Underworld Mountains

Underworld Mountains . . .

In the serene embrace of the mountains and the melodious whispers of the waterfall, Qin Wentian found solace. Life was uncomplicated but far from lonely with Qing'er by his side. Although her penchant for silence remained unshaken, there were moments when Qin Wentian's jests and playful teasing elicited subtle shifts in her typically calm and reserved countenance. Those moments were treasured and added a lively hue to his days.

Approximately half a year had passed since their epic battle, and Qin Wentian had made a full recovery. His cultivation had surged forward, reaching the eighth level of Celestial Phenomenon. Just one step remained before he would breach the threshold to the immortal foundation realm. The tranquility of their surroundings was a balm for his soul as he sought to deepen his understanding of his innate techniques.

On one breezy evening, as the wind danced through the landscape, Qin Wentian stood before the majestic waterfall, engrossed in his practice. Yet, the gusty whisper of the wind heralded a visitor. A shadow, gray as the mist, streaked past him. He halted his cultivation, and alongside him, his loyal companion, Little Rascal, shot into the air, detecting something amiss.

"Is there someone here?" Qin Wentian's voice sliced through the quietude, and he ascended like a swift wind roc, pursuing the elusive presence that had crossed his path. In due time, he spotted a white-robed figure perched upon a colossal boulder up ahead.

A peculiar feeling coursed through Qin Wentian. Could this be Nanfeng Yunxi? However, a keen realization settled upon him as he tried to sense her aura – there was none to detect.

"Who are you?" Qin Wentian inquired.

A faint buzz filled the air as the female's form blurred, transforming into a pale, ethereal phantom that continued its flight ahead, leaving ghostly imprints of her passage.

"Remarkable speed," Qin Wentian murmured in awe. Little Rascal, animated by the chase, barked and pursued the enigmatic figure. Qin Wentian, perplexed yet intrigued, followed suit.

Unbeknownst to him, a breathtaking figure, equally swift, manifested behind him. An aura of spatial energy enveloped her, rendering her presence ethereal as she joined the pursuit. Qing'er, with her unmatched speed, slipped into the shadows, melding seamlessly with the night.

As the trio pressed onward, they eventually came to a halt. The female they had been chasing was an enigma – elusive and fleeting, like a phantom.

"We've arrived at the Underworld Mountains," Qing'er declared solemnly, her gaze locked on a foreboding archway that loomed before them. It exuded an intense aura of frigid hostility, a stark demarcation between this realm and the ominous expanse that lay beyond.

"Did that woman enter the Underworld Mountains?" Qin Wentian queried.

Little Rascal whimpered softly, its demeanor shifting. Concern gripped Qin Wentian's heart. What was troubling his loyal companion?

"Something is summoning me," Little Rascal conveyed gravely, inciting a sense of alarm within Qin Wentian. It felt like something was calling out to his steadfast companion.

Determination etched on his face, Qin Wentian decided to investigate further. He turned to Qing'er, his gaze steady. "Qing'er, return and wait for me, okay?"

Qing'er's gaze remained fixed on Qin Wentian, her demeanor unyielding. A faint smile tugged at Qin Wentian's lips in response to her steadfastness. "All right, let's venture in together. But we must exercise caution," he proposed.

Before his sentence concluded, Little Rascal was already soaring through the air, prompting Qin Wentian and Qing'er to hasten after their loyal companion.

Qing'er, the guardian of knowledge, saw this as an opportunity to impart information about the perilous place they were entering. She spoke, her words laden with gravity, "There's a rumor of an inheritance left behind by an ancient emperor in this place. However, this emperor's methods were ruthlessly cruel, and countless geniuses have perished here. Even now, the true identity of this enigmatic emperor remains a mystery. Yet, despite the deadly reputation, many aspire to explore the Underworld Mountains."

The entrance to the Underworld Mountains was a solitary path shrouded in an icy, ominous aura that sent shivers through anyone who crossed its threshold.

Little Rascal's pace slowed, and it trembled, a palpable sense of fear emanating from its form. Qin Wentian, witnessing his steadfast companion in such a state for the first time, couldn't help but feel concern. Little Rascal appeared to sense a summons, yet it was undeniably frightened.

What kind of force was behind this summons?

A deep growl rumbled from Little Rascal, and it surged forward into a narrow canyon.

"Little Rascal!" Qin Wentian's heart pounded as he felt the profound unease gripping his loyal friend. Whatever was summoning it held an extraordinary power.

"It's extremely dangerous inside," Qing'er cautioned as she observed Qin Wentian's resolute advance.

"Qing'er, you should go back," Qin Wentian insisted, his expression stern.

The Underworld Mountains, being a forbidden realm within the City of Ancient Emperors, undoubtedly harbored extreme peril. He couldn't simply ignore Little Rascal's plight, but he also couldn't risk Qing'er's safety.

Qing'er's response was typical of her character – resolute and unyielding. "My spatial powers can extract you in case of an emergency, and I possess a protective strand of immortal sense within me."

Relenting to her unyielding spirit, Qin Wentian conceded. "Very well, but if danger arises, you must leave immediately."

"Agreed," Qing'er replied, her determination unwavering. She followed Qin Wentian into the canyon as they trailed Little Rascal's path. His intuition guided them, and soon, they plunged deeper into the abyss. The landscape transformed as they ventured forward – peculiarly shaped mountains pierced the heavens, and an eerie, malevolent ambiance pervaded the air.

"Little Rascal!" Qin Wentian called out as they advanced, spotting his loyal companion standing on an isolated peak in the distance. Amidst the pitch-black night, Little Rascal's silhouette resembled a lone wolf, scanning the surroundings with desperate resolve.

A sudden mist enshrouded the mountains, thickening with each passing moment.

"What's happening?" Qin Wentian attempted to pierce the fog with his discerning gaze, but the mist thwarted his efforts. An enigmatic barrier obscured his vision. After the mist dispersed, a shocking scene unfolded before them.

Though they remained within the mountains, darkness now clung more intensely to their surroundings. The mountains themselves had transformed, their shapes and forms shifting into something entirely different. They hadn't moved an inch, yet it felt as though they had been transported to an entirely new realm.

"The Underworld Mountains," Qing'er intoned in hushed tones, confirming their grim predicament.

Qin Wentian's voice was a hushed murmur as he questioned the authenticity of their surroundings. It was true that Qing'er possessed knowledge of the Underworld Mountains being forbidden grounds in the City of Ancient Emperors, but the truth unraveled before them as night descended—a new mountain range, the genuine Underworld Mountains, materialized.

A sudden discovery jolted Qin Wentian from his contemplation. His gaze locked onto a mountain's base, and then swept across the grim tableau surrounding them. The scattered bones of numerous geniuses lay in stark testimony.

The coldness in the air deepened, influenced by an arcane energy. Qin Wentian felt his own aura slipping away, as though an invisible force was gradually siphoning it, draining his strength.

"What's happening?" He stretched his arms experimentally, realizing that the Underworld Mountains possessed the ability to siphon the physical body's vitality. Casting a concerned glance at Qing'er, he observed her experiencing the same phenomenon.

Little Rascal, on the other hand, emitted a protracted howl. To Qin Wentian's astonishment, the puppy seemed unaffected by the mysterious force, and instead, it was absorbing the unusual energy in the atmosphere.

"Little Rascal..." Qin Wentian's attention shifted, but at that very moment, a white-robed figure darted by and appeared before the puppy. His heart raced as he sprinted towards them.

"Who are you?" he demanded, his voice frigid. The white-robed figure inclined her head, her appearance breathtakingly beautiful yet eerily haunting. Her beauty lacked any charm, her eyes devoid of emotion, containing only a fearsome regality. There was no discernible aura emanating from her, as though she were not truly alive.

Like Little Rascal, she remained unaffected by the strange phenomenon in the Underworld Mountains. Devoid of an aura, her strength remained undiminished.

"Are you a human or a ghost?" Qin Wentian couldn't hide his astonishment. It was his first encounter with an entity devoid of any aura. Even individuals like the Eastern Sage Immortal Emperor, who could retract their auras, always retained a trace of humanity. However, this figure possessed no presence or aura whatsoever. Had he not witnessed her with his own eyes, her existence would have been imperceptible.

The woman's gaze shifted towards Little Rascal, and without warning, she moved closer to the puppy. Qin Wentian's eyes widened, alarmed by the unfolding scene. Her current form appeared incorporeal, and she was attempting to merge with Little Rascal.

"ROAR!" Little Rascal's anguished cries pierced the air as its body convulsed violently.

"GET AWAY!" Qin Wentian wielded his immortal-ranked spear and lunged at the white-robed figure. However, his weapon passed through her form as if she were insubstantial, having no impact whatsoever.

"An apparition!" Qin Wentian's face contorted in alarm. Little Rascal continued to howl in agony, its trembling intensifying.

"BOOM!" In an explosion of energy, Little Rascal's entire being erupted, causing the apparition to waver, her countenance reflecting unease.

Little Rascal's urgent voice cut through the tense air, revealing a surprising revelation. "This thing is afraid of the flames in your bloodline!" it exclaimed.

Qin Wentian felt the resonance within his own veins, a powerful surge igniting a fierce white flame. Without hesitation, he channeled this potent fire into Little Rascal's trembling body. The effect was immediate as a roaring wind swept through the area, and the spectral figure recoiled in sheer terror from Little Rascal. Her cold, otherworldly gaze now fixed squarely on Qin Wentian.

From a young age, Little Rascal had thrived on Qin Wentian's blood, its very essence coursing through its veins. The eruption of energy earlier had drawn from this unique connection, striking fear into the heart of the apparition.

However, the apparition's malevolence was undeterred. With a disdainful glance at Qin Wentian, she abruptly redirected her ethereal form toward Qing'er. In an instant, she closed in on Qing'er, poised to merge with her.

"QING'ER!" Panic surged through Qin Wentian, his features contorted in desperation. Without a second thought, he extended his fingers, channeling the white flames into Qing'er. The apparition was forcefully expelled once more.

The white-robed female reemerged without warning, her cold fury undiminished, her haunting presence looming ominously over them.