The Sea of the Netherworld, The Overlord's True Form

Chapter 50: The Nether Sea and the Sovereign's True Visage

The dizziness of the teleportation carried a biting, bone-chilling cold, as if his soul itself were about to freeze. When Lin Yinuo regained his perception of his own existence, he found himself already in an entirely unfamiliar realm.

The sky was an eternal, murky yellow, devoid of sun, moon, stars, or constellations. Only heavy leaden clouds, seemingly condensed from the grievances of countless deceased spirits, hung low, pressing down so hard that it was difficult to breathe. The air was filled with a death aura that was pure to the extreme yet icy and dead; the energy rules here were completely different from those in the Infernal Realm, and even the circulation of divine power felt somewhat sluggish.

He was standing on the shore of a boundless black ocean. The water was not ordinary liquid, but as thick as ink. As it rolled in complete silence, it emitted a chill that devoured all aura of life. This was the core of the Netherworld-the Nether Sea! Rumored to be the manifestation of the Ed of Death, it was the ultimate final destination of deceased spirits. Even if a deity-level powerhouse fell into it, their divine soul would be gradually eroded and assimilated, ultimately becoming a part of the ocean.

(Inner thought): What a terrifying Ed of Death! This place is simply a forbidden zone for living beings.

The mark of the Sovereign of Death deep within his soul grew slightly warm, shielding him from most of the naturally emitted death erosion of the Nether Sea and transmitting a clear guidance that pointed deep into the ocean.

There were no boats, no paths. Only by relying on one's own strength to cross this terrifying Nether Sea could one reach the place where the Sovereign summoned him.

(Inner thought): Is this a test?

Lin Yinuo's gaze narrowed slightly, and he did not hesitate. Destruction Divine Power welled out through his body, condensed beneath his feet, and transformed into the shape of a flat-bottomed skiff. He leaped onto the divine power boat, drove his power, and broke through the waves toward the guided direction.

The water of the Nether Sea possessed extreme corrosiveness and soul-sucking force. As the divine power boat traveled upon it, it constantly emitted sizzling sounds, and the consumption speed of divine power was extremely fast. Even more terrifying was that the sea was not dead and silent; occasionally, "Nether Jellyfish" completely condensed from the pure Ed of Death emerged. They possessed no consciousness, only instinct, and would actively attack all existences containing vitality.

Lin Yinuo did not dare to be the slightest bit careless; the Eye of Illusion-Breaking was activated at all times, perceiving the dangers beneath the sea surface. He did not actively attack those Nether Jellyfish, but instead relied on the exquisite control of the Thunder Shadow Void Escape to steer the small boat and narrowly avoid them. For the ones that truly could not be avoided, he quickly pierced and killed them with the "Fire Condensation Finger" imbued with the artistic conception of destruction, striving not to cause a larger-scale commotion.

The deeper they went, the denser the Ed of Death became, and the seawater also grew increasingly viscous, vastly increasing resistance. There even began to appear some distorted "Vengeful Spirit Vortexes" gathered from the obsessed thoughts of countless dead souls; once pulled into them, the divine soul would suffer continuous impact and pollution.

Lin Yinuo closely guarded his mind, with his Willpower protecting the core of his soul, while his Destruction Divine Power transformed into sharp blade radiance, forcibly cleaving open the vortexes and advancing with difficulty. He felt as though he were ascending against a torrent of death, every step consuming tremendous mental effort and divine power.

He did not know how long he had traveled, as though it had been as long as several centuries. Ahead on the sea surface, a different sight finally appeared.

That was an island isolated and suspended deep within the Nether Sea. The island was not large, constructed entirely of a pitch-black, strange rock that seemed capable of absorbing all light. In the center of the island grew a gigantic ancient tree whose branches and leaves were carved from black crystal; beneath the tree, a figure was faintly discernible.

As the distance closed, that figure gradually became clear.

That was a woman whose elegance and majesty could not be described in words. She leaned lazily against the knotted roots of the black crystal ancient tree, dressed in a simple black long dress, the hem of her skirt flowing like the night. Her countenance was perfect to the point of surpassing all imagination in the world, possessing simultaneously the purity of a young maiden, the compassion of a mother goddess, and the supreme majesty of wielding death and judging all living beings. Her long hair cascaded casually like the deepest night sky, and her eyes were closed, her long eyelashes casting faint shadows on her pale cheeks.

Simply sitting quietly there, she seemed to be the center of this entire Nether Sea, and indeed the entire Netherworld! All the rules of death paid homage to her, and all the obsessed thoughts of dead souls grew silent around her.

The Sovereign of Death!

Lin Yinuo's mind and spirit were instantly captured by her, and an instinctive awe and trembling came from deep within his soul. He restrained all his aura, steered the small boat to slowly dock, stepped onto the island, and stood respectfully not far away, lowering his head in silence.

It seemed as though a long time had passed, and yet it also seemed like only a single instant.

Those closed eyes slowly opened.

What kind of eyes were those! The left eye seemed to contain a birth-and-death-uncertain universe Star River, with countless worlds being born, flourishing, declining, and returning to dead silence within it; the right eye, on the other hand, was an absolute nothingness where all things ended. Just by glancing at it, it felt as though even one's own existence would be swallowed and forgotten by it.

Her gaze fell upon Lin Yinuo, calm, yet as if capable of piercing through all his secrets.

"You have come."

Her voice resounded directly within Lin Yinuo's soul, clear, aloof, carrying not the slightest bit of emotion, yet imbued with the supreme authority of words following one's will.

"Junior Lin Yinuo pays respects to the Sovereign." Lin Yinuo bowed in salute, keeping his tone at the utmost respect.

The Sovereign of Death's gaze lingered on him for a moment, sweeping particularly over the Destruction Godhead and the wisp of true meaning of "Guixu" deep within his soul, and finally landing upon the vague and indistinct aura of the [Fake Hongmeng Spirit Pearl].

"The aura of Hongmeng... Though weak, its essence cannot be wrong." She murmured softly to herself, then looked at Lin Yinuo. "You can touch 'Guixu' and stir the breath of Hongmeng; it seems you are one of the observers chosen by 'Him'."

"Observer?" A massive shock shook Lin Yinuo's heart, and he faintly grasped some critical point.

The Sovereign of Death had no intention of explaining, instead turning to say, "Your soul has mutated, you possess multiple series of laws and rules, and you are nourished by the breath of Hongmeng; your potential is passable. But your path ahead is severed. Do you know why?"

Lin Yinuo's heart grew stern, knowing this might be crucial guidance concerning his own dao path, and he spoke respectfully, "Please enlighten me, Sovereign."

"Your path has walked in the wrong direction." The Sovereign of Death's voice remained calm. "Destruction is not the end, and Guixu is not the goal either. To be obsessed with destruction itself is ultimately to be counter-bitten and consumed by destruction. Your 'Guixu' has obtained only its form without capturing its spirit; to force its execution is merely to overdraw your own origin."

Lin Yinuo was struck as if by lightning. Recalling the weakness and backlash after executing "Guixu," cold sweat instantly drenched him.

"I beg the Sovereign for guidance!" He bowed once more, this time with even greater sincerity.

The Sovereign of Death slowly raised a jade-like finger, her fingertip lingering with a wisp of gray airflow. That was not pure death, but instead contained an artistic conception of "termination" and "reincarnation" that was far more primal and ancient.

"The ultimate peak of destruction is new life. The very end of Guixu is the origin. The cycle of life and death, the mutual transformation of yin and yang-these are the ultimate principles of the universe. You have only seen 'death' and 'annihilation,' yet you have never seen the vitality contained within 'death' or the new phenomena born after 'annihilation'."

The gray airflow at her fingertip shifted gently, actually breeding a tiny, imperceptible spot of vitality filled with infinite possibilities out of the extreme, dead silence!

"This..." Lin Yinuo watched in dumbfounded shock, as if something within the depths of his soul had shattered! The ultimate destruction he had always pursued was evidently not the final limit; within destruction, there unexpectedly also existed the seeds of creation?!

"Your path lies in balance, and in transformation." The Sovereign of Death withdrew her finger. "Taking destruction as the foundation, encompassing various methods for application, comprehending the wonder of the cycle of life and death. When you can reignite a speck of the 'fire of life' within your own 'Guixu,' that will be the moment you step into a brand-new realm."

These words were like a divine enlightenment, pointing out a completely different yet vastly broader path for Lin Yinuo! He had previously devoted himself entirely to enhancing the might of the Destruction Rule, never once imagining that the end of destruction was creation and new life!

(Inner thought): Balance... transformation... the cycle of life and death! So that was it! I understand!

He felt the fog that had troubled him for so long being swept aside, and his future path instantly became much clearer!

"Many thanks to the Sovereign for the guidance!" Lin Yinuo bowed deeply, and this time, the gratitude came from the bottom of his heart.

The Sovereign of Death nodded slightly, appearing somewhat satisfied with his comprehension. Her tone shifted. "The guidance is concluded. Now, let us speak of serious matters."

Her gaze once again grew profound as she looked at Lin Yinuo, seeming to see through him to the transcendent existence lurking behind him.

"Hongmeng Space... 'He' cast you into this universe, bestowed a system upon you, and observed your growth. As for this mark of mine, it is both a marker and a form of... investment."

With a casual wave of her jade hand, a ball of light containing the pure origin of the Ed of Death and countless profound pieces of information flew toward Lin Yinuo.

"This is a comprehension regarding soul mutation and how to initially rouse the power of the cycle of life and death. Consider it payment advanced in advance."

Lin Yinuo caught the ball of light, feeling the vast information and power within it, and his heart was even more shocked. Not only did the Sovereign of Death know of the system, but she also seemed to know of the existence of Hongmeng Space? Who was this "He" she spoke of? The Controller of Hongmeng?

"What do you need me to do?" Lin Yinuo asked in a deep voice. There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world, especially not from a Sovereign God.

The Sovereign of Death hooked the corners of her lips into an extremely faint arc, yet one sufficient to make heaven and earth lose their color: "Very simple. When you gather the Four-series Sovereign Spark, succeed in soul mutation, and reach the peak of this universe... for me, ask 'Him' a question."

Ask the Controller of Hongmeng a question?

Huge billows churned within Lin Yinuo's heart. The difficulty of this task was simply beyond imagination! Gather the Four-series Sovereign Spark? Succeed in soul mutation? Any single one of these goals was enough to make countless Peak Asura and Prefect exhaust boundless years and yet remain unattainable!

Yet looking at that ball of light in his hand concerning his own Dao path, and feeling the Sovereign of Death's unquestionable gaze, he knew he had no room to refuse. Furthermore, how was this not a form of motivation? An ultimate goal?

"Alright! I agree!" Lin Yinuo's gaze turned firm as he accepted.

"Very well." The Sovereign of Death seemed to have anticipated his reply long ago. "You may leave. Remember, before you possess sufficient strength, do not easily leak anything related to Hongmeng, including... my investment."

Having spoken, she slowly closed those eyes that thoroughly understood the cycle of life and death, as if sinking once more into eternal stillness.

The surrounding pressure suddenly lightened.

Lin Yinuo knew the summons had ended. He bowed in salute once more, then turned, stepped aboard the divine power boat, and following the original route, began his return voyage.

On the return journey, his mood remained unsettled for a long time. The Sovereign of Death's guidance had opened the door to a new world for him; while that ultimate task, like a towering peak, stood erect upon his future path, filled with endless challenges and... opportunities!

(Internal thought): Cycle of Life and Death, Four-series Sovereign Spark, soul mutation, questioning Hongmeng... This path is truly getting more and more interesting!

He gripped tightly the ball of light in his hand that contained the mysteries of soul mutation and the Cycle of Life and Death, a fighting spirit burning in his eyes like never before.

His trip to the Netherworld yielded far more than expected!

It was time to return to the Infernal Realm, digest what he had gained, and stride the solid first step toward that ultimate goal!