Chapter 1281: Ghostly Talk

"Ahem... I say, fellow Daoists, as the saying goes, meeting in a foreign land is fate. Since we are all cultivators from the True Immortal Realm and I've answered so many of your questions, could you first rescue me from here before we discuss anything else?" the statue then spoke again, with a hopeful tone.

"It's not impossible to rescue you, but we three have just arrived and would like to ask you for some information about the Netherworld Realm." Han Li said noncommittally.

"That's certainly no problem. However, I haven't been to many places in the Netherworld Realm; I'm only familiar with the Black River Region." the statue quickly said.

"Black River Region... does that refer to a region in the Netherworld Realm? How many regions are there in the Netherworld Realm?" Han Li asked.

"Indeed. The Netherworld Realm is vast beyond measure, so vast that even its inhabitants likely cannot describe its extent. The only regions I know of are the Black River Region, the Earth Nether Region, and the Yama Region." the statue said.

Han Li's heart skipped a beat upon hearing 'Yama Region,' but his expression remained unchanged as he continued:

"First, tell me about the situation in the Black River Region."

"The Black River Region is said to span no less than tens of millions of li, named after the black river that runs through it. Within it are places like the Wild Ghost Wasteland, the Undying Forest, the Blood Prison Canyon, and about seventeen or eighteen other locations. There are many ghostly beings dwelling there, but their races are diverse, and few possess intelligence..." the statue spoke at length.

From the statue's words, Han Li gained a general impression of the Netherworld Realm.

It was not much different from the True Immortal Realm, the Demon Domain, the Gray Realm, and other places—various races stood side by side, each occupying their own territory.

"In the three major regions—Black River, Earth Nether, and Yama—what formidable figures are there? How powerful are they?" Han Li asked again after a brief pause.

"I'm not too clear on that. I've only heard that the Netherworld Realm has three great powers: Blood Fiend, Nether King, and Ghost Shaman, each ruling one domain. The Black River Region seems to be under Blood Fiend's control, but I'm not sure about the other two regions. Mainly because there are few intelligent ghostly beings here, making it hard to gather intelligence... As for the strength of those three, they are said to be extremely powerful, but I don't know to what extent." the statue said.

"What do you know about the Yama Region?" Han Li nodded and changed the subject.

"I've never been to the Yama Region. I've only heard that the ghost clans there are very strong and strictly governed, unlike the chaotic Black River Region." the statue said after a long pause.

"Have you heard of a place called the Yama Prefecture in the Yama Region?" Han Li asked directly.

"Yama Prefecture? I vaguely recall once performing a soul search on a ghostly being and seeing that place in its memories. It's on the border of the Yama Region and seems quite mysterious." The statue was taken aback, then fell silent for a moment, as if trying hard to recall.

"Do you still remember where that place is?" Han Li was delighted and pressed further.

"I've been sealed here for who knows how many years. It's been so long that I can't remember many things clearly, but I can give it a try." the statue said.

Hearing this, Han Li did not respond immediately. Instead, he glanced sideways and transmitted a message:

"Ti Hun, can you tell if this person is telling the truth?"

"This person is sealed inside, and I cannot sense his soul. However, judging from his tone, he doesn't seem to be lying. Of course, it's possible that he is very skilled at deception." Ti Hun replied via voice transmission.

Han Li felt reassured and was about to speak.

"You said you are from the Earth Imperial Sect of the Earth Origin Immortal Domain. Which branch of the Earth Imperial Sect are you a disciple of?" Jin Tong suddenly spoke up.

Han Li and Ti Hun looked surprised.

"This fellow Daoist seems quite familiar with our Earth Imperial Sect. I am a disciple of the Bitter Bamboo Peak branch of the Earth Imperial Sect, studying under Yue Jing, the peak master of Bitter Bamboo Peak." The statue was taken aback again, then laughed.

Jin Tong said nothing more, but quietly winked at Han Li.

Although Han Li was curious about why Jin Tong was so familiar with the Earth Origin Immortal Domain, he didn't ask and instead said:

"Alright, I'll release you, and you'll take us to the Yama Prefecture."

"No problem, deal!" the statue immediately promised.

Han Li smiled slightly and said to Ti Hun beside him, "Ti Hun, lend me a hand to break this seal."

Ti Hun nodded.

"This seal is no simple matter. Over the years, I've studied it constantly and figured out some methods. I've also grasped some key points. Should I tell you?" the statue said.

"No need. Although this seal is powerful, it has weakened considerably over time. I've already seen where its weakness lies." Han Li shook his head.

Then he transmitted the location of the weakness to Ti Hun, and the two began to cast spells.

Before long, Ti Hun on the left and Han Li on the right simultaneously cast spells, striking beams of light onto the statue.

Han Li used immortal spiritual power to strike a sealing talisman on the right side of the statue, while Ti Hun covered the entire statue with the power of law.

Under the impact of the immortal spiritual power, the sealing talisman suddenly ignited a green flame, which burned for a moment before turning into two fire lines that extended upward and downward, encircling the entire statue and then merging into one.

As Ti Hun's law power continuously infused into the statue, the statue began to emit a crimson glow, and the layer of stone skin covering it started to peel off bit by bit, eventually revealing its true form.

Sealed within the statue was a burly man three zhang tall, naked from the waist up, with bulging muscles and strange runes protruding on his blood-red skin, exuding a primal sense of power.

Even more bizarre was that on his neck, there was only a conspicuous scar like a blood scab, with no head at all. Instead, on his chest, where the nipples should be, there were two eyes gleaming with a golden luster.

"What kind of freak is this..." Jin Tong gasped, muttering to herself.

Ti Hun also frowned.

"This guy... is most likely not from the Immortal Realm." Just as Ti Hun and Jin Tong were astonished, Han Li's voice transmission reached their ears.

"Giggle... giggle..."

A strange laughter came from the headless man. Han Li and the others instinctively distanced themselves and looked at him, seeing his abdomen heaving up and down, producing a muffled sound.

"Finally free, finally out, haha... I didn't expect you guys to have some skills, actually breaking this seal!" The headless man's voice grew louder, and the madness and hatred in his voice became more intense.

His tone was completely different from before.

"Since you have been freed, please keep your promise and lead the way." Han Li said, with one hand behind his back, the palm hidden in his sleeve already glowing, ready to guard against a sudden attack.

"In the Netherworld, there are only ghostly lies, never promises kept. You shall be the blood sacrifice for my battle axe!" The headless man's abdomen heaved, his tone manic.

As he spoke, a blood light flashed in his hand, and he grasped a three-zhang-tall blood-colored giant axe.

"Thump!"

The headless man held the axe with one hand and stomped heavily, sending a powerful aura rippling from his body.

"A peak Daluo stage cultivator sealed here—who exactly are you?" Han Li turned his wrist, and a Green Bamboo Cloudswarm Sword appeared in his palm as he shouted.

"My name... Blood Fiend!"

The headless man roared, took a step forward, and a layer of red light appeared on his body. Then he turned into a series of blurry afterimages. Before anyone could see his movements, he appeared behind Ti Hun and swung his axe down.

"Watch out!" Han Li shouted, already activating his time law power, his figure instantly chasing after him.

Ti Hun had also reacted, lunging forward just in time to avoid the axe blade.

"Rip!" A sound like tearing silk rang out. Ti Hun's back robe suddenly tore open, and a spray of blood scattered.

At the same time, Han Li had already flashed behind Blood Fiend, thrusting his sword straight at his back.

But then, a bizarre scene occurred!

Blood Fiend did not turn around. Instead, a strange "crack" came from his shoulder joint. His arm twisted directly backward, wielding the blood axe to block, using the axe body to parry the sword tip.

Han Li's eyes focused, and he formed a hand seal. The Green Bamboo Cloudswarm Sword suddenly burst with golden light.

Countless golden electric threads crackled, turning into bolts of Du Tian Divine Lightning that struck out, enveloping Blood Fiend.

Blood Fiend's chest eyes were hit by the golden lightning and immediately closed, letting out a wail.

Ti Hun immediately flew away from him and landed beside Jin Tong.

Jin Tong looked and saw that the flesh on Ti Hun's back was split open, a narrow bloody line running almost the entire length of her spine, so deep that the vertebrae were almost visible.

She flew into a rage, her body flashing with golden light as she charged at Blood Fiend.

"Ha!"

Blood Fiend let out a roar, and the giant axe in his hand blazed with rune light. A blood-colored vortex suddenly appeared within it.

The golden lightning released from Han Li's Cloudswarm Sword was immediately absorbed by the vortex, all pouring into the giant axe.

The giant axe, wrapped in golden lightning, swung in an arc in midair and then came crashing down toward Han Li's head.

A surge of blood light, carrying a cascade of golden electric light, poured down like a waterfall toward Han Li.

Seeing this, Han Li did not meet it head-on. Instead, he flickered and dodged aside.

After Blood Fiend released the Du Tian Divine Lightning from his giant axe, a red glow appeared on his body again, and he turned into a series of afterimages, chasing after Han Li.

But halfway, a golden light shot swiftly toward him—it was Jin Tong charging straight at him.

Blood Fiend twisted his body violently and swung his axe down at Jin Tong.

At that moment, Jin Tong's body blazed with golden light, instantly revealing her true form as a Devouring Gold Immortal, and she crashed into the blood-colored giant axe without dodging.

"Clang!" A sharp sound rang out!

The blade of the blood-colored giant axe struck down but was caught between Jin Tong's two front claws, firmly locked in place.

A strange light flickered in Blood Fiend's abdominal eyes, and he pressed down hard.

Jin Tong's body sank, but she still held the giant axe firmly, not loosening her grip at all.