512 The Perpetrator That Ends All (1/2)
Nine Serenities had existed since the beginnings of heaven and earth and were the origins of the evil spirits, evil avatars, and ghosts in the world. There was no lack of tyrannical Inborn Spirits like Devil Emperor, Sky-killing Taoist, and this so-called Netherworld.
Though the god could never compare to several of the most famous gods of the Nine Serenities, it was nevertheless still a great power and a cardinal symbol of life and death. There was no way for the current Dharmakaya to compare with it!
Could the disaster of Bomi be a result of the country's attempts to dig a passage to the Nine Serenities and return Netherworld to the world?
Or was it Zhenwu Great Emperor who had sealed Netherworld in the Carefree Valley?
Meng Qi's mind was swamped with so many thoughts that he felt almost suffocated. He took a deep breath and told himself that the distance between the ancient times and the present spanned more than a million years. Even if Netherworld was truly sealed in the Carefree Valley, the god would have long exhausted its life. This was merely the third step of his serial task. It was impossible for him to confront such a great power head-on!
”Emperor of the Netherworld...” Slayer Yaksh's eyebrows knitted.
Meng Qi understood that Slayer Yaksh was wondering why the leader of his organization would use the nickname Emperor of the Netherworld. He pretended as if he had not heard him and looked around.
The only things inside the hall were the passage leading to this place and the carved murals on the walls. It seemed like a dead end, without anywhere for them to move forward to.
Jia Zhen, who had been mostly quiet the entire time, walked in front of the mural of Emperor of the Netherworld. He kneeled before the wall and made a solemn kowtow.
Without warning, an entrance opened up between him and the mural as dark and moist air instantly gushed out of the opening, revealing slanted stairs that led downwards.
”Old Jia...” Slayer Yaksh took a sharp intake of breath. How did Jia Zhen know how to open the entrance?
Jia Zhen appeared calm and unperturbed in his scholarly outfit. ”I once encountered something similar to the worship of evil avatars, thus know that if we can't find any clues, we can try kowtowing in front of statues or murals to demonstrate our sincerity.”
”I see.” His logical explanation eliminated most of Slayer Yaksh's doubts.
It did not matter to him whether or not Jia Zhen was telling the truth or what plans he had. With their leader Emperor of the Netherworld following them, he could just stand on the sidelines and watch. Who knew if they could open a secret entrance or two and gain even more?
The five of them said no more and stepped inside the new entrance.
This passage continued to lead them downward, deep into the ground. The cold and damp feeling became even heavier and they could hear the faint sound running water drifting into their ears.
They had no idea how long they had been walking when the passage started widening to form a grey brick-paved square. A dark, deep cave appeared in their line of sight. On the side was a circle of orchid-like flowers with seven petals and bright red stamens.
”Asoka Blossoms!” Slayer Yaksh cried out in disbelief.
For there to be Asoka Blossoms growing near the entrance, that meant this place was indeed the living entrance!
Those who lacked Jianghu experience would have dashed toward the cave to enter first; however, Slayer Yaksh was a well-informed and deeply shrewd person. He was on high alert, putting his guard up against any Nether Spirits or comrades who harbored malice.
Meng Qi stood in the middle of the team and followed Slayer Yaksh into the square. He thought to himself:
”One step, two step...”
If the ancient manuscripts were accurate, an intruder would encounter a formation every three steps he took if he did not carry an identity symbol of the Carefree Valley. This would happen as long as the God-trapping Formation of the Five Elements was not broken, even if the place outside the living entrance had been transformed into a square. Coupled with the great masters guarding the entrance, these layers of defense could effectively delay the enemies until reinforcements from within the valley arrived.
But everything had been turned upside down now. Who knew what changes the illusory formation would bring?
”Three steps!” Meng Qi had just finished counting when a layer of mist rose around him, severely inhibiting his vision and senses. He felt as if heaven and earth had abandoned him.
Meng Qi condensed his breath and began to probe his surroundings. He recalled his position earlier and took a step forward.
The scene before his eyes changed sharply with every step he took. The mist became thinner, allowing him to observe a silhouette looming ahead. The grey-haired figure held a Chinese Astrology Jin sword in his hand and his manner was timid as he looked around vigilantly. It was 'Devil-slaying Sword' Yang Zhenchan.
This was the opportunity that Meng Qi had been waiting for! He held his breath and was on high alert as he turned the sword in his left hand. In his right, he was grasping the handle of Heaven Inflicted Pain.
He was still treating Yang Zhenchan as an opponent at the peak of his strength and used his full strength like a lion fighting a rabbit!
His Aperture acupoints were all opened but his Dharma Form did not emerge, only operating within him. The Golden Crow, the Grand Sun, as well as the stars were rapidly contracting and gathering in the Celestial. The Celestial moved forward and gradually turned into the primal chaos.
The aura that Meng Qi exuded turned faint and dark and his breath became unclear. In the next second, an ordinary breath emerged on the surface of his body. It was the same kind of breath he typically displayed but concealed the anomalies underneath.
He stared at Yang Zhenchan, who was cautious and on alert, and found no opportunity to ambush him. As a result, he made a deliberate step forward.
Yang Zhenchan cautiously looked in all directions, carrying his sword, not giving Nether Spirits nor possible traitors any chance.
When he heard the crisp sound of footsteps, he turned his head to look in the direction of the sound. His sense of alarm was at its peak.
He saw Meng Qi walking out with both hands behind his back, displaying no signs of hostility.
”'Cultivator Grand Sun' Shen Bao...” Yang Zhenchan relaxed a little at seeing a familiar face. Meng Qi stepping out so openly without trying to sneak an attack also diffused his concerns. However, he was instantly on his guard again against possible traitors.
Meng Qi found his chance at the moment when Yang Zhenchan was still relaxed and had yet to raise his guard. Having sensed the change in Yang Zhenchan's breath and the light grasp he had on his saber, he thrust forward and saber radiance lit up.
His vision dimmed as if the saber radiance tore through the fabrics of heaven and earth. It was as if there was nothing that the saber could not cleave and nothing that could compel it to stop!
Yang Zhenchan had just noticed the attack when the saber radiance had arrived before his eyes.
Feelings of violent ferocity and unswerving determination suddenly emerged in his eyes, eliminating all traces of his previous timidness. The Sword Qi around him condensed and the sword in his hand defied common sense, directly raising the posture of the hard-to-be-linked Sword Qi.
Clang!
The saber radiance directly slashed the sword!
Yang Zhenchan's response was, unexpectedly, faster than that of Ze Luoju. His movements were even more profound and just apt, landing right in front of the saber radiance.
Clang!
The saber radiance's Big Bang Technique hacked the sword and sent it sprawling to the right. Yang Zhenchan's chest and abdomen were split open, revealing his organs. The cut ran from his mid-brows to navel.
Yet, in the end, Yang Zhenchan was still able to block the attack. The blow had merely injured him!