Chapter 143: Underworld Conquest, Advancement, Too Hasty!

"Number Two is in trouble."

"The scene just now must have been a projection of his lingering obsession after death, manifesting as a dream."

"That figure was surely what Number Two looked like at the moment of his death."

In an instant, Lu Wufei's expression turned unprecedentedly cold and solemn, and he quickly snapped out of the nightmare.

Given his current level of cultivation, ordinary malevolent ghosts would flee for their lives upon seeing him, utterly unable to even approach him, let alone enter his dreams.

Even ghosts and demons far more powerful than him would first need to breach the grotto-heaven of Wuzhuang Taoist Temple—guarded by the Ancestor of Earth Immortals, Zhenyuanzi—before they could even dream of entering his mind and dragging him into a nightmare.

Only pure dream-visitations completely devoid of malice could possibly enter his slumber.

This also explained his sudden palpitations, restlessness, and premonitions earlier. It must have been on account of this very matter.

All mood for further meditation and cultivation instantly vanished.

Lu Wufei took a deep breath, steadied his emotions, stood up, and walked out of the bedroom.

He walked straight toward the large window.

Xiaobai, who was stretching lazily on the windowsill, immediately trotted over upon seeing his master approach, rubbing its head affectionately against him.

Lu Wufei looked at Xiaobai, reached out to gather it into his arms, stroked its sleek fur, and gazed far into the distance outside the window.

It was the transition from late summer to early autumn.

The bamboo grove, tinged with faint golden hues, swayed gently in the breeze, producing a pleasant, rustling sound.

Lu Wufei still remembered that it had been early spring when he accompanied his master up to heaven for the banquet.

He had only stayed in the Heavenly Court for a little over half a day.

Yet down in the mortal realm, time had leaped from early spring to early autumn—half a year had already passed.

A day in heaven is a year on earth; it was truly so.

Through the nightmare just now, Lu Wufei knew that Number Two had met with misfortune and was most likely dead.

He just didn't know whether it had happened recently or while he was attending the Flat Peach Banquet in heaven with his master.

Regardless of when the crow monster had met his end, the moment he died, his soul fell under the jurisdiction of the Underworld.

Even if Lu Wufei rushed back anxiously, it would be of no avail. Moreover, the journey back would take time; by the time he arrived, Number Two's soul would long since have been dragged into the Underworld.

Fortunately, this was the world of Journey to the West.

Death was not the absolute end; there was a destination—the Netherworld, the Underworld.

As long as he could go to the Underworld and bring Number Two's soul back, he could resurrect him and restore him to life.

However, the Underworld was the realm of the subterranean dead.

It was exceedingly difficult for the living to travel there.

Below the realm of human immortals, mortal flesh and blood could not enter the Netherworld; only the soul could go.

Yet for a soul to leave the physical body was extremely perilous. Without sufficient cultivation, without the protection of a physical shell, and without an escort, the slightest mishap would trap one in the nether regions forever.

Things were much better once one reached the realm of immortals, as the physical body could enter along with the soul, granting one a degree of qualification to travel to the Underworld.

Still, having the qualification was not enough.

One also had to find the way to the Underworld.

As far as Lu Wufei currently knew, there were two ways to reach the Underworld:

First, to locate the intersection between the nether realm and the mortal realm, known as the "Ghost Gate."

The nether realm and the mortal realm referred to the Netherworld where the Underworld was located and the mortal world. As long as one found the Ghost Gate, one could step into the world of the underground dead.

Second, to use spells and divine powers to reach the Ghost Gate—the very gates of the Netherworld—directly.

Lu Wufei did not know where the Ghost Gate of this world was located, but he possessed the ability to travel to the Underworld.

Because he had already mastered the second method: the divine power to travel to the subterranean Netherworld, known as the "Art of Penetrating the Nether."

This was something he had comprehended from his master's supreme heritage text, the "True Scripture of Primordial Chaos and Profound Qi."

As far as he knew, almost any practitioner in an immortal blessed land or a major immortal sect who reached the realm of human immortals could naturally comprehend this divine power of "Penetrating the Nether."

Lu Wufei had also comprehended it after advancing to the rank of human immortal, as one of the many lesser divine powers derived from the "True Scripture of Primordial Chaos and Profound Qi."

However, while entering the Netherworld was easy, the Netherworld itself was dangerous, and he knew absolutely nothing about what lay down there.

To rush in blindly would be the utmost foolishness.

Moreover, he was not going to the nether regions for a trivial matter, nor was he going simply to sightsee or broaden his horizons. He was going to demand a person—no, a soul—from the Underworld, an act that directly violated the operational laws of the nether realm.

If he failed to prepare properly, not only would he fail to bring back Number Two the crow monster, but he might even end up trapping himself down there.

That would be the height of stupidity.

He knew very well that despite currently being in the human immortal realm, with a combat prowess capable of rivaling divine immortals—a standing that granted him a solid foothold among the wild lands and the demon race—it was still far from enough to charge into the Underworld and wreak havoc the way the monkey did in his memories, forcing the King of Hell to bow his head and altering the Book of Life and Death by force.

Fortunately, he had an advantage the monkey could never match: powerful backing from his sect. His master was Zhenyuanzi, and he had numerous senior martial brothers.

Although Patriarch Bodhi of Fangcun Mountain was likewise unimaginably powerful, he was far too enigmatic.

And the monkey had caused far too much chaos, practically piercing the heavens themselves.

In the world of Journey to the West, a superficial glance might reveal it as a world where the strong preyed upon the weak.

Yet once you fought your way up from the cruel lowest strata, you would discover something else.

It was not merely a world of the jungle; it was a desperate world with rigid, distinct, and heavily guarded social classes.

Human connections and nepotism...

In this world, these often outweighed your own hard work by a massive margin.

With the backing of his sect, his master, and his senior brothers, how foolish would he have to be to resort to brute force?

Even if his cultivation were sufficient in the future, he would still choose to abide by the operating rules of this world.

Unless his cultivation realm could thoroughly transcend above all rules.

Having a powerful patron behind him was Lu Wufei's greatest source of confidence.

As long as he made thorough preparations, he believed the likelihood of successfully bringing his sworn brother, the crow monster, back from the Underworld would increase significantly.

With this thought in mind, Lu Wufei held Xiaobai and walked toward the door.

Stepping outside, he headed straight for the kitchen courtyard.

Before long, he arrived at the familiar courtyard.

Lu Wufei ran right into one of his senior martial brothers.

Upon learning of Lu Wufei's purpose, the senior brother smiled and said, "Junior Brothers Qingfeng and Mingyue just came by, but I sent them back, telling them to return in three days."

"Junior Brother Lu is the same. Having just returned from attending the Flat Peach Banquet with Master, you must have partaken of the flat peaches as well."

"You should cultivate diligently these past few days and try your best to absorb and digest the flat peach's efficacy..."

Facing the senior brother's well-intentioned advice, Lu Wufei offered an awkward smile, immediately replied with a polite bow, "Senior Brother is entirely right. This junior was careless and will return to cultivate right away."

With that, Lu Wufei quickly bowed and took his leave.

However, instead of heading back to cultivate as his senior brother had suggested, he walked toward the quarters of Junior Brothers Qingfeng and Mingyue.

The flat peach had been consumed and integrated into his body; whether he cultivated sooner or later only affected the speed of absorption.

And he had far more important matters to attend to right now.

Familiar with the path, he arrived at the residence of Qingfeng and Mingyue.

Before Lu Wufei even drew close, the door opened by itself, and Senior Brother Qingfeng's voice sounded beside his ear: "Seeing Junior Brother walking in such haste, is something the matter?"

"Senior Brother's eyes pierce through everything."

With these words, Lu Wufei stepped across the threshold into Qingfeng's room.

He saw Qingfeng emerging from the inner bedroom, saying, "Junior Brother Mingyue's cultivation is still shallow, and that fraction of a flat peach has a profound effect on him. He is right in the middle of a crucial period of cultivation, so we shouldn't disturb him."

Lu Wufei sat down at an octagonal table identical to the one in his own room, nodding in agreement, "Indeed we shouldn't..."

Qingfeng walked over to the table, picked up a teapot to pour a cup of tea for Lu Wufei, then poured one for himself before sitting down. "Judging by Junior Brother's expression, it seems your initial confusion has been resolved, but new perplexities have arisen."

"I wonder what is troubling you?"

Lu Wufei wasn't surprised that Senior Brother Qingfeng could read his expression.

The cultivation art practiced by Qingfeng was related to such insights.

Moreover, Lu Wufei hadn't made much effort to conceal it.

He took a sip of the hot tea, and just as he was about to speak, Xiaobai leaped from his shoulder onto the octagonal table and let out a soft squeak at Qingfeng.

Qingfeng immediately understood the sound and smiled, "Alright, alright, I'll pour you a cup too."

Saying this, he picked up the teapot, poured another cup of tea, and pushed it toward Xiaobai.

Only then did Lu Wufei speak: "I wonder how much Senior Brother knows about the Netherworld and the Underworld?"

"The Underworld..."

Hearing Lu Wufei bring this up, Qingfeng paused the teacup he was lifting to his lips, then brought it to his mouth, took a sip, and asked, "Junior Brother is asking about the Underworld—could it be that..."

Seeing Qingfeng's inquiry, Lu Wufei smiled bitterly and nodded. Having nothing to hide from his senior brother, he said, "I intend to make a trip to the Underworld, which is why I've come to ask Senior Brother for some information."

"So that's how it is."

Qingfeng nodded. He didn't ask why Lu Wufei wanted to go to the Underworld, but instead twirled the teacup in his hand and continued, "How much does Junior Brother know about the Underworld?"

Lu Wufei shook his head. "Very little. I only know that the Underworld is where the dead go to be reincarnated and that it is presided over by the Lords of Hell."

Hearing this, Qingfeng nodded again and said, "Since Junior Brother is going to the Underworld—and as it happens, I know a fair bit about it—let me explain it to you in detail."

Lu Wufei picked up the teapot to refill Qingfeng's cup and said, "Please enlighten me, Senior Brother. The more detailed, the better."

Qingfeng smiled and began, "Junior Brother knows how to get to the Underworld, right?"

Lu Wufei nodded. "I know that. The 'Art of Penetrating the Nether' can lead one there."

Qingfeng nodded. "Correct. The Art of Penetrating the Nether points the way to the Ghost Gate. Once Junior Brother reaches the Ghost Gate and steps through, you will see a long street. That street leads to the Hall of Yama. Therefore, the dead wait on that street before entering the Hall of Yama to be judged for the sins and merits of their mortal lives."

"If there are enemies whom Junior Brother has slain, and if they have not yet been judged, punished, or reincarnated, they are very likely to be lingering on that street. Junior Brother must be careful not to let them cause trouble for you."

"Past that street lies the Hall of Yama. That is where the Ten Kings of Hell and the judges of the five directions handle administrative affairs—judging the good and evil of the dead before dispatching them to various parts of the Underworld."

"Beyond the Hall of Yama, you will see a massive mountain range called Mount Mengtu. Junior Brother must pay heed: countless wandering ghosts, feral spirits, and evil demons hide upon that mountain."

"After passing Mount Mengtu, you will reach two places. The first is the Eighteenth Levels of Hell. All guilty souls judged in the Hall of Yama are sent there to undergo corresponding punishments. Once their punishments are finished and they emerge from the Eighteenth Levels of Hell, they can cross the Bridge of Helplessness. There are three such bridges: the Gold Bridge, the Silver Bridge, and the Broken Bridge. Souls cross different bridges depending on their status, though the Broken Bridge is the most treacherous. Beneath the bridge is vicious water; one careless step leads to a fall, where one is devoured by the water demons. However, if one has money and paper currency, one can offer bribes..."

"Cross the Bridge of Helplessness, and you reach the City of Wrongful Deaths. Only souls who suffered unnatural or tragic deaths can enter this city; those who died of old age and natural causes do not enter."

"Junior Brother must take note: it is easy to enter this city, but difficult to leave."

"Once trapped inside, the only way out is to pay a toll using money or paper currency. If a soul has no wealth, they will be trapped in the city forever, neglected and unmanaged, unable to attain transcendence..."

"Leaving the City of Wrongful Deaths, you reach the 'Plain of Peace.' Past that lies the 'Gate of the Six Realms.' The Gate of the Six Realms is the place of reincarnation, leading back to the immortal realms and the mortal world. I assume Junior Brother has no interest in that place, so I won't go into detail."

"Apart from the Underworld itself, the Netherworld is filled with boundless ghost domains harboring all kinds of demons and spirits. However, there are only four Ghost Gates across the four continents that serve as exits from the Netherworld. Junior Brother must remain vigilant."

Hearing his senior brother pause, Lu Wufei, who had been listening intently, collected his thoughts, poured another cup of tea for Qingfeng, and said, "Thank you, Senior Brother. Your words have made things immensely clear to me. I will use this tea in place of wine to toast you."

Qingfeng smiled and clinked cups with him.

Lu Wufei asked further, "Senior Brother is so familiar with the subterranean Underworld—could it be that you have been there yourself?"

Qingfeng shook his head and continued, "I have never been to the Underworld, but we have a senior brother who has left the mountain and is currently serving an official post in the Underworld. It was he who told me about these things."

"A senior brother serving an official post in the Underworld?"

Hearing this, Lu Wufei's eyes lit up brightly, and joy welled up in his heart. He immediately asked, "Which senior brother is this? What is his name? What post does he hold? Please tell me, Senior Brother!"

Qingfeng smiled, drained the tea in his cup, and began, "This senior brother of ours is named..."

When Lu Wufei stepped out of Senior Brother Qingfeng's room, a hint of joy lingered on his face, and he let out a long breath of relief standing at the doorway.

It was dusk.

The time for the evening spiritual meal had arrived.

To avoid being nagged by the earlier senior brother, Lu Wufei bypassed the kitchen courtyard and walked briskly toward his own quarters.

Upon returning to his room, feeling considerably more at ease thanks to Senior Brother Qingfeng's guidance, Lu Wufei felt much of the weight lift from his mind.

He stroked Xiaobai's head and let it go play by itself.

Lu Wufei returned to the bed in his bedroom.

With a slight movement of his spiritual sense, rows of glowing, pale-white virtual ink characters began to materialize before his eyes:

[Host: Lu Fei]

[Realm: Mid-stage Human Immortal (3,225,600 / 5,000,000)]

[Experience Points: 8,863 / 19,000]

[Soul Power: 1]

[Cultivation Arts: True Scripture of Primordial Chaos and Profound Qi (Consummate); Demon Race Breathing Technique (Consummate)]

[Abilities: Seventy-Two Transformations (Great Accomplishment) (1,926 / 2,000); Staff Technique (Consummate)]

[Divine Powers: Concebration Within the Sleeve (Consummate); Law of Heaven and Earth (Minor Accomplishment) (266 / 1,000); Golden Light on the Ground (Consummate); Dream Entrant (Great Accomplishment) (97 / 2,000)...]

[...]

Looking at the constantly refreshing data before him, Lu Wufei's gaze locked onto the realm entry and refused to budge.

"Mid-stage Human Immortal..."

Gazing at the figures beside the realm entry, Lu Wufei was somewhat startled. A flurry of emotions—shock, joy, relief, and gratitude—surged within his heart.

It was no wonder he was emotionally stirred.

He knew better than anyone how arduous cultivation was after reaching the realm of human immortals.

Back during his ten years on Taiping Mountain, his cultivation had only progressed to a quarter of the early human immortal realm.

Now, merely by attending the heavenly banquet and consuming one-third of a single flat peach, he had jumped straight from the early human immortal stage to the midpoint of the mid-stage realm.

The potency of that one-third of a peach and the speed at which it boosted one's cultivation were truly terrifying.

And that was merely the outermost three-thousand-year flat peaches from the orchard. If it were the six-thousand-year peaches further in, the effects would be unimaginable.

Not to mention the twelve hundred trees of purple-grained, pale-pit flat peaches that ripened once every nine thousand years located in the innermost depths of the orchard.

If one were to eat one of those...

Lu Wufei found it hard to fathom.

Staring at the realm entry on the panel for a good long while, Lu Wufei finally regained his composure.

He wasn't blinded by the effects of the flat peach.

Powerful though the peach's efficacy was, if one were to rely solely on flat peaches to rapidly elevate cultivation, it would inevitably lead to an unstable realm and an inflated sense of self-importance.

A careless misstep could result in possessing mere brute cultivation while lacking in magical abilities and protective means.

Much like those immortals in the Heavenly Court who were unversed in combat arts.

"Hoo..."

He exhaled softly.

Clearing the distracting thoughts brought on by the flat peach from his mind, Lu Wufei turned his attention back to the panel.

The data below showed no changes compared to before his trip to heaven.

He ceased dwelling on it.

Withdrawing the panel, Lu Wufei reined in his thoughts, began circulating the "True Scripture of Primordial Chaos and Profound Qi," and sank into meditative cultivation.

The lingering medicinal power of the flat peach was still coursing through his limbs and bones.

He needed to absorb and digest it as quickly as possible.

Three days later.

Early morning.

The Mao hour.

Outside the window, the sky was hazy and not yet fully bright.

Lu Wufei awoke from his meditative cultivation, feeling refreshed and clear-headed.

He stepped out of the bedroom, taking Xiaobai along with him.

Opening the door, Lu Wufei headed straight toward the kitchen courtyard.

His senior brothers had not yet arrived, so Lu Wufei busied himself with preparations.

Before long, footsteps sounded outside the courtyard.

Lu Wufei turned his head to see that Senior Brother Qingfeng had arrived.

As for the neighboring room belonging to Qingfeng and Mingyue, Junior Brother Mingyue was absent—undoubtedly occupied with something.

Ceasing his work, Lu Wufei asked, "Senior Brother, why is Junior Brother Mingyue not here?"

Qingfeng immediately smiled and said, "Junior Brother Mingyue has been stuck at the late Golden Core stage for a long time. This time, attending the heavenly banquet with us and tasting the flat peach has given him a breakthrough in comprehension. His step into the human immortal realm is close at hand."

Hearing this, Lu Wufei's eyes lit up with delight, and he said happily, "So that's how it is! This is wonderful news!"

Yet, thinking of his sworn brother, the crow monster, and planning to depart within the next few days, Lu Wufei let out a regretful sigh: "It's just a pity that I have pressing matters to attend to and must leave the temple shortly. I don't know if I'll be able to witness Junior Brother Mingyue transcending mortality to become an immortal with my own eyes."

Qingfeng smiled. "No matter. Your affairs are important; go and attend to them. When you return to the mountain in the future, you can congratulate Junior Brother Mingyue then. Among fellow apprentices, we needn't stand on mortal ceremony."

Lu Wufei nodded. "That's all I can do."

Seven days later.

Early morning.

Before dawn.

In front of the gates of Wuzhuang Taoist Temple.

Lu Wufei, dressed in a cyan robe, was bidding farewell to Senior Brother Qingfeng, who wore a green robe.

Lu Wufei cupped his fists and said, "Senior Brother, please pass along my congratulations to Junior Brother Mingyue; I will congratulate him in person when I return."

Qingfeng returned the salute. "I will tell him. Since Junior Brother is heading to the Netherworld on this trip, you must be extremely careful!"

Lu Wufei nodded. "Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother; I am aware."

"I shall take my leave now. Take care, Senior Brother!"

Qingfeng nodded. "You as well, Junior Brother."

"Squeak, squeak, squeak..."

On Lu Wufei's shoulder, Xiaobai immediately stood up, pressed its paws together, and bowed toward Qingfeng.

"Ha ha..."

Qingfeng laughed aloud, dispelling much of the sorrow of parting. He returned the gesture, cupping his fists toward Xiaobai and saying, "Goodbye, Xiaobai!"

"Squeak!"

Xiaobai immediately returned the greeting cheerfully.

Only then did Lu Wufei turn around, taking a step into mid-air where clouds and mist rapidly gathered beneath his feet.

He came in haste and left in haste.

Flying high in the sky, Lu Wufei cast one final backward glance at Senior Brother Qingfeng standing before the mountain gate, sighed inwardly, and then sped away toward the horizon.