Chapter 3084

Xiao Gui’s words sounded gentle, but Yan Xizhong and Yun Meng knew they were true. They were likely heading to a different kind of Underworld.

Yan Xizhong was determined to investigate why such a place existed.

The elevator descended slowly, seemingly without end.

"Why does this elevator have no bottom?" someone asked curiously.

"It’s to create the atmosphere of the Underworld," Xiao Gui explained. "It also signifies that not just anyone can descend to the Eighteen Levels of Hell."

"Cough," Yan Xizhong cleared his throat. "Actually, I heard it’s not that hard to go to the Eighteen Levels of Hell. If a person keeps doing bad things, they’ll go there after death."

"Your guess is just a guess," Xiao Gui said seriously. "In reality, only those who commit heinous crimes go to the Eighteen Levels of Hell. Ordinary people who do evil deeds are usually sentenced to reincarnate as animals. Only those who commit unforgivable sins go to hell."

Yan Xizhong replied, "Doing evil is doing evil. Why distinguish levels? I think if you categorize evil deeds, they aren’t really evil anymore."

Yun Meng nodded beside him. "I agree. Since the Underworld has the Eighteen Levels of Hell, it must be because it rejects evil. Some people commit small evils, but if they do it all their lives, it adds up to great evil. If such people don’t go to hell, who should?"

"My wife is right," Yan Xizhong said earnestly.

Seeing the couple’s stance, Xiao Gui sighed. "That’s just a legend. Perhaps the real Eighteen Levels of Hell are as you say."

Yan Xizhong and Yun Meng exchanged a glance. Just then, the elevator stopped.

"The elevator has stopped," Yun Meng said.

Yan Xizhong nodded. "It took quite a while. At least three or five minutes."

Xiao Gui smiled. "That’s the atmosphere we want. Are you ready? If you don’t want to watch, stay in the elevator. It will take you back up. If you want to see, follow me out. As I said, once you leave the elevator, you must visit all the spots before returning."

"Since we’re here, we’ll look," someone said.

"Husband, I feel cold. Let’s not go," a woman said. "It’s so cold here, and I’m pregnant. If I catch a cold, it won’t be good."

Her husband thought for a moment. "Then you go. My wife and I will stay. She’s pregnant, and if she catches a cold, it’s bad."

Yun Meng said, "It is indeed cold. You should go up." She took a cardigan from her backpack and put it on the pregnant woman. "Even if it’s only a few minutes, keep warm. You can return it to me when I come up."

"Thank you," the pregnant woman said gratefully.

Xiao Gui nodded. "Alright, you two can go up."

Then he turned to Yan Xizhong and the others. "You can leave the elevator now."

The elevator doors opened. Standing at the entrance was a person wearing an ox-head mask.

Xiao Gui said, "Two people are afraid of the cold and won’t go. I’ll take them up. These six are yours." He then addressed Yan Xizhong and the other five. "You can call him Niu Da."

"Shouldn’t we call him Ox Head?" Yan Xizhong asked with a smile.

"There are too many Ox Heads. We need to distinguish them. This one is Niu Da. Follow him to experience the Eighteen Levels of Hell. I’ll wait for you here in the elevator when you return." Xiao Gui spoke with practiced ease.

The handover was like a tour guide transferring a group to an internal guide. Everyone was familiar with this process and had no doubts.

Only Yan Xizhong looked deeply at the ox-headed figure. Although he wasn’t a real ox, he was definitely not a normal person.

"Follow me," Niu Da said.

Yan Xizhong held Yun Meng’s hand and followed the other four out.

Niu Da spoke slowly. "First, I’ll take you to see the Judge’s trial, then Zhong Kui catching souls. After that, I’ll take you to visit the Eighteen Levels of Hell. You must remain quiet throughout. If you make noise and cause unnecessary consequences, you will bear them all yourselves."

Niu Da repeated what Xiao Gui had said in the elevator.

Without waiting for a response, Niu Da walked ahead. "This is the Judge’s Hall."

They walked a few hundred steps to the left from the elevator and saw a place with green doors and windows. The threshold was high, about a foot tall.

Niu Da told everyone to stand at the door. "You cannot enter or take photos. Just watch the Judge’s trial from a reasonable distance."

The threshold was four or five meters long, allowing the six of them to clearly see inside.

The room had a dark green hue, possibly from the lighting. Facing them, a Judge sat on a raised platform.

The Judge held the Book of Life and Death in his left hand and a brush in his right. His eyes stared like lamps at the ground opposite him.

Two people were kneeling on the floor.

"Who are you, kneeling there?" the Judge began his interrogation.

"This humble servant is Zhang San."

"This humble servant is Li Si."

Zhang San and Li Si? Those names were truly perfunctory.

"Zhang San, Li Si, what grievances do you have? Speak quickly. This Judge is here to settle matters for you."

"Judge, I, Zhang San, accuse Li Si of stealing money from my home. I was hit by a car while chasing him. Please do justice for this humble servant," Zhang San said.

The Judge opened the Book of Life and Death. "Zhang San, you were the boss of a small trading company in life. You withheld workers’ wages. Li Si was your employee. He stole money from your home because you didn’t pay him, and his daughter was sick and needed money for treatment."

"Grandfather Judge, spare my life!" Zhang San kowtowed. In front of the Judge, everything about him seemed transparent.

Yan Xizhong watched with a profound expression. He realized the Judge truly had the ability of a Judge. Or rather, the Book of Life and Death in his hand had that power.

The Book of Life and Death was a special record used exclusively by the Judge’s department in the Underworld.

The real Book of Life and Death was far more powerful, but this one, though less potent, could still reveal the events of a soul’s past life.

The Judge continued, "Zhang San, because you didn’t pay wages on time, many families faced difficulties. Two people died because they couldn’t afford medical care. These are all your karmic consequences."