134: Chapter 134 Three Keys, the First One is at the Bottom of the River of Oblivion

Within the colossal spatial rift spanning the horizon, the gloomy vortex composed of countless tormented souls slowly rotated, like a greedy eye gazing upon the underworld. Even from a great distance, the terrifying fluctuations that siphoned souls and tortured wills made everyone's hearts tremble.

"The Soul Vortex... it has appeared in the world ahead of time," Zhang Hao's voice was dry. "Boss, this thing looks a hundred times more sinister than the Labyrinth of Memories!"

Lei Xiao (the former Ghost General) wore a grave expression: "My Lord, when this guilty general was under control, I heard those cultists mention that the Soul Vortex is a 'living' forbidden zone. It is itself a massive, hungry consciousness that actively devours any soul that approaches, transforming their pain into energy to forge the 'key of the soul.' Now that the Reincarnation Well is broken and the underworld's order is in chaos, I fear... it will become more active, more voracious."

More active, more voracious.

This meant the Thousand-Faced Sect was likely accelerating its actions as well.

"Seventy-two hours... no, there's less than seventy-one hours left now," Lin Chen glanced at the countdown on the system interface, his gaze cold and stern. "We must gather control over the three keys before they do."

He pulled up the information he had compiled from the Monument Keeper's legacy, the Holy Maiden's memories, and Lei Xiao's intelligence.

"The three keys: The [key of suffering] was refined by me along with the Wailing Canyon, but its 'key' essence requires a special ritual to extract. The core of the [key of memory] is in my possession." Lin Chen raised the silver crystal orb. "And the [key of the soul] is still being forged within the vortex."

"According to Lei Xiao's intel, gathering the three keys and activating them with a specific ritual can briefly control the collapse process of the Reincarnation Well. The Thousand-Faced Sect wants to use this to tamper with the laws of reincarnation," Su Qingyu analyzed quickly. "To counter them, we must also gather the keys, and we must do it faster!"

"Correct," Lin Chen nodded. "So, the immediate priority is to completely secure 'control' over the first two keys. What is needed for the extraction ritual of the key of suffering?"

Lei Xiao recalled: "This guilty general vaguely remembers it requires a 'pure source of underworld water' for quenching, to wash away the chaotic agony staining the key and restore its essence as a 'rule credential.'"

"A pure source of underworld water?" Zhang Hao scratched his head. "Is there even clean water in the underworld?"

"Yes," Lin Chen and Lei Xiao spoke almost simultaneously.

"The River of Forgetfulness," Lei Xiao said gravely. "The main channel of the River of Forgetfulness flows with the power of oblivion and rebirth, murky and turbid. But several of its source tributaries deep within the underworld have relatively 'pure' water, containing the most primordial essence of the underworld's water system. One of them, the 'Tranquil Abyss Tributary,' is said to have ancient objects slumbering at its riverbed and is an excellent place for quenching rule-bound items."

"But there is a powerful guardian there," Lei Xiao added. "It is said to be an Ancient Resentful Dragon, the brother of the First Underworld Lord's mount. Severely wounded for some reason, it slumbers at the riverbed, temperamental and violent, tolerating no disturbance."

"An Ancient Resentful Dragon?" Lin Chen raised an eyebrow. "Sounds trickier than the Ferryman."

"More than that," Lei Xiao shook his head. "The Tranquil Abyss Tributary has been steeped in that dragon's aura for countless ages, making it nearly its domain. Outsiders who step into it are suppressed by the dragon's might; their souls feel as heavy as carrying a mountain, retaining less than a tenth of their strength. Disturbing it forcibly will provoke its frenzied attack. In the past, the Thousand-Faced Sect also had designs on that place but retreated after losing several Ghost General level cultists."

"Oh?" Lin Chen, however, became interested. "So, the Thousand-Faced Sect themselves haven't managed to secure that place either, meaning the quenching of the key of suffering has never been completed?"

"Exactly."

"Excellent," Lin Chen's lips curved into a smile. "What they couldn't handle, I will. Coordinates for the Tranquil Abyss Tributary?"

Lei Xiao recited a complex set of spatial coordinates.

"Lei Xiao (Subordinate), you lead the army to guard this place, monitor the Soul Vortex's movements. Report immediately if there is any unusual activity," Lin Chen swiftly issued orders. "Zhang Hao, Su Qingyu, Lei Xiao (Original), come with me to the Tranquil Abyss Tributary."

"Yes!"

Without further delay, Lin Chen directly opened a portal. This time, the destination was deeper into the underworld, an ancient region even the Thousand-Faced Sect found difficult to set foot in.

Passing through the portal, the surrounding temperature plummeted. It wasn't a cold chill, but a profound "stillness" and "abyss" feeling that seeped into the soul, a sense of universal silence.

Before them was a wide river. The water displayed a strange, almost transparent deep blue, flowing slowly without a single ripple, terrifyingly quiet. The river was bottomless, seemingly leading to endless gloom. The banks on both sides were smooth, jet-black rocks, devoid of any vegetation. Even the common wandering soul mists of the underworld were absent here.

This was the Tranquil Abyss Tributary. One of the most primordial water sources of the underworld.

The moment they set foot on the riverbank, everyone except Lin Chen felt an invisible, terrifying pressure descend from above! It was as if an intangible mountain was pressing down on their souls, making it hard to breathe, their soul bodies sluggish, their strength severely suppressed!

Zhang Hao even let out a muffled grunt, his translucent ghostly form dimming slightly: "Holy crap... this dragon's might... it's worse than the mental pressure from the Lord of Finality!"

The cracks on Su Qingyu's neck also throbbed faintly, as if irritated by some ancient presence.

Lei Xiao (Original), struggling against the immense pressure, whispered, "My Lord, that Resentful Dragon slumbers at the deepest part of the riverbed. To take the source water to quench the key will inevitably disturb it."

Lin Chen felt this dragon's might; it was indeed extraordinary, carrying an aura of primordial resentment, sorrow, and inviolable majesty. But his expression remained unchanged as he directly raised the system tablet.

Force his way in? Fight and subdue the Resentful Dragon? That would be too much effort.

He had a more efficient method.

[nether domain asset system], [Real Estate Management] advanced permissions activated!

[Scanning target area: River of Forgetfulness - Tranquil Abyss Tributary (approx. 300 li long, 10 li wide, depth unknown)]

[Property Status: Primordial Underworld Waters (ownerless, but long occupied by the powerful lifeform 'Ancient Resentful Dragon,' forming a de facto domain)]

[Rule Characteristics: Pure Underworld Water System Essence, High-Intensity Dragon Might Suppression Field.]

[Forced Acquisition/Temporary Control Feasibility Assessment: High.]

[Recommended Solution: Pay a massive sum of nether talisman to apply to the underworld's foundational rules for 'temporary control' (valid for 24 hours) over this area. During this period, the manager's authority supersedes all native lifeform authorities.]

[Estimated Cost: 20 billion nether talisman.]

"20 billion, for 24 hours of absolute management rights," Lin Chen curled his lip. "This dragon's territory is quite valuable."

He didn't hesitate for a second and confirmed directly!

[Ding! 20 billion nether talisman consumed. Successfully applied for 24-hour temporary control over the 'River of Forgetfulness - Tranquil Abyss Tributary'! Manager authority has overlaid the foundational rules of this area!]

The moment the system notification sounded, the heavy dragon's might pressing down on everyone receded like a tide! It didn't disappear but became 'docile,' as if shifting from an aggressive pressure to an environmental parameter that could be 'managed' and 'adjusted'!

Zhang Hao and the others immediately felt a lightness, almost stumbling from the sudden change.

"This... the dragon's might is gone?" Zhang Hao asked, bewildered and uncertain.

"Not gone, but 'managed' by the boss," Su Qingyu was the first to understand, looking at Lin Chen with awe. Even the Ancient Resentful Dragon's might could be 'managed' with money—this was beyond her comprehension.

Ignoring their astonishment, Lin Chen directly addressed the bottomless, tranquil river surface, using his manager authority to issue his first command:

"River Domain Manager's Decree: I request the 'Ancient Resentful Dragon' to show itself for a meeting."

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried the authority granted by the underworld's rules, clearly transmitting into the river's depths.

The river surface remained still.

A few seconds later, deep within the water, two enormous, crimson lights like spectral torches ignited!

Immediately after, the entire Tranquil Abyss Tributary began to tremble violently! The water churned as if boiling, and a shadow of unimaginable size slowly rose from the deepest part of the riverbed!

"BOOM——!!!"

A massive water column shot into the sky, and a ferocious dragon head broke the surface!

The dragon head was as large as a hill, covered in dark, metallic-looking, broken scales. Its horns were fractured, its whiskers charred. One eye was an empty socket, while the other crimson draconic eye burned with boundless resentment and the vicissitudes of time. Merely the part above water emanated an ancient dragon's might and frenzied fury that could freeze souls!

It opened its maw, revealing dagger-like fangs, gathering destructive energy deep in its throat as if ready to swallow the ants that disturbed its slumber in one gulp!

However, at the very moment it was about to unleash its roar—

Its single crimson draconic eye abruptly fixed on Lin Chen on the shore.

More precisely, it fixed on the unique aura of 'Underworld Lord's bloodline' on Lin Chen's person and the mark of rule in his hand, representing the 'temporary highest authority' over this river domain.

The frenzied fury was extinguished as if doused with ice water, instantly freezing.

Replacing it was an expression of disbelief, of shock, and... a trace of deeply buried, almost choked-up excitement from countless ages past?

A low, hoarse, grand voice, as if two pieces of rusted iron were grating against each other, resonated directly within the souls of all present, carrying the vicissitudes and tremors of eons:

"This bloodline... this authority..."

"Later one who bears the orthodox blood of the Underworld Lord, who holds the seal of the Netherworld's rules..."

"You... have finally come..."

(Hook: From the Ancient Resentful Dragon's sole remaining crimson draconic eye, a single tear the size of a house, turbid and murky, rolled down and crashed into the river surface, stirring up towering waves. It stared fixedly at Lin Chen, the resentment in its voice transforming into boundless grief and desperate hope: "I have guarded this place through endless ages, sunk in this sea of resentment, only to await one bearing the orthodox bloodline to come, to tell... to tell the truth of that time, to entrust the unfinished duty! Later one, would you... listen to this already dead dragon's final words?")