Chapter 511: Managing

Shangguan Man continued to slowly queue among the crowd, a winding, long line stretching along the narrow Yellow Springs Road into the distance. On both sides were vast, beautiful seas of vibrant flowers. After walking for an unknown period, discussions could still be heard from further ahead, with news constantly filtering back.

"It is said that the wait ahead is already three days long.""It wouldn't normally be this crowded, but word is that a certain being recently put up a sign saying they were closed for business and have only just returned to resume reincarnations."

Everyone's expressions were peculiar, finding the news bizarre and fantastical.

The most ancient being, in charge of life, death, and reincarnation, was so capricious? Suspending operations just like that? This truly had the detached and eccentric style of a reclusive master! But in the eyes of this being, were their lives and reincarnations merely insignificant matters?

"This being is too mysterious.""Perhaps this place is the true origin of the entire world!"

The people nearby were utterly astonished. Countless individuals debated animatedly, and even the Heavenly Being was speaking loudly. Many beings from the Animal Realm and Mortal Realm occasionally fawned over the Heavenly Being, who clearly seemed to be the center of attention.

Shangguan Man, on the other hand, was ugly, with a bright red birthmark on her face, which had previously displeased the Heavenly Being. Although she had apologized, people nearby instinctively kept their distance. She had long been accustomed to this and paid it no mind. As she listened to the discussions, her eyes lit up completely.

"Could it be? No way!" The timing seemed to match... She became thoroughly excited.

At first, she thought a top-tier mysterious expert from the afterlife had taken a liking to her and wanted to recruit her as a subordinate. But she never imagined it would be *this* significant! So, the afterlife was governed by only one mysterious entity, controlling the entire order of reincarnation?

As she looked at the chattering spirits queuing around her, she increasingly understood the terrifying power contained within this place! It would be a great power, determining the fate and lives of all beings in the world!

"Phew... Shangguan Man, the moment to change your destiny has arrived. Stay calm." She nervously touched the ugly scar on her face. Her eyes shone with immense anticipation; for the first time in her life, such a monumental ray of hope appeared.

She continued forward. Souls piled up like mountains, crowding into a long line, waiting endlessly for reincarnation. Shangguan Man finally saw a different sight.

It was a bridge, inscribed with the words "Naihe Bridge." Below, a river surged, named the River of Oblivion. By the river lay a stone called the Stone of Three Lives.

"Naihe Bridge, River of Oblivion... Such beautiful names! Full of poetry!" she whispered. The end of life was death, and this place was the boundary between death and rebirth, where one abandoned the life of this existence, along with the obsessions and prejudices from before death.

After some time, she reached the head of the Naihe Bridge. She saw the Stone of Three Lives, and those queuing ahead were already exclaiming, having seen their past lives across generations. They also realized something significant.

After all, there were many clever people, and some couldn't help but exclaim loudly: "My first life had no talent! But with each reincarnation, after experiencing various things, talent gradually formed? So, this is the obsession accumulated through my reincarnations, the reason for talent's emergence!?"

Everyone was utterly shaken into silence. Even the Heavenly Being remained silent, standing before the Stone of Three Lives. The truth about talent was so terrifying.

From the queuing crowd, someone spoke with extreme bitterness: "I lived seven lives of mediocrity, too lazy! Talent only barely began to take shape! No wonder my aptitude was poor, and my life was miserable, struggling at the bottom. I even blamed heaven and earth, saying fate was unfair, that I wasn't born into a good family. It turns out it was the consequence of not working hard in my previous lives!"

A man in luxurious robes, looking like a high-ranking official, sighed leisurely: "How hateful! What I see now, I will forget in my next life! Otherwise, if I reported this to my royal brother, our Mortal Realm, indeed the whole world, would change!"

Countless people wept bitterly, while others felt a profound sense of bitterness. To know the truth of the world only to forget it again—there was no greater sorrow in life.

After all, to see one's past and present lives before the bridge, only to drink the soup after crossing the Naihe Bridge and forget everything seen at the Stone of Three Lives—who could accept that?

"Naihe Bridge! What a name... the Bridge of Helplessness... The time to know the truth is only for a moment while standing on the Naihe Bridge. Before the bridge, you recall past lives; after the bridge, you forget all three lives..." Shangguan Man was also filled with emotion. She watched the people on the Naihe Bridge crying out in sorrow, full of helplessness, weeping, breaking down, and despairing.

On this bridge, one could witness all the myriad experiences of the mortal world! It was the junction of life, death, and reincarnation! Truly legendary!

"This bridge is also where you will work in the future." Suddenly, a calm voice drifted over.

Everyone was slightly startled. "That voice?" Shangguan Man turned her head to look. It was the young man she had seen before, draped in a black robe, enveloped in a mysterious glow. He held a black book and sat quietly on a chair.

In the distance, a square machine was placed. Passing souls picked up cups, pressed a button to dispense water, drank, and then walked forward blankly, having lost their memories.

"This small automatic water dispenser is finally reaching the end of its service." Xu Zhi slowly stood up, pulled out his chair, and offered the spot. "Shangguan Man, from this day forward, you shall be Meng Po, managing this place for me."

As soon as he spoke, the surroundings instantly erupted in a clamor! This mysterious being was going to appoint an eternal entity, outside the Five Elements and Three Paths? Someone who would control half the power of reincarnation.

They turned their heads, staring in disbelief at the awkward, ugly girl with the birthmark.

"This is unfair!" The Heavenly Being nearby instantly erupted in rage, pushing forward abruptly. "This ugly woman, of low birth, what right does she have...?"

"In the Underworld, all beings are equal," Xu Zhi said calmly, handing Shangguan Man a book. "You are very intelligent. Try to maintain order. Currently, there are few staff, so you will temporarily act as the Judge, King Yama, Meng Po, Black and White Impermanence, and other positions. You will single-handedly manage the entire reincarnation process of this order. After you've guided this batch of souls, if your efficiency is good, come find me again."

"Yes!" Shangguan Man instantly prostrated herself, responding haltingly. She was overwhelmed, looking at the empty chair, the Book of Life and Death handed to her, and the mysterious being who was now walking further and further away.

Just like that?! I... I just became an eternal being? No longer having to endure the suffering of reincarnation? Her mind went blank, utterly bewildered.

Then, she looked at the endless procession of wandering souls before her, gritted her teeth, picked up the Book of Life and Death, and tried sitting in the chair. She flipped to a low-ranking ape-like animal and said, trembling: "Cough, cough, cough, 10456, after seven lives of arduous cultivation, you have accumulated considerable good karma. Next life, you will be reborn into the Heavenly Realm."

"Me! A Heavenly Being!?" The person who had just been weeping loudly was instantly overjoyed.

"Drink the soup!" She trembled slightly, took a bowl of soup from the dispenser, and handed it over. The ape-like creature gulped it down ecstatically, instantly becoming dazed, and walked forward with the line.

"10356, Mortal Realm," she said again. The elegant, middle-aged man who had been speaking earlier stood at the front and sighed, "To be human again, what a pity. I won't remember this moment in my next life, otherwise..."

After a while, the Heavenly Being arrived, glaring furiously. His eyes were filled with hatred and a hint of fear as he recalled his recent sarcastic remarks about the ugly woman. Although she had been submissive, apologizing and admitting fault, she was now secretly causing trouble... He didn't dare to imagine what would happen next.

"01348, next life, Animal Realm," she said.

"No! This is impossible!" The Heavenly Being was completely agitated, shouting loudly: "This is definitely revenge! Retaliation! How could I, a dignified Heavenly Being, be relegated to the lowest species, to be preyed upon by others?" He was so agitated he moved to strike, his face flushing red.

The giant wheel of reincarnation behind the sky subtly turned. It instantly threw the Heavenly Being into the River of Oblivion. He gulped down the river water repeatedly, losing consciousness, then slowly walked ashore and joined the back of the long line ahead.

He was forced to drink the soup... The people queuing behind felt a chill run down their spines. So that was the true purpose of the River of Oblivion.

"Since I am temporarily acting as the Judge, I will certainly be impartial!" Shangguan Man's eyes gleamed as she looked around. "Everyone, if you do not cooperate with reincarnation... your karma will increase, and you will suffer for several more lives. This Heavenly Being, in the future, will have a rather difficult time!"

She conscientiously read the Book of Life and Death. It seemed she truly had no intention of dealing with the Heavenly Being out of personal spite. After all, acting wantonly upon gaining power was not what a clever person would do. Having received such a profound opportunity, she was already incredibly grateful and respectful, daring not to entertain any other thoughts.

Yet, the corners of everyone's mouths twitched.

"Is she really being impartial?" They looked at the ugly woman with the birthmark, who just moments ago had been timidly bowing her head in apology.

If she were truly impartial, she wouldn't have deliberately used cold words to provoke the Heavenly Being into acting, making him think it was retaliation. And by directly stating the consequences of his actions, given the Heavenly Being's personality, he should have endured it and not been so impulsive.

However, it was indeed impartial. Everyone's expressions grew completely solemn. One should not judge a book by its cover. Of course, the Heavenly Being had been outsmarted. It could only be said that the Heavenly Being was somewhat foolish. Having lived a life of prestige and being born superior, he naturally couldn't outwit a woman with an ugly face, who had been discriminated against and had struggled among all walks of life since childhood.