Unknowingly, all the scarabs that had been swallowed had undergone a complete transformation of faith.
Their original loyalty to the Pharaoh was replaced by a new belief in Yi Tianxing. It was as if their hearts had found a new goal and a new faith. Bathed in divine light and celestial music, they felt their bloodlines and souls being elevated and purified.
Their bloodlines were refined; the golden light on their bodies became more intense and pure. On the shells of their backs, golden runes began to form.Even their bodies seemed to grow slightly larger.
More importantly, within their souls was now a permanent imprint of loyalty to the Great Yi Dynasty and Yi Tianxing—irrevocable and indelible.
"Purification, enlightenment. Cleansing of the soul, expelling all evil, and removing the Pharaoh's brand from their bloodline and soul. These scarabs carried the Pharaoh's mark... and yet even that couldn't resist the power of the Innocent Heavenly Melody Divine Tree."
Normally, if a scarab didn't bear the Pharaoh's mark, it would be suspicious. Even those who managed to obtain scarabs found it nearly impossible to remove that unique brand. They would always remain under the Pharaoh's control.But before the divine tree, all of that became irrelevant.
Scarabs typically could not be tamed after maturity.
Unfortunately for them, in the presence of the divine tree, all resistance was futile.
"Excellent—bring more if possible," Yi Tianxing said calmly.
The Decomposer and Paper Craftsman looked on in astonishment, their mouths agape in disbelief.They had thought Yi Tianxing was attempting to flee. Instead, it turned out he was trying to trap the scarabs, using terrain to turn them into prey.
What shocked them most was that Yi Tianxing was even harvesting the scarabs.
Like plucking feathers from every goose that flies by—if it's valuable, dead or alive, Yi Tianxing won't let it go.
He had already collected a massive number of spirit beans. Now, even golden scarabs weren't spared.No one knew where he was storing them, but such creatures were notorious for their uncontrollable nature. Once turned against you, they could devour your body and soul in an instant.
Even if stored in a cave-world, without suppressive means, they would turn the entire realm into a wasteland.
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
The scarabs swarmed like a tide, yet disappeared into thin air like stones thrown into a deep sea.
"Such a greedy human cultivator," murmured Tong Jiu coldly as he witnessed the scene.
But he immediately turned and rushed into another gate.With the scarabs attracted to Yi Tianxing, this was the perfect opportunity to slip away—a heaven-sent chance.
Swish!
Suddenly, a pitch-black vortex reappeared above the great hall.
From the vortex emerged the white bone scepter that had appeared earlier. It struck the spatial gate below.
Crack!!
The strike shattered the space gate into countless fragments, dissipating into nothingness mid-air.
"You've gone too far!!"
A cold voice rang out from the vortex, utterly devoid of emotion, sending chills down the spine.The Pharaoh had acted once again, but now with a tone far icier than before.
To have his sacred scarabs taken—how could he be treated like this?If Yi Tianxing kept harvesting them, the entire tomb's scarabs would be lost.That would be a humiliation the Pharaoh could not tolerate.
"You will be banished."
The scepter glowed once more, and pointed directly at Yi Tianxing and the others.
"Not good—run!"
Yi Tianxing immediately felt a premonition of great danger, his heart trembling violently. Without hesitation, he tried to flee.So did the Disassembler and Paper Craftsman.
But it was too late.
The scepter's light triggered a mysterious mechanism long embedded in the tomb.A bizarre silvery vortex appeared out of nowhere, enveloping all three of them.
From the swirling vortex, chaotic and violent space energy surged. A terrifying pull gripped them, dragging them toward its depths.
This power far exceeded the Nascent Soul Realm, possessing an overwhelming might that could not be resisted.
Within the vortex, the spatial power was incredibly violent and unstable, distorted and ever-shifting.There was no doubt—it was a dimensional teleportation.
"It's a Void Banishment!" the Decomposer cried out, face paling."Once banished, one could be sent anywhere in the Eternal World—no one knows where. This is a serious problem!"
"Hold on! Don't let go! If we separate, no one knows where we'll end up!"Yi Tianxing shouted, taking a deep breath.
The three of them quickly clasped hands.
The light from the vortex intensified, swallowing them completely in its terrifying power.In an instant, they were gone.
Vanished not just from the tomb—but from all of Weizhou.
Not even the faintest trace of their presence could be detected.
This was even more terrifying than the descent into the Hell Realm.
Banishment meant they could end up anywhere in the Eternal World.
SPLASH!!
The world spun wildly. Powerless against the banishment, they couldn't even control their bodies.Before they knew it, they landed in an unfamiliar place.Rather than crashing onto the ground, however, they plunged into icy water, splashing violently.
"So cold!!"
"What kind of water is this? It's unnaturally cold—something's not right!"
Both the Decomposer and Paper Craftsman cried out.The water was freezing to the bone, sending chilling energy into their flesh and bones.
Yi Tianxing, however, felt a faint sense of familiarity.
"Where are we?" the Paper Craftsman asked, surfacing from the lake and looking to the sky——only to freeze in shock. His eyes stared, unblinking.
"The sky… it's so dark… and there are two blood moons. Wait—is this… the Underworld (Netherworld) !?"
The Decomposer looked up as well and inhaled sharply.Indeed—two blood-red moons hung in the sky, casting eerie moonlight.
Yi Tianxing also saw it. The blood moonlight carried a biting coldness, making the water even more frigid.
Looking around, they found themselves in a large lake.
But the lake water was an emerald green, exuding an eerie aura.Its coldness could freeze one's bloodline.
"Quick, let's get to shore."
Yi Tianxing's physique was strong enough to resist the cold for now, but no one wanted to remain submerged.
With a thought, he rose above the water.Thanks to his Water God Life Aperture, controlling water was second nature. He had only fallen in because the banishment had temporarily sealed his power.
Otherwise, he would have stopped midair.
"This water is filled with pure yin energy. There's no way this exists in the mortal world—this must be the Underworld's Yin Netherwater!"
The Paper Craftsman leapt out, eyes wide with shock.
"We've really… been banished to the Underworld!"
Yin Netherwater was native to the Underworld, just like regular water was to the mortal world.For the dead, drinking it was beneficial—replenishing yin energy and strengthening the soul. It had many uses.
However, it was no match for the Yellow Springs Water, the true sacred water of the Yellow Springs Holy River, which glowed green even in the dark.
The Paper Craftsman was clearly familiar with the Underworld. His profession involved interacting with ghosts and spirits, often crossing between the yin and yang realms.
"This is definitely the Underworld. The two blood moons, the Yin Netherwater—there's no mistaking it."
Yi Tianxing confirmed it as well. He had been to the Underworld before and was certain.
"This is bad," said the Decomposer solemnly."Living beings can't survive in the Underworld for long. Even if we don't die outright, our bodies and souls will suffer permanent damage."
Indeed, living beings in the Underworld are corroded by the omnipresent yin energy, which infiltrates the body and cannot be blocked by true essence.
Even just a short stay would leave a corrupting mark on the soul, making future tribulations exponentially more dangerous.
At that moment, they could all feel the yin energy seeping into their bodies, bypassing all defenses and causing subtle yet constant damage.
The Underworld—a forbidden zone for the living.Only those with immense cultivation power could resist it and stay for prolonged periods.