutes remained out of the time King Yama had agreed to wait.

Fight for us this one time.

One time?

I shall explain the situation afterward. But it wont be a bad proposition since even your Fourth Brother will be happy to have you.

The Bull Demon King didnt know about the matters involving Vishnu. Therefore, it was impossible to explain everything in depth in less than three minutes.

Still, when Su-hyeun silently nodded, the Bull Demon King began thinking that s.h.i.+vas request might not be as difficult as initially imagined.

Just one time, s.h.i.+va said.

Even if his name gets written on King Yamas Book of Life and Death at the end of the battle, it doesnt matter to the Bull Demon King as long as Lang Meis name gets struck off from it.

Alright, I shall.

Finally, he gave his consent.

Su-hyeun was inwardly going agog at how smoothly this conversation had flown by.

Was everything planned out from the start?

Provoking the Bull Demon King by going after Lang Mei, then using her, even dragging King Yama out to this place, and finally, getting the Bull Demon Kings help by getting Lang Meis name erased from the Book of Life and Deaththe way everything unfolded felt like puzzle pieces perfectly falling to their spots.

Even if it seemed like Lang Mei was being held hostage here, there couldnt have been a better compensation imaginable for the Bull Demon King.

Also, no one would walk away a loser in this deal.

The souls trapped in that Book of Life and Death will finally experience reincarnation, while the First Brother will be pleased about sister-in-law coming back to life. King Yama will also get his hands on the missing Book of Life and Death.

The Bull Demon King and Su-hyeun were the only two existences in the entire universe capable of going up against s.h.i.+va. To fight against Vishnu, his help was absolutely essential.

Its rather flawless.

At this point, Su-hyeun was pretty close to admonis.h.i.+ng himself for misjudging s.h.i.+vas intellect altogether.

He thought that s.h.i.+va was merely a G.o.d h.e.l.lbent on mindless genocide and destruction, but the truth was, the latter was far smarter than he expected.

Alright, then, our discussion is over, so s.h.i.+va s.h.i.+fted his attention over to King Yama next, two more minutes remain.

* * *

King Yamas expression more or less resembled that of the Bull Demon King.

It seemed that the shock from the possibility of acquiring the very first Book of Life and Death was as great as what the Bull Demon King felt a few minutes ago.

His dilemma didnt even last long.

Yes, let us do that.

As s.h.i.+va had predicted, King Yama readily accepted the condition of erasing Lang Meis name off the Book.

This was the first-ever moment the law governing life and death had been broken since the universes birth.

This was unprecedented, in other words.

Still, it was worth the trouble for King Yama. He didnt even feel the need to weigh the worth of one soul versus all the souls that used to exist in a universe.

Flaaaap

s.h.i.+vas Book of Life and Death unfurled in the air.

The names written on this paper were rapidly erased. At the same time, the souls trapped within it got sucked into King Yamas palm to enter a brand new Book of Life and Death being generated.

Now, it was up to King Yama to guide these souls.

Ive received them.

Finished with acquiring the first Book of Life and Death, King Yama then proceeded to pull out a different Book from his inner pocket. It, too, had countless names written on it.

He searched for Lang Meis name and erased it. Even though the records were quite ancient, King Yama seemed to know its contents like the back of his hand.

Its done.

I hope that we never meet again under this sort of circ.u.mstances.

Well, we might never meet again after today, period.

This conversation was between two beings that had existed for all eternity.

Of course, King Yama was fully aware of who was about to arrive here.

No desire to fight alongside us?

If you all arrive in my h.e.l.l, then I may entertain the idea.

But dont you know that there wont be any more h.e.l.ls if we fail?

If no more universes are born, then there wont be a need for a new h.e.l.l, either. In the end, this tale doesnt concern me.

Seriously now, youre still as uptight as always.

But youre somewhat different from the past.

I dont recall what I was like back in the past, but I see no need to stay the same all the time.

s.h.i.+vas memories got wiped out whenever he experienced death. It seemed that it prompted changes to his personality as well.

Well, then, I hope we meet again someday. And I mean all of you.

The negotiation was over, so King Yama turned around to leave. The black doorway opened up before him, and he vanished into one of the h.e.l.ls he governed.

It felt like a ma.s.sive storm had come and gone just now.

But one thing was for surethey could now count on the Bull Demon Kings help.

Okay, so? Who are we going to fight here? Sun Wukong impatiently asked. It seemed that, even after listening to everything, the most important thing to him was the opponents ident.i.ty.

He had been thinking of fighting s.h.i.+va until now, so the prospect of needing to work together would have confused him somewhat.

From this moment on, we Su-hyeun was about to answer Sun Wukong but began hesitating just then.

He suddenly remembered that he had been telling himself something for a while now, and that was not to complicate this any more than necessary.

So, Su-hyeun changed his answer.

Were going to hunt for the One Overlord.