The mythology of Hell isn’t something that only exists in name.

None of the other countries in the East Continent apart from Cathay and Hindustan possess their own set of mythology or religion that they can call their own, much less possess an established system of an underworld. And without a proper system, what basis would they have for the various offices and amenities of Hell, including the Yama-Kings of the Ten Palaces, the Mirror of Eminence, the Book of Life and Death, Three Births Stone, King Yanluo’s Seal, and other similar artifacts?

And what purpose do each of these divine artifacts serve?

The Book of Life and Death’s effects permeates all lands under the charge of Hell, be it Cathayan territory or a foreign garrison or vassal state of Hell, and it reveals all particulars to do with any living being’s life and death, including their remaining life span and their fate to come. Infernal Judges and higher ranked beings can even begin to influence a living being’s fate under the right set of circumstances.

There’s nothing much to it, right?

Perhaps, if it were only to a mere Emissary of Hell. But what about Hell itself?

The loss of something like that would be no different from pulling a veil over the eyes of King Yanluo himself. Hell would no longer know when a person is passing, or predict the occurrence of an epidemic. Without the aid of the Book of Life and Death, how many more emissaries would an underworld need to mobilize in order to cover the loss of function in that regard? How much of their city would need to be rebuilt? What kind of expenses would they incur in order to beef up their surveillance efforts, both to draw in new Yin spirits and to keep any Yin spirits from...