Chapter 344: 204, Eight Extremes Immortal Life [Dragon Pool and Tiger Den], Return to the Underworld (5k7 large Chapter)_2
The Eight Extremes Immortal Life [Cave Spirit (Dragon Pool and Tiger Den)] firmly stood in his [Taoist Fruits] column.
In his Purple Mansion, a secluded pool had been added to the edge of the Yellow Court, transforming the Yellow Court into a Lake Heart Island. Above the Yellow Court, a cavern had also appeared.
This is the manifestation of Dao Principles, a higher-level expression of the Dragon and Tiger Daoism Pill. Generally, such a phenomenon only occurs after the Dao Pill Nine Transformations—the evolution of a Blessed Land within the Purple Mansion.
But with a little thought, Xu Xing understood. With the help of the Kunlun Mirror, he had reversed cause and effect, turning result into cause, thereby countering the Innate. His cultivation was different from that of ordinary cultivators.
It’s like the undying substance of the Golden Body Realm. His Dao Pill was Innate from birth. Although it might not be as quantitatively abundant as the Nine Transformation Dao Pills of other cultivators, it was far superior in quality.
The Blessed Land of Thunder Pill cultivators is the Five Thunder Palace, and the Blessed Land of Sword Pill cultivators is the Sword Pavilion... The Blessed Land of the Dragon and Tiger Daoism Pill is the Dragon Pool and Tiger Den. Upon reaching the Dao Lord realm, a Dragon Palace is born within the Dragon Pool, and mountain forests are added to the Tiger Den...
Xu Xing observed the Blessed Land derived within his Purple Mansion with great interest.
Cultivators emulate heaven and earth. Spiritual lands are categorized from highest to lowest into five types: Heaven Cave, Blessed Land, Jade Palace, Xuanjing, and Elixir Talisman. Nascent Soul Saint Monarchs reside in Heaven Caves. Nascent Soul Daoist Lords reside in Blessed Lands... This is not only for the spiritual energy within these domains but also to use their Dao Principles to perfect one’s own Dao and techniques. Simply put, the Blessed Land evolved by a cultivator’s Purple Mansion is an internal landscape, while the Blessed Lands of the external world are external landscapes. Only when the internal and external landscapes merge can one achieve unity.
"Success in the second transformation!"
Half a month later, while Xu Xing was observing the Blessed Land in his Purple Mansion, he suddenly had a flash of insight. The Dragon and Tiger Daoism Pill on the Yellow Court instantly enlarged by a full circle, and an additional ring of Dragon and Tiger Dao patterns appeared on its golden surface.
However, Xu Xing was not surprised by this. His accumulations in the Immortal Base and Returning Core realms were sufficiently deep. Furthermore, his Martial Dao in the Instance World had already reached the Heavenly Origin Realm, equivalent to the early Dao Pill Realm. Through analogy, he had gained profound insights into this realm. It was quite normal for him to achieve another breakthrough less than a year after condensing his Dao Pill.
「 」
「Emperor Jin World.」
In the Immortal Mushroom Sect’s Spirit Land, Yin Shou looked worriedly at Xu Xing, who sat opposite him. "Fellow Daoist Gongyang," he began, "it is well known that Ghost Immortals have difficulty crossing the Earth Tribulation for Returning to the Netherworld. Once one enters the Netherworld Wasteland, their fate is no longer in their own hands... Going to the River of Nether to salvage a corpse is by no means an easy task."
After becoming Xu Xing’s servant, Yin Shou had learned one of his master’s secrets: Xu Xing possessed One Life, Two Bodies, cultivating both the Path of Ghost Immortal and the Physical Martial Way. In Yin Shou’s opinion, since Xu Xing could pursue the Physical Martial Way, there was no need to venture into the perilous Netherworld Wasteland. If Xu Xing were to die, he, as the servant, would also perish.
"Friend Yin, you don’t need to persuade me anymore. My mind is made up." Xu Xing’s eyes showed determination.
Seeing Yin Shou still wanting to try, Xu Xing added, "This is Master’s decision."
The last time outside the Qiming Sect, Shi Yuyan had been a significant reason for Yin Shou’s surrender. It wasn’t just fear of death. His lifespan was dwindling, with only a few hundred years remaining. Seeing that Xu Xing was favored by Shi Yuyan and believing there was a future in following him, Yin Shou had chosen to submit. Otherwise, with so little lifespan left, he might have prioritized preserving his lifelong reputation.
"That High Immortal..." Hearing it was Shi Yuyan’s arrangement, Yin Shou immediately fell silent and stopped his attempts at persuasion. He took a Jade Slip from his sleeve and handed it to Xu Xing. It contained the Immortal Mushroom Sect’s records on the Netherworld Wasteland.
Afterward, he recounted his own experiences in the Netherworld Wasteland from when he was crossing the Earth Tribulation.
"Ghost Immortals are sacrifices!" Yin Shou said, his tone heavy. "Legend has it that in the earliest times, this world only had Warriors, no Ghost Immortals. However, as too many powerful individuals fell into the Netherworld Wasteland and remained undead, they required sustenance. Thus, they created the cultivation methods of the Ghost Immortal Path..."
He continued, "Approaching Yang Realm Ghost Immortals entering the Netherworld Wasteland must kill at least three malevolent spirits of the same realm to reach the River of Nether. And at the River of Nether... when salvaging a corpse, you must board the ship of a ’difference,’ and the fare is your lifespan..."
「 」
Yin Shou helped Xu Xing locate the spatial node leading to the Netherworld Wasteland and opened it.
It was a dim, eerie world. Ghastly creatures ran rampant, and tombs were everywhere. On the tombstones, the names of the entombed were vaguely engraved, but their statuses and identities were recorded with stark clarity: ancient kings and marquis, each an absolute powerhouse who had once dominated a region; Ancient Venerables and Sages, who had once enlightened the mortal world, their deeds still recounted far and wide.
"I can’t go in!" Yin Shou whispered. "Those in the Return to Yang Realm can only enter the Netherworld Wasteland once, when crossing their Earth Tribulation. At any other time, entry is forbidden. It’s not that I’m afraid of death. But if one enters rashly, they will face great horrors and might even encounter the Undead."
He elaborated, "Approaching Yang Realm Ghost Immortals enter the Netherworld Wasteland as sacrifices. The denizens of the Netherworld Wasteland generally abide by this rule. However, if those from other realms enter, it’s considered disturbing the peace of the departed, and the consequences are unpredictable."
Undead? Xu Xing was inwardly shocked. He recalled his previous conversation with Yin Shou and Nangong Ancestor, where Nangong Ancestor had referred to the "ancient powerful ones" in the Heavenly Abyss as Undead. But the ancient powerful ones of the Heavenly Abyss are merely false Undead. Once they leave the Heavenly Abyss and lose the protection of the Undying Substance, they perish immediately. The Undead in the Netherworld Wasteland, however, are truly undying—they live forever.
"These are the remaining fourteen pieces of Netherworld Soil," Yin Shou said, taking out a Jade Box and handing it to Xu Xing. "Netherworld Soil is also a precious item in the Netherworld Wasteland. You can use it for casting spells, trading, or as a means of escape..."