Meng Qi returned to her residence, her mind spinning with countless thoughts. The conversation with Yi Tianxing had shaken her deeply. Establishing contact with a fortune dynasty like the Great Yi Dynasty offered tremendous benefits. There was a real chance for the Meng family and the Nether Inn to rise above the mundane and become a transcendent sanctuary—a sacred land of the underworld, eternal and indestructible.
This opportunity was simply too rare.
Perhaps even Yi Tianxing himself didn't realize that the Eternal Coins he had created held a pivotal status in the entire Eternal World. The name itself had an innate advantage—it subtly harnessed a strand of the world's fate. According to rumors passed down in her clan, Eternal Coins could very well become a type of supreme currency within heaven and earth.
What is a supreme currency? It is the one coin that reigns supreme over all others.
Should this happen, the Eternal Coin would undergo a fundamental transformation. For instance, its amplification potential would surpass the current threefold increase.
Of course, this would only happen if the Great Yi Dynasty continued to exist—and continued to grow in strength, rising to imperial status and perhaps even beyond. If it stood tall at the pinnacle of the heavens and earth, then the Eternal Coin becoming a supreme currency would be indisputable.
The greatest trait of a supreme currency is that it circulates throughout the entire Eternal World—even across both the realms of the living and the dead.
Another characteristic is "momentum aggregation". The more Eternal Coins one possesses, the more fate and fortune one gathers, bringing with it countless unseen benefits.
[ Supreme Currency (至尊货币), capable of circulating in both the living and dead realms, with the power to accumulate fortune.]
"This matter must be reported to the clan. I must personally inform the Ancestor."
After a moment's thought, Meng Qi made her decision.
She stepped into a quiet chamber.
Within it were various cultivation items. Among them was an unusual teleportation array, clearly far from ordinary.
Meng Qi stepped onto the array. As it activated, light flickered—and she vanished.
She reappeared beside a vast river.
This river stretched beyond the eye's reach. Its jade-green waters surged forward, and scattered across the surface were ferry boats—skeleton boats, to be precise, made entirely of bones. Skulls, spines, ribs—all woven into eerie rafts. Pale human skulls stared blankly ahead, and even the bravest of souls would feel a chill stepping aboard.
On each boat stood a ferryman, cloaked in a conical hat and raincoat, guiding the boat with bamboo poles. Each boat ferried batches of souls.
Floating among the boats were corpses—countless bodies, male and female, young and old, whole or mutilated—drifting freely down the current.
[The Yellow Springs Holy River (黄泉圣河), a sacred river that purifies karmic sins and leads to reincarnation, but only for the worthy.]
"The Yellow Springs Holy River—to cross it is to cleanse karma and enter reincarnation. But not everyone can pass through the Yellow Springs."
Meng Qi watched as a soul slipped from a boat into the water. The spirit screamed and flailed in agony, sinking beneath the surface. The ferryman did not intervene.
To fall into the water meant one's karma was too heavy, even the ferryman couldn't save them. They were destined to pass through the Yellow Springs the hard way.
This sight was all too familiar to Meng Qi.
She turned her gaze to the riverbank.
There stood an ancient manor, shrouded in mist, as if hidden between illusion and reality. The manor exuded an aura of ancient majesty.
Few dared to build a manor on the edge of the Yellow Springs.
"At last, I'm home again."
Meng Qi sighed and approached the estate.
A plaque hung above the entrance:
Meng Family Manor (孟家庄).
It looked ordinary at first glance, but the longer one stared, the more profound it became. The plaque radiated an ancient Daoist charm, suggesting one could glimpse the cycle of reincarnation itself. One might even see an old woman brewing clear soup, guiding souls toward rebirth.
"Seventh Miss, you've returned."
An elderly steward greeted her with a bow.
"Uncle Nan, is everything well in the manor? I've been away for some time. Is the Ancestor still in seclusion?" Meng Qi smiled warmly.
"No, the Ancestor is currently brewing Meng Po Soup. You'll find her in the back garden."
A hint of affection glimmered in Uncle Nan's eyes.
"This is your favorite vintage—authentic Monkey Wine. Uncle Nan, be sure to savor it; it's incredibly rare these days."
Meng Qi handed him a gourd filled with Monkey Wine, a rare delicacy brought from the living realm.
After a few more words, she headed for the backyard.
As she stepped in, her fluctuating emotions were immediately calmed by an invisible force, leaving her mind clear and tranquil.
At the center of the garden was a massive black cauldron, flames dancing beneath it—flames of seven colors, shifting constantly. Within the firelight, one could faintly see all living beings, their emotions and desires laid bare.
[Seven Emotions and Six Desires Flame (七情六欲火) – a heaven-and-earth variant fire that burns eternally in the presence of emotion, incinerating even the soul from within if ignited.]
This flame was no ordinary fire—it was the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Flame. As long as emotion existed, the flame would burn without end. If ignited upon an enemy, unless they were devoid of all sentiment, the fire would consume them from the inside out. The stronger the emotion, the more violent the flame.
It was terrifyingly powerful and incredibly rare.
In front of the cauldron stood a frail old woman dressed in coarse linen, slowly stirring the pot with a ladle.
"A wolf's heart… a dog's lungs… a pig's brain… the courage of a lecher… a lover's tears… a filial child's devotion… a cup of bitter sorrow…"
As she stirred, she murmured softly. Each ingredient and phrase carried a resonance that touched the soul.
"Ancestor, Little Qi has come to visit you."
Meng Qi bowed respectfully but couldn't tear her eyes from the cauldron.
This was the true Meng Po Soup—also known as the legendary Water of Forgetfulness. In truth, it came in many variants. Her own "Seven Emotions Water" was something she had learned from Meng Po herself. Yet no one had ever truly reached her level. Each observation offered something new.
"Little Qi, aren't you supposed to be managing the Nether Inn? What brings you back so suddenly? Trouble?"
Meng Po's clouded eyes softened with affection.
"Ancestor, this truly is a major matter. I couldn't make a decision alone, so I came seeking your judgment."
Meng Qi began recounting everything—her encounter with Yi Tianxing, his identity, and the full scope of his plans.
"So you're saying the Emperor of Great Yi has unexpectedly entered the underworld and hopes to build a trade channel between the living and the dead?"
"Yes, that's exactly what he proposed."
Meng Po's eyes flickered with insight.
"This Emperor of Yi is truly ambitious. Not only does he seek dominance in the living world, but now he dares to extend his influence into the underworld. He not only dreams—he acts."
If it weren't for the divide between life and death, which made it impossible for living cultivators to linger here, he might've already attempted to establish a fortune dynasty in the underworld.
Creating inter-realm trade was already an audacious move.
Anyone with such intent clearly sought greatness.
"Eternal Coins have a strong chance of becoming the supreme currency of the world, but they currently only circulate in the living realm. It's hard for souls in the underworld to obtain them. If a trade route is opened, it could be a great opportunity. The early stages of world fusion are the best time to seize fate. Fate brings power—with fate, even heaven and earth bend to your will. It wouldn't hurt to form a bond with this Yi Tianxing."
Meng Po spoke with serene clarity, seeing through countless variables.
"But whether he can dominate a region depends on whether he survives the impending calamity."
"You mean… the Dragon Clan?"
Meng Qi's eyes flashed.
"That's not our concern. Go to the treasury and retrieve the Six Paths Reincarnation Disk (六道轮回盘). Give it to this Emperor of Yi—as a gesture of goodwill. Whether that kindness bears fruit will be up to fate."
"Yes, Ancestor."
Meng Qi nodded thoughtfully and turned to leave.
Behind her, Meng Po continued stirring the soup, sighing softly.
"Hearts are scattered. This world is doomed to face calamity. The fusion of realms is both fortune and disaster. To survive it is a blessing… Who doesn't wish for eternal life? But the will of heaven—it's grown murky. Just like this muddied world. When will it ever find peace?"