A small skiff drifted over the rushing Yellow Springs River, rising and falling with its blood-yellow waves as it sped toward the gate of the Nine Nether Seventh Layer.
The waters of Yellow Springs and Oblivion possessed not the slightest buoyancy. They bound all things and dragged them down, washed the soul, dissolved memories, and left one eternally sunken, unable to break free. Yet that pale golden skiff traveled as though upon an ordinary river, leisurely and at ease, untouched by even a trace of filth or resentful malice as it rode the wind toward them.
Seeing the immortal-like man and woman at the bow, the Buddha children guarding the entrance could not help but feel wary and doubtful. Since the day they had gained memories, nothing like this had ever happened. There was rather the air of ill-intentioned visitors.
"They do not look like True Persons or Heavenly Sovereigns who mistakenly entered Nine Nether. Those people are always caught off guard and left in a wretched state, struggling bitterly in the Yellow Springs River." One of the gatekeeping Buddha children spoke to his companion. "How could they be so relaxed and carefree?"
His companion was a delicate-looking nun, and her expression turned grave. "Our Nine Nether is extremely well concealed. Even with a Treasure of Five Virtues, one cannot enter without finding the path through Yellow Springs. Could they be Half-step Golden Immortals? But if they were Half-step Golden Immortals, they could simply shift directly into Nine Nether. Why go to such lengths?"
"Could it be because the Imperial Sovereign has sealed off our Seventh Layer?" The gatekeeping Buddha child thought of a possible explanation.
The delicate nun said thoughtfully, "If they had a close relationship with the Imperial Sovereign, she would certainly open the Two Realms Ten Directions