Afterlife Department

Chapter 71 - Rebirth, Transmigration And Reincarnation

"Cultivation methods had long been lost over time…" Qi Shan sighed. "The only thing remained of cultivation is the power of our soul – our soul attributes." He explained. He placed his fingers on his chin. "If Xiao Ling said he's the sect master of Fengshen Sect… you mean he had lived in the ancient times?" he looked at Yi Bing before he looked at Huo Ling. "… he was reborn?"

"It's impossible." Yi Bing sighed. "No soul could live twice in one world." He said.

"But…" Qi Shan reluctantly looked at Huo Ling. "… isn't travelling between worlds already possible? How can rebirth be impossible?" he asked. "Also, wasn't it Huo Ling himself who said it? He's the sect master of Fengshen Sect." he told Yi Bing.. "0001." He called, his expression became serious. "Why do you find this hard to accept?" he asked, puzzled.

Yi Bing didn't answer and just looked at Huo Ling who was laughing as he patted Lei Shan's back.

"Yi Bing." Rarely would Qi Shan call Yi Bing by his name. He always calls him '0001' as a formality. "Do you remember how the Hell was destroyed?" he asked. "How did our world open to the other worlds?" he added.

Yi Bing lowered his head. "The Foul – something that carries negativity, invaded the Hell and transformed the souls to Soul Eaters." He said. "Then, the living also became infected. The power sleeping inside their body – the soul attribute, awakened after they were stimulated by Foul. However, since they were contaminated by Foul, their power was misused. The Living Department – the Ability Users' Department, was created, to control the people who survived the ordeal and became ability users." He explained, then raised their head. "They're similar to us. The only difference between is that they're alive. Whereas, we are dead." He said.

"The Ability Users…" Qi Shan frowned. He obviously dislikes them. "They'll definitely place the blame on our head regarding the Soul Eaters." He said. He's not wrong with what he said, since, as they were talking, Feng Er and Jin Wu already had met with the Ability Users in the Stable World. "Heh." He chuckled. "You've forgot to include one other difference." He told Yi Bing. "Unlike them, we can go to other worlds." He grinned, as they had one-upped the Ability Users Department.

"We can, because only those who are dead can go." Yi Bing told him. "Should they kill themselves just to go to another world?" he sarcastically said.

Qi Shan frowned and just clicked his tongue. "Anyway, rebirth – " he said, returning to their topic. " – isn't impossible." He said. "Time and space is unstable already. How can it not affect our world, too?" he asked. "If what Xiao Ling said is true, then, he only travelled across time." He told Yi Bing.

"I remember - " Yi Bing muttered and took out his Death Note. "… rebirth or whatnot… it doesn't appear on the Death Note." He told Qi Shan.

"You're right." Qi Shan said as he took out his Death Note, too. "After all, when we arrive in one world, the souls had already been reborn or transmigrated, assuming their current identity, which will be appearing on our Death Note when they died." He explained.

"Or is it – " Yi Bing said.

"Hm?"

"It just can't appear?" Yi Bing said. "After all, rebirth and transmigration – they are breaking the rules of reincarnation cycle." He said.

"You are saying…"

"Rebirth is living twice in one world." Yi Bing said. "Transmigration is the replacing of souls. One soul would die after the other soul steals its body, making the body both die and live at the same time, cheating death." He explained. "Both are alike, but as well not. Rebirth is also transmigration of the soul, but towards its original body. Transmigration is also rebirth, but towards another body. Their only difference is the time and space." He said. "Rebirth is the travel across time. Transmigration is across the space. This affects all the worlds, as well as the reincarnation cycle." He looked at his Huo Ling's profile. "However, the ironic thing is, reincarnation is both rebirth and transmigration." He said. "Travelling across time and space to live a new life… perhaps this is the reason why the identity of a reborn or transmigrated soul doesn't appear on the Death Note." He explained.

"Yi Bing…"

"Instability of space and time… this is the cause of all." Yi Bing said and closed his Death Note. "The appearance of the Soul Fragment. It must be because of this, too." He said.

"That's right!" Qi Shan said. "The universe is already a mystery, anyway. It's just normal to blame the instability of time and space – OW!" he cried when Yi Bing hit him.

"I'm not blaming it!" Yi Bing sighed. "Anyway, let's just assume Huo Ling was reborn. It doesn't have a conflict with his profile." He said. "Even though Huo Ling is from the ancient times but, indeed, his first life is from our world."

"That's right." Qi Shan said. "That problem solved, the remaining is the Soul Fragment." He said and looked at Huo Ling. "How did he get it, and how can it be taken from him?"

"When I arrived in this world, he still doesn't have it." Yi Bing said. "However, when I left, then returned, he had it." He glared at Qi Shan.

Qi Shan's eyes widened. "Hey! I don't know about Soul Fragments! How would I know if I found one! And, I didn't do anything to your assignment! I'm a principled man. Even though I hate you, but I don't have a grudge against Xiao Ling! I wouldn't dare mess with the souls!" he explained.

"Tch." Yi Bing frowned and kept his Death Note. "How did he get it, then?" he said.

"Wait, 0001." Qi Shan called. "Do we really understand what a Soul Fragment is?" he asked.

"Isn't it just a part of one's soul that was broken and then scattered?" Yi Bing said.

"That's a careless explanation!" Qi Shan said. "Let's ask Di San. After all, he's the one who told us this." He said as he created an email.

0007: Di San. What is this Soul Fragment? What does it look like? What should we do if we come across it?

A few seconds later and they received a reply.

3257: Destroy it.

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