River of Forgetfulness Ferry

Flowing Cloud Gathering was no longer a place they could stay. The End Times Cult's revenge was swift and brutal. While the few elite cultists leading low-level grunts, all under level thirty, were nothing to fear, getting entangled with them would inevitably attract more trouble and endanger this peaceful little town. Furthermore, the immense, towering vengeful energy emanating from the direction of Lanruo Temple hung over them like a sword of Damocles, a stark reminder that they couldn't linger.

Without the slightest hesitation, the four individuals and one pet seized the slight chaos caused by the commotion in Flowing Cloud Gathering and quickly departed the town from the east side. Su Yan held his Compass, focusing the [Energy Trace] function on sensing the "yin and yang convergence" and "water element" characteristics in the environment. Combined with the vague hints from Monk Hui Ming, they hurried eastward.

They passed through a withered forest filled with pale gray miasma, crossed an ancient, long-dry riverbed covered in stark white pebbles, and finally stopped at the edge of a rugged, rocky rift valley.

The rift valley plunged into unfathomable depths, exuding bone-chilling cold. A faint gurgling sound drifted up from the bottom, but it was hollow and eerie, as if capable of freezing the soul. Gazing down from the edge, they saw that at the deepest point of the rift, a stream only a few meters wide, its water as black as ink, flowed silently, dotted with faint, eerie blue phosphorescence on its surface. Nothing grew on either bank; only distorted shadows, seemingly struggling in agony, occasionally flickered into existence and then vanished.

"This is it," Su Yan felt the clear feedback from his Compass—extreme yin energy and weak water element had achieved a bizarre balance here, forming a natural boundary between yin and yang. "This dark river is likely an extremely faint manifestation of a River of Forgetfulness tributary in the human realm."

The yin energy here was far denser than even outside Lanruo Temple; the air itself felt solidified into a cold, viscous gel. Bai Zhi had to continuously maintain the aura of her [Heart Calming Incantation], and Mo Hen's mechanical joints emitted faint "creaking" sounds, eroded by the yin energy. Star Vortex appeared extremely uneasy, its tail vortex spinning rapidly as it let out a threatening low growl towards the rift valley below. It instinctively detested this environment of pure, dead silence.

Yun Ji observed their surroundings and said softly, "The spatial barrier here is exceptionally weak; it is indeed possible for a Ferryman to pass through."

There was no time to delay. Su Yan took out the three [Netherworld Guiding Incense] and, following the method taught by Hui Ming, used his own Star Power as a catalyst to light them.

There was no ordinary flame. The tips of the three incense sticks merely glowed with three points of cold, faint sparks that seemed to absorb the surrounding light. A peculiar, cool fragrance diffused, not unpleasant, but carrying a soul-piercing pull.

The incense smoke curled upwards, not dispersing into the air, but as if drawn by an unseen force, it plunged straight down into the bottomless rift valley, merging into the black stream below.

In an instant, a phenomenon occurred!

The yin wind in the rift valley suddenly intensified, howling like ten thousand wailing ghosts. The silently flowing black stream's surface violently churned, not with heat, but with cold! Countless faint blue lights emerged from the depths, transforming into distorted, pained, and bewildered faces of lost souls. They struggled, attempting to approach the source of the incense smoke, emitting silent wails. The temperature of the entire rift valley plummeted again, and a layer of black frost instantly formed on the rock walls.

Everyone held their breath, circulating their spiritual energy with all their might to resist the soul-penetrating chill and the corrosion of resentment.

After about the time it takes to burn one stick of incense, a hazy lamp light flickered to life without warning above the black stream where the lost souls gathered and faint blue light shimmered.

It was an ancient, uniquely styled lantern, emitting a dim yet remarkably stable glow that dispelled a small area of darkness and cold. The lantern hung from the bow of a small boat.

The boat had no oars or sails. It was made entirely of some dark wood that seemed to have been submerged in river water for millennia, its hull covered in blurred, indistinct runes. A figure cloaked in a heavy straw cape and wearing a wide bamboo hat stood silently at the stern, their face obscured. All that could be felt was a presence as deep, ancient, and indifferent as the River of Forgetfulness water beneath them.

He held a long bamboo pole, which he dipped into the water without causing the slightest ripple. Yet, the boat moved with impossible speed, silently parting the lost souls gathered on the water's surface and arriving directly beneath Su Yan and the others at the bottom of the rift. An invisible pulling force enveloped them.

"Board the boat."

A hoarse, dry voice, as if unused for millennia, echoed directly in their minds, devoid of any emotion.

Su Yan exchanged glances with his companions and nodded, leaping down into the rift. The invisible pulling force gently supported them, landing them steadily on the strange boat, barely ten feet long. The boat didn't even sway.

Up close, the Ferryman was even more mysterious. The straw cape and bamboo hat completely concealed him; only his humanoid build could be discerned. The bamboo pole in his hand was as black as ink, seeming to absorb all light. Apart from the lantern, the boat was empty.

"Fare," the Ferryman spoke again, his voice still resonating directly in their minds.

Su Yan took a deep breath and said solemnly, "May I ask what kind of fare you require, Senior?"

The Ferryman was silent for a moment. He slightly lifted his bamboo hat, as if "looking" at Su Yan. The gaze pierced through the hat, cold and penetrating.

"You have an unfulfilled promise," the Ferryman's voice was unperturbed. "This shall be your fare."

An unfulfilled promise? Su Yan froze, his mind racing through many possibilities. Was it to his sect? To Star Vortex? Or... perhaps to this world in some unseen way? He couldn't be sure which one the Ferryman was referring to.

"Could you be more specific?" Su Yan probed.

"When the time comes, you will know," the Ferryman said indifferently. "If you agree, we will set sail. If not, you may leave now."

This was an invisible contract, a shackle pointing towards the future. Su Yan glanced at his companions. Mo Hen's expression was grave, Bai Zhi looked worried, and Yun Ji nodded slightly, signaling him to decide for himself. Star Vortex nudged his leg with its head, conveying unconditional trust.

"I agree," Su Yan no longer hesitated. Compared to sacrificing cultivation, lifespan, or treasures, an unknown promise was perhaps the best option for now. He was confident that no matter what he had to accomplish in the future, he would be able to do it.

"Good."

The Ferryman said no more. He lightly tapped the shore (which was not a tangible shore, but the blurry boundary of the spatial barrier) with his bamboo pole. The boat silently slipped into the black waters of the River of Forgetfulness, heading towards the endless darkness.

As soon as they entered the true River of Forgetfulness waterway, the surroundings abruptly changed! The rift valley vanished, replaced by a boundless, misty, black expanse of water. The river water was viscous like ink, and countless eyes seemed to peer from within the depths, where colossal, distorted shadows could be vaguely seen lurking.

"Woooo—"

An eerie yin wind materialized from nowhere, not blowing on physical objects, but directly at their souls! [Soul Devouring Yin Wind]! They all felt their souls sway, as if about to be torn from their bodies! Bai Zhi's Buddhist light flickered violently, and Mo Hen immediately cast stabilizing talismans on himself and Su Yan. Star Vortex's starlight flared, and its [Starlight Barrier] automatically activated, blocking the invisible wind blades.

Immediately after, ethereal, demonic singing and whispering voices erupted from all directions, piercing their eardrums and reaching the depths of their hearts! [Heart Bewitching Demonic Sound]! It stirred up the deepest obsessions, fears, and desires within people's hearts. Su Yan seemed to see the prosperity of his past life in the city, saw the worried faces of his parents; Mo Hen's vision was filled with Heavenly Secrets City's top-secret blueprints; Bai Zhi heard her master's call; even the clouds and mist around Yun Ji rippled.

"Hold your minds steady! It is all an illusion!" Yun Ji's clear, cold voice was like ice water pouring over their heads. Simultaneously, she formed hand seals, and a clear radiance spread out, temporarily dispelling some of the demonic sound's influence. Su Yan circulated his Star Contemplation Method, stabilizing the illusion of the starry sky in his mind and suppressing distracting thoughts. Mo Hen simply used his mechanisms to temporarily block his hearing. Bai Zhi chanted calming sutras, her Buddhist light illuminating all.

Star Vortex had extremely high resistance to this type of mental attack, but it was more vigilant about things underwater. Suddenly, several pale, swollen [Drowned Water Ghosts] with sharp claws lunged out of the water, grabbing for the boat's edge!

"Scram!" Star Vortex roared, unleashing its [Starlight Breath]. The silvery-white starlight breath was significantly damaging to these evil entities, instantly burning the water ghosts into smoke. But more water ghosts surged forward, attempting to drag the small boat into the abyss.

Mo Hen's mechanical crossbow bolts, imbued with dispelling talismans, fired with precision. Su Yan's [Lightning Talisman] seemed suppressed on the River of Forgetfulness, but it was still effective in dispersing approaching vengeful spirits. Bai Zhi focused on maintaining the team's mental defenses and condition.

Under the Ferryman's control, the boat moved with incredible stability. Regardless of the wind, waves, or the assault of the ghosts, it followed a predetermined course. The dim light of the lantern at the bow acted like a divine needle, illuminating the path ahead and dispelling the approaching malice.

"What is the power source for this boat?" Mo Hen's professional curiosity flared, and he couldn't help but mutter in a low voice, trying to observe the structure beneath the boat. "Neither metal nor wood, not relying on the current, not using the wind... could it be relying on the rules of the River of Forgetfulness itself?"

The Ferryman remained unresponsive, as if he hadn't heard.

Bai Zhi looked at the countless souls struggling, drowning, and wailing in the river. Her compassion stirred, and she couldn't help but clasp her hands together, softly chanting the Rebirth Incantation, trying to offer them a sliver of solace.

"Stop."

The Ferryman's hoarse voice sounded again, with an undeniable tone.

"Disrupting the order of yin and yang is something you cannot bear."

Bai Zhi was startled and had to stop. She looked at the lost souls, her eyes filled with pity.

They sailed in the darkness for an unknown duration, seeming like an instant, yet perhaps like millennia. The mist ahead gradually thinned, and a desolate, dead riverbank could be vaguely seen. The land was dark red, and the sky was an eternal dim yellow, with no sun, moon, or stars, only distorted light and shadow.

The small boat gently docked.

"We've arrived," the Ferryman said. "This place is the Netherworld."

Su Yan and the others stepped onto this unfamiliar land and immediately felt a heaviness settle over them. The gravity here seemed different from the human world, and the air was filled with a dense, deathly miasma. Their spiritual energy circulated sluggishly. Looking back, the small boat and the Ferryman had vanished silently into the thick mist, as if they had never been there.

Only the final, indifferent warning remained, etched into everyone's hearts like a brand:

"Remember, 'death' here could be the true end."

Beneath their feet lay the land of the Netherworld, and ahead lay unknown dangers and their mission. Su Yan gripped the Compass in his hand, feeling the steadfast resolve emanating from the Star Vortex, and gazed into the depths of this dim, desolate world.