， hēng ， shí jiān jǐn dào ， běn mó zūn suī rán jiǎng jiē dào le lí hé ， dàn xiū luó sū shì fù bo jiù yào kāi qǐ ， gēn běn jiù méi yǒu shí jiān jiāng jìng jiè wěn gù ， shì jí cóng quán ” yòng zhè xiē xiū shì de yuán shén jīng pò ， zuò xuè jì zhī wù ， yǒu shén me hào qí guài de ， gé xià mò fēi hòu huǐ le ？”
，哼，时间紧盗，本魔尊虽然讲阶到了离合，但修罗苏恃缚卜就要开启，根本就没有时间将境界稳固，事急从权”用这些修士的元神晶魄，做血祭之物，有什么好奇怪的，阁下莫非后悔了？”
"Hmph, time is tight. Although my cultivation stage has reached the Separation Realm, the Netherworld's Opening is about to begin. There simply isn't enough time for me to stabilize my realm. We must make do with what we have." Using these low-ranking cultivators' essence crystals and souls as sacrificial offerings, what's so strange about that? Are you regretting your decision?"
“ zì rán bú shì ， yī xiē dī jiē xiū shì ér yǐ ， shì sǐ shì huó ， yǔ wǒ yǒu shén me guān xì ， zài xià zhǐ shì jué de zhè me zuò ， diàn zi shū （）” běi míng zhēn jūn mù guāng shǎn shuò ， gān xiào zhe kāi kǒu le 。
“自然不是，一些低阶修士而已，是死是活，与我有什么关系，在下只是觉得这么做，电子書（）”北冥真君目光闪烁，干笑着开口了。
"Of course not," the True Monarch of Northern Void said with a wry smile. "Just some low-ranking cultivators. Their lives or deaths are irrelevant to me. I merely think this is the best way."
“ yuán lái rú cǐ ， bù guò dào yǒu yě tài duō lǜ ， xiū luó zhī mén mǎ shàng jiù yào kāi qǐ ， hé kuàng rén jiè de lí hé qī xiū shì néng yǒu jǐ gè ， nǐ yǐ wéi cǐ shí ， tā men hái yǒu shén me xīn qíng qù guǎn bié de xián shì ？”
“原来如此，不过道友也太多虑，修罗之门马上就要开启，何况人界的离合期修士能有几个，你以为此时，他们还有什么心情去管别的闲事？”
The ancient demon's voice continued, filled with temptation: "Friend, you needn't overthink it. As long as you assist me in obtaining the treasure, I won't break my word. Not only will I use demonic qi to help you advance to the Separation Realm, but I'll also take you up to the Holy Realm. With my protection, eternal life is not a stretch."
běi míng zhēn jūn tàn le kǒu qì ， chén mò bù yǔ ， gǔ mó de shēng yīn jì xù chuán rù ěr duǒ ， lǐ miàn chōng mǎn le yòu huò ：“ dào yǒu wú xū duō xiǎng shén me ” zhǐ yào nǐ zhù wǒ dé dào bǎo wù ， běn mó zūn zì rán bú huì shí yán de ， bù jǐn huì shī zhǎn mó qì niǎn tǐ zhī shù ， ràng nǐ jìn jiē lí hé ， ér qiě huì dài nǐ fēi shēng dào shèng jiè zhī zhōng ， dào shí hòu yǒu běn zūn zhào fú ， cháng shēng bù lǎo suī bù gǎn shuō ， dàn huó shàng shù wàn nián zhī jiǔ què jué wú kě yí zhī chù 。”
北冥真君叹了口气，沉默不语，古魔的声音继续传入耳朵，里面充满了诱惑：“道友无需多想什么”只要你助我得到宝物，本魔尊自然不会食言的，不仅会施展魔气撵体之术，让你进阶离合，而且会带你飞升到圣界之中，到时候有本尊照拂，长生不老虽不敢说，但活上数万年之久却绝无可疑之处。”
Even with Northern Void's deep-seated composure, his eyes couldn't help showing a hint of fervor at such an offer.
jí biàn yǐ běi míng zhēn jūn de chéng fǔ ， tīng dào cǐ chù ， yǎn shén yě bù yóu de lù chū jǐ fēn kuáng rè 。
即便以北冥真君的城府，听到此处，眼神也不由得露出几分狂热。
Millennia-long lifespan—such an unimaginable temptation for cultivators.
shòu yuán zhǎng dá wàn nián zhī jiǔ ， duì xiū shì lái shuō ， nà shì nán yǐ xiǎng xiàng de yòu huò 。
寿元长达万年之久，对修士来说，那是难以想象的诱惑。
Gulp.
gū dōng 。
咕咚。
A sound of swallowing saliva entered his ears.
tūn kǒu shuǐ de shēng yīn chuán rù ěr duǒ 。
吞口水的声音传入耳朵。
"Alright, let's get going. If we miss the opening of the Netherworld, it will be too late to regret."
“ hǎo le ， fèi huà shǎo shuō ， wǒ men zhè jiù zǒu ， rú ruò jiāng xiū luó zhī mén kāi qǐ de shí jiān cuò guò ， nà kě jiù zhuī huǐ mò jí le 。”
“好了，废话少说，我们这就走，如若将修罗之门开启的时间错过，那可就追悔莫及了。”
The monster grinned coldly and said, then its body was enveloped in dark qi as it transformed into a streak of lightning, flying off toward the horizon.
nà guài wù zuǐ jiǎo yī liě ， lěng lěng de shuō ， suí hòu hún shēn mó qì fān yǒng ， huà wèi yī dào jīng hóng ， xiàng tiān biān fēi qù le 。
那怪物嘴角一咧，冷冷的说，随后浑身魔气翻涌，化为一道惊虹，像天边飞去了。
Northern Void Monarch hesitated for a moment before following suit with his own light.
běi míng zhēn jūn yǎn zhōng shǎn guò yī sī chí yí ， yě dùn guāng gēn le shàng qù 。
北冥真君眼中闪过一丝迟疑，也遁光跟了上去。
A few hundred miles away, on a remote mountainous land, a young woman with a delicate appearance raised her head to gaze at the sky. She wasn't a breathtaking beauty, but she exuded an otherworldly and noble aura. Her spiritual energy fluctuations were extraordinary; she too had reached the Separation Realm.
jù cǐ yuē bǎi wàn lǐ de mǒu líng shān fú dì 。
据此约百万里的某灵山福地。
New Moon's Poison.
yī róng mào qīng xiù de shào nǚ wēi wēi tái qǐ zhēn shǒu ， yǎng shì tiān kōng ， tā shuō bù shàng jué sè měi nǚ ， dàn shēn shàng què dài yǒu yī chū chén gāo guì zhī qì 。
一容貌清秀的少女微微抬起臻首，仰视天空，她说不上绝色美女，但身上却带有一出尘高贵之气。
Behind her stood two more cultivators standing by. The man was ancient in appearance, while the woman didn't stand out. Unlike New Moon, despite the changes to the laws of nature, they hadn't managed to break through and remained at the late婴 stage.
hún shēn de líng lì bō dòng fēi tóng xiǎo kě ， jū rán yě shì lí hé 。
浑身的灵力波动非同小可，居然也是离合。
However, the divine arts and secret techniques of the Spirit Realm far surpassed those from lower planes. As experts who had broken through the Void, their strength was beyond that of ordinary high-ranking cultivators.
xīn yuè gōng dú 。
新月公毒。
The Netherworld's Opening was imminent, and New Moon's eyes shone with excitement. If she could obtain that treasure, it would be worth all the hardships endured in the mortal realm.
ér zài tā de shēn hòu ， hái yǒu liǎng míng xiū shì shù shǒu ér lì 。
而在她的身后，还有两名修士束手而立。
In a desolate mountainous region far from human habitation,
nán de xíng mào gǔ piáo ， nǚ de zé méi yǒu shén me chū qí zhī chù ， rán ér yǔ xīn yuè bù tóng ， suī rán tiān dì fǎ zé yǐ jīng gǎi biàn le ， bù guò zhè liǎng rén zuì zhōng méi yǒu tū pò chè zhǒu ” wèi néng jìn jí ， yī jiù shì yuán yīng hòu qī 。
男的形貌古朴，女的则没有什么出奇之处，然而与新月不同，虽然天地法则已经改变了，不过这两人最终没有突破掣肘”未能晋级，依旧是元婴后期。
Dark clouds like ink swirled, filled with countless lightning strikes.
bù guò líng jiè de shén tōng mì shù ， zì rán yào shèng guò xià wèi jiè miàn xǔ duō ， zuò wèi pò suì xū kōng ér lái de gāo shǒu ， tā men de shí lì zì rán yuǎn fēi yì bān de dà xiū shì kě yǐ qǐ jí 。
不过灵界的神通秘术，自然要胜过下位界面许多，做为破碎虚空而来的高手，他们的实力自然远非一般的大修士可以企及。
Roar!
xiū luó zhī mén jiù yào kāi qǐ le ， xīn yuè de yǎn móu zhōng mǎn shì xīng è fèn zhī sè ， ruò néng dé dào nà jiàn bǎo wù ， yě bù wǎng fèi zì jǐ zài xià jiè chī le nà me duō kǔ 。
修罗之门就要开启了，新月的眼眸中满是兴垩奋之色，若能得到那件宝物，也不枉费自己在下界吃了那么多苦。
A roar echoed from within the dark clouds, stirring the soul and exuding an incomparable might.
mǒu rén jì hǎn zhì de huāng shān dà zé 。
某人迹罕至的荒山大泽。
The clouds parted to reveal its true form—a grotesque creature with a human face, tiger paws, wide mouth revealing sharp teeth, and long tail covered in black spines. A thick layer of fur enveloped its body.
yāo yún rú mò ， lǐ miàn yǒu wú shù shǎn diàn zòng héng jiāo zhī zhe 。
妖云如墨，里面有无数闪电纵横交织着。
One of the Four Fiends.
hǒu ！
吼！
In terms of presence, it was on par with the Demon Ancestor and New Moon, having also reached the Separation Realm.
cóng nà yāo yún zhī zhōng ， chuán lái yī shēng sī hǒu ” dòng rén xīn pò ， wēi yā yě yǔ zhè rén shì jiān de yāo zú dà bù xiāng tóng 。
从那妖云之中，传来一声嘶吼”动人心魄，威压也与这人世间的妖族大不相同。
Despite being in a remote wilderness, there was still a teleportation point leading to the Netherworld's Opening.
suí hòu yāo yún sàn kāi ， lǐ miàn de guài wù lù chū le zhēn yán 。
随后妖云散开，里面的怪物露出了真颜。
Roar! The creature's coppery eyes glowed with ferocity, but beneath that ruthlessness lay an unmasked greed.
zhǎng xiàng guǐ yì kě bù ， rén miàn 、 hǔ zú ， kuò kǒu wài lù chū bái sēn sēn de liáo yá ， cháng cháng de wěi ba shàng yǒu yǒu hēi de jiān cì ， shēn tǐ biǎo miàn ， bèi yī céng cháng cháng de máo fà bāo guǒ 。
长相诡异可怖，人面、虎足，阔口外露出白森森的獠牙，长长的尾巴上有黝黑的尖刺，身体表面，被一层长长的毛发包裹。
As one of the Four Fiends, its status within the Spirit Realm was incomparably high. After enduring countless hardships, sending a fragment of its soul to the mortal realm—what kind of treasure awaited it in the Netherworld?
sì xiōng zhī dǎo jī 。
四凶之祷机。
In a scenic mountain, there was nothing out of the ordinary on the surface, but this place was actually the main headquarters of Pine Wind Academy.
jiù qì shì lái shuō ， xī bǐ zhī mó zǔ 、 xīn yuè háo bù xùn sè ， tóng yàng jìn jiē dào le lí hé 。
就气势来说，牺比之魔祖、新月毫不逊色，同样进阶到了离合。
"Senior Brother, are you really going into the Netherworld?"
cǐ dì suī shì huāng shān dà zé ， dàn yě yǒu zhǐ tōng wǎng xiū luó zhī mén de chuán sòng diǎn de 。
此地虽是荒山大泽，但也有只通往修罗之门的传送点的。
The speaker was an elderly cultivator with white hair and eyebrows, appearing over 70 years old yet still vigorous. His spiritual energy was faintly perceptible, making him a high-ranking cultivator in the Separation Realm as well.
hǒu ！ dǎo jī dèng zhe tóng líng dà de yǎn zhū ， lǐ miàn xiōng guāng sì shè ， dàn zài nà xiōng cán de bèi hòu ， què yǒu yī sī nán yǐ yǎn shì de tān lán zài lǐ tou 。
吼！祷机瞪着铜陵大的眼珠，里面凶光四射，但在那凶残的背后，却有一丝难以掩饰的贪婪在里头。
Everyone thought there was only one Separation Realm cultivator at Pine Wind Academy, but that was because of the prominence of Pavilion of Observing Pines.
zuò wèi sì xiōng zhī yī ， jí shǐ zài líng jiè dì wèi yě chóng gāo wú bǐ ， lì jīng qiān xīn wàn kǔ ， pài fēn hún xià jiè shì wèi le shén me ， zài nà xiū luó zhī mén lǐ ， jiū jìng yòu yǐn cáng zhe shén me yàng de bǎo wù ？
做为四凶之一，即使在灵界地位也崇高无比，历经千辛万苦，派分魂下界是为了什么，在那修罗之门里，究竟又隐藏着什么样的宝物？
The elder before him had also reached the Separation Realm, just at an earlier stage.
yī fēng jǐng yōu yǎ de bǎo shān zhī zhōng ， biǎo miàn shàng ， bìng méi yǒu shén me chū qí zhī chù ， rán ér zhè lǐ ” què shì sōng fēng shū yuàn de zǒng duò 。
一风景幽雅的宝山之中，表面上，并没有什么出奇之处，然而这里”却是松风书院的总舵。
"Yes, I have a compelling reason to go," Young Pavilion said, much younger than his senior brother. Few knew he had already lived for over two thousand years.
“ shī xiōng ， nín zhēn de yào jìn nà xiū luó zhī mén me ？”
“师兄，您真的要进那修罗之门么？”
"But what in this mortal realm could catch your eye? You've already reached the peak of the Separation Realm and with the aid of a divine artifact, you should have a 90% chance of surviving the heavenly tribulation. Breaking through to the other side isn't a dream. Why go into the Netherworld?" The elder was puzzled, his eyes filled with envy.
shuō huà de shì yī bái xū bái méi de xiū xiān zhě ” kàn shàng qù yǐ qī lǎo bā shí ， rán ér yī jiù jīng shén fù shā ， hún shēn de líng lì ruò yǒu ruò wú ， zhè jū rán yě shì yī wèi lí hé qī de lǎo guài wù 。
说话的是一白须白眉的修仙者”看上去已七老八十，然而依旧精神复铩，浑身的灵力若有若无，这居然也是一位离合期的老怪物。
Pavilion sighed: "In any case, please look after the sect's affairs for me. I may never return."
dà jiā dōu yǐ wéi sōng fēng shū yuàn de lí hé qī cún zài jǐn yǒu yí gè ， rán ér nà shì yīn wèi wàng tíng lóu de fēng tou shí zài tài shèng le 。
大家都以为松风书院的离合期存在仅有一个，然而那是因为望亭楼的风头实在太盛了。
"What?"
yǎn qián de lǎo zhě yě shì lí hé ， zhǐ bù guò chū qī bà le 。
眼前的老者也是离合，只不过初期罢了。
The elder was shocked, but Pavilion didn't elaborate further and vanished without a trace.
“ shì de ， wǒ yǒu bù dé bù qù de lǐ yóu 。” yǔ shī dì xiāng bǐ ， tíng lóu què yào nián qīng xǔ duō ， yòu yǒu shuí qīng chǔ ， tā qí shí yǐ jīng huó le liǎng qiān duō suì le 。
“是的，我有不得不去的理由。”与师弟相比，亭楼却要年轻许多，又有谁清楚，他其实已经活了两千多岁了。
On an idyllic lake,
“ kě zhè rén jiè zhī zhōng ， hái yǒu shén me néng rù shī xiōng nǐ de fǎ yǎn ， rú jīn nǐ yǐ xiū liàn dào lí hé dǐng fēng ， zài jiā shàng tōng tiān líng bǎo xiāng zhù ， yìng káng tiān jié yīng gāi yě yǒu jiǔ chéng yǐ shàng de bǎ wò ， pò suì xū kōng jué bú shì mèng ， hái chuǎng shén me xiū luó zhī mén ne ？” lǎo zhě bù jiě de shuō ， yǎn zhōng mǎn shì xiàn mù 。
“可这人界之中，还有什么能入师兄你的法眼，如今你已修炼到离合顶峰，再加上通天灵宝相助，硬扛天劫应该也有九成以上的把握，破碎虚空绝不是梦，还闯什么修罗之门呢？”老者不解的说，眼中满是羡慕。
Tian Xiaojian sat cross-legged, his face serene as he toyed with an jade token in his hand.
wàng tíng lóu què tàn le kǒu qì ：“ zǒng zhī zōng mén zhī shì ， hái qǐng shī dì zhào fú ， yú xiōng yě xǔ bú huì zài huí lái le 。”
望亭楼却叹了口气：“总之宗门之事，还请师弟照拂，愚兄也许不会再回来了。”
After countless trials, he had finally reached the Separation Realm. Thinking back on his encounter with Feng Liangzheng, it all seemed like a dream.
“ shén me ？”
“什么？”
The old monster's elaborate schemes ended in failure.
lǎo zhě dà jīng shī sè ， wàng tíng lóu què bù yuàn duō shuō ， yě bú jiàn tā yǒu shén me duō yú de dòng zuò ， shēn xíng jiù zhòu rán cóng yuán dì xiāo shī le 。
老者大惊失色，望亭楼却不愿多说，也不见他有什么多余的动作，身形就骤然从原地消失了。
Harming others ultimately harms oneself. He didn't need to fetch any treasures for that old monster, but Tian Xiaojian still wasn't willing to give up the Netherworld Opening.
yī fēng jǐng yí rén de hú pō 。
一风景宜人的湖泊。
Although the Separation Realm was enviable, it was far from the realm of ascension. According to ancient lore, the treasures within the Netherworld could be more miraculous than divine medicines and elixirs.
tián xiǎo jiàn xí dì ér zuò ， liǎn shàng mǎn shì ān xiáng zhī sè ， shǒu zhōng què yǒu yī yù pái zài bǎ wán zhe 。
田小剑席地而坐，脸上满是安详之色，手中却有一玉牌在把玩着。
Fortune favors the bold. While the Netherworld Opening was dangerous, it also held great opportunities.
lì jīng qiān xīn wàn kǔ ， zì jǐ zhōng yú jìn jiē dào le lí hé ， yǔ nà fēng liáng zhēn chù de yí mù mù ， xiàn zài xiǎng xiǎng ， dōu hái yǔ zuò mèng chà bu duō 。
历经千辛万苦，自己终于进阶到了离合，与那风良甄处的一幕幕，现在想想，都还与做梦差不多。
Those seeking to enter the Netherworld weren't just a few; there were over twenty Separation Realm cultivators from the Twelve States of Heavenly Clouds, including both humans and demons.
nà lǎo guài wù jī guān suàn jìn ， méi xiǎng dào zuì hòu hái shì shī bài le 。
那老怪物机关算尽，没想到最后还是失败了。
Almost half of these high-ranking cultivators would enter.
hài rén zhōng hài jǐ ， zì jǐ dāng rán bù yòng zài wèi tā qù qǔ shén me bǎo wù ， bù guò xiū luó zhī mén ， tián xiǎo jiàn yī jiù bù yuàn yì fàng guò 。
害人终害己，自己当然不用再为他去取什么宝物，不过修罗之门，田小剑依旧不愿意放过。
As for the lower-ranking cultivators, their numbers were countless. The lowest was at the middle stage of the Incubus Realm, but none below that level dared to enter. The Netherworld Opening wasn't a joke.
bì jìng lí hé suī lìng rén xiàn mù ， dàn jù lí fēi shēng líng jiè hái shì yǒu hěn dà jù lí de ， ér gǔ lǎo xiāng chuán ， zài xiū luó zhī mén lǐ miàn ， líng dān miào yào de gōng xiào kě zǒu dào le nì tiān de chéng dù 。
毕竟离合虽令人羡慕，但距离飞升灵界还是有很大距离的，而古老相传，在修罗之门里面，灵丹妙药的功效可走到了逆天的程度。
A sea of corpses and blood—entering without an Incubus realm wouldn't be wise; it would be like an old man hanging from a tree branch, wishing for longevity.
fù guì xiǎn zhōng qiú ， xiū luó zhī mén suī rán wēi xiǎn ， dàn yě yǐn hán zhe mò dà de jī yuán 。
富贵险中求，修罗之门虽然危险，但也隐含着莫大的机缘。
Everyone wanted to find treasures, so their relationships were naturally strained.
yào jìn rù xiū luó zhī mén dí dàng rán yuǎn bù zhǐ zhè jǐ gè ， tiān yún shí èr zhōu de lí hé qī cún zài suī rán bù duō ， dàn huì hé rén yāo liǎng zú ， yě yǒu èr shí chū tóu 。
要进入修罗之门的当然远不止这几个，天云十二州的离合期存在虽然不多，但汇合人妖两族，也有二十出头。
Even with some acquaintances, the presence of precious treasures meant they couldn't avoid deadly conflicts. After all, cultivators were self-interested, who could resist the allure of divine medicines and elixirs?
ér zhè xiē lǎo guài wù ， jī hū yǒu yí bàn dū huì jìn rù qí zhōng 。
而这些老怪物，几乎有一半都会进入其中。
Moreover, dangers extended beyond these.
zhì yú qí tā de yuán yīng qī xiū xiān zhě ， gèng bù jì qí shù ， bù guò xiū wèi zuì dī de ， yě shì yuán yīng zhōng qī ， zhì yú dī jiē xiū xiān zhě ， zé yí gè yě wú ， xiū luó zhī mén kě bú shì shuō xiào de 。
至于其他的元婴期修仙者，更不计其数，不过修为最低的，也是元婴中期，至于低阶修仙者，则一个也无，修罗之门可不是说笑的。
The restrictions and array formations within the Netherworld Opening weren't just for the Mortal Realm; many ghosts from the Underworld would also enter. Although their realms wouldn't exceed Separation, their techniques were increasingly bizarre and profound.
shī shān xuè hǎi ， rú guǒ lián yuán yīng dōu méi yǒu jié chéng jiù jìn rù qí zhōng ， nà jiǎn zhí shì lǎo shòu xīng shàng diào ， xián mìng zhǎng le 。
尸山血海，如果连元婴都没有结成就进入其中，那简直是老寿星上吊，嫌命长了。
[\c\T\X\]
"Hmph, time is tight. Although my cultivation stage has reached the Separation Realm, the Netherworld's Opening is about to begin. There simply isn't enough time for me to stabilize my realm. We must make do with what we have." Using these low-ranking cultivators' essence crystals and souls as sacrificial offerings, what's so strange about that? Are you regretting your decision?"
"Of course not," the True Monarch of Northern Void said with a wry smile. "Just some low-ranking cultivators. Their lives or deaths are irrelevant to me. I merely think this is the best way."
The ancient demon's voice continued, filled with temptation: "Friend, you needn't overthink it. As long as you assist me in obtaining the treasure, I won't break my word. Not only will I use demonic qi to help you advance to the Separation Realm, but I'll also take you up to the Holy Realm. With my protection, eternal life is not a stretch."
Even with Northern Void's deep-seated composure, his eyes couldn't help showing a hint of fervor at such an offer.
Millennia-long lifespan—such an unimaginable temptation for cultivators.
Gulp.
A sound of swallowing saliva entered his ears.
"Alright, let's get going. If we miss the opening of the Netherworld, it will be too late to regret."
The monster grinned coldly and said, then its body was enveloped in dark qi as it transformed into a streak of lightning, flying off toward the horizon.
Northern Void Monarch hesitated for a moment before following suit with his own light.
A few hundred miles away, on a remote mountainous land, a young woman with a delicate appearance raised her head to gaze at the sky. She wasn't a breathtaking beauty, but she exuded an otherworldly and noble aura. Her spiritual energy fluctuations were extraordinary; she too had reached the Separation Realm.
New Moon's Poison.
Behind her stood two more cultivators standing by. The man was ancient in appearance, while the woman didn't stand out. Unlike New Moon, despite the changes to the laws of nature, they hadn't managed to break through and remained at the late婴 stage.
However, the divine arts and secret techniques of the Spirit Realm far surpassed those from lower planes. As experts who had broken through the Void, their strength was beyond that of ordinary high-ranking cultivators.
The Netherworld's Opening was imminent, and New Moon's eyes shone with excitement. If she could obtain that treasure, it would be worth all the hardships endured in the mortal realm.
In a desolate mountainous region far from human habitation,
Dark clouds like ink swirled, filled with countless lightning strikes.
Roar!
A roar echoed from within the dark clouds, stirring the soul and exuding an incomparable might.
The clouds parted to reveal its true form—a grotesque creature with a human face, tiger paws, wide mouth revealing sharp teeth, and long tail covered in black spines. A thick layer of fur enveloped its body.
One of the Four Fiends.
In terms of presence, it was on par with the Demon Ancestor and New Moon, having also reached the Separation Realm.
Despite being in a remote wilderness, there was still a teleportation point leading to the Netherworld's Opening.
Roar! The creature's coppery eyes glowed with ferocity, but beneath that ruthlessness lay an unmasked greed.
As one of the Four Fiends, its status within the Spirit Realm was incomparably high. After enduring countless hardships, sending a fragment of its soul to the mortal realm—what kind of treasure awaited it in the Netherworld?
In a scenic mountain, there was nothing out of the ordinary on the surface, but this place was actually the main headquarters of Pine Wind Academy.
"Senior Brother, are you really going into the Netherworld?"
The speaker was an elderly cultivator with white hair and eyebrows, appearing over 70 years old yet still vigorous. His spiritual energy was faintly perceptible, making him a high-ranking cultivator in the Separation Realm as well.
Everyone thought there was only one Separation Realm cultivator at Pine Wind Academy, but that was because of the prominence of Pavilion of Observing Pines.
The elder before him had also reached the Separation Realm, just at an earlier stage.
"Yes, I have a compelling reason to go," Young Pavilion said, much younger than his senior brother. Few knew he had already lived for over two thousand years.
"But what in this mortal realm could catch your eye? You've already reached the peak of the Separation Realm and with the aid of a divine artifact, you should have a 90% chance of surviving the heavenly tribulation. Breaking through to the other side isn't a dream. Why go into the Netherworld?" The elder was puzzled, his eyes filled with envy.
Pavilion sighed: "In any case, please look after the sect's affairs for me. I may never return."
"What?"
The elder was shocked, but Pavilion didn't elaborate further and vanished without a trace.
On an idyllic lake,
Tian Xiaojian sat cross-legged, his face serene as he toyed with an jade token in his hand.
After countless trials, he had finally reached the Separation Realm. Thinking back on his encounter with Feng Liangzheng, it all seemed like a dream.
The old monster's elaborate schemes ended in failure.
Harming others ultimately harms oneself. He didn't need to fetch any treasures for that old monster, but Tian Xiaojian still wasn't willing to give up the Netherworld Opening.
Although the Separation Realm was enviable, it was far from the realm of ascension. According to ancient lore, the treasures within the Netherworld could be more miraculous than divine medicines and elixirs.
Fortune favors the bold. While the Netherworld Opening was dangerous, it also held great opportunities.
Those seeking to enter the Netherworld weren't just a few; there were over twenty Separation Realm cultivators from the Twelve States of Heavenly Clouds, including both humans and demons.
Almost half of these high-ranking cultivators would enter.
As for the lower-ranking cultivators, their numbers were countless. The lowest was at the middle stage of the Incubus Realm, but none below that level dared to enter. The Netherworld Opening wasn't a joke.
A sea of corpses and blood—entering without an Incubus realm wouldn't be wise; it would be like an old man hanging from a tree branch, wishing for longevity.
Everyone wanted to find treasures, so their relationships were naturally strained.
Even with some acquaintances, the presence of precious treasures meant they couldn't avoid deadly conflicts. After all, cultivators were self-interested, who could resist the allure of divine medicines and elixirs?
Moreover, dangers extended beyond these.
The restrictions and array formations within the Netherworld Opening weren't just for the Mortal Realm; many ghosts from the Underworld would also enter. Although their realms wouldn't exceed Separation, their techniques were increasingly bizarre and profound.
[\c\T\X\]