Dao Cheng Gui Xian

Chapter 603 The God of the Underworld—The Vicious Dog, the Golden Rooster
Mu San's expression tightened upon seeing this.

The four people behind him looked terrified, and even their exposed intestines trembled uncontrollably.

Li Wushou, with his back to the five people, asked:
"This is the guardian deity of the mountain?"

His voice was calm and steady, and the flustered Mu San and his group of five suddenly calmed down, respectfully kowtowing. Mu San replied:

"Reporting to Your Excellency, it is indeed the Lord of Evil Dog Ridge and the Lord of Golden Rooster Mountain."

After saying that, as if remembering something, he added:

"I heard they weren't like this before."

Li Wushou nodded thoughtfully, then said softly again:

“Tell me about them, oh, and about the offerings they mentioned.”

Upon hearing this, Mu San's single eye shone even brighter, and he quickly began to introduce Li Wushou.

Although he didn't understand why the adults, who came from Youdu City, seemed to know nothing about the Lord of Evil Dog Ridge and the Lord of Golden Rooster Mountain, he and the people of Wild Ghost Village had no other choice.

In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, under Mu San's detailed explanation, Li Wushou gained a thorough understanding of Evil Dog Ridge, Golden Rooster Mountain, and even Youdu City.

However, most of what Mu San said was hearsay.

For many things, we know what happens, but not why.

Whenever Li Wushou asked him in detail, Mu San would look blank.

Li Wushou was not disappointed by this.

According to Mu San, these spirits of the countryside were born from a hazy state of being, and their origins were unknown.

Upon hearing this, Li Wushou had some guesses about it:
In his view, Mu San and the others were probably the souls of the dead in the Forbidden Immortal Land who were absorbed into the Primordial Tomb and merged with the Yin-attribute Dao patterns in the tomb, forming special Yin spirits.

These people may appear to have flesh and blood, but in essence they are still ghosts.

This is why, despite their broken bodies, they were still able to jump around and move freely.

As for Mu San and the others, it seemed that they had guidance in their minds after their spiritual intelligence was awakened.

That is the yearning for Youdu!

Rumor has it that there lies the secret and opportunity for "rebirth".

Mu San and the others didn't even understand what "new life" meant, but the guidance from the unseen world made them realize that this so-called "new life" was extremely important to them.

This drives them, regardless of where they were born, to converge on Evil Dog Ridge and Golden Rooster Mountain.

Because beyond Evil Dog Ridge and Golden Rooster Mountain lies the legendary Youdu City.

Legend has it that long ago, the guardian spirits of Evil Dog Ridge and Golden Rooster Mountain were underworld gods appointed by the Lord of Youdu.

The two underworld gods respectively command the evil dogs and the golden roosters, two types of spirits, and reside in Evil Dog Ridge and Golden Rooster Mountain.

Both gods of the underworld possess the ability to distinguish between good and evil, and can discern the evil spirits like Mu San and his companions who gather from all directions.

If any truly wicked person passes by Evil Dog Ridge and Golden Rooster Mountain, they will be torn apart and pecked by vicious dogs and golden roosters.

Until the evil karma is eliminated, if one is reborn, one continues to proceed into the City of the Dead.

If they die, they will become food for vicious dogs and golden roosters.

But from some point onward, the evil dog and the golden rooster of the underworld stopped distinguishing between good and evil.

All the spirits that pass through Evil Dog Ridge and Golden Rooster Mountain are bitten and pecked by the evil dogs and golden roosters.

However, they did not devour all the evil spirits at once. Instead, they allowed these evil spirits to linger at the foot of Evil Dog Ridge and Golden Rooster Mountain, constantly healing their wounds and attempting to cross Evil Dog Ridge and Golden Rooster Mountain again.

The cycle repeats itself, year after year.

Until the Yin-attribute Dao patterns within Mu San and the others collapsed, they were completely devoured by the vicious dog and the golden rooster.

This is the fate of Mu San and the other villagers of Yegui Village.

Meanwhile, if not enough people attempt to cross Evil Dog Ridge and Golden Rooster Mountain each year, these two underworld gods will awaken and demand offerings from the people of Wild Ghost Village.

The so-called offerings are naturally made to the spirits of Mu San and others.

Therefore, attempting to cross Evil Dog Ridge and Golden Rooster Mountain would lead to death, and hiding in Wild Ghost Village would also lead to death.

A few days ago, feeling desperate, Mu San, along with dozens of elders from Yegui Village, once again attempted to cross Egou Ridge and Jinji Mountain.

Based on their experience, the group successfully entered Jinji Mountain at the cost of sacrificing more than a dozen of their companions.

But what followed was the golden rooster pecking at the ground frantically.

After hastily abandoning more than a dozen people, Mu San and his group managed to escape from Golden Rooster Mountain and return to Wild Ghost Village.

If things had gone according to the old rules, the year would have passed just like that.

But for some reason, the two gods of the underworld seem to have changed their targets this year.

They need more people to cross Evil Dog Ridge and Golden Rooster Mountain!

Therefore, after Mu San and the others returned to Wild Ghost Village, the two Underworld Gods informed Wild Ghost Village that they needed to increase their offerings.

Mu San and his companions believed that their crossing of Evil Dog Ridge and Golden Rooster Mountain had angered the God of the Underworld, so they split into several teams and left Wild Ghost Village to collect water from the River Styx.

The water of the River Styx was not, as Li Wushou had assumed, for daily use. It was used for pickling and offerings!

If Li Wushou hadn't stopped Mu San and the others this time, after returning to Wild Ghost Village, Mu San would have soaked himself in the River Styx and turned into a sacrifice to offer to the two gods of the underworld.

As for any further information about Youdu City, Mu San and the others had no idea.

After all, the lingering spirits in Hungry Ghost Village, even the longest-lived ones, have never crossed Golden Rooster Mountain.

Not to mention Youdu City behind Jinji Mountain.

However, the people of Wild Ghost Village were unaware of this, but others might not know.

Aren't there two underworld gods in Evil Dog Ridge and Golden Rooster Mountain who demand offerings?

The other party is at least much older than the wild ghosts in Wild Ghost Village.

After quietly listening to Mu San's story, and gazing at the even more ferocious Netherworld Dog and Golden Rooster, Li Wushou composed himself and slowly spoke with his back to Mu San and the others:

"Let's go."

Mu San, who was respectfully prostrating himself, was taken aback upon hearing this and subconsciously asked:

"Sir, where are you going?"

Upon hearing this, Li Wushou continued walking without stopping, and said softly:
"Go and meet the two underworld gods of Evil Dog Ridge and Golden Rooster Mountain."

The voice was as calm and steady as ever, but Mu San's heart suddenly skipped a beat. Meet the God of the Underworld?

Faced with such a ferocious dog, the Golden Rooster Underworld God Dharma Form remained calm and went to meet it.

At this moment, Mu San seemed dazed.

It feels like my dream has come true!
This person really is an adult from Youdu City!

For a moment, Mu San's whole body began to tremble involuntarily.

Nodding heavily, Mu San replied:

"Yes, sir! I'll show you the way right away!"

Mu San's expression was solemn, and his words were serious.

Regardless of the other party's claim that "meeting the God of the Underworld" could save the people of Hungry Ghost Village, Mu San decided to follow the person before him.

Without him!

Years of despair made him cherish hope all the more.

Even if it's just the slightest bit, what if it is?
If it doesn't work, then so be it!

I arrived in Wild Ghost Village in a daze back then, and went up Evil Dog Ridge in a confused state, almost getting bitten to death by the vicious dogs.

If it weren't for the old village chief's rescue, I would have died long ago.

The old village chief was buried in Jinji Mountain many years ago, and he himself became an elder in Yegui Village. These people have also taken in many descendants.

The last time Mu San was forced to cross Jinji Mountain, he didn't even think about surviving.

Having survived by sheer luck, I will offer myself as a sacrifice this time as well.

But now that hope had suddenly appeared, Mu San was unwilling to die without knowing the truth.

He wanted to see for himself whether the two mountains blocking the road in front of Yegui Village were likely to collapse.

For this reason, he would be willing to die!
Turning his head to look at the four people behind him, Mu San quickly gave the order:

“You go back to the village first, explain the situation here, and pretend to prepare offerings to buy some time. I will go and guide the adults from Youdu City.”

The four people who were lying prone became anxious upon hearing this.

"Elder Mu!"

Before he could finish speaking, Mu San shouted to stop him:

"Shut up and go back!"

Without saying another word, he ran up to Li Wushou, bowed apologetically, and then ran headlong towards Evil Dog Ridge and Golden Rooster Mountain.

Li Wushou moved swiftly, following closely behind Mu San.

No matter how fast Mu San ran, Li Wushou maintained a distance of about three zhang from him.

He had no objection to Mu San's arrangements.

Although this shows a lack of trust in themselves, it is a mature arrangement for Wild Ghost Village.

Li Wushou has always had a certain fondness for mature and prudent people.

Moreover, he had no interest in paying attention to these trivial matters.

Because in his mind, the old beggar's roar was constantly echoing:

"You damned God of the Underworld! Li Wushou, kill these two beasts!"

(End of this chapter)