I became an immortal in the mountains

Chapter 858 The Netherworld Sect? It's no longer necessary!

“It’s alright. If Lord Hades is still interested, he can ask them to wait.” Gu Yuanqing also looked up.

This space-time exists between the spirit realm and the underworld. The power of the Underworld King has frozen this world, but Gu Yuanqing has comprehended the Dao of Space and bound himself to the cave heaven. The connection between his soul and spirit is beyond that of ordinary cultivators.

Therefore, he could vaguely sense the approach of the clone.

Hades shook his head and smiled: "Never mind, there will be another chance to talk about it in the future. So much time has passed, the Mother of the Underworld may have sensed that something has changed here."

Gu Yuanqing tentatively asked, "It seems that Your Excellency does not want them to know that you are meeting with me?"

Hades gave him a meaningful look and said, "At your current level, there is no benefit in meeting me."

Gu Yuanqing was slightly startled. Although the words were not explicitly stated, he could already sense a lot of meaning in them.

After a long silence, he laughed and said, "You're right, sir."

……

In the spirit realm, outside the Myriad Banners Mysterious Netherworld Array.

The cultivators withdrew their gaze from the corpses and turned their attention to the Myriad Banners Profound Nether Array itself.

Within the eerie green flames, the outline of a bizarre altar composed of countless pale white bone banners could be faintly seen. Above the altar floated the phantom of an ancient lamp emitting a faint glow, which was the manifestation of the power of the Nine Nether Lamp.

Everyone present was a highly skilled cultivator, and almost everyone had some knowledge of formations, with some even possessing considerable expertise in them.

However, when it comes to the art of formations, Ji Shan is still second to none.

The nine palaces and eight trigrams pattern flowed in his eyes. After observing it carefully for a moment, he said in a deep voice: "This Myriad Banners Profound Nether Array has two core hubs. One is the Nine Nether Lamp, which serves as a spatial anchor and a token of the underworld; the other is the 10,800 Profound Nether Banners, which are refined with living souls and carry the laws of the underworld."

The key to the formation lies on the altar. To break this formation, most of the Xuanming Banners must be destroyed or suppressed, and the connection between the Nine Nether Lamps and the Underworld must be severed.

At that time, the space dragged into the underworld will return to the spirit world under the pressure of both realms. Currently, this formation is not guarded by any powerful cultivators, so it's not too difficult. The only thing to be careful about is that too much noise will attract the attention of experts in the underworld, who might take advantage of the space's return to escape into the spirit world.

"With us here, and Fellow Daoist Gu also present, unless there's someone above the Void Immortal level, there shouldn't be any major problems." The Spirit Venerable then looked at Gu Yuanqing: "Brother Gu, time is of the essence, and delay might lead to unforeseen changes. Why don't we join forces and first use swift and decisive means to sever the connection with the Nine Nether Lamps? Then, Fellow Daoist Gu can use spatial supernatural powers to try to forcibly interfere with or even tear apart part of the array base from the Spirit Realm side, coordinating from within and without..."

"No rush," Gu Yuanqing said calmly.

Everyone was taken aback, somewhat puzzled.

Even if Gu Yuanqing was confident in the strength of his clone, that was, after all, the underworld, where many unexpected things could happen. If his clone were to perish, it would likely affect his path to immortality.

At this moment, they saw Gu Yuanqing raise his hand and throw out a jade box, on which were engraved sealing runes.

The jade box transformed into a stream of light and fell into the dark mist. Ripples spread through the space, and it disappeared, seemingly having entered the underworld.

After doing all this, Gu Yuanqing casually explained, "If the formation is broken from the outside now, my clone will naturally return to the Spirit Realm along with this space. However, Li Youhe's soul is connected to the Ghost Mother through a contract and is no longer human. His essence has already resided in the Underworld. Once the formation is broken, he will naturally remain deep in the Underworld. At that time, killing him will be as difficult as ascending to heaven."

Everyone was stunned when they heard this.

"Brother Gu, your foresight is remarkable." Ji Shan nodded, but his brows remained furrowed. "However... this move is extremely risky. Li Youhe's offering of his soul to the Ghost Mother in the Underworld means he is no longer a mere Undying cultivator; he may be able to borrow the Ghost Mother's power. The Underworld is also the Ghost Mother's domain, with vastly different laws that suppress us Spirit Realm cultivators. Your avatar is alone in this perilous place; if the Ghost Mother intervenes..."

Lingzun also advised, "Fellow Daoist Ji is right. As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood. Brother Gu, please be careful. Killing Li Youhe is important, but you must prioritize your path of cultivation. I have heard that the Yin General under the Ghost Mother has the strength of a Void Immortal, and his own power may even surpass that of a Void Immortal. Fellow Daoist, you must be on guard."

Gu Yuanqing chuckled: "Thank you for the reminder, fellow Daoists. However, how could I joke about my own path? I am certain that I have the confidence to do so."

The group exchanged glances and said nothing more.

……

And fell into that space of the underworld.

Gu Yuanqing raised his hand and the jade box fell into his hand. He smiled slightly and thought to himself, "It seems that I am not stupid. I actually sent it here. I guess I have already guessed my current predicament."

He opened the jade box, pushed it off the table with both hands, and said, "This is the Myriad Path Stone. I wonder what you, sir, need me to do in exchange this time?"

Hades glanced at it, then casually waved his hand, and the jade box disappeared. He laughed and said, "This time, I only came to retrieve the Myriad Dao Stone because I saw your aura appear in the Underworld. So, there is no cause and effect. It was boring in the Underworld, so I just chatted with you for a few more minutes."

"It's up to you, sir." Gu Yuanqing smiled wryly. Some things are better left unsaid; there's no need to argue about them. They can settle things when you've reached a higher level of cultivation.

He then looked at Li Youhe and the Ghost Mother's avatar, "What about them?"

Hades merely glanced at them indifferently and said, "The others are one thing, but the Avici Demon Mother has withdrawn her power and might be able to sense my presence, which could bring about unpredictable changes, so..."

As he spoke, he casually waved his hand, and the figures of Li Youhe, Jing Wang, Xing Hai, and the Boundless Ghost Mother suddenly disappeared, as if they had been wiped out of space.

Gu Yuanqing was slightly shocked. Even if such a supernatural power were used right in front of him, he would find it difficult to see through it at all.

The power of this Hades is simply unbelievable.

Looking back, even with the support of Beiquan Mountain, he was no match for it. Yet, this being had come into contact with him when he was still in the Divine Platform Realm. There must be many things he didn't know about this.

However, he didn't press the matter further. It was clear that Hades didn't want to tell him, and besides, knowing some things now might not be a good thing.

Hades seemed to see through Gu Yuanqing's thoughts, smiled, and said, "However, this karma will probably fall on you. If you enter the underworld in the future and step into the territory occupied by the Netherworld Ghost Mother, you will have to be more careful. Women are more vengeful, and female ghosts are no exception!"

Gu Yuanqing laughed nonchalantly, "When Li Youhe used the Nine Nether Lamp to pull me into the Underworld, I had already formed a karmic bond with the Netherworld Mother, so I don't care about anything more."

Hades laughed and said, "That's about enough. If we drag this out any longer, some old guys might start to realize something's wrong. Let's talk again another time."

Before Gu Yuanqing could even speak, his figure gradually faded away, and the original seat disappeared, leaving only the Nine Nether Lamp floating in front of Gu Yuanqing.

Gu Yuanqing stood up, took the Nine Nether Lamp, and used spatial power to isolate its aura. In an instant, space shifted, and the familiar power of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth empowered him. The space that was in the Netherworld was forcibly squeezed back into the Spirit World.

……

Outside the formation.

Ling Zun, Ji Shan, and the others suddenly sensed a dramatic change in the Wan Fan Xuanming Grand Array that covered thousands of miles ahead and whose dark energy soared into the sky!
A spatial ripple occurred, and the thick, impenetrable netherworld mist surged wildly!
The vortex that had enveloped the sky suddenly dissipated, and the flames that had covered the void suddenly converged towards the center.

Countless pale white Xuanming banners fluttered without wind, emitting piercing ghostly wails, and the intertwined runes in the void broke apart one after another.

In the blink of an eye, the chilling, ghostly aura receded like the tide, and the gloom that shrouded the world was torn apart.

"The Myriad Banners Profound Nether Array... has disappeared?"

Just as everyone was astonished, a figure in a green robe appeared, carrying a bronze lamp in his hand. As soon as he appeared, he glanced left and right, then pointed his fingers like a sword and waved them in the air.

The Sword of All-Encompassing Calamity!
The overwhelming sword intent swept by like a gentle breeze, and thousands of Xuanming banners were all cut in half at the middle of the banner poles!

The countless vengeful ghosts and evil spirits sealed within immediately lost control, bursting forth like a hornet's nest, transforming into a monstrous tide that blotted out the sky, emitting sharp and piercing howls as they scattered in all directions.

Gu Yuanqing flicked his finger, and a black and white flame emerged from his fingertip, scattering into countless stars that fell in all directions. As spiritual energy gathered, the sparks suddenly expanded, transforming into a sky full of flames.

In the blink of an eye, the area spanning thousands of miles was transformed into a sea of ​​fire.

Chaotic Primordial Flame!

These spirits, at most Yin and Yang level, were no match for the Chaotic Primordial Fire at the Immortal level.

Chi Chi Chi!
The ghost tide crashed into the sea of ​​fire, like ice and snow thrown into a furnace.

Whether it was a hideous demon or a vengeful spirit, they all melted and vaporized in the blink of an eye, turning into wisps of smoke and dissipating, clearing away the gloom that filled the sky.

Gu Yuanqing's clone did not linger. He put the Nine Nether Lamp into his Qiankun Bag, took a step, and arrived at the side of another clone outside the formation.

The two exchanged a glance, nodded slightly, and the clone that emerged from the formation transformed into a stream of light and disappeared into the other clone.

When the two are combined, they become one, memories are integrated, and one becomes aware of both internal and external affairs.

Its aura surged rapidly, becoming more than twice as powerful as before.

Ling Zun exchanged glances with Ji Shan, Xiao Lingyue, and the others. They hadn't expected Gu Yuanqing to return so easily and safely. All he had done was put the jade box that Gu Yuanqing had previously placed in the formation.

They guessed that this might be some kind of rare treasure in the Qingping Dao Palace, and that Gu Yuanqing must have used this treasure to defeat his enemies, break through the formation, and seize the Nine Nether Lamp, which allowed him to return safely.

Lingzun and the others clasped their hands and smiled, "Congratulations on your safe return, fellow Daoist."

Gu Yuanqing returned the greeting with clasped hands.

Ji Shan asked, "Brother Gu, what about Li Youhe...?"

Gu Yuanqing said, "If he doesn't have any other clones, then he must be dead!"

"Good! This wicked beast deserves to die. For his own safety, he committed such a heinous crime. He truly deserves to die!" Ji Shan clapped his hands and cheered.

As the dark mist dissipated, the tragic state of the various cities became even clearer; within a radius of thousands of miles, there were almost no living people.

Even though most of this land is mountainous, the corpses of those few major cities alone number in the tens of millions!

Li Qingyue of the Zhengyi Sect swept his gaze over and snorted coldly, "To die like this is too good for him!"

Gu Yuanqing said calmly, "Although not all heretical sects are evil, I don't think there's any need for them to exist, like the Netherworld Sect."

The righteous disciples exchanged glances, and Lingzun said, "Since Brother Gu has this intention, although our cultivation is weak, our sects still have some resources. We are willing to help you to slay the demon!"

"Amitabha!" Zen Master Wuhui of the Tianchan Sect chanted the Buddha's name, and then said, "The Buddha is compassionate, but there are also wrathful Vajras. Please give your instructions, Benefactor Gu. After suppressing the Netherworld Sect, this old monk will return to this place to perform the salvation for these millions of dead."

Xuanji Tianjun nodded in agreement: "Although these top evil sects have extremely deep foundations and are difficult to wipe out completely, if we join forces and with Fellow Daoist Gu's power as a Void Immortal, we can still suppress and kill one of them. Destroying the Netherworld Sect can also serve as a warning to other evil sects: if they dare to use such demonic methods, our righteous sects will unite and exterminate them!"
Gu Yuanqing did not refuse. Last time, when he faced the weapon-forging furnace of the Holy Heaven Sect, he was somewhat restrained. The Netherworld Sect probably had a similar foundation to the Holy Heaven Sect. If he were to force an attack, even if he used the power of the cave heaven, he would probably still suffer damage due to the backlash of the immortal artifact. Using the great formation was the best choice.

Setting up a grand formation capable of suppressing an entire sect would likely take him quite some time by himself alone.

Since so many righteous sects are willing to join forces, he also wants to see their methods and resources.

He laughed loudly, "Then let's resolve the matter of the Netherworld Sect first, so that I can sit down and discuss the Dao with my fellow Daoists!"

Gu Yuanqing transformed into a beam of light and fled towards the Netherworld Sect's mountain gate.

Lingbao Daozun, Ji Shan, Zhang Qingyue, Xiao Lingyue, Zen Master Wuhui, and Xuanji Tianjun followed closely behind.

The Netherworld Sect's mountain gate is located in the Burial Abyss!

This place is shrouded in a thick, inky aura of death year-round, even the earth itself appears a dark purplish-black, the jagged rocks resemble ghostly teeth, and the howling winds year-round seem to emanate from the depths of hell.

The Netherworld Sect has managed this dangerous place for nearly a million years. Generations of cultivators have reinforced and modified the formations layer by layer, combining them with the natural forces of heaven and earth to create a fierce and perilous ghost realm.

When everyone flew to the outer edge of the Burial Abyss, the Netherworld Sect had already activated its protective formation.

Even with meticulous planning, the heretical sects knew that it was impossible to be completely foolproof in their attack on a Void Immortal.

Therefore, they were prepared in advance. When they observed that the Five Absolutes Spirit Locking Formation and the Myriad Banners Profound Nether Formation had been broken, they knew that disaster was imminent and immediately retreated to their lair to activate the formation.

"The Nine Abyss Eternal Darkness Formation! The Netherworld Sect is quite self-aware, guessing that we were coming," said Xuanji Tianjun.

The entire Burial Abyss area was shrouded in a dark curtain that seemed to absorb all light, making it difficult for divine sense and divine thought to penetrate, and even pupil techniques could not see the scene inside.

There are also layers upon layers of spatial arrays, intertwined with the grand scheme of this world and its earth veins.

Even if ordinary cultivators get close, they will find it difficult to find the real entrance. They might be teleported into a deadly formation or killing formation as soon as they step inside.

Just as everyone stood still, the darkness in front of them rippled slightly, and a blurry figure slowly emerged and solidified from the darkness.

The newcomer was dressed in the robes of an elder of the Netherworld Sect. His face was withered, his eyes were sunken, and his aura was cold. His cultivation level was around the peak of the Shattered Heaven Realm.

He forced a smile, cupped his hands in a low bow to the righteous sect cultivators, and said in a dry voice, "Yin Jiu greets Brother Gu, Spirit Venerable, and fellow Daoists."

All the previous events were the result of Li Youhe's reckless actions. He was stubborn, self-willed, and acted against the natural order. He arbitrarily activated the Nine Nether Lamps for his own selfish reasons, causing boundless bloodshed.

Although we felt this was inappropriate, we had no choice but to obey the orders of their sect leader, given his authority. It was truly a helpless situation.

As he spoke, his gaze swept across the faces of Gu Yuanqing, Ling Zun, and the others. Seeing that they were either calm and expressionless or had cold eyes, his heart sank, but he still forced himself to continue:

"Now that Li Youhe has been executed, he deserved it. His actions during his lifetime have little to do with the rest of the disciples of my Netherworld Sect."

Now, the entire sect has realized its mistake and is willing to close its doors and sever all ties with the outside world, devoting themselves to cultivation and never again set foot in the mortal realm.

"I implore you fellow Daoists to show mercy and, considering the past favors of the Netherworld Sect in resisting the Heavenly Demons and protecting the Spirit Realm, spare my sect's innocent disciples and the million-year-old lineage."

(End of this chapter)