Chapter 913: The Executioner
As the incarnation of the Heavenspan Yao Vine, Qing Teng was originally an evil spirit born of the City of the Wrongfully Dead. He naturally detested the tombstone to the extreme.
But he was also aware that, without it, the evil spirits spread throughout the City of the Wrongfully Dead would charge through its gates and wreak havoc on everything beneath the heavens!
That was no exaggeration, either.
Beginning in ancient times, the City of the Wrongfully Dead had imprisoned and suppressed too many terrifying malevolent spirits to count.
Like the Dark Vassals, the Nine Serenities Netherworld?Crow, the Sinful Ghost Monk, and the Child of Sin. These supremely powerful evil spirits were capable of threatening the lives of even Profound Serenity Emperors.
If they escaped the City of the Wrongfully Dead, how could the Netherworld’s peak orthodoxies possibly defend against them?
“Have all of the evil spirits in the City of the Wrongfully Dead’s various forbidden zones pledged themselves to the Mysterious Netherworld Divine Court’s cause?” Su Yi asked suddenly.
Qing Teng froze, then shook his head. “Your Excellency Su, currently, only a handful of the rulers of the various forbidden grounds have submitted. The others are all watching and waiting from the sidelines.”
He paused, then continued, “The Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow doesn’t dare to threaten them into submission. After all, throughout the City of the Wrongfully Dead’s hundred-plus forbidden grounds, there’s no shortage of tough customers. Many are capable of contending with the Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow.”
Su Yi nodded. “That makes this simple.”
He then asked about the changes to the Dark Capital.
According to Qing Teng, the Yin-Yang Road had indeed been severely damaged, and not one of the cultivators trapped in its nine layers of purgatory had been able to leave.
“Is Old?Yao White Eyebrows of the Chaotic Void Blood Lake still around?” asked Su Yi.
Qing Teng thought for a moment, then said, “The old yao hasn’t shown his face in a long time, and I’ve heard no news about him over the past few years.”
Su Yi frowned. “Oh well. I’ll just have to find an opportunity to check out the Chaotic Void Blood Lake for myself.”
Old Yao White Eyebrows was a Radiant Void Beast, and he had innate control over the Laws of Space. This enabled him to shuttle freely between planes.
While exploring the City of the Wrongfully Dead in his past life, Su Yi had once come into conflict with Old Yao White Eyebrows. At the time, the old yao fled into the Dark Capital in a panic, completely bypassing the Yin-Yang Road!
Now that the Yin-Yang Road was damaged, he could perhaps request Old Yao White Eyebrows’ assistance in rescuing Ye Yu from the Dark Capital.
“Your Excellency Su, did you really discover the secrets of reincarnation?” Qing Teng couldn’t help but ask.
Su Yi didn’t deny it. “Very few people know about this, but since you’ve picked up on the clues already, there’s naturally no need to hide it.”
When Su Yi confirmed his guess, Qing Teng couldn’t help but gasp, and his heart filled with astonishment.
Quite some time passed before Qing Teng came back to his senses. He said solemnly, “Your Excellency Su, please rest assured. I absolutely won’t divulge this. If I break this promise…”
Su Yi interrupted him here. “Enough. No need to make a vow over something so trivial. Once my preparations are in order, I’ll help retrieve your stolen physical body and cultivation base.”
He then said no more, instead calming his heart and focusing on his cultivation.
……
Outside the Great Chaos Ruins.
Atop a steep, craggy black mountain.
The Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow perched on the branch of a leafless tree, its blood-red eyes gazing into the distance.
The entrance to the Great Chaos Ruins was a massive abyss shrouded in black mist year-round. Throughout the ages, countless adventurers in search of good fortune had been buried here.
There was currently a large-scale ritual ground near the entrance. It was shaped like a Nine Palaces Formation, and ninety-nine bronze pillars stood around it, each a thousand feet tall.
The formation of blood sacrifice!
“Esteemed Black Crow, the second libationer has sent word that Seven Emperors have arrived at the Dark Capital, including one Profound Serenity expert.”
A man in blood-red robes appeared suddenly out of nowhere and bowed to the Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow. “The second libationer requests your guidance. Should we take action now?”
The Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow retracted its gaze and said, “Tell the second libationer not to rush. Have them watch and wait from the shadows. Twenty-three Emperors entered the City of the Wrongfully Dead, including five Profound Serenity experts. We absolutely cannot let any of them escape.”
The man in blood-red robes solemnly nodded his assent. “Understood!”
“Also, is there any news from that old guy who calls himself ‘the Executioner’?” the crow asked suddenly.
The Executioner!
He was an old man of mysterious origins.
Nine years ago, he showed up in the City of the Wrongfully Dead out of the blue and came looking for the Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow. He called himself an old friend of the Netherworld King, and he said he could help them move the tombstone guarding the City of the Wrongfully Dead.
Furthermore, to prove his abilities and identity, the Executioner had ventured into the Great Chaos Ruins alone and obtained a token from the confined Netherworld King!
By now, the Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow had complete confidence in the Executioner. It was faithfully carrying out his orders to build a blood sacrifice formation outside the Great Chaos Ruins, lure Emperors into the City of the Wrongfully Dead, and capture them as offerings.
Over the past nine years, the Executioner had remained near the tombstone. He was apparently trying to figure out how to move it.
“Esteemed Black Crow, Senior Executioner has yet to make any movements,” the man in blood-red robes said solemnly.
“Is that so…?” The Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow’s eyes flashed. “Very well. Once we’ve caught enough offerings, I’ll visit him personally.”
It had only just said this when someone shot over frantically, cutting through the air.
Whoosh!
An old man in silver robes appeared. He had a frantic look on his face as he greeted the Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow. “Esteemed Black Crow, it’s terrible! Third Libationer Iron Daoist and his companions all died in the Little Necropolis!”
The Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow stiffened, and its eyes widened. “Truly!?”
The silver-robed old man took a deep breath. “I wouldn’t dare lie about this. Earlier, when the third libationer and his companions began their operation, I remained outside the Little Necropolis. When the fighting broke out, I watched with my own eyes as they died in battle, one by one. Not one survived.”
He then described what had happened in detail.
The Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow’s aura churned, and it said furiously, “I said that there was something amiss about that Cui Family kid, and that he was not to be underestimated! I told them to be careful, but they refused to listen!”
Here, the crow suddenly seemed to recall something. “What about the Burning Silence Ruler?”
The old man lowered his head and said in a quavering voice. “Esteemed Black Crow, they… suppressed the Burning Silence Ruler as well…”
The Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow was instantly overcome with fury. “Dammit!! How could this have happened? That’s one of the Netherworld King’s treasures. How could we lose it?”
It had obviously lost its composure.
Both the man in blood-red robes and the silver-robed elder were as silent as cicadas in winter.
Some time passed before the Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow calmed itself and its anger gradually cooled down.
“Where is the grand libationer?” it asked.
The man in blood-colored robes said hurriedly, “Esteemed Black Crow, the grand libationer is rushing over as we speak. If I’m not mistaken, he’ll arrive within the hour.”
“Send him a message that he is to visit the Little Necropolis. Have him tell the Cui Family pipsqueak that I’ll give him an opportunity to do business with me. So long as he brings the Burning Silence Ruler to the entrance of the Dark Capital, I wouldn’t mind returning the Heavenspan Yao Vine’s body and cultivation base.”
The man in blood-colored robes said, “But what if the boy refuses?”
The Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow fell silent.
Its current goal was to capture the Emperors who’d entered the City of the Wrongfully Dead alive.
Yet they’d lost the Burning Silence Ruler at this critical juncture of all times.
This left the Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow feeling beset on all sides.
If it led its forces into the Little Necropolis, that would inevitably interfere with their ability to capture the Emperors alive.
But if it didn’t, they wouldn’t get the ruler back any time soon.
After a while, the Nine Serenities Netherworld Crow took a deep breath and suppressed its dejection. “The boy has most likely come to the City of the Wrongfully Dead to investigate what happened to the Dark Capital. In that case, I trust he won’t refuse my offer lightly.”
Its eyes shone with resolution. “Carry out my orders. Remember: the grand libationer is absolutely not to provoke him. The boy is an extremely troublesome opponent, and we must treat him as a major foe!”
The man in blood-colored robes rushed off to carry out his orders.
……
The Little Necropolis.
Stargazing Tower.
When Su Yi awakened from his meditation, Qing Teng immediately said, “Your Excellency Su, the grand libationer of the Mysterious Netherworld Divine Court has arrived. He says he’d like to discuss something with you, and he’s currently waiting outside the Little Necropolis.”
Su Yi couldn’t help but find this surprising. “He’s here alone?”
Qing Teng nodded.
Su Yi rose, then walked outside.
Outside the Little Necropolis, Malevolent Release waited in silence, his aged features calm.
When he saw Su Yi step through the gates of the Little Necropolis, he clasped his palms together, nodded, and smiled. “Fellow Daoist, we meet?again.”
Su Yi looked at him inquisitively. “Have you come to save my soul?”
Before entering the City of the Wrongfully Dead, the old monk said that he’d help Su Yi’s soul find peace the next time they met.
Malevolent Release instantly seemed a bit uncomfortable. Then, he said solemnly, “Fellow Daoist, if you’re willing to return the Burning Silence Ruler, this old man is willing to apologize for my transgressions and bury the hatchet.”
He paused, then added, “And the Mysterious Netherworld Divine Court would be willing to return Fellow Daoist Qing Teng’s physical body and cultivation base.”
“Oh?” said Su Yi. “And if I don’t agree?”
After a moment’s silence, the old monk sighed. “In that case, I’m afraid you’ll never leave the City of the Wrongfully Dead alive.”
Su Yi laughed. “Go back and report to the little birdy that I’ll be visiting the Dark Capital soon. If it wants the Burning Silence Ruler, it should just wash its neck and wait for me at the entrance.”
Malevolent Release’s eyes instantly narrowed, and it seemed he was incomparably astonished. “Are you serious?”
“Believe me or don’t,” said Su Yi calmly. “It’s all up to you.”
Malevolent Release probed, “Since you’ve met with the Night Watchman, you’re surely aware of how dangerous the Dark Capital is. Aren’t you worried that if you go there, you’ll… meet with disaster?”
Su Yi said casually, “It seems to me that you people are the ones who ought to be worried.”
The monk froze, stunned, then took a deep look at Su Yi. “Very well. I’ll naturally inform the Esteemed Black Crow of your decision in your exact words.”
With that, he turned and left.
“Fellow Daoist, why not stop him from leaving?” You Xue appeared out of nowhere.
Su Yi smiled, not the least bit concerned. “In my eyes, he might as well already be dead. It’s just a matter of when I send him on his way.”
You Xue couldn’t help but smile.
“Go call for the others. We’ll visit Fallen God Valley first,” ordered Su Yi.
“Mm!” You Xue turned and left.
When Su Yi gave orders, she never asked why, nor did she care why they were headed to Fallen God Valley.
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