In the Netherworld Pure Land, among the barren mountains over a thousand li west of Nether Mountain, a fine drizzle fell, scattering endless veils of mist.
Everything around seemed shrouded in hazy dust, as though smog had filled heaven and earth.
In the rain, all things lay desolate beneath the dim light. The Netherworld Pure Land had never been a place where life flourished, and now even the wandering ghosts had taken shelter. The ghostfire occasionally seen drifting through the wilderness was nowhere to be found.
Yet in this rain and mist, where even ghostly shadows were scarce, several people lay hidden on high ground beside a valley.
They used the natural shelter formed by the terrain to block the rain and the cold wind outside, huddling in an earthen ditch on the slope and concealing their auras with the yin baleful origin energy rising from the ground.
Having lain in ambush for so long, their auras had completely blended into their surroundings, almost becoming one with them.
After an unknown length of time, a figure suddenly approached from the direction of Nether Mountain.
It was a woman with a human appearance, moving as swiftly as the wind. In the blink of an eye, she covered more than ten zhang, crossing the rugged terrain.
The drifting rain and mist were repelled the instant they touched her Protective Gang Qi. This was plainly a habit of the living; ghosts and zombies cared nothing for wind or rain.
Before long, the figure drew near, revealing her face to those lying in ambush.
She had the appearance of a middle-aged male cultivator, with unremarkable features, but her every movement betrayed exceptional vigilance.
Although she clearly possessed Foundation Establishment cultivation, she did not use an escape technique to travel, instead racing along the ground