Chapter 1074: For the Once Severed Past Forty-Three

"Hmph..."

White mist escaped from Hu Yun's lips, and a blurred, fierce fox-like expression appeared on his face. As he flew at top speed, he glared intensely in Mi Huang's direction. That wretch dared to speak so shamelessly, even daring to compare himself to Mr. Ji! He truly had a death wish.

But despite his extreme anger, Hu Yun dared not stop now.

He knew he couldn't defeat his opponent. As long as he could escape with Sun Yiqiu and She Ji, once they returned and he reported the wretch's actions, Lord Lushan would surely tear him apart, even without Mr. Ji's intervention.

Their speed was so great that Mi Huang was no longer visible behind them, and the oppressive sensation seemed to dissipate. Sun Yiqiu let out a significant sigh of relief.

She Ji, however, remained incredibly tense.

Hu Yun released his grip, enveloping both with his spiritual energy to shield them from the powerful winds generated by their high-speed flight.

"How are you both? Feeling any better?"

"Much better! This is the first time I've felt warm since I became a ghost!"

Sun Yiqiu felt wonderful, almost experiencing the illusion of still being alive. He could also more clearly perceive the delicate texture of the woman's skin and the warmth of her body pressed close beside him.

Indeed, Sun Yiqiu's own sensations were not far off. At that moment, with the vital energy of the fire date permeating his ghostly body, bringing forth Yang within Yin, he was virtually a living dead man, experiencing everything just as a living person would.

She Ji still held tightly to Sun Yiqiu, fearing he might fall, while also noticing the changes in her own body, and felt even more astonished.

"'Immortal Elder,' she replied, 'though my injuries are still severe, they have stabilized. A continuous flow of vital energy is now regenerating within me. This spiritual fruit is truly remarkable, and must be extremely rare!'"

"'Good to know,' Hu Yun began, 'this fire date—'"

Hu Yun suddenly fell silent. As he turned his head slightly, his peripheral vision scanned behind them. Though Mi Huang was still out of sight, he knew the demon was closing in.

"'Hmph! That Mi Huang certainly has some tricks up his sleeve.'"

Hearing Hu Yun's abrupt silence and cold snort, She Ji realized Mi Huang was undoubtedly pursuing them. Fearing Hu Yun might be at a disadvantage, she quickly shared what she knew.

"'Immortal Elder Hu, you must not underestimate him or engage in a prolonged fight. Great Sage Mi Huang's magical powers are profound; few have witnessed him use his full strength. It is only known that he has defeated many Heavenly Demons and even Star Lords in sparring matches, a testament to why he constantly holds the title of Great Sage.'"

"'Who wants to clash with him head-on? That wretch is sticking to us like a stubborn plaster. We'll need some trick to shake him off.'"

Hu Yun had learned about Mi Huang before. The demon was known to be quite astute in his dealings, wild yet not arrogant, and had cultivated many allies and friends. However, without true strength, one cannot earn respect in the demon world, so the title of Great Sage was certainly well-earned.

Just then, Mi Huang's voice, like rolling thunder across the heavens, once again pressed down upon them.

"'Slow, too slow! Do you really think you can escape? How about I give you a handicap of one hand and both feet? If you can defeat me, I'll let you go!'"

Hu Yun scoffed inwardly. If Mi Huang could catch them instantly, he wouldn't need to use words to provoke them. His illusionary magic had even earned praise from Mr. Ji, and Mi Huang couldn't easily see through it completely. He could get a general sense of their location but couldn't directly pinpoint them.

So Hu Yun gritted his teeth, unmoved. He channeled his spiritual energy, trying his utmost to accelerate. There was no shame in admitting he couldn't win, and he carried no burden of pride.

To Sun Yiqiu and She Ji, their flight with Hu Yun felt incredibly peculiar. They would first fly towards what seemed like an 'exit,' then sometimes experience a sudden dizzying, blurring sensation as their forms gradually dissolved, only to reappear in a completely different direction—as if they'd blinked and woken up somewhere else entirely.

As time passed, She Ji keenly observed that the surrounding Yin energy, though sometimes pure and sometimes mixed, was steadily growing denser.

"'Immortal Elder, aren't we supposed to be leaving the underworld?'"

"'Yes, but that wretch Mi Huang is still pursuing us. Taking the usual exits is useless now; we must find an alternative path!'"

Hu Yun knew perfectly well that if he sought a Ghost Gate to exit, Mi Huang would surely find them before he could even ask any ghost deities to open it. Paths that would normally offer a way out were, in this situation, dead ends. He had to find an escape through a 'dead end' instead.

In fact, Hu Yun's instincts were spot on. Mi Huang had already changed positions several times, attempting to predict which Ghost Gate Hu Yun's group would head for, or if they would seek aid from Netherworld deities, all to intercept them en route.

At that moment, Mi Huang materialized atop a shadowy mountain peak, his spiritual eyes shimmering with faint starlight. He seemed to perceive several blurry figures rapidly fleeing in his direction, yet as he narrowed his gaze, the distant, indistinct forms dissipated like a mirage.

Situations like this had occurred several times already. The blurry figures his spiritual eyes perceived were not Hu Yun's illusions themselves, but rather the manifestation of an extreme deduction—a phantom formed by the highest probability, akin to a 'future sight' in a sense. Yet, even this extraordinary ability had failed him repeatedly, just as it did now.

Mi Huang stomped his foot, and the mountain peak beneath him shattered. His form transitioned from complete stillness to explosive motion, and in an instant, he soared into the distance.

"'Quite a fox immortal,' Mi Huang mused. 'You live up to your lineage. I'm increasingly looking forward to the moment I kill you. I wonder if you have any more surprises in store for me!'"

As Mi Huang set off once more, the oppressive sensation in Hu Yun's heart quickly intensified again. He knew this meant Mi Huang had caught up; he simply couldn't shake off that terrifying demon.

While Sun Yiqiu and She Ji perceived Hu Yun as outwardly calm, inwardly, he was consumed by extreme tension. From the outset, though it appeared there had been no direct engagement between him and Mi Huang, their silent game of pursuit had never ceased. Mi Huang still had ample room to maneuver, but Hu Yun was already mentally exhausted.

Hu Yun knew that even he couldn't avoid making mistakes indefinitely. Mi Huang could miscalculate repeatedly and still continue the chase, but Hu Yun couldn't afford a single error.

An exit, an exit, an exit—how could they safely get out?

Hu Yun vaguely had an idea forming in his mind, but he dared not dwell on it, fearing that if he thought too carefully, Mi Huang would anticipate his move. He could only rely on his instinctive spiritual senses, constantly changing their trajectory, while intuitively drawing closer to a particular direction amidst a hazy spiritual aura.

Unconsciously, Hu Yun had already elevated Mi Huang to a formidable status in his mind, a consequence of the unprecedented and intense pressure the demon exerted.

Ahead of Hu Yun and his companions, a dense mist had appeared at some unknown point. This mist not only contained strong Yin energy but also caused the surrounding auras and environmental patterns to shift erratically, inducing a sense of disorientation and a faint feeling of peril.

Normally, one would change course and avoid flying into such eerie underworld mist. However, Hu Yun's mind suddenly cleared, a concept instantly crystallizing for him. In a flash, he accelerated, rushing forward with Sun Yiqiu and She Ji.

After traveling through the wind-torn mist for what felt like half an hour, the scene before Hu Yun and his companions suddenly opened up. In the distance stood a magnificent city, its towering walls and numerous buildings eerily devoid of light and utterly silent.

"'Immortal Elder, where are we?' 'It feels… somewhat dreadful...'"

A slight smile touched Hu Yun's lips.

"'The Old Netherworld Ghost City!' Hu Yun announced. 'The very place where the Netherworld Emperor once rose to power! Though it has been abandoned for nearly a millennium and submerged to an unknown depth, it truly still exists!'"

The Yin energy around the Netherworld Ghost City was overwhelmingly potent, accompanied by various chilling, bone-piercing auras. A dim, misty haze churned like wind within and around the city, making it appear exceptionally eerie and unsettling both She Ji and Sun Yiqiu.

"'Can we get out from here?'"

"'Yes!'"

Without another word, Hu Yun led the two figures rushing towards the desolate Netherworld Ghost City. Since the city truly still existed, it could serve as a means to return to the mortal realm. It was one of the few places in the underworld, apart from the major passes, that offered a way back to the living world, though the conditions were rather stringent.

The three landed one after another in an alley within the city. The Yin winds here felt alive, sweeping in from a distance, clinging to them and swirling, as if intent on draining their vitality and spiritual essence.

Even with the protective spiritual energy of the fire date, Sun Yiqiu still felt a profound chill. Sensing his discomfort, She Ji instinctively held him tighter. They followed Hu Yun, who moved slowly, his brow furrowed as he navigated the streets and alleys, seemingly searching for something.

"'In its heyday, the Netherworld Ghost City would vanish during the day and connect to the mortal realm at night,' Hu Yun explained. 'Of course, that's impossible now. It's been sealed for a long time, permeated by gloomy, resentful energy. But there should still be a wisp of a vital spiritual imprint remaining in one particular spot.'"

Sun Yiqiu's ghostly lips were somewhat purplish as he stammered, his body trembling slightly.

"'W-what sort of imprint?'"

Hu Yun glanced at Sun Yiqiu, then casually touched his forehead. A surge of spiritual energy enveloped him, then extended to She Ji, shielding them from the malevolent Yin energy swirling around them.

"'A wisp of spiritual imprint left here by my elder, back in the day.'"

Despite his words, Hu Yun felt a pang of uncertainty; after all, a millennium had passed.

They wandered around the city for quite some time. As they passed through a particular alley, Hu Yun's heart gave a slight flutter. He stepped back, swept away the dust with a wave of his sleeve, and carefully measured a few spots. A look of delight spread across his face.

"'This is it!'"

A low rumble echoed...

The sky suddenly boomed with thunder, and moments later, a powerful demonic wind surged toward the earth.

Sun Yiqiu and She Ji's faces contorted in terror, and Hu Yun's expression also changed.

"'Quick! Let's go!'"

As he spoke, Hu Yun took several quick steps, his final stride landing precisely on the spot he had just measured. At that instant, his spiritual energy surged forth powerfully, and he spoke softly.

"'Heaven and Earth transform, the Stars realign!'"

Whoosh—

In that instant, the winds and clouds dramatically shifted. The previously dim sky now faintly revealed scattered stars, and around the alley, it felt as if an invisible net was being unfurled.

A thunderous roar...

The starlit sky was suddenly torn open by a massive hole, and at the same moment, Hu Yun on the ground spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

"'The underworld actually holds such a place? The mysteries of this world are truly unfathomable.'"

Mi Huang's voice reverberated across the land. As his words faded, a torrent of terrifying demonic energy flooded the earth, utterly ripping apart the starlit sky. A brilliant light, like the core of a comet plummeting to earth, descended from the heavens.