Chapter Seventeen: The Netherrealm

Ashes filled the sky, covering it entirely. The sun that could be seen was but a dim glow. Pale, shell-like figures slowly advanced, and yet Zheng Chao could not leave behind the path of the living; even the mere corrosion from the ashes was almost unbearable.

The Rainfall Gun silently raised its barrel.

Bang!

A shot rang out, striking a malevolent spirit. One of its legs suddenly lost its strength for rapid crawling, causing it to collapse onto the ground.

But more evil spirits swiftly closed in!

Outside the south gate, Su Mingyu looked on helplessly. He saw no sign of Zheng Chao, at least no life within his line of sight.

Strangely, the falling ashes seemed to naturally avoid Su Mingyu. The gentle-faced man stepped into the street but found no footprints on the ground.

“It seems more than half an hour has passed since entering the Underworld, or there would be footprints by now,” he mused.

His gaze shifted to a massive screen obscured by ashes not far off. The figure on the path of the living stood still, while behind him, the Rainfall Gun fired continuously.

Zheng Chao looked battered. Drawing from his impressions, Su Mingyu hurried toward the general area where Zheng Chao was.

Elsewhere in Shangbei City, a foreign professor named Zhang Feng prepared to board a plane to leave. He had lost contact with the people at Emperor Tower, and the girl named Shen Liangxin had not been brought to him.

There was only one possibility: he had been abandoned.

Zhang Feng arrived at the airport with half an hour to spare before boarding. Scanning his surroundings and finding nothing unusual, he settled into a corner of the waiting hall. As long as he left China quickly, he needn’t worry anymore.

His lecture schedule had already concluded.

At Emperor Tower, a middle-aged man missing his right ear pondered the situation. He had no way to resolve this matter publicly, but according to Zhang Feng’s recent itinerary, the professor would board a plane out of China soon.

The Shen family was not to be trifled with. At this point, drastic measures seemed the only option.

Time passed swiftly. Half an hour later, Zhang Feng’s expression relaxed somewhat, until a police officer approached, informing him that he was under investigation for involvement with several Chinese women.

Shen Liangxin finished paying the bill, a little dissatisfied. If only she hadn’t eaten the sweet and sour garlic from the three small dishes, she wouldn’t have had to treat everyone. But Li Fengyin was broke — a poor wretch. Never mind, she decided, not worth thinking about.

Su Yuxian finally faced Pang Wei. She asked softly, “What’s your name?”

“I?” Pang Wei replied without hesitation, “I’m Pang Wei. ‘Pang’ as in beside, ‘Wei’ as in power.”

“Hmm.”

Su Yuxian whispered, “Can I add you on QQ?”

Pang Wei was struck as if by lightning.

‘She’s the daughter of Asia’s richest man!’

‘Oh my god!’

‘Did I win the lottery?!’

‘Just because I said today’s draw was the Fool card?!’

Frozen like a puppet, Pang Wei was momentarily dazed. Su Yuxian, a little exasperated, repeated, “Pang Wei, can I add you on QQ?”

Again, Pang Wei was struck dumb, unable to respond.

‘Is this real?!’

‘The daughter of Asia’s richest man is personally asking to add me as a friend?!’

Seeing Pang Wei’s puppet-like silence, Su Yuxian sighed. Just as she was about to turn away, Pang Wei finally snapped back to reality.

“My QQ number is 31...”

“Okay,” Su Yuxian said quietly, pulling out her phone to send the friend request. Pang Wei remained dazed but accepted it.

The thought of winning the lottery thrilled him beyond measure. But in truth, nothing had happened yet. He glanced at Li Fengyin, who seemed completely at ease with Shen Liangxin, and suddenly felt his own status was lower.

The four left the old city, heading toward a scenic area — mainly for Su Yuxian’s sake, as it was her first visit to Shangbei City.

Yet Shen Liangxin also wished to clear her mind. After three consecutive days of work, she was indeed exhausted.

Li Fengyin held high hopes for Pang Wei; after all, his luck was absurdly good, the type who could find gold bars just walking down the street.

Meanwhile, in the Underworld section of Shangbei City, Zheng Chao’s ammunition was depleted. He was helpless. Death or assimilation might both be outcomes he didn’t desire. The legendary three cosmic laws truly seemed forbidden knowledge.

The path of the living had also halted, standing by the riverbank as if admiring the scenery. The good news was that the evil spirits surrounded the area but made no further move. Zheng Chao resignedly stood his ground.

After waiting for half an hour, Zheng Chao finally spotted a figure approaching from afar — dressed in white, exuding a light and ethereal aura. It was his rival, the Rainfall Blade, Su Mingyu.

“I don’t want to be saved by you!” Zheng Chao muttered weakly.

Su Mingyu pressed his hand onto Zheng Chao’s left shoulder and said, “Close your eyes. Open them in three seconds.”

Reluctantly, Zheng Chao complied. When he opened his eyes again, the ashes had vanished. They stood by the riverbank, and Zheng Chao’s appearance had returned to normal, though a corrosive pain still lingered on his body.

Not far off, Li Fengyin, Shen Liangxin, Su Yuxian, and Pang Wei arrived.

Su Mingyu’s expression dimmed. Su Yuxian’s eyes brightened. “Brother, what are you doing here?”

Pang Wei was shocked again — this was Su Yuxian’s brother?!

Just as he had finally composed himself for a normal conversation, his composure shattered once more.

Shen Liangxin glanced at Su Mingyu, then fixed her gaze on Zheng Chao. “Not bad, the Underworld, huh?”

“Not bad,” Zheng Chao replied. “But I don’t want to go back.”

Li Fengyin stifled a laugh but kept calm, looking past Zheng Chao to Su Mingyu. This man was undoubtedly extraordinary, the source of that ethereal sensation.

If the world was not governed solely by physical laws, then anything might be possible.

“Lord Mingyu,” Shen Liangxin said softly, “long time no see.”

“Long time no see,” Su Mingyu replied gently. His black, tousled hair and flawless features left a lasting impression, his aura otherworldly. By appearance alone, Li Fengyin felt he could not compare.

“Let’s talk about something useful,” Su Mingyu said.

He asked, “Is everything truly a cycle of reincarnation?”

Su Yuxian, Pang Wei, and Li Fengyin looked at Shen Liangxin with curiosity, while Zheng Chao remained indifferent, his expression stubborn and defiant.