Chapter 114 - 101: Nether Monarch
’How did I get out last time...’
The memories came flooding back.
The Path of Death is the Dao of the Nether Monarch, but those who walk it are Spirits who wish to live.
Therefore, one must find life through death.
In other words, one first had to find the most suicidal spot on this path.
So where was this most suicidal spot?
The answer was actually quite simple.
Jump.
But it wasn’t just any jump. If it were that simple, there would be no need for those black, viscous hands to drag people down.
On this bridge that stretched for an unknown distance, there was only one spot from which a jump meant life. Anywhere else, a jump meant death.
Lu Changyuan narrowed his eyes.
Every spot on the Path of Death looked identical; it wasn’t easy to tell where one should jump.
Think about it.
Those who walk the Path of Death are all sinners. How can a sinner obtain absolution?
First, by showing sincere repentance. Second, by pledging heartfelt reverence to the supreme Nether Monarch. Only then could one receive the Monarch’s pardon and earn a chance at life.
The last time, Lu Changyuan met neither condition.
So, he had used the most brutish method. With the power of the Sixth Realm Kai Yang, he forcibly resonated with the Nether Monarch’s Dao. Coincidentally, he also cultivated the Killing Dao, which bore some resemblance to the Path of Death. By resonating for many years, Lu Changyuan finally found the one and only spot from which he could jump.
Of course.
That was the old Lu Changyuan. The current Lu Changyuan lacked the ability to resonate with the Path of Death.
However, the current Lu Changyuan had an even simpler method. After all, he was the acting Nether Monarch. Why would it be so troublesome for an acting Nether Monarch to leave?
So, Lu Changyuan said lightly, "Disperse."
The mist on the bridge abruptly scattered. In Lu Changyuan’s eyes, the path of unknown length instantly transformed.
The endless bridge was now dyed a striking red, but amidst this heart-pounding crimson, a patch of white—a symbol of life—abruptly appeared.
Lu Changyuan walked step by step to the edge of the white patch and squatted down.
"This is the place."
He saw the mark he had made last time—a small, chipped corner of the bridge.
The last time he was here, after resonating to this point, Lu Changyuan still felt uneasy. He made a mark and then continued to resonate for several more years before finally confirming that this was indeed the exit.
’Who would have thought that my old caution would still be useful today.’
Lu Changyuan stepped onto the patch of white, then turned back to the void of the Path of Death and said, "Thank you, Nether Monarch. I don’t know why you helped me, but you did. If I get the chance, I will repay this favor."
Cultivation isn’t just about fighting and killing.
It’s about understanding the ways of the world.
The Nether Monarch was definitely not dead. By receiving the Nether Monarch’s help and becoming the acting Monarch, Lu Changyuan had forged a connection. In the future, when the Nether Monarch descended upon the world, this favor would have to be repaid.
Lu Changyuan let out a long sigh, then stepped into the void and plummeted downward.
’After leaving here, I should arrive at those ancient ruins—a massive, primitive, circular altar.’
’That’s where I came out last time.’
Lu Changyuan thought.
’That place didn’t seem far from the Spirit Race either.’
’I wonder why the exit to the Path of Death is located there.’
Falling.
In the utter darkness, a sense of weightlessness filled his body.
A line of text suddenly lit up in Lu Changyuan’s vision again.
Unlike the blood-red text from before, this time the characters were as brilliant as gold, suffused with a sense of sanctity.
[He who walks the Path of Life is without sin and may have an audience with the Nether Monarch.]
"You... you’re not the Desire Demon?"
Lu Changyuan had assumed the words in his vision were the Desire Demon, but he had already consumed it. What was left... ’What on earth is this thing?’
The text did not answer Lu Changyuan.
This ’cat’ in his eye seemed to be getting angry.
’If it’s not the Desire Demon, then what is it?’
Lu Changyuan could only guess that this text-entity had also been corrupted by the Desire Demon, which had usurped its place. Now that Lu Changyuan had consumed the Desire Demon, the original entity had been set free.
[He who completes the Path of Life and Death may receive a reward from the Nether Monarch.]
’What does that mean?’
Lu Changyuan was suddenly alarmed.
’That’s right. This time, when he came to the Netherworld, he took the Path of Life.’
Those who walk the Path of Life are supposed to meet the Nether Monarch. So, he should have had an audience, but the Nether Monarch never appeared, so he couldn’t.
As if struck by a thought, Lu Changyuan hurriedly looked down toward where he was falling. A beam of light had already appeared there.
CLANG!
"The scent of time?!"
A massive, brilliant white light flooded Lu Changyuan’s vision, and he instinctively shut his eyes.
His feet touched solid ground.
Lu Changyuan stood upon a vast, circular stone altar, built in tiers that narrowed toward the top. At the center of the altar was a bizarre pattern. From this central point, countless slender runes radiated outward, covering the entire top platform and even spilling down the stone steps.
An exceptionally beautiful voice spoke: "Hm? Is this the Spirit I summoned? A human Spirit? Well, I suppose it’s not too bad."
Kabeng.
A jolt of pain shot through him.
Lu Changyuan felt as if something had bitten his shoulder. He opened his eyes and looked down to see a new, feather-like mark there.
The spot where the mark appeared even throbbed with a dull ache.
"From this day forward, you are my Spirit. Hmm... I’ll call you Yu. Yes, from now on, your name is Yu."
Before him stood a woman, from whom a powerful aura emanated, so immense it seemed to eclipse the sun and moon.
"Why are you staring at me like that? Can you not speak?"
The woman spoke the language of the Spirits.
Lu Changyuan stared blankly at the woman and said, "I can."
"Good. From now on, I am your master. You may call me Master, or you may call me by my name."
The woman’s lips curled into a smile, as beautiful as the moon surrounded by a coterie of stars.
"I am Nether."
This was the Nether Monarch.
The sovereign of death, the ruler of the Netherworld, a being who had transcended death and was close to the Dao.
But that was not what surprised Lu Changyuan. It was... the Nether Monarch’s face.
Why was it identical to Qiu Yuehan’s?!