NOVPUB
Chapter 911: Sick of Living
The blue light came suddenly, giving them no time to react. Even Li Badao had only managed to catch a glimpse of it from the corner of his eyes before it was already in front of Fang Chen.
Fang Chen's expression darkened. "Preposterous."
Terrifying yin energy surged out from Fang Chen. In an instant, nine Zhu Longs appeared around him. With a single palm, he swatted away the blue light, stepped onto the Zhu Longs, and soared through the void. In the vast emptiness, he saw two panicked figures. They were Yin Walker.
These two were Immortal Kings, and had reached the level of Yin Monarchs.
Seeing that Fang Chen had easily neutralized their attacks, they immediately realized they weren't his match.
"It was a mistake.... A misunderstanding," one of them tried to explain.
Before he could finish, Fang Chen took action, not giving them a chance to explain.
The two could only exert all their strength to resist. However, they soon realized that their understanding of Fang Chen's cultivation had been grossly mistaken. He was far stronger than they had been told!
"Wait! Give us a chance to explain! We were paid to do this, we never intended to be your enemies!"
"Lord, we can provide you with clues. With your abilities, you can surely trace who hired us!"
"Damn it, you're leaving us no way out!?"
"Let's fight back!"
The crowd below could not see what was happening in the void, but they could hear the sounds of the battle. The sky rumbled with thunder, as if the heavens themselves were angry.
Li Badao was both angry and shocked. "Who's tired of living to dare strike against our lord!"
Qi Zhan and the others exchanged glances, a glimmer of hope rising in their eyes. If something were to happen to Fang Chen, perhaps they would have a chance at escape!
Abbess Zhu Yue and the peasant woman's expressions grew solemn. To meet such a matter the moment they walked the Path of Yin, it seemed that the Underworld was not peaceful.
Ye Wenxiu, seeing Liu Mu's nervous expression, smiled and reassured, "Master won't be in danger."
Liu Mu nodded, his eyes fixed on the movements in the void.
Abbess Qing He finally snapped out of her daze. Looking at the empty space where the scholar had been standing earlier, she felt her heart go cold.
When he was alive, he had been robbed and killed. Even after he had died and searched for the Underworld for sixteen years, ultimately finding it, he met such a calamity, leading to his soul scattering....
Abbess Qing He's sadness didn't escape Abbess Zhu Yue, a trace of worry crossing her eyes. She didn't know how to console her.
At that moment, everyone suddenly saw two bolts of blue lightning that resembled true dragons, descending to the world and flashing through the void. Afterward, Fang Chen flew out of the void and landed in front of the crowd.
Qi Zhan and the others were greatly disappointed.
Li Badao quickly stepped forward and knelt. "Please forgive us!"
Fang Chen's expression was indifferent. "What crime have you committed?"
He glanced toward the direction of the Forgotten River. "The ones who are guilty are hiding themselves well. I'm curious to see when they will make their next move."
He had already killed the two Yin Walkers, destroying their souls. They didn't know who had hired them, only that they had paid a huge sum of Yin Lifespan coins for Fang Chen's life. The one who made contact with them was a dismissed Day Walker Monarch.
Clearly, a single Day Walker Monarch wouldn't be able to offer such a large amount of Yin Lifespan Coins to deal with him. There had to be the shadow of a Yin Monarch behind this, but to figure out which one, they'd need to meet that Day Walker Monarch first and interrogate him.
However, that Day Walker Monarch was a Yin Walker as well, and likely would not dare to show his face in the Underworld for quite some time.
Fang Chen looked down and noticed a few bulging money bags in his hands. With a thought, the Yin Lifespan Coins inside were instantly transformed and merged into Monarch Yan's Seal. The Yin Lifespan inside the seal steadily increased, eventually reaching 13546 years. 3,546 years of the Yin Lifespan was originally in the Monarch Yan's Seal; the additional 10,000 years came from the two Yin Walkers.
Fang Chen said indifferently, "Let's go."
Soon, the group arrived at the Forgotten River, and they gazed curiously at it. Seeing that, Li Badao took on the role of a guide and explained the significance of the river.
"If no one remembers you, it will be hard to cross the Forgotten River. You either return to the mortal realm or sink into it..."
The group was startled by the rules of the river. Sure enough, they saw countless small boats causing ripples and slowly approaching them. Many wandering souls on the shore saw their relatives and called out to them, and were then escorted onto the boats before heading into the vast mist.
"Lord, that scholar only has his elderly mother left at home. Now that he is gone and his soul scattered, if his mother dies, she will likely find it difficult to cross the river...."
Abbess Qing He asked softly, "Is there any other way...?" 𝚗ovp𝚞b.𝚌om
Discerning Qing He's thoughts, Fang Chen explained, "By converting Yin Lifespan into a boat, one can carry people across the Forgotten River. You are now a Yin Walker and will be able to earn Yin Lifespan in the Underworld. If that scholar's mother comes here after passing away, you can help her by guiding her across in a boat."
Abbess Qing He's eyes brightened, and the cloud of worry on her face lifted immediately. "Ah, I see!"
Fang Chen sighed inwardly.
Some people, while alive, seem to always live for others. It's hard for others to judge whether this is good or bad, but living like that could be exhausting. In this regard, Abbess Qing He was far more pure than he was, and in the future, she would only find herself more worn out.
With a thought, a bridge that spanned across the void appeared. Both the wandering souls on the shore and those on the boats were shocked by the sight. Before they could react, a group of people had already stepped onto the bridge.
Some wandering souls, who were still waiting for their relatives to come for them, saw the bridge and tried to rush onto it, but Li Badao quickly slashed them and sent them flying.
Abbess Qing He wanted to speak but hesitated. She looked at Fang Chen, only to find him indifferent. With a soft sigh, she realized there was nothing she could do. It was likely that this was the rule of the Underworld. She could only quietly encourage herself to earn more Yin Lifespan Coins in the future. That way, when someone needed her help, she would be able to step in.
After everyone had crossed the bridge, it started to fade. Before long, it disappeared from the view of the wandering souls. No matter how angrily they shouted, the bridge did not reappear. They could only stand still helplessly, waiting for a crossing opportunity that might never come.
Shuang Ye City, where Li Badao was stationed, was far more prosperous compared to Bai Yue City and Youhuan City. There were Yin Walkers everywhere here.
"The Underworld and the Mortal Realm are like a mirror. The souls of the deceased in the mortal realm, according to the rules, will travel to the corresponding Underworld city."
Fang Chen casually reminded them, "Shuang Ye City has no connection to the Flame Empire. If you travel to the Underworld again, you won't end up here. You will most likely not meet any Yin Walkers."
Ye Wenxiu suddenly understood. "No wonder some people who die far from home have others help bring them back to their hometowns to rest in peace. Without that, they wouldn't be able to reunite with their kin in the Underworld."
Abbess Zhu Yue asked thoughtfully, "Can one move freely in the Underworld?"
Fang Chen smiled faintly and explained, "Either you have enough Yin Lifespan Coins, or you hold an official position in the Underworld. These are the only two ways that allow you to do so."
Hold an official position?
The group thought about how the bridge had appeared so easily at Fang Chen's command and began to understand.
Soon, they stopped in front of an imposing building.
Li Badao asked respectfully, "Lord, this is the Nether Guards Division of Shuang Ye City. Would you like me to summon the Division God and the Night Walker General to meet with you?"
Qi Zhan and the other wandering souls looked up at the solemn and quiet Nether Guards Division. Two stone carvings of strange beasts stood at the entrance, and their mouths were wide open as though they were about to devour anyone who came too close, giving off a terrifying aura.
"No need." Fang Chen waved his hand. "I'll show them around. You take this group inside and entertain them well."
Li Badao, seeing the situation, shot a grim look at Qi Zhan and the others. With a grin, he said, "Everyone, follow me. Good things are awaiting you."
With that, he yanked the chains sharply, dragging the pained and reluctant Qi Zhan and the others inside the Nether Guards Division.
***
Several hours later, after Abbess Zhu Yue and the others had gotten a good look at the scenery of the Underworld, Fang Chen led the group back to the Mortal Realm, restoring their vitality. Having gotten a feel for the Underworld, the next time they traveled to the Underworld, they would naturally know to avoid some of the taboos, such as not touching the waters of the Forgotten River.
Outside the hall, as Fang Chen bid farewell to everyone and boarded the Immortal Boat with Ye Wenxiu and Liu Mu, Abbess Zhu Yue suddenly asked, "Lord Fang, where will you be going?"
Fang Chen smiled and cupped his hands in farewell. "I'll visit Grand Qian Empire next, then head to Azure Cloud Empire for a look. Everyone, may we meet again if fate allows."
With that, the immortal boat immediately turned into a streak of rainbow light and disappeared into the horizon.
Zhang Xiaoke sighed softly, caught between hope and anxiety.
Abbess Zhu Yue noticed Qing He was frowning in deep thought. She turned her gaze to Fang Qingyao, who had been silent, and said faintly, "If your cultivation could catch up to his, there might still be a chance."
Fang Qingyao was slightly startled. "Master, I..."
Abbess Zhu Yue said, "No need to explain. I've been through this. I am not blind. Let's return to the sect. I still need to try the Path of Yin Technique again. You'll protect me while I settle things in the Underworld, and then you can come afterward."
"Yes!"
