Volume One, Chapter Thirty-Two: For Whom Will the God of Yemo Go Mad?

Chapter Thirty-Two: For Whom Will Yama God Go Mad?

The crowd of celestial observers erupted into heated discussion.

This was no joke—this was real. The Eight Princes had been punished.

It mattered little what the punishment actually was. The crucial point was that they had been punished.

In other words, the Eight Princes had lost all face, their dignity trampled underfoot. So what if they were the beloved sons of the Lord of Indra? If they committed a crime, punishment was inevitable. Would they still dare to swagger about in the future? Would they continue their arrogance? How could they shamelessly shake Mount Sumeru with their antics?

The punishment itself was trivial. The compensation handed out meant nothing to Huluzhina—it wasn’t even a drop in the ocean. The point was, the symbolic significance far outweighed the actual penalty, didn’t it?

Huluzhina’s face turned pale as death. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes burning with undisguised hatred.

Ah, people—always dissatisfied with their own appearance, always blaming others for their misfortune.

But now? Tu Zhe had won this lawsuit, but the problem remained: his time on Mount Sumeru would be long. Was he not afraid of the wrath and revenge of the Eight Princes?

The Eight Princes had been punished, but so many others had neglected to testify—would they escape punishment? With enemies everywhere, life would not be easy ...

Next, Zhuan Chi Yuan Bei Gao punished all the followers who had joined Huluzhina in assaulting the Jin family, sentencing them to neck collars, whipping, and compensation with healing pills.

Finally, it was time to address the many celestials who had not come forward to testify.

As Zhuan Chi Yuan Bei Gao mentioned these individuals, Tu Zhe stepped forward respectfully and said, “Honorable Judge, I have a request. I hope you will grant it.”

Zhuan Chi Yuan Bei Gao no longer had the energy to quarrel with him. The Three Realms’ great thief had taken a liking to him, even offering him immense benefits; the Lord of Mara clearly favored him. This was a person he could not afford to offend. So he said, “Speak, I will consider it carefully.”

Tu Zhe said, “The celestials dared not testify because they feared certain individuals’ tyranny and subsequent revenge, not because they lacked a sense of right and wrong. I respectfully implore the judges to consider that the celestials did not act out of their true hearts. Moreover, the law does not punish the masses. If punishment were enforced, it would waste vast resources of Mount Sumeru. Thus, I hope you will show mercy and exempt the celestials from punishment.”

The celestials, collectively trembling, now erupted in collective joy. This young prince Tu Zhe was truly benevolent—not only did he bear no grudges, he even pleaded on their behalf. Rare indeed! This favor would not be forgotten.

Huluzhina was unwilling and stepped forward angrily, saying, “I object! Before the law, all are equal. To exempt those who should be punished undermines the dignity of the law!”

His second brother, Qu Bo Jia, turned away and shut his eyes.

Tsk, what a fool. While others win hearts, you alienate everyone. Could you be any more foolish?

All the celestials now gave Huluzhina cold looks, silently cursing his ancestors’ women through eighteen generations.

Indra, Lord of Heaven, sighed when he saw this. It seemed his own kin were blind. This eighth son ... truly a dog incapable of being helped up.

Indra spoke, “I find Tu Zhe’s suggestion admirable. Passive testimony is indeed an issue, but covering up is far more serious. Exemption from punishment is the natural course. However, I must emphasize: from now on, all my celestials must consciously uphold the dignity of the law. Do not remain silent simply because the offender is my son. That is wrong—it is indulgence of crime. Princes who break the law are guilty as any celestial. We must promote a spirit: dare to face the truth, dare to fight. Shakra’s Heaven belongs to us all; Mount Sumeru belongs to us all. It is not for any one prince or heir to act as he pleases. Henceforth, for any case that arises, no matter who is involved, it will be investigated to the end, without leniency!”

Thunderous applause and cheers erupted. The celestials, unaware of the full truth, now adored Indra to the utmost.

Who said the Lord of Heaven shielded his sons?

Who said the Lord hated justice?

Who said he lacked compassion?

Who said he would not sacrifice kin for the greater good?

Lord of Heaven, I love you—as a mouse loves rice!

Realizing he had played the fool, Huluzhina retreated, drenched in sweat. Zhuan Chi Yuan Bei Gao announced exemption from punishment for the celestials who had not testified in time.

Mara also chuckled and applauded. When the applause and cheers settled, Mara stood, his towering figure causing yet another wave of excitement.

Mara smiled and said, “Today, I am pleased to see the law of the Realm of Desire cloaked in a holy aura. I am pleased to see our judges and elder committee members uphold the law impartially, showing both the seriousness of the law and the human warmth of the judiciary. It is worthy of praise, worthy of emulation, worthy of being promoted across the realms.

Especially commendable is Indra, who, after his beloved son broke the law, neither shielded nor covered up, but stood upright, sacrificing kin for righteousness, sounding the alarm for those lawless heirs and second-generation riches.

The world belongs to us, even more to you. I hope all celestials unite closely around Indra and the young princes, building Mount Sumeru into a world without crime—a pure land of bliss!”

The applause was fervent, flowers raining from the heavens and celestial music resounding.

Tu Zhe felt as if he had returned to some conference in his previous life. He looked at Mara with bemused eyes.

This leader’s skills rivaled those of Europe and America, surpassed the finest of England and Germany, and matched every official above township level from his past lives.

Shamelessness, do you know how to spell it?

Yet, despite his thoughts, he found Mara far more likable and sincere than Indra. Mara’s strange speech, rather than mere official rhetoric, was a mix of jest and indignation, all turned into literary art.

Finally, Mara announced two things.

First, the Realm of Desire would host the “Youth Literary and Martial Arts Talent Competition” in ten years, to strengthen its defenses against potential external or demonic threats and elevate its cultural and spiritual civilization to a higher level. Those with outstanding literary talent would be sent to the Luminous Heaven of the Color Realm to study for a year as disciples of the Great Eloquence Heavenly Maiden; those with exceptional martial skill would enter the Inner Pure Land in the Fourth Heaven of the Realm of Desire, where they would directly comprehend the traces and sacred sounds of Maitreya’s path.

The news sent ripples through the crowd—especially among the young celestials under three hundred years old, who were in a frenzy.

The Great Eloquence Heavenly Maiden—who was she? She was the goddess of knowledge and wisdom admired by nearly all literary youth, her beauty rivaling even the famed Joyful Heavenly Consort, the most beautiful woman in the Three Realms. To become her disciple, to possess such beauty—what could be more thrilling?

Maitreya’s Pure Land—heavens, that was the Pure Land! It was a place even ordinary lords could not enter. Rumor had it that it was unlike anything in the Realm of Desire, and closely resembled the true Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. A single day of enlightenment within was worth a thousand years of training outside.

Excitement swept the crowd, faces alight with hope.

Second, within the next ten years, the Six Heavens of the Realm of Desire would select their own young talents for the competition. This meant the next decade would be anything but calm—the pursuit of knowledge and cultivation would become the main theme of life for most.

Tu Zhe’s heart surged with emotion. In ten years, I must become stronger.

As the trial was about to conclude, Yama, Lord of the Dead, Mu Xiu Loutuo, who had remained calm throughout, stood and addressed Zhuan Chi Yuan Bei Gao:

“Honorable Judge, throughout the trial, one party has not been mentioned—the one who injured the dog, Night Mara, namely the Great Dragon Elephant King, Iropona. Thus, I request the court to issue a ruling: let the penalty for the Great Dragon Elephant King be a duel with me—a single strike, life or death irrelevant!”

Mu Xiu Loutuo’s gaze flashed like cold lightning, his aura overwhelming, and the celestials were stunned.

What was happening here?