518: Lord of the Netherworld

Qin Shilei followed the Netherworld Ghosts into the cave.

The further he flew in, the larger the cave became, and the colder and denser the aura inside grew.

Soon, they arrived in a cavern several hundred meters in size.

The cavern was densely filled with Netherworld Ghosts, who were blissfully devouring the mist within the cave.

“Where exactly is this demon heart?”

Qin Shilei looked around but found nothing unusual.

The treasure map only indicated that the demon heart was in a cave in the Nether Abyss; there was no more specific information beyond that.

The Netherworld Ghost that Qin Shilei had transformed into began searching carefully within this cavern.

He quickly found a small, half-meter-wide opening in one corner of the cavern.

Thick mist continuously surged out from within it.

Qin Shilei turned to the Platinum Realm Netherworld Ghost he controlled and asked, “Where does this thick mist come from? Have you been inside? What’s in there?”

The Netherworld Ghost replied, “It leads to the Nether Abyss. The thick mist is indeed coming from the Nether Abyss. Our Nether Lord is cultivating in seclusion inside. When I was promoted to the Platinum Realm, I was fortunate enough to be summoned by the Nether Lord once.”

“Nether Lord? Could it be a King Realm existence?” Qin Shilei asked, greatly surprised.

If this Nether Lord was truly an existence as powerful as the Abyss Lord, then it would be best to leave as soon as possible.

“No,” the Netherworld Ghost shook his head. “Our Nether Lord is a Master Realm powerhouse.”

That’s good. Qin Shilei ordered, “Take me inside to check it out.”

“Stop! What’s your name? You look unfamiliar.”

Just as Qin Shilei was about to enter the opening to explore, a cold voice suddenly sounded behind him.

“Andrei,” Qin Shilei replied indifferently.

“Andrei?”

The Netherworld Ghost looked at Qin Shilei scrutinizingly, “Among our Nether race, I know all the experts above the Diamond Realm, and there’s no one named Andrei.”

“I’ve been cultivating in seclusion by the Nether Lord’s side. I heard that a demon had infiltrated, so I specially came out to investigate. I’m about to return to report the situation to the Nether Lord. Are you going to stop me?”

Qin Shilei’s eyes darted, and he came up with an excuse.

“I wouldn’t dare!” Although the Netherworld Ghost was still somewhat suspicious, he didn’t dare to continue blocking him.

Qin Shilei ignored the Netherworld Ghost, turned, and slipped through the opening.

Thump, thump, thump!

After flying several thousand meters down into the cave, a thunderous sound suddenly echoed from afar.

Following the direction of the sound, he flew another few thousand meters downwards, and a small cave dozens of meters wide appeared before him.

“You suicidal fools, who allowed you to trespass into my place of secluded cultivation?”

As a questioning voice rang out, a powerful pressure enveloped Qin Shilei.

Nether Lord: The most powerful existence of the Nether race, Master peak cultivation. Immune to most physical and elemental attacks, skilled at attacking the target's soul. Weakness: Due to contending with the existence in the demon heart for control of the body, he cannot exert full strength or leave this place.

At the very back of the cave was a spring, from which water continuously gushed out, but as soon as the surging spring water left the ground, it immediately transformed into mist, which then flowed outwards.

This was likely the source of the thick mist outside.

Beside the spring, a half-meter-wide heart was beating with a rhythmic thumping sound.

Next to the heart was the Master peak Nether Lord.

Several finger-sized blood vessels connected the two.

demon heart: An existence left behind by a powerful demon after failing to advance to the King Realm. It has recovered some of its power under the nourishment of the Nether Spring. Refining this demon heart can not only allow a Diamond Realm demon to easily enter the Master Realm, but because this demon heart once stepped halfway into the King Realm, it also possesses a trace of King Realm power.

So this demon heart almost became an Immortal King. No wonder it could resist the Master peak Nether Lord’s refinement.

“Your Excellency, your subordinate is here to assist you!”

Qin Shilei said as he flew towards the other party.

“Stop!” The Nether Lord said in a deep voice, “Get out of here immediately. Don’t cause trouble.”

Qin Shilei, however, seemed not to have heard his command and instantly arrived before him.

A massive spatial vortex immediately appeared above the Nether Lord and the demon heart, like a giant mouth, instantly sucking both the Nether Lord and the demon heart inside.

Qin Shilei also entered the Blessed Land at the same time.

“Which Great Demon are you, to dare to covet me, the Nether Lord?”

The Nether Lord’s face showed a fierce light. “Where is this? Why do I feel so much weaker?”

Qin Shilei said with a sincere expression, “Your Excellency, I am indeed your subordinate, Andrei.

This is a spatial treasure that your subordinate occasionally obtained. The strength of all beings entering this space will be weakened.

To make it easier for Your Excellency to refine this demon heart, your subordinate specifically brought you here.”

The Nether Lord felt his strength being weakened due to the golden attribute of Twilight of the Gods.

Twilight of the Gods (Golden): All beings above the Divine Realm entering this area, excluding the host, have their strength reduced by thirty percent. As time progresses, the opponent's strength will be further reduced, with a maximum reduction of eighty percent.

To make the Nether Lord even weaker, Qin Shilei didn't directly attack but instead bluffed with a serious face.

“Release us immediately, or I’ll make sure you vanish, body and soul, right now!”

Although the Nether Lord felt that the demon heart’s power had also greatly diminished, he didn’t believe that this would make it easier to refine the demon heart.

Qin Shilei continued to bluff, “Your Excellency, please calm your anger. I haven’t fully mastered this spatial treasure yet, which is why your strength has also been restricted.

Please wait a moment, Your Excellency. I will immediately control the spatial treasure to remove its influence on you.”

Upon hearing this, the Nether Lord was immediately somewhat moved.

If it was truly as his attributes stated, that his strength would recover while the demon heart's strength was weakened, then wouldn't he be able to easily refine the demon heart and end this centuries-long tug-of-war?

Qin Shilei took out the Mountain and Rivers Map and pretended to manipulate it.

Ten minutes passed, and the Nether Lord’s strength had already decreased by forty percent.

Looking at Qin Shilei, who was still fiddling with the Mountain and Rivers Map, the Nether Lord’s face was terrifyingly gloomy.

“The formation diagram in your hand is the control core of this space, isn’t it? Give it to me quickly.”

Qin Shilei frowned and explained, “This Mountain and Rivers Map has already recognized your subordinate as its master. Even if it were given to Your Excellency, it couldn’t be used.”

“Release me immediately.” The Nether Lord’s voice was so cold that it seemed as if Qin Shilei dared to say no, he would immediately destroy the other party.

Even now, he hadn't seen through the Faceless Mask's disguise, nor had he doubted Qin Shilei's identity.

He had only, in his heart, already sentenced this reckless subordinate to death.