Chapter 728: Confusing the Enemy with Illusions

"Before coming here, I specifically looked up information about the Netherworld Clan. There was one rumor that caught my attention. It's said that within Asura City there is a naturally formed pit of karmic fire, and every member of the Netherworld Clan, from birth, is placed into this pit to undergo a baptism, which they call soul-washing," Bai Yan said slowly.

"Newborn infants placed into karmic fire... How is that possible?" Shi Chuankong exclaimed in surprise.

"Cultivators in the Grey Realm rely on baleful qi for survival; their tolerance for karmic fire is far beyond ours. Moreover, they don't throw infants directly into the fire. Instead, they let them live near it. Only when they reach twelve years of age are they truly placed into the karmic fire for soul-washing. Those who can withstand it without dying are deemed worthy to become true Netherworld Clan members," Bai Yan explained.

"No wonder the Netherworld Clan is so few in number, with most being nether slaves..." Hu San mused thoughtfully.

"Earlier, within that courtyard, I sensed an extremely strong aura of karmic fire. I suspect the karmic fire pit lies beneath that courtyard," Bai Yan said contemplatively.

"If the rumor is true, the karmic fire pit should be in the Soul-Washing District. How could it be in the Luosheng District?" Shi Chuankong asked, puzzled.

"There's no need to wonder. We don't know the size or shape of the karmic fire pit. Perhaps it runs through both the Soul-Washing and Luosheng Districts," Mo Guang said with a smile.

"It's also possible that the Netherworld Clan deliberately dug fire channels to divert karmic fire into the Luosheng District for refining karmic fire treasures. Regardless, we may have to go underground to investigate," Han Li suddenly spoke up.

"Fellow Daoist Li, do you intend to use the karmic fire pit to sneak into the Soul-Washing District?" Bai Yan raised an eyebrow and asked.

"Indeed. Since going above ground is likely to alert the Great Luo existences, it's better to try our luck underground," Han Li nodded.

"This... I've long heard of the dangers of karmic fire. We're not of the Netherworld Clan; can we really pass through it with our bodies?" Shi Chuankong said with some concern.

He was especially worried about baleful qi invading his body, and naturally feared the karmic fire that manifested from it even more.

"Fellow Daoist Bai, you should have the most experience with this. Do you know of any way to avoid it?" Han Li looked at Bai Yan and asked.

"As you all know, baleful qi and karmic fire share the same origin, though they manifest differently. In fact, even among karmic fires, those born from heaven and earth differ from those evolved from oneself. This underground karmic fire seems to possess both burning and scorching power, searing the external body while also burning the soul internally. The physical body can be protected with treasures, but there are few means to protect the soul. It mostly depends on the strength of one's own soul to endure," Bai Yan nodded and said.

"So there's no way to avoid it, only to endure it?" Hu San sighed.

"Not entirely. If one has a soul-grade immortal artifact, one could try to use it. With everyone's combined power to activate it, it might ensure the soul's safety," Bai Yan shook his head and said.

"I do have such a treasure that I can offer for everyone to use together," Han Li said after a brief hesitation.

With that, he raised his finger and tapped his brow. A white rune appeared on his forehead, accompanied by a powerful spiritual sense.

It was the "Imperial Peak Soul-Suppressing Talisman" stored in his sea of consciousness.

This power was very peculiar, confined to a small area, yet it made Hu San and the others change color.

"Fellow Daoist Li, with such powerful spiritual sense, have you already cultivated the Art of Spirit Refinement to the fifth level?" Bai Yan asked, his expression complex and hard to read.

"Indeed. Fellow Daoist Bai, do you think this Imperial Peak Soul-Suppressing Talisman can serve as a soul-protecting immortal artifact?" Han Li nodded and asked again.

His spiritual sense was so overwhelmingly powerful that everyone present forgot to examine the talisman, instead focusing on his spiritual sense. Only after his reminder did they snap out of it.

"This treasure is already extraordinary, and with your powerful spiritual sense, under everyone's combined activation, there shouldn't be too much of a problem. It just depends on the conditions underground," Bai Yan looked at Han Li with some concern.

"I have a suggestion. Why don't we disguise ourselves as Netherworld Clan members and go underground?" Hu San squinted and proposed.

"That won't do. The Netherworld Clan has a unique aura; we can't easily impersonate them. If we're exposed on the spot, wouldn't we be walking into a trap?" Shi Chuankong frowned and shook his head.

"Ordinary methods of disguise naturally won't work, but with this, it might be possible," Hu San said with a sly laugh.

As he spoke, a light flashed in his hand, and several pure white, slender fox tails appeared. The fur on them stood on end, shimmering with a crystalline luster, looking like jade silk and snow velvet.

However, the strong smell of fox musk emanating from them was quite pungent, causing the others to wrinkle their noses involuntarily.

"These are... Jade Firmament Fox Tails?" Shi Chuankong frowned and stared at them for a moment before suddenly exclaiming.

"Brother Shi has good eyes... Indeed, these are Jade Firmament Fox Tails, shed by a Taiyi elder of my clan. Let me be clear upfront, I'm only lending them; they must be returned afterward," Hu San said with some pride.

"Jade Firmament Fox Tails are not only illusionary treasures but also possess a confounding effect. With these, Fellow Daoist Hu's earlier suggestion might be worth trying," Bai Yan said with a slight smile.

"In that case, let's not delay. We'll act immediately," Han Li concluded.

In the following time, Hu San distributed the Jade Firmament Fox Tails to everyone and explained how to use them. Then, enduring the strong musk smell, they all transformed their appearances.

After activating the treasure and transforming, the musk odor vanished completely.

Since Mo Guang and Bai Yan's auras were already above the Taiyi realm, they transformed into genuine Netherworld Clan members, while Han Li and the other two transformed into three nether slaves, following behind them with lowered heads and submissive expressions.

With that, they no longer concealed themselves but flew directly toward the ring-shaped building they had seen earlier.

Inside the courtyard, several Wo Jing Clan members were examining the traces left by the previous explosion. The leader nodded frequently, seemingly satisfied with the power.

Seeing Han Li and the others descend from the sky and hover a foot above the ground before them, the already short Wo Jing Clan members had to look up and respectfully saluted: "Greetings, two lords."

Bai Yan and Mo Guang merely nodded coldly, saying nothing.

Seeing this, the Wo Jing Clan members broke out in cold sweat on their foreheads and dared not speak, leaving the square in dead silence.

Just as Bai Yan was about to speak, the leading Wo Jing Clan member took the initiative to apologize:

"Please forgive us, lords. Those two True Immortal Realm rebels refused to cooperate, delaying the testing of the karmic fire baleful thunder until today. Mass production has not yet begun. But rest assured, within three days at most, we can produce a batch that will meet your requirements in power."

Han Li and the others were all startled inwardly.

"Let's go take a look," Bai Yan instructed impassively.

"Yes."

That Wo Jing Clan member quickly responded and led the way, while the others followed behind Han Li and his group.

With a rumbling sound from the ground, a passage downward slowly opened, and a strong wave of karmic fire baleful qi rushed out.

Following the passage downward for about several hundred zhang, they arrived at a huge underground hall.

Entering the underground hall, waves of scorching heat rolled in, carrying thick baleful qi that enveloped the surroundings. Except for Mo Guang and Bai Yan, the others found it extremely hard to bear.

Thinking that they hadn't even truly entered the karmic fire yet and it was already so uncomfortable, Han Li began to doubt whether his decision was correct.

Fortunately, after adapting for a while, the initial strange sensation of being unsettled by the baleful qi gradually subsided. Although discomfort remained, it was no longer as unbearable as before.

In the empty underground hall, dozens of armored nether slaves floated on both sides. Upon seeing Mo Guang and Bai Yan, their indifferent expressions unchanged, they all bowed to them.

"Lead the way," the two said without even looking at them.

That Wo Jing Clan member immediately led them through the hall toward deeper areas. The further they went, the clearer the sounds of "ding-dong" hammering became.

After passing through a not-too-long corridor, huge underground halls appeared on both sides. Inside, faint firelight flickered and figures moved—a large number of Wo Jing Clan members were forging and refining weapons and treasures.

Han Li secretly observed along the way, noticing that each hall contained a huge furnace with rolling black flames and blazing heat, burning extremely pure karmic fire.

They stopped at the entrance of a hall in the middle section. That Wo Jing Clan member halted and said:

"Lords, please look. The karmic fire baleful thunder is being refined intensively."

Mo Guang and Bai Yan entered first, followed closely by Han Li and the others.

This hall was several times larger than those seen before, divided into many areas. Nearly a hundred Wo Jing Clan members were scattered around, each focused on their tasks.

They seemed completely unaware of Han Li and his group's arrival; not a single person stopped their work. Only a True Immortal Realm nether slave came forward and bowed to Mo Guang and Bai Yan.

In the center of the hall stood a huge furnace with leaping black flames. Nearby, fully armored Wo Jing Clan members, even their faces covered with masks, held long-handled containers and carefully scooped out lumps of black karmic fire from the furnace.

Just then, with a "clang," one Wo Jing Clan member accidentally knocked his container against the furnace edge. The karmic fire inside spilled out, forming a line of fire flowing toward Han Li and the others.

Seeing this, that Wo Jing Clan member's face filled with panic. He immediately bent down to gather the fire, but the nether slave flicked his wrist, producing a long whip entwined with black flames, and struck him hard across the face.

A sharp "crack" sounded!

The face mask of that Wo Jing Clan member shattered instantly, and a hideous, scorched black bloody gash appeared on his face.

Green smoke rose from his face, but he didn't dare utter a sound and continued chasing after the spilled karmic fire.