CHAPTER 81: CHAPTER 80: UNEXPECTED AND EYE-OPENING

The Netherworld Road, distinct from the Mortal World.

Chen Xu stepped in, and suddenly saw a narrow path before him, enough for only one person to pass.

On both sides of the path was a dense, deep fog, with vague, countless noises emanating from it.

Squeaky sounds, rising and falling, causing one’s heart to feel unsettled.

Chen Xu concentrated his mind, resisting the disquiet.

Ahead, Feng Yuanbai, holding a Bronze Lamp, whispered, "Dear friend Chen, breathe lightly, be cautious, when traversing this Netherworld Road, never look back."

What happens if you look back?

It would naturally pose great danger.

Chen Xu didn’t need Feng Yuanbai’s reminder; the moment he stepped onto the Netherworld Road, his Divine Power operated on its own.

At this moment, although he was in the Netherworld, he found his consciousness could faintly sense the Mortal World.

He could step out from the Netherworld Road and return to his inn room immediately, or he could use the Netherworld passage to appear within a hundred meters around the inn room at any time.

This means, at Chen Xu’s current realm, using the Netherworld passage allows him to traverse the Netherworld Road at any moment and teleport within a hundred meters in the Mortal World.

The only issue is that his Divine Power is temporarily somewhat insufficient.

Chen Xu sensed that, in one day, he could only use the Netherworld passage three times at most.

Also, each time using the Netherworld passage, he shouldn’t stay too long in the Netherworld Road.

Staying too long could easily damage the physical body and Divine Soul.

At this moment, as Chen Xu followed Feng Yuanbai along the Netherworld Road, he felt a strange, eerie, cold power seeping in from the fog on both sides.

Chen Xu wasn’t sure how long he could resist the power of the fog relying only on his own strength.

The current situation was that the Qingxu Exorcism Talisman in his pocket was emitting a faint warmth, shielding him from external discomfort at this time.

What level is this talisman?

Based on his perception, Chen Xu only felt that this item had strong power, seemingly usable for a long time.

Ahead, the Netherworld Road became narrower, the fog thicker.

Suddenly, at a certain moment, the fog dispersed, and waves of scorching heat rushed in, with the roaring sound of waves and the clinking of wind blowing through chains.

Feng Yuanbai’s footsteps halted, and Chen Xu, behind him, raised his eyes forward.

In front was a surging turbid river, the riverbank here was a dangerous cliff.

On the opposite riverbank, it was vast beyond what the eye could see—

Only the other side was shrouded in fog, seemingly showing outlines of thriving activity swaying in and out.

Connecting the two banks were nine gigantic fire dragons nailed to the cliff!

Bang——

Suddenly, a huge wave in the river surged up violently, splashing rocks everywhere, shaking the nine fire dragons.

Feng Yuanbai shouted, "Retreat quickly, don’t look back!"

Chen Xu immediately stepped back, and Feng Yuanbai stepped back simultaneously.

Yet the roaring seemed to fade into the distance, and when they looked forward again, what were those nine fire dragons?

It turned out to be nine giant chains stretching across the banks!

Flames were fiercely burning on the chains, making them look like nine fire dragons at first glance.

At this moment, Chen Xu suddenly felt a weight on his shoulder.

As if an unseen hand had suddenly grasped his shoulder.

Yet behind him, Feng Yuanbai’s voice echoed, "Chen Xu, go quickly, I won’t save Feng Xi..."

Chen Xu, almost uncontrollably, was about to turn back. Fortunately, the strong sense of alert made him sober up instantly, breaking free of the control.

It’s an anomaly in the Netherworld Road, you cannot turn back!

Chen Xu was secretly alarmed, then smelt a sudden burning odor and heard a muffled scream.

The weight on his shoulder disappeared, it was Master Wu’s mark left on his shoulder that took effect.

The mark dispelled the anomaly, and Chen Xu silently circulated his Innate Qi, suppressing the urge to use another Fire Control Skill.

He couldn’t mess around; since that thing was dispelled, there was no need to reveal the Fire Technique at this time.

Chen Xu’s heart was pounding, and when he looked ahead, Feng Yuanbai also seemed to be resisting the urge to look back.

He asked in a low voice, "Chen Xu, are you okay?"

Chen Xu replied, "I’m fine, don’t look back."

As he said this, Chen Xu noticed that Feng Yuanbai’s back was already soaked with sweat at some point.

The Netherworld Road is truly terrifying.

Feng Yuanbai, despite being an Advanced Scholar, seemed unable to completely avoid fear.

"This is the Yellow Springs. I must borrow your poetry talent, please don’t mind, I assure you won’t get hurt." Feng Yuanbai said slowly, suddenly raising the Bronze Lamp, and knelt by the riverbank.

Chen Xu thought he was about to be asked to compose poetry on the spot but heard Feng Yuanbai reciting to the lamp:

"Endless mountains and rivers, the vast land of Divine State.

Two lives in the mundane world, venerating the heroic spirits above.

I, Feng Yuanbai, Advanced Scholar of the Yonghui third year, offer my family’s Nine Generations of Inheritance Lamp, igniting the righteous fire, inviting heroic spirits of ancestors.

Beside me is a talented young man, my descendant, offering three new poems for ancestor spirits’ appraisal.

First is ’Post Palace Poems’..."

Feng Yuanbai then melodiously recited Chen Xu’s three poems.

He was deeply immersed, his voice almost weeping when reciting "even the farmer starves to death."

Upon reading "leaves the trends like morning clouds," he was filled with boundless melancholy.

Finally, only a sigh was heard.

No, no, it wasn’t Feng Yuanbai sighing.

The sigh came from that roaring river ahead.

Despite the thundering of river waves, the sigh was astoundingly clear.

It was like a morning bell amidst the roaring waves, cutting through the world’s complexities, resonating by the ears but more so in the heart.

Looking ahead again, the figure floating over the surging flames between the nine fierce chains, had appeared at some point.

It was a figure with a high crown and broad belt, its face ethereal, sleeves billowing.

Even from afar, gazing upon the scene above the Netherworld River gave a faint sense of grandeur and majesty.

Feng Yuanbai rejoiced, promptly holding the Ancient Bronze Lamp with both hands before his chest, loudly speaking, "May I know which senior is present? Please enjoy the incense!"

The ethereal figure over the long river only murmured, "Arriving like a spring dream, departing like morning clouds...

My life has limits, but knowledge is limitless; it truly is so.

After years of life and death, I never comprehended, yet it has been revealed by a young man’s word?"

While speaking, shadows seemed to flutter behind him, attempting to move forward.

But with a sweeping of his voluminous sleeves, he forcibly swept these specters into the void.

"Why the contention?" he softly scolded into the void, "This individual carries the Nine Generations of Inheritance Lamp, his demands must be grave. You can’t handle him; let me meet this genius young man."

After speaking, that illusory figure stepped gently forward.

In an instant, he crossed the endless turmoil and blazing flames, arriving... in front of Chen Xu.

As Chen Xu faced him, he almost uttered an expletive uncontrolled.

He discovered his imagination was utterly inadequate, completely misjudging Feng Yuanbai’s method of saving someone.

This so-called borrowing his poetic talent to save someone was actually to summon an ancestor?

The fabled scenario of dealing with the young one and bringing forth the elder?

Damn!