After passing through the Yellow Springs Road, you will arrive at the Gate of Hell. Here you can see the surging River of Oblivion surrounding the Gate of Hell. This legendary river looks like it is composed of clumps of viscous ghostly energy. Countless kinds of emotions representing greed, anger, ignorance and hatred float and sink in the river. Each piece is a piece of the past.
Seeing Xu Milu stop, Bai Wuchang introduced her with a grin:
"The water of the River of Oblivion is called the Yellow Springs. It is extremely yin and cold. On ordinary days, the ghost soldiers use it to water the seeds of the little cypress. This river originates from the Milky Way. After the water of the Milky Way flows through the mortal world, it carries with it the love, hate, separation, joy, sorrow and happiness of the human world. The tears shed by the souls when they cross the Bridge of Helplessness drip into the River of Oblivion. Over time, this river has accumulated countless aspects of human life. Please take a look, Madam Xu."
As he spoke, he pulled a fragment that shimmered red from the river. It reflected an image like a mirror, showing a disheveled man weeping with his face covered, and a woman lying at his feet who had been burned to death.
"This represents a person's murderous intent. This dead ghost poisoned his wife and plotted to kill his two children. The Ten Kings of Hell sentenced him to the Copper Pillar Hell for punishment, and he hasn't even served half of his sentence yet!"
Bai Wuchang smiled and became more polite in his words and actions—it was all because of Sun Wukong's face. If Xu Milu was just a cook with some skills before, she was now a fairy with a great background who just liked to cook.
After learning that Yin Wenjiao was alright, Xu Milu naturally had the interest to visit the Underworld. She turned her head slightly and saw an antique wooden bridge on the opposite bank of the River of Oblivion, where countless wandering souls were lined up in a long queue, and an old woman whose face was not visible was cooking soup by the bridge.
"Is that the Bridge of Helplessness? Then, that old woman must be Meng Po."
Xu Milu couldn't help but feel curious about the taste of the legendary Meng Po soup. Bai Wuchang saw through her thoughts and couldn't help but shake his head.
"Madam Xu, Meng Po's soup is made with the water of the River of Oblivion. Whether you are a golden-bodied Arhat or a Bodhisattva or immortal, just one sip will make you forget your past life. Besides, Meng Po is extremely stingy; if it weren't for a wandering soul, she wouldn't even part with a single bowl of soup—"
After crossing the Bridge of Helplessness, one arrives at the Terrace of Longing for Home. Before entering Fengdu City, wandering souls can still catch a glimpse of their relatives in their hometown. After drinking the Meng Po Soup, once they enter Fengdu City, they will never remember their past lives again.
Moreover, the Three Lives Stone, a divine artifact that can reveal a person's past, present, and future lives, is right there. Madam Xu, wouldn't you like to go and see it? Perhaps you'll even see your destined one!"
These words piqued the curiosity of the group, with Mo Xuan being the most excited. Taking advantage of Xu Milu's inattention, he gently tugged at Chen Xiang's sleeve:
"Why don't you go and see if your future wife's image is on that Three Lives Stone? I'd love to go and see; who knows, maybe I can find the red thread that Heaven has tied for me!"
Chen Xiang didn't say anything, but then, as if remembering something, he turned to look at Xu Milu, a hint of longing in his eyes.
Xu Milu's heart softened, knowing that Chenxiang probably wanted to go to Wangxiangtai to check on the current situation of the Third Holy Mother. She whispered to Bai Wuchang:
"We are not ghosts, how could we possibly ascend the Viewing Platform? Are you two facing any difficulties?"
It is said that "yin and yang should not interfere with each other." The Wei family did not know about such a big event as the marriage of Wei Xiang's granddaughter. The three of them accidentally entered the underworld, which was already on the verge of breaking the law, not to mention that they borrowed the Wangxiang Terrace.
Upon hearing this, Black and White Impermanence exchanged a glance and burst into laughter. White Impermanence even said:
“Madam Xu, you only know one side of the story. As the saying goes, ‘Officials are bad, but people are not.’ There’s also a saying, ‘A horse won’t get fat without night grass, and a person won’t get rich without extra money.’ We naturally have our ways. Madam is very generous. Even if a few grains of rice slip through your fingers, it’s enough for these soldiers to eat eight hundred a year! If you want this young man to take a look, you can offer paper money, incense, and candles. If you have any spiritual fruits or wine, that would be the best.”
As he spoke, Bai Wuchang pulled out a large string of paper money and grinned as he offered to exchange it with Xu Milu.
"I just brewed some Osmanthus Spirit Wine a few days ago, and I'll have to trouble you two again."
Xu Milu immediately understood. It seemed that although the underworld had strict rules, there were always some human loopholes.
No wonder they say money can make the devil turn the millstone; this saying is most fitting here. Even the White Impermanence is used to it, so it seems the officials in the Yama's Palace turn a blind eye to this kind of thing.
...
...
There are a hundred stone steps on the Wangxiang Terrace. On the terrace, there is a stone platform that is several feet high and several feet wide. It is carved with auspicious cloud patterns and various reliefs of ghosts who hanged, drowned, strangled, burned, or fell to their deaths. Each ghost head is carved so vividly that it seems as if it is about to jump out of the mural at any moment.
This stone platform is as tall as a dozen stories. Countless souls weep in front of the platform, all of them heartbroken. There are also ghosts with numb faces, most of whom only glance at the scene in the stone mirror before hastily drifting to the Yama King's Palace.
The legendary Three Lives Stone is also exceptionally large. Rather than a boulder, it is more like a huge, horizontally placed stone slab, only wider and thicker.
Everyone sees a different scene at the Viewing Platform. Chenxiang stood frozen in front of the stone platform, and Xu Milu watched as his eyes reddened, knowing that he must have seen something.
"Hehehe, thank you very much, Seventh Master and Eighth Master. If there is such a good thing next time, be sure to ask us brothers to come first!"
The ox-headed demon responsible for guarding the Looking-Home Platform laughed out loud, stuffing the paper money Xu Milu had shoved into its hand into its robes, its hooves rubbing against the steps again and again.
"There aren't many souls today, so if you want to look at them more, that's fine. Just don't stay too long, or your soul might be captured by the Looking-Home Terrace!"
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