"This Pharaoh is seriously stingy—so petty. Just because we took a few spirit beans and caught some sacred scarabs, he went and used something like spatial exile as a trap? And even exiled us to the underworld? Clearly not the generous type."Yi Tianxing chuckled and shook his head.
For an ordinary cultivator, entering the underworld without a path back to the world of the living would mean certain death.No matter how strong their cultivation, they couldn't remain in the underworld for long.The two realms followed different laws of heaven and earth.The living world operated on heavenly spiritual qi, while the underworld was suffused with Nine Nether Yin Qi.
If a living-world cultivator tried to absorb Nine Nether Yin Qi, they would either need a special physique or possess a unique cultivation method that allowed them to forcibly refine it. Otherwise, they simply couldn't stay long in the underworld.
"What now? If we can't find a way out of the underworld, we've suffered a huge loss. I can take it—at worst, this paper avatar of mine gets destroyed and the gains from the Pharaoh's tomb are lost. But it doesn't threaten my true body. You guys are a different matter. Staying in the underworld too long could cost you your lives. That Pharaoh sure is vicious,"the Paper Craftsman said angrily.
He had means to connect the two realms, but only between his avatar and his main body.For example, the avatar could summon the real body, or vice versa—but the price was steep: the paper avatar would be sacrificed either way.
Fortunately, as he mentioned, the gains from the tomb wouldn't necessarily be lost. If his real body summoned him back using the avatar as a sacrifice, everything he had collected could be transferred with him. This was one of the Paper Craftsman's mystical abilities.
"The underworld doesn't affect me much. Nine Nether Yin Qi is no different from spiritual qi to me."Yi Tianxing activated the Heavenly Emperor's Dragon Scripture.
Instantly, within his divine sea, it was as though an ancient Ancestral Dragon was breathing, swallowing a massive amount of Nine Nether Yin Qi.As the qi entered his body, before it could even harm his flesh or merge into his bloodline, it was devoured and refined into pure draconic true essence, settling into his divine sea.
The legendary Ancestral Dragon was said to breathe in chaotic primal energy, capable of absorbing and refining any kind of qi or force.Yi Tianxing's refined body could easily handle Nine Nether Yin Qi without harm.He could survive in the underworld indefinitely.
That was the miraculous power of a Heaven Scripture.
Heaven Scriptures were the highest and most ancient laws in all of existence.Such a cultivation method was so extraordinary it was envied by the heavens themselves, representing a nearly ultimate expression of the Dao.Any Heaven Scripture-level technique allowed the practitioner to survive freely in both realms, unbound by the shackles of mortal life and death.
"I can hold on too. At least for a while. A few years in the underworld won't be a problem,"the Decomposer said calmly.
He belonged to the Jade Spirit Race, innately attuned to all types of energy, and didn't fear Nine Nether Yin Qi.
"So what's the plan? We need a direction first. I'm not that familiar with the underworld. I've heard it's chaotic—just like the living world. Ever since the Myriad Realms fused, both the living and the dead realms have been in turmoil,"the Paper Craftsman said.
Just like the world of the living, the underworld was also part of the Myriad Realms Convergence.The living world was ruled by countless tribes in endless war, trying to claim territory and dominance. The underworld was no different.
The size of the underworld mirrored the living world—it was vast beyond imagination.The Paper Craftsman had some knowledge.
In the underworld, power was fragmented.There were forces like the Netherworld Bureaucracy, the Six Paths of Reincarnation, Blood Sea Asuras, Eighteen Hells, Specters, Skeleton Clans, Ghost Races, the Underworld Realm, the Reapers, and more.The factions were so mixed and overlapping, it was utter chaos.
Fortunately, the Six Paths of Reincarnation were still in operation.
According to what the Paper Craftsman knew, the Six Paths were isolated by the Heavenly Dao, beyond the interference of any one power.Also, the Six Paths were no longer the only means of reincarnation.
The Western mythologies' underworlds had merged with the main one, bringing their own reincarnation treasures—such as the Reincarnation Platform, which judged souls based on karma.
There was even a river through which souls could reincarnate—The Endless Nether River.
Souls that entered this river would eventually pass through the underworld and emerge in the world of the living to be reborn.The river washed away all memory.However, this reincarnation route was unpredictable—it could appear anywhere, at any time. Wherever it connected to the living world, souls would be cast through and reborn.The operation of its law was utterly profound.
In short, any force in the underworld that possessed a reincarnation artifact had a foundation that others did not.
This was a manifestation of the Reincarnation Law, permeating the entire underworld.
To summarize in one sentence:The underworld was extremely chaotic.
"Let's not think too far ahead. First thing—we get to shore,"Yi Tianxing took a deep breath and looked at the blood moon in the sky, fully accepting their current situation.Though speechless at the Pharaoh's methods, what was done was done. There was no reversing it.
That said, if he wanted to leave, he absolutely could—At any time.
"Right. Let's get to shore first."The Decomposer agreed.
Splash!!
Just as they were preparing to step onto the far bank, a strange rippling came from the lake beneath them—as if something was swimming just beneath the surface.
Suddenly, a green tentacle shot out from the water, winding toward them like a snake.And it wasn't just one—hundreds, even thousands surged forward like lightning.
Before they could react, the tentacles wrapped tightly around their legs.
A massive force yanked them downward, trying to drag them all into the water.That force—millions of pounds in weight—was tyrannically strong.
"Crap! Help!"
the Paper Craftsman screamed.
His body was already halfway into the water.But suddenly, stacks of spirit paper flew out from him—each one a paper-cut blade, glowing with divine light.In a flash, the blades turned razor-sharp, easily slicing through the tentacles.
Snick!Snick!
The paper knives were lethal—severing the tentacles underfoot, including those binding Yi Tianxing and the Decomposer.
"…Did he really need help?"Yi Tianxing and the Decomposer looked at each other, speechless.
Without hesitation, Yi Tianxing waved his hand and opened a silver-white spatial portal.
"Into the gate! Let's get out of here! Those tentacles are just the beginning,"he said quickly.
The Decomposer and the Paper Craftsman didn't hesitate—leaping into the portal instantly.This lake was clearly not ordinary. The Paper Craftsman especially was still trembling—he had felt the breath of death.If he had been pulled under, life and death would no longer be in his hands.
Flash!!
Their reactions were quick. In the blink of an eye, they emerged from a new portal on the lake's far shore.
"Too close. What the hell was that thing? When it wrapped around me, I felt frozen to the bone—like my blood was congealing. Total paralysis. Once dragged under, it'd be hard to break free."The Decomposer frowned deeply.
"Let me check what it was."Yi Tianxing looked out over the lake.
With a flash, he summoned his Death God Fishing Rod, flicking the line into the water.
Moments later, a colossal force yanked on the hook, as though trying to drag Yi Tianxing—and the rod—down into the depths.
"Up!!"
The Death God Hook contained the power of an entire minor world.Though the creature in the lake was strong, it was no match for that might.With a mighty tug, Yi Tianxing reeled in a monstrous figure—flung onto the shore.
"Holy crap, that's a huge octopus,"the Paper Craftsman gasped.
It looked like an ordinary octopus, but its body was completely green, like aquatic plants.
Massive—over a hundred meters long—with endless writhing tentacles.
Each tentacle was lined with suction cups and barbed spikes.Once wrapped around prey, the barbs would stab in and inject a paralyzing venom.
In the water, its strength was terrifying—more than enough to crush most living creatures.
The creature's body was covered in demonic patterns, constantly shifting—just looking at them could drive an ordinary person insane.
It was terrifying to behold.
"That's a Ghost Kraken—a demonic octopus from the underworld.It's one of the most feared aquatic creatures here.It devours souls and flesh, preying on everything it finds. And they never act alone.If there's one, there's a swarm.There must be dozens in this lake,"the Paper Craftsman said gravely.
"This Ghost Kraken... I wonder if it's tasty,"Yi Tianxing said, intrigued, staring at the monstrous corpse.