23: Lost in the Netherworld

Lin Xuan had just pressed Kong Ming's half-bald head, which had popped out of the barrier, back in, and then conveniently recharged the silent barrier for another 100 hours, finally bringing temporary peace to the world. He pulled up the system panel, and his Law-Breaking Sword Eyes swept over the dense emergency distress signals from various affiliated minor worlds, his brows knitting together.

World-Devouring Insects!

It was World-Devouring Insects again!

Emperor Qinglan wasn't exaggerating; these abominations were popping up everywhere like frogs in a muddy pond after a rain! Qinglan World, the edge of Xuanhuang World, the Shadow Plane affiliated with the Demon Realm, the Lotus Minor Realm under the Buddhist Realm... even several resource stars recently recovered by the Divine Phoenix Realm showed traces of the insect swarms! Although the scale wasn't comparable to the minor world his disciples had turned into a barbecue stand before, this widespread deployment clearly signaled the prelude to a full-scale invasion!

"System!" Lin Xuan roared in his mind, "Don't play dead! Do you have any wholesale divine artifacts? Arm my disciples to the teeth! Otherwise, this insect plague will never end, and how am I supposed to go to the Immortal Realm to chop down Asura Clan?!"

Ding! Detecting large-scale insect plague threat!

Opening 'Savior' Special Offer Store!

Divine Artifact Pseudo-Imitation Edition limited-time discount! Buy ten get one free! Supports installment payments with Sect Luck Points!

The system panel instantly displayed a dazzling virtual shelf, filled with various radiating but upon closer inspection, somewhat plastic-looking "divine artifacts":

- Pseudo-Chaos Moon Wheel, Yun Qingyao exclusive! Moonlight amplification +1000%, with automatic ice-making function! Original price 5000 Luck Points, now 2999!

- Pseudo-Immortal Slaying Scabbard, Leng Yuechan exclusive! Sword Intent damage +800%, with automatic Sword Qi navigation! Original price 5500, now 3299!

- Pseudo-Cosmic Star Chart - Youth Edition, Chu Xinghe exclusive! Array formation speed +300%, energy consumption reduced by 50%! Includes a fool-proof array diagram import function! Original price 6000, now 3999!

- Pseudo-Myriad Transformation Demon Banner, Linglong exclusive! Illusion range +500%, new "Group Intelligence Lowering Aura" to make insects bite each other! Buy now and get "Demonic Sound Piercing Ears" special noise attack! Original price 4500, now 2799!

- Pseudo-Heavenly Deduction Compass - Quick Calculation Edition: Su Yuan exclusive! Deduction speed +400%, new "Real-time Insect Swarm Weakness Marking"! Original price 4800, now 2899!

- Pseudo-Bodhi Prayer Beads, Anti-Nagging Edition, Kong Ming exclusive! Buddha's Light illumination +200%, with physical silencing function! Original price 3000, now 1999!

Lin Xuan looked at the "Buy ten get one free" slogan and the final "physical silencing" function, his mouth twitching wildly. This scamming system... taking advantage of the situation and with a nasty sense of humor! However... the prices were indeed so good it made his heart ache.

"Buy them! Full payment! No installments!" Lin Xuan gritted his teeth and waved his hand. The Sect Luck Points instantly plummeted by a large chunk, making his heart bleed. But there was no other way; his disciples' safety was paramount!

Buzz! Buzz!

Five, plus Kong Ming's six, divine lights of various colors descended from the sky, accurately landing in the hands of Yun Qingyao and the other five, who were exhausted from cleaning up the battlefield on the outskirts of the minor world!

"Holy crap! Divine artifact?!" Chu Xinghe stared at the miniature array disk in his hand, a smaller version but with flowing starlight, and felt the surging power contained within, his eyes nearly popping out!

"Long live Master!" Linglong hugged the small banner, which was shrouded in sinister black energy and came with a ghostly wailing background music, grinning so widely her peach blossom eyes narrowed into slits, and blew a kiss in Lin Xuan's direction.

Leng Yuechan silently stroked the ancient sword scabbard, and the Chaos Sword Bone in her spine hummed with pleasure. Yun Qingyao held the cold, miniature moon wheel, a slight smile on her lips. Su Yuan pushed his non-existent glasses, unable to part with the compass's "weakness marking" function.

Kong Ming: "Mmm mmm mmm—!!!" Covered by the silent barrier, but holding the prayer beads that could physically silence him, he gesticulated excitedly, his small bald head shining brightly.

"Stop celebrating!" Lin Xuan's exasperated voice echoed in the six people's Sea of Consciousness, "See those distress signals on the panel? Each of you pick one insect plague point! Yun Qingyao to the edge of Xuanhuang World, Leng Yuechan to the Shadow Plane of the Demon Realm, Chu Xinghe to the Lotus Minor Realm of the Buddhist Realm, Linglong to the Divine Phoenix Realm resource stars... Su Yuan will be mobile support, go wherever there are more insect kings! Kong Ming... you follow Linglong! Use your prayer beads to 'chant scriptures' for the insects!"

He paused, then added, "Mission objective: clear out the insects, save those who can be saved, for those who can't... leave a coordinate. If you encounter talented sprouts, bring them back! Strengthening the sect is everyone's responsibility! Fail the mission... the divine artifacts will be reclaimed!"

"Yes, Master!" The six, except for the grunting Kong Ming, were invigorated, looking at their freshly acquired "divine artifacts," their fighting spirit soaring! They transformed into six streaks of light, tearing through space towards their respective targets! Chu Xinghe, before leaving, also stuffed the pile of charred local specialties into his storage bag.

After sending off his disciples, Lin Xuan rubbed his temples. The sect's Luck Points had taken a huge hit; he had to find a way to replenish them. Going to the Immortal Realm to chop down Asura Clan and incidentally grab some local specialties should cover the cost, right?

"Lie Tian Divine Tiger!" Lin Xuan called out.

"Roar! I'm here, Master!" Lie Tian Divine Tiger scurried over.

"Let's go, to the Immortal Realm." Lin Xuan stepped onto the tiger's back. "The coordinates... hmm, are those coordinates Emperor Qinglan gave reliable?"

"Roar... let's try it, if we get lost, we'll just call it a scenic drive," Lie Tian Divine Tiger casually flicked its tail.

A flash of golden-red divine flame, and Lie Tian Divine Tiger, carrying Lin Xuan, fiercely tore through the void! A spatial passage, its edges flowing with rich chaotic energy, instantly formed! The other end of the passage, however, was not the anticipated immortal qi-shrouded realm, but rather a... desolate, icy, eerie space filled with faint gray mist!

"Hmm? Took a wrong turn?" Lin Xuan was startled. His Law-Breaking Sword Eyes swept over the gray mist space, his brow slightly furrowed. The spatial laws here were extremely chaotic, filled with dense death and reincarnation aura, interspersed with countless shattered soul fragments... completely different from the Immortal Realm Emperor Qinglan described!

"Roar... Master, this place... the yin energy is so heavy! It's even more sinister than Burial God Abyss!" Lie Tian Divine Tiger snorted, golden-red divine flame rising around its body, dispelling the gray mist that tried to encroach.

Warning! Detecting unknown high-level plane -- Netherworld!

Spatial coordinates are chaotic! Forcible entry carries extreme risk!

Recommendation: Exit immediately!

"Netherworld?" Lin Xuan's eyes lit up. He didn't make it to the Immortal Realm, but he stumbled into the underworld first? This... doesn't seem like a loss? He fully activated his Law-Breaking Sword Eyes, trying to penetrate the gray mist and see the true face of this land of the dead.

Just then!

"Wuwah—!!!"

A shrill, incomparably mournful shriek, filled with endless resentment and despair, suddenly erupted from the depths of the gray mist! The sound was incredibly penetrating, shaking the space into ripples! Immediately following, a black-red energy storm, extremely evil, defiled, as if a collection of all negative emotions in the world, surged out from the depths of the gray mist like a breached River Styx! Wherever the storm passed, the gray mist retreated, and space froze and decayed inch by inch! Countless wandering soul fragments were completely swallowed and annihilated before they could even let out a scream!

"Holy crap! What is that?!" Lin Xuan's expression changed slightly. This aura definitely surpassed the Tribulation Transcending Stage! It was even more terrifying than the Asura Clan Mother's clone Emperor Qinglan described! The waters of this Netherworld... are unbelievably deep!

"Roar—!!!" Lie Tian Divine Tiger was on high alert, its fur bristling, golden-red divine flame surging wildly, forming a protective shield around Lin Xuan! But the pressure of the black-red storm was too strong; the shield vibrated violently, groaning under the strain!

"Retreat!" Lin Xuan made a decisive decision! This damned place was no place to stay! His thoughts raced, and the chaotic spatial power of the Chaos Refinement Void Stage frantically poured into Lie Tian Divine Tiger's body!

Lie Tian Divine Tiger roared, tearing fiercely at the void with its front claws! A temporary spatial rift barely formed just before the storm struck!

A flash of golden-red light, and one man and one tiger narrowly squeezed into the rift! Just as the rift closed, the terrifying black-red storm slammed into the spot where they had just been!

Boom—!!!

Silent annihilation swept across! The gray mist, space, and even the laws of that area were completely erased! Leaving behind a huge, pitch-black void!

Inside the spatial passage, Lin Xuan, still shaken, looked back at the slowly closing rift, and the gray mist outside the rift that had returned to silence. That power just now... was definitely True Immortal level! Perhaps even higher! What exactly was imprisoned in this Netherworld?!

"Roar... scared this tiger to death..." Lie Tian Divine Tiger panted, its paws trembling, "This damned place is much more exciting than Burial God Abyss!"

Lin Xuan said nothing, his Law-Breaking Sword Eyes still locked onto the direction of the Netherworld. In the instant the storm erupted, he seemed to have seen an extremely faint, almost dissipating white light point on the edge of that erased area?

That light point was incomparably pure, carrying a faint but tenacious vitality that was completely at odds with the surrounding defilement and death. More importantly... under the Law-Breaking Sword Eyes, the core of that light point actually emitted a wave of fundamental law that made Lin Xuan's heart palpitate, concerning absolute purification and life reshaping!

"System! Identify that light point!" Lin Xuan cried out in his mind.

Scanning... Target: Pure living soul on the verge of dissipation

Status: Being eroded by unknown evil forces, its origin is about to be annihilated!

Talent: SSS+ rank · Life Reshaping (Incomplete)!

Origin Trait: Absolute Purification! Life Resonance!

Warning! The law origin contained in this living soul is suspected to have a fatal restraint on 'World-Devouring Insects' and 'Asura Clan'!

Lin Xuan's pupils contracted! SSS+ rank talent! Life Reshaping! Absolute Purification?! Fatal restraint on World-Devouring Insects and Asura Clan?! This is... simply a super insecticide and cleanser dropped from the heavens!

"Lie Tian Divine Tiger! Turn around! Go back and get him!" Lin Xuan's voice carried an undeniable urgency.

"Roar?! Go back?! Master, are you crazy?!" Lie Tian Divine Tiger's face turned pale with fright. If that storm came again, its tiger fur coat wouldn't be safe!

"What nonsense! We found a treasure!" Lin Xuan slapped Lie Tian Divine Tiger's furry head, "Quick! Lock the spatial coordinates onto that rapidly dissipating white light point! I'll cover you!"

Lie Tian Divine Tiger looked at its master's glowing eyes, knowing it couldn't be dissuaded, and gritted its tiger teeth: "Roar! I'll risk it!"

The golden-red divine flame erupted again! Lie Tian Divine Tiger steeled itself, controlling the spatial passage like a small boat navigating raging waves, carefully traversing towards the edge of the terrifying annihilation zone in the Netherworld!

Netherworld, edge of the annihilation storm.

That point of pure white light, like a candle in a gale, flickered as if about to extinguish. Within the white light, a curled-up, almost transparent phantom of a young girl was faintly visible. Her eyes were tightly closed, her brows deeply furrowed, as if enduring immense pain, her pure soul power continuously being eroded and stripped away by the lingering black-red aura.

Just as the white light was about to completely extinguish!

Chirp—!

A spatial rift burning with golden-red divine flame, like a precise surgical knife, instantly cut open beside her!

A slender and powerful hand, ignoring the terrifying residual annihilation power around it, shot out like lightning, grabbing that faint white light into its palm! Chaotic energy instantly surged out, forming a solid protective shield, isolating all erosion!

"Got it! Retreat!" Lin Xuan whispered.

Lie Tian Divine Tiger didn't need his reminder; the moment it grabbed the person, it used all its might to tear open space, transforming into a streak of light, and rushed into the passage without looking back! Its speed was comparable to fleeing for its life!

Just as the passage closed, from the depths of the gray mist, a terrifying low roar, filled with endless fury and confusion, seemed to echo...