Chapter 126

Chapter 126: On Following Rules

Swoosh!

Nangong Zhandao gently flicked his sleeve, and a streak of golden light shot out, continuously expanding until it turned into a six-story high golden flying ship, carved with dragons and phoenixes, extremely luxurious, unmistakably a top-notch sacred artifact.

This sacred artifact landed on the Underworld River, and dense golden divine patterns rose up, forming a Golden Barrier that enveloped the flying ship.

The waters of the Underworld River rushed by, creating ripples of waves.

In the time of two breaths, the Golden Barrier collapsed, and the golden flying ship was corroded by the Underworld River waters, sinking into the depths at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Nangong Zhandao furrowed his brow tightly.

He thought, "A top-notch sacred artifact could not even last five breaths?"

"This is the Holy Water of the Yellow Springs, a treasure for alchemy and artifact forging," Lin Qianmo said calmly. "Even if you put an imperial weapon into the Underworld River, after a few days, the Great Dao imprint would be worn away, and the imperial weapon would vanish."

"Is it really that terrifying?" Lian Jiuyou was deeply shaken.

Lan Youruo said, "The Holy Water of the Yellow Springs is quite mysterious; it can refine many forces, similar in effect to chaotic energy. In our clan, there is a spring of Holy Water of the Yellow Springs that our elders extracted from the Underworld River using extraordinary means."

"Since the Holy Water of the Yellow Springs can corrode everything, how can we cross the river?" Nangong Zhandao looked at Lin Qianmo.

"Elder sister must have a way since she wants to cross," Lan Youruo said with a laugh.

"With this thing, we can cross the river," Lin Qianmo replied. Between her two fingers, a piece of black paper appeared out of thin air; the paper was very thick, looked rather coarse, and seemed crudely made by common folk.

However, a strange aura emanated from the black paper; even a Divine Sense at the peak of quasi-emperor level found it hard to penetrate.

"An item from the Primordial Era?" Lian Jiuyou sensed an aura similar to the green lamp and asked aloud.

"Yes," Lin Qianmo said without elaborating. She unhurriedly folded the black paper into a paper boat, then squatted down and placed the black paper boat on the Underworld River.

A miraculous sight unfolded.

The black paper boat did not drift with the waves; instead, under the washing of the Underworld River, its size continuously expanded until it transformed into a small boat two zhang wide.

Its deck was thin as a cicada’s wing, still visibly paper, yet it floated on the Underworld River without getting soaked or sinking, extremely peculiar.

Everyone looked shocked.

A top-notch sacred artifact could not survive on the Underworld River, but this seemingly ordinary paper boat could drift on it; it was truly wondrous.

Lin Qianmo also did not explain the origin of the black paper boat. She stepped onto it first, and the paper boat dipped slightly.

When everyone else boarded, the paper boat sank by more than an inch.

Splash, splash! The Underworld River waters flowed, and the black paper boat began to drift slowly downstream.

Lian Jiuyou felt grave and anxious, his nerves taut, fearing the black paper boat might suddenly sink.

Lin Qianmo, however, gazed calmly without any trace of concern.

Before long, the black paper boat drifted into the crimson smoke.

"Do not inhale the smoke into your mouths and noses," Lin Qianmo cautioned. "Once you breathe in the red smoke, it can affect your spirit and cause illusions."

Hearing Lin Qianmo’s warning, everyone hurriedly held their breath.

Woo woo woo!

Eerie shrieking sounds echoed, as if malicious ghosts were wailing in grievance; they sounded right by everyone’s ears, resonating from all sides, so close it felt like the spirits were beside them.

Lian Jiuyou activated the Eternal Calamity Extinguishing Scripture and stood as immovable as a mountain.

After the time it took for a stick of incense to burn, the paper boat sailed out of the red smoke zone, and the scenery on the shores slowly grew clearer.

Roar!

A salamander as large as a mountain perched by the shore; its power was terrifyingly immense, for just its breathing alone stirred waves like a storm on the Underworld River.

The salamander’s lantern-red eyes stared at the black paper boat, its aura fierce and menacing.

"The strength of that creature is formidable."

Lian Jiuyou was inwardly terrified; the salamander before him had power no less than that of a Great Emperor.

"Do not be alarmed."

Lin Qianmo calmly stated, "It is simply an ancient creature dwelling on the shores of the Underworld River, not daring to set foot in the river itself. That is why it will not attack us."

Whoosh whoosh!

Sudden gales arose, making the black paper boat sway unsteadily, yet it always maintained its balance.

"Is it also afraid of the Holy Water of the Yellow Springs?" Nangong Zhandao frowned as he spoke.

"It does not fear the Holy Water of the Yellow Springs."

Lin Qianmo said, "What it fears are the creatures within the Underworld River."

"Creatures residing inside the Underworld River?"

Lian Jiuyou felt his scalp crawling with dread, and all the hairs on his body stood on end.

Lan Youruo slowly lowered her head and saw an immense shadow lurking beneath the murky Underworld River, directly under the black paper boat, following closely like a shadow yet always hidden beneath the vessel.

The Divine Sense of everyone could not pierce through the Underworld River; they could only discern a hazy outline.

"It… It might attack us?" Lan Youruo also grew panicked, as this monster clearly surpassed the salamander on the shore in strength.

"Ohterwise, the salamander wouldn’t obediently remain idle on the bank."

"No, it won’t."

Lin Qianmo stated, "The aura of the Taiping paperweight masks our presence, preventing those creatures under the Underworld River from detecting us. As long as we don’t enter the river, it cannot find us."

As the black paper boat drifted further away, the ancient creatures on both shores became increasingly numerous, taking on various strange shapes.

All these creatures, without exception, refused to step into the Underworld River.

"Why in the world are there so many ancient creatures by the Underworld River?" Nangong Zhandao stared intently at Lin Qianmo, demanding an answer.

"The Underworld River has an ancient origin, nurturing all types of precious natural treasures; this place is rich in yin energy, secluded and rarely visited by humans, making it the ideal habitat for those ancient creatures."

Nangong Zhandao’s brow furrowed even more deeply; that did not seem a reasonable explanation.

The only possibility was that the Underworld River held something they needed.

Abruptly, a hush fell over the river.

The ancient creatures along its banks grew unbearably still.

The Yin aura thickened profoundly, as if some unclean entity was swiftly closing in.

Beneath the paper boat, that shadowy shape seemed to perceive imminent peril. It plunged downward instantly, vanishing from view.

"The most troublesome one has arrived," Lin Qianmo murmured, her elegant brows knitting slightly.

A wisp of cool breeze stirred, and upon the empty expanse of river ahead, a hazy figure suddenly materialized. Though its features were indistinct, its form was slender and graceful.

The very instant "she" appeared, a mournful and plaintive melody drifted across the Underworld River.

Lian Jiuyou and the others immediately sealed their senses, yet the song persisted, resonating directly within their minds.

The figure had its back to them. As the black paper boat drifted ever closer, "her" delicate frame shifted minutely, a prelude to turning and facing the group.

A sliver of dread took root in everyone’s heart.

Instinctively, they felt certain that once "she" turned around, they would likely find themselves ensnared in fatal peril.

This premonition was far from groundless.

"It seems I must reluctantly spend one ancient coin," Lin Qianmo sighed bitterly.

She had hoped Nangong Zhandao’s presence on this journey might bring better fortune, helping them avoid the eerie creatures drifting on the Underworld River. Yet, here they were.

The "she" ahead was not a living being. It was a monster birthed across the immeasurable epochs of the Underworld River’s existence.

More than a monster, it was almost a manifestation of the river’s own rules.

"She" did not belong to the present world.

The moment she departed the Underworld River, she would dissipate like smoke.

Yet within the river, "her" inherent power was fearsome enough; even if destroyed, she could be reborn.

Moreover, attacking her would inevitably rouse countless more of her kind.

After all, "she" was born of the Underworld River’s principles. Unless one could suppress the river itself, unscathed escape was utterly impossible.

While this contemplation unfolded, "she" began to turn around.

Still wreathed in indistinct haze.

The song grew increasingly urgent, sorrowful and plaintive, like a woman lamenting a life filled with bitterness.

Lian Jiuyou and Lan Youruo found themselves utterly powerless to resist, their consciousness steadily blurring.

Within Nangong Zhandao’s Purple Palace, the Ziwei Spirit Root gave a gentle tremor. Two petals enveloped his spirit root, completely blocking the eldritch song’s invasive call.

Ding!

Lin Qianmo flicked her finger, sending an ancient copper coin flying towards the feminine entity.

The coin was etched with ancient characters, radiating an exceedingly heavy Yin aura.

That figure paused, reached out to catch the copper coin, then bowed toward Lin Qianmo and vanished on the Underworld River, as if she had never appeared.

Nangong Zhandao’s gaze froze.

What exactly was that copper coin?

How did the Creature that just appeared get here?

The entire Underworld River was like a mass of mystery, shrouding Nangong Zhandao’s heart.

As soon as the woman disappeared, the singing stopped abruptly. Both Lian Jiuyou and Lan Youruo came to their senses. Lian Jiuyou was soaked in cold sweat, his nerves unsettled.

Lan Youruo also looked dazed.

“Don’t be afraid, it’s over.”

Nangong Zhandao held Lan Youruo’s hand. Her hand was icy cold, as if it had just been pulled from water, and her expression was panicked. Even with Nangong Zhandao comforting her, she kept muttering to herself.

After half a quarter hour, Lan Youruo finally recovered.

“What… what exactly was that Creature?” Lan Youruo asked, still shaken.

“On the Underworld River, you must follow the rules.”

“As for her origin, it’s not something you should know right now.”

Lin Qianmo shook her head and said, “With her dealt with, this trip should have no more trouble.”

“I wonder where this Underworld River ultimately leads?”

Nangong Zhandao’s eyes sharpened. “The Underworld River has more than one branch?”

“Yes.”

Lin Qianmo said, “This Underworld River is just one of many tributaries. The Underworld River is like a great river, with numerous branches, each leading to a different place.”

“It seems Senior Sister Lin has entered the Underworld River more than once.”

Lin Qianmo smiled but didn’t explain.

She had indeed entered the Underworld River multiple times, or she wouldn’t understand its rules so well.

“You needn’t ask unnecessary questions anymore.”

Lin Qianmo said solemnly, “The Underworld River involves too many secrets, and knowing them brings you no benefit.”

Lian Jiuyou felt that deeply.

He was just a small demon emperor, and he didn’t want to be swept into the torrents of the Underworld River and Burial Soil.

After all, throughout history, countless generations had exhausted their wits trying to uncover the mysteries of Burial Soil, yet failed—what was involved must be profoundly shocking.

He still wanted to guard the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom and live a few more years.

“The river’s flow is slowing; we must be nearing the end.”

The black paper boat also slowed down.

On both shores, ancient creatures still loomed.

“Light…” At that moment, a ray of light shone into the sunless world of the Underworld River.

“That should be the end of the Underworld River,” Lian Jiuyou said.

“Could it be Burial Soil?” Lan Youruo’s comment made Lian Jiuyou’s heart leap to his throat.

The Underworld River leading to Burial Soil was indeed possible.

The black paper boat drifted into a narrow, elongated cave entrance. The water’s turbulence sent ripples of echoes. Not long after, the paper boat floated out of the cavern.

The darkness vanished, and bright daylight broke.