A thin, gray-black haze drifted by, and the dark-colored vegetation grew on the gloomy earth. Under the shroud of the mist, the twisted trees looked like ghostly claws reaching out from the ground, as if evil spirits were unwilling to return to the surface.
boom--
With a loud bang, a dark crack spread through the air, followed by a burst of brilliant power that swept away the yin energy and filth within a hundred feet in an instant, making the sunlight falling from the sky appear brighter.
"What kind of hellhole is this?"
Because of his ethereal and otherworldly demeanor and handsome appearance, it was clear at a glance that he was no ordinary person. The Taoist walked out of the gradually expanding crack, stepping on the light, and landed in the desolate Netherworld. After looking around, he couldn't help but speak.
This was not just a simple venting or complaining. Feng Bingwen glanced over and saw no less than ten thousand ghosts and spirits. This place was truly a ghostly place!
"have no idea!"
A lazy voice echoed within the Taoist's body, and upon hearing this response, Feng Bingwen's face immediately darkened.
"You brought me here, and now you're telling me you don't know?"
“I’ve forgotten how long ago it was when I last went to the territory of the Netherworld. I only remember the general location. I’ll take you to a place that’s roughly there, and you can look around for yourself.”
"Can't you send me to the Netherworld Sect's gate?"
"What are you talking about? Do you think the Netherworld is your personal abode? You can just come and go as you please! Although I may have that ability, if I cause trouble, do you think your little arms and legs can handle it?"
"Alright, I got it. I'll look around the area again!"
Feng Bingwen didn't want to get entangled with this immortal artifact any further. Judging from the surrounding environment, the location seemed to be quite good, fitting the style of the Netherworld Path.
"You can go ahead and search, but you have to give me some of your magic power. I'm exhausted!"
Feng Bingwen ignored him, casually picked a direction, and started walking forward. However, he relaxed his control over his dantian and let it circulate on its own.
Where is this place?
After traveling a hundred miles in a straight line, he encountered countless evil spirits and ghosts along the way, and even saw several ghost cities with ghostly aura soaring into the sky. Feng Bingwen immediately sensed something was wrong. He stepped into the sky and looked at the dim sun in the sky, his brows furrowing tightly.
The cultivators of the Netherworld Path deal with the yin and death energy year-round. Compared to other Daoist cultivators, their style is indeed difficult for people to approach. It is also understandable that their sect is different from normal immortal sects.
However, Feng Bingwen has already explored such a vast area, and has not even reached the boundary yet. Such a vast land would be unimaginable in the Nine Provinces, because it is soil in which living people cannot survive and reproduce.
This was a taboo subject, but looking at the dim sun overhead, Feng Bingwen knew that the area he was in was quite special; it wasn't a secret realm, but it was even better than one.
Similar to the gates of the Supreme Taoist temple, without an invitation or permission, even if one wants to visit the mountain, one cannot find the gate.
This Netherworld is a secret land that is inaccessible to mortals and ordinary cultivators. Feng Bingwen was able to enter this place only by relying on a spirit artifact.
"Who are you? How dare you trespass into this serene and secluded paradise!"
Just as Feng Bingwen was pondering, a loud shout came from below. Feng Bingwen looked up and saw a huge ghost riding on billowing black smoke, soaring into the sky and heading straight for him.
"Such a small ghost, yet it has quite the nerve!"
Seeing this ghostly creature qualified to rule over a remote and impoverished place, Feng Bingwen reached out his palm and grabbed it. The omnipresent Yin energy in this place came under his control, turning into tangible chains that bound the great ghost tightly and sealed its Yin body.
"I was just looking for a local spirit to ask me some questions. Your arrival is perfect and saves me a lot of trouble!"
The malevolent spirit that had stepped into the sky, wanting to question Feng Bingwen, was originally three zhang tall with a blue face and fangs, looking very ferocious. But now it was directly grasped in Feng Bingwen's hand, leaving only a small ball with only its ugly face showing.
However, because it was so small, it had no fierce aura at all, and instead looked rather comical, making people want to laugh.
"Immortal, spare my life!"
The great ghost felt that he couldn't use even a trace of Yin energy, and even the surrounding world was pressing down on him, causing him to panic.
He only ever felt such pressure when immortals from the upper realm descended to patrol the mortal world, but the immortal before him was clearly different from those ordinary immortals from the lower realm.
It was precisely because he sensed something amiss that he rushed up with great enthusiasm before even investigating the situation. If something was wrong, capturing the perpetrator and reporting it would be a great achievement, and he might even be able to cultivate the art of becoming a Ghost Immortal.
"Answer my question. If it satisfies me, I will spare your life. If it doesn't, I will let you taste the real fire!"
Feng Bingwen raised his hand and waved it, a wisp of true solar fire flashing and disappearing at his fingertips. In his other hand, a large ghost, curled up in a ball, immediately showed a look of fear on its face. It felt the power that could make its ghostly body turn to ashes in an instant.
"Immortal, please ask me, and I will answer to the best of my knowledge!"
The ghost trembled, its mind uneasy.
"Tell me, is this place under the jurisdiction of the Netherworld?"
"Immortal, are you referring to the Netherworld Immortal Realm?"
Upon hearing this, the big ghost perked up and then cautiously inquired.
"The Netherworld Immortal Realm? That should be good!"
Upon hearing this address, Feng Bingwen was slightly taken aback, then smiled, unsure whether it was a term used among these spirits and ghosts or a practice adopted by cultivators of the Netherworld Path.
"Immortal, have you come down to the mortal realm to visit the immortals of the upper realm? If so, then you have come to the wrong place!"
The ghost observed Feng Bingwen's expression, but sensed no killing intent. Instead, it perceived an ethereal and otherworldly aura that the ghost had never seen before, a quality even more celestial than that of the immortals in the upper realm.
"You little ghost, you're quite clever. You're right, I did indeed take the wrong path. Do you have a way to communicate with the immortals you speak of in the upper realm? Send a message immediately!"
"Immortal, I sent a message to the upper realm before I came up. If I am not mistaken, an immortal should descend to the mortal realm soon. You only need to wait a moment."
The demon revealed a fawning smile, but such a sycophantic smile on his ugly face only made him look more ridiculous, and Feng Bingwen couldn't help but laugh.
"The immortals you speak of who have descended to the mortal realm are here to capture me, aren't they?"
Feng Bingwen could easily guess that although the ghost seemed reckless, it was actually shrewd beneath its rough exterior and cunning beneath its recklessness. If he hadn't been caught off guard, its actions could have secured a good future for itself.
"Immortal, you misunderstand. I have no intention of disrespecting you. When I was below, I could tell that you were no ordinary person. You must have come from another immortal realm to visit a friend!"
"A string of lies, that's quite something!"
Feng Bingwen's mood improved as he listened to the flattering nonsense. He looked up at the sky and saw a gray-white pillar of light descending from the heavens. Along with it spread a divine might that made all the ghosts within a hundred miles feel oppressed and tremble!
"Who are you, fellow Daoist? You've come to my door without prior notice!"
Amidst the surging and overwhelming light, a figure that appeared small yet possessed an undeniable presence looked at Feng Bingwen, its gaze as tangible as if a thunderbolt would strike at the slightest movement.
"Taishang Dao, Feng Bingwen, greets Senior!"
As the pillar of light descended and the immortal within it revealed himself, Feng Bingwen felt the surrounding yin energy begin to repel and squeeze him, as if everything was turning against him.
However, the feeling of being rejected and crushed by everything around him was quickly relieved as Feng Bingwen reported his home. However, Feng Bingwen still could not control the spiritual energy around him.
"Why would a cultivator from the Supreme Dao appear here?"
A confused voice rang out high in the sky, no longer as wary as before, because Feng Bingwen had not concealed himself from beginning to end, so his aura could be quickly identified, verifying his words.
"Feng Bingwen? I feel like I've heard your name somewhere before!"
"This junior is unworthy, but once served as the Supreme Daoist Child!"
Feng Bingwen cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, speaking humbly and with a humble attitude.
He came to ask for a favor this time, wanting to see the sect's scriptures. However, the first step of the visit went wrong, but it wasn't a big problem, as the Supreme Dao had enough influence.
"So it was you! I remember now!"
The magnificent, sky-piercing gray-white pillar of light vanished without a trace, revealing a dignified middle-aged figure dressed in a black imperial robe. He appeared as if by teleportation, standing ten feet in front of Feng Bingwen.
"You actually broke through to the Profound Realm? So fast!"
The dignified, imposing immortal with a thick beard, whose demeanor resembled that of Yama, the King of Hell, could not hide his astonishment.
"I had a stroke of luck and managed to cultivate to the Cave Profound Realm!"
Feng Bingwen said in a humble tone.
"In matters of cultivation, there is no such thing as luck. I have a grand-disciple who is of the same generation as you, but he is only preparing for the Core Formation stage, while you are two realms ahead of him. Heh!"
The Immortal Yama looked Feng Bingwen up and down with astonishment, as if he were looking at something rare and unusual.
"It's just that I've taken a few more steps than my peers for now, it's nothing!"
"Don't give me that. I can't stand geniuses like you. You're clearly on par with champions of your generation, yet you act all nonchalant. How can you expect me, a mediocre person who has to expend most of my lifespan just to keep up, to accept that?"
"Senior, you must already be an Earth Immortal. With your talent, if you call yourself mediocre, then probably no one in this world is worthy of being called a genius, and no one has the face to be called a prodigy!"
Feng Bingwen chuckled twice, realizing he had been a bit too modest.
"Yes, you are one. How long have you been cultivating?"
"Less than sixty years?"
"It's not even been half a century!"
"..."
Feng Bingwen smiled and remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement. He also knew that his current age, combined with his cultivation level, was somewhat conspicuous.
"Alright, enough with the pleasantries, let's get down to business!"
With his broad shoulders and thick waist, exuding an imposing aura, like the Yama, the smiling expression on his face vanished in an instant, replaced by a serious expression. Feng Bingwen looked at his face and couldn't help but feel a little nervous.
Putting everything else aside, just the appearance of this immortal is enough to ward off evil spirits if painted and pasted on the door; it makes people feel so safe.
"How did you get here? Even disciples of my Netherworld Path are not allowed to enter without permission!"
"I hope you will know, senior. I borrowed the power of a celestial artifact to save some time, but I accidentally wandered into this place. If I have offended you in any way, please forgive me!"
Feng Bingwen cupped his hands in greeting, as if he had entered some extraordinary place.
"What kind of magical artifact?"
"Little Jie, it's been a long time. How did you become so ugly? I remember when I first met you, you were so pretty and charming."
As soon as the question was asked, a slightly teasing voice rang out, and under Feng Bingwen's speechless gaze, a three-legged, two-eared cauldron emerged from his body, swaying precariously.
"The Immortal Cauldron of Imperial Void?!"
The Netherworld Immortal recognized the Immortal Cauldron at a glance. As fellow Daoist immortals, they were quite familiar with the fundamental cultivation methods of various schools and sects, as well as the most advanced immortal artifacts.
"You still remember me? Back then, you were always calling me 'senior, senior,' and I was in a good mood, so I even rewarded you with a supernatural power. And this is your attitude now?"
The Immortal Cauldron of the Void rang out with a disgruntled voice, but it was in a condescending tone, like an elder reprimanding a junior.
"Junior Yingluo Mingzhu greets Senior Yuxu!"
Feng Bingwen stared at the rugged-faced Earth Immortal, whose facial muscles twitched twice. Then, the Earth Immortal cupped his hands and bowed to the Immortal Cauldron above Feng Bingwen's head in a disciple's salute.
I have never forgotten the kindness of imparting the Dao to him. Although it may have been a small matter for him, it was a major opportunity for the young cultivator at the time, enough to change his path of cultivation.
"It's boring, too rigid, not as clever and cute as it was when it was little!"
Seeing the still respectful Earth Immortal before him, Yu Xu Immortal Cauldron felt quite bored. This was no longer the little cultivator he remembered who was haunted by a female ghost and would blush.
Although judging from the aura of the soul, it is still the same person, in the eyes of the Imperial Void Cauldron, the two have become fundamentally different. Things have changed, and people are no longer the same.
"I've disappointed you, senior!"
“I brought this kid here. I think I’ve been here before, but I can’t remember. He wanted to come to the Netherworld Temple to read the books about reincarnation, so I brought him here.”
After a brief conversation, Xian Ding, who had initially been intrigued, suddenly lost interest and directly revealed Feng Bingwen's purpose, taking all the blame upon himself.
(End of this chapter)
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