Chapter 1629: Fill 'er Up

Yanluo Dian was exceptionally quiet, with the occasional wails of fierce ghosts echoing through the air.

The Judge stared at the Book of Life and Death, remaining silent for a long time. His fierce face took on a peculiar expression, and he even reached up to scratch his head as he looked.

Seeing him say nothing, the Black and White Impermanence standing behind him both leaned in to peek at the Book of Life and Death. Was this person really that impressive?

But as they glanced at it, their expressions turned strange as well.

It wasn't surprising that the three of them reacted this way—the entry for Ye Chen in the Book of Life and Death consisted of only two characters: Jian Ren.

The trio was a bit stunned. For everyone else, the life records filled an entire page, but for this one, it was just two characters: Jian Ren.

The Judge looked up, glancing at Black Impermanence, then at White Impermanence, and back at the Book of Life and Death. He really did scratch his head.

The three of them turned their gaze toward Ye Chen, looking at him as if he were some kind of curiosity. The Judge's expression was meaningful, while Black and White Impermanence's were full of gravity.

If the Book of Life and Death judged him that way, just how contemptible must this person be!

Down below, Ye Chen was puzzled. What was so different about his Book of Life and Death? Why were the Judge and the two Impermanence figures making such faces?

He had no idea. If he found out that his book only had those two bold characters, he might jump up and curse on the spot.

"You have committed many evils, so you shall be reborn in the animal realm." The Judge regained his authoritative demeanor, looking menacing as his voice boomed like thunder.

"What animal realm? I won't become an animal." Ye Chen refused, jumping up high and shouting loudly. How could he have committed many evils? He had saved the entire Wanyu, after all!

"How dare you defy this court? Throw him into the eighteen levels of hell."

"Actually, becoming an animal isn't so bad." Ye Chen chuckled awkwardly, backing down instantly and without warning.

The eighteen levels of hell didn't sound like anywhere good—everyone knew that, even ordinary people. Once you went in, getting out would be impossible.

Compared to that, being reborn as an animal was better. At least he could be reincarnated, and as long as he could return, anything was possible.

"Take him away to the animal realm." The Judge shouted, waving his Judge Pen to mark an X on Ye Chen's page in the Book of Life and Death.

At his command, two little ghosts stepped forward, one on each side, grabbing Ye Chen by the arms. Their movements were rough.

Ye Chen's face was full of dark lines, and he felt like cursing. If he were still at his peak as a Sheng Ti, he would have overturned Yanluo Dian right then and there.

But he was helpless—now he was just at the Tianjing level, and in the underworld at that. If a fight broke out, even these two little ghosts could beat him to tears.

He was led out once more, down a long road.

This was the Yin-Yang Road, also known as Huangquan Road, lined on both sides with fiery red flowers—the legendary Bianhua.

The road looked like a carpet paved with blood, and the red Bianhua were the only scenery and color along Huangquan Road.

Additionally, many wandering souls and wild ghosts roamed Huangquan Road. These were people whose lives had ended prematurely or unnaturally; they couldn't ascend to heaven or be reincarnated, so they wandered there.

"These flowers are quite nice." Ye Chen walked along, looking around and ignoring the wandering souls, focusing only on the red Bianhua.

The flowers were extraordinary, as red as fresh blood, blooming only in hell. He had only heard legends about them and never seen them before.

Legend had it that Bianhua bloomed on the other side; when the flowers bloomed, you couldn't see the leaves, and when the leaves appeared, the flowers were gone. The flowers and leaves never met, forever missing each other, all left on the other side.

Unable to resist, Ye Chen reached out to pick one.

But before he could touch it, a little ghost's whip cracked down, striking his hand and making it smoke.

That made him behave. He grimaced in pain, baring his teeth.

Ahead, a river stretched out, its waters a bloody yellow color.

This was the Wangchuan River, with an arched bridge above it called Naihe Bridge.

At the bridge's head stood a stone platform, the legendary Wangxiang Tai, where one could climb up and gaze toward their homeland—a window between the yin and yang worlds.

To the left of Wangxiang Tai was a green stone, the Sansheng Stone, which recorded everyone's past life, present life, and future life.

To the right of Wangxiang Tai was an old woman, known as Meng Po.

The two little ghosts delivered Ye Chen and then vanished.

Ye Chen was curious and stared at Wangxiang Tai and the Sansheng Stone.

These were remarkable things, inscribed with ancient and mysterious powers whose level he couldn't discern. If he could take them back for battles, they would be incredibly powerful.

As he thought about it, he placed his hand on the Sansheng Stone.

The Sansheng Stone hummed and vibrated, displaying an ancient scene.

It was his past life—he had been a general in the mortal world, fighting on the battlefield for ten years to protect his country, never once removing his armor.

He smiled slightly. He had always known his past life was that of a general.

After seeing his past life, it showed his present one, but his future life was a chaotic blur, unclear whether it would be human or demonic.

Cause in the past leads to effect in the present; fate cycles through reincarnation, with origins and endings.

The Sansheng Stone bore witness to the joys and sorrows, grief and joy, laughter and tears, hatred and enmity of all beings. All debts owed and emotions to be settled were crossed off there.

He withdrew his hand and stepped onto Wangxiang Tai, gazing into the distance.

Another scene appeared—it was Hengyue Jade Girl Peak, with a small grave. The tombstone bore his name.

The women stood by the grave, dressed in wedding clothes, their eyes filled with tears.

He saw Chu Xuan, like an ice sculpture, lying on a bed of ice jade, her hair snow-white, with undried tears at the corners of her eyes.

Ye Chen reached out, wanting to wipe away her tears.

But he couldn't touch her—they were separated by yin and yang.

Hengyue Sect was still Hengyue Sect, with so many familiar faces—Xie Yun that guy, Xiong Er that lump— all incredibly dear to him.

Wangxiang Tai was truly mysterious; it could reveal his homeland and show his entire life, with every scene vivid and clear.

For the first time, he saw his parents—they weren't anyone important, just ordinary commoners.

They had abandoned him because their village was raided by bandits; the whole village was massacred, and he alone survived by hiding.

Ye Chen cried. They were his parents, yet he could only see them from Wangxiang Tai. They had passed away over three hundred years ago.

He stayed on the platform for a long time, greedily gazing at his homeland.

After this reincarnation, who knew when they would meet again, or if they would even recognize each other. It was all uncertain.

He didn't know when, but he finally wiped away his tears and turned to step down. He had accepted his death, yet he couldn't let go of his past affairs.

"Drink this bowl of soup, and you can be on your way." Meng Po spoke flatly, without joy or sorrow, holding out a bowl of yellow soup.

Ye Chen leaned in to sniff it and knew it was Meng Po Soup.

This soup was treacherous—it was water of forgetfulness. Once drunk, all loves, hates, grudges, gains, and losses of a lifetime would be forgotten. People you cared about or hated in this life would be complete strangers in the next.

"I'll pass on this one—I'm not thirsty." Ye Chen chuckled.

"Without drinking Meng Po Soup, you cannot cross Naihe Bridge. Drink it, and you'll be cleansed, ready to enter the six paths anew."

"In that case, give me a bowl." Ye Chen coughed and took the bowl, confident that one bowl of Meng Po Soup couldn't erase his memories.

Besides, he had no choice—he had to drink it to cross the bridge and be reincarnated.

Meng Po Soup tasted extremely bitter, full of joy, sorrow, pain, and hate.

After downing the bowl, Ye Chen wiped his mouth but felt no change—his memories were still intact.

If anything, he felt his soul becoming purer and more solid, and his floating body even touched the ground.

"Does it have this effect?" Ye Chen's eyes lit up. This wasn't water of forgetfulness—it was like a powerful tonic.

And it strengthened the soul, which was incredibly beneficial for his current state. The soul power would carry over to his next life.

Thinking of that, Ye Chen chuckled.

"Another bowl, please."

His words startled Meng Po, who had been keeping her head down. She looked at him strangely.

Over all these ages, countless people had drunk Meng Po Soup, and not a single one remembered anything after.

But this one was fine and even asked for seconds.

Something was wrong. Meng Po frowned, waving her hand over the empty bowl to refill it with the yellow soup. It looked ordinary.

Ye Chen didn't hesitate, tossing it back in one go.

Just like the first time, his soul power strengthened, and he felt more energy within him, no longer as weak as before.

Meng Po leaned in closer, examining Ye Chen with a strange expression.

This was the second bowl, yet his memories remained untouched. In fact, he seemed more lively than ever.

Ye Chen wiped his mouth and, seeing Meng Po staring at him, tentatively asked,

"Another one?"

Without thinking, Meng Po refilled the bowl.

It had to be done—she refused to believe it wouldn't work.

Besides, she had to erase his memories. If he reincarnated with them intact, the underworld's secrets could leak to the human world, causing disaster.

Ye Chen gulped it down in one go.

Well then! The soup warmed him up; his memories were unchanged, and his soul power surged. He felt great.

"Come, fill it up." Having tasted the benefits, Ye Chen extended the bowl again, meaning: I can handle more.

Meng Po was losing her composure, waving her hand to refill it.

Ye Chen had an air of audacity about him, drinking every drop without leaving a trace, even licking the bowl afterward.

"Granny, don't stop—keep going! I can drink more."

"It's not every day I get here, so I might as well drink my fill before moving on."

"Oh, and the recipe for this soup—could you give me a copy later?"

Ye Chen kept going, bowl after bowl, without pause.

He was relentless, and Meng Po was even more so. He drank one after another, and she poured just as fast, struggling to keep up.

In no time at all, he had downed over a hundred bowls.

And he was still enthusiastic, not rushing to reincarnate but challenging Meng Po directly, bowl after bowl nonstop.

Drink we shall, until you're full—until you question your existence.

Anyway, we're not stopping until I've got you doubting everything.

The so-called water of forgetfulness had become cheaper than plain water.

What kind of freak is this? Meng Po swallowed hard.

Ye Chen hadn't made her cry, but he had certainly pushed her to question her life. Meng Po Soup, for heaven's sake—couldn't it do its job?

After another bowl, Ye Chen let out a satisfied burp.

Seeing Meng Po still staring, he thought, Oh no—if drinking this much doesn't affect me, she'll definitely want to study me.

If she took him away, who knew if he'd get to reincarnate.

Realizing that, the quick-witted Ye Chen clutched his head.

"Oh no, my head hurts terribly!"

His acting was spot-on. He staggered in place, his expression turning dull, his eyes vacant.

He looked just like someone who had lost their memories.

His performance fooled Meng Po completely.

The old woman finally breathed a sigh of relief. If you'd kept going, I might have cried. I've never seen anyone like you.