Chapter 586 - 291: Havoc in the Underworld (Part 2)

Chapter 586: Chapter 291: Havoc in the Underworld (Part 2)

Amid the grumbling complaints of the ox-headed and horse-faced demons, the dragging procession of departed souls finally reached the edge of the Naihe Bridge after taking half a day.

Beneath the bridge roared a river filled with howling ghostly winds and tumultuous blood waves, strewn with countless skeletons and wandering souls — the River of Oblivion. On both banks bloomed vividly red Youjin flowers.

Disguised as an ordinary farmer’s wife ghost, Ji Mingyu observed calmly ahead, seeing the souls being driven by the underworld officials onto the Naihe Bridge, one by one, with trembling steps.

At the bridgehead, there was a simple makeshift shack covered with vine-like plants. In front of the shack sat a stove, on top of which a large pot of hot soup boiled.

Standing by the pot, however, was not the kindly elderly woman Ji Mingyu had imagined, but a red-dressed young girl, appearing somewhat impatient.

She occasionally stirred the soup with a large spoon, ladling out a bowl of hot soup, which she handed to the souls crossing the bridge to drink.

The area around the shack was heavily guarded. However, these "heavy guards" were merely a dozen of the ox-headed and horse-faced demons, lazy by nature due to the underworld’s long peace, typically spending their time intimidating rather than engaging in conflict.

Strangely, the aroma of the Meng Po soup, once wafting around, caused the surrounding souls to swallow their saliva, feeling parched, thus when queued, they mostly drank obediently.

Those who refused to cooperate were forcibly fed by the ox-headed and horse-faced demons, only to calm down afterwards.

Finally, it was Ji Mingyu’s turn. Calmly, she stepped onto the old, dilapidated black wooden bridge and approached Meng Po, reaching out to take the soup offered.

Ming Yu knew that drinking it would result in memory loss, so she pretended to drink, actually using her magical power to encapsulate the soup, holding it in her mouth, intending to later obliterate it with "Jade Capital Elixir Fire" in one breath.

However, at this moment, the young girl sneered, "Still trying to trick me? Better swallow it honestly!"

Although Meng Po was merely a minor underworld deity, her ability to check if a person drank the soup could not be fooled, even by someone of Ji Mingyu’s strength. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

Almost as soon as the young girl spoke, underworld power activated. Ji Mingyu suddenly felt the soup in her mouth vaporize, breaking through her magical power barrier and rushing into her stomach.

Though she quickly released a jade-white flame from her Dantian to refine most of the soup, she couldn’t avoid some vapor being absorbed by her body.

This enraged Ji Mingyu! With a strike, accompanied by chaotic primordial energy, the red-dressed young girl couldn’t resist, screamed, and was knocked off the Naihe Bridge into the River of Oblivion.

If not for the laws protecting her as an underworld deity, such an attack would have scattered her soul.

The surrounding ox-headed and horse-faced demons, along with other underworld officials, were in an uproar! They surrounded her with weapons drawn.

"Tell me, where is Chu Xuan?!" Ji Mingyu was infuriated, dropping all pretense.

She hurriedly added, "Did you force him to drink the Meng Po soup?"

Ji Mingyu was more outraged by the possibility of Chu Xuan forgetting her than by having accidentally drunk a little herself...

Wait, who is Chu Xuan?

Ji Mingyu pressed her head, looking around with some confusion, "Is this the underworld?!"

"I’m not dead, what right do you have to seize me here?" Her gaze turned fierce.

"Bold living being! How dare you intrude upon the underworld, injure Meng Po, and disrupt the nether order! Surrender quickly!" Black and White Impermanence rushed forward, angrily shouting at the white-robed woman now in her true form.

Yet as the intimidating aura from the figure before them grew, their expressions changed.

Black and White Impermanence had no time to call for reinforcements before Ji Mingyu sprang into action, sending underworld soldiers fleeing chaotically.

While none present could withstand even one round against her, news of the chaos on the Naihe Bridge swiftly reached Fengdu City and was reported to the Ten Yama Kings.

"Report! Emergency report! A Ninth Realm cultivator from the living world is causing havoc in the underworld!"

The divine senses of the Ten Yama Kings began rapidly communicating.

"Incredible, quickly gather underworld marshals and soldiers, lead patrol armor horses and underworld troops to suppress her!"

"Ninth Realm? Why is such a cultivator causing trouble in the underworld instead of seeking immortal ascension?"

"Hmph, relying on brute strength, does he think our underworld has no one? Send for the one from ’Mingchen Naifan Martial City Celestial Palace’ in Luo Feng Six Heavens."

"Isn’t this overreacting?"

"Even a mortal cultivator in the Ninth Realm has some capability, no need for us to intervene personally."

"Moreover, this matter must be resolved swiftly, lest it delays the cycle of reincarnation, for which we cannot bear the responsibility."

No further objections arose after this was said.

Of course, they couldn’t all remain seated in the hall; at least one Yama King had to oversee the confrontation directly.

...

In the mortal world, Chu Xuan hid within the Six Souls Banner, concealing himself, and flew towards the Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace.

Though without his cultivation, the Six Souls Banner’s flight wasn’t swift, making the return from the underworld slower than the journey back to the mortal realm. Fortunately, since he was already fighting in the eastern territories, the distance to the Cyan Lotus Daoist Palace wasn’t far, reaching there in less than half a day.

Arriving at the palace’s gates, Chu Xuan emerged from the banner, calling out.

"Open the gates! It’s Chu Xuan, I’ve returned."

The gate-keeping disciple was startled by the sudden appearance of the ghost, promptly reporting it.

Luckily, Fugui-Zi was in the sect and rushed over urgently. Upon confirming it was indeed the soul of his disciple, not an impersonator, he joyfully brought him to the Daoist Palace’s main hall.

"Good disciple, you scared me to death. I hadn’t even dared to inform your senior sister about your passing."

"Luckily, she’s currently in seclusion, otherwise it might have caused chaos in the mortal realm."

Fugui-Zi spoke with lingering anxiety, because the current Qin Mengyao was vastly influential, her every move impacting the entire mortal realm.

Chu Xuan felt a similar sense of relief, but he jokingly asked, "Master, were you not saddened?"

While examining Chu Xuan’s soul, Fugui-Zi replied:

"Honestly, I was shocked and indeed saddened at first, but after thinking carefully, I suspected that it might be a ploy for you to escape."

"After all, ’With Celestial Evil Demon Venerable and Profound Silence True Monarch perishing together,’ the outcome is far better than either side winning."

"With both principal figures gone, there’s no longer a reason for conflict between the Profound Celestial Sect and the Celestial Alliance, preventing another round of righteous and demonic wars."

"And for you, Celestial Evil Demon Venerable has fulfilled his mission: from now on, you can openly return to being Chu Xuan."

Chu Xuan listened, amused, "That truly wasn’t my ’escape plan,’ but the result aligns with what you said, Master. From now on, there’s no Celestial Evil Demon Venerable, only Chu Xuan."

Moreover, if truly resurrected, Chu Xuan wouldn’t continue cultivating the "Celestial Water Returning Ruins Technique," preferring to revert to studying the "Jade Capital Purple Star Daoist Core Secrets," thereby getting back on his planned track.

Seeing his disciple not enticed by the power he held as Demon Venerable, Fugui-Zi nodded with approval.

Before he could inquire further, Chu Xuan proactively asked, "By the way, Master, do you know the whereabouts of Ming Yu, or rather, Primordial Monarch Taixu?"

"Well," Fugui-Zi hesitated, "After the battle ended, we sent people to investigate, finding only her weeping alone amidst the swirling snow."

"But soon she disappeared, and we don’t know where she went."

"Later, the Demon Sect sent inquiries, mentioning that the Monarch was missing and informing us to relay any news we might have."

Missing?? Wait, Chu Xuan’s expression changed, realizing he might have underestimated Ming Yu’s resolve to save him.

He immediately thought from Ji Mingyu’s perspective, realizing she must have left the battlefield upon discovering the absence of the Six Souls Banner, likely intending to go to the underworld to find him...

Upon having this realization, Chu Xuan urgently told his master, "Ming Yu might have gone to the underworld to find me, I’m heading back there!"

Before Fugui-Zi could say anything, Chu Xuan dove into the Six Souls Banner, vanishing instantly.