The Practice Ground Falls, the Nether's Good Days Are Over
The Practice Ground Falls, the Nether’s Good Days Are Over
## 690: It’s Time for the Army to Descend, Seal the Heaven and Earth (Please Subscribe)
Was the Nether’s contact finally about to surface?
In the quiet courtyard, when he received news of Lu Ming,
Gu Changge was leisurely sipping tea, dressed in white whiter than snow, his hair cascading like a waterfall, bound with a simple hair tie, spotless and immaculate, appearing transcendent and otherworldly, as if standing beyond the mortal world.
The Battlefield of Hundred Worlds had been extremely restless lately, growing ever more chaotic, yet he appeared perfectly at ease.
Every day he drank tea and listened to music in the courtyard, then sent people to wander through the various districts, selecting young seeds to muddy the waters.
Now, standing before him were Qing’er and numerous high-ranking members of the Alliance of Thousand Merchants from within the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds.
“According to the message Xue Yan sent through the communication Jade Talisman,
Lu Ming has been spending this period mingling in the Battle Arena, seemingly searching for someone.
Especially tonight—after the duels ended, he did not return to his residence right away...”
Qing’er held a Jade Tablet and respectfully reported its contents truthfully.
“If that’s the case, then it’s time for my great net to start tightening.”
Hearing this, Gu Changge smiled faintly, set down the cup in his hand, and rose to his feet.
As his words fell, faint, terrifying fluctuations emerged in the void behind him, and then,
as if a blurry spatial gateway had been torn open,
Ah Da and several figures shrouded in black mist appeared, stepping out.
Aside from Ah Da, every one of these blurry figures possessed the strength of a True Daoist.
Each one standing there radiated a terrifying pressure that could shatter heaven and earth.
The expressions of everyone in the courtyard changed drastically; they grew restless and uneasy, fear rising in their hearts.
Had Gu Changge not revealed it personally, they would never have dared imagine that so many True Daoists
had been hidden in the shadows all along, ready to obey Gu Changge’s command at any moment.
This force alone was enough to easily sweep across the entire Battlefield of Hundred Worlds.
Only if the masters behind the various districts appeared in person would they perhaps be qualified to contend with even one of them.
Of course, they did not know that these True Daoists were all puppets refined by Gu Changge.
Though they retained their original cultivation realms, compared to living people, there was still a considerable gap.
“It’s time for the army to descend upon this place.”
Gu Changge looked up at the vast sky, his tone somewhat meaningful.
Since the Nether’s contact had surfaced, it was time for him to dispatch the army here.
After all, this was a perfect opportunity—when a wall falls, everyone pushes it.
Since their founding, the Nether and Pagoda had made far too many enemies; countless Daoist traditions and forces
hated them to the bone.
If not for the inability to locate the world where their headquarters hid, armies of experts would have long since been mobilized to slaughter their way in.
Over the years, the number of sieges they had endured was beyond counting.
“Young Master, since we’ve confirmed that the world where the Nether and Pagoda hide is right here, why not
make this news public?
I imagine the Nether and Pagoda have existed for many eras; their hidden depths must be unfathomable. In a short time, they absolutely will not give up or relocate.”
Knowing that Gu Changge intended to move against the two ancient assassin organizations, the Nether and Pagoda,
Qing’er and the others still harbored many doubts, not understanding why Gu Changge insisted on confirming their hiding world before acting.
After all, if the news of the Nether and Pagoda’s location were released earlier, the various forces and traditions
could prepare sooner.
“If we did that, the Nether and Pagoda would be prepared. What I want is to catch them completely off guard.”
Hearing this, Gu Changge smiled faintly.
Outside the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds, he had long since arranged for forces to wait in secret.
Now, with a single command from him, this army could charge into the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds, straight into the world where the Nether and Pagoda hid.
Meanwhile, elsewhere,
guided by the secret technique taught by the middle-aged man within the Mysterious Stone Fragment, Lu Ming had found the Nether’s withered man
and followed him onward.
On both sides stood palaces and pavilions, with carved beams and painted rafters, incomparably magnificent.
An extremely wide river flowed quietly down the middle, shimmering with light, specks of radiance drifting upon it.
There were many Cultivators and living beings around; some lingered in pleasure houses, while others
drank wine, tossing money about lavishly.
Lu Ming kept his eyes straight ahead, doing his best to conceal anything unusual about himself, so as not to attract attention.
He knew this place was full of experts.
One careless move could bring unnecessary trouble.
Soon, led by the withered man ahead, Lu Ming boarded an extremely tall divine boat, resplendent in gold and jade, gleaming with divine light, with countless figures moving within.
Faint mist rose all around, dispersing whenever the breeze blew.
Numerous jade boats drifted upon the river, and singing drifted over—weeping and lamenting, resentful
and longing, tugging at the heartstrings.
“This is...”
Seeing the scene inside the divine boat, even Lu Ming, who had weathered great storms, was somewhat shaken
and couldn’t help but avert his gaze.
Many male and female Cultivators were gathered together, orioles and swallows in pairs, the scent of powder and perfume wafting over, fragrant breezes filling the air.
The withered man leading the way couldn’t help but sneer at the sight. “So you’re still a fledgling. What’s there to make such a fuss about?”
Lu Ming’s expression shifted slightly, but he quickly recovered.
He had cultivated for over a decade and indeed had never experienced matters between men and women—especially with these Cultivators
being so unabashed, laughing and flirting openly right there on the divine boat.
“Why did you bring me to a pleasure house like this?”
He couldn’t help asking the withered man leading the way.
“Didn’t you want to find the contact? Isn’t this me bringing you right to them?” The withered man’s laughter carried a few traces of mockery.
Hearing this, Lu Ming began to understand.
From the outside, this place was indeed a pleasure house—
who would have thought it was actually one of the Nether’s contact points?
“You’d better be careful. Don’t think that just because you obtained my Nether’s inheritance, the great ones of my Nether will
acknowledge you.
The one I’m taking you to meet is a ruthless figure who can take a life mid-conversation with a laugh.”
Seeing Lu Ming’s expression, the withered man worried he might offend that great one later, so he deliberately
added a few more warnings.
Lu Ming nodded with a solemn expression, both nervous and expectant inside.
“Judging by the layout here, he’ll probably take you to meet one of Meng Po’s subordinates.”
Beneath his sleeve, the Mysterious Stone Fragment glowed faintly, and the middle-aged man’s voice sounded in Lu Ming’s ear.
Lu Ming’s expression shifted slightly. He knew the Nether had ten palaces in total, and the lord of each palace
was known to the world as one of the Ten Palace Lords.
Besides the Ten Palace Lords, there were also the Ten Nether Marshals and the Four Judges.
Meng Po was another special figure beyond the Four Judges, her status no lower than theirs,
and she was extremely mysterious.
Of course, whether there were Five Ghost Emperors above the Ten Palace Lords, or the legendary Yin Heavenly...
—that, he had no way of knowing.
The middle-aged man in the Mysterious Stone Fragment had never told him these things either.
“Long ago, the Nether was actually called Neraka.
But later, for unknown reasons, it seemed to have violated some taboo in the unseen fabric of fate, and was forced
to change its name to the Nether.”
While Lu Ming’s thoughts churned,
the withered man ahead had already brought him to the lowest level of the divine boat.
Here he smelled a strange fragrance, like orchids and musk.
A drunken haze washed over him.
Even the circulation of his blood inexplicably quickened.
“I heard you wanted to see me?”
A charming, enchanting voice came from ahead, seemingly separated by a hazy distance, with
mist spreading around them.
Lu Ming’s heart trembled, but remembering the middle-aged man’s instructions, he forced himself to calm down.
He raised his head and looked, only then discovering that this place held a world of its own, with spatial fluctuations spreading out,
seemingly able to envelop everything around.
In the distance hung curtains, blocking the view of everyone looking over.
He could only vaguely make out a graceful figure reclining there, half-propped up on her head,
seemingly smoking some kind of spirit smoke, appearing utterly languid.
“If your eyes dare wander, I’ll dig them out.”
The enchanting voice sounded again, without the slightest killing intent, as if merely discussing some
trivial matter.
Lu Ming’s whole body shook, and he hurriedly withdrew his probing gaze, then respectfully
lowered his head and said, “This lowly one sought an audience with you, my lady, because there is a matter I must report.”
“What matter?” The voice behind the curtain sounded again, without any impatience.
“This lowly one once obtained the inheritance of a great figure of the Nether.”
Lu Ming remembered the middle-aged man’s instructions and dared not conceal anything, repeating it word for word.
He did not directly say he had obtained the entire inheritance,
only that the inheritance remained lost in some place, and he lacked the ability to obtain it all.
Otherwise, he worried this Nether higher-up before him would covet his inheritance and kill him for it.
Hearing Lu Ming’s words, the figure behind the curtain slowly sat up,
her expression turning uncertain.
“Are you telling the truth? If there’s a single false word, do you know the consequences?”
Her voice no longer held its earlier charm; instead, it carried a few traces of coldness.
Because from Lu Ming’s words, the inheritance he obtained most likely came from that great lord
who fell sixty million years ago.
Regarding this matter, the entire upper echelon of the Nether had always been tight-lipped.
Back then, that First Palace Lord’s strength had been unfathomable.
If not for someone within the Nether leaking his whereabouts, he would never have been ambushed and killed by the other traditions.
Because of this, the Nether’s Heaven-Annihilating Prison Immortal Grand Array could not be laid out.
Otherwise, why would they have needed to fear Gu Changge so much during this period, choosing to hide and dodge?
“I dare not deceive you, my lady. If you don’t believe me, you may examine this item.”
Lu Ming had long anticipated her reaction.
So he took out from his bosom a fragment of a broken stone mirror that the middle-aged man had given him earlier.
The void trembled, and then a plain white, jade-like hand reached out from behind the curtain
and snatched the stone mirror fragment away.
“It really is this item...”
The woman behind the curtain examined it for a long time.
After a long silence, a sigh finally sounded from within.
Lu Ming stood in place with his hands lowered, saying nothing more.
He knew that since she recognized this item, she certainly would not doubt him anymore.
“Go back for now. If this matter proves true, someone will come find you in three days.”
Soon, the woman behind the curtain issued her dismissal.
Though her tone was much gentler than before.
She was the disciple of the Nether’s extremely mysterious Meng Po, and could be considered one of the Nether’s
high-ranking figures.
Of these secret matters, she knew more than most.
Hearing these words, Lu Ming also breathed a sigh of relief, feeling he was one step closer to becoming the Nether’s successor.
But just as he was about to leave this place and return to his residence,
hurried footsteps and knocking suddenly sounded from outside the room.
“My lady, something terrible has happened!
Outside the pleasure boat, many unfamiliar figures have appeared. Some unimaginable existence struck from the shadows
and sealed off all the space here. Never mind Cultivators—right now, not even
divine sense can be transmitted out!”
A pale-faced man came stumbling over, his expression utterly panicked.
Hearing this, not only was the woman behind the curtain stunned, but Lu Ming’s expression also changed.
Almost immediately, the woman behind the curtain’s expression turned ice-cold, her gaze filled with
killing intent and frigid air, staring fixedly at Lu Ming.
At this moment, she couldn’t help but think this way.
How could there be such a coincidence in the world?
Lu Ming had just come seeking them out, and right on his heels, experts struck to seal off this stretch of heaven and earth.
“This lowly one absolutely has no intention of scheming against you, my lady! I’m willing to guarantee it with my life!”
Lu Ming felt terrifying killing intent enveloping him, making his breathing nearly stop, his skin aching
as if about to split apart.
He also felt that if he didn’t explain himself, he would likely collapse under this pressure, becoming
a mist of blood.
“Then who exactly is it?”
The woman from behind the curtain emerged, dressed in a long green gown, her coldly beautiful, exquisite face
shifting between light and shadow.
She didn’t think Lu Ming would dare deceive her.
But at this moment, there was no time for her to think.
Because a terrifying, boundless divine sense, like heaven and earth toppling over, suddenly crushed down.
The void for hundreds of miles around stagnated, as if it had been drawn into someone’s domain.
“A True Daoist!”
The green-dressed woman’s expression changed again, turning pale, a feeling of her soul being frozen, her whole body trembling.
To prevent news of this place from spreading, the attacker had turned this area into their domain.
Such methods could only be achieved by existences like the Nether’s Ten Palace Lords.
“Could someone have followed me?”
Lu Ming thought of this possibility. In fact, these past days, he had felt this sensation of being watched.
But he had asked the middle-aged man, and the middle-aged man had said he noticed nothing.
Just then, the entire divine boat trembled.
Terrifying energy poured down, and a giant black hand stretched across the sky, crushing down in an instant.
Countless Array Patterns engraved on the walls lit up, trying to resist this force.
But they didn’t last a moment before melting away like snow meeting the blazing sun, rapidly disintegrating.
All the Cultivators and living beings dared not move, trembling with fear to the extreme.
“A Void Forbidden Technique!”
Sensing this fluctuation, the green-dressed woman inside the pleasure boat turned even paler, her expression filled with terror.
She already understood.
The other party had clearly come prepared, and specifically for the Nether’s affairs.
That was why they had isolated this place first thing—to prevent news from leaking out and alerting
the enemy.
Thinking of this, she didn’t hesitate, reaching out to shatter her own Spirit Platform, lest any information
about the Nether leak out.
But faster than her was a burly figure clad head to toe in Dark Iron Battle Armor, who directly
tore through space, stepped out beside her, and raised a palm to suppress and capture her.
It all happened too fast—in a flash of lightning—so fast the green-dressed woman
despaired, utterly unable to resist this power.
## 691: The Golden Finger’s Backlash, Face Like Ashes (Please Subscribe)
The figure in Dark Iron Battle Armor stood there like an iron tower, his gaze cold and
merciless, radiating a soul-seizing pressure.
He raised his palm and suppressed the green-dressed woman; sky-piercing baleful qi condensed into chains, binding her hands
and feet alike, leaving her unable to move.
“Protect my lady!”
Outside the room, a large number of figures roared and charged over, blades in hand, killing intent soaring.
But before they could even get close, they were crushed into mists of blood
by the boundless pressure, body and soul annihilated.
The enormous gap in cultivation realms was not something numbers could make up for.
Ah Da merely stood there, without any movement, and the spreading pressure alone
could shatter everything.
“It’s over. Someone must be moving against the Nether, and you’ve been used as their pawn.”
The Mysterious Stone Fragment glowed faintly. Witnessing all this, the middle-aged man spoke in a heavy voice, an ominous
premonition in his heart.
Back in his day, he had been one of the Nether’s Palace Lords.
He had experienced no shortage of events, and at a glance he saw the whole cause and effect of the matter.
In the end, it was because Lu Ming had been trying to find the Nether’s contact these past days, drawing
the attention of those with ulterior motives in the shadows.
This left him somewhat vexed—after all, he was now merely a Remnant Soul.
If he were at his peak, how could he have failed to sense the prying in the dark?
“Then what do we do now? Surrender, or find a way to escape?”
Lu Ming was deeply uneasy as well, asking the middle-aged man.
But sensing an even more terrifying aura descending outside the pleasure boat,
the middle-aged man had no time to answer him, hastily concealing his own aura and hiding away.
Since Lu Ming had long been marked, if he wasn’t careful, he too might be
dragged out by the enemy.
Lu Ming called out several more times, but the middle-aged man never answered.
His heart gradually sank.
Today, things looked grim—more misfortune than fortune.
The other Cultivators and beings in the pleasure boat, trembling with terror, knelt prostrate on the ground, likewise not daring to move.
They could only watch as several figures walked in from outside the pleasure boat.
The one in the lead wore white robes, his figure tall and straight, his gaze profound, his countenance handsome and refined,
like a young banished immortal, transcendent and unearthly, radiance flowing all around him.
Many Cultivators recognized him, and their faces filled with even greater fear.
During this period, the entire Battlefield of Hundred Worlds had been thrown into boundless turmoil by Gu Changge’s arrival.
None of them had imagined he would appear here tonight, and looking anything but friendly.
Behind Gu Changge followed quite a few people.
There were high-ranking members of the Alliance of Thousand Merchants, and also Xue Yan, the young woman from the Blue Flood Ancient World, all with solemn expressions.
The reason Xue Yan had come along was actually out of worry for Lu Ming—she wanted to persuade him not to oppose Gu
Changge.
Although Gu Changge had previously promised he would not harm Lu Ming, Xue Yan still felt
somewhat uneasy.
The reason Lu Ming’s whereabouts were exposed tonight
was largely because she had truthfully reported his recent activities to Gu Changge.
“Young Master, how should these people be dealt with?”
Qing’er’s gaze slowly swept over everyone in the pleasure boat, her expression cold as she respectfully
asked Gu Changge.
Among these people, no one could be sure whether any of the Nether’s agents were hidden.
“Take them all into custody. Seal their Knowledge Seas and cultivation.”
Gu Changge said casually, not particularly concerned about these people.
His attention was actually on the big fish inside the pleasure boat.
Soon, swathes of soldiers in black battle armor surged in from around the pleasure boat,
seizing everyone here regardless of age or gender.
Because of the Void Forbidden Technique, this place had become a domain of its own.
Only the Cultivators and beings who had entered this place could know what happened here.
Moreover, the Cultivators and beings inside could not transmit any news out.
“Master, everyone inside has been captured. How should they be dealt with now?”
All the Cultivators in the pleasure boat were silent as cicadas in winter, watching as Ah Da, clad in Dark Iron Battle Armor, walked out.
In his hand, he held the green-dressed woman, her face ashen like death.
Lu Ming and the others followed behind with their hands hanging at their sides, not daring to make any move.
So this was Neraka’s contact person?
Take her back first.
Gu Changge glanced at the woman in the green dress, but did not interrogate her in front of everyone.
Gu Changge...
Looking at the white-robed man before her, the woman in the green dress turned deathly pale, her voice trembling, with only final despair left in her heart.
If it had been anyone else, she would have felt there was still some chance of turning tonight’s events around.
But the person before her was actually Gu Changge. Even if her shifu, Meng Po, were here, she could only obediently surrender.
How could it be him... And why is Xue Yan shimei here too?
At this moment, Lu Ming naturally recognized Gu Changge as well, and his eyes couldn’t help but widen.
Especially when he saw Xue Yan shimei standing behind Gu Changge.
In an instant, he connected many things, the blood draining from his face as it all suddenly clicked.
Impossible. How could Xue Yan shimei do something like this...
Lu Ming’s eyes reddened slightly, webbed with bloodshot veins, his fists clenched tight. He wanted to rush forward and demand answers in person.
In his impression, Xue Yan shimei was sensible and clever, mature and steady. How could she have schemed against him in secret, revealing his every movement to Gu Changge?
However, before Lu Ming could step forward to question her—
Upon seeing him, the young woman Xue Yan let out a soft breath and walked straight toward him, her words carrying some guilt. “Lu Ming shixiong, I’m sorry. I had my difficulties. I’ll explain everything to you in a moment.”
“But you absolutely must not oppose Gu gongzi. Otherwise, no one will be able to protect you.”
Her words were sincere, carrying deep remorse.
After all, if she hadn’t leaked Lu Ming’s recent whereabouts, he wouldn’t have fallen to such a state.
Why?
Why did you do this? Why did you scheme against me?
But by now, Lu Ming no longer had the reason to listen to her words.
His gaze was full of disappointment and pain, endless fury surging up in his heart.
I’m sorry, but I truly had no choice.
Xue Yan’s gaze dimmed somewhat; she genuinely felt guilty in her heart.
Although Lu Ming had hidden many things from her, he had never hurt her.
And this action of hers might very well push Lu Ming into an abyss of no return.
I understand now. Gu Changge must have threatened you into doing this, right?
That night, when he summoned you over, it was for this matter too.
Lu Ming was no ordinary person after all, and he quickly pieced together the whole story.
His furious gaze fell on Xue Yan’s face, filled with nothing but disappointment.
Hearing this, Xue Yan was momentarily speechless and fell silent, not knowing how to explain.
There’s a hidden soul fluctuation on him.
Ah Da looked at Lu Ming and spoke in a muffled, buzzing voice.
I know.
Gu Changge smiled, not interrupting the conversation between Lu Ming and Xue Yan, watching from the side with great interest.
The first time he saw Lu Ming, he understood that this Fortuitous One had encountered quite a few fortuitous encounters, and was bound to have something like a Golden Finger on him.
Now it seemed that his Golden Finger was likely connected to Nether in no small way.
Perhaps it contained the Remnant Soul of some figure.
Xue Yan guniang, as per our agreement, you helped me with this favor, so naturally I won’t harm this shixiong of yours.
I want to find someone through him, and that person is now on his body.
Gu Changge smiled faintly, and as he spoke, he slowly walked toward Lu Ming.
Naturally, he was just saying it casually, with no intention whatsoever of seeking Xue Yan’s consent.
Whether it was Lu Ming or Xue Yan, in his eyes they were all the same.
Lu Ming shixiong, you heard it too. Gu gongzi said he won’t take your life.
He only wants to find someone.
Seeing this, Xue Yan also spoke earnestly, hoping Lu Ming wouldn’t fail to appreciate the kindness and thereby lose his life.
Lu Ming stared fixedly at Gu Changge, struggle flashing across his face.
He knew that what Gu Changge cared about wasn’t him, but that Mysterious Stone Fragment of his.
Or rather, to be precise, it was probably the middle-aged man within the Mysterious Stone Fragment.
Otherwise, how could an ant-like, insignificant nobody like him be worth Gu Changge’s attention?
After a moment, countless struggles flashing across his face, Lu Ming finally said through gritted teeth—
At this point, he knew he had no other choice but to hand over the Mysterious Stone Fragment.
However, just as his words fell and he made his choice—
The Mysterious Stone Fragment hidden beneath his sleeve suddenly burst forth with brilliant light.
Dazzling lightning interweaved, as if ignited, incomparably scorching.
You damned brat, you actually sold me out.
The middle-aged man’s expression was incomparably gloomy. Unwilling to sit and wait for death, he could only resort to his final measure, intending to fuse his soul body with the Mysterious Stone Fragment.
At this moment, Lu Ming also screamed miserably, as a terrifying burning pain radiated from the center of his palm.
Even if he wanted to throw the Mysterious Stone Fragment away, he couldn’t.
This object that had always aided him, the reliance that had carried him step by step to the peak of his peers in the Blue Flood Ancient World, seemed to burn straight through his palm in an instant, fusing and growing into it.
Crimson flames spread out from Lu Ming’s palm all at once, instantly engulfing his entire body.
He rolled on the ground, screaming and wailing continuously, trying to lessen the pain.
But the Mysterious Stone Fragment contained a special power that ceaselessly devoured his flesh and soul, seeking to use his flesh and blood as a catalyst to break free and escape this place.
Lu Ming shixiong!
Xue Yan was also stunned by this sudden turn of events and couldn’t help crying out, wanting to act to save Lu Ming.
However, Gu Changge moved faster than her. His sleeve trembled lightly, and a stream of pure qi shook down like sweet rain on wind chimes, directly dousing the crimson flames on Lu Ming’s body.
But Lu Ming was also burned beyond recognition, his breath faint, long since passed out.
Rather clever, trying to escape through this method...
Come to think of it, does this count as the Golden Finger’s backlash?
Gu Changge’s gaze fell on the horrifying hole burned into Lu Ming’s palm, and he chuckled softly.
Naturally, he would not allow the Remnant Soul within to escape.
Force of Law vast as misty clouds emerged, and immediately an indescribable aura surged through this space.
Everything slowed down. Whether it was everyone’s thoughts or their gazes, all seemed to enter a state of stillness.
Then time reversed. Fine motes of light visible to the naked eye emerged from the surrounding void.
Those were the shattered fragments of the Mysterious Stone, fused with the shards of the middle-aged man’s Remnant Soul. But under the control of Gu Changge’s will, they all began to enter a state of reversal.
Countless fine points of light slowly gathered, converging toward Gu Changge’s palm, and quickly became a palm-sized stone fragment.
Time reversal—returning everything to its original beginning.
The many Alliance of Thousand Merchants higher-ups following behind Gu Changge all stared with wide eyes in utter disbelief.
It was as if they had witnessed a divine miracle.
Such an unfathomably profound technique—even a True Daoist could never hope to accomplish it.
They absolutely could not reverse time and restore everything to how it was.
After all, the law of time was one of the most mysterious and unpredictable supreme laws in this world.
Of course, Gu Changge also knew that he had only just begun to grasp this law.
He could only achieve a brief reversal of time.
The true power of time was far more vast and mysterious than anyone could imagine.
You... who exactly are you?
The middle-aged man’s Remnant Soul emerged above the stone fragment, filled with shock and terror.
He had never imagined that even after fusing his Remnant Soul into the stone fragment—
For a Cultivator, that was equivalent to the utter annihilation of body and soul—
Yet in Gu Changge’s hands, his Remnant Soul had been reconstituted. Such a method was no different from resurrection from the dead.
He had touched the threshold of the Celestial Realm.
And he was still a young man...
At this moment, the middle-aged man thought of the only possibility, and monstrous waves of shock surged in his heart, his horror reaching its peak.
A Remnant Soul at the True Daoist level...
Gu Changge looked at the middle-aged man emerging above the stone fragment, somewhat enlightened.
So this was Lu Ming’s reliance for contacting Nether.
However, he did not interrogate the middle-aged man about various matters in front of everyone. Instead, with a wave of his hand, he directly stored him into his Storage Space.
Gu Changge was not worried about failing to extract information.
With True Daoist strength, this man was an existence on the level of a Palace Lord within Nether.
Even if there were Forbidden Techniques sealing his divine sense, preventing him from leaking many things—
For Gu Changge, finding Nether’s location was already effortless.
Very soon, this divine vessel and all Cultivators and living beings within a hundred li were taken away.
This place sank into a strange dimensional void.
Unless a True Daoist came to investigate in person, no one would know what had happened here.
After all, what Gu Changge wanted was to catch them off guard. To avoid alerting the enemy, he naturally had to arrange everything here properly.
As long as Nether’s hidden world emerged, everything else would be easy to handle.
What happened tonight only spread within a small circle of the Alliance of Thousand Merchants’ upper echelons.
Because Gu Changge had ordered the matter to be strictly sealed.
Of course, there were undoubtedly Nether informants within the Alliance of Thousand Merchants—that went without saying.
So after returning to his previous residence, Gu Changge dismissed everyone.
Spare my life, and I’ll tell you everything I know.
The middle-aged man’s Remnant Soul was released by him.
He took a deep breath, looked at Gu Changge before him, and guaranteed in a heavy voice.
Having lingered on for sixty million years, one could see how intense his will to survive was. Naturally, he didn’t want to die at this juncture.
What I want to know doesn’t require you to tell me.
However, Gu Changge had no intention of saying more to him, his expression calm and indifferent.
Between his fingers and palm, dense black light spread, and Grand Runes appeared one after another, forming a Grand Flask that slammed down viciously toward the middle-aged man.
The middle-aged man had originally wanted to negotiate terms with Gu Changge, never expecting that Gu Changge simply wouldn’t give him the chance.
Moreover, as a former Palace Lord, his knowledge was vast beyond measure.
He recognized the Grand Flask at first glance, his face completely filled with terror.
Very soon, the screams within the palace came to an abrupt halt.
A Palace Lord from sixty million years ago...
Gu Changge closed his eyes, quietly perusing the middle-aged man’s many memories. Even though deep within the man’s soul there were Restrictions left behind to prevent the leakage of Nether’s many secrets—
Before the devouring power of the Grand Flask, those many Restrictions still crumbled and collapsed like melting snow, utterly useless.
The middle-aged man’s many memories now lay before him like the pages of a book, to be flipped through at will.
692: Destroying the Practice Grounds—Nether’s Good Days Are Over (Seeking Subscriptions)
Within the palace, Gu Changge stood with lowered eyes, flipping through the many memories concerning this Palace Lord in his mind.
What he cared about most was actually the question of Nether’s foundations.
The many sects of the outside world only knew that Nether had Ten Palace Lords, named after the Ten Palaces of the ancient mythological underworld.
But whether there were Five Ghost Emperors above the Ten Palace Lords, and the most mysterious Yin Emperor—
That was unknown.
But what was undeniable was that each of these Ten Palace Lords possessed cultivation that pierced heaven and earth.
Even among those at the True Daoist level, they would be hard-pressed to find a match.
Sixty million years ago, the First Palace Lord nearly perished, and that was only because he was besieged by many True Daoists.
From these memories, he learned that the location of each of Nether’s palaces was actually extremely secretive.
Even the Lord of each palace did not know where the other palaces were located.
Their contact with one another relied entirely on the Communication Altar within each palace.
Of course, doing this had definite advantages—it allowed them to avoid danger to the greatest possible extent.
The Battlefield of Hundred Worlds was indeed a gu-breeding ground, but for Nether, this was far from their only breeding ground.
Gu Changge obtained another extremely useful piece of information.
Around the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds were countless Lower Realms, and many of the ancient worlds among them were controlled by Nether.
And those ancient worlds were the rear gardens Nether had specially left as fallback routes, nurturing batch after batch of fresh blood.
This had been Nether’s tradition all along, and also the reliance that allowed it to stand at the pinnacle of the assassin world.
Reading the middle-aged man’s Remnant Soul allowed Gu Changge to learn many of Nether’s unknown secrets.
From certain perspectives, these secrets had enormous implications—behind them were even the shadows of several immortal forces and sects.
From the memories, the Cangrun Ancient World should be Nether’s hidden world.
However, Nether should be hidden within a world-within-a-world, and the entrance to that world-within-a-world lay within the Cangrun Ancient World.
Gu Changge had roughly figured out Nether’s hidden world.
So what needed to be done next was much simpler.
First destroy Nether’s headquarters; the remaining Pagoda would be even simpler, because comparatively speaking, Nether was more mysterious and harder to deal with.
Afterward, Gu Changge ordered someone to bring the woman in the green dress from before, and personally interrogated her.
Nether had special secret arts that could strictly prevent its members from leaking information related to Nether.
The woman in the green dress was Meng Po’s disciple, and counted as high-level within Nether.
The Restrictions within her soul were even more complex and profound.
But since even a former Palace Lord could not stop Gu Changge from probing his Knowledge Sea—
What did a mere woman in a green dress amount to?
Very soon, the screams and wails in this place came to an abrupt halt.
The woman in the green dress’s face was twisted, her expression terrified, nearly fainting dead away.
She had been fully conscious while Gu Changge devoured her Knowledge Sea.
The degree of pain was no different from having her soul torn apart over and over—unimaginable.
Ah Da, take three True Daoists and, based on the information in this person’s Knowledge Sea, seize the contact location within the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds.
Gu Changge pondered for a moment, then summoned Ah Da and the others and gave the order.
From her Knowledge Sea, he had obtained quite a bit of useful information.
There were indeed quite a few of Nether’s contact locations within the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds, but because of his arrival, they had all begun to seal themselves off.
Now only one contact location remained open.
Nether’s current Ten Palace Lords were not at this location; even if they needed to discuss something, they would only project an external incarnation over.
This left Gu Changge somewhat regretful.
Yes, Master.
Ah Da received his orders and departed with three True Daoist puppets shrouded in black mist.
In the following days, the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds fell into an atmosphere of an approaching storm.
Almost all Cultivators and living beings felt a sense of unease and oppression.
What had happened that night in the Vermilion Bird Quarter could not be concealed from everyone, because the next day Gu Changge—
Nether’s contact location was destroyed that very day by Ah Da leading his people there.
Such a major event naturally attracted the attention of the many sects and forces of the Beyond.
Much information about Nether was also transmitted at the first opportunity, triggering enormous shockwaves.
At that contact location, Ah Da discovered many underground palaces, within which Nether’s Teleportation Altars were hidden.
Those Teleportation Altars had not yet been destroyed by Nether’s upper echelons, and through their spatial coordinates, the locations on the other side could easily be locked onto.
Many of Nether’s experts attempted to resist.
But facing three True Daoists, everything proved futile, and in the end their only fate was the annihilation of body and soul.
On the same day, outside the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds, a large number of Ancient Battleships also descended.
Based on the information from the contact location, they began a large-scale extermination of the many Practice Grounds Nether had left in this place.
It was a blitz assault like a violent storm and thunderbolt, sweeping across the entire Battlefield of Hundred Worlds.
It left countless Cultivators trembling with fear.
That day, many Cultivators didn’t even have time to react before seeing vast Ancient Battleships descending outside the Suppression Boundary Ancient City.
The soldiers upon them were like black clouds, rolling in endlessly, beyond count.
Within the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds, all of Nether’s Practice Grounds were completely destroyed.
Two ancient beings at the True Daoist level emerged into the world, but it was of no use either. Under the combined assault of Gu Changge’s several True Daoist puppets, they quickly perished.
No Cultivator had ever imagined that Gu Changge had long since made arrangements, just waiting for this thunderous strike.
This grand and mighty battle also alarmed all the forces of the Beyond.
Gu Changge’s appearance at the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds was no secret.
But no one had expected that his ultimate target would actually be the assassin organization Nether.
This move also made many forces and sects that had grudges with Nether unable to hold back. Raising the banner of crusading against Nether, they dispatched great armies to this place.
Of course, many forces also wanted a share of the spoils.
Because Nether had existed for ages, its accumulations and foundations were unfathomably deep, and the wealth it had obtained was staggering.
Previously, Nether had hidden itself extremely deeply, evading many crusades. Never had it directly exposed its hiding place like today.
Within just a few short days, the elites of many sects and forces gathered outside the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds.
It seemed Nether’s good days were coming to an end.
Having entrenched itself in the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds for many years, its many training grounds were now all swept clean.
In the various cities of the Beyond, the many Cultivators and living beings who received the news were all extremely shocked, discussing it animatedly.
Without a doubt, this was a major event sweeping through the Beyond.
After all, over the years, many prodigies and great figures had died miserably at Nether’s hands.
Nether and Pagoda were the undisputed overlords of the dark world, daring to assassinate even True Daoists.
Now that Gu Changge had found Nether’s location and was launching a crusade, it naturally drew the attention of countless people.
No one knew what grudge existed between Gu Changge and Nether that would cause him to make such a move and choice.
However, the news that the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds served as Nether’s gu-breeding ground still caused enormous shockwaves once it broke out.
Of course, behind this there were certainly the shadows of other forces and sects.
It was definitely not merely Nether’s gu-breeding ground.
But at this moment, everyone’s attention was on Nether, so they naturally overlooked these things.
Meanwhile, within a vast space filled with darkness and gloomy clouds—
Palaces and islands floated, divine mountains and ranges stood, stretching endlessly out of sight.
This place resembled the underworld of ancient mythology. Heaven and earth were a vast expanse, with only a layer of grey mist visible, surging without end.
This place was also rarely inhabited; there were almost no signs of any living beings.
The earth was riddled with scars, as if a terrifying great war had once occurred, with traces of destruction everywhere.
Traces of fallen meteorites still remained, some hundreds of li wide, and the cracks extending outward had formed great rift valleys.
Vast baleful qi surged out from within, seemingly able to shake the heavens, sweeping toward the dim blood moon in the distance—like an ancient battlefield.
The Practice Grounds and many contact locations in the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds have all been destroyed...
I knew that Gu Changge harbored ill intentions and had ulterior motives. Behind the Nephrite Breeze Pavilion, he must be the one pulling the strings.
Within the deepest palace, a terrifying figure clad in Hell Iron divine armor and wielding a heavenly blade stood tall.
He gazed into the distant sky, his eyes ice-cold, filled with fury.
My poor disciple also fell victim to his poisonous hand. I only just learned of her death.
I should have had her withdraw from the Battlefield of Hundred Worlds back then, and not linger there.
Below the palace, an old woman dressed in black spoke softly, her words carrying a chilling edge.
Her robes were wide, embroidered with many intricate patterns, the designs within seeming to come alive—
There were bewitching red spider lilies, and the surging waters of the Yellow Springs.
This was none other than the extremely mysterious Meng Po of Nether.
And the terrifying figure before her was Nether’s Third Palace Lord, whose power was boundless.