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An austere atmosphere bore down on heaven and earth.
All was silent save for the mellow voice of Malevolent Release echoing through the air.
Feng Yuzhi, Yun Songzi, and the others’ expressions shifted erratically.
“Cultivators like us have long since ceased to fear death. If you think you can force us to lower our heads, I’m afraid you’re mistaken,” Feng Yuzhi said icily.
Malevolent Release smiled. “No, you won’t die. The Mysterious Netherworld Divine Court has gone to great lengths to set up this trap, all to capture you alive. Your deaths wouldn’t benefit us in any way.”
Feng Yuzhi and the others frowned.
Although they couldn’t figure out what the old monk was getting at, when they recalled seeing their companions captured alive, chills coursed through them.
Why would the Mysterious Netherworld Divine Court go to such lengths to take them alive? This unquestionably implied they were plotting something!
“At this stage, there’s no need to deceive you. It’s true that the Laws of Yin-Yang Divine Mountain can suppress the evil spirits, but they present no threat to the Emperors of the Mysterious Netherworld Divine Court,” said the old monk.
He smiled, then continued, “Why have we limited ourselves to surrounding you? We simply wish to leave you a path to life. We’re trying to avoid pushing you into the corner and making you fight to the death, that’s all.
“In other words, if you stubbornly refuse to see the light and fight on, I assure you that it won’t be long before our offensive reaches Yin-Yang Divine Mountain and takes every last one of you down!”
His words boomed throughout heaven and earth like a massive bell.
Feng Yuzhi and the other Emeprors’ expressions were increasingly overcast.
“But if you do that, you’ll have to pay a heavy price for it,” Feng Yuzhi said coldly, her voice rife with murderousness.
Malevolent Release furrowed his brow.
It was then that the Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow, who was safeguarding the back lines of the massive army of evil spirits, said coldly, “I’ll give you ten minutes to think it over. If you remain stubborn even after that, don’t blame me for my poor manners.”
This blatant threat reverberated throughout heaven and earth.
The densely packed swarm of evil spirits readied themselves for battle.
The Emperors of the Mysterious Netherworld Divine Court stood beneath the dome of heaven, guarding the periphery of Yin-Yang Divine Mountain. Murderous intent surged around them.
The old monk, Malevolent Release, clasped his palms together and said no more.
The oppressive atmosphere and deathly silence were almost suffocating.
Atop Yin-Yang Divine Mountain.
Feng Yuzhi and the others looked at each other, their expressions shifting.
“Everyone, there’s no need to even consider it. I dare say with certainty that if they capture us alive, we’ll meet with a fate worse than death.” Feng Yuzhi tightened her grip on her Dao Sword, and her eyes flashed with imposing light. “Seems to me that we should fight to the death. If we can cut open a path of blood, all the better. Even if we can’t, we’ll take several of them down with us!”
Death meant nothing to the Jade Sword Empress of Fire Illumination Divine Palace. She was utterly valiant.
“Very well! Let’s do as you say!” Yun Songzi straightforwardly agreed, and the others followed suit.
All of them were well aware that they had little chance of making it out of here alive, but none of them were willing to just give up.
It was just as Fung Yuzhi had said. Even if they died, they’d drag several of their foes down with them!
Old monk Malevolent Release couldn’t help but sigh. “Everyone, is this truly necessary?”
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“You want to fight to the death? Well, I won’t let you get your way!” The Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow snorted coldly, and it surged with murderous intent. “Grand Libationer…”
The crow had only just said this when a miserable shriek emanated from afar.
The one who’d cried out was one of the Mysterious Netherworld Divine Court’s dharma protectors, the mid-stage Profound Illumination Emperor who’d been guarding the periphery of the battlefield.
Yet now, this Emperor split into pieces, and dark firelight incinerated him completely.
The aftermath even spread to the hundred-plus evil spirits nearby. They instantly exploded into ash and drifted down to earth.
This scene instantly triggered an uproar.
Countless gazes looked over and saw a group hurtling through the night sky.
The leader was a young man in blue. His hands were behind his back, and he walked through the enormous battlefield and the dense army of evil spirits as if he were out for a casual stroll.
“It’s him!”
“Fellow Daoist Su!”
“What… What is he doing here?”
Atop Yin-Yang Divine Mountain, Lu Changming, Yun Songzi, and the other older-generation experts couldn’t help but be surprised.
They’d only just prepared themselves to fight to the death.
None of them had anticipated that just as their grand battle was about to break out, Su Yi would lead a group to the battlefield.
After all, in the face of such a large-scale deathtrap, never mind ordinary cultivators: even Imperial Realm experts would have long since fled. Who would dare get mixed up in this?
Yet a young Spiritual Revolution Realm cultivator like Su Yi had gone and shown up anyway!
“How is this… any different from throwing himself into the net…?” One of the older experts sighed and shook his head. Su Yi’s valiance was surprising, and moving, too.
But no one thought highly of his decision. They saw this as no different from throwing his life away.
After all, the battlefield was utterly enormous, and there were too many evil spirits to count, as well as the forces of the Mysterious Netherworld Divine Court: the Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow, five libationers, more than ten dharma protectors, and three limitlessly terrifying Dark Vassals!
Them aside, there was no shortage of mighty evil spirits that ruled over their respective forbidden grounds in the City of the Wrongfully Dead!
A lineup like this was enough to trap even Profound Serenity Emperors like Feng Yuzhi and Lu Changming. They saw little hope of escaping this encirclement, and their only choice was to fight to the bitter end.
What could a Spiritual Revolution Realm cultivator accomplish?
“Throwing himself into the net? I most certainly don’t see it that way. Don’t forget: Fellow Daoist Su has heaven-defying combat skills, and even Ancestor Mo Wuhen treats him with incomparable respect. On top of all that, the Night Watchman of Snowy Skies Cities sees him as an old friend. How could he possibly be an ordinary person?” Lu Changming said gravely. “Besides, Young Lord Su is no reckless barbarian. If he dared come here, he must have complete confidence!”
Yun Songzi, Feng Yuzhi, and the others mulled that over.
Meanwhile, amidst the boundlessly vast battlefield, the Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow, grand libationer, and other old monsters of the Mysterious Netherworld Divine Court saw Su Yi and his companions too.
“Cui Family pipsqueak, you’re finally here! I’ve been waiting for you for a long time!” The Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow’s red eyes shone with overwhelming hatred and murderousness.
The entire area was in uproar.
Lu Changming and the others, however, were befuddled. The inauspicious bird obviously knew Su Yi, yet he addressed him as if he were a member of the Cui Family. There had to be some kind of misunderstanding.
“Is that the kid who killed the third libationer and stole the Burning Silence Ruler?”
“No, it’s the woman beside him!”
“Is that so…”
The old monsters of the Mysterious Netherworld Divine Court were all ready and raring to go. None of them looked friendly.
The entire area was instantly in uproar. Terrifying divine majesties stirred up the wind and clouds and swept toward Su Yi and company like a wave.
Su Yi ignored all of this and continued ahead, not at all concerned.
“Stop right there!”
A group of evil spirits shot out and tried to block his path.
You Xue’s starry eyes glinted with cold light, and she swung her fair hand through the air.
Whoosh!
A ten-thousand-foot, perfectly straight streak of Torchlit Darkness saber qi shot forth, ripping through the skies and descending with a bang.
It cleaved through heaven and earth like a knife through canvas, leaving a perfectly straight rift in its wake. Wherever this rift passed, countless evil spirits were instantly destroyed, and their souls scattered.
Boom!
When the saber qi descended, it cut a ten-thousand-foot ravine into the ground, scattering dirt and dust. Not one evil spirit remained on either side of the massive chasm.
One simple, understated slash, and You Xue cut open a path with ease!
That terrifying combat strength bewildered many of the old monsters, who couldn’t help but stare.
Su Yi, however, just continued ahead with his hands behind his back.
“He really doesn’t know the meaning of the word death!” Cold, sinister laughter rang out.
The speaker was a man as thin as a stalk of bamboo and dressed in golden robes. He took a step forward and was just about to charge when the Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow called out.
“Wait! I’ve never seen anyone throw themselves into the fisherman’s net so foolishly before. Step aside and let them through!”
Its dignified voice resounded throughout heaven and earth.
The boundless army of evil spirits along Su Yi and his companions’ path cleared the way ahead.
The old monsters of the Mysterious Netherworld Divine Court had, moments prior, been raring to go. But now, they suppressed their urge to attack and watched coldly from the sidelines.
But now, Lu Changming could no longer remain calm. He frantically called out, “Fellow Daoist, please hurry up and retreat. Don’t get any closer!”
Who could fail to realize that, if Su Yi reached Yin-Yang Divine Mountain, he’d surely find himself surrounded just like they were?
It really wouldn’t be any different from throwing himself into the fisherman’s net.
“This is no dragon’s cave or tiger’s den. Why should I retreat?” When Su Yi finally spoke, his voice was calm. “Besides, I came here to enter the Nine Great Purgatories of the Dark Capital, and I have to reach Yin-Yang Divine Mountain before I can do that.”
“....”
Silence greeted this declaration.
The corners of Lu Changming and the others’ lips twitched, and their minds went blank.
None of them would have guessed that even in such a perilous situation, Su Yi would still be fixated on entering the Nine Great Purgatories of the Dark Capital.
He was blatantly disregarding the forces of the Mysterious Netherworld Divine Court!
The Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow was stunned, and for a moment, it almost thought it had misheard him.
A moment later, it couldn’t help but throw back its head and burst into laughter. “See that, everyone! This pipsqueak has come here tonight to enter the Dark Capital! Hahaha!”
It clutched its stomach with its wings and laughed uproariously. The old monsters of the Mysterious Netherworld Divine Court all laughed along.
As if they’d heard the funniest joke in the world.
The formerly austere, oppressive atmosphere was now filled with a strange air of revelry.
Su Yi didn’t laugh, and his expression remained as calm as ever.
You Xue furrowed her brow, while Qing Teng and his apprentice glanced at each other. When they next looked at the laughing old monsters, they couldn’t help but pity them.
I’m afraid those scoundrels have no idea how terrifying of an existence they’re up against. Yuan Linning’s expression was a bit strange too.
She followed Su Yi through the boundless army of evil spirits, but she wasn’t the least bit panicked. On the contrary, she found the laughing, jeering old monsters utterly ridiculous.
When Su Yi and his companions arrived at the peak of Yin-Yang Mountain, Feng Yuzhi, Lu Changming, and the others immediately welcomed him.
“Fellow Daoist, many thanks for coming to our aid.” Feng Yuzhi steadied her heart and inclined her head in greeting.
The others followed suit.
Despite their predicament, Su Yi and his companions had resolutely come to their aid. Who wouldn’t have been moved?
Su Yi subtly inclined his head. “You needn’t be so polite. I simply happened to arrive at just the right moment.”
He’d promised the Night Watchman that he’d clean up the Mysterious Netherworld Divine Court.
He’d also told the Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow to wash its neck and wait for him here.
As for saving Feng Yuzhi and the others? He really had just arrived at this critical juncture by coincidence.
Before arriving here, even he would never have guessed that these Emperors would have found themselves in such peril.