Someone Always Wants To Corrupt My Disciple

The news that Youling Domain had changed hands had long since spread. Yet, for the countless spirits of the underworld, this “new Lord Yama” barely stirred a ripple. After all, most souls were ordinary; whoever ruled above had little to do with them.

Thus, the new ruler’s arrival passed quietly — until the first decree appeared, shaking the entire Youling Domain to its core.

It happened one night, without any warning. Across every ghost city, a shimmering scroll materialized out of thin air, hanging midair before the gates and crossroads. The decree bore the new Yama’s seal, and though it came silently, its contents exploded through the underworld like thunder.

The proclamation stated that the three ghost judges of Youling, due to their deep attachment to the previous Yama and their desire to seek enlightenment through reincarnation, had voluntarily returned their Books of Life and Death and resigned their positions. Despite the new Lord’s repeated efforts to persuade them to stay, their minds were set.

However, the affairs of Youling were many, and the domain could not go even a day without judges. Therefore, the Yama—reluctantly and with deep regret—announced an open recruitment to select three new ghost judges.

The decree emphasized fairness, transparency, and merit above all. Any spirit within Youling—regardless of cultivation, background, or former rank—could participate, provided they were of good conduct and bore no outstanding sins.

The recruitment process would consist of three rounds:

• The first, a local selection within each ghost city;
• The second, a combined regional selection among all cities;
• The final, a direct assessment in the Hall of Youling, overseen personally by the Yama.

Those chosen would not immediately become full ghost judges but would serve a one-year probation as assistant judges. Only after passing evaluation would they be formally granted the Book of Life and Death. Each judge would serve a twenty-year term, renewable only once.

And as for this curious term limit?

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