Leng Yue flipped through all the books before finally finding a few words on a bamboo slip.

It's unknown which judge collected this bamboo slip, or what year it dates. The solitary bamboo slip, wrapped in a black cloth, sits in a corner, easily missed if one isn't paying attention.

Uncovering the black cloth, the bamboo slip was found to be mostly damaged. Upon closer inspection, Leng Yue discovered several lines of text engraved in small seal script: Avici Hell, beyond the heavens.

Avici Hell is the same as the Hell of Incessant Suffering, but "the Heaven Beyond Heaven" likely refers to a passage to another dimension. While this statement corroborates Hong Ling's words, it's merely corroboration and doesn't seem to offer any additional value.

Perhaps the bamboo slip was too small, or perhaps the characters were carved too large, because this half-slip only contained this one sentence. Leng Yue instantly deflated; after working so hard for so long, all she got was the same sentence that Hong Ling had said.

Leng Yue leaned back in her chair, listlessly looking at the luminous pearl above her head.

"Sir, these are all from today. I've put them here for you." The little underworld messenger ran in carrying a large pile of scrolls.

Leng Yue glanced at the bamboo slip and knew there was no time to continue investigating the Avici Hell, so she casually put it into her sleeve. Leng Yue thought she would continue studying it when she had time; perhaps she could find other clues. If all else failed, she would take the bamboo slip to Zhong Kui for advice; he would surely know something.

With this in mind, Leng Yue felt a sense of purpose and began to seriously handle her official duties.

When Leng Yue finished her work and went to find Zhong Kui, she was told by her subordinates that Zhong Kui had gone to the Heavenly Realm, and no one knew when he would return. After all, a day in Heaven is a year on Earth, and no one knew whether Zhong Kui would be back anytime soon.

Leng Yue was somewhat disappointed. After thinking for a while, she went to the Avici Hell again, intending to ask Hong Ling again.

This time, no one stopped Leng Yue at the gates of Hell. However, not long after crossing the suspension bridge, she encountered King Pingdeng, the administrator of the Avici Hell.

Although King Pingdeng governs the Avici Hell, he is a kind-looking old man.

During the Underworld's celebration, Leng Yue had once followed Judge Lu from afar and caught a glimpse of him. He had a long, flowing beard, wore a square crown, and a long robe, his hands always tucked into his sleeves, holding a flute in his arms. He always had a smiling expression.

Therefore, Leng Yue recognized King Pingdeng, but King Pingdeng did not recognize her.

"Who goes there?" The man beneath the throne of King Equality stopped Leng Yue.

Leng Yue stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Reporting to King Pingdeng, I am Leng Yue, the newly appointed judge."

"What is the matter?" King Pingdeng waved for his attendants to step back and asked Leng Yue personally.

Leng Yue dared not delay and reported truthfully, "I want to see one of the prisoners here; I have important matters to inquire about."

“Oh, do you know that the criminals in Avici Hell are all wanted criminals? You, a mere judge, are not qualified to see them. If one or two escape, can you bear the responsibility?” King Pingdeng’s smile had vanished, and he looked at Leng Yue with unusual seriousness. “Avici Hell is not a place you can enter and leave at will. Leave immediately, and I can let bygones be bygones.”

With a wave of his hand, King Pingdeng threw Leng Yue to the other side of the suspension bridge.

Leng Yue knelt down on the ground and cried out, "My lord, please wait for me! I have a reason. I'm really in a hurry, please be lenient!" After shouting, Leng Yue looked stubbornly at King Pingdeng, as if she wouldn't get up until he agreed.

King Pingdeng ignored Leng Yue and led the group toward the heart of the Avici Hell. Suddenly, one of the men beside King Pingdeng turned and glanced at Leng Yue, whispering something in his ear. King Pingdeng stopped, turned back to look, and then called Leng Yue to his side again.

"Come with me to the Ninth Palace," King Pingdeng said, then turned and left. Leng Yue didn't react at first, but by the time she did, King Pingdeng was already quite a distance away. Leng Yue quickly took off running after him!

It took about two incense sticks' worth of time for the group to arrive at the Nine Halls.

"You may all leave now." King Pingdeng glanced around, and the crowd withdrew. Then King Pingdeng looked at Leng Yue, "What do you want to know about Hong Ling?"

"I want to know about the export." Leng Yue felt a little uneasy, wondering what King Pingdeng would say.

"You learned this from Hongling?" King Pingdeng's face was ashen. "Aren't you afraid of being deceived?"

"My lord, I can't worry about anything else anymore. I have to leave here." Leng Yuexin hardened her heart and replied defiantly.

"You're so young, is it really okay to be thinking about these heretical and unorthodox methods instead of cultivating properly?" King Pingdeng asked calmly.

Leng Yue shook her head. "I never belonged here to begin with. I'm just doing this to go back. How is it any kind of evil or crooked path?"

"You are not from here? Then where did you come from?" King Pingdeng asked.

"I cannot disclose that information, but in short, I am determined to leave this place," Leng Yue shook her head.

"Is that so? But this passage has been closed for a long time, and no one can open it now. Not to mention you, even I have never actually gone out through the passage!" King Pingdeng sighed.

"How is that possible? Didn't you say you've always had people guarding it? How come it can't be opened?" Leng Yue exclaimed in surprise.

“That’s just how it is, unless…” King Pingdeng looked at Lengyue, “unless he has the key.”

"A key? You mean that passage requires a key?" Leng Yue asked urgently. "Where is the key? What does it look like?"

“The key was lost long ago, but it is related to one person.” King Pingdeng put down his flute, walked behind the table and produced a bamboo slip. “This person is the owner of this bamboo slip. He hid the key when he returned from his last trip, saying that he was waiting for someone destined to be with him.”

"A destined person?" Leng Yue didn't know what conditions were required for this destined person. "What does 'destined person' mean?"

"Do you know why I called you in?" King Equality asked again.

Leng Yue shook her head.

"The bamboo slip you hold in your hand is the one left behind by this person. Perhaps you are the one destined for us. I will no longer stop you in this matter, but how far you go depends on yourself." King Pingdeng put down the bamboo slip. "You can leave now. There is no need to ask Hongling anymore. Figure out the rest of your own path."

"But where is that passage? Did you really send someone to guard it?" Leng Yue pressed on.

“No,” King Pingdeng shook his head. “Although that passage is inside this Avici Hell, it has been constantly flowing, and I no longer know where it goes. I think you will have to find it yourself.”

"Can I really come and go from here at will?" Leng Yue was not quite sure.

“If you don’t want to, I can have someone stop you,” King Pingdeng smiled.

Seeing this, Leng Yue quickly shook her head and hurriedly replied, "Thank you, thank you, I'll come again next time." After saying that, Leng Yue left, running faster than a rabbit, afraid that King Pingdeng would change his mind.

King Pingdeng looked at the cold moon, then at the bamboo slips, and sighed softly, "Has your destined one arrived? But where are you? Alas, my old friend, when can we drink together again?"