Chapter 1433: Chapter 888: Upright Position

The Netherworld Underworld is equipped with a total of Ten Yama Kings and Five Ghost Emperors.

Each Ghost Emperor governs two Yama Kings, three thousand Yin Generals, and one hundred and eighty thousand Yin Soldiers, truly holding great authority.

Above them, there is the East Emperor and the Beitai Emperor.

As for the positions of Womb of the Earth Bodhisattva and the Mistress of the Underworld, these two positions do not exist; they are replaced by the Emperor and the Lord of the Underworld.

The latter two are the true supreme existences within the Underworld system, and above them is Jiang Hui himself.

Although there are no explicit rules, based on previous experiences, it is generally believed that there is a certain relationship between each position and the Cultivation Realm of those who obtain the jade plate.

For example, the Ten Palace Yama Kings must at least be Supreme Giants or even at the level of Quasi-Immortal Emperor to hold the position.

As for the Five Ghost Emperors above them, theoretically, they should all be at least Quasi-Immortal Emperors.

I’m not sure why this mere mortal, who is not even considered capable of Blood Movement, can possess a Ghost Emperor’s Jade Plate.

However, since the Jade Plate is in my own hands, I might as well take a look for now.

There’s no way there could be a mistake.

Jiang Hui is just curious, because at first glance, this mortal named Shen Zhinan doesn’t seem to have anything extraordinary about him.

The other party is a porter, belonging to the class of manual laborers and menial workers.

In many Republic of China dramas, it is possible to see many successful figures from humble beginnings having had experiences of carrying loads at the docks before making a name for themselves.

Mostly, they do it simply to feed their families and make a living, much like porters, it’s downright hard labor, often leading to people collapsing from exhaustion, crushed to death under the goods they carry at the docks.

They are all common folks struggling to live in the lower tiers of society, with no innate Divine Power, and as ordinary as the thousands of other common folk.

…

Inside the cramped little room with its black-tiled roof and earthen walls.

Shen Zhinan divides the rice and meat.

The woman pauses, looking tenderly at Shen Zhinan, “Zhinan, you… you really don’t need to go to so much trouble.”

She says softly, her tone full of compassion and understanding for Shen Zhinan.

Shen Zhinan shakes his head gently, walks over to her, places the items in his hand down, tenderly takes her hand, and says, “Xiao Wan, you are my wife, and now you are carrying our child, how can I let you and the child suffer? No matter how hard or tired, I want you to have a better life.”

Xiao Wan’s eyes well up slightly, and she lowers her head, her voice slightly choked with emotion, “Zhinan, meeting you is the greatest fortune of my life.”

Shen Zhinan gently wraps her in his arms, his chin resting on the top of her head, whispering comforts, “We are a family, there’s no need for such formality. Go on, take a rest first, I will clean up here.”

Xiao Wan nestles into his embrace and, after a moment, leaves reluctantly, returning to the room to rest.

Shen Zhinan then begins to busy himself, pouring the newly bought rice and millet into separate containers, taking the lard and lean meat to the kitchen, preparing dinner.

In the kitchen, Shen Zhinan skillfully starts the fire for cooking, smoke curling up and merging with the evening gloom, painting a heartwarming scene.

Before long, a pot of fragrant rice porridge is ready, along with stir-fried green vegetables with lean meat. Albeit simple, in such times of chaos, they’re considered a rare delicacy.

Once the meal is ready and the woman has finished laundering the clothes, the two of them wolf down their meal. It’s sunset, and the sky soon becomes blurry and indistinct as the setting sun dips below the horizon.

After the woman falls asleep, in the darkness of the night, Chen Zhinan suddenly opens his eyes, sighing so faintly it’s almost imperceptible, then falls into deep thought,

These days, he has been having the same dream.

It’s natural for people to dream,

Regardless of whether the rest is good or not, sometimes dreams come.

In such uncertain times, who would take dreams to heart?

Shen Zhinan is the same, never taking it seriously.

Only, this time it’s different from before, several days have passed, and he’s been having the same dream consecutively.

Moreover, each time he dreams, the scene in the dream progresses further. Even if Shen Zhinan is not one to easily get frightened, he can’t help but feel his hair stand on end, waking from each dream in terror, yet if asked what exactly he dreamt about, he can’t remember a thing.

However, just surviving day by day, even if he senses something is amiss, he has no choice but to brace himself, consoling himself that it’s due to lack of rest.

For a long while.

After a day’s worth of exhausting manual labor, even if he doesn’t want to rest, in the latter part of the night, sleep becomes irresistibly inviting,

Shen Zhinan struggles against the drowsiness for a few seconds, but eventually succumbs and falls asleep amid the nods.

And it is at the same time as Shen Zhinan falls asleep, the thin figure of Jiang Hui slowly emerges from the pitch darkness of the night, in front of the modest bedstead.

Observing Shen Zhinan, Jiang Hui’s brow slightly arches.

Then, Jiang Hui gently points towards the man, and suddenly a bright red light suffuses the room.

Subsequently, a flowing scene akin to a projection appears before him.

What is shown there is the dream that Shen Zhinan is having.

Yet, this dream is… quite peculiar.

Pitch darkness, like surging ink, devoid of any light, any figures…

By the standards of dreams, this could hardly be called a dream; dreams must have images, otherwise how could one call it a dream.

But Jiang Hui is certain that at this moment Shen Zhinan is indeed dreaming.

“Interesting!” At this moment, a smile forms at the corner of Jiang Hui’s mouth, his eyes flickering with an eager excitement, as if he has discovered a new world.

The strangeness within is something even he cannot fathom.

But it doesn’t matter if he cannot fathom it; perhaps this is the reason the mortal Shen Zhinan could obtain the recognition of a Ghost Emperor.