Chapter 6: Journey to the Underworld
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Since Shen Xunqing had given his word, he would naturally keep it. Yan Yunqing had not taken the matter particularly seriously. Although this lifetime was nearing its end, his tribulation had only just begun. Once it was over, he would become the next lord of the Underworld, and it was unlikely that he would have anything more to do with this man. A brief entanglement, when considered carefully, amounted to little.
With his eyes lowered and his mind wandering elsewhere, Yan Yunqing failed to notice the strange smile curling at the corners of Shen Xunqing’s lips.
The tips of Shen Xunqing’s feet suddenly lifted slightly from the ground. Yan Yunqing only had time to hear a loud bang, as though something had fallen, before a white blur flashed before his eyes. Shen Xunqing’s smiling face swayed before him, and Yan Yunqing’s consciousness began to grow hazy.
Shen Xunqing caught Yan Yunqing, who had already fallen unconscious, and carried him out of the study in his arms. Black Slave sensed the disturbance within and appeared at the study door almost the instant the Ghost Venerable stepped out.
Looking behind him at the two mortal bodies lying on the ground, Black Slave exclaimed, “My lord, what have you done?”
The natural lifespans of those two mortal bodies were nearly at an end. It would not be long before they could return to the Asura Hall. What had happened to his lord now?
The Ghost Venerable cast Black Slave a sidelong glance and tightened his hold on Yan Yunqing. In a cold voice, he said, “This venerable one is weary. I am rather tired. I shall leave the rest to you.”
Black Slave silently answered, “Yes.”
He felt only a gust of wind sweep past him, and the Ghost Venerable had already vanished from sight. Judging from the direction he had gone, it was the Underworld. This was rather troublesome. Given his lord’s capricious nature, the Underworld would surely be thrown into turmoil once again.
Black Slave turned back and sighed. Very well. How was he supposed to clean up this mess and still satisfy his lord?
So long as the outcome matched what his lord had envisioned at the beginning, a slight deviation in the process should not matter.
In the Underworld, upon a desolate stretch of empty land—
The Ghost Venerable closed his eyes and searched for the location of the Asura Hall. Suddenly, the earth shook violently. When he opened his eyes again, the three characters bearing the name Asura Hall on the plaque were already before him.
No one could have expected that the Ghost Venerable would move the entire Asura Hall directly into the Underworld.
Within the Asura Hall, three dark shadows rushed toward him. They were the other three monsters stationed there besides Chi: Mei, Wang, and Liang.
When the three monsters saw the Ghost Venerable, they were about to speak their greetings. Yet although their mouths opened, not a sound emerged. All three raised their heads toward him.
The Ghost Venerable gently shook his head and carried the person in his arms into the Asura Hall.
Mei was utterly stunned. What a spectacle! Their lord had actually returned carrying someone in his arms.
She hurriedly patted Wang on the shoulder and said, “Hey, hey, hey! Did you see that? Has our lord finally found romance?”
Liang was rarely surprised, but the astonishment vanished in an instant, and he returned to his usual composure. Smiling mildly, he rose with Wang’s support and said softly, “Whether our lord has found romance, I cannot say. But if you keep shouting at the top of your lungs, punishment is certain.”
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Mei curled her lips indifferently. “Punishment is fine. It is still more interesting than remaining here to guard the Asura Hall.”
Liang helplessly shook his head and reached out to tap her between the brows. “You really must be more careful. Do not cause trouble because of this. Our lord has given us a place to call home. You must learn to cherish it.”
Mei nodded vigorously. “I know, I know! Let us hurry inside!”
The three monsters entered the Asura Hall and disappeared from sight. The Ghost Venerable had placed a barrier around the hall, making it impossible for ordinary people to enter.
The Ghost Venerable carried Yan Yunqing back to the bedchamber where he rested, then laid him on a cloud couch and waited for him to awaken.
In the Underworld, within the Hall of Yama—
Yama had only recently returned from breaking through the Red Luan Trial, and had been back for no more than a few days. He clearly sensed a disturbance somewhere in the Underworld. Before he could investigate its exact location, however, the disturbance ceased.
Yama could not shake the ominous feeling it left behind.
Thanks to the old ghost’s elixir, he had escaped the most difficult period of the Red Luan Trial and returned to the Underworld ahead of schedule. He would have to investigate the source of the disturbance, but first he wanted to confirm how Yan Yunqing’s tribulation was proceeding.
He summoned Ghost Lamp into the hall and asked, “Which lifetime is Yunqing on now?”
Ghost Lamp calmly replied, “The third.”
Yama frowned at that. By all rights, the tribulation could not have progressed so quickly. With that thought in mind, he asked, “Why has Yunqing’s tribulation advanced so rapidly?”
Ghost Lamp also furrowed his brows at the matter. They had always secretly monitored Yunqing’s experiences in the mortal realm, in case some unforeseen change occurred. They had even carefully investigated the origins of the people around him.
After considering this, Ghost Lamp said, “Indeed. According to our previous calculations, the tribulation should not have proceeded this quickly. But that would only be true under normal circumstances. I noticed someone beside Yunqing whose origins I was unable to uncover, even with the Book of Life and Death.”
Ghost Lamp paused before continuing, “Stranger still, this has already happened for three consecutive lifetimes. Yunqing seems to have ended each tribulation early because of this person who appeared out of nowhere.”
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“A person who appeared out of nowhere, whose origins cannot be found in the Book of Life and Death? Could he be the reincarnation of some powerful cultivator? Or perhaps someone from the Demon Domain is interfering in secret? Investigate this as quickly as possible! Nothing must go wrong with Yunqing’s tribulation. He must undergo all ten lifetimes. For Yunqing, even the loss of a single one could lead to unimaginable consequences!”
As Yama spoke, his tone grew increasingly grave.
Ghost Lamp nodded solemnly. “I understand. I shall investigate at once.”
Yama said, “Very well. You may withdraw for now.”
After Ghost Lamp left, Yama collapsed into a nearby chair as though all his strength had deserted him. His body had yet to recover completely, and the length of time it could endure was far shorter than he had imagined.
Regardless, during the period of Yunqing’s tribulation, the Underworld could not afford even the slightest mishap. Otherwise, he had no idea how he would answer to the ancient founders of the Underworld in the future.
In the Underworld, within the Asura Hall—
Yan Yunqing slowly awoke. His consciousness emerged from confusion into clarity. Gazing at the unfamiliar surroundings, his expression grew even colder. Without so much as looking at the Ghost Venerable lying beside him, he asked, “Where is this?”
The Ghost Venerable reclined lazily upon the soft cloud couch. “This is my Asura Hall. I have just moved it into the Underworld. What is it? Would you like to return home for a look?”
A flicker of surprise passed through Yan Yunqing’s eyes. “This is the Underworld?”
Yan Yunqing pressed his lips together. He had assumed the man was joking and had paid no attention to his words. But now...
No. His tribulation was the most important matter in his life at present. If it were delayed, he did not dare imagine the consequences.
Yan Yunqing immediately tore open the void and attempted to leave, only to be stopped by the barrier the Ghost Venerable had established.
“What? Are you trying to escape?”
Yan Yunqing nodded without hesitation. “Yes.”
He did not have time to waste here.
The Ghost Venerable chuckled several times and waved his hand, withdrawing the barrier. Then he smiled and said, “You may go back and take a look. But there is one condition: I must go with you.”
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