I died right at the start!

"Deceased's name: Gu Lili, lifespan: 26 years old, time of death: 21:44, place of death: in front of her desk, cause of death: sudden death from overwork. Information has been entered. Please wait in the hall of the underworld for your number to be called."

When Gu Lili's name was called, she reflexively looked up and saw a huge LED screen displaying her photos, personal information, and... the time and cause of death?

"Where am I? And what's with the information on the screen?" Gu Lili exclaimed, looking at the rotating screen.

"Greetings, departed soul. This is the Underworld Information Entry Center. I am your guide, you may call me Anan."

A woman in a black suit suddenly appeared from the shadows and walked towards Gu Lili.

"The underworld? You mean I'm dead? Impossible!! I was clearly... I was just working overtime to finish a manuscript, I was so tired that I fell asleep. I must be dreaming!!"

As she spoke, Gu Lili took a few steps back, looking at the other person warily.

"Most souls cannot accept their own death, but your connection with the world has been severed. If you do not pass away in time, your soul will eventually be scattered and all dimensions of you will be erased."

"This is the 'Handbook for the Rebirth of the Dead in the Underworld,' which contains various terms and conditions, rules for reincarnation, and information on the exchange of merit points. Please review it as soon as possible."

Public relations representative Anan's eyes were cold, her face expressionless, and her cold, mechanical replies were devoid of any humanity.

Gu Lili hesitated for a moment, then, urged on by the other person's cold gaze, took the manual. The manual looked very thin, and the cold, metallic feel of it seemed familiar.

"Huh? A foldable screen? How can this be the underworld? Is someone playing a trick on me?!"

Opening the manual, Gu Lili exclaimed again in surprise. This wasn't a manual at all; it was clearly a foldable touchscreen tablet. The screen displayed an outline of "The Rebirth Manual for Souls of the Underworld." With a simple tap on the category she wanted to learn about, various detailed explanations with pictures and text unfolded, presented clearly at a glance.

"In order to better communicate with the souls of the dead and adapt to the changing times, the Underworld has a complete set of modern operating systems that are ahead of the present world. It can more accurately control the reincarnation process and bring more convenience to the souls of the dead." Anan slowly walked to Gu Lili and pointed to the screen: "Then please come with me to the Underworld Hall to wait for your number to be called and check the terms as soon as possible."

Gu Lili still felt dizzy, but her legs seemed to obey her, following the other person forward. They passed through a dimly lit corridor and came to a grand and bright office lobby. Behind each counter at the front of the lobby sat salespeople skillfully typing on their computers.

The LED display screen above the counter is showing the order of the numbers being called in turn.

Anan led her to an empty seat. After sitting down, Gu Lili didn't rush to flip through the manual. Instead, she looked around and found that the waiting area was full of all sorts of people.

Some had only one arm, some had nothing below the waist, some were very old, and some still looked like children.

Number 382, ​​please proceed to window number 4 to complete your reincarnation process.

As the call button announced the number, a head was carried on a stretcher by several public relations personnel to service window number 4. Above the window, some kind of instrument began scanning the head. The green light source flickered incessantly, appearing somewhat glaring in the dimly lit hall of the underworld.

"Beep beep beep..."

"Your final score has reached 100,000 points, but not 150,000 points."

"According to the regulations for reincarnation in the underworld, your next reincarnation will be as a domestic animal. Based on the points given by your ancestors, the points accumulated in your previous life, and the merit points in this life, you can use the points redemption system in the 'Handbook for Reincarnation of the Dead' to upgrade your reincarnation to that of a pet. You can choose the category. Do you want to consume points, select a category, and upgrade?"

Like Anan, the salesperson at window number 4 was polite and courteous in her words, but her tone was cold.

"What does this mean? What points are being consumed? Even after leveling up, I can only be a pet? What am I if I don't level up?"

"Each soul has only five minutes to process their application. Because you did not consult the 'Handbook for the Rebirth of the Dead in the Underworld' in time, the category and species of your next life are all randomly selected. It has now been found that if you do not upgrade, your rebirth category will be a stray animal on the street, with both category and species being random."

"I don't want to! Why should I be an animal in my next life? I want to become an immortal!" The head rolled its eyes, as if it had thought of something, and shouted again, "I haven't done anything bad, at least... if I don't want to be an immortal, at least I should be upgraded to be a human, a rich second-generation... from a wealthy family."

"We are sorry, but you participated in many incidents that disrupted social order in your previous life, including cyberbullying a woman surnamed Chen, which led to her death from depression. You were never brought to justice, so you do not have the right to enter the reincarnation appeal court in the underworld. Please forgive us, and in your next life, accumulate good deeds and cultivate good karma to try to be reborn as a human."

Suddenly, a female public relations officer dressed in a simple white dress in an ancient style appeared from the corner. She floated forward leisurely. Her pale face and fake smile with red lips perfectly matched the world's description of a Chinese female ghost, but she was somewhat out of place in this modern underworld.

She then pulled a booklet from her pocket, which detailed the head's life, and with a wave of her wand, extracted wisps of its consciousness. The clerk at window number 4 quickly affixed a green barcode to its head, and the head immediately fell silent, before being carried away by the other black-clad PR staff.

"Number 383, please proceed to window number 4 to complete your reincarnation process."

Gu Lili hadn't recovered from the incident when a new round of calling numbers began.

"You are number 390. If you don't check the manual now, you will lose a lot of choices when it's your turn to handle business later."

Anan, who had been standing beside him, reminded him.

"Ah... okay."

Having witnessed what happened to that head, I didn't care whether this was the underworld or whether she was really dead. All I wanted to do was finish reading this so-called manual before my number was announced.

Gu Lili opened the manual and clicked on the origin of the points system on the touchscreen. A whole page of lengthy text was piled up in front of her.

"Holy crap! There are so many words in each section, how am I supposed to read it all in such a short time?!"

Gu Lili let out a long sigh and couldn't help but curse.

"You can also choose to spend 10,000 merit points to view the simplified manual."

Anan spoke again, as if he had anticipated Gu Lili's thoughts.

"How do I do it? Hurry, hurry, I want to upgrade!" Gu Lili said urgently as soon as she heard this and looked up at the call number screen that already showed 385.

Anan pulled a POS machine-like device out of his pocket and scanned Gu Lili's face: "Okay, please press the refresh button that pops up on the screen to refresh the manual and review it again."

Following Anan's instructions, Gu Lili refreshed the manual, making the page simpler and more user-friendly.

Introduction to the points-based system and its assessment standards:

Points bestowed by ancestors: If a member of a deceased family dies, the points can be retained for their descendants in the underworld. The points can be designated to be given to a specific descendant, or they can be shared randomly or evenly.

Residual points from the previous life: If a deceased soul reserved points for their next life in the underworld, then when they are reborn in the next life, they can choose to add these points or apply for the service of extending points to the next life.

Merit Points in This Life: If a deceased soul participates in or performs significant acts of merit while in the mortal world, merit points will be generated. Among various expenses in the underworld and services related to the reincarnation of souls, merit points are the most valuable. They are equivalent to gold in the mortal world and are a timeless form of hard currency.

Seeing this, Gu Lili's eyes narrowed slightly, and she thought to herself, "This guy is trying to trick me. He's using a simplified version to scam me out of 10,000 gold points."

"Soul No. 386, please proceed to window number 4 to complete your business."

Upon hearing the announcement, Gu Lili quickly checked the new categories.

The pricing standards and implementation elements of the Dream Project.

Standards for erasing memories through the Meng Po soup and procedures for filing complaints.

VIP priority rebirth service and fee schedule.

SVIP priority access and fee schedule.

Customized Reincarnation Program and Fee Schedule.

Special Project: Return of the Living Dead.

Selection of investment categories and fee standards.

Gu Lili didn't scroll down the menu anymore, but instead focused her attention on the last item she saw, and tapped it to open the category.

Rebirth category selection and pricing:

With a total score of 10,000-50,000, you can choose to be reborn as a plant. Your score can be upgraded to garden plants, potted plants, landscaping plants, or wild plants. Double upgrades allow you to choose your plant's birthplace, such as a primeval forest or jungle. (This excludes plants currently protected by the state; specific options are subject to confirmation by the sales representative.)

With a total score of 50,000-100,000, you can choose to be reincarnated as a marine animal or river creature. Your score can be upgraded to a larger fish, shellfish, or crab. Double upgrades allow you to choose a deep-sea birthplace, far removed from the dangers of being caught and easily eaten. (This excludes creatures currently protected by the state; specific options are subject to confirmation by the sales representative.)

With a total score of 100,000-150,000, you can choose to be reincarnated as a wild animal. You can upgrade to poultry, a pet, or even double your score to become a purebred pet based on your score.

With a total score of 200,000 or more, you can choose to be reborn as a mortal. Your birth region can be upgraded based on your score, and doubling the upgrade allows you to customize your life, such as improving your initial environment, family background, and personal talents. Super doubling grants access to the Preferred Rebirth Plan (a smooth and successful life path).

With a total score of 500 or more, you can directly participate in the Underworld's low-level position selection event. You can upgrade your work scope, exchange for magical artifacts, and get more promotion opportunities based on your score.

"Soul No. 390, please proceed to window number 4 to complete your reincarnation process."

"But I haven't finished reading it yet," Gu Lili complained.

"The reincarnation service only has five minutes to process, starting from when your number is called," Anan reminded him, raising his arm and glancing at his watch.

"ah??"

Gu Lili was startled, thinking that the underworld was just like the human world, with rules and regulations everywhere she went to handle business. But she still jogged over to window number 4, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

"Beep beep beep".

The instrument in the window lit up, and the light source began scanning Gu Lili.

"Your total points for this lifetime are calculated to be 20,000, which is less than 50,000."

"According to the regulations for reincarnation in the underworld, your next reincarnation will be as a plant. Your ancestors did not grant you any points, and you have no accumulated points from your previous life, so you cannot be upgraded. Your reincarnation will be as a roadside weed, and the species will be random. Please go to the Bridge of Helplessness immediately to drink Meng Po's soup, cross the River of Oblivion, and be reincarnated on the path of plants."

Gu Lili's eyes widened in shock. 20,000 points?! That head alone has 100,000 points! Did my ancestors not have any points? Did my ancestors not accumulate any good karma?

"How come I only got 20,000 points? I'm not even as good as a murderer? I didn't kill anyone or commit arson, so I won't even be able to be a human being in my next life?"

The white-clad female public relations officer who had been standing in the corner stepped forward again, strolled leisurely to Gu Lili, and took out the treasure book.

"During your lifetime, you were too busy with competition and complaining about life to have much time to cultivate good deeds. If you disagree with the verdict, you can take a number at the appeals counter around the corner and enter the appeals court five years later."

"Five years from now??? What will I do during these five years of waiting?"

"Appeals require queuing and going through procedures; you can just sit here and wait for the five years."

"Your PR team just charged me 10,000 points just for looking at the brochure. Not only did I not finish reading the brochure, but they didn't use any of the manual's contents at all when processing the business. You need to give me back my points!!"

"Your spending of points is entirely voluntary, and you've already read the manual and brochure. Whether you can use them or not is up to you."

"Hehe, fine, whatever. When I have more points than I can spend in my next life, I'll run for the position of ghost officer and become your leader. I'll fire you all, just you wait."

Gu Lili was so angry she laughed. In her life, she had no power or influence and was always passed around when she went to do business. Now that she was dead and in the underworld, she could only be a pathetic ghost. From birth to death and reincarnation as a weed, she had no right to make her own decisions.

The female PR woman in white glanced at her disdainfully, then turned and disappeared into the darkness again.

Upon hearing Gu Lili's agreement, the salesperson quickly came over and affixed a white label to her bag. Then, she returned to the counter to tidy up, flashing a peace sign to the big, clumsy guy at the next counter. The feeling of a workaholic getting off work washed over Gu Lili; it was a feeling all too familiar to her.

"Gu Lili, No. 390, please go to the Yellow Springs immediately to queue for reincarnation."

Suddenly, a mechanical broadcast sounded in Gu Lili's ears, and then a stone door appeared before her eyes, with the three gilded characters "Gate of Hell" prominently displayed above it. She looked around but couldn't find a doorknob. Just as she was about to ask the PR person, the stone door opened by itself.

"It's time for you to set off. Once you enter this gate, you'll be on the road to the underworld. At the end of the road, you can drink Meng Po's soup. After drinking the soup, all the resentment and bitterness of your life will be erased." Anan had quietly walked up to Gu Lili and whispered.

"You swindler, just you wait." Gu Lili rolled her eyes at Anan before stepping through the stone gate.

A ghostly green hue inside the stone gate drew Gu Lili forward involuntarily. Passing through the dark passage, she saw a winding line of ghosts waiting in an orderly fashion to drink soup and cross the bridge. At the very front of the line, a large pot was bubbling and emitting a ghostly green light.

"The boiled fish smells so good, I'm so hungry."

Gu Lili gazed at the fragrant aroma emanating from the large pot and immediately recognized it as her favorite boiled fish from her past life. In her previous life, her meager monthly income barely covered their expenses, and a meal of boiled fish could easily cost over a hundred yuan, something she couldn't afford. Whenever she passed a Sichuan restaurant, she would pretend to look at the menu at the door, but actually just wanted to smell the aroma. Having smelled it countless times, she naturally wouldn't mistake it.

"Number 390, please line up in order."

Seeing that Gu Lili was drawn forward by the smell and kept pushing forward, the PR guard on duty called out to her loudly.

"Number 390, wake up, wake up!"

Gu Lili, who had been engrossed in her boiled fish, was gradually awakened by a pair of hands reaching out from in front of her. When she came to her senses, she saw a girl about her age standing in front of her. The girl was not missing any limbs and was dressed neatly. Although her face was withered, her eyes were bright and clear. She must have been a pretty girl in life.

Gu Lili was about to ask the other person's name when she noticed an LED screen above her head displaying number 389. Looking around, she saw that everyone else had a similar sign above their heads; without a doubt, she had one too.

“390, you must control your desires, otherwise you will disrupt the order and be punished by being put in the dark room. Who knows how long it will take to be reincarnated.”

Gu Lili exclaimed in surprise: "A few years?"

Number 389 said casually, "Yes, that's how the punishment system works."

"How long will it take before it's our turn if we don't make any mistakes?" Gu Lili frowned.

Number 389 glanced at the front and back of the line and said, "I don't know. There is no day or night here, no time, and people often cut in line. I just feel that time is long, but I don't know how much time has passed."

Gu Lili's eyes widened: "Cutting in line? What right do you have to cut in line?" Recalling the VIP reincarnation category she had seen in the Underworld Handbook, she seemed to understand the reason. She sighed and said, "How has the Underworld become so materialistic? Isn't it supposed to be a place that punishes evil and promotes good?"

"Why? Because of their high scores. They can use the back door in the underworld and have the authority to cut in line. I don't even know how many times I've been cut off." Hearing their conversation, number 388, who was ahead of them in line, started complaining at the top of his lungs.

"Hmph, this underworld isn't like what we mortals describe. We've all been fooled! Bah! I've toiled my whole life and only have 80,000 points, and that little brat who just cut in line looks no more than ten years old. Do you even know how many points he has?" 388 raised his hand, then held up two fingers and made a gun gesture: "Eight hundred thousand! Eight hundred thousand points! How do you think he got that? Tell me, the data is definitely fake..."

"Huh? A kid can get 800,000 points?" 387, who was ranked ahead of 388, turned around and asked in surprise.

"How is this possible? Hey, 388, did you hear me wrong?" 380 in front couldn't help but ask.

"Are you talking about that little boy with the gold tag? I heard it too, yes, it's 800,000."

Upon hearing 388's words, the ghosts queuing around him gradually became restless.

"Number 388 disrupted the order of the underworld, his points have been halved, and he is imprisoned in a dark chamber to repent."

The white-clad female PR person appeared beside No. 388 at some point. Before No. 388 could defend herself, she waved her staff, extracted her consciousness, and turned it into a wisp of green smoke, which the PR person put into a gourd-like container.

Then, a new number 388 replaced him and stood in front of 389. After this series of events, the female PR woman in white disappeared without a trace.

Seeing this, Gu Lili understood; this was what they called "cutting in line." It was so blatant, it was darker than the world of the living. No wonder the old saying goes, "Money makes the world go round."

Seeing that the white-clad PR woman had disappeared, Gu Lili leaned out and gently patted the woman in front of her, saying, "389, 389, who is that woman in white? Why are all the other PR women dressed in black, but she's dressed in white?"

389 glanced at her disdainfully: "Shh, you're really dishonest. You've seen what happened to 388, don't you understand why it's so quiet here?"

Gu Lili nodded, but still put an arm around 389's shoulder and raised her chin: "Hey, whatever, queuing is so boring, chatting isn't illegal, just be careful not to say the wrong thing, we're all ghosts, what are we afraid of?"

"Then at least keep your voice down." 389 brushed off Gu Lili's arm, seemingly not wanting to get too familiar with this hothead.

Seeing that the other person didn't want to talk to her, Gu Lili could only mutter to herself, "I'm already dead, but there are still so many rules. I was reincarnated as a weed, and now no one will pay attention to me during the last time I have to speak."

389 looked around, complaining about Gu Lili's chatter, but he was also a common person who was always on the front line of gossip in his life. It was rare to have a chat companion in the underworld, so he finally couldn't help but continue chatting with her.

"Stop babbling, stop talking." 389 looked around again, making sure the white-clad female public relations officer hadn't reappeared, and said softly, "That person is Bai Muyu, the current head of the Bai family, known as the 'Ghost's Bane.' I heard that she was originally just a ghost waiting to drink soup and cross the river, but she fell in love with Lord Guannan at first sight and refused to cross the river to be reborn for thousands of years. She kept appearing in the dreams of the living members of her family to accumulate merit and do good deeds. In the end, she accumulated so many points that she got a ghost officer position. Because she was well-versed in the ways of officialdom, she climbed up to her current position step by step. The different colors of their clothes are naturally because of their different official ranks. Here, white is superior to black. Those in white are collectively called Bai family public relations officers."

Gu Lili winked and made faces, like an old aunt sitting at the village entrance waiting to gossip: "Huh, that heartless PR guy is quite devoted. How handsome must Lord Guan Nan be to be so infatuated with someone? Who is he? His name is so strange, I've never heard of him."

Her sarcastic remark startled 389, who quickly covered the other's mouth and whispered, "Shh, oh, you, you ghost, keep your voice down. But I've never seen him myself, I've only heard female public relations staff mention him, saying that he is the acting decision-maker of the underworld personally chosen by the Emperor of Fengdu, the cold-faced beauty of the underworld in a thousand years, handsome but with an iron face and no ruthlessness, and never gets close to others."

"Hmm? I've never heard of that. I've only heard of Meng Po, the Judge, and Yama. But only for tens of millions of years? A handsome man? Are you sure he's not an old man? He's so old. He doesn't get close to people? So she didn't get this Guannan?" Gu Lili didn't hold back at all. Anyway, to her at this moment, becoming a blade of grass or turning to ashes was about the same, so it didn't matter.