Gods of the Nation: You worship the God of Longevity, I worship the King of Hell!

Chapter 20 The Humble Underworld!
Seeing Sun Qingcang's attitude.

Lu Chen was overjoyed and immediately returned the greeting with clasped hands: "Master Sun, you are too kind. My name is Lu Chen. I dare not accept the title of 'sir'!"

A rare smile appeared on Sun Qingcang's face as he nodded and said, "Then I'll call you Young Friend Lu. I never imagined that at such a young age, you would accomplish such earth-shattering feats. In my forty years, I, Sun Qingcang, have seen countless heroes, but someone like you might not appear even once in ten years. Today, I've truly broadened my horizons!"

Lu Chen waved his hand and got back to the point: "Patriarch Sun, it's getting late, let's get moving. By the way, offering sacrifices to the underworld is different from offering sacrifices to the gods. The fewer people around... the better."

Sun Qingcang nodded: "I understand."

He turned to Zhao Zhihong beside him and said, "Manager Zhao, could you please ask me to get a few sticks of incense from the King of Hell? Which kind would you like, young friend?"

Lu Chen: "This is also my first time worshipping Yama, and my service level is still 0. How about this, please help me burn three incense sticks."

Sun Qingcang was taken aback: "Three sticks are enough?"

Lu Chen nodded: "Success or failure hinges on these three sticks of incense!"

If three sticks of fire still don't work.

That would most likely not succeed.

Sun Qingcang took a deep breath and solemnly agreed: "Alright! As you say, young friend! Manager Zhao, then I'll trouble you!"

Zhao Zhihong is really screwed.

When I need his help, I'll trouble you to come.

When he's not needed, he either shuts up or uses his power to intimidate others.

These important figures, they really are all bad news.

Zhao Zhihong originally wanted to elaborate on their past relationship and criticize Lu Chen a bit more.

But judging from Sun Qingcang's demeanor, saying another word would probably only make him look foolish.

Reluctantly, he could only take his leave and go to fetch incense for Lu Chen.

Damn it, I, a third-rank spiritual practitioner, the steward of the Zhao family, and the person in charge of the Zhao Clan Temple, actually have to help a nobody who hasn't even reached the rank of spiritual practitioner to offer incense.

Zhao Zhihong felt increasingly frustrated the more he thought about it.

Lu Chen led the way, with Sun Qingcang and Song Shi following closely behind.

Sun Xingwen looked up at the darkening sky, and shuddered at the thought of where they were going. He whispered to Sun Yourong, "Sister, are we really going to that place?"

Sun Yourong glanced at her younger brother and coldly spat, "Where did that momentum go? Follow me!"

Sun Xingwen shrank back, having no choice but to follow.

Seeing that there was even a 2.0 version of the excitement, the pilgrims all planned to follow along and see what happened next.

Unexpectedly, the Sun family's bodyguards blocked their way without any hesitation, forming an impenetrable wall that not even a mosquito could get through.

On the other side, as the road narrowed, the scenery became increasingly desolate.

In addition, it was getting dark.

The group felt as if they were walking on a dark and gloomy path.

"Young friend Lu, there is something I don't quite understand, and I would like to ask you about it again."

Sun Qingcang was a worldly man and didn't care about the scenery around him at all.

"Please speak, Patriarch Sun."

"You just said that Yama can grant people longevity, but what specific evidence do you have? Forgive my ignorance, but this is the first time I've ever heard of such a claim. I always thought that Yama only had the power to control ghosts and determine life and death, and I never knew he had such supernatural powers. If it weren't for your confident words, I would have asked you earlier."

Although Sun Qingcang didn't know much about these underworld deities, he at least had some common knowledge.

Everyone says that Yama, the King of Hell, is someone who chases souls and takes lives, so it's quite surprising that he suddenly has the ability to bestow blessings and extend lifespan.

“Patriarch Sun, you yourself said that Yama’s supernatural power is to determine life and death. Since he can determine death, he can naturally determine life as well.”

Lu Chen walked briskly, glancing back at Sun Qingcang:
"If you insist on any evidence, the King of Hell has a magical artifact called the Book of Life and Death. The lifespan and death of all living beings in the world are recorded in this Book of Life and Death. If you can ask the King of Hell for a blessing and add a small entry to this Book of Life and Death, your father will naturally not have to die."

To put it another way, even if it's impossible to add another lifespan to the Book of Life and Death.

Don't forget, who did this soul-reaping and life-exterminating work?
Black and White Impermanence!

Who is in charge of the Black and White Impermanence?

King Yama!

If the King of Hell shows leniency, do you think your father would still be able to die?
This is what they call "the local official has more power than the distant one."

Listening to Lu Chen's explanation.

Sun Qingcang suddenly felt that he was like a green recruit in front of him.

They were completely taken aback.

The thing is, after listening to this, I really can't find anything wrong with it!
"The Book of Life and Death? This is the first time I've ever heard of such a magical artifact."

Just then, Sun Yourong asked from behind, "Mr. Lu, where did you hear about this strange tale?"

Lu Chen: "..."

Seriously? You don't even know about the Book of Life and Death?

It seems that the spiritual practitioners in this world have a very low level of understanding of the underworld.

It's one thing to underestimate the underworld tactically, but to despise it strategically?

No wonder they didn't know that the King of Hell had the ability to bring people back to life and grant them longevity. Lu Chen was too lazy to explain to these novices, so he just smiled faintly.

Seeing that Lu Chen was unwilling to talk, Sun Qingcang felt a chill in his heart: "This kid is definitely not ordinary!"

He paused, then began to flatter: "Young friend Lu is so knowledgeable and well-informed, it has truly broadened my horizons. Seeing that you are about the same age as my son, it really makes my son look like a good-for-nothing."

Sun Xingwen: "Huh?"

No, I didn't say anything!

But then Sun Qingcang said, "Young friend, your idea is unique and takes a different approach, but it is still methodical. It is indeed worth a try!"
However, we mortals, from ancient times to the present, have always been terrified of the underworld and have avoided it at all costs.

As you know, my Sun family has a temple and also worships the underworld.

But that was simply to make up the numbers of Heaven, Earth, and Man.

In order to build a temple, it was necessary to make offerings.

Throughout history, as far as I know, apart from some heretical practitioners who have made offerings to the underworld in exchange for power, there have been no other instances of such practices.

Normal cultivators keep their distance from the underworld, fearing they might be tainted by the evil energy of the netherworld and suffer a qi deviation.

Now you are praying to the underworld for my father's longevity, and regardless of whether you win or lose, you will likely be tainted by karma.

Aren't you afraid?

Upon hearing this, Lu Chen did not answer but instead asked, "Patriarch Sun, you said that to open a temple and build a shrine, one must gather the three elements of Heaven, Earth, and Man?"

Sun Qingcang nodded: "The temple connects to the three realms, so naturally, Heaven, Earth, and Man are all indispensable."

It's just a comparison between celestial deities and earthly worshippers.

The underworld spirits are actually the simplest link in the chain.

Usually, all that's needed is to design a side room and hang a plaque for the underworld.

Then just randomly place a few memorial tablets.

Without needing to communicate specifically, one can connect with the underworld and complete the "Earth" number among the three numbers of "Heaven, Earth, and Man".

Unlike the gods in the heavens, each one requires special communication and a request for their spirit to descend.

Moreover, the procedures are cumbersome and involve huge sums of money.

They always want to gild statues and build palaces.

At the very least, we should erect a shrine and set up a ritual.

"I see."

After listening, Lu Chen suddenly felt a little sorry for the underworld gods.

Isn’t this too humble?
They're all gods, how did they end up like this?
The treatment they receive is worlds apart.

Moreover, Lu Chen could tell it.

In their quest to seize market share in the human world, the entire underworld reeks of sycophancy.

They spared no effort to reduce procedures to the bare minimum, practically making it open to all.

Unfortunately, they do not understand a truth.

Licking a dog, licking a dog, until in the end there is nothing left!
Thousands of years have passed.

The mere mention of the underworld in the human world still terrifies people, causing them to flee in panic.

On the contrary, the aloof gods are constantly worshipped and highly sought after.

No wonder they all turned into a giant, cold stove!

The underworld itself also needs to do some serious self-reflection.

They should learn the principle that scarcity increases value!
Lu Chen shook his head and chuckled before answering Sun Qingcang's earlier question: "Don't worry, Patriarch Sun, I'm not afraid! Although the underworld is full of Yin gods, they are still legitimate gods who have been officially appointed. What is there to fear? As for those evil cultivators you mentioned, they are not worth mentioning at all."

A kitchen knife is a great helper for chopping meat and vegetables when used in the kitchen; but when used on a person, it becomes a deadly weapon.

The knife itself is not wrong; the person using it is!

Sun Qingcang gave a thumbs up and laughed loudly: "Young friend Lu, you truly have great courage and insight. I admire you."

As they spoke, the group arrived at their destination.

At the deepest part of the path, there stood a small thatched hut that let in drafts from all sides.

Even compared to the desolate backyard, the dilapidated state of the hut was still alarming.

It's hard to imagine that, in the outer hall, which is only a hundred meters away, every deity with a bit of fame enjoys a magnificent palace.

This temple, which symbolizes the entire underworld, is so dilapidated that it seems as if a gust of wind could cause it to collapse.

Before the group even got close, they saw an old plaque hanging in front of the dilapidated thatched hut, bearing four large, blood-red characters:
—The underworld.

At this moment, the setting sun was like blood, making the handwriting appear even more sinister.

"hiss--"

Sun Xingwen gasped, feeling the temperature around him plummet and a bone-chilling cold assaulting him from all directions.

　I was busy with personal matters until very late today, but I'll try to write another chapter.

　　At the same time, before signing up for membership, we're asking for one last batch of data!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)