Heaven-Defying Rebel Sage
Chapter 319 - 301: The Great Terror of the Eighteen Levels of Hell

Chapter 319: Chapter 301: The Great Terror of the Eighteen Levels of Hell

Wukong had refined Quan Zhilong into fragments of the Great Dao Law, suppressed by the Qiankun Cauldron, a Magical Treasure that could create worlds, and a wisp of the Power of Creation. Quan Zhilong couldn’t make any waves, not even rebirth from annihilation was possible, a true death, eternal extinction, his soul returning to the Dao.

"Good! Though Quan Zhilong is of little value, the Law Fragments on him are numerous. Xuan Ming alone might find it hard to assimilate them. Holy Emperor Fuxi, you may share them as well," Wukong grabbed the Law Fragments of Quan Zhilong from the Qiankun Cauldron, and they fluttered between his fingers like butterflies flitting among flowers.

"Then I shall accept your generous offer without reserve!" Fuxi said. The fragments of the Great Dao Law were precious and hard to come by, only obtainable by slaying Great Dao Sages and refining them.

Hong Jun laughed heartily, "Truly, when one is drowsy, someone brings a pillow, and when one is hungry, someone offers a meal! You lifted a slight restriction to free Quan Zhilong, sowing a good cause, yet this individual was so arrogant and overestimated himself. He even had the audacity to try to usurp your body! A well-deserved death!"

These Law Fragments of Quan Zhilong were not of much use to Wukong and Hong Jun, both of whom were peak existences among Great Dao Sages. What they needed most were the Powers of Creation within this world of creation!

"Taoist Patriarch, take half of these Law Fragments. Holy Emperor Fuxi can probably only utilize a third. The rest can be distributed to Laojun and Yuan. Let them benefit as well and ascend to the Heavenly Dao Saints soon, aiming for the realm of Great Dao Sages before the calamity of the Meeting Yuan arrives," Wukong said, dividing the Law Fragments in half. Hong Jun, without hesitation took his share, as Laojun and Yuan were his disciples, he naturally wanted to help them.

"Good!"

Hong Jun nodded with a smile, "Then Wukong, I shall take Fuxi with me now. You help Xuan Ming solidify these Law Fragments!"

Wukong bowed, "Taoist Patriarch, have a safe journey; forgive me for not seeing you off."

Hong Jun took Fuxi to find Laojun and Yuan, dividing the Great Dao Law Fragments among them, which was very beneficial.

Wukong said, "I will infuse these Law Fragments into your Primordial Spirit Thoughts, then employ the Great Yin Yang Technique during Dual Cultivation to help you come to understand. After some more careful refinement, perhaps you will be able to achieve the status of a Great Dao Sage."

Xuan Ming said, "Good!"

Though Xuan Ming was too lazy to cultivate, feeling quite weary, how could he refuse the status of a Great Dao Sage that was being handed to him? By simply refining these Law Fragments, and after some careful polishing in this world, he would be able to break free from the shackles of Heavenly Dao, place his Primordial Spirit in the Dao, eternal and indestructible.

"Pop!"

Wukong exhaled a breath of Primordial Qi and shouted, "The Laws of the Great Dao, return to my hand! As a Sage, all shall submit. The Six Paths of Reincarnation, the Great Yin and Great Yang; Law Fragments, merge into the Primordial Spirit!"

Wukong crushed the Great Dao Law in his palm, turning it into streaks of divine light that rushed into Xuan Ming’s brow. At the same time, he protected Xuan Ming with the Great Yin Yang Technique. The Yin Yang Divine Light flickered, and the Formation inside Xuan Ming’s body also began to rotate. The Two Instruments Clear and Subtle Formation burst into light, integrating all the Law Fragments into the Primordial Spirit Thoughts.

Xuan Ming’s Two Instruments Clear and Subtle Formation and the Six Paths Reincarnation Formation began to swallow the Great Dao Law Fragments. His Primordial Spirit became incredibly full and crystal clear, surrounded by an aura of Slaughter Qi and Profound Ice Qi. This was the pinnacle of practicing the Slaughter Profound Ice Art, imbuing every single Primordial Spirit Thought with Slaughter Qi and Profound Ice Qi, freezing enemies for thousands of miles as if they were trapped in the icy depths of a murderous abyss, shaking their spirits.

"Such formidable fragments of the Great Dao Law, if Wukong didn’t help me, and without the power of these two great Formations, they could have literally burst my Primordial Spirit Thoughts!" Xuan Ming was secretly alarmed, as a Great Dao Sage, even in decline, the Law Fragments he refined were not something a Heavenly Dao Saint could easily absorb.

"Yin Yang Transformation, Infinite Taiji; without Yin, there’s no growth, without Yang, there’s no birth! The union of Yin and Yang, the gate of the mysterious female; if these aspects exist, they form the root of Heaven and Earth!" Xuan Ming recited verse after verse of the Grand Yin Yang Technique, deeply profound. The Primordial Spirit merged with the fragments of the Great Dao Law and separated from the body.

Wukong’s Primordial Spirit did likewise, an interweaving of countless thoughts. The Great Yin Yang Technique operated to its utmost. Though Xuan Ming didn’t possess the ability to control Yin and Yang, he gained a great deal of insight during the Dual Cultivation, benefiting greatly, and could slightly execute some of the profound spells within the Great Yin Yang Technique.

"Buzz, buzz, buzz!"

Between their interlocking Primordial Spirit Thoughts, puffs of pink mist emerged, the essence of desire that is easily bred during Dual Cultivation, also capable of nurturing Primordial Spirit Thoughts and enriching both Yin and Yang!

Sparks burst forth between the Primordial Spirit Thoughts before converging inward. Thoughts of grandeur emerged, the Laws nurtured, a display of a Great Dao Sage’s prowess!

"You actually dare to refine the fragments of the Great Dao Law of my very essence, how audacious! Burst apart now!" came the voice of Quan Zhilong at that moment.

After all, he was a veteran Saint who had lived for countless years. Although greatly weakened, his Law Fragments had long been integrated into his soul. They erupted just as Xuan Ming was about to fully assimilate them, attempting to self-destruct the Law Fragments and shatter all of Xuan Ming’s thoughts.

"Hmph! Even at your zenith, I could shatter you with a single punch, let alone now when you are but a fallen Phoenix? Everything now, you have brought upon yourself, courting your own destruction!" Wukong’s hands rubbed together furiously, incensed by the interruption, "The Profound Mystery of the Buddhist Sect, the Turning Wheel Sage King; the ultimate deity, ruling the ages! The Eighteen Levels of Hell, known as the Eighteen Hells; by the name of the Sage King, I judge you guilty. In the Wrathful Buddha Vajra’s moment, I condemn you to the Eighteen Hells of Reincarnation!"

Truly enraged, Wukong saw this individual as deserving of death. His Primordial Spirit stood atop a giant White Elephant, hands clasped together, the Seven Treasure Dharma Wheel spinning, Buddha’s Light shining through all worlds. The Turning Wheel Sage King exerted his ultimate Profound Mystery!

"Eighteen Levels of Hell, the first layer, Tongue Ripping Hell, where you will suffer the agony of having your tongue ripped out!"

Wukong raised his hand and evolved the eighteen layers of Hell, chanting the "Eighteen Levels of Hell Sutra," focusing on the first layer, the Tongue Ripping Hell.

The remnant soul of Quan Zhilong had its tongue ripped out, unable to utter another word, enduring unbearable pain.

"Eighteen Levels of Hell, the second layer, Scissors Hell, where you will suffer the excruciating pain of having your ten fingers snipped off!"

In the second layer, the Scissors Hell, ten fingers were severed, each connected to the heart, causing excruciating pain.

"Eighteen Levels of Hell, the third layer, Iron Tree Hell, where you will suffer the torment of being skinned by the iron tree!"

In the third layer, the Iron Tree Hell, trees were covered in spikes, where people were hanged, their skin and flesh pierced, an act of extreme cruelty.

"Eighteen Levels of Hell, the fourth layer, Sin Mirror Hell, where you will see clearly all of your sins!"

"Eighteen Levels of Hell, the fifth layer, Steaming Basket Hell, where you will suffer boundless steaming torment!"

"Eighteen Levels of Hell, the sixth layer, Copper Pillar Hell, where you will endure the pain of roasting on a hot pillar!"

Enraged, Wukong transformed into a Wrathful Vajra, slaying demons and subduing evil, causing the remnant soul of Quan Zhilong to taste the suffering of the endless eighteen layers of Hell, tormented by various punishments, a fate truly worse than death! Then came the Knife Mountain Hell, suffering the agony of a thousand knives piercing the heart; then Ice Mountain Hell, suffering the bitter cold of freezing; then Oil Cauldron Hell, enduring the intense torment of boiling in oil; then Ox Pit Hell, trampled by thousands of oxen; then Stone Press Hell, crushed by massive boulders in agony; then Blood Pool Hell, thrown into a pool of blood, torn apart by endless vengeful spirits; Wrongful Death Hell, suffering the torment of an injustice too great to bear; Crucifixion Hell, enduring the lingering pain of crucifixion; Volcano Hell, suffering the agony of being scorched by a myriad of fires; Stone Mill Hell, having the flesh ground to bits before being reconstituted, over and over, bearing the suffering of being crushed; and finally, the Sawing Hell, being split with a saw from crotch to head, enduring the agony of castration and tearing, no longer able to be a man.

"Ah..." Quan Zhilong, after enduring the sufferings of the eighteen Hells, felt it all in the blink of an eye, but within the confines of the Hell, ten thousand years had passed, for Wukong had manipulated the laws to make time within slow to a crawl.

"Kill me, please, just kill me... I dare not anymore." A Great Dao Sage, now crawling on the ground like a dog, sending out quivering divine thoughts, unable to live or die as wished within the Hells, desperate for either.

When Buddha’s gaze turns to wrath, he casts sinners into the eighteen endless layers of Hell, to endure the eighteen cruel tortures, thereafter damned for eternity, a fate immensely severe. Wukong’s execution of these eighteen punishments was so, that even as a Great Dao Sage, Quan Zhilong couldn’t withstand them. Even the most steadfast of hearts, under such relentless torment, would find their dignity, pride, and resolve mean nothing. Yet, how many can send a Great Dao Sage to Hell to endure these eighteen cruelties? Only Wukong, unmatched by any before or after.

A poem by later generations bears witness, saying: "Dragon, ignorant of good and evil too, bound by no karma of deeds misdone. Touch not the inverse scale lest provoked, for the Eighteen Levels of Hell leave no face unstruck."

After the Eighteen Levels of Hell, Wukong felt a sense of relief and with a single palm strike killed Quan Zhilong, saying, "This person dared to harm you, truly seeking an awkward way to die! As long as I’m here, no one will be able to hurt you!"

Xuan Ming once sheltered Wukong, but now, with Wukong’s profound depth in mana, he was almost invincible among the Great Dao Sages. Xuan Ming was his inviolable scale; anyone who dared to touch it would be killed without exception.

Xuan Ming nodded, feeling a warmth in his heart, and said, "I understand your intention. Well then, the petty characters have died, continue cultivating, only one more stage to go."

Wukong’s good mood had been disrupted by the troublemaker Quan Zhilong, but he also knew this was a critical moment, with no time for delay. At that moment, his Primordial Spirit Thoughts once again disintegrated and merged with Xuan Ming, as the Great Yin Yang Technique began to circulate.

"Pop, pop, pop..."

Xuan Ming gasped, and at that moment, those Primordial Spirit Thoughts began to emerge, as if nurturing, and then they divided once again.

One after another.

Day and night alternated, the Supreme Yin and Supreme Yang merged.

Eight trillion Primordial Spirit Thoughts! Only one trillion more were needed to reach the number of a Great Dao Sage’s Primordial Spirit Thoughts.

"Hum!"

The strand of Creation Power that Wukong had absorbed began to tremble, seemingly ready to merge as well.

To find out what happens next, stay tuned for the following Chapter. (To be continued. If you like this book, feel free to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)