A palace hall in the western region of the nether realm:
Three enormous herbal pools occupied the s.p.a.ce inside the palace. The herbal pools were crimson but emitted a lush-green gas.
The lush-green gas rose to the top of the palace hall and produced a hiss as it corroded the ceiling.
At this moment, three naked men sat in the herbal pools, their complexions tinged with a green hue. The green gas was the Poison Energy expelled by the herbal pools from their bodies.
A figure wearing a white robe with gold trim stood beside the herbal pools. With a wave of his hand, he directed the lush-green gas out of the palace hall.
Buzz!
Suddenly, one of the naked men in the herbal pools opened his eyes and looked around with surprise and uncertainty.
“Silken Web Heavenly Demon, you are awake!” the white-robed man said calmly.
“Num…Number Four, did you save us?” The Silken Web Heavenly Demon heaved a sigh of relief.
“It was your good fortune that you promptly sought me out after being poisoned. Otherwise, even our lord could not save you in time,” Number Four said nonchalantly.
“Ah! What? What kind of poison is this? How can it be so overbearing? I am an expert in poisons, so why…?!” Silken Web Heavenly Demon exclaimed in astonishment.
“This is a mixture of poisons—seventy-two different toxins perfectly arranged in a unique pattern. Truly remarkable. It has been a long time since I encountered such a formidable poison. When I initially helped detoxify you, I even got infected! Fortunately, my extensive knowledge of toxins allowed me to resist their effects. However, I still dared not fully subdue these poisons. It seems you encountered a skilled opponent!” Number Four said, his voice sinking.
“Could it be Gu Hai?”
“Impossible. Mastering poisons to this level requires more than a few decades of study. It must be a true expert. Has a poison Dao expert settled in Borderless Heavenly Capital? The poison Dao? This poison…only that person in ancient times could achieve such mastery!” Number Four said in a grave tone.
“Who?”
“The shaman race’s Poison Monarch!” Number Four said solemnly.
“The Poison Monarch? The divine blood replication’s line of inheritance? The one who pioneered the cultivation methods for Gu poison and toxic creatures?” the Silken Web Heavenly Demon exclaimed in amazement.
“Yes, that’s right. The Poison Monarch caused the demise of many animal spirits. That is why the animal spirit race went to great lengths to eliminate him. He should be dead, so it is unlikely that anyone else possesses such profound expertise in poisons, right?” Number Four’s brow furrowed.
“Regardless of the reason, it is all Gu Hai’s doing. Humph! I will definitely avenge this grudge!” The Silken Web Heavenly Demon scowled in anger.
Number Four nodded.
“By the way, how are Number Five and Number Ten faring? Has Chiyou been defeated?” the Silken Web Heavenly Demon asked anxiously.
“Number Five and Number Ten are dead!” Number Four said calmly.
“What?”
“Don’t worry. The Heavenly Demon Holy Land will definitely avenge this!” Number Four’s voice turned cold.
“I have a report!” Suddenly, a shout came from outside the hall.
An attendant walked into the hall with a lowered head, not daring to look at the people inside.
“The Unrestrained Heavenly Demon has sent a letter. Would the peak master please handle it!” The attendant carefully proffered a letter and a crystal ball.
After delivering the letter and the crystal ball, the servant left.
Number Four opened the letter and read it carefully for a while.
“What’s going on?” the Silken Web Heavenly Demon asked curiously.
After finis.h.i.+ng the letter, Number Four handed it to the Silken Web Heavenly Demon. Meanwhile, he fiddled with the crystal ball.
Now that the Silken Web Heavenly Demon had woken up, the poison had been almost completely cleared from his body. He quickly took the letter.
“Oh? Ji Dihong sent a letter saying that Gu Hai came to the nether realm with Long Shenying, the Mosquito Daoist, and the Unborn Man?” The Silken Web Heavenly Demon narrowed his eyes.
Number Four looked at the crystal ball in his hand and operated it according to the instructions in the letter. Suddenly, an arrow appeared in the crystal ball, pointing in a direction.
“Our lord sent us the letter so we could deal with it? Hah! Gu Hai, is it?” Number Four sneered.
“I will go and kill him!” The Silken Web Heavenly Demon revealed a ferocious grimace.
“I will go too!”
“Count me in!”
The other two people in the herbal pools had woken up and now expressed their hatred.
“Number Six, Number Eight, Number Nine, you want to deal with Gu Hai?” Number Four said indifferently.
“Yes, Number Four, are you coming with us?” the Silken Web Heavenly Demon asked.
“There’s no need. The three of you are at the consummation of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm. Can’t you handle a few ordinary Upper Heavenly Palace cultivators? Even if Gu Hai has exceptional methods, he can’t be your match. Be careful this time!” Number Four replied indifferently.
“What about you?” The three people looked at Number Four.
“Me? Hah! I haven’t avenged Number Five and Number Ten yet. Chiyou? Hah! I’m going to the land of the living to test this Chiyou and Ji Dihong! Does Ji Dihong really think that my Heavenly Demon Holy Land is his tool? Using us to kill Gu Hai? Using us to kill Chiyou? Humph!” Number Four said coldly.
“Alright!” The three nodded.
“Now that you’ve awakened and the toxins in your bodies have almost been eliminated, even if there’s still a little residue, I believe your bodies can completely expel it on their own. Take this crystal ball; it will help you find Gu Hai!” Number Four handed over the crystal ball.
“Alright!” the three responded.
The three crawled out of the herbal pools and put on black robes. The Silken Web Heavenly Demon held the crystal ball as they rushed out of the hall, heading towards Gu Hai’s location to hunt him down.
------
The Unborn Man opened a pa.s.sageway to the nether realm.
Gu Hai, the Unborn Man, Long Shenying, and the Mosquito Daoist arrived on top of a white cloud in the nether realm.
Chang Ming had already constructed many residences for Gu Hai’s convenience in the surroundings.
“The nether realm is a vast world. Unborn Man, can you open a true gate to the nether realm that the Han Nation’s army can freely pa.s.s through?” Gu Hai asked.
“Your Reverence, do you want to wage war in the nether realm?” The Unborn Man was slightly startled.
“Yes, we want to open a gate to the nether realm that never closes. Is it possible?” Gu Hai asked solemnly.
“Uh…” The Unborn Man fell silent.
“What’s wrong? Is it not possible?” Gu Hai asked.
“This official is incapable!” The Unborn Man eventually shook his head.
Gu Hai frowned slightly. The Unborn Man said “This official is incapable!” rather than “It’s impossible.” Furthermore, he hesitated just now?
Gu Hai nodded without pursuing the matter.
“Your Reverence, do you need to find Chang Ming?” the Mosquito Daoist asked.
“No need. Just the four of us. Speed is crucial. Unborn Man, lead the way. Where to?” Gu Hai looked at the Unborn Man.
“The border of Myriad Bone Sinister Mountain, at the nether realm’s Yellow Springs Sea!” Mosquito Daoist pointed in a direction.
“Oh?” Gu Hai’s expression slightly changed as he looked towards Myriad Bone Sinister Mountain.
The last two times he came, the Life Ender Saber in Gu Hai’s body instinctively reacted to something. However, it was quite calm this time, not sensing anything at all.
Has something happened to Myriad Bone Sinister Mountain?
“Let’s go!” Gu Hai said.
Everyone flew towards Myriad Bone Sinister Mountain.
A vast expanse of bones covered the ground along the way. Human skeletons and animal spirit skeletons wandered this sea of bones.
However, these skeletons here did not seem particularly powerful.
“There are no Upper Heavenly Palace Realm skeletons?” Gu Hai frowned slightly.
“There used to be!” The Mosquito Daoist frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“They must have gone somewhere. That’s Myriad Bone Sinister Mountain’s Bone Deity Palace up ahead, where the Bone Ancestor and the Bone Deity used to reside!” the Mosquito Daoist explained.
“The Bone Ancestor?” Gu Hai raised his eyebrows.
If he recalled correctly, the Life Ender Saber was formerly called the Bone Ancestor, but it was betrayed or defeated, nearly destroyed. Then it fled to the land of the living, where he obtained it.
“The Bone Deity took over the Bone Ancestor’s position and ruled all the skeletons in the nether realm. He is extremely formidable, at the consummation of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm!” the Unborn Man explained.
Gu Hai nodded and flew closer to the so-called Bone Deity Palace.
“Something’s not right. I’ve been to the outskirts of the Bone Deity Palace before. Why is the defense so lax? There aren’t any Upper Heavenly Palace Realm skeletons, not even Middle Heavenly Palace Realm ones. Just a few scattered Lower Heavenly Palace Realm ones?” the Mosquito Daoist remarked curiously.
The group quickly arrived outside the Bone Deity Palace.
“Who goes there?” several skeleton soldiers shouted angrily, rus.h.i.+ng over.
However, they were all at the Lower Heavenly Palace Realm. Such strength could not harm Gu Hai in the slightest.
“All the powerful skeletons of the Bone Deity Palace are gone?” Long Shenying revealed a look of astonishment.
The Mosquito Daoist flung out his sleeve.
Buzz!
Countless black mosquitoes instantly swarmed all corners of the Bone Deity Palace.
“Your Reverence, all the enchanted treasures here are gone, and all the powerful skeletons have vanished!” the Mosquito Daoist exclaimed in surprise.
“Where did they go?” Long Shenying asked, astonished.
“They went to Wanqing’s location!” the Unborn Man replied solemnly.
“What?” Gu Hai’s face sank as he looked at the Unborn Man.
“Before I returned to Borderless Heavenly Capital, the Bone Deity had already dispatched many skeletons to search for the way to Wanqing’s location. They must have found it. Not long ago, Wanqing sent me a message saying that the Bone Deity had started invading their place with a horde of skeletons!” the Unborn Man explained.
“Why didn’t you tell me about such an important matter earlier?” Gu Hai shouted in anger.
“Your Reverence, don’t worry. Wanqing is in a very vast place. Even if the skeletons invade, it won’t be easy to find Wanqing. Moreover, there are people there who will stop this horde of skeletons!” the Unborn Man explained.
“Cut the c.r.a.p and lead the way!” Gu Hai urged anxiously.
The Unborn Man nodded, and the group quickly flew north.
After flying for most of the day, they arrived at a vast yellow sea at the northernmost point of the nether realm.
Countless skeletons guarded the coast, fending off numerous evil spirits in the sea trying to climb ash.o.r.e and escape the sea.
“This is the Yellow Springs Sea?” The Mosquito Daoist’s expression changed.
“Yes, there is a road called the Yellow Springs Road within the Yellow Springs Sea! As long as we step onto the Yellow Springs Road, we can reach the world where Wanqing is!” the Unborn Man explained.
“Wait, you said the world where the empress is? What do you mean?” Long Shenying narrowed his eyes at the Unborn Man.
Gu Hai looked at the Yellow Springs Sea, and a memory suddenly flooded his mind. “I remember that eighty thousand years ago, Lady Houtu entered the void using the Yellow Springs Road upon learning that Heaven was in danger? Or rather, she left the Six Paths Immortal Firmament through the Yellow Springs Road?”
Gu Hai looked at the Unborn Man.
“Entered the void? Are there other worlds beyond the Six Paths Immortal Firmament? Are there worlds in the void?” Long Shenying asked in astonishment as he looked at the Unborn Man.
The Unborn Man nodded. “Your Reverence guessed correctly. We are indeed leaving the Six Paths Immortal Firmament and entering the void. Entering a new world!”
“What new world? Are there other worlds in the void?” Long Shenying repeated gravely.
“Do you know how the Six Paths Veritable Lord deceived the previous Heaven into leaving this world?” the Unborn Man asked.
“Creating a world? He claimed to be creating a new world in the void. Then he asked Heaven to help him. In the end, it was a trap. After Heaven lost the connection to the world, the Six Paths Veritable Lord ambushed Heaven in the void and killed Heaven?” Gu Hai replied, his voice sinking.
“Actually, the Six Paths Veritable Lord and Heaven had already created a world,” the Unborn Man explained.
“Ah?” Everyone was surprised.
“Without creating a world, would he have been able to deceive Heaven with mere words? No, they had already created it. However, this world is imperfect, a flawed immortal firmament. It isn’t as perfect as the one we are in. That newly created world has a major flaw and cannot survive for long. It’s a miracle that it hasn’t been destroyed yet, but I believe it’s nearing its end!” the Unborn Man explained.
“Wanqing and the others are in that flawed immortal firmament created by the Six Paths Veritable Lord eight hundred thousand years ago?” Gu Hai said solemnly.
The Unborn Man nodded. “This Yellow Springs Road goes there!”
“Lead the way!” Gu Hai said in a deep voice.