Chapter 87: The Altar, Again (1/2)

Lu Yun’s heart thumped. “Something that absorbs life essence?”

“Correct.” Wayfarer nodded. “Any living things that attempt to leave are drained of life.”

“Living things?” Qing Han interjected, “What about dead things?”

Wayfarer paused. ”Dead things?”

“Such as ghosts or zombies.” The imperial envoy paused in thought. “Or things that have disguised their vitals.”

Previously, a titanic undead hag had crawled out of the abyss. It was neither alive nor dead, but something akin to a zombie.

Diexi was from here as well. Unfortunately for her, the nine bloodcorpses had delayed her right after her transformation to zombie king, and the island’s descent back into the abyss had occurred before she could escape.

Wayfarer shook his head. “There’s a special power in the abyss preventing ghosts and zombies from being born.”

His meaning was crystal clear: Diexi wasn’t born of the abyss. Someone had placed her here and established the tomb for the living, making use of whatever power was here. As for the undead hag, it’d simply been sealed in this place.

“The immortal ghost is scared.” Lu Yun knew what Qing Han’s next question would be. “Yueshen was a divine before her death. She doesn’t dare come out.”

“No.” Qing Han shook his head. “I wasn’t talking about Yueshen, but you.”’

Lu Yun paused. “Me?”

“When you were next to me earlier, I didn’t feel your vitals,” Qing Han transmitted to Lu Yun. “Even the Scroll of Shepherding Immortals and my… treasure couldn’t sense you.”

Lu Yun’s hellfire had concealed his lifeforce, preventing the creatures of the dark from noticing him. At the same time, neither the Scroll of Shepherding Immortals nor the starstone could sense him either. If even two great treasures had been fooled, what about the thing Wayfarer was talking about?

His eyes lit up with possibility. That’s right, I can use my fire to disguise myself, locate that life-absorbing thing, and temporarily seal it away. Lu Yun started running through plans in his head.

“I’ll give you the Scroll of Shepherding Immortals. Go up with it, you’ll find a way out.” Qing Han shoved the painting into Lu Yun’s hands, but the governor pushed it back.

“Keep it.” Lu Yun shook his head. “I have my ways.” He glanced at Feinie, who retreated back into the dark and vanished into the Gates of the Abyss without missing a beat.

“I’ll go up and see what’s causing all this.” Lu Yun bowed to Wayfarer. “Please protect them well, senior.”

“You’re going up?” Wayfarer started, given that he didn’t know what Lu Yun and Qing Han had discussed, since their conversation had been held through consciousness. He nodded. “You must have a few tricks up your sleeve if you can survive here as a golden core cultivator. Go on. However, I’ll only wait here for you for three days. If I don’t hear anything from you in three days, I’ll assume you’re dead and take your companions someplace safe.”

“Alright,” Lu Yun agreed without hesitation. Even if he couldn’t locate that life-absorbing thing in three days, he would return to the abyss. They were currently in a more dangerous part of the abyss where even Wayfarer didn’t dare stay for too long.

Qing Han handed over the Divinewater Talisman that Xuanxi had gifted them. Xuanxi tapped into her godhood to instantly call down the Dusk River from the sky. Lu Yun activated the talisman and dove into the water with a flash of azure light, soaring past the abyss through the river.

Although the river looked like it was right on top of them, the space here was fragmented and displaced. The true distance between him and the transcended river was unknown.

Of course, the river god could send Lu Yun directly into the river, but he had to find the thing that was absorbing life essence first, then deactivate it before sending everyone out.

“So you’re a divine born in the Dusk River.” Wayfarer might not be able to see, but his powerful consciousness allowed him to sense his surroundings without his eyes and ears.

Xuanxi didn’t respond, but kept tight control of the river with her eyes shut.

……

Whoosh!

Within the waters of Dusk River, hellfire glazed intensely around Lu Yun. This time, he didn’t disguise his vitality with his fire, but merely locked his life essence in his body.