The [Bridge of Helplessness] returned to its position.
Including Lu Yang, the group of true spirits chanted "Amitabha" with compassionate smiles, effortlessly walking past the [Home-Viewing Terrace] and the [Three Lives Stone] just like that.
During this time, Lu Yang also saw it.
The [Yellow Springs Road] used to guide true spirits is probably controlled by the Dao Court Dao Lord, using [Destiny] to capture and tow the true spirit fragments of the Light Sea.
The [Bridge of Helplessness] is guarded by the World Honored One.
The [Home-Viewing Terrace] is occupied by the Sword Pavilion Dao Lord.
As for the final [Three Lives Stone]... without a doubt, it's the territory of the Saint Sect's Ancestor. He is also the only one who is special, not presenting any concepts.
Only a microscopic silhouette from behind.
High above, detached from the mortal realm.
However, while this was certainly the Saint Sect's Ancestor, it was also his weakness—he stood too high, so high that he couldn't see some things that were too minute.
According to the structure of the mortal world, the higher a Dao Lord stands, the less ability they have to intervene in the mortal world. Not to mention this is the Netherworld beneath the mortal world. Even though they all control the Netherworld, based on their respective positions on [Paramita], there is actually a significant gap in their level of control over it.
The strongest was undoubtedly the World Honored One.
He stood so low that he could even directly lift the [Bridge of Helplessness] out of thin air to carefully observe and review all the true spirits walking across it.
Next were the Sword Pavilion Dao Lord and the Dao Court Dao Lord.
Judging from their conversation earlier, although they control the components of the Netherworld that guide true spirits, they haven't completely controlled the guiding process of true spirits.
There will always be fish that slip through the net and are guided over.
That's why the World Honored One's review was needed.
This is the consequence of standing higher—insufficient control over the Netherworld. Otherwise, with the mighty power of a Dao Lord, how could there possibly be any fish slipping through the net?
The weakest was naturally the Saint Sect's Ancestor.
At least when passing the [Three Lives Stone], Lu Yang didn't feel the slightest prying gaze. That microscopic silhouette didn't even bother to cast his sight down.
Thank goodness... the World Honored One is on my side!
Regardless of the reason, at least the World Honored One covered everything up for him. If it weren't for this, the [Arctic Exorcism Court] would be a flaw he couldn't hide.
He passed smoothly.
Walking past the [Three Lives Stone], there was impressively a broad cliff. True spirits jumped off the cliff one by one, then disappeared into the darkness.
Lu Yang closely followed and jumped off without hesitation.
[Four Great Ghost Domains], Mount Beifeng.
Towering mountain ranges stretched continuously across heaven and earth, boundless and endless. In the central area, a heavenly pillar climbed into the hazy gloom. At first glance, there seemed to be no problem.
Only one point: it was upside down.
This abnormality would not be perceived by the Death Spirits living within it. To them, the world had been like this from the very beginning.
Only living people with a different perspective could sense this environment, which was vastly different from the mortal world.
And on the edge of Mount Beifeng, there was a territory named the [Mingluo Sea of Trees]. Looking from afar, it was impressively a vast, dark forest.
However, in reality, this was a living thing.
It was said that tens of thousands of years ago, a Dharma Body Dao Great Perfected Lord named [Mingluo], after turning into a Death Spirit, was slain here by Grotto-Heaven method Death Spirits.
However, although Mingluo's true spirit was devoured, his physical body was preserved and merged with Mount Beifeng, eventually evolving into this [Mingluo Sea of Trees]. It ruthlessly devoured all Grotto-Heaven method Death Spirits that entered it. Over time, it became the best sanctuary for ancient method Death Spirits.
At this moment, deep within the Sea of Trees.
Inside a remote cave, three figures could be seen busy setting up array formations and filling them with spiritual power. Their pale faces were filled with an indescribable numbness.
After a long time, a voice finally broke the silence...
"...Xuan Fa, can we still contact them?"
"No."
The figure who was asked shook his head dejectedly. "Completely wiped out. Those bastard seem to have made up their minds to completely uproot the [Mingluo Sea of Trees]."
"The Thousand-Year Great Tribulation is approaching, isn't it?"
"It seems so. Thanks to those Dao of Dao Arts cultivators who smuggled in a few years ago, otherwise we would be completely ignorant of what happened in the mortal world..."
"Shut up!"
Right at this moment, the most burly of the three suddenly gritted his teeth and cursed in a low voice, "I absolutely don't believe those dao art cultivators."
As soon as these words came out, the remaining two looked at each other, both seeing the helplessness in each other's eyes. In the end, it was still the cultivator named Xuan Fa who said in a low voice, "Hong Li... it's time you face reality. One person might deceive you, but can a whole group of people deceive you? The Dharma Body Dao inheritance was severed long ago!"
"Impossible!"
Hearing this, Hong Li instantly became agitated. "You simply don't understand Lord Sisui's strength. How could he die? How could anyone in the Light Sea possibly kill him?"
"He just died!"
The third figure said impatiently, "You died early, so you didn't see it. I died later back then, and I saw with my own eyes that person disintegrate amidst furious roars..."
"Bullshit! Hao Jiang, say that again?"
"..."
The two stared at each other like this. In the end, Hong Li was the first to look away, slumping to the ground in a sorry state and covering his face with his hands. "Sorry, I'm just a bit..."
"Enough. We've fought side by side for so many years, there's nothing to apologize for."
"Get ready, let's keep running."
"Run? Where to?"
"The Netherworld is so big. If the [Mingluo Sea of Trees] is gone, then we'll go to the [Flaming Mountain], go to the [Sea of Karmic Hindrance], go to the [Linglong Courtyard]. There will always be a path to walk."
Xuan Fa rattled off one forbidden ground within the [Four Great Ghost Domains] after another as if reciting family heirlooms. These were all transformed from the deaths of Great Perfected Lords of the Three Foundations Daos. They symbolized that endless, bloody war of Daos stretching from the mortal world to the Netherworld, and were also the sanctuaries for cultivators like them in the Netherworld.
"Alright..." Hong Li lowered his head.
Seeing him like this, Hao Jiang, who had just clashed with him, couldn't help himself. "Do you want to cry a bit more? See if you can cry those animals to death?"
"Looking like this every day, who are you showing it to?"
"As things stand, we definitely can't count on the mortal world side. We can only rely on ourselves. Even if you cry to the heavens, a savior won't descend from the sky..."
Rumble!
Before Hao Jiang finished speaking, a thunderous explosion abruptly rang out, instantly shattering the cave abode they were hiding in, as well as the concealing array formations around it.
The three looked up blankly.
What met their eyes was the hazy gloom of the Netherworld that never saw the sun. However, within the hazy gloom, a bright white spot of light suddenly surfaced, like the rising sun.
At first glance, this light spot wasn't large, only about the size of a palm. However, as time passed, its scale continued to expand. It seemed to have finally broken free from some restraint pressing down upon it. In just a short moment, it filled the entire vision of the three people, its boiling radiant colors even distorting space.
The light spot was falling!
At this moment, right in the central area of this [Mingluo Sea of Trees], an existence whose volume was not inferior to the entire Sea of Trees ruthlessly plummeted into it.
In an instant, the earth shook and the mountains swayed!
Rolling flames burst forth within the Sea of Trees for an instant, then were swiftly and deliberately reined in. Endless light and color gathered together, finally condensing into a slender figure.
The spectacle left the three of them dumbfounded.
Hong Li's expression grew even more peculiar. He couldn't help turning to look at Hao Jiang beside him, who was staring in equal astonishment.
"Brother… something really did fall from the sky."
A Grotto-Heaven method cultivator? Didn't seem like it.
In that case, an ancient method cultivator?
Unrecognizable. Looking at the aura, it seemed to be a Dharma Body Dao cultivator, but aside from the initial batch, no Death Spirits of the Dharma Body Dao had appeared for a very long time.
And so strong!
Unimaginably strong. Even after being converted into a Death Spirit, he still exuded an unparalleled presence. Could it be a legendary Golden Core Perfected Lord?
But wasn't the Dharma Body Dao extinct in the mortal world?
A... a savior?
(End of Chapter)