Chapter 3922: The Pipa Woman
Haizi Prison was in great pain. As the number one figure beneath the Hall Master of the Nether Hall, he was now forced to betray it.
But he had no choice, because the one coercing him was Zhang Ruochen. Traveling with Zhang Ruochen was also Nutian Shenzun.
His Great Unbound Infinite initial stage cultivation was truly insufficient before these two.
The Nether Hall was stationed in the northern part of the Abyss of Darkness defense line, located in the Netherworld Realm. The Netherworld Realm was also the largest major world of the entire Underworld Clan, with many cultivators, and its world-protecting formation was an ancestral formation left over from ancient times.
"Actually, with the two of your cultivation levels, even without my cover, you could have entered the Netherworld Realm without the Hall Master's perception."
After entering the Netherworld Realm, Haizi Prison said this, trying to probe the purpose of Zhang Ruochen and Nutian Shenzun's infiltration.
Of course, he had a premonition that it would definitely not be anything good.
He knew about the enmity between the Hall Master and Zhang Ruochen, and suspected that Nutian Shenzun and Zhang Ruochen had made some kind of deal, intending to put the Hall Master to death.
Or perhaps, Nutian Shenzun wanted to take the fifty percent of Evil Heavenly Dao Essence in the Nether Hall, but feared criticism from the All Heavens of Hell Realm, so he planned to strike secretly.
Having cultivated for so many years, Haizi Prison was all too familiar with the greed and venom of human nature.
Regardless of whether Nutian Shenzun was acting out of psychological disparity due to the successive emergence of Half-Ancestors, or because he wanted to face the challenge of the Twelve Ancient Clans with stronger combat power, in any case, he had ample motive to do so.
Haizi Prison walked ahead. Seeing that the two did not respond, he smiled bitterly: "Shenzun, can you leave me a way out? Eh!"
Haizi Prison turned to look, but Nutian Shenzun and Zhang Ruochen had already vanished without a trace.
Nutian Shenzun's voice drifted from somewhere unknown into his ears: "If you don't want to die, after entering the Nether Hall, don't contact Wen Zhiren. Take control of the temple's formation hub as soon as possible. If there's any change, activate all formations immediately."
Haizi Prison realized that today's matter was probably not as simple as he had imagined. He bowed slightly behind him, then strode towards the Nether Hall.
Zhang Ruochen and Nutian Shenzun appeared in an ancient city closest to the Nether Hall, walking along the main street with people flowing on both sides. All were young Saint realm cultivators of the Underworld Clan, many of whom were indistinguishable from humans. It was almost like returning to the Heavenly Court Universe, full of vitality and vigor.
Zhang Ruochen said: "I've always been curious. The Underworld Clan originally evolved from the undead. How can they transform from death to life, possess vitality, and be able to reproduce? Could it be that life and death can cycle, and death is not the only destination?"
"I once asked Bore about the transformation process from undead to Underworld Clan, but she couldn't explain it clearly. Does Shenzun have an answer here?"
Nutian Shenzun said: "From ancient times to the present, all cultivators have studied and pursued the secret of life and death, but there has never been a result. In your opinion, are the undead of the Middle Three Clans alive or dead?"
Zhang Ruochen thought for a moment, then said: "I'd say alive!"
"But they have no life energy in their bodies, no life fire, and cannot reproduce offspring." Nutian Shenzun said.
Zhang Ruochen said: "But they have consciousness, have given birth to intelligence, and have a direction to pursue. A person who knows what they are pursuing and bravely and persistently does so cannot be considered a dead thing."
"So in your view, the essence of life is consciousness? Do the grasses and trees of the mortal world have consciousness? Are they considered to have life, or not?" Nutian Shenzun said.
Zhang Ruochen said: "The origin of heaven and earth, the origin of life, the origin of consciousness—it seems these are riddles that will never have answers. Actually, what I want to ask is, how does Shenzun view the Nether Ancestor?"
"For any Underworld Clan cultivator, the Nether Ancestor is the most supreme existence in the world. Without him, there would be no Underworld Clan. Without the eight volumes of the *Nether Book*, the Underworld Clan would have no cultivation methods."
Nutian Shenzun continued: "Of course, respect and reverence are one thing. If the Nether Ancestor wants to destroy the world and wants us to die, we should rise up and fight back. Living is the most fundamental meaning of cultivation. Letting more people live is the responsibility that the strong should shoulder. Gong Xuanzang and Xue Jue are here!"
Zhang Ruochen looked up.
He saw a black and a red beam of light rushing straight towards the Nether Hall, passing through layers of formation light curtains and disappearing.
"It should still take some time. Let me take you somewhere."
Nutian Shenzun strode swiftly through street after street, saying: "When I was young, I also studied under the Nether Hall. I often came to this city with my senior and junior brothers to trade cultivation resources, to speak boldly and sing freely. Unfortunately, none of those people lived to this era. They all turned into yellow earth and white mud."
Soon, Nutian Shenzun and Zhang Ruochen stepped onto a series of stairs and ascended a floating island more than two hundred zhang above the ground.
Before them, pavilions and towers stood in rows, colorful lanterns hung high, white mist drifted, and groups of beautiful dancers could be seen everywhere. In their ears, they could hear the heavenly sounds of silk and bamboo, pipes and strings.
Nutian Shenzun and Zhang Ruochen had been to all kinds of places and seen all kinds of women, so their hearts were calm and undisturbed.
Nutian Shenzun said: "Over a million years, this place has changed owners countless times! When we first came here, it was called the Jiangshan Pavilion. Its owner would comment on major events in the world every month, naturally including matters within the Underworld Clan. For any young Underworld Clan cultivator to be nominated was an absolute honor, and they had to treat everyone to the most expensive wine. Now it's completely different. The Jiangshan Pavilion is long gone."
Zhang Ruochen said: "Even if the Jiangshan Pavilion still existed, Shenzun could never retrieve that blood-hot passion. Everyone can only be young once. When youth passes, life loses its color, and it's hard to have waves in the heart again."
Nutian Shenzun came to a wind pavilion by the cliff and ordered a pot of wine.
From here, one could gaze into the distance at the Nether Hall, and also look down upon the ancient city below.
"Every time I come to the Nether Hall, I must sit here for a while. Even if the environment has changed drastically, even if I can never find my old friends again. But the wine here still tastes the same as it did back then." Nutian Shenzun said.
Zhang Ruochen poured himself a cup and drank it, saying: "Very ordinary. No flavor."
"Of course there's no flavor. This is wine for Saint realm cultivators. What I drink is not the flavor!" Nutian Shenzun savored it slowly.
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen suddenly said: "Could the person behind Wen Zhiren be Qishier Pin Lian?"
Nutian Shenzun's hand holding the wine cup paused slightly. His gaze looked towards the majestic Nether Hall in the distance, and he said: "That's possible! If Ba Er, Jiusi Yitianhuang, and Gu Yanluo have all gone to the Nether Prison, then the only ones who can still lay plans here are her, that mysterious sword cultivator, and the vanished Dark Weirdness. I hope it is her. This time, I won't let her get away again!"
The reason Zhang Ruochen and Nutian Shenzun had Haizi Prison bring them into the Netherworld Realm was not to avoid the Nether Hall Master, but to avoid the possible behind-the-scenes mastermind.
If they alarmed the snake, that person might not show up.
Zhang Ruochen said: "With Gong Xuanzang's cultivation, dealing with Wen Zhiren is more than enough. The problem now is, if Wen Zhiren is in danger, will the behind-the-scenes person step in to save him?"
Nutian Shenzun said: "If they are in the Netherworld Realm, they will definitely act. Because Gong Xuanzang can also find the answer by searching Wen Zhiren's soul and uncover them. Moreover, these world-destroyers hiding in the shadows have already suffered heavy losses with the fall of the Quantity Organization. They have almost no available hands in the Heavenly Court Universe and Hell Realm, which is equivalent to losing their eyes and ears."
"Wen Zhiren is neither an insignificant minor character, nor does he hold the key to their eyes and ears in Hell Realm. They won't give him up so easily."
With powerful cultivation, one could naturally investigate and deduce matters in the universe.
But once they released their divine soul and spiritual power to investigate, they would expose their heavenly secrets.
For those in hiding, this was fatal.
Relying only on instinctive perception, no matter how high one's cultivation, the information they could obtain was very limited or too lagging.
A commotion arose. A group of maidservants and a large number of young Underworld Clan cultivators surrounded a woman, passing by the cliff. It was quite lively.
Voices of flattery and praise sounded continuously.
The woman wore a veil, her gaze always calm. She held a delicate pipa as jade-like as emerald, walking forward on her own. Even when responding to the crowd, she was indifferent and plain, only her voice was pleasant to the ear, causing the Underworld Clan cultivators present to be ecstatic.
As if just hearing her voice was enough satisfaction.
A beauty, no matter where or what race, never lacks suitors.
Zhang Ruochen only glanced at her and said: "This woman is very unusual!"
For Zhang Ruochen, at his current level, to evaluate someone as "very unusual" piqued Nutian Shenzun's interest. He cast a glance. He didn't release his divine soul to perceive, but for a Heavenly Venerable-rank, there was no need for divine soul perception.
"Neither god nor saint, more like a false god." Nutian Shenzun said.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head and smiled: "In terms of cultivation, I am far inferior to Shenzun. But in terms of understanding women, I believe Shenzun cannot match me."
"What do you plan to do?" Nutian Shenzun said.
Zhang Ruochen said: "Shenzun's glance just now was too deliberate! She should have sensed it, but she clearly doesn't dare to release her divine soul to investigate, so she can't know our identities and origins. I plan to personally visit her."
"Then you'd better be careful. Don't fall under her skirt."
Nutian Shenzun stood up and walked straight down the floating island towards the Nether Hall.
He was somewhat worried that the person behind Wen Zhiren might be hiding inside the Nether Hall. If Gong Xuanzang and Xue Jue War God fell into their hands, it would put them in a passive position.
The woman wearing a veil and holding a pipa was now standing by the window on the fourth floor, watching Nutian Shenzun as he stepped down the stairs step by step. She recognized him.
"Just leaving like that? Was it exposed, or not?"
When Haizi Prison, Gong Xuanzang, and Xue Jue War God successively rushed to the Nether Hall, she had already sensed the dangerous aura and was preparing to leave.
Whether exposed or not, she had to go now.
The noisy Underworld Clan cultivators outside suddenly fell silent, as if they had all disappeared in an instant.
The veiled woman's two straight and slender eyebrows slightly furrowed.
Behind her, the sound of a door opening.
Zhang Ruochen pushed open the door but did not immediately barge in. He looked through the screen at the woman by the window, who was like a poem or a painting, and said: "I've sent them all away! This sudden visit is somewhat presumptuous. Please forgive me, miss."
"The door is open, but you don't come in. Is this the style of the Romantic Sword God?"
Behind the screen, footsteps sounded.
The woman walked step by step to the bedside, her fingers stroking the pipa strings, and said: "You're not afraid, are you?"
"Since the miss has invited me, I naturally obey with respect."
Zhang Ruochen walked into the room, a faint fragrance reaching his nose, and said: "To be honest, the one who should be afraid is you. As long as you make a move, Nutian Shenzun can return in an instant. The two of us ganging up on a woman, isn't that inappropriate?"
"Are you so sure that the two of you combined are my match? Besides, this Netherworld Realm gathers half of the Underworld Clan's proud sons of heaven. They are the future hope of the Underworld Clan. If we fight, the Netherworld Realm cannot be preserved." The woman spoke softly and gently, like a maiden in her boudoir whispering sweet nothings, without a trace of the aura of a top-tier expert.
Zhang Ruochen said: "The two of us combined are not your match? Are you a Half-Ancestor?"
"You misunderstand! The combined combat power of you and Kong Fan Nu is actually lower than Kong Fan Nu's alone. At least for me, that's the case."
The woman's voice had no mockery or coldness, as faint as an orchid.
Too insulting!
Zhang Ruochen laughed bitterly: "You think you have the certainty to take me down before Nutian Shenzun arrives?"
"As long as the distance is close enough, Kong Fan Nu could also take you down in one move. Your biggest mistake was opening a strange woman's boudoir, and even more so, walking in when she invited you." The woman said.
Just as Zhang Ruochen was about to pass the screen, he stopped. His eyes could only see her snow-white feet adorned with jade and silver chain accessories; the rest was blocked.
Zhang Ruochen did not continue forward. If he went further, he would truly step into someone else's boudoir. He said: "What you said makes a lot of sense. I'll remember it in the future. Now, shouldn't you make your move?"
"You understand a woman's heart well, knowing when to stop. That's good. So, I've decided to spare you today?" The woman said.
Zhang Ruochen said: "Then I can only presumptuously ask one more question. Are you the Divine Music Master or the Immortal Music Master of the Great Nether Mountain?"
The woman's bright eyes looked towards Zhang Ruochen standing at the screen. She could only see his feet, and said: "You are very clever, but the world is not short of clever people. You'd better not be too clever for your own good."
"I really can't understand that." Zhang Ruochen said.
The woman said: "You will understand in the future."
Zhang Ruochen didn't want to wait any longer. He was about to make a move.
Even if her cultivation was higher and her techniques more mysterious, he was confident he could hold out until Nutian Shenzun arrived.
He was certain that this woman was the one behind Wen Zhiren, so he wasn't afraid of alarming the snake.
"Boom!"
At that moment, from the direction of the Nether Hall, a terrifyingly powerful wave of divine power erupted.
Countless buildings in the city collapsed, and beams of formation light shot into the sky.
The distant Nether Hall was already submerged in the radiance of divine formations.
Clearly, Gong Xuanzang had made his move!
Zhang Ruochen held the Emperor Talisman in one hand and activated the Kirin Fist Gloves with the other. But just as he was about to fully release his divine qi, a rapid, short pipa sound rang in his ears, like large and small pearls falling onto a jade plate.
"Damn it!"
The divine qi in Zhang Ruochen's body instantly dispersed. His spiritual power, divine soul, and consciousness seemed to fall into a vast ocean, constantly battered by giant waves.
He felt the world spinning. He pressed his hand against the screen to keep standing.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze still stared fixedly at the bedside, but the scene before him grew increasingly blurry, as if shrouded in rain and fog.
Chi Yao and Zangjin Baihu, hidden in his Divine Realm World, had already fallen to the ground, relying on their divine souls and Ancestor Divine Qi to resist. Even the powerful Wuwo Lamp flickered on and off, unable to rush out to help Zhang Ruochen.
By the time the pipa sound disappeared and Zhang Ruochen gradually recovered, the woman who had been sitting by the bed was long gone.
This attack method was too terrifying, directly penetrating the soul, and it was a group attack. If she had wished, the pipa sound just now could have been amplified to affect the trillion cultivators of the Netherworld Realm, silencing an entire world.
Zhang Ruochen seriously suspected that her spiritual power had reached the ninety-third rank.
The woman was right. Zhang Ruochen should not have rashly barged into her boudoir. If the distance had been far enough, or if he had activated his defensive measures in advance, relying on his spiritual power and the Emperor Talisman, he would not have been so embarrassed, suppressed to the point of being unable to advance a single step.
If it had been before his spiritual power breakthrough, Zhang Ruochen would probably have already fallen to the ground.
But why didn't she take the opportunity to kill him? Why didn't she even capture him or seize the many treasures on him?
Full of questions, Zhang Ruochen walked to the window.
He discovered a huge spatial hole in the sky. The auras of the Nether Hall Master, Nutian Shenzun, and Gong Xuanzang had all disappeared from the Netherworld Realm, entering the Void World through that spatial hole.