The Netherworld Mountains lay in the southeast of Dry Province, a chain of towering peaks stretching nearly ten thousand li.
The terrain here was exceptionally complex, with high mountains, grotesque rocks, and strange vegetation.
Dry Province belonged to the sunward regions, and its climate should have been arid. Yet it happened to rest against the Heaven-Controlling Long River, with tributaries flowing into the area, leaving it drenched in moisture year-round and giving it an environment much like a rainforest.
It was somewhat similar to the forest where the village Li Su had once lived was located, but that region was primarily plains, with few mountains, and it lay far away.
The Netherworld Mountains were different. Not only were there countless peaks here, but the terrain was exceedingly precipitous. The geology was also exceptionally solid, consisting mostly of rock, with sand and soil making up only a small portion.
Though it shared the same tropical rainforest climate, this place was almost entirely free of miasma.
Of course, it was not much better off. The excessive moisture and high temperatures shrouded the area in dense fog all year round. Combined with the treacherous terrain, people could easily vanish while walking along.
Beyond its unusual terrain, the Netherworld Mountains were steeped in heavy yin energy.
Affected by the water mist, sunlight was almost unable to reach the ground throughout the year. With the mountains packed close together, bottomless ravines formed between them. Vast amounts of moisture permeated those ravines, spreading through the mountains like shadow rivers.
In a place like this, all manner of demons, monsters, ghosts, and fiends naturally emerged one after another without end.
Especially in the shadow rivers deep within the mountains, where astonishing souls seemed to flow through the waters in immense numbers. The sight truly resembled the Netherworld,