Chapter 273: Outdated Information
Inside the underground palace, the lighting was bright and there was no gloominess in the air.
The splendor and radiance of the pearls and precious stones decorated the underwater palace beneath this stretch of river, making it incredibly beautiful.
Shen Wuyou sat somewhat uneasy within the side hall, observing his surroundings with a mixture of curiosity and nervousness.
All that lay before him was brimming with novelty, to his delight.
The enormous Da Bao suspended from the dome radiated a soft, bright light that made one feel incredibly comfortable.
The schools of fish swimming outside the palace were colorful, lovely, and beautiful, each one unique in appearance.
Even the water tribe maids standing by within the palace, though bearing remnants of various traits like scales and fins, were each and every one of them charming, lovely, and lively.
Being surrounded by so many beautiful elder sisters made him feel awkward and uncomfortable, to the point where he couldn't even bring himself to pick up the various delicacies laid out before him on the table.
On the other hand, Xiao Ai sat still with a cool expression, delicately savoring the dishes on the small table in front of her, and occasionally inquiring with the maids beside her about how they were made.
As for Gu Yan... even though he had not yet transformed, his memories of the Water Palace were few. Although he had lived in the Water Palace for over sixty years, he had been in a daze the whole time, and had already arrived at Hanyu Mountain when he awakened his intelligence.
For Gu Yan, Hanyu Mountain was more like his hometown.
However, after all, it was a place where he had lived for more than sixty years. Even though he didn't remember much, he didn't feel constrained at present.
However, while Gu Yan could act wildly and Xiao Ai could remain calm and composed, Shen Wuyou was always nervous and uneasy.
For him, Lu Heng became now his only support.
Now that Lu Heng had left with Madam River God, Shen Wuyou felt uncertain about what was to come.
He carefully leaned over to Xiao Ai and whispered, "Sister Xiao Ai, what did father and Madam River God go to do? Why aren't they back yet..."
The young boy was sitting restlessly.
Xiao Ai glanced at him and said, "Of course, there is an important matter... Why? Are you scared of being here?"
The young boy nodded and quickly whispered while there were no servant girls beside him.
"I... Mother has told me that there is a great demon in the Pang River, a very fierce Gu eagle that leads the water clan in the river, and nobody dares to provoke it. So, we never dared to get close to the Pang River before... Could this great demon be this Madam River God we're talking about?"
The young boy's worried inquiry made Xiao Ai pause slightly.
Then, turning to the young boy beside her, she asked, "Are you sure your mother told you that?"
"Uh-huh," the young boy nodded repeatedly, then looked around fearfully and whispered, "Will that Madam River God take my father away and harm him?"
Xiao Ai fell silent for a moment before speaking.
"Don't worry, no one can harm the Wolf God. Besides, Madam Gu Zhou is Gu Yan's mother. She would never harm the Wolf God."
As she spoke, Xiao Ai cast a glance towards the maidservants around them and whispered a message.
"Also, don't spread the word about Madam River God. I will inform the Wolf God about it when he returns. With me around, I guarantee your safety."
Xiao Ai made a promise, which eased Shen Wuyou's worries to some extent.
However, as Xiao Ai gazed at the nervous little boy before her, her eyes grew slightly cold.
What the little boy's mother mentioned is old news from many years ago.
Nowadays, when people talk about Gu Zhou the River God in Fire Pass Country, they refer to a river deity who watches over both sides of the river. Hardly anyone mentions Madam Gu Zhou's past as a demon cultivator wreaking havoc.
However, Shen Wuyou's mother warned them not to go near the Pang River.
Was it because the little boy's mother was uninformed, or was there some other reason?
Xiao Ai was pondering internally, but her expression remained unchanged. She was just waiting for the Wolf God to come out so she could report the matter to him.
Deep in the palace of the Water Mansion, the current Lu Heng followed Gu Zhou and arrived at a sinister underground pool.
Located directly beneath the Water Mansion of the River God, there is a colossal underground cavity, dug out from the riverbed and reaching a depth of ten meters.
There is no river water inside as the special barrier segregates the water of the Pang River above from this area.
In the center of the vast underground cavity, a pool of dark yellow Dark Spring Water exuded a gloomy and deathly aura, rendering this place like a netherworld.
Upon entering this underground space, Lu Heng immediately sensed the presence of many wandering spirits amidst the gloomy and deathly aura.
This place is ultimately not a true netherworld. Even with the Dark Spring Water left by Lu Heng, it can only prevent these spirits from dissipating.
The spirits' intelligence will remain confused and muddled as they aimlessly wander underground. It is only when they truly enter the netherworld and are nourished by the Yin energy that they can gradually regain clarity.
And as Gu Zhou the River God had said, the spirits of the dead wandering within this underground space had indeed become quite a nuisance.
Looking around, there were countless ghostly figures wandering and at least five or six hundred of them could be seen.
This number greatly exceeded Lu Heng's expectations.
He gave a bitter smile and said, "It seems that the rate of deaths during wartime is truly incomparable to that during peacetime."
According to Lu Heng's previous estimate, it would take at least several decades for Gu Zhou to guide enough souls to fill this place. By then, Lu Heng would have probably found a suitable leader for the netherworld and the framework for the netherworld could begin to be constructed.
At that time, it would be possible to guide these dead souls into the netherworld and let them choose whether to become ghost servants or be reincarnated.
But now only five years have passed, and this place is already filled with so many ghostly figures, yet Lu Heng has not even caught a glimpse of the Lord of the Nether he seeks.
The plan cannot keep up with the changes.
But in the face of these ghostly figures that almost filled the underground space, Lu Heng could only sigh and say, "Let me take them to the netherworld first."
If they are not taken away soon, this place will not be able to accommodate any more new souls of the dead.
As he spoke, Lu Heng waved his sleeve and the Requiem Seal emerged from behind him.
The eerie atmosphere of death spread throughout the underground space.
In an instant, Lu Heng, Gu Zhou the River God, and many ghostly figures around them disappeared into the netherworld.
And on the pitch-black road of the netherworld, when Lu Heng opened his eyes, he found himself surrounded not only by Gu Zhou the River God, but also by hundreds of ghostly figures of all ages and genders.
Stepping on the waters of the netherworld, these dull and transparent ghostly figures gradually became solid and their eyes slowly regained consciousness from their initial dullness.
But there was still a period of time until they were fully conscious.
Lu Heng then took Gu Zhou the River God and left the road to the netherworld, heading straight towards the depths of the netherworld.
As the power of the netherworld was activated, the figures of Lu Heng and Gu Zhou flickered, and they arrived on the desolate plain where many cultivator's spirits were meditating.
They saw the spirits of dozens of cultivators who had been cultivating here for many years.
Lu Heng smiled and greeted them, "Hello everyone, it's been a long time."
Upon careful recollection, the last time they had met ghost cultivators was already several years ago.
Now, six years have passed, and the spirits of the cultivators on this wasteland have finally shed the Yang energy of living spirits and have almost merged with the Yin energy of the Netherworld.
It seems their path as ghost cultivators have had a good start.
