Chapter 803: Truly the Underworld?
The news revealed by that Wuchang was extremely useful, but after all, the other party was an existence comparable to a Half-Saint, certainly extremely cunning and calculating. Who could be sure whether his words were true or false, or if he intended to lure everyone into an irreversible peril?
Therefore, the group did not immediately head to the territory of the Ghost King Shenchu.
Subsequently, Zhang Ruochen released another Wuchang from the Ruyi Treasure Vase and had Xiao Hei take him to a different location to continue the interrogation. They would decide after cross-referencing the information from the two Wuchangs.
Meanwhile, Zhang Ruochen returned to the bank of the Corpse River, examining the corpses on the embankment while observing the rolling waters, as if surveying something.
"There's something strange, definitely something strange."
He then sat cross-legged on a corpse, closed his eyes, and fully released his spiritual power, thoroughly probing the spatial structure of the area.
After a long while, Zhang Ruochen's eyes suddenly snapped open, and he swiftly struck a palm toward the river's surface.
"Bang!"
In front of his palm, an invisible wall appeared, blocking his hand. Immediately after, a massive spatial force surged, lifting a wave over ten zhang high that rushed forward violently, pushing Zhang Ruochen back several zhang.
Hanxue had been keeping watch nearby. She turned into a slender shadow and appeared beside Zhang Ruochen, forming a sword technique with two slender fingers.
"Zheng!"
The Void Sword on her back flew out as a streak of white light, slashing forward and dragging a powerful sword aura that dispersed the river water.
Retracting the Void Sword, Hanxue held it horizontally and asked, "Master, what just happened?"
"Hiss!"
Zhang Ruochen's robe was splashed by the river water, corroding into small holes. As sacred qi circulated, it quickly refined all the water.
Without a word, Zhang Ruochen walked forward again, staring at the Corpse River, and gently pressed his palm down.
This time, he was more cautious.
"Hua——"
The invisible wall appeared again, as if the space had solidified, blocking Zhang Ruochen's hand.
"Just as I suspected. This Corpse River is a river flowing within a spatial rift. Once we cross the Corpse River, we have actually left the Kunlun Realm and entered another space."
Zhang Ruochen had this suspicion partly because of the information the previous Wuchang had revealed. According to his description, the Underworld was vast and boundless; even a Wuchang flying for ten years could not reach its end.
How could the Zhuishan Mountain Range accommodate such a vast area?
There was only one possibility: the so-called "Underworld" might not be in the Kunlun Realm at all, but in another spatial world.
Thus, Zhang Ruochen had come to investigate the Corpse River, wanting to uncover the truth.
Hanxue furrowed her slender brows, looking puzzled, and said, "Master, what do you mean? I don't understand."
Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, "You can think of the Corpse River as a one-way spatial barrier. Living beings can cross from the opposite bank of the Corpse River through the spatial barrier to reach the Underworld. But the beings of the Underworld cannot cross the spatial barrier to return to the opposite bank."
"Of course, the Corpse River is not just a simple spatial barrier. I have a feeling it flows through the spatial rift, passing through multiple worlds."
Zhang Ruochen's gaze followed the upstream of the Corpse River, watching the endless corpses drifting down from upstream, then followed the river downstream, looking toward its lower reaches.
Where did the floating corpses in the Corpse River come from?
Where was the river water flowing to?
The appearance of the Underworld must be related to this Corpse River; otherwise, there wouldn't be so many graves and spirits here.
Hanxue was silent for a moment, then nodded and said, "I understand. The Yunshen Tomb Forest on the opposite bank of the Corpse River still belongs to the Kunlun Realm, to the Yang Realm, and can also be called the entrance to the Underworld. Our current location is the Underworld. Master means we can only enter the Underworld but can never return to the Kunlun Realm, right?"
Hanxue lifted her pale little face and stared at Zhang Ruochen with clear eyes.
In fact, Zhang Ruochen also wondered if this place was truly a corner of the legendary Underworld or Hell, the final destination of all living beings after death.
If that were the case, could living beings who entered the Underworld ever return?
Of course, Zhang Ruochen would never pass such negative emotions on to Hanxue.
Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, "Others might not be able to return, but your master certainly can. Have you forgotten? Your master is the Heir of Time and Space. Once I comprehend the Space Rule, can I not break through a spatial barrier?"
He said this because he was worried Hanxue might feel despair, as she was just a child with limited psychological endurance.
Zhang Ruochen clearly underestimated Hanxue. She did not feel fear at the thought of not being able to return to the Kunlun Realm; instead, she remained very calm.
She said, "Actually, it doesn't matter if we can't go back. I, Master, Xiao Hei, and Sister Mu can enter the Scroll World. There, although isolated from the world, it's still beautiful with mountains and rivers. We can live happily for a lifetime, right?"
"Right!"
Zhang Ruochen nodded with a smile and said, "Even in the Underworld, we must face it with a smile and not let fear overwhelm our will."
However, in his heart, Zhang Ruochen sighed silently: "If the world were as simple as she imagines, how wonderful would that be? But everyone carries some responsibilities; how can one remain detached?"
Then, Zhang Ruochen took out the Cosmic Divine Wood Map and released Mu Lingxi from the Scroll World. After recuperation, her injuries had fully healed, and she had returned to her peak state.
Mu Lingxi stared at the Corpse River and said, "Are you still going to send me back?"
Zhang Ruochen shook his head and said, "It's already impossible to go back."
Then, Zhang Ruochen told Mu Lingxi everything he had discovered and his analysis.
Hearing all this, Mu Lingxi not only felt no fear or despair but instead felt an indescribable joy. In her heart, she deeply wished never to return to the Kunlun Realm, nor to face the realities she could not accept.
Xiao Hei rode on the back of the Demon God Rat and walked over to Zhang Ruochen.
In Xiao Hei's claws, he held an iron chain intertwined with electric patterns. The other end of the chain was tied around the female Wuchang, who was being escorted over.
Zhang Ruochen asked, "Did you get anything out of her?"
"Hehe! With this emperor personally handling it, is there any mouth that can't be pried open? She has already revealed the location of the fallen god, and it doesn't differ much from what the previous Wuchang said. It should be trustworthy." Xiao Hei said.
Zhang Ruochen asked again, "What about Shi Ren?"
"That kid probably doesn't trust us. He's already taken the previous Wuchang and set off ahead." Xiao Hei snorted coldly.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Can't blame him. After all, we've only met once, and our bond isn't deep. He probably saw Shoushu and Senior Sister Duanmu and suspected we were from the Demon Sect, so he became wary and left first."
In a treacherous place like the Underworld, anyone would be extra cautious. Shi Ren's decision to leave alone was quite sensible.
"In that case, let's set off too. She'll lead the way to the territory of the Ghost King Shenchu." Zhang Ruochen said.
This female Wuchang was named Xinkong Wuchang. Her cultivation was comparable to a human cultivator at the early stage of the Second-Order Half-Saint. If not for underestimating the power of the Ruyi Treasure Vase, Zhang Ruochen alone might not have been able to capture her.
Xinkong Wuchang's eyes were icy cold, and she said, "The Ghost King Shenchu is the ruler of the outer regions of the Underworld. All the Ghost Kings follow his lead. Going to his territory is walking straight into death."
"Even if the Ghost King Shenchu were the ruler of the entire Underworld, this emperor would still have to go. If you say one more word of nonsense, be careful—this emperor will whip you."
Xiao Hei flicked the iron chain, and dozens of flashes of light appeared on the chain, all striking Xinkong Wuchang.
"Crackle!"
Xinkong Wuchang let out continuous screams of agony.
Only when her ghostly body emitted green smoke and was on the verge of shattering did Xiao Hei withdraw his power.
Xinkong Wuchang indeed became much more obedient, not daring to utter another complaint. She walked at the front, heading toward the territory of the Ghost King Shenchu.
Zhang Ruochen took out a ball of Half-Saint Light and handed it to Mu Lingxi, saying, "Senior Sister Duanmu, you haven't broken through to the Ninth Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm yet, have you? This is the Half-Saint Light of an Undying Blood Clan member. Refining it should help you break through."
Mu Lingxi extended a hand and pushed the box containing the Half-Saint Light away, saying, "No need. Keep such a precious treasure for yourself. I have a Glazed Treasure Pill on me; I can condense a Glazed Treasure Body at any time and break through to the Ninth Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm. I won't hold you back."
Then, Mu Lingxi took out the Glazed Treasure Pill and swallowed it, never once looking directly at Zhang Ruochen, maintaining a certain distance from him.
Zhang Ruochen was silent for a moment, then put the Half-Saint Light away.
Only by stepping into the Underworld could one truly feel that this blood-red land was indeed vast and boundless. The graves on the ground were packed one after another, stretching all the way to the horizon.
According to Xinkong Wuchang, this was the territory of the Ghost King Xinji, spanning a depth of one hundred and eighty thousand li.
The Ghost King Xinji had already led most of the spirits in his territory across the Corpse River to the Yang Realm, so this originally extremely dangerous place was now relatively safe.
Relatively safe, that is.
On the second day, Zhang Ruochen and his group inadvertently stumbled into a ghost cave and were besieged by a large number of Yin soldiers and ghost generals. Even a very powerful Wuchang emerged from the cave, striking with a single blow that severely wounded the Demon God Rat and Mu Lingxi.
After a whole night of fierce fighting, they managed to escape.