Chapter 1022 : Whispers of the Nether Abyss

Coupled with the Endless Starry River World beyond the Immortal Domain, they together constitute the Boundless Cosmos they inhabit.

All the Dao Ancestor Immortal Sage [supreme beings who have attained the pinnacle of the Dao and immortality] of the Immortal Realm were born within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains or the Thirty-Six Heavens.

Only the Eighteen Layers of Netherworld Hell has, to this day, not given birth to a single Immortal Sage [a supreme immortal being].

It is precisely for this reason that Immortal [beings who have ascended to immortality] mostly look down upon the Nether Abyss Hell with a sense of superiority.

Even Ghost Immortal [immortals of the ghostly path] comparable to Nine Heavens Immortal [immortals of the highest heavens], or even the ruler of an entire Netherworld Underworld, generally prefer peace and are unwilling to provoke Immortal lightly.

Eldrin Chen himself had held a measure of such disdain, but now, having personally arrived in this Nether Abyss Hell, he faintly sensed something amiss.

"This Netherworld Hell is boundless and vast. In principle, it should be sufficient to nurture world-shaking powerhouses."

"Yet within this Nether Abyss, the laws of heaven and earth seem somewhat... anomalous."

Sensing the power of these Heaven and Earth Law [the fundamental principles governing reality], Eldrin Chen felt an indistinct intuition stirring within him.

Vaguely, he perceived that the endless Netherworld seemed to possess some inherent lack or flaw. It was far from possessing the completeness of the Immortal Domain's cosmos, and even compared to a Great Thousand World like the Purple Realm, it felt as if something essential was missing. Original publication: audio‑novel.com - The source of this chapter.

However, Eldrin Chen was ultimately only at the Ascension to Immortality Realm [the realm just below true immortality], and his comprehension of the Heaven and Earth Law [the fundamental laws governing the cosmos] remained insufficient. He only sensed that something was missing from this Nether Abyss [the profound and dark abyss beneath the world], yet found it difficult to grasp precisely what that missing element was. "Although the Nether Abyss is one of the Two Poles of Heaven and Earth [the celestial and terrestrial extremes of existence], the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the myriad realms of immortals] are vast and boundless. Above the Firmament [the vault of heaven] lies the Thirty-Three Heavens [the highest celestial planes]."

"In comparison, the Netherworld [the underworld] consists of merely eighteen layers of Hell [the realms of punishment]. Is there a connection between these numbers?"

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, then shook his head after a long while.

Since he could not reason it out, he decided to set the matter aside for now. He had a vague intuition that once his own cultivation reached a certain level, the anomalies of this Nether Abyss would naturally become clear to him.

Pushing the thoughts from his mind, he took out the Netherworld Map [a chart of the underworld's geography] gifted by Xander Qian. With a slight gesture of his fingers, he performed a brief divination, then set off towards the Depths of the Nether Abyss.

The purpose of his journey into Hell was to find the friend mentioned by Xander Qian, to aid several venerable predecessors from bygone days in their Cycle of Reincarnation [the process of rebirth into a new life]. After an immeasurable period of flight, Eldrin Chen arrived before a somber, dark-walled city and quietly came to a halt.

It was a city of profound gloom, within which marched legions of Spectral Soldiers and Ghost Generals [ethereal warriors and commanders of the underworld], and an endless stream of Soul Spirits [disembodied spirits] filing through its gates. Above the city's main entrance were inscribed two characters: 'Nether Night'.

"The Nether Night Ghost Mansion…"

Gazing at the city before him, Eldrin Chen's eyes focused with steady resolve.

The friend Xander Qian had introduced to Eldrin Chen was the master of this Nether Abyss territory: the 'Nether Night Yin Lord' [Lord of the Nether Night, a Yin-aligned sovereign], a Nether Ghost Immortal [an immortal who has attained divinity within the underworld] who had established his own dominion within the Netherworld.

And this Nether Night Ghost Mansion [a grand palace complex within the underworld], was the domain of Nether Night Yin Lord. "Which Immortal Venerable honors us with a visit? This lord failed to welcome you from afar, a grave oversight indeed."

Just as Eldrin Chen was lost in contemplation, a figure emerged from within the Nether Night Ghost Mansion.

The newcomer wore the Yin Lord's Crown [a regal crown symbolizing authority in the underworld] and was clad in a pitch-black Dragon-Patterned Imperial Robe [a ceremonial robe embroidered with coiling dragon motifs]. An overwhelming aura of Yin energy [the cold, shadowy energy of the underworld] radiated from him, yet it carried an air of profound transcendence.

"A Ghost Immortal [an immortal being who has cultivated their soul and spirit to an immortal level without a physical body]," Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly.

At first glance of the visitor, Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with a trace of recognition.

This person's cultivation had reached the Late Stage Ghost Immortal realm, yet the sense of threat he posed to Eldrin Chen was minimal—even seemingly weaker than that of the Void-Refining Immortal.

Ghost Immortals lacked an Immortal Physique [a body reforged and tempered by immortal energies], cultivated solely the Soul and Spirit Path [a path focusing on spiritual and soul essence rather than the physical form], and could not wield treasures of the Pure Yang Attribute [imbued with the essence of the primal, active, celestial Yang energy]. Consequently, their combat prowess was significantly inferior to that of a true Immortal of the same stage.

This was precisely why true Immortals held a transcendent status and could roam the shadowy depths of the Hell [the underworld realm] with impunity.

After observing this figure, Eldrin Chen vaguely understood that, apart from the Netherworld Ancient Ancestor whose power surpassed the Earth Immortal realm, the Ghost Immortals within this Netherworld [the realm of the dead] likely posed little threat to myself.

With this realization settling in his heart, Eldrin Chen felt a measure of calm. He inquired serenely, "Might I ask if you are the Nether Night Yin Lord?" "Indeed, it is this lord," came the reply.

The Nether Night Yin Lord nodded and acknowledged without hesitation.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile. He produced the token and letter of introduction gifted by Xander Qian and said, "This humble one's Daoist title is Abyssal City. I come upon the recommendation of Xander Qian from Verdant Rock Island. I have come seeking your assistance."

"So you are a friend of Brother Qian."

After examining the token and letter, the Yin Lord's expression softened into a smile. He promptly stepped aside and gestured in invitation, "Since you are a friend of an old acquaintance, please, Fellow Daoist, come inside so we may converse."

Eldrin Chen gave a nod and followed the Nether Night Yin Lord inside.

The two arrived within a Grand Hall. The Yin Lord personally prepared a cup of tea for Eldrin Chen, saying, "Immortal Venerable, please sample this tea of mine." Your portal to cultivation novels: audio-novel .c om.

"Oh?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with subtle interest. He lifted the teacup and looked inside, discovering a dark, ethereal flower blooming within the liquid. A faint, almost imperceptible flow of Pure Yin Qi [the purest essence of lunar and shadow energy] swirled within.

He took a small sip. An icy, bone-piercing fragrance, yet perfectly rounded, flowed over his tongue and down his throat.

Immediately after, a wave of refreshing coolness spread throughout his body, rising directly to his Divine Soul [the highest form of a cultivator's spiritual consciousness]. It caused his Immortal Embryo [the nascent form of an immortal's true body, cultivated within] to grow ever so slightly.

"Excellent tea."

A moment later, Eldrin Chen opened his eyes, a sudden gleam of insight flashing within them as he spoke.

Nether Night Yin Lord offered a faint smile, stroking his beard as he chuckled, "This Soul-Nourishing Tea is a specialty of the Nether Abyss. It can nourish a cultivator's Divine Soul [the spiritual core of a cultivator], and consuming it during a breakthrough can also reduce the peril of Qi deviation [a dangerous state where one's spiritual energy runs amok]."

"However, this tea coalesces from Pure Yin Qi [the purest form of Yin spiritual energy]. It can only grow within the confines of the Netherworld [the underworld realm of spirits and the dead]; it cannot be found in the mortal realm or the Immortal Realm."

"If Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for a fellow cultivator] desires some, this lord can gift you a portion to take back with you."

Eldrin Chen felt a stir of interest. This tea was unobtainable in the Immortal Domain, and it held significant value even for an Immortal [a being who has ascended to immortality], making it quite appealing to him.

Yet, as they were not well acquainted, accepting such a gift outright felt inappropriate. Thus, he replied with a smile, "To receive such a gift would leave me feeling undeserving. Perhaps I could purchase some with Immortal Essence [the condensed spiritual power of an Immortal] instead."

In the end, Eldrin Chen expended ten pieces of Immortal Source [a highly concentrated source of immortal energy] to purchase half a Jin-weight [one Jin-weight equals zero point five kilograms] of Soul-Nourishing Tea from the Nether Night Yin Lord. Having made a profitable sale of the Soul-Nourishing Tea, Nether Night Yin Lord revealed a pleased smile. While this tea was extinct in the mortal world, within the depths of the Nether Abyss it was not particularly rare.

To exchange it for a quantity of Immortal Source was a favorable deal for him, especially considering that Immortal Source was exceedingly difficult to find even within the Nether Abyss.

Having concluded this transaction, the Nether Night Yin Lord, now in good spirits, inquired, "I presume the Immortal Lord's journey to this Nether Abyss Hell is surely for the purpose of assisting someone with their Reincarnation Tribulation [a perilous trial one faces to be reborn with memories and cultivation intact]."

"Precisely so."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, then withdrew from his sleeve the 'Dao Ruins Sword', the damaged 'Virtuous Heaven Sword', the half-scroll of the 'Long River Setting Sun Scroll', and also the 'Verdant Leaf Sword'.

The Nether Night Yin Lord [a powerful lord of the underworld] examined each item in turn, his brow furrowing slightly. He first pointed at the Dao Ruins Sword, which contained a trace of the Sword Dao [the profound Way of the Sword].

"Within this Immortal Sword lies a fragment of an Immortal's [a being who has ascended to immortality] shattered Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator]. For it to reincarnate would be a simple matter." "But as for the remaining two Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure [magical treasures of pure Yang energy]..."

The Nether Night Yin Lord pondered for a moment, then took the Long River Setting Sun Scroll. "Although this scroll holds a faint, tenuous wisp of a Remnant Soul [a lingering fragment of consciousness], it seems to have been ravaged by Demon God Power [the power of a Demon God]. Its revival would be exceedingly difficult."

"This damaged Immortal Sword is much the same. To facilitate its reincarnation would be a task of immense hardship."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's expression grew profoundly grave.

He could not help but draw a deep breath before asking, "Might the Yin Lord know of any method that could aid them in achieving reincarnation?"

"Difficult. Difficult. Difficult."

The Yin Lord shook his head and sighed. "Their Soul Spirits [the essence of their souls] have been reduced to the merest sliver. To reincarnate, their Divine Soul [the divine aspect of the soul] must first be restored to a sufficient degree."

"Yet, to restore their Divine Soul [the spiritual core of a cultivator], they would still require the aid of the Soul-Gathering Bell [a mystical artifact capable of summoning and stabilizing dispersed spiritual essences]." Dive deeper into the Dao at audio–novel.com.