"What the hell is this?" Zhang Chen ’looked’ at the ghostly green flame drifting from afar, a look of terror in his eyes.
The entire world exuded an indescribable eeriness.
The ghostly green flame moved at an incredible speed. When Zhang Chen first saw it, it was still dozens of miles away, but in the blink of an eye, it had already arrived before him.
However, when Zhang Chen clearly saw the true form of the ghostly green flame, he was taken aback.
It was a small boat about ten meters long, entirely cast from white skulls. Within those white skulls flowed the ghostly green flame, which was the source of the green flame Zhang Chen had seen.
On that small boat stood a black-robed figure, holding a lantern with a ghastly green glow, silently standing at the bow.
When Zhang Chen ’looked over’ he saw nothingness beneath the black robe, no body was present; it was just a mass of empty air, yet it held the black robe up, looking exceptionally eerie.
"Ten epochs have passed, is the path of the Yellow Springs open again? A living person has mingled in?" The black-robed person stood on the boat and sighed lightly. Although there were no eyes, and the empty face was turned towards the Yellow Spring Water, Zhang Chen felt that he was somehow being looked at.
Upon hearing the black-robed person speak, Zhang Chen dared not move, instinctively camouflaging himself as the Yellow Spring Water, floating along with the river.
Seeing Zhang Chen did not respond, the black-robed figure smiled faintly, pointed at the yellowish water, and the next moment, a mysterious force dragged Zhang Chen directly out of the flow, reverting him to his human form.
Seeing this, Zhang Chen was shocked and tried to leap back into the river to escape, but unexpectedly, a mere point from the figure, and Zhang Chen found himself immobilized, as if hit by a Body-Stabilizing Technique.
"Ten epochs, and yet someone arrived in the Underworld again, indeed a rare guest." The black-robed person now examined Zhang Chen, but the hollow robe swayed with nothing inside, making one’s heart race.
"Let me see where you come from... You carry the aura of the Great Sun Golden Light on you, what Qi Cultivator family do you belong to?" The black-robed person asked.
Thousands of thoughts flashed through Zhang Chen’s mind, unsure how to reply, fearful that a slip of the tongue would invite disaster.
In his panic, suddenly an inspiration flickered through his mind; he recalled the Upper Pure Talisman Technique he had acquired in his earlier years, and thus said, "I am a disciple of Upper Purity."
"A disciple of Upper Purity?" Upon hearing this, the black-robed figure scrutinized Zhang Chen again. Zhang Chen only felt as if the gaze penetrated his soul, directly entering his Spiritual World, seeking to invade his essence. At this moment, his Sealing Rune lightly vibrated, causing the black-robed figure’s actions to pause—not so much obstructed by the rune, but because its aura drew his attention.
"You truly are a disciple of Upper Purity." The black-robed person withdrew the probing power and sighed, "Unexpectedly, there are still people practicing the Upper Pure Talisman Technique in this world."
Zhang Chen looked at the black-robed person, mustering his courage to broach the topic, asking, "Might I know where the senior originates?"
"I don’t remember! I only remember being born from the Wangchuan River, then one day in the endless years, my memories began to fade and disarray for unknown reasons, leaving only a few insignificant memories." The black-robed creature sighed, "Didn’t your master tell you that without cultivating to the Primordial Spirit, you shouldn’t enter the Underworld?"
Hearing this, Zhang Chen felt overwhelmed, not knowing how to respond properly, fearful that if he was found out as a fake Upper Pure Disciple, it would spell trouble. Yet, not answering wasn’t an option, so he braced himself and replied, "I came to gain the essence of the Yellow Springs, and have no choice but to venture here."
The black-robed person chuckled at this, "You’re entirely unaware of what’s impossible; how could you covet the Yellow Springs Essence?"
"However, the fact that you made it to the Underworld means there’s fate between us. How about we make a deal? I’ll give you the Yellow Springs Essence, and you give me something in return?" The black-robed person proposed.
"What is this ’something’ you speak of?" Zhang Chen cautiously inquired.
Instead of answering, the black-robed person reached out towards the Wangchuan below, summoning a lump of Crystal Stone.
"This item is for you," said the black-robed person.
While speaking, the Crystal Stone was tossed, landing in Zhang Chen’s hands. Zhang Chen instinctively reached out to catch it, but the next moment, as it landed in his hand, it melted instantly into a black mist. This black mist wove into a black robe, matching the style of the black-robed figure before him, intending to cloak Zhang Chen.
As the black robe stretched along Zhang Chen’s arm, with every bit that wrapped him, the robe on the opposite side decreased visibly.
"You want to possess me!"
Zhang Chen was stunned, with a keen intuition that if the black robe completely enshrouded him, he would definitely be overtaken by it.
"I offer you a piece of Yellow Springs Essence, and you give me your flesh; isn’t it fair? You must understand that the Yellow Springs Essence is unimaginably precious—even those who’ve touched upon Fruit Position wrestle fiercely for it. Yet, a mere ant in Qi Cultivation like you is dissatisfied trading your life for it?" The black-robed person said.
"I am an Upper Pure Disciple, how dare you harm me?" Zhang Chen roared.