177: Lord of the Netherworld

Immediately after, Li Xiangyun's glabella suddenly split open with a faint light.

"Om~"

The nether soul guiding lamp flew out from Li Xiangyun's mind, its body entwined with profound black runes, and its wick flickering with a ghostly blue flame.

As soon as the ghostly flame lit up, the chilling blood Qi emanating from the surrounding blood vines surged violently, as if encountering a natural enemy.

Suddenly, the lamp's flame abruptly soared three feet high, and Cang Lanzi's ethereal figure slowly emerged within the fire.

Just standing there silently, the faint cyan halo surrounding him acted like an invisible chasm, firmly pressing down the Blood-Eyed Vine Emperor's vicious aura three zhang away.

Even the Blood-Eyed Vine Emperor's blood-red eyes closed, not daring to look directly.

Following Cang Lanzi's appearance, an enraged voice immediately resonated from within Li Xiangyun's body—an ancient, authoritative voice, carrying a chill like the Netherworld.

"Cang Lanzi, it really is you!"

"You sabotaged my resurrection back then, and now you want to stop me again?"

"What kind of talk is that?" Cang Lanzi casually picked his ear and said, "You make it sound like this old man has nothing better to do than specifically target you."

"Netherworld Devil Monarch, of all the people you could choose, why pick this kid?"

"Don't you know this kid is under my protection!?"

"Hmph~" The Netherworld Devil Monarch snorted coldly upon hearing this, "No matter what you say, I will never give up on this kid. If you have the guts, then come and expel me!"

"Sigh, why won't you listen to reason!"

"Do you really think that just because you've merged with the Abyss, this old man can't do anything to you?"

In response, the Netherworld Devil Monarch did not reply, but his attitude seemed to say, "If you have the ability, come on!"

Cang Lanzi didn't mind, his gaze falling on the main trunk of the thousand-zhang Spirit Marrow Jade Root Tree. His eyes, which could see through illusions, seemed to penetrate the flowing light patterns, reaching deep into the tree's core.

His voice was not loud, yet it carried an undeniable penetrative power, echoing through the quiet forest: "Fellow Daoist, after consuming so much essence blood, it's time to fulfill your promise."

The moment his voice fell, the Spirit Marrow Jade Root Tree suddenly trembled slightly. The flowing light patterns on its milky-white trunk instantly brightened, and the flowing jade liquid seemed to be guided, surging rapidly along the patterns towards the tree's base.

The emerald leaves rustled, and the drooping, luminous white light curtain suddenly thickened. The sparkling points of light within the light net converged towards Li Xiangyun like a tide.

Several thick roots near Li Xiangyun at the base of the tree slowly lifted. Small openings split at the tips of the roots, and a viscous, nectar-like, luminous white jade marrow liquid seeped out.

It transformed into several slender jade-colored threads, precisely landing on key points such as Li Xiangyun's glabella and wrist pulse points.

As soon as the jade marrow liquid touched his skin, it burrowed into his body like a living thing.

Li Xiangyun's originally pale complexion visibly became rosy. The chaotic Qi within his body was gently smoothed by the jade liquid, and his dislocated bones emitted faint "cracking" sounds as they were pulled back into place by an invisible force.

Even more miraculously, at his glabella, the faint light emitted by the nether soul guiding lamp merged with the jade marrow liquid, forming a faint golden halo that seeped into his Sea of Consciousness.

His Divine Soul, which had been dim from resisting the Netherworld Devil Monarch, now glowed with a moist luster, as if parched land had met sweet rain. Threads of Spiritual Qi flowed along the Divine Soul's patterns, making it increasingly solid.

Upon realizing all this, the Netherworld Devil Monarch immediately roared, "Damn you, Cang Lanzi, what are you trying to do!?"

"And Spiritual Marrow, you actually dare to betray this Monarch."

In response, the Spirit Marrow Jade Root Tree not only did not stop, but even extended a blood-colored vine, which then plunged into Li Xiangyun's body.

Immediately after, streams of dark purple sap began to flow into Li Xiangyun's body along the vine.

Seeing this, the Netherworld Devil Monarch immediately let out an even angrier roar, but he was helpless.

Cang Lanzi watched this scene with satisfaction, then smiled and said, "Netherworld Devil Monarch, what you're saying isn't right."

"Fellow Daoist Spiritual Marrow was born of heaven and earth. It only rooted here because the land was close to the Netherworld and happened to have abundant Life Qi. He is not anyone's subordinate."

"How can you speak of betrayal then!"

Cang Lanzi stood beside the nether soul guiding lamp, watching the Spiritual Qi mist rising around Li Xiangyun, his brows gradually relaxing.

He could clearly sense that Li Xiangyun's cultivation was steadily rising under the nourishment of the jade marrow liquid. The Realm barrier, which had been stuck at a Bottleneck, showed signs of loosening, and the growth in his Divine Soul's strength far exceeded expectations.

Clearly, due to the Netherworld Devil Monarch's provoking words and Li Xiangyun's talent, he also wanted to invest, actually injecting a hundred years of jade marrow liquid.

A moment later, when the last wisp of jade marrow liquid seeped into the protagonist's body, the Spirit Marrow Jade Root Tree's trembling gradually subsided, and the flowing light patterns returned to their original softness.

Only the spiritual light swirling around Li Xiangyun still slowly circulated, holding him suspended in mid-air, as if enveloped by an invisible jade cocoon.

Cang Lanzi nodded, watching this scene, and said, "Kid, seeing that you're quite promising, and that your previous sermon helped this old man out."

"Since that's the case, this old man will help you one more time!"

"As for how far you can go, that depends on your own fortune."

Cang Lanzi looked at Li Xiangyun, who was suspended in mid-air by the jade cocoon, a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes. He then raised his hand and pointed at the floating nether soul guiding lamp.

The small bronze lamp seemed to have a spiritual consciousness; the runes on its body suddenly lit up, and the ghostly blue flame flickering at the wick violently surged, actually condensing into a dark purple flame that blotted out the sky at the lamp's mouth.

Who would have thought that the flame within this nether soul guiding lamp was precisely a branch flame from the Origin of the Netherworld Darkfire, only now revealing its true form.

At this moment, countless ethereal figures could vaguely be seen rising and falling within this flame, as if thousands of vengeful Souls were roaring within it, and ancient Vicious Beasts were slumbering.

"Go."

Accompanied by Cang Lanzi's low roar, a cyan glow condensed on his fingertip, precisely pointing at the dark purple flame.

In an instant, this branch flame of the Netherworld Darkfire, like a purple lightning bolt tearing through heaven and earth, dragged a thousand-zhang-long fiery tail, carrying the scorching heat that could incinerate all things and the chilling cold that could freeze the Divine Soul, whistling towards Li Xiangyun.

Wherever it passed, space even rippled with subtle distortions. The luminous white light curtain hanging from the Spirit Marrow Jade Root Tree was swept by the fiery tail, instantly erupting with golden sparks.

The Blood-Eyed Vine Emperor's main vine trembled violently. Layers of frost appeared on its dark red body, then burn marks were seared onto it by the flame's high temperature. The red eyes within its fleshy nodules all contracted, revealing a fear originating from the depths of its Soul.

Even a branch flame was more powerful than Li Xingyan's Earth Core Glazed Flame. It was hard to imagine how powerful the true Netherworld Darkfire would be.

The Netherworld Devil Monarch immediately shrieked in terror, "Cang Lanzi, what are you trying to do? Stop this Monarch!"

"Don't forget this is the Netherworld Darkfire! Even if it's just a branch flame from the Origin, Li Xiangyun, with his Golden Core Realm cultivation, simply cannot refine it!"