Entering the Hidden Nether Realm Again

More than ten thousand years later, upon returning to the Hidden Nether Realm, Sang Ying clearly felt that the atmosphere here was even more oppressive than before.

Even if the Hidden Nether Realm of the past was like today—shameless, filled with mixed Spiritual Qi, and sparsely populated with plants—the people of that time had become accustomed to such a way of life and didn't live in such a lifeless atmosphere.

Even in Moonless City, the people's mental outlook was no different from that of other small worlds in Sang Ying's eyes; they were all equally positive and optimistic.

Nowadays, almost everyone walking forward has their head down and body hunched over. Even the cultivators are wrapped up tightly in black robes, and they don't even want to show their eyes.

Not only the native inhabitants, but also a few disciples dressed in bright colors were scattered on the bustling streets, clearly from other small worlds.

But their demeanor was indescribably low; they wouldn't even look at anyone, and their faces were frighteningly pale.

Sang Ying and Jiang Zhuoxue exchanged a glance and sensed that something was amiss.

The strange atmosphere also affected Gu Shu. He had been sitting on Sang Ying 'Sang Ying shoulder, muttering to himself, but now he had obediently shut his mouth and nestled carefully against her shoulder.

"Let's go, let's find a place to settle down first, we can talk about the rest later." Jiang Zhuoxue took Sang Ying's hand and led her forward.

The city they arrived in via the Teleportation Array was one they had never been to before. Even though they had inquired about it beforehand, they were newcomers and still had to be careful in everything they did.

Jiang Zhuoxue had inquired before about where the things he had lost had gone, but at that time he had no intention of finding them. Now that he wanted to get them back, the things had changed hands countless times.

Thinking about this incident, Sang Ying couldn't help but get angry at Jiang Zhuoxue: "What's wrong with you? Why didn't you take advantage of such a good opportunity back then to snatch your things back?"

Each time she heard this, Jiang Zhuoxue would just smile gently at her without offering any explanation.

For the first hundred years after being rescued, he recuperated and slowly recovered in the secret realm. In the second hundred years, he left the secret realm and wandered in the Hidden Nether Realm, accumulating strength and trying to find Sang Ying's whereabouts... In the countless hundred years that followed, because of an obsession in his heart, finding what was his was no longer important to him.

Later, after he sealed away his memories of Sang Ying, Jiang Zhuoxue felt that there was no point in taking the things back. It would be better to tease them like mice and watch them run away in a panic, which made him happy.

Jiang Zhuoxue dared not tell Sang Ying these things. Now she truly believed that she was an incredibly kind and upright Black Dragon, but only Jiang Zhuoxue knew that there was still a dark side in his heart. It was just that with Sang Ying around, he tried his best to suppress it and wanted to become a good person worthy of her.

The city is named Spring Returns, a beautiful name, but the reality inside is quite the opposite. There is no vibrant life of Spring Returns the earth, only the deathly stillness and harshness of midwinter.

The two of them hadn't walked far with Gu Shu when they happened to come across an inn. The inn looked a bit old, but it was the only one they had encountered on their long journey.

If you go any further, you probably won't find another one like it.

After thinking for a moment, Sang Ying still pulled Jiang Zhuoxue inside.

The inn was still quiet, unlike the bustling other small worlds. There were hardly any people sitting down to eat in the lobby on the first floor. The two had originally planned to ask around in the lobby to find out more about the place.

Now it seems that this plan is unlikely to succeed.

The innkeeper, who was standing behind the counter, glanced at them, and only perked up a little when he saw their clothes. "Are you two looking for a room?"

"Not only do I need a place to stay, but I also want to ask you for some information." It was Jiang Zhuoxue who replied, placing a Spirit Stone in front of the innkeeper.

The previously listless innkeeper immediately straightened up and became very attentive. "You two have come at the perfect time. Our two best rooms are already available. Shall I arrange them for you?"

This sounded obviously fake, but Jiang Zhuoxue didn't care. "Then these two rooms will do." She also tossed over a few Spirit Stone.

The shopkeeper quickly accepted the goods, then turned and called to the listless waiter, telling him to stay downstairs and watch the shop. He then led Sang Ying and the other woman upstairs.

Gu Shu had been mostly silent since arriving in this world, leaned close to Sang Ying's shoulder and whispered in her ear, "This shopkeeper doesn't seem to be a native of the Hidden Nether Realm."

Sang Ying nodded, indicating that she understood.

The innkeeper arranged rooms for them on the third floor of the inn. He didn't tell the truth about anything else, but the only thing he could believe was that the two rooms were indeed quite nice.

Jiang Zhuoxue casually tossed a few Wen Miaoshu into his room, then turned around and went to find Sang Ying, even bringing the shopkeeper into Sang Ying's room with him.

As soon as the door closed and the array was activated, the innkeeper, sensing something amiss, finally spoke with a smile, "You two are from the border, aren't you? What would you like to know? As long as I know the answer, I will tell you everything I know."

Jiang Zhuoxue tapped the table with her hand. "We're new here and don't know much about this place. Why don't you just tell us about the city, innkeeper? It'll be a good opportunity for us to see how well-informed you are."

The shopkeeper had initially thought that these two, who were so generous, were probably simple-minded. But after hearing Jiang Zhuoxue's words and seeing the smile on his lips, the shopkeeper couldn't help but shudder.

"If you're asking about this city, then you've come to the right person. There's nothing in Spring Returns City that I don't know." The shopkeeper chuckled and continued, "Spring Returns City has only been established for a few hundred years. The city lord here used to move from a place called Moonless City. The whole family was surnamed Moonless, and it's said that they were once a prominent Lineage in Moonless City. However, they lost an internal power struggle with another force, so they moved out to seek a different livelihood."

Upon hearing this, Sang Ying and Jiang Zhuoxue's eyes lit up.

"It's a pity they were unlucky. They had only built Spring Returns City a few years ago when they were overthrown again. Only one little child from the entire Moonless Household escaped, and there has been no news of him since." The shopkeeper sighed as he said this.

The shopkeeper said, "The current city lord's surname is Lin, and he's a good person. He does want to change the current state of Spring Returns City, but the aura of the Hidden Nether Realm is becoming increasingly turbid, and cultivators can't find any hope of ascension. After cultivating the Ghost Dao for so many years, it's too late to escape to another small world to cultivate something else. Everyone is just suffering here. Moreover..."

The shopkeeper swallowed hard, his expression turning serious. He leaned forward, deliberately lowering his voice. "Besides, we people from the Hidden Nether Realm are tainted with Curse!"