The fake prince was exposed at the beginning, and I took office as emperor on the spot

Chapter 157 The Unlucky Tensa (Part 2)

"Wow!"

In a flash, Gu Fangchen found herself transformed from her own room into a boundless sea of ​​blood.

And he was right there in the middle of it.

This "in the middle" doesn't mean he can swim on the surface of a sea of ​​blood, but rather that it's a place where you can't see the end of it, whether you look up, down, or in any direction.

In that instant, Gu Fangchen was as if her physical body had reached a depth of a thousand meters in the ocean, enduring the water pressure.

This is the "bottom of the Yellow Springs".

The Nine Netherworlds are the world where evil spirits and vengeful ghosts reside.

Although it is named "Nine Netherworlds and Yellow Springs", the Yellow Springs comes first, and the Nine Netherworlds come after.

The souls of countless dead, after death, first pass through the intermediate state of the underworld, which is the transitional area between the two, and also the area where General Qianmo set up the "Warp and Weft" formation, before arriving at the Yellow Springs Blood Sea.

The pressure of the Yellow Springs Blood Sea will directly crush most ordinary souls.

Here, they directly re-entered the cycle of heaven and earth and were reborn.

A small number of stronger souls, as well as the souls of cultivators, will continue to descend and formally enter the "Nine Netherworlds".

Below, there is no Yama, the King of Hell, in charge of judgment; only countless souls, born over thousands of years, who are unwilling to be crushed and torn apart by the cycle of heaven and earth.

To put it bluntly, "Nine Netherworlds" is actually a large hydraulic press, a mechanism used in this world to process souls in batches and then reassemble them.

This mechanism is the various harsh environments within the "Nine Netherworlds".

The Eastern Netherworld, the Southern Darkness, the Western Night, the Northern Desolate City, the Northeastern Nether Capital, the Southeastern Netherworld, the Southwestern Nether Pass, the Northwestern Netherworld Palace, and the Netherworld Prison located in the very center.

These nine places contain nine kinds of purgatory, collectively known as the "Nine Netherworlds".

However, some cultivators' souls are too powerful, powerful enough to retain a certain degree of consciousness, survive within this mechanism, and begin to seek a return to reality.

The only chance is to wait until the boundary between the "Nine Netherworlds" and reality becomes unstable, and then break through the rift.

However, such rifts are rare and difficult to find, and because they are narrow, they only allow one or two souls to pass through. Therefore, the souls that linger in the "Nine Netherworlds" begin to fight each other.

In this already high-pressure environment, where one must also be wary of being plotted against by one's own kind, weaker souls will choose to attach themselves to more powerful beings, thus developing into various factions.

In a sense, it's understandable why it's sometimes said that spiritual practitioners are going against the will of Heaven.

From the perspective of Heaven, these cultivators are like bugs that are blocking the program.

These souls, while escaping the crushing weight of purgatory, are waiting for an opportunity to return to the mortal realm.

Under such prolonged torment, they could only maintain their existence by devouring other souls. However, as a large number of souls merged, their consciousness began to blur and their thoughts began to become distorted.

Even when they return to reality, most of them become vengeful ghosts or possess the bodies of other creatures, further transforming into malevolent spirits.

Only a very few lucky individuals will be able to retain their original consciousness and enact a story similar to that of a love story between a human and a ghost.

Most of them were eliminated by the cultivators the moment they escaped.

But that tiny fraction, within the entire [Nine Netherworlds], is less than one ten-thousandth...

……

Gu Fangchen was prepared for the situation. She closed her eyes and subconsciously held her breath through her mouth and nose, switching to internal breathing.

That is, through the internal organs and skin, the circulation of spiritual energy replaces normal breathing, and at the same time, it provides protection for the physical body.

The Nine Netherworlds may sound mysterious, but they are only a part of this world and do not transcend its laws.

However, the inhabitants have changed from normal humans into a bunch of demons and monsters.

This Yellow Spring Water, despite adding a bunch of debuffs, is 675.894659 times more poisonous than the "Heart-Planting Poison" on him. In the game, this thing can burst a player's poison bar in three seconds, and then start losing health by a percentage.

Losing 5% every two seconds is practically the same as dying suddenly.

Anyone who saw it would exclaim how terrifying it was, and would wet themselves on the spot.

The Blood River Repentance Array set up by Qingman Tiansa to trap Xiao Yinghao was actually a clumsy imitation of Huangquan.

Even so, there is still oxygen inside...

Because the [King Yama's Decree] skill teleports him to the bottom of the Yellow Springs, he can immediately escape the Yellow Springs' range. In this situation, only those with very low strength or those who kill him on their first encounter need to worry about instant death.

This Yellow Spring Water, in particular, is mainly targeted at the soul.

Gu Fangchen's ability to enter with her physical body was actually an advantage.

With Gu Fangchen's current strength, staying inside for a short time is not a problem. The main thing is to do her best to prevent the Yellow Spring Water from coming into contact with her, and to resist the pressure and lack of oxygen.

However, after Gu Fangchen actually did it, she was stunned for a moment and remembered that she was at the peak of the sixth rank, not the fifth rank.

Theoretically, only when one reaches the fifth-grade Danxin realm can a complete internal cycle be established.

Only when the physical body is self-sustaining, independent of the world, and completely unaffected can it be called a "leak-free golden body," which is the peak of the fifth rank.

However, as long as an internal circulation can be established, it can be considered as truly transcending the mortal body, and lifespan will increase significantly.

Only then can one be called a "master".

The establishment of the cycle mainly involves the completion of the "two wheels of the sun and moon".

First, there is the sun-like disc in the chest, blazing brightly like the midday sun, composed of vigorous blood and energy and heart fire.

Secondly, the moon in the mind, clear as the moon in the sky, is composed of penetrating spirit and will.

The two complement each other, thus creating a pure and radiant heart that reflects everything.

The first step into the cycle is "internal respiration".

Only by transforming spiritual energy from its internal and external circulation, between oneself and heaven and earth, into an internal self-circulation, can it be condensed and compressed, promoting the concentration of qi, blood, and spirit.

In his moment of desperation, Gu Fangchen naturally felt that he could do it, and he actually did...

"Gululu..."

As Gu Fangchen controlled her body to sink rapidly, she felt her internal breathing, which she had achieved in an instant, and her expression was strange.

hiss……

Could it be that I have been underestimating myself all along, and that I am actually a one-in-a-million martial arts prodigy?
"Wow!"

A moment later, Gu Fangchen emerged from the Yellow Springs water and suddenly opened her eyes.

But his expression remained solemn, and he dared not breathe.

Because what follows is the main event.

This [Nine Netherworlds] is different from [Great Dao Sword Palace]; it's a dungeon that's way too late in the game!
Not only are the monsters inside high-level, but their attacks also come with extremely strong debuffs, and the environment is incredibly harsh, with poison pools everywhere.

He had no intention of challenging such a late-game dungeon that was too high-level for him, nor did he have any shortcuts or quick methods to clear it; that would be pure suicide.

His only task now is to survive!
The rest depends on that Qingman's Heavenly Sage... Well, if he's unlucky enough, he can trigger instant death in just a couple of hits.

This is also why Gu Fangchen chose this guy.

If he is too strong, and can sustain himself for too long before the instant death rate increases, it will be very disadvantageous for Gu Fangchen.

This guy's cultivation level of Rank 3 is just right.

Moreover, since she had ruined their cooperation with Gu Yuye back then, Gu Yuye would definitely try to win her back now.

In particular, one of the princes from four of the major departments died at his own hands.

Right now, Qingman is definitely thinking about how to kill me...

"It's better to strike first." Gu Fangchen raised her head.

He was clearly sinking just now, but now that he's surfaced, he's floating, and gravity has reversed again.

"The bottom of the Yellow Springs" is the same as "the top of the Yellow Springs".

The sea of ​​blood stretched as far as the eye could see, shrouded in a thick fog above, with souls constantly emerging from the underworld.

But most of them didn't survive, turning into wisps of smoke and dissipating into the mist.

Many souls were also frantically paddling their arms, trying to swim towards the hazy, flickering lights in the distance.

Gu Fangchen squinted and looked at the swaying light.

Surrounded by this boundless fog and terrifying sea of ​​blood, terrified souls would all turn toward the only source of light.

However, he did not go in that direction. Instead, he held his breath, got a little closer, and waited quietly on the side.

Gu Fangchen looked at the professions displayed in detail above her head.

Now... it's time for the second skill to come into play.

【Skill 2: Waiting for the Right Time to Fly (Passive)】

[Note: Behold the great roc soaring through the clouds, refusing to fly unless for the sake of the heavens. Different buffs are granted depending on the time period [Expanded]]

The buff effects include the following four types.

[Morning: You have sensed the presence of celestial beings, and your recovery speed has been greatly increased.]

[Daytime: Your Qi and blood are abundant, and your physical strength has greatly increased.]

[Hum: You had a flash of inspiration; your comprehension has greatly improved.]

[Night: You blend into the light, your presence is greatly diminished.]

And at this very moment, it falls within the category of "night".

Gu Fangchen's presence has been greatly reduced, which is why the abnormality was not immediately detected by the human who entered the "Nine Netherworlds" in his physical body.

Those vengeful ghosts down there can only barely survive by devouring souls.

Human flesh and blood, on the other hand, are a rare delicacy for them, along with a super tonic!

Gu Fangchen waited cautiously for a moment. Those weak souls often couldn't hold on for long and died before they even reached their destination.

During this time, his clothes were gradually corroded by the Yellow Spring water.

Gu Fangchen had no choice...

Given his current strength, if he were to use elixirs, the resulting surge of spiritual energy would attract attention, so he can only rely on himself to sustain himself for now.

The most efficient way is to minimize the range of spiritual energy, leaving only a thin layer to protect one's physical body.

This method is both economical and minimizes fluctuations in spiritual energy.

As for clothes and such, let's leave that for now.

Anyway, this place is full of ghosts... and there's nobody here, so who's going to look?
As for shame, you can overcome it.

Moreover, this was in a sea of ​​blood, with a thick layer of blood spikes blocking the way...

"But this is taking way too long..."

Finally, just as Gu Fangchen was about to break out in a cold sweat, one of the cultivators appeared with a slightly stronger soul; he was clearly a divine cultivator.

After enduring the baptism of the Yellow Springs water, it swam laboriously to the light.

But when he swam up to it full of hope, he discovered that the light was actually an extremely long and thin ghost hand holding a tattered lamp, floating above the underworld.

As he approached, countless eyes instantly opened on that ghostly hand.

"Wow!"

In an instant, the sea of ​​blood churned, and a massive figure rose from beneath the surface.

It turned out to be a fish-shaped evil spirit resembling an anglerfish, which opened its blood-red maw and devoured the cultivator in his terrified gaze.

Yes, this thing isn't actually a lamp; it's bait for a vengeful ghost. If you run towards the light, you'll fall for it.

There are no ferrymen in this Yellow Springs...

"Crack, click, click!"

The evil spirit swallowed the soul with satisfaction and swam leisurely to the other side.

Gu Fangchen breathed a sigh of relief, pressed herself tightly against the evil spirit, and merged into the various deformed ghost hands.

He successfully took advantage of the moment when the other party's attention was focused on the cultivator's soul, and climbed around to the back of the evil spirit.

In this way, they can use this evil aura to mask their human nature.

He can rest for a while now...

……

at the same time.

The Qingman people, far beyond the northern border.

Unlike the Great Wei, the Qingman people, located in the north, are situated in grasslands and snow-capped mountains, and their culture is entirely nomadic.

They did not have their own cities, but rather radiated outwards from the golden tent of the Great Khan of the Qingman tribe, encompassing twenty-four tribes.

Of these twenty-four tribes, four were the most powerful, and their leaders were appointed kings by the Khan.

Each tribe is guided by a seraphim, who divines the will of the gods, in their actions, farming, and even marriage and death.

The one who guided the entire Qingman was the only Great Heavenly Master, who was also the 'Buddha's Holy Master' who broke Ding Xingfeng's Dao Heart—Maha Boundless.

Agalo, whose tooth and bone ornament was previously removed from his neck by Gu Fangchen, is the prince of the Ketu tribe, one of the four major tribes.

At this moment, inside the golden tent, the Khan, dressed in heavy armor and draped in a heavy fur cloak, sat high above, wielding a large sword and riding a golden horse.

The Qingman people believed.

He had a pair of imposing eyes; whoever he looked at would kneel down.

There are also two arms that even dragons and elephants cannot match, capable of supporting the sacred snow-capped mountains of the Qingman people and the boundless sky.

The leaders of the various tribes were kneeling below him, tearfully accusing him:

"Those hateful and shameless people from the Central Plains stole my son's protective amulet and robbed him of the courage bestowed upon him by the gods! That's why he was driven into a desperate situation and died at the hands of the people from the Central Plains!"

That Qingman Tiansa said:
"Khan! Gu Yuye has sent over a new defense map to show his sincerity, and emphasized that he did not leak the plan. The Central Plains man who supported Xiao Yinghao is named Gu Fangchen. He is treacherous and cunning, and he knew about our plan in advance! We must kill him first!"

Before the Khan could speak, his pupils suddenly contracted, and he looked behind that Nasa.

That day, Sa also felt a chill down his spine and quickly turned around.

Suddenly, a rift opened in the void.

The crimson gazes within were initially stunned, but upon seeing Tiansa's flesh and blood, they instantly became ferocious, opening their blood-red maws and charging out...

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

P.S.: Post first, edit later.

(End of this chapter)