Taking Two Things
The two flew to the outside of Yin Feng Valley. Yue Qianchou landed on his sword, and Ziyi followed. She asked with some confusion, "Aren't we going to the Huaxia Cultivation World? Why did you stop?" Yue Qianchou pointed to the phosphorescent light that flickered in and out of the valley and said, "We're looking for something to prepare for our trip to the Huaxia Cultivation World."
Hearing this, Ziyi didn't ask any more questions and followed him into the canyon, braving the gusts of cold wind. Before they even got close, they heard someone shout from deep within the dark mist, "Who goes there? How dare you trespass into my Yin Feng Valley! Stop and answer me!"
"Yue Qianchou!" Yue Qianchou called out his name and continued striding forward. The mist within the canyon churned, and the sound of horns echoed. The mist then dispersed to both sides, revealing steps leading into the valley. As the two approached, they saw Yu Ji followed by a group of armored generals who quickly came to greet them. The generals formed two lines to make way, clasping their hands in unison and saying, "Greetings, sir."
"Sir, your presence is an honor to welcome you," Yu Ji said with a joyful expression. Suddenly, she noticed a woman in Ziyi beside him, who was curiously looking around without any fear. She was clearly no ordinary person, so she bowed gracefully again.
"I've come specifically to visit my sister-in-law, and I dare not trouble you to greet me." Yue Qianchou raised his hand in a gesture of support, then clasped his hands in a fist salute and smiled at the generals on either side. Most of the generals already knew him, and seeing him address Yu Ji as "sister-in-law," showing such remembrance, they all felt a sense of goodwill and smiled broadly. When Ziyi heard Yue Qianchou call Yu Ji" sister-in-law," she couldn't help but glance at Yu Ji a few more times.
A group of armored generals escorted the three towards the Ghost King's Palace. It was still the same magnificent palace, but the male master, whose nightly lamentations echoed with the Song of Everlasting Regret, had vanished, leaving only a woman in charge. After entering the palace, Yu Ji invited Yue Qianchou to the throne. Yue Qianchou didn't stand on ceremony; given his current status, he was entitled to the seat, and no one else would dare to. Just as she was about to invite people to the banquet, Yue Qianchou glanced at the Ziyi standing beside the throne and waved his hand, saying, "Sister-in-law, there's no need for such trouble. I have important business to attend to; the banquet is unnecessary."
Yu Ji followed his gaze and glanced thoughtfully at the Ziyi, then smiled and said, "As you wish, sir. May I ask what brings you here, and if you need our help?" She then gave a smiling look to the generals below, and the Ghost King-level generals immediately chorused, "Sir, if there's anything you need us for, please don't hesitate to ask..."
"Then I won't stand on ceremony with you all." Yue Qianchou crossed his legs and laughed. "You may not know this, but the Cultivation World outside the Demon Ghost Domain is about to descend into chaos. My master ordered me and this Ziyi lady to go out and resolve it. I came here to take two things with me, which will be of great help to my journey."
Standing on the other side, Yu Ji asked in confusion, "I wonder what it is that has caught your eye, sir? But whatever Yin Feng Valley has, I will certainly offer it to you."
Yue Qianchou stood up, glanced at everyone, and slowly said, "Soul Returning Grass and Netherflame Seed."
The so-called Netherflame Seed is actually the Black Fire, one of the Three Flavored True Fire. He learned this name from Wood Lady Mu, because the demons and ghosts did not know about the Three Flavored True Fire. When Yue Qianchou asked, Wood Lady Mu said that there was a black flame in the Nine Nether Cave, which everyone called the 'Netherflame Seed'.
Silence! The Ghost King's Hall fell silent instantly. The woman in Ziyi stared blankly at everyone, wondering why Yue Qianchou's words had elicited such a reaction. Could it be that in the Demon Ghost Domain, someone dared to refuse a disciple of Elder Bi's request?
After a long silence, Yu Ji smiled bitterly and said, "The two things you requested, sir, do exist here. However, I'm afraid no one in the entire Demon Ghost Domain has the ability to obtain them, let alone us. To be honest, sir, the Punishment Envoy has also personally come to the Nine Nether Cave, intending to obtain the Nine Soul Returning Grass. However, even with the Punishment Envoy's profound cultivation, he cannot penetrate to the bottom of the cave, unless..."
Ziyi looked surprised; she hadn't expected there to be places in the world that Bi Changchun couldn't go. Yue Qianchou paused slightly. He knew Bi Changchun wasn't omnipotent; Bi Changchun couldn't enter the mysterious place beneath Thousand Mile Lake either. He'd also heard Yu Ji mention the Nine Nether Cave before; because it was a passage to the underworld, it had its own unique characteristics, and it wasn't simply a matter of high cultivation level. Yue Qianchou frowned and said, "Does Sister-in-law mean that one absolutely needs the cultivation level of a late-stage Ghost Saint to go there?"
"Indeed." Yu Ji's expression turned solemn. "The path to the Netherworld is a one-way journey, burning away all life force. Humans and ghosts are on different paths. Even a Ghost Saint at the late stage of cultivation must undergo the baptism of the Netherworld flames to reach the bottom of the cave. Crossing the Netherworld Sea of Fire leads to the Gate of the Nine Netherworlds. Once there, one will have no more human life force. If one returns to the human world, a calamity will instantly annihilate them. Therefore, it is a one-way journey. Consider our cultivation level. Let alone reaching the Netherworld Sea of Fire, we probably cannot even withstand the Yin Sha winds ahead. We would be blown away before we even reach the halfway point."
"I still want to go and see," Yue Qianchou said, eliciting a stir among the ghost generals below. Ziyi, hearing how powerful the Nine Nether Cave was—even Bi Changchun couldn't go—had already turned pale. She couldn't understand why this guy was so reckless as to insist on trying. She was thinking of protecting him, so if he went, wouldn't she have to go too...
In truth, she was unaware of Yue Qianchou's thoughts. Such a drastic change had suddenly occurred in the Cultivation World, and no one knew when it would end. She feared her parents, both mortals, might not live long enough to see it. Therefore, she wanted to gather the 'Soul Returning Grass' to refine the 'Seven Orifices Exquisite Pill' to extend their lives. As for the Black Flame, ranked before the Azure Flame, its power must be even greater, and it could handle any unfavorable situation.
"Since you insist, sir, then I will lead you to the cave entrance for a look. Then you will know that what Yu Ji said is true," Yu Ji said with a hint of helplessness.
"Okay! Thank you, sister-in-law." Yue Qianchou nodded, then suddenly exclaimed, "Huh? Is that old man Yan Tuo you mentioned last time still alive?"
Yu Ji smiled slightly and said, "Since it was instructed by you, sir, I will naturally keep it safe and wait for you to deal with it."
"Good." Yue Qianchou clapped his hands and laughed, "I suppose his sister-in-law didn't tell him whether his son was alive or dead?" He knew that Yu Ji was a smart woman, and he guessed that when Yan Tuo said that he had told her that his son was still here, Yu Ji would have made plans.
Sure enough, Yu Ji smiled and said, "Since you say your son is still here, I will naturally smooth things over for you."
The strange back-and-forth between the two left Ziyi somewhat bewildered. Yue Qianchou laughed heartily, "Back then, I had some unresolved grudges with him on Fu Xian Island. Today, it's time to settle them all. Please trouble your sister-in-law to have someone invite him here. I'm sure he'd be happy to go to the Nine Nether Cave to find his son. I'll also take this opportunity to see just how powerful the Nine Nether Cave is."
Yu Ji giggled and nodded to those below. A general clasped his hands in greeting and left the Ghost King's Hall. To these people, the life or death of a cultivator was nothing.
Even the most obtuse woman in Ziyi realized what Yue Qianchou was up to. He was clearly trying to trick others into sacrificing themselves to pave the way for him. She immediately said coldly, "Yue Qianchou, do you deserve to be a disciple of Elder Bi if you act like this?"
"What do you know, girl? Old Man Bi is the real ruthless killer." Yue Qianchou snorted coldly, sat back on the throne, and sneered, "Ziyi, don't forget what my master and your father said before we came. It seems that I am the one in charge between you and me. If you think there is anything wrong with what I have done, you can go back to Shuntian Island and complain to my master that you are ashamed to associate with me and withdraw from this matter."
"You..." Ziyi's face was as cold as frost, so angry she couldn't speak. However, she couldn't bring herself to say such things to Bi Changchun. She felt honored that Bi Changchun had specifically asked her to do something, and she couldn't possibly give up halfway. Yue Qianchou had seen this precisely, which was why he said those words.
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