Gods and Demons: From the Start, I Opened a Pawnshop on the Bridge of Helplessness

On this day, a table, a chair, a ledger, and a man appeared in the middle of the Bridge of Helplessness. Beside the bridge stood a gleaming black sign inscribed with four characters: "Netherworld Pawnshop."

Ji Sheng called out to the passing souls: "Once you cross the Bridge of Helplessness, all is over. Drink Granny Meng's soup, and you'll forget your past lives. Why not pawn your memories and three thousand worldly ties in exchange for becoming an immortal or a Buddha in your next life, free to live as you please?"

The Eight Great Ghost Kings carried Yama over to him. "Shopkeeper Ji, if I pawn the Eighteen Levels of Hell, how many ranks can you raise my divine position?"

Ji Sheng lightly fanned himself with a folding fan, one side painted with all the gods and the other with all the Buddhas. "Since you're a landlord, I'll give you a special deal. Pawn the Eighteen Levels of Hell, and you'll be second to one god and above all the rest."

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva stood barefoot on a dark lotus. "I am willing to pawn my Buddha bones. Could I become a demon?"

Ji Sheng folded his fan shut. "Across the Myriad Worlds, you may carve out a realm of demons and become its Demon Lord."

The divine beast Diting trod over mountains of souls and seas of blood. "I wish to return to the demon clan, gather the Eight Primordial Tribes, and rule the heavens of a realm. What must I pawn?"

Ji Sheng looked down over the Nine Hells. "As it happens, I'm in need of a mount!"

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to actual people or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.