Gentlemen, it's time to enter the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

Chapter 161 The Eighteen Levels of Hell

Chen Ye had also pondered a question in his previous life.

All beings suffer, and many will be condemned to eternal hell after death, but this is not necessarily because they are full of sins. Another reason is that they cannot let go of their hatred.

If one harbors boundless resentment that cannot be resolved, one cannot drink the Meng Po soup (the soup of oblivion) ​​and cannot be reincarnated, then one can only go to hell.

In the Avici Hell, one can listen to Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva chanting sutras. Once this boundless resentment is eliminated, one can be reborn as a human being.

This is a very common saying, but it is also a widely circulated legend.

The most famous one is the City of the Wrongfully Dead, where those who die unjustly are not allowed to be reincarnated and must stay in this city first.

It has nothing to do with sin, but it has something to do with the five poisons of greed, anger, ignorance, pride, and doubt.

If one cannot comprehend this, one will ultimately be unable to attain true liberation.

At that time, Chen Ye wondered if the Buddhist standard of liberation should not be applied to sentient beings.

You can't hold ordinary people to too high standards, otherwise you'll end up like Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, who vowed not to become a Buddha until hell is empty, but hell has remained empty for thousands or tens of thousands of years.

Perhaps even Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva gets tired of it one day?
Thinking this way seems a bit blasphemous.

In his previous life, Chen Ye only had a sudden whim and did not delve into it, but the Ksitigarbha Sutra in front of him was quite strange, and the final sigh was even more eerie.

Why is hell never empty? Why do those who are forever condemned to hell curse all the gods and Buddhas?
Surely it couldn't be because the gods and Buddhas killed them?
Chen Ye felt increasingly terrified as he thought about it. Where did this secret book of heavenly arts come from? And why is there no god or Buddha in this world, yet there are legends of ascending to immortality?
Chen Ye calmed down for a moment, deciding to temporarily set aside such a complex issue. He was here to cultivate, not to solve a mystery.

Regardless of the secrets of the Ksitigarbha Sutra, Chen Ye reread the four secret techniques of restraint, interrogation, and torture. If he wanted to understand the changes in the Qi Sea, he would definitely be inextricably linked to these four secret techniques.

Chen Ye had studied these four secret techniques more than once and felt that he was already very familiar with them.

After all, he could condense the phantom of Yama through the arrangement of formations.

But now Chen Ye's cultivation level is much higher than before. After his Qi Sea has turned into a fire serpent, he feels that these four secret techniques are somewhat different when he looks at them again.

Chen Ye used to think that these four secret techniques of restraint, interrogation, and torture were meant for spirits to learn, and were probably the methods of the underworld's ghost messengers.

That's why he was able to conjure up phantom images of deities like the Blue-Faced Demon, Black Impermanence, and Yama, and to manifest similar divine power.

Now, the more Chen Ye studied it, the more profound and difficult it seemed to be. What he knew before was only the tip of the iceberg. This was not some kind of magic used by ghost messengers; it was as if the entire underworld was being concealed by a secret technique.

Chen Ye was completely absorbed in his cultivation and didn't know how much time had passed.

Until Chen Ye's body suddenly transformed into a sea of ​​fire, with countless fire snakes appearing and disappearing within it, as if it were a vicious pit of scorpions, about to drag all living beings into it.

Chen Ye opened his eyes and muttered to himself, "This Fire Serpent Sea of ​​Qi is actually the Fire Serpent Hell?"

Just now, with a thought, Chen Ye seemed to pull everything within several feet of him into another space. It wasn't as simple as summoning fire serpents; within the Fire Serpent Hell's range, he seemed to become the true ruler of hell, able to judge all sins.

"So this is the true purpose of the Divine Soul Secret Technique. In the end, it actually transforms the eighteen Qi Seas into eighteen levels of hell. But how can I ascend in this way?"

Chen Ye sensed that something was wrong.

The eighteen Qi Seas evolve into eighteen levels of hell, which means Chen Ye possesses eighteen different supernatural powers. Once he has fully cultivated them, he could probably transform Fengdu City into the underworld with a single thought.

It seems very powerful. By then, Chen Ye himself will be the underworld, a part of the six realms of reincarnation, even more powerful than Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

But the question is, if I do that, will I still be able to ascend?
After all eighteen Qi Seas have turned into hell, Chen Ye's soul will probably be stronger than ever before. Forget about sects, secret realms, or the help of a hundred Transcendent Realm experts; even if he were given a thousand, they might not be able to help Chen Ye break through his realm.

If he continues to cultivate along this path, he will probably not be able to break through his realm using ordinary means. He will have to find another way to break through.

This is a path that no one before has ever tried, and it is a path that only Chen Ye can walk.

It might not be too late to turn back now.

Chen Ye has only been cultivating for a little over a year. If he were to harden his heart, dissipate his current Qi Sea, rebuild a normal Qi Sea, and then cultivate step by step along the old path of his predecessors, he should be able to cultivate back to the Tongxuan Realm very soon.

After all, as long as his physical body remains unchanged, the effects of the Qi Refining Body will not disappear.

But creating reincarnation and establishing the underworld is a far greater achievement than becoming an immortal.

One is easy, the other is difficult.

Two paths lay before Chen Ye.

After pondering for a long time, Chen Ye couldn't help but recall his own words: "If I don't make this grand vow, how will people know that I am determined to achieve immortality? Not only am I determined to achieve immortality, but I also want to draw a path for this world, so that all mortals and cultivators will follow my rules."

He's a transmigrator after all; he can't possibly cultivate to become an immortal and still find the world unchanged, untouched by his presence. The mere addition of a name to the list of immortals and demons would be far too boring.

This was Chen Ye's grand ambition back then, and now that he has the opportunity to realize it, why should he back down?

Having made up his mind, Chen Ye was no longer confused. He once again absorbed the Qi of Gang Sha into his Qi Sea and continued his cultivation.

After studying it for so long, Chen Ye finally understood how this hell evolved, and the Gang Sha Qi was indeed the key. The essence of Gang Sha Qi was the pure and turbid Qi that were not completely separated at the time of the creation of heaven and earth. It should have had the function of evolving all things, but it was mixed together and annihilated each other. Ordinary people would be dissolved and turned into pus if they touched it.

Chen Ye integrated it into his Qi Sea, and then separated it again, essentially using his Qi Sea to simulate a colossal feat of creation. As long as this Qi is circulated according to the secret techniques recorded in the Ksitigarbha Sutra, the Qi Sea will automatically transform into a new layer of hell.

Now that the first layer of the Fire Serpent Hell has been completed, Chen Ye began to transform the second Qi Sea.

Previously, he was completely ignorant and inadvertently caused his Qi Sea to transform into the shape of a red-striped serpent. Fortunately, these fire serpents, like Chen Ye's summoned spirit beasts, were quite useful, so they were not wasted.

Chen Ye was well-prepared for this. The hell that evolved from his Qi Sea was also his supernatural power, so he naturally needed to make up for his own shortcomings.

Chen Ye's cultivation level increased rapidly, but he lacked talent in combat. He was always unable to think calmly at crucial moments and was easily trapped by others.

The effect of this hellish layer is either to allow one to understand the opponent's thoughts and respond accordingly, or to make Chen Ye invincible, so that even if he makes a wrong judgment, he will not lose the whole game.

Achieving this effect is not easy, because the essence of hell is punishment, so no matter what form it takes, it is always inseparable from "instruments of torture".

What ultimately manifests is the specific punishment of this hell.

How can one use punishment to protect oneself? This certainly tests Chen Ye's imagination.

Careful recollection of the records in the scriptures reveals many accounts of the eighteen levels of hell, including the Avici Hell, the Hell of Flowing Fire, the Hell of Molten Copper, and the Hell of Plowing Tongues, among others.

All kinds of punishments affect the mind and body of criminals, and it seems that no matter how they are used, it is difficult to protect oneself.

The more Chen Ye thought about it, the more dizzy he felt, and the more demonic shadows appeared before his eyes, as if he were about to fall into an endless abyss.

Chen Ye was taken aback and immediately shook his head to clear his mind of these distracting thoughts.

Once he regained his composure, Chen Ye sighed, "I almost went mad with evil spirits. Hell is a place to punish sinners. How can I prioritize protecting myself? If I make that my goal, I will be the one to fall into hell forever."

Chen Ye understood that his path of cultivation was extremely special. Although the eighteen levels of hell were powerful, if he was too selfish, he would only suffer the consequences of his own actions.

Chen Ye meditated and calmed himself down before he began to rethink things.

The punishments for this level of hell should be designed with the goals of both punishment and deliverance.

"That's right, it's about deliverance. The tortures in hell are not meant to harm people, but to persuade them to turn back from their wrong path and return to the right way. I should use the sound of a great bell to deter their evil thoughts and guide sinners to repent."

As if confirming Chen Ye's thoughts, his second Qi Sea began to separate the inhaled Qi of Gang Sha. The Qi Sea, which was originally as brilliant as a galaxy, began to rapidly transform into a blurry phantom.

At the same time, phantoms also appeared around Chen Ye.

Faint rust appeared, and a huge bronze bell appeared around Chen Ye.

The bronze bell appeared from the void, slowly solidifying into a physical form. It was entirely dark blue-black, over three zhang tall, and shaped like the mouth of a giant beast, swallowing everything within it. Its body was covered with mysterious runes, each with a different form, but all containing the same message: "The sea of ​​suffering is boundless; turn back and you will find the shore."

When the bronze bell is fully revealed, it will ring out on its own without needing to be struck.

With a loud clang, Chen Ye's ears were filled with a buzzing sound, as if all his troubles had vanished, and he felt his mind and body were clear. In an instant, he saw the beautiful scenery on the other side of the river where flowers were in full bloom.

However, this was only Chen Ye's feeling. The sound of the bell reverberated from the underground palace all the way to Fengdu City. Many ghosts only heard a little bit of it and immediately burst into tears, as if millions of fine needles were piercing their minds.

This bronze bell also symbolizes punishment according to guilt.

If you commit evil deeds, this bell will not be a supreme and wondrous sound that purifies the mind and enlightens the spirit, but rather a demonic sound that shakes the soul.

The sound of the bell startled the Venerable One who was overseeing the construction. He had just felt a sharp pain in his soul, and the sound of the bell seemed to be the accusation of a thousand people, a barrage of rebukes directed at him, demanding that he repent for his sins.

However, since the Venerable One's cultivation level is extremely high, this influence is merely a gentle breeze.

When the Venerable Lord arrived at the underground palace to investigate, the bronze bell on Chen Ye's body had already disappeared.

Chen Ye was cultivating voluntarily this time, so he did not lose control. The bell ringing just now was merely a test of the power of the bronze bell.

The lord couldn't help but ask, "What kind of weird thing have you come up with this time?"

Chen Ye did not answer, but instead focused his mind on his second sea of ​​qi, examining its changing shape.

The Milky Way is still there, but the phantom of the bronze bell is already faintly visible.

As long as Chen Ye continues to absorb the Qi of Gang Sha to cultivate, it should not be long before he can transform this second Qi Sea into a constantly spinning bronze bell.

Chen Ye then opened his eyes, gently extended his right hand, and saw a small bronze bell appear in his palm.

Chen Ye said to the Venerable One with satisfaction, "I have only mastered the second supernatural power."

"A second supernatural power? Are you kidding me?"

The Lord has never heard of anyone who can cultivate two different supernatural powers; this has already violated the principles of heaven and earth.

Chen Ye thought for a moment, and flames appeared on the small bell in his palm, with a thin fire snake coiling around it.

Chen Ye laughed and said, "What you say is true, Lord. No one in the world can comprehend two different supernatural powers. I have only comprehended one supernatural power, which is called the Eighteen Levels of Hell. And I have only just cultivated to the second level."

(End of this chapter)