Just like this, the Ghost Gate signifies the determination of life and death. Once past the Ghost Gate, one is a dead person; not passing through it means dying without peace. And once beyond the Ghost Gate, all traces are truly erased from the world.

Take, for instance, the Wangxiang Platform, a place in the underworld for ancestors to look back upon the mortal world.

On this platform, ancestors cherish their descendants, thus bestowing blessings and fortune, sheltering future generations.

Again, consider Poqian Mountain, where there is a furnace for smelting iron to create money; in the underworld, there's a furnace for creating money for the mortal world, allowing mortals to earn wealth.

As for the Clothes Stripping Pavilion, it is said to be a place of division, where one determines to be reborn as a human or a beast, depending on what is stripped and what is put on there.

All other sceneries, too, are characterized by various legends.

These things that should exist within legends or even the spiritual realm have all blurred the lines due to the arrival of Tai Sui in this world, manifesting vaguely in the world, becoming the underworld previously seen by Hu Ma.

And the impact of these Eight Sceneries of Netherworld on the mortal world is somewhat like the core of a massive database.

All the magnificent and complex phenomena of the world are derived from that algorithm, as data changes there, the world gets its multitudinous beings, its wealth or poverty, various destinies of humans or beasts.

...

...

"A hundred years ago, the Li Family began acting as the heavenly enforcers, capturing human malefactors and maintaining the order and peace of this world."

"Hence, the Li Family is responsible for apprehending criminals and delivering justice, with the ability to traverse the underworld, call upon names, and punish spirits and souls, all of which ultimately stem from the Bloodstain Pond."

Madam Li continued, "The Ten Families possess the greatest skills. Leaving aside the Hu and Meng families, the others, upon ascending the Bridge, have involuntarily entered the underworld and glimpsed the roots of various skills."

"Just like Noble Zhang's Poqian Mountain, the Undying Wang's Naihe Bridge; and Yangming Zhou Family's Ghost Gate, Divine Hand Zhao Family's Clothes Stripping Pavilion, compared to others, these are what the Ten Families truly value."

"Of course, because of their significance, the fate of each family varies."

"Except for the Hu family and the Meng family who do not enter the underworld, why did Noble Zhang and the Undying Wang fall first?"

"Simply put, the Undying Wang family declined because the Ten Families sealed reincarnation twenty years ago. With reincarnation sealed, the Naihe Bridge in the underworld rendered useless, the power of the Undying Wang family grew the slowest, leaving them hoping on the State Preceptor."

"While the Noble Zhang family, due to possessing the Poqian Mountain, initially had an endless supply of silver coins, in today's chaotic world, money has lost its value, and without practicing skills, they lost their foundation."

"Later on, a single arrow from an outsider severed the connection between the Zhang family and Poqian Mountain."

"Without the underworld's coin creation, the descendants of the Zhao family are destined to live without wealth, becoming beggars for generations, even suffering torment from the Duyi royal family's Yin Ghosts."

"..."

As for the underworld and its "Eight Sceneries" theory, there lies much falsity, even Hu Ma could only listen, slowly raising his head, asking: "What does this have to do with what the old lady said?"

"The relation lies precisely here."

Madam Li appeared grave, "Many of the reincarnators ascend the Bridge, but do you know how the Ten Families account it?"

"Crossing the Bridge leads to the Non-human Realm, and only by contact with the Eight Sceneries of Netherworld can one enter the Non-ghost Realm."

"With skill increase, beginning to influence the Eight Sceneries, one becomes non-god."

"Yet for the current Ten Families, it merely allows some influence on the Eight Sceneries, they are far from mastering them."

"Despite sending many people down, and generations of effort from each family, today they only serve the Eight Sceneries, far from holding them in hand."

"..."

Upon hearing here, Hu Ma suddenly understood.

His heart pounded a few beats faster; bewildered gaze locked onto her, then slowly spoke, "So..."

"You wish to fully grasp the Eight Sceneries, even...replace them?"

"..."

"Correct."

Seeing that Hu Ma understood, even Madam Li seemed to shine youthfully, lowering her voice: "Your plan to change heaven and earth, expel Tai Sui, we entirely support."

"Even if you need the people's hearts, we will aid you. Should you require strange skills, we will not withhold them."

"But we also wish to leave something for our children and grandchildren!"

"After expelling Tai Sui, all skills will vanish, the method of crossing the Bridge too, but things left within the Eight Sceneries will not disappear, it's the eternal method in the human world, the origin and home of all things."

"This is what the Ten Families understand as..."

"...Homecoming!"

"..."

"Buzz!"

Listening to Madam Li's words, Hu Ma even felt a chill at the scalp, heart equally astounded and resigned that it should be so.

"No wonder you do not wish for immortality, nor help the State Preceptor with creating the White Jade City..."

His gaze icy, fixed on the old lady, unable to contain a wry smile, speaking lowly: "You find his plan too lonely, not as gratifying as your wealth-filled past twenty years..."

"Thus, you do not want his immortality..."

"What you seek is to be that everlasting immortal in a prosperous world after changing heaven and earth..."

"..."

He had underestimated the Ten Families.

Mastering the Eight Sceneries means forever creating wealth in the underworld, descendants never lacking, expunging sin and forgiving souls, immune to yin virtue karmas, always prosperous with boundless fortune...

Should have realized, the State Preceptor never gained their support in Shangjing, not because of newfound consciences, but merely because he did not satisfy their appetites...

Facing Hu Ma's seemingly mocking words, Madam Li appeared calm and composed.

After a moment, she slowly said, "What do you think?"

"The Eight Sceneries remain two, sufficient for your share."

"Moreover, dueling with the Ten Families is no simple matter? But should you assist us, helping break through obstacles on the Bridge, not only shall the world fall into your hands, your desire to establish a new emperor, expel Tai Sui, shall come swiftly..."

"..."

Her words carried endless temptation, yet Hu Ma suddenly ceased his smile, looking seriously at her, saying: "Impossible."

Madam Li was momentarily stunned, even a little speechless: "Why?"

"Because you still do not comprehend our plan..."

Hu Ma sighed deeply, raising a hand to his brow, saying: "Our fight against Tai Sui, we aim to unite the world's strength, the spirit of the common people, leaving no retreat, a showdown with the colossal entity, seizing a chance at life."

"Today, before fate comes to pass, you come demanding this and that, indulging in dreams of living gods..."

He bore traces of sadness and mockery on his face: "Heh, you keep five kilograms, I keep five kilograms, we split before we even begin, so how do we fight Tai Sui?"