Primordial Era: From Primordial Human Race to Grand Luo Immortal

Chapter 70, Section 69: Severing Shackles to Become the Netherworld Ksitigarbha King

Upon hearing the murmur, Ji Yuan instantly appeared in the depths of the Netherworld.

A dignified, bald young man walked forward step by step. His face was full of compassion, and his eyes were filled with tears. With each step he took, tears fell and splashed up like golden lotuses. With each step he took, countless vengeful souls were converted and entered the cycle of reincarnation.

Upon seeing Ji Yuan appear, he stopped and looked at Ji Yuan, saying sadly:

"Fellow Daoist, it turns out that the resentment between heaven and earth is so deep. When will all living beings be able to ascend to the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss?"

"Fellow Daoist, what should I do?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Yuan pointed at Youming and spoke loudly:
"Ksitigarbha! Since you have already attained enlightenment, why do you still ask me?"

Upon hearing this, Ksitigarbha immediately closed his eyes, his whole body trembling as if he were struggling with something.

Ji Yuan stood there, waiting for Dizang to make the final decision.

Looking at the struggling Ksitigarbha, Ji Yuan was filled with countless thoughts.

Since the establishment of the Six Paths of Reincarnation and the opening of the Netherworld, countless powerful beings and forces have wanted a share of the spoils.

Ji Yuan did not turn them all away; he let in a group of people without karma, including some Western religious followers.

Even after entering the underworld, they did not ask for a position in the netherworld; they simply quietly performed rituals to help the departed souls pass on, resolve their resentment, and reduce their karmic burdens.

However, human strength has its limits, and even the most powerful immortals are no exception. Apart from Ksitigarbha, the disciples of the Western Sect could not bear it any longer and returned to the Western Sect after ten thousand years of performing the rituals.

Only Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, alone in this netherworld, performed solitary rituals to guide the departed souls for two entire multiverses.

Now he has realized what he seeks.

After an unknown amount of time, Ksitigarbha suddenly opened his eyes, and the light in his eyes seemed to carve out a pure land even in the mist-shrouded underworld.

He knelt down, facing west, and performed a deep bow, shouting:

"Master! Your disciple is unfilial!"

The next moment, two illusory figures appeared in front of Ksitigarbha, namely the two saints, Jieyin and Zhunti.

Zhunti remained expressionless, lost in thought, while Jieyin wore a beaming smile.

The guide gently stroked Ksitigarbha's head and softly chanted:

"Foolish child, just follow your heart in everything you do."

After he finished speaking, two magical treasures appeared out of thin air, their golden light dissipating. One was a six-ringed staff, and the other was a Mani jewel.

Ksitigarbha accepted the two magical treasures, and his last concern was finally put aside.

He sat cross-legged in the void, pointing one finger to the sky and the other to the earth, displaying an air of self-importance.

Her lips parted slightly, like a thunderclap:
"Heaven and Earth are above, I, Ksitigarbha, am moved by the suffering of all beings who did not attain good karma in life and are still haunted by resentment after death, with endless evil spirits and lingering vengeful souls in the netherworld. Therefore, I hereby make this great vow."

"I will not become a Buddha until hell is empty; I will not ascend to the Pure Land until the resentment dissipates; I will not attain enlightenment until all sentient beings are liberated!"

"May Heaven and Earth bear witness!"

His voice echoed throughout the primordial wilderness and the netherworld, shocking all who heard it; Ksitigarbha possessed such perseverance.

As the grand vow was made, the Heavenly Dao trembled, and boundless merits descended. The Earthly Dao was not to be outdone, and the Yin energy in the Netherworld surged, with merits also flowing in.

Without hesitation, Ksitigarbha used the merits of the Heavenly Dao to elevate his realm, instantly reaching the Quasi-Saint realm. Then, relying on the Six-Ringed Staff and the Mani Jewel, he severed the two corpses of good and evil, achieving the Quasi-Saint Two-Corpse Realm.

The merits of the earth did not merge into the body, but instead transformed into a nine-tiered lotus platform under Ksitigarbha's seat, radiating golden light and universally saving all beings in the ten directions.

But the tremors in the netherworld were not yet over. The Six Paths of Reincarnation spun rapidly, and one of the giant eggs flew out and fell into the hands of Ksitigarbha in the blink of an eye.

Ji Yuan immediately recognized it as the divine beast Di Ting, which could listen to the voices of all beings in the Three Realms and Six Paths. He never expected that it was conceived in the Netherworld and born by absorbing the energy of the Six Paths of Reincarnation.

Ksitigarbha addressed Amitabha and Cundi, saying:
"Thank you, Master, for helping me."

Jieyin and Zhunti remained silent, only looking at Ksitigarbha with expressions of satisfaction. Ksitigarbha then looked at Ji Yuan.

Ji Yuan nodded, holding the Netherworld Emperor Sword, and said loudly:
"From this day forward, you, Ksitigarbha, are the Ksitigarbha King of the Underworld."

"Boom!"

As Ji Yuan finished speaking, a deafening roar, as if the heavens and earth were splitting apart, echoed from the netherworld.

With his immense power, Ji Yuan opened up a new realm from the eighteenth level of hell, and Ksitigarbha immediately fell into it. Instantly, Buddhist light shone brightly and the resentment dissipated.

Having done all this, Ji Yuan faced the illusory figures of the two saints, Jieyin and Zhunti, and made a promise:

“The underworld may grant the Western religion a position of supreme authority.”

Both Jieyin and Zhunti smiled and said upon hearing this:

"good!"

The phantom then vanished.

Looking at the thriving Underworld, Ji Yuan couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

He originally intended to appoint someone else to the position of Ksitigarbha, but perhaps due to some karmic entanglement with the underworld, no matter who came, they could not gain the approval of the underworld.

Then Ksitigarbha came to the underworld again, and Ji Yuan secretly observed him for two eons.

Ji Yuan was amazed by his perseverance. Every day, the two multi-faceted societies dedicated themselves to helping the souls of the dead and resolving their resentment, without ever slacking off, until they achieved complete enlightenment.

Why did Ksitigarbha tell the two Western Saints that he was unfilial? It was because he was essentially going to establish his own household and remain in the netherworld forever until his great vow was fulfilled. However, as long as sentient beings continue to exist, hell will not be empty, and his great vow will be almost endless.

From this moment on, he is only the Ksitigarbha Buddha of the Netherworld, not the Ksitigarbha disciple of the Western Sect. This is also the reason why Ji Yuan promised the Western Sect a position of honor.

After all, the ones who benefit from Ksitigarbha entering the underworld are ultimately all living beings and the netherworld.

Perhaps in the future, a lineage dedicated solely to worshipping Ksitigarbha Buddha and practicing the Ksitigarbha Dharma will emerge.

Ji Yuan thought for a moment, then flashed to the Fengdu Emperor's palace. At this moment, the Shangqing Emperor was sitting on his throne, deep in thought with his eyes closed. Upon seeing Ji Yuan arrive, he smiled and said:

"Looks like you're going on another trip, you brat? You can't stay still after only three Yuanhui?"

Ji Yuan bowed and said with a smile:

"When stillness reaches its extreme, movement arises. I'll trouble my master to take care of things in the Netherworld."

The Supreme Emperor said impatiently:
"Go! Go! Go!"

Ji Yuan smiled as he left the Fengdu Emperor's Palace.

As for why he didn't go to Houtu, it's because Houtu was so engrossed in playing the role of the judge that she was completely captivated by the various deeds of all living beings. Perhaps she would get tired of it after a few dozen or a hundred more eons.

After leaving the Netherworld, Ji Yuan first explored the territory of the human race.

At this time, this place was no longer inhabited only by humans, but also by witches and various spirit beasts that were free from karma and only consumed the essence of the sun and moon.

Since the witch clan discovered that children born from intermarriage with humans not only have stronger physical bodies, but also have greater talent in cultivating their primordial spirit than pure-blooded witches, intermarriage between witches and humans has become commonplace.

It is unknown when Chi You, who would later rival Xuanyuan, was born.

Ji Yuan glanced again at the orcs with beastman-like characteristics and shook his head. Even though he was the ancestor of humanity, he couldn't interfere with his people's thoughts on that matter.

"Alas, the tolerance of our human race is truly remarkable."

Having raised the Map of Mountains and Rivers, Ji Yuan's destination was the North Sea.

The reason is simple: the calamity energy in the world is nearing its limit, the final war between the Lich King and the Demon King is coming soon, and he needs to make more plans.

(End of this chapter)