Chapter 55: Under the World, Mayflies in the Blue Sky (1/3)

Su Fu wanted the world to witness the glorious Chang’an of China.

To see the long streets winding like jade ribbons, adorned with lights like scattered pearls.

To gaze upon the distant bell tower standing tall, the drum tower majestic and solemn as pine.

To listen as the night breeze carried the harmonious melodies of strings and pipes, lingering in the air as if trying to preserve this very moment.

When had this idea first taken root in her mind?

Perhaps it was when she saw the contents of Exam Paper A, realizing the objective was to solve a case and find the culprit.

Something felt off.

Why would such an exam summon the True Lord Zhong Kui?

Solving a case? 

Hunting a murderer? 

That seemed far too trivial for a deity like Zhong Kui.

Zhong Kui was a bona fide judge of the underworld-assigning him to mere mortal crimes would be a waste of his talents.

If not for Exam Paper A, then it must be related to Exam Paper B.

Even the map for Exam Paper B was… the underworld itself!

Now everything made sense.

Zhong Kui was a perfect match for the underworld map, hence his summoning.

With this realization, Su Fu looked back at Chang’an with newfound clarity.

Solving a case in Chang’an? 

Why not just have Zhong Kui summon underworld soldiers to capture souls?

A battle royale in the underworld? 

On Judge Zhong Kui’s turf, who would dare make a move?

The exam was no longer a problem-but more importantly, she could use Zhong Kui’s authority to achieve something grand! 

Something like… spreading China’s glory!

So what if she couldn’t afford ad space? 

This exam was the best advertisement she could ask for!

Glorious Chang’an-there was so much here to showcase.

And it seemed to be working.

Countless Kongming lanterns rose into the sky, carrying endless wishes.

The shimmering lights mirrored the radiant moon of the Tang Dynasty’s golden age.

Back then, merchant caravans traversed the Silk Road, foreign traders bartered exotic treasures, and Tang envoys sailed across oceans, spreading China’s civilization far and wide.

Now, that same splendor was recreated within the exam.

The Dali Temple, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, the Badang agents, the City God’s Office.

The music halls of the Tang palace, the Western Region’s foreign merchants.

Strange tales and just verdicts.

Underworld soldiers marching, ghosts roaming the night.

The vibrant pulse of mortal life, boundless and magnificent.

The only regret was that time was too short.

Chang’an was too dazzling—even if she stretched the moment to its limit, what she could show was only a fleeting glimpse.

Yet that glimpse alone should leave a lasting impression.

Now, it was time to say goodbye.

The Kongming lanterns ascended like stars returning to their constellations.

From the distant bell tower, a melodious farewell echoed, startling a flock of birds into flight.

“A single day to behold Chang’an’s flowers, a lifetime to remember its splendor.”

The seeds of China’s civilization had been sown. 

With one last look at the magnificent scene, Su Fu turned away.

Without glancing back, she murmured, “Let’s go.”

It was time to descend into the underworld.

***

The Netherworld, Outside the Hall of Judgment.

Black Impermanence, Fan Wujiu, frowned deeply as he examined the newly received edict in his hands.

“This is…” 

He double-checked the jade seal imprint. 

“An imperial decree from the Human Emperor?!”

White Impermanence, Xie Bi’an, leaned in and froze.

“Grand Inspector of the Netherworld?” Xie Bi’an read the title aloud, his voice trembling slightly.

An official title that spanned both the mortal and underworld realms?!

“Not just that.” 

Fan Wujiu pointed to the decree’s lower section. 

“Look at this command-Deeds of the living shall be honored in the underworld.”

“Exactly… Every City God temple in the mortal realm is to enshrine her golden statue.” 

Fan Wujiu’s expression darkened. 

“And more… her words can reach the depths of the netherworld.”

Hurried footsteps suddenly echoed from outside the hall as Ox-Head rushed in frantically: 

“My lords! The incense offerings across the underworld have suddenly skyrocketed, nearly matching those of the City God!”

“So quickly?” Xie Bi’an was startled. 

“Could Magistrate Su be so beloved by the living?”

Horse-Face arrived in haste: “Reporting to both lords, news from Chang’an says… says Magistrate Su has already begun her journey to the underworld.”

The hall fell silent.

Fan Wujiu stood up with a solemn expression: 

“Issue the order immediately-halt all pursuit operations.” 

“Recall all underworld enforcers and soul collectors. Focus all efforts on preparing to receive Magistrate Su.”

Gazing at the drifting yin energy outside, he murmured: 

“This Magistrate Su… is no ordinary figure.”

“In a single day, she resolved all unjust cases in the mortal realm and received a royal decree from the Human Emperor.”

“Now her fame shakes the Nine Netherworlds, known throughout both yin and yang realms.”

“Yet somehow, I feel this magistrate came fully prepared.”

First establishing authority in the mortal world, then using the imperial decree to forge a golden body of merit. 

By the time she steps into the underworld, her incense offerings already permeate the Nine Netherworlds, her prestige self-evident.

“What a masterful play of leveraging circumstances!”

Meanwhile, a figure walked leisurely along the Bihuo Path.

The crimson sash and jade seal swayed gently at her waist as two shadows followed behind.

Just then, the deep recesses of the underworld resonated with the tolling of a bell.

Elsewhere in the underworld…

“Strange…” Elai frowned as he watched the panicked retreat of underworld soldiers in the distance. 

“Why are they all leaving?”

For two days they’d been hunted relentlessly by these vast underworld forces-thanks to Su Fu, they’d been scurrying like stray dogs! 

They’d just found a temporary hideout when the soldiers caught their scent again. 

Just as they prepared to flee once more, the entire contingent suddenly withdrew?

What was happening?

“Something big is happening.” 

ZhongZheng Ye’s expression darkened his Fourth Perspective allowed him to see further. 

“All underworld soldiers are heading in the same direction.”

“What’s going on?” someone whispered. 

“Could there be something more important than capturing us?”

From the distance came the solemn tolling of a bell, echoing through the gloomy underworld.

ZhongZheng Ye suddenly looked up, pupils contracting.

“She’s here.”

“Who?”

“Su Fu.” ZhongZheng  Ye ground his teeth. 

“She actually dares to descend!”

The group erupted in uproar.

Since entering the underworld, they’d been relentlessly pursued by countless enraged underworld soldiers. 

Had it not been for the two leaders finding and uniting them, they would have been captured long ago.

And the mastermind behind this extreme survival challenge? 

None other than Su Fu!

Now she dared come willingly?

“Wait…” someone realized. 

“Does that mean those soldiers went to capture her instead?”

At this, everyone’s eyes lit up.

“Exactly!”

Initially they’d been hunted miserably, but after ZhongZheng Ye and Elai  joined, their situation improved.

United, they’d actually reached a stalemate with their pursuers.

Someone gloated, “So these soldiers couldn’t catch us, and now they’re going after easier prey to save face?”

Admittedly, this made sense!

Her bold descent now made her a perfect target.

Yet ZhongZheng Ye frowned. 

Something wasn’t right-this felt far too suspicious.

Would someone as cunning as Su Fu really not have thought of this?

“Should we go take a look?” someone eagerly suggested. 

“Help the ghost soldiers out?”

Everyone knew the truth-offering “help” was just an excuse. 

What they really wanted was revenge.

If it weren’t for her meddling, things wouldn’t have gotten so bad. 

All their humiliation was thanks to Su Fu. 

Not taking action themselves would leave their hatred unquenched.

They simply couldn’t help it-the resentment ran too deep.

Elai observed the furious crowd, deep in thought. 

These people were far too impatient. 

Su Fu’s blatant audacity surely meant she had a backup plan.

But since everyone was itching for revenge…

This was the perfect opportunity to test her and see just what she was relying on.

“Roshan, Mo Que-this task is yours. The rest of you, stay put.”

The two named immediately perked up.

Elai hadn’t chosen them at random-both possessed unique skills.

Roshan, known as the “Venomous Physician.” 

All his divine abilities revolved around poison, specializing in ambushes.

Mo Que, a “burst-type” examinee, wielded the divine skill [Decapitation Strike]—an instant-kill ability. 

If the conditions were met, the target would die on the spot. 

Though the requirements were strict, the effect was devastating.

“Remember,” Elai lowered his voice, “don’t get greedy. Roshan, poison her. Mo Que, wait for the moment she slips up and deliver the fatal blow.”

The two nodded, their eyes brimming with murderous intent.

That scheming bitch Su Fu-it was time she tasted her own medicine!

Elai smirked as he gazed at the distant, blurry figure.

Su Fu, let’s see just what kind of trump card you’re hiding, daring to waltz right into our hands.

On the road to the underworld, the flowers of the other shore bloomed.

Crimson petals swayed in the gloom, while the murky yin energy around Su Fu automatically dispersed.

Behind her, the faint silhouette of Zhong Kui, the Ghost King, flickered in and out, as if shielding her silently permitting her to wield his authority.

Roshan, hidden nearby, watched the scene with a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

But soon, a cold smile crept onto his lips.

“Playing the mystic, huh?”

By now, he had already laced this stretch of the underworld road with a lethal poison-colorless, odorless, and deadly. 

Even if Su Fu somehow resisted it and survived…

There was still Mo Que.

Mo Que lurked in the shadows, gripping the Scythe of the Underworld.

This divine weapon could sever souls with a single touch.

All he had to do was wait for Su Fu to draw near and strike-no chance for her to react.

Both held their breaths. 

One second, two, three…

“Now!”

The moment Su Fu stepped into position, they struck simultaneously.

Roshan activated the poison array, while Mo Que lunged forward, the Scythe of the Underworld aimed straight for Su Fu’s neck.

But-

Su Fu merely chuckled and said, “Finally showed up?”

What?!

The two froze in shock. 

Something was wrong!

The poison congealed midair, and the scythe sliced through the void.

Only to halt abruptly three feet away from Su Fu.

“Impossible!” Roshan’s eyes widened. 

“My poison…”

Mo Que was equally stunned. 

“The Scythe of the Underworld can’t touch her?”

Meanwhile, Su Fu had long since activated [Evil-Suppressing Talismans]!

Two talismans shot out, landing precisely on their foreheads.

Golden light erupted from the paper, instantly immobilizing them.

Zhong Kui’s divine skill-the bane of all ghosts!

Su Fu had already seen through their disguises with [Heavenly Eye of Truth]. 

She’d simply been waiting for them to walk right into her trap.

She had no patience for their excuses. 

“Judgment Order!”

“Talk. Where are your accomplices? How many are there?”

Their faces instantly turned deathly pale.

Damn it, they’d been tricked!

Su Fu had used herself as bait to lure them out and interrogate them!

Clenching their teeth, they refused to speak-no way could they reveal the chief’s location!

But-

Roshan trembled, “…At…at the foot of the city wall…outside the City of the Wrongfully Dead!”

Mo Que also looked pained, “…Twelve of them!”

“Good.” Su Fu smiled faintly. 

“Thank you for your cooperation.”

Roshan & Mo Que: “!!!”

Absolute psychological annihilation!

Lin Mingxi, watching the two restrained figures, nodded. 

“Boss, you were right-there really are quite a few still alive.”

Why use herself as bait to draw them out?

The boss had said that since this was a survival exam, there had to be a way out for the examinees.

Otherwise, wouldn’t it just be a death trap? 

So there must be certain exam restrictions.

And the examinees would definitely seize the opportunity just as they were seeing now.

Despite the vicious ghost debuff, twelve were still alive!

But it doesn’t matter. 

Now, the boss was the rules.

Couldn’t find them? 

Then she’d become the bait herself.

These people were seething with rage-how could they resist when they saw the boss appearing alone?

And sure enough, they delivered themselves right to her doorstep.

Su Fu commanded, “Yin soldiers, assemble!”

Countless figures emerged from all directions, their eerie ghostly aura churning under the dim underworld sky.

“Surround the City of the Wrongfully Dead immediately!”

“As you command!”

Under Roshan and Mo Que’s horrified gazes, Su Fu crushed the Evil Suppressing Talisman-golden light erupted and instantly obliterated everything!

Now that she had located her dear examinees…

Su Fu smiled and said, “Let’s go catch some turtles in a jar.”

Thankfully, before the exam, she had cleared the Lao Jun dungeon and obtained the divine skill [Eight Trigrams Alchemy Furnace], allowing her to refine [Purification Pills] and [Heartguard Pills].

[Purification Pill] – Removes all poison/cursed debuffs.

[Heartguard Pill] – Generates a shield, granting immunity to instant-death skills while active.

Did they really think they could one-shot her with dirty tricks?! 

As if Lao Jun would allow it!

Their poison was no match for Shennong, and their assassination skills couldn’t hold a candle to Yama.

Truly, nothing beats the gods of Chinese Pantheon!

***

Outside the City of the Wrongfully Dead.

“Bad news!” ZongZeng Ye’s expression darkened. 

“Roshan and Mo Que have been erased! The yin soldiers are closing in-Su Fu is coming for us herself!”

Elai’s eyes sharpened. 

“Retreat!”

ZongZeng Ye immediately pinpointed the weakest point in the Yin soldiers formation. 

The group dashed forward, nearly reaching the edge of the encirclement.

“Elai!” ZongZeng Ye shouted.

The two moved in perfect sync, unleashing their divine skills in an instant.

“[Fury of the Sea God]!”

A monstrous tidal wave roared through the underworld’s gloomy sky, surging forth.

“[Gungnir: Ragnarök]!”

The divine spear tore through the void, thunder rumbling in its wake.

As the Hin soldiers’ formation was forcibly split open, hope flashed in everyone’s eyes.

“Go, now!”

But at that moment-

“Whoosh “

A shrill whistle pierced the air.