Chapter 1290: Encountering a Demon in the Netherworld

"Since you've considered everything, I'll go with you to take a look and discuss the rest based on the actual situation," Han Li said, nodding.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Han. The Six Paths Reincarnation Disk is incredibly miraculous and will certainly be of great help to you as well," the Ghost Witch said, overjoyed.

"Master, wait. There are still things that need to be clarified," Soul Cry suddenly interjected.

Han Li nodded at Soul Cry, signaling her to speak freely.

"Fellow Daoist Soul Cry, if you have any questions, feel free to ask," the Ghost Witch said with a smile.

"How long is the 'every so often' you mentioned? Let me be clear: we can't stay in this Netherworld for too long; we'll be leaving soon," Soul Cry said.

"Rest assured on that point. The positive and negative whirlwinds occur frequently, roughly once every thousand years. According to my calculations, the next whirlwind eruption is not far off—it will happen within a hundred years," the Ghost Witch said, his smile fading as he spoke seriously.

"Since the positive and negative whirlwinds are so powerful, won't the Six Paths Reincarnation Disk be affected if it's inside?" Soul Cry continued asking.

"The Six Paths Reincarnation Disk is a natural treasure born from the Netherworld, an incarnation of the great Dao of heaven and earth. It is extremely hard, and moreover, the Six Paths Reincarnation Disk and the positive and negative whirlwinds share the same origin, so the whirlwinds naturally won't affect it," the Ghost Witch explained.

"Will we pass through many ghost clan territories on the way to the Yellow Spring Great Marsh? How strong are those ghost clans?" Golden Boy also spoke up.

"We will inevitably pass through some ghost clan settlements along the way, but with Fellow Daoist Han's current strength, plus the help of you two, there will certainly be no problem. Moreover, I am very familiar with the route and will help you three avoid some troubles," the Ghost Witch said.

In the following time, Soul Cry and Golden Boy asked a few more questions, all of which the Ghost Witch patiently answered, listing solutions for each. Soon, the two had nothing more to say.

"Fellow Daoist Ghost Witch, you've thought things through quite thoroughly," Han Li said.

"You flatter me, Fellow Daoist Han. Without the help of you three, no matter how much I considered, it would be useless," the Ghost Witch said with a smile.

Han Li gave a noncommittal faint smile and said nothing more.

The three set off immediately, first leaving the Soul-Losing Cliff on foot, then flying northwest as directed by the Ghost Witch.

"Master, do you really believe what the Ghost Witch said? What if he's deceiving us like that Blood Li before?" Soul Cry communicated with Han Li via voice transmission.

"Can you sense whether what he says is true or false?" Han Li asked back via voice transmission.

"No. Although this person is only a remnant soul, his soul cultivation realm is very high. Like that Blood Li before, Golden Boy and I tried to question him repeatedly, but we still couldn't detect anything," Soul Cry said somewhat dejectedly via voice transmission.

"It's fine. As you said, that Ghost Shaman is now just a remnant soul. If he makes any untoward move, I'll deal with him immediately. Besides, that Six Paths Reincarnation Disk is so miraculous and holds great significance for us—it's worth the risk." Han Li comforted, his words exuding an unshakable confidence.

Upon hearing Han Li's words, Ti Hun was momentarily stunned, then nodded and said no more.

The group flew for half a month, drawing closer to the depths of Yanluo Domain, where more and more ghost clans began to appear frequently.

These clans either formed various tribes or lived in cities, a stark contrast to the chaotic situation in Heihe Domain.

Fortunately, with the Ghost Shaman, who was extremely familiar with Yanluo Domain, guiding them, the group traveled with some惊险 but ultimately safe, drawing nearer to the Yellow Springs Great Marsh.

The three of them wove through the black clouds in the sky, using the cloud cover to conceal their tracks.

As Han Li flew forward, he held a thick tome in his hands, flipping through it rapidly.

He had obtained it by sneaking into a city they passed.

Cross-referencing the contents of this tome, what the Ghost Shaman had said so far was mostly true.

"Master, there's movement ahead. It seems someone is fighting," Ti Hun suddenly spoke up.

Han Li's gaze sharpened, and he immediately halted, stowing away the tome.

Ti Hun and Jin Tong also stopped, flanking him on either side.

"Is there something special about the combatants?" Han Li looked at Ti Hun.

"Oh? Outsiders have come to the Netherworld again, and from the Demon Domain no less. How interesting," the Ghost Shaman materialized from the black square box, clicking his tongue.

Hearing this, Han Li glanced at the Ghost Shaman, then looked back at Ti Hun.

"That's right. One side of the fight is from the Demon race," Ti Hun said, casting a surprised look at the Ghost Shaman before nodding.

"In your current state, can you still sense things from so far away?" Han Li asked the Ghost Shaman.

"In the Netherworld, as long as one can skillfully manipulate divine sense fluctuations, sensing at this distance is only natural. You are a human, so you're unfamiliar with divine sense manipulation. But you, little girl Ti Hun, as the reincarnation of the Nether King, have you forgotten even the signature skills of us Netherworld Ghost Clans? To only sense the battle ahead at this distance," the Ghost Shaman said, looking at Ti Hun with curiosity.

"I've told you, I don't remember any Nether King," Ti Hun said, her expression shifting as she snorted coldly.

The Ghost Shaman smiled faintly at this and looked away.

"How far can you perceive now?" Han Li asked the Ghost Witch, ignoring everything else.

"I am but a remnant soul now, able to perceive only a distance of one hundred twenty to one hundred thirty thousand li," the Ghost Witch replied without hesitation.

Hearing this, Han Li was startled—the Ghost Witch's perception range was fifty to sixty times that of Ti Hun.

"We are now grasshoppers tied to the same rope. Since Fellow Daoist Ghost Witch's perception is so far-reaching, I shall entrust the task of scouting to you," Han Li said.

"Hehe, naturally," the Ghost Witch chuckled.

"Let's go. We'll move closer and see who is ahead," Han Li said with a wave of his hand.

The group continued forward and soon arrived near a valley, where they concealed themselves in a hidden spot outside.

Ti Hun chanted an incantation, casting the invisibility spell she had just recalled, and concealed the traces of the three.

Unfortunately, this spell could not be maintained for long; otherwise, they could have saved much trouble on their journey.

"This is the Annihilation Mark of the Nether King! You truly are the reincarnation of the Nether King—no one else could comprehend such a divine ability!" the Ghost Witch exclaimed in delight at the sight.

"Annihilation Mark of the Nether King? I don't know what you're talking about. I am Ti Hun, not the Nether King," Ti Hun snorted coldly, ignoring him.

Hearing the Ghost Witch's words, Han Li's mind churned with thoughts, but he soon cast them aside and looked into the valley.

The valley was quite large, spanning twenty to thirty li, and within it countless black shadows flickered, forming a huge encirclement, howling incessantly.

These ghostly creatures had human bodies and goat heads, standing four to five zhang tall, covered in fine black fur, with a black mist swirling around them.

The goat-headed ghosts wielded enormous black curved blades that emitted smoke-like black qi. With each swing, black mist blade lights whistled out, slashing toward the center of the encirclement.

The goat-headed ghosts clearly understood battle formations, coordinating with each other skillfully. The black mist blade lights formed a massive blade array, from which an overwhelming aura of slaughter emanated, covering the entire valley like a lid.

"These are the Shangyang Ghost Clan, considered only mid-tier in the Three Nether Realms," the Ghost Witch remarked.

Han Li turned his gaze toward the center of the formation.

Through the streaks of blade light, he could vaguely make out two figures in black robes, one tall and one short, entirely covered in black garments, their faces hidden.

The black robes were not ordinary attire; they were imbued with a peculiar restrictive force that prevented spiritual sense from penetrating, so their features could not be seen.

Around the two figures, four black banners embroidered with purple cloud patterns danced, spinning swiftly around them to form a hemispherical purple barrier that withstood the surrounding blade formation's onslaught.

Those four black banners were of no low grade; the purple barrier they formed was exceptionally tough, trembling violently under the blade formation's assault but not shattering immediately.

"They are indeed two demons, and their cultivation levels are not low. Strange, what are these two demons doing here?" Han Li muttered to himself.

The aura emanating from the two black-robed figures was pure demonic qi. The taller demon's aura was deep and vast, having reached the Da Luo stage.

Though the shorter demon was entirely covered in black robes, a hint of a delicate figure could be discerned, clearly a female cultivator. Her cultivation was slightly weaker, yet she had reached the peak of the Tai Yi stage.

Although these two demons were not weak in strength, the surrounding goat-headed ghostly creatures were too numerous and individually formidable, firmly suppressing the pair within the blade formation and preventing their escape.

"Master, if this stalemate continues, these two may not hold out. Should we save them?" Ti Hun asked.

Han Li looked at the Ghost Witch upon hearing this.

"Fellow Daoist Ghost Witch, are there any powerful ghost clans nearby that might cause trouble if we attack these Shang Yang ghostly creatures?"

"The Shang Yang ghost clan is not among the top ghost clans in the Yan Luo Domain, but they are a vassal of the Ma Wang ghost clan, one of the four great ghost clans. If you wish to save them, you can, but act quickly—rescue them and leave immediately, and you should avoid trouble," the Ghost Witch said.

"In that case, Ti Hun, Jin Tong, break the blade formation and rescue these two." Han Li's expression relaxed as he tilted his chin and spoke.

Ti Hun and Jin Tong acknowledged and shot forth.

Ti Hun grabbed at the air with her right hand, and a black giant claw, the size of a small mountain, appeared above the valley, slamming down toward the blade formation.

Jin Tong's body flashed with golden light, instantly transforming into a house-sized Devouring Gold Immortal. Its two front claws swung.

Amid a series of sharp, earth-shaking screeches, a vast expanse of crystalline light like sword qi shot out, instantly coalescing into a sword mountain that, together with Ti Hun's giant claw, struck the blade formation.

Due to Ti Hun's invisibility technique, the goat-headed ghostly creatures had not detected their presence. Only when the black claw and golden sword mountain descended did they react, but by then it was too late.

The black giant claw and golden sword mountain struck the blade formation, producing two earth-shattering booms!

The blade formation shattered mostly, but did not collapse entirely.

Rings of black and golden light waves spread outward, and the peaks beside the valley easily crumbled and disintegrated upon contact.

A surging blast of fierce wind rose into the sky, rolling in all directions, covering an area hundreds of miles in radius, scraping off a layer of the ground itself.