Chapter 13: The Nine Netherworld Underworld

Legend has it.

After death, every soul enters the Nine Netherworld to wash away their past life's memories in the waters of the Yellow Spring River.

Only then can they undergo reincarnation.

Here, the sky was a vast expanse of gray.

The surrounding air was so turbid it was visible to the naked eye.

Looking around, Lu Changsheng saw a yellow river directly ahead of him.

Above the river stood a bridge.

At this moment, countless white ghosts were crossing the bridge...

Beyond the bridge stood a massive doorframe, upon which two giant characters were inscribed.

The Netherworld!

"Who dares trespass upon my Nine Netherworld!"

Suddenly, a thunderous roar erupted from the sky, its voice echoing throughout the entire space!

Lu Changsheng looked toward the figures in mid-air; a deathly aura emanated from each of them.

"Who are you?"

One of the figures spoke, asking, "Why have you come to my Netherworld?"

Normally, no living being would ever come to the Netherworld; those who arrived were only those who had died in the mortal realm.

However, any being capable of entering the Nine Netherworld was, without exception, a powerhouse.

Lu Changsheng said in a clear voice, "It is nothing major. I simply wish to borrow some of the water from your precious Yellow Spring River."

The figure's expression changed instantly, and he shouted sternly, "The water of the Yellow Spring is one of the supreme treasures of my Nine Netherworld! How could we possibly lend it to you?"

Lu Changsheng felt a sense of helplessness.

It seemed he would have to fight.

Only by displaying strength could he gain a say in the matter.

With a wave of his wooden sword, Lu Changsheng's expression turned solemn, and a surge of sword intent rose naturally from within him.

Seeing this, the expressions of the figures turned serious. Their bodies tensed, ready to meet Lu Changsheng's lightning strike at any moment!

Lu Changsheng said solemnly, "Fine then. Come at me one by one."

The group of figures was about to charge together, intending to strike first to gain the advantage.

But upon hearing these words, they stopped dead in their tracks, staring at Lu Changsheng in stunned silence.

"You aren't thinking of ganging up on me, are you?"

Lu Changsheng said with righteous indignation, "You are, after all, the administrators of the Nine Netherworld. How can you stoop to such group bullying? Truly, you lack martial ethics!"

The figures looked at one another, their faces turning even darker than their original black complexion.

*You've come to rob our supreme treasure, and you expect us to show martial ethics?!*

*Do you take us for fools?*

"Stop wasting words with him! All of you, attack at once! Capture him alive and throw him into the Nine Netherworld Purgatory to endure the agony of the Earthly Fires!"

With that, the figures charged directly at Lu Changsheng!

Each of them brandished a precious artifact, emitting waves of annihilation!

Seeing this, Lu Changsheng's expression tightened. He raised his wooden sword and slashed forward!

Instantly!

The void shattered, and the space of the Nine Netherworld cracked like glass!

The entire Netherworld erupted with deaf-ening roars!

The once-calm waters of the Yellow Spring River began to boil as if over a great fire!

The faces of the figures changed drastically!

"A Dao Law!"

"The Dao Law of the Sword! How can someone in this world have comprehended a Dao Law!"

"Quick, sacrifice blood to the treasure!"

As they spoke, the figures struck their own chests, spraying jets of essence blood!

The essence blood landed upon an ancient, heavy door.

On the front of the door was the head of a fierce ghost, its mouth agape, filled with sharp teeth!

"Rashomon!"

As the words fell, the door expanded violently, transforming into a sky-piercing giant gate!

It crashed down!

Blocking the path of that terrifying sword qi!

*BOOM!*

The sword strike that shattered the void slammed directly into Rashomon!

The aftershocks of the collision swept through the entire Nine Netherworld Yellow Spring!

The bridge over the Yellow Spring River began to crumble!

Even the ancient doorframe standing nearby was affected by the shockwaves and collapsed!

However.

In an instant, Rashomon began to emit the sound of being overwhelmed!

*Crack! Crack!*

Fissures, like deep canyons, began to spread wildly in all directions!

The figures also spat out mouthfuls of blood.

Rashomon was connected to them.

Now that Rashomon was heavily damaged, they were directly rendered unable to continue the fight!

As the sword qi dissipated, Rashomon rapidly shrank, covered in countless cracks, and was retrieved by the figures.

"Just what manner of deity are you?"

The figures' forms were revealed.

All six were elderly men, draped in gray cloaks, holding scepters in their hands.

Atop the scepters were orb-like objects flickering with an eerie green light.

"What, do you want me to tell you just so you can seek revenge later? More importantly, are you lending it or not?"

Lu Changsheng frowned slightly, clearly losing his patience.

Seeing this, the six elders could only smile bitterly. "Excellency, it is not that we refuse to lend it, but that we do not have the authority. The six of us are the Yellow Spring Messengers of this Netherworld. The water of the Yellow Spring possesses a spirit; only by gaining its recognition can it be taken away."

Lu Changsheng raised an eyebrow and said, "Then take me to it."

The six men looked at each other, and finally, they could only sigh and nod in agreement.

"Follow us, Excellency."

If he had swung a few more swords, let alone whether they could withstand it, the Nine Netherworld would surely have collapsed.

If that happened, the reincarnation cycle of this world would fall into total chaos!

They arrived at a side hall.

Inside the hall stood a figure whose body appeared somewhat ethereal.

The Yellow Spring Messengers bowed to the figure and then turned to leave.

The figure turned around; it was an extremely young, effeminate man.

The man said, "I know your purpose, and no one in this Nine Netherworld is your match. I can lend you the water of the Yellow Spring, but I have one condition."

Lu Changsheng said, "Speak."

The man then said, "In the future, find a King of Hell for this Nine Netherworld to guard this place."

"The King of Hell's cultivation methods and his reincarnation are unknown; he could be anywhere. If the Nine Netherworld remains without a King of Hell to suppress it for too long, chaos is inevitable!"

Lu Changsheng thought for a moment and nodded in agreement.

At worst, he could just throw that kid Qiu Bai here to act as the so-called King of Hell.

Seeing Lu Changsheng agree, the man waved his hand. Suddenly, the waters of the Yellow Spring rose into the air, converging into a single point!

They formed a yellow bead, which landed before Lu Changsheng.

Having obtained the object, Lu Changsheng nodded to the man and turned to leave.

Watching Lu Changsheng's retreating back, the man couldn't help but wonder, "The Heavenly Dao of this world has collapsed and the path to ascension is closed. How could someone comprehend a Dao Law? Could they have come from the outside?"

But after thinking it over, he shook his head. Why would anyone from the outside care about a place like this...

...

After leaving the side hall, Lu Changsheng directly shattered the space with a sword strike and flew toward the outside world.

However, as Lu Changsheng departed, an ethereal spirit on the opposite bank of the Yellow Spring River followed him with lightning speed...

(End of Chapter)