Chapter 152 Meeting the Red-Clothed Demoness Again
Within the grand curtain, majestic mountains and shimmering lakes intertwine with the cascading waterfalls of floating islands, creating a scene both magnificent and beautiful.
In the distance, a thunderous tiger roar reverberated through the mountains, reflecting the mood of the white-clothed woman, whose round, delicate face turned crimson, as if it might bleed! How dare that mortal send her such a message!
For a moment, she genuinely considered breaking through the curtain; she felt utterly humiliated to be bullied by a mere mortal today. This embarrassment felt even worse than the time he had stabbed her in the rear with a black sword—an experience she still wished to forget.
The other demon immortals displayed varied reactions; some laughed while others greeted Wang Xuan warmly, approaching him with specific intentions.
The moonlight flowed like water, and the blue sea was tranquil.
On the golden bamboo boat, the ferryman turned back, his black cloak obscuring his face as he quietly gazed at Wang Xuan. It had been several hundred years since anyone had boarded the boat; today, someone finally arrived, and their actions left the ferryman lost in thought. What era was it now, for people to behave like this?
"Predecessor, I'm just a mortal, struggling to survive under the gaze of the immortal beings. I'm already pitiful enough; please let me go," Wang Xuan murmured.
Seeing him so humble, serious, and sincere, the ferryman felt a pang of emotion. A mortal who had taken advantage of a demoness—this was indeed a classic case of reaping the rewards and wanting to escape, wasn't it?
"Now you're afraid? But you just provoked her," the ferryman remarked.
"A clay figurine has three parts of its earthiness left; I was pushed to the limit. The truth is, the weaker one feels, the more one wants to muster courage by shouting loudly," Wang Xuan replied directly and honestly, making the ferryman glance at him twice. Was this sincere? Perhaps not!
"It's almost over; the secret path will conclude soon," the ferryman added.
Upon hearing this, Wang Xuan felt the response was perfunctory. Until now, he hadn't sensed what the so-called secret path was like; he hadn't become stronger at all!
"Is this secret path merely a dream? Will you tell me soon that the dream path has ended?" he couldn't help but ask.
The ferryman replied blandly, "This is the Land of the Departed."
The keyword indeed contained "departed," consistent with what Wang Xuan had heard from the outside.
The red-clothed demoness had yet to appear, while the other demon immortals repeatedly tested Wang Xuan, clearly harboring ulterior motives, leaving him at a disadvantage.
Seizing the opportunity to avoid engagement, he earnestly sought the ferryman's advice about this secret path, finding justification to refrain from interacting with the beings in the Inner Landscape.
"The Land of the Departed may be the source of the extraordinary, the starting point of cultivation, and the primal ground for the divinization of all things—truly the most ancient secret path," he added, noting this was merely one perspective.
Some believe that there are even older secret paths, where beings had shortcuts in ancient times to surpass ordinary humans and common creatures, stepping into the extraordinary.
Wang Xuan was only aware of the Inner Landscape, Heavenly Herb, and other secret paths, entirely unfamiliar with what the ferryman described.
The ferryman explained that when the Land of the Departed was first discovered, any beings approaching it would almost certainly perish.
Yet, there were exceptions; those few humans or creatures that survived the mysterious energy impact of the Land would slowly become extraordinary.
"Radiation?" Wang Xuan mused, making this association. He then worried if it might cause deformities or various malignant changes in their bodies.
After understanding modern terminology, the ferryman shook his head, stating that this transformative process would empower beings but wouldn't lead to illness.
In those primal times, in the savage lands, the struggle for survival was intense; some beings became extremely powerful due to the Land, transcending and rising above others.
"The Land of the Departed primarily begins with a transformation of the physical body, allowing beings to become divine or demonic," the ferryman explained. He believed that the strengthening of various creatures started from the physical, leading him to surmise that the Land might be the earliest and most primal secret path.
Wang Xuan reflected, "I had thought the discovery of the Inner Landscape put humanity at a unique temporal juncture, allowing them to surpass various monsters. It seems that even earlier, the Land of the Departed had already existed, granting all races their formidable divine or demonic powers."
In his understanding, the Land of the Departed was equivalent to extraordinary radiation!
This raised a mystery: how did the Land of the Departed come into being?
The ferryman shook his head, noting that very few could clearly articulate the origins of the Land.
It was named the Land of the Departed because one could occasionally glimpse the shadows of long-extinct species within it—species that had vanished from the present world.
Thus, the Land was also referred to as the Departed Scene, representing the landscapes left behind in the past.
"Is there only one such peculiar place in the world?" Wang Xuan inquired.
The ferryman shook his head again, saying, "Of course not; there are eight major Lands of the Departed, each with distinct scenery and renowned in its own right. Additionally, there are some lesser Lands of the Departed."
The key point was that powerful Lands of the Departed would relocate and not remain in one domain for long.
"Based on my experience, since someone has successfully arrived here, within a year and a half at most, this Land of the Departed will have left this planet," he warned.
Wang Xuan was stunned; the Land of the Departed was not fixed in one place but was ever-moving.
According to his latest understanding, the Land of the Departed was a transient landscape of the deceased, capable of moving and possessing extraordinary radiation!
"What dangers does it entail?" Wang Xuan sought to learn more.
"Don't you feel it yourself? The moment you step into the Land of the Departed, your body undergoes extraordinary radiation, experiencing simultaneous features of divinization and demonic transformation, almost tearing you apart," the ferryman responded.
Normally, upon entering, nine out of ten people would immediately die due to the intensity of the extraordinary transformation; very few could endure it.
Wang Xuan found this puzzling; he had only experienced demonic transformation, not divinization.
"That's because you consumed a low-grade fruit of the demon, probably the blood grape," the ferryman explained.
Upon hearing this explanation, he found himself at a loss for words.
The ferryman had nothing to hide regarding this place.
Why is this desolate land devoid of life? Because far too many beings have died here, leaving behind a heavy aura of death; 99% of creatures that enter disintegrate.
After understanding this, Wang Xuan felt quite satisfied; his physical body could withstand extraordinary radiation, proving to be resilient enough.
"Are those mythical creatures seated on the high platforms by the coast originally from this desolate land?" he asked.
"No," came the reply. "All races consider this desolate land too dangerous. Those are extraordinary methods left behind by past powerhouses after making an agreement, guiding future beings on the true path of physical transformation and divinity."
Even so, the death rate is outrageously high, one could even say terrifying.
Wang Xuan witnessed firsthand that under each high platform, so many beings were present, yet in the end, only a few could withstand the extraordinary radiation and leave alive.
Even the ferryman sighed, "The survival rate on this secret path through the desolate land is extremely low, which is why not many dare to traverse this route anymore."
At that moment, changes occurred behind the grand curtain. Clouds and mist surged, obscuring the brilliant sun, and the world suddenly fell into darkness, shrouded in misty rain.
"Senior, if she doesn't abide by the rules, can you stop her?" Wang Xuan whispered, knowing the red-clad demon fairy had arrived!
"The Old Testament can stop her," the ferryman replied.
Wang Xuan felt overwhelmed; the red-clad demon fairy had been attempting to break through the limitations of the Old Testament, challenging the rules of the grand curtain.
In the grand curtain, several demon fairies bowed their heads in respect upon seeing the graceful figure in the distance, revealing the power and status of the red-clad demon fairy.
Her figure was stunningly beautiful, clad in red, having discarded her oiled paper umbrella, strolling through the rain with droplets clinging to her hair, her fair face appearing almost surreal amidst the mist.
Her enchanting gaze held a bewitching charm, but it only made the other demon fairies lower their heads even more.
With a slight wave of her hand, the demon fairies stepped back, leaving the area before the grand curtain open for her; they distanced themselves, not daring to stand near her.
The White Tiger Demon Fairy stood not far off, ready to be summoned at any moment.
"It's been a long time, Fairy. Your transcendent beauty surpasses even the past," Wang Xuan greeted politely; he couldn't just lash out at her, could he? He wanted to ease the tension.
The red-clad demon fairy was indeed striking; just that aura that made other demon fairies feel awe made her stand out.
She remained silent, her enchanting gaze alluring, yet somewhat cold, not intending to show any warmth.
However, her innate beauty and charm were captivating, whether she smiled or maintained a cold expression.
With a faint smile, she poked the grand curtain with her delicate finger, instantly creating a small crack!
This scene made the demon fairies, who believed they were standing far enough away, feel even more apprehensive; they instinctively lowered their heads even further.
A blurred face appeared from the ferryman's cloak, staring ahead; the red-clad demon fairy was clearly offending the Old Testament, displaying a somewhat arrogant demeanor.
"What do you think I'll do with you once I catch you?" she asked with a smile, her crimson lips revealing beautiful white teeth, her smile exuding enchanting charm.
Wang Xuan felt alarmed; could this woman truly kill him, or could she extend a hand and trap him? If that happened, it would be disastrous!
He looked at the ferryman, seriously doubting whether this guardian could ensure their safety here.
"Under the Old Testament, no one is an exception," the ferryman stated solemnly.
Wang Xuan thought this declaration wasn't very reassuring; he believed it was better to remain cautious, avoiding irritating the red-clad demon fairy.
"Fairy, I'll have the White Tiger Demon Fairy convey a message to you; this isn't just a casual remark. I believe there's no need for our two sides to come into conflict without meeting. I know your goal; it doesn't conflict with my interests. I believe we're not hostile and may even collaborate."
Wang Xuan spoke sincerely, hoping to diffuse the tension.
The ferryman shot him a glance, the blurred expression on his face reflecting disapproval—was he truly proposing collaboration in front of a guardian?
"I genuinely think there's nothing that can't be discussed. We could turn enemies into friends and get along well. For instance, you could invest in me, allowing me to grow faster, and in return, I could help you get out more effectively. Don't you think this is better than always wanting to catch me and force me to comply?"
"Do you think I'm that foolish cat, fostering an enemy who grows stronger, raising a potential threat? How naive," the red-clad demon fairy shot him a glance, her tone dismissive.
Behind her, the White Tiger Demon Fairy instantly felt humiliated and glared fiercely at Wang Xuan.
Wang Xuan sighed lightly, "I came with sincerity to collaborate, but unexpectedly, you didn't give me any opportunity and outright rejected me."
The White Tiger Demon Fairy said, "Scammer! You should return the medicinal soil; otherwise, how can you show sincerity?"
Wang Xuan ignored her and only gazed at the extraordinarily beautiful red-clad demon fairy.
"Collaboration isn't out of the question. You can stay by my side in the grand curtain for three years," the red-clad demon fairy proposed.
"After three years, my body outside will have rotted away," Wang Xuan found an excuse.
At the same time, he pondered that this was indeed a three-year term, indicating that the red-clad demon fairy also couldn't break out forcefully and was also wary of this time limit.
The red-clad demon fairy smiled slightly, "I can bring your spirit along with your physical body inside."
"Let's skip that; with the patriarch present, I won't venture far," Wang Xuan refused.
What a joke—if he went in, he'd probably never come out again.
The White Tiger Demon Fairy stood at the back, her round face pouting angrily, scoffing as she watched—this patriarch of his was truly a scam!
The red-clad demon fairy chuckled, instantly brightening the misty day, "Then let's change the terms: you can bring me the piece of bone that the female sword fairy left in the current world."
Wang Xuan's expression instantly changed; he replied coldly, "You're not being sincere with that request."
How could he possibly give away the female sword fairy's piece of bone that held rich vitality? That was likely tied to her future!
"You must think carefully; without you, I will soon escape as well. At that time, shall we meet again in the real world? Are you looking forward to that?"
The red-clad demon fairy smiled brightly, exceptionally radiant and charming.
However, Wang Xuan felt a chill run down his spine—did she have other means of breaking out?
"Hmm, I vaguely heard last time that you want me to perform a demon fairy dance?" The red-clad demon fairy frowned slightly, looking at him.
Wang Xuan was speechless; last time, when he, Old Chen, and Qingmu were on the spaceship to collect Heavenly Herb, he did shout that out while escaping—had she really heard that?
The ferryman was speechless; this mortal boy was truly bold, daring to ask a transcendent demon fairy to dance for him?
The demon fairies behind the grand curtain were thoroughly shocked, silently marveling at how many years it had been since they'd seen someone so fearless; even those who had such thoughts had been killed!
Wang Xuan looked at her, initially speechless. But he felt that today was destined to end in hostility; there was nothing more to be concerned about.
Thus, he calmly spoke, "One day, I will make you perform that demon fairy dance!"