Chapter 1065: The Unbroken Past Thirty-Four

"Who goes there? This is the boundary between Yin and Yang. Unauthorized personnel, retreat at once!"

Outside the Ghost Gate Pass, She Ji had not yet approached when an Underworld Messenger shouted a challenge, and a strong gust of infernal wind surged with the sound.

Although She Ji slowed her escape speed, she showed no intention of stopping.

"To the Underworld Messengers, I must go to the Underworld to save someone. I cannot delay for a moment, so I ask for your leniency!"

Though she spoke of "leniency," She Ji knew that the ghost deities guarding the pass would never allow her through. Thus, she secretly unleashed her demonic energy, disregarding the potential harm to herself.

"Hmph, hmph, there are only ghosts in the Underworld. What talk is there of saving someone, hmm? I misjudged you; I thought you were some powerful master, but you're just a demon!"

"So what if I'm a demon? I've committed no evil deeds, so why do you disparage us demon cultivators?"

She Ji used the talking interval to continuously close the distance. The Ghost Gate Pass itself was no ordinary city gate; even to force her way through would require skill and finesse.

One of the ghost generals guarding the gate narrowed his eyes, a cold glint appearing in his phoenix-like gaze.

"Halt! This is a sacred place, the Ghost Gate Pass. Intruders shall die! Hmph—"

The ghost general, holding a long-handled saber, kicked the hilt, using it as a spearhead, and charged at She Ji in a spear-wielding stance. She Ji flicked her sleeve, sending out a ribbon that struck the saber's hilt.

"Thud."

The clash of demonic energy and infernal energy created a swirling mist.

"What a formidable demon!"

The ghost general channeled power into his left hand, while his right hand and shoulder surged upwards.

"Swoosh..."

The saber blade tore through the infernal energy and mist, leaving a sharp arc of light that cut forward like a crescent moon, as the general spun and advanced with his weapon.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!" "Swish!"

"Clang!"

The saber light cleaved through everything in its path, then struck the ground with force, still radiating a cold light as it surged forward.

"Ah."

A shriek echoed from where the saber light had struck. The ghost general sneered. The instant the saber light descended, his left arm transformed, sharp claws emerging as his fingers elongated rapidly. In a flash, he lunged to the impact point, making a grabbing attack. The enormous ghost claw ripped through the coalescing infernal energy, producing a "bang" like an explosion.

The ghost general's left hand had a death grip on She Ji's neck. The grotesque ghost claws tightened relentlessly, as if to snap her neck.

"Wretched demon! I'll take you to the Judge!"

The ghost general spoke dispassionately, walking step by step towards the Ghost Gate Pass while holding She Ji.

Even so, She Ji, held firmly by the ghost general, watched him with a cold gaze, as if it weren't her own neck about to be crushed. She glanced behind her, then looked forward; the distant silver light was almost beyond her perception.

"Pardon me."

Before She Ji's words had even finished, the ghost general sensed something was wrong. The demon in his hand suddenly became searing hot, its surface taking on a glaze-like sheen.

"Boom!"

She Ji, in the ghost general's hand, suddenly erupted in a powerful golden light, accompanied by boundless flames. The ghost general only had time to swing his saber to block, but his left arm was already incinerated and shattered. Because of their close proximity, the golden light and explosive flames also surged towards the vicinity of the Ghost Gate Pass.

"You..."

"Ah—" "Whoa..."

"Boom..."

Many Underworld Messengers around the Ghost Gate Pass were scattered by the blast.

"Hah, hah..."

Gasping, She Ji stumbled but quickly escaped, vanishing into the Ghost Gate Pass amidst the flames and smoke.

The ghost general lay half-prone before the Ghost Gate Pass, his face grim. His right hand still gripped his saber tightly, and his demonic veins bulged hideously. Despite his anger, doubt lingered in his heart.

This demoness actually possessed such pure yang fire energy, and even faintly exuded the vast power of a Buddhist Mingwang (Vidyaraja) from ancient practices. It was not something a malicious fiend could cultivate.

A few breaths later, the ghost general had dispelled the lingering yang fire energy from his body and stood up. A new ghost arm had already re-formed from coalesced infernal energy. He looked at his left arm; its armor was gone, and moving it a few times still caused some soreness. The injury wasn't severe, but it was troublesome.

At the same time, the ghost general gathered a large amount of infernal energy to help several fallen Underworld Messengers dispel the fiery energy. Soon, a few of them were able to stand.

"Those who can move, go send a message."

As the ghost general spoke to the standing Underworld Messengers, he suddenly sensed something. He turned back to look outside and saw a woman in red robes also stepping into the boundary between Yin and Yang.

Another one?

"Halt!"

The ghost general's body was still stiff, but duty-bound, he immediately raised his saber to block, while secretly casting a spell to seal the Ghost Gate Pass. However, Hu Yun, with a quick shift, was already in front of him. She extended a finger and touched the ghost general's forehead. A current-like glow flashed across his brow, and his body instantly froze.

"It's unavoidable; I apologize for the offense. I will explain the situation later."

Hu Yun hadn't intentionally arrived a step late; she had already seen She Ji forcefully channeling her magic. In that state, without fire dates, the female lynx might have had the life to fight but not to survive exiting the Underworld.

Although she was a step late, she knew which direction She Ji had gone.

Sun Yiqiu, after all, was from the Sun family of Ning'an County. Although the Sun family's blessings were broken, he certainly had no karmic grievances in the Underworld. His stay in Ning'an County's Underworld administration would not be long; the process would be quick, and his priority high. He should have already departed on the Yellow Springs ferry.

Hu Yun had no time to argue with the Underworld deities now. Sensing multiple surges of infernal energy approaching, she left the Ghost Gate Pass and rushed towards the Yellow Springs. The Yellow Springs, with its numerous tributaries spanning the world and flowing endlessly, ultimately converged at its source, the location of the Samsara Secret Realm.

The interior of the Underworld always appeared gloomy. Even for a demon who had cultivated for several centuries, this was She Ji's first time entering the Underworld.

The infernal energy here was extremely dense, and often there was little to no yang energy. Although She Ji had forced her way in, she dared not be too conspicuous, trying her best to conceal her aura while flying.

She Ji flew along the Yellow Springs waterway, not daring to cross directly over it. There was a saying that even a goose feather would fall when trying to cross the Yellow Springs, and it was rumored that anyone flying directly over it would plummet. Although She Ji had never been to the Underworld, just sensing the aura of the Yellow Springs made her unwilling to test it herself.

"It's unfair!" "Someone save me!"

"Help me!" "I'm a good person!"

"Pull me up!"

Occasionally, a ferry boat passed along the Yellow Springs waterway. At these times, the Yellow Springs waters would suddenly become lively. It turned out the waters were teeming with struggling ghosts and spirits, many trying desperately to board the boat. However, despite their efforts, they struggled to get near the ferry, and even if one did approach, the ferryman would push them away with his pole.

In a certain section of the Yellow Springs, a ferry boat was slowly advancing. Many of the souls on board were inexplicably terrified, cowering on the boat, afraid to move. Yet, some curious ones peered over the edge at the water below.

Sun Yiqiu sat on the boat, his expression somewhat vacant, staring blankly at the side.

"Ah, let me go!"

One soul on the boat leaned too close and was suddenly grabbed by the foot by a water spirit. Had the ferryman not struck the water spirit with his pole, pulling it away, that soul would surely have been dragged down.

"Hmph, this section has too many vengeful spirits. Don't get too close. If you're dragged down, I won't fish you out."

"Once dragged down, you can never get back up."

All the souls, including Sun Yiqiu, showed fear and instinctively squeezed towards the center of the boat.

The ferryman pivoted his pole, pushing it back a bit, and the boat gained speed. Each push propelled it a considerable distance. This ferry boat moved exceptionally fast through the Yellow Springs, even surpassing the flying speed of some cultivators.

"Rumble!"

Astonishingly, there was thunder in the Underworld, but only the sound was heard, no lightning seen. Rain began to pour down. The ferryman, already wearing a straw cape and conical hat, stood at the stern, pushing the boat forward. The souls on board huddled further inward, trying their best to hide under the boat's canopy, unsure if being touched by this rain would cause any problems.

"Sun Yiqiu... Sun... Yi... Qiu..."

Sun Yiqiu's spirit jolted, and he instantly stood up from his seated position.

"Who? Who's calling me?"

But as he responded, the voice vanished without a trace.

The ferryman at the stern paused his movements and instantly appeared before Sun Yiqiu.

"What did you hear?"

Sun Yiqiu looked at the ferryman and saw a slightly pale-faced old man.

"Uh, I heard someone call my name, but after I responded, there was no reply."

The ferryman frowned.

"Sit down. If you hear that voice again, do not respond!"

"Do you know what it is?"

"Hearing voices on the Yellow Springs never bodes well!"

With that, the ferryman returned to the stern and repeatedly pushed his pole, making the ferry boat move even faster.

On the Yellow Springs ferry, there was no distinction between day and night outside. The souls didn't know how much time had passed—perhaps many days, perhaps only one or two. They had all grown somewhat numb.

Just then, Sun Yiqiu heard the voice again.

"Sun Yiqiu, Sun Yiqiu."

The voice was a little hoarse, giving Sun Yiqiu an inexplicable, eerie feeling—it sounded much closer than before.

"Ferryman, the voice is back!"

"Silence!"

The ferryman merely focused on poling the boat without saying anything more. However, the next moment, he suddenly raised his pole and struck at the air.

"Whoosh!"

The black pole cut through the air with a whistling sound. A silver light flashed past the pole, then instantly appeared on the boat. Sun Yiqiu instinctively looked up, and the silver light struck his chest. He quickly checked but found nothing unusual.

The ferryman, gripping his pole, watched the souls on the boat. After a moment, he resumed poling the boat.

"Ferryman, what was that just now?"

"Silence. How would I know so much? Just don't answer anyone who calls you."

Half a day later, a swath of gray mist swept across the sky, pausing briefly near the boat.

"Sun Yiqiu, Sun Yiqiu."

Sun Yiqiu's heart tightened. It was that voice! He instinctively wanted to move, but remembering the ferryman's earlier words, he huddled there, afraid to stir or respond, a chilling sensation creeping through him.

After a moment, the gray mist departed, flying forward along the Yellow Springs.