Chapter 117: Malevolent Spirits Cheer for the Abyssal King of Zhoujie

"Master Ping, everything is prepared. These are top-tier moonstones and Red River sand; you won't find quality like this in the surrounding markets! I made a special trip to the Water-Fire Tower and personally pleaded with several master alchemists to acquire them."

Yan Ping was surrounded by a dozen men, their bodies radiating various flows of energy that shimmered like mysterious fires in the sky, creating a dazzling spectacle. To his left, a youth wearing a Profound Yang crown and blue dharma robes smiled, proudly patting the storage pouch at his waist. "Do you still doubt the things I, Yan Du, do?"

The other members of the Yan clan chuckled at this. Only Yan Ping remained as cold as water, his eyes piercing and grim. Yan Du, a man of playful temperament, had intended to crack a few more jokes to boast of his accomplishments, but he withered under that gaze, his voice gradually dying away. Finally, he shrank his neck and dared not utter another word.

"Hand it over. Let me see." Yan Ping reached out.

Yan Du dared not defy him; he obediently unhooked the storage pouch and respectfully placed it in Yan Ping's hand.

"Not bad... You have put effort into this. You deserve credit."

As Yan Ping removed a single moonstone from the pouch, a piercing, frigid yin energy surged forth like a small snake, attempting to pierce the skin of his palm and burrow into his meridians to bite at his heart. Yan Ping simply turned his palm slightly, effortlessly crushing the cold intent. He then cast a glance at the pile of Red River sand, sniffing the air. Upon catching the pungent, fishy stench of blood, a look of satisfaction appeared on his face.

"Master Ping, is this enough?" Yan Du asked with a fawning smile. "I scoured the private collections of those old alchemists at the Water-Fire Tower, leaving not a single grain behind. I thought it would suffice, so I didn't ask for more. If it is still not enough, I—"

"Do you not see that the 'Luo Xian Lead Boat' has already arrived? We are about to depart for the Earth Abyss; do you really think there is time for your antics?" Yan Ping waved his hand, cutting Yan Du off. His expression softened slightly, and he let out a faint laugh. "The Earth Abyss is filled with countless yin spirits. These two items are meant for summoning spirits and offering to ghosts. If you had prepared any more, we might have been the ones to suffer a catastrophe."

Yan Du gave a sheepish laugh, not daring to respond.

"This is more than enough. It is sufficient to kill Chen Heng a hundred times over." Yan Ping tossed the storage pouch back to the expectant Yan Du and looked around at the Yan clan members. "Last night, you all understood the meaning of our clansman, Uncle Feichen, right?"

"Master Ping, rest assured! This is a major matter for the clan; how could we forget!" A clan member with a three-inch beard under his chin, whose skin—save for his eyeballs—was a dark golden color from some profound cultivation technique, laughed and replied in a low voice: "That Chen Heng was nothing more than a kept man. Though he has had some luck recently, his vision remains narrow! Since he rejected our uncle's Purple Manor Dao scripture, it is clear he intends to be our enemy. In such a situation, how can we allow him to remain at ease? We will surely kill him in the Earth Abyss!"

Yan Ping nodded slightly. Within the Xuanzhen Sect, with Ai Jian intentionally blocking their path, it was inconvenient to strike. But in the Earth Abyss—a place of eternal darkness where yin ghosts held sway—it was the perfect location to bury a body. One sword strike, then toss the remains in some corner. In less than an hour, the bones would be gnawed clean by those bizarre creatures, leaving nothing behind...

At this thought, an indescribable, scorching sensation welled up in Yan Ping’s heart, quickening his blood flow and flushing his face red.

"Master Ping, it would be best if you did not do it yourself. The moonstones and Red River sand you ordered us to prepare—aren't they meant to be used on Chen Heng?" An experienced Yan clan member, seeing Yan Ping's hands trembling with restraint, frowned and whispered a warning: "After all, he has caught the eye of Xie Tan from the Flower God Mansion, and that man is of the Changyou Xie clan. One cannot be certain what secret techniques or methods a disciple of such a noble family might possess. Since this is a grand undertaking, it is better to be cautious!"

"Uncle Sheng—" Yan Ping was silent for a moment, turning his head away. With reddened eyes, he paused before speaking in a low voice: "I know. It is just that my heart is truly filled with such displeasure..."

The middle-aged man in the long robes, whom he addressed as Uncle Sheng, shook his head silently and said no more. After the group deliberated further, another "Luo Xian Lead Boat" floated up from a mountain peak, standing majestically above the dense mist. As soon as it appeared, many cultivators showed joy and steered their flight lights toward it.

***

There were over a hundred people from the Xuanzhen Sect assigned to the Earth Abyss mission this time, far too many for a single Luo Xian Lead Boat, necessitating a second vessel.

"Do not rush, do not rush. Let me show you something amusing." Just as the Yan clan members were about to take flight toward the Lead Boat, Yan Ping suddenly laughed and stopped them. "I will show you how a complete fool goes to his death in the Earth Abyss. Ha, it is truly pathetic!"

Amidst Yan Ping's cold laughter, the group was confused, but within seconds, they saw several more flight lights descending toward the Luo Xian Lead Boat. Looking closely, one of the figures in the flight lights was none other than Xu Zhi!

"Him? He is quite famous, though I hear his character is a complete mess..." Yan Du was stunned. "Where does Xu Zhi get the courage to go to the Earth Abyss? Has he eaten the guts of a bear or leopard? He will likely be frightened to death the moment he encounters a demon or ghost."

"I consulted with Manager Zhang of the Registry Office to trick Xu Zhi into performing chores on the Luo Xian Lead Boat, promising him a book of alchemy upon his return. Manager Zhang was once helped by Xu Zhi back when the latter was rising in status. The man has some depth; he did not kick Xu Zhi while he was down after his fall from grace." Yan Ping’s gaze flickered. "Manager Zhang happens to be cultivating a blood-energy technique, so I used two Embryonic Origin Pills to buy his favor, having him lure Xu Zhi onto the boat. Once there, we will finish him off in the Earth Abyss!"

"This..." Hearing this, a clan member asked in confusion: "Master Ping, it seems Xu Zhi had no interaction with our late clan sister, so you—"

"He, Xu Zhi, dared to defy my wishes and befriend Chen Heng! That alone is reason enough for him to die!" Yan Ping rested his five fingers on the White Hut dharma sword at his waist, brushing over it slightly. He spoke expressionlessly: "And not just this Xu Zhi. Once we leave the Earth Abyss, all of Chen Heng’s kin in Lanliang City shall die as well! Not even a chicken or a dog! I, Yan Ping, will not let any of them go! Everyone must die!"

The words carried an icy, bone-chilling intent that made the Yan clan members standing beside him feel cold. It was as if they were stepping on a writhing, living snake; the slick, frigid sensation made their scalps tingle.

"Immeasurable Heavenly Sovereign! Ever since Yan Zhen died, this Yan Ping has truly gone mad; he no longer seems like a normal living person!" A few paces away, Yan Du lowered his head, a sudden chill running through his heart. When he caught a glimpse of Yan Ping’s fingers gently stroking the White Hut dharma sword—an heirloom of Yan Zhen—with the tenderness one might use to caress a lover's skin, daring not to apply even a fraction of force, Yan Du's scalp went numb again. He quickly focused his gaze on his own nose, not daring to look a second time.

The Luo Xian Lead Boat was thirty zhang long, its color like black iron, giving an impression of extreme durability. It had three levels of pavilions, capable of housing fifty people with plenty of room to spare. Chen Heng noticed that the four corners of the boat were each adorned with a zhang-high "Profound Soap Tiger God Flag," which fluttered without wind. Though he did not know their specific function, a single glance gave him an incredibly malevolent and ferocious feeling, as if he were being stared at by a predatory beast. His heart swayed, and he faintly heard a roar echoing in his mind.

Chen Heng paused for a moment before choosing a cabin on the second level and pushing the door open. Inside, it was spotlessly clean. There was a jade bed and a few prayer mats, and to the left, a sandalwood desk neatly arranged with brushes, ink, paper, inkstone, and a few cups. Though the cabin was small—barely fifty paces in area—it was complete with all necessities.

As the vessel gave a slight tremor, the Luo Xian Lead Boat rose into the clouds, speeding toward the Earth Abyss. Chen Heng locked the door behind him, sat on the jade bed, and looked around, his mind shifting.

The spiritual energy within the Earth Abyss was filthy and corrupt. If a cultivator stayed there too long, the essence of the netherworld would invade their brain and organs, eventually leading to their death and the dissipation of their soul. This was why Ai Jian had distributed the Small White Yang Pills to the disciples; these yang-attribute medicines were needed to balance the clear and turbid energies within their bodies. And it was not just the filthy energy; over the long ages, the place had birthed countless yin spirits and demons.

"The tiger is a yang creature, the leader of all beasts; it can suppress sharpness and devour demons... Those Profound Soap Tiger God Flags must be talismans used to ward off evil. I wonder what their grade is, and the wonders of this Luo Xian Lead Boat..." He shook his head, deciding not to speculate further. After calming his mind and adjusting his breathing for a few cycles, he shook his sleeve and took out the bottle of Great Creation Origin Beads, holding them in his hand.

This bottle of beads was a gift from Ai Jian two days ago, along with two Martial Spring Fierce Thunder Talismans. The function of those talismans was similar to the "Big Dipper Sword Record" he had obtained from the Master of the Huaiwu Cave—they were tools for slaying enemies and protecting one's life. If the thunderlight struck a body directly, even a high-level cultivator at the Purple Manor stage would perish immediately. They were indeed trump cards.

As for the Great Creation Origin Beads, they were external medicines used to supplement vital energy. There were twelve in the bottle. Each bead was the size of a quail egg, plump and filled with what seemed to be nothing but gathered clear light. Even holding them at his fingertips, a sense of lightness permeated his nose, making his mind feel refreshed.

Having exhausted his talisman money and essence, Chen Heng was currently at the seventh level of Qi Refinement. If he absorbed this bottle of beads, his cultivation would surely advance further. Though Ai Jian’s gift was born of consideration for Xie Tan of the Flower God Mansion, it was a genuine help to him.

With this in mind, he did not hesitate. He took one bead, rubbed it between his fingertips, exerted force to crush it, and slowly forced the green light from within into his nostrils. This was the proper way to consume them. The outer shell of the pill had no nourishing properties; it was merely to seal the clear light within. It was not only non-spiritual but actually contained a potent poison. If swallowed, even with a cultivator's protective arts, it would rot the stomach and intestines; even if vomited out, the residual poison would take root, leading to a severe illness.

After sitting in silence for a moment, the medicinal power dispersed in his chest and abdomen. Chen Heng’s spirit was greatly invigorated. He circulated the dissolved power through his meridians hundreds of times, fully integrating it into his tendons, bones, and blood to strengthen his embryonic breath. After half a day, the medicinal potency was fully absorbed. Chen Heng exhaled a long breath and, without resting, picked up the next bead and closed his eyes to refine it.

Three days and nights later, Chen Heng's cultivation finally stepped into the eighth level of Qi Refinement. At this point, only two of the twelve beads remained.

"This is not enough to reach the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refinement... However, Yan Ping and his people will likely strike at me in the Earth Abyss. After taking their wealth and gathering more elsewhere, it should be sufficient."

His eyes flashed slightly. He crushed another bead and entered meditation again. But this time, before he could fully absorb the power, the Luo Xian Lead Boat stopped above a deep, abyssal cavern after only half an hour.

The cavern was bottomless, appearing as if it led directly to the Yellow Springs of the underworld. Although the entrance was not wide—barely a hundred paces across—the yin energy surging from within had condensed into thick, gray clouds that completely obscured the scorching midday sun, letting not a single ray escape. Even inside the Luo Xian Lead Boat, a cold wind raged like a dragon, causing the cultivators in the cabins to furrow their brows and their robes to flutter.

"We have arrived?" Chen Heng opened his eyes on the jade bed and stopped his cultivation. Just then, a clear, resonant bell tolled through the boat. After three tolls, the Lead Boat suddenly moved, erupting with clusters of gray-black true fire that filled the surrounding void. Then, it lunged forward!

It dived into the cavern like a fish!

*Boom!*

It sounded like a thin sheet of paper being pierced. In an instant, there was a violent sensation of heaven and earth spinning, as if the entire world had turned into a massive vortex! The boat shook violently, leaving all the cultivators inside dizzy and nauseated. Those with weaker minds could not help but cry out, cold sweat pouring down their backs.

After an unknown amount of time, as the shaking finally ceased, before anyone could regain their composure, a sound of ghost wailing rose from afar. The yin energy was bone-chilling, and a fishy, blood-tainted wind assaulted their senses. At first, it was only a few faint screams and gusts of blood-tainted wind, but in the blink of an eye, the sounds grew louder and more numerous! It was as if they had crashed into a ghost kingdom. Everywhere—above, below, and all around—there were green-faced, fanged, flayed ghosts!

A dance of demons! An infinite hell!

Truly:
*Fragrant blood flows upon the lotus,
The mighty ghosts cheer in the depths of the nether gloom!*