CHAPTER 176: CHAPTER 175 NETHER ABYSS OUTING

"Underworld Envoy? Banquet for All Nations?"

Lu Yan squinted slightly, maintaining a calm facade as he said, "Please, brother, explain further."

The young man glanced at Lu Yan with a hint of peculiarity. Recently, the matter regarding the Underworld Envoy had been the talk of the town, anyone related to the Li Family rushed to Luo City, hoping to seize some opportunity at this crucial moment.

Seeing Lu Yan’s extraordinary demeanor and knowing he was headed to Luo City, a city under the Li Family’s jurisdiction, he assumed Lu Yan was trying to seek refuge, hence, he initiated the conversation.

But Lu Yan hadn’t even heard of this significant event concerning the Underworld Envoy, which seemed to indicate he had no ties to the Li Family, instantly dampening the young man’s spirits, making him reply perfunctorily:

"Although the Li Family had some dealings with ghosts and deities of the Underworld before, receiving rewards from them, they’ve never been formally recognized by the Underworld."

"The title of Ghost Gods Li Family was merely a name given voluntarily by various forces out of fear of the Underworld."

"When the Underworld Envoy descends upon the Li Family, it signifies the Underworld’s formal acknowledgment of the Li Family’s status, marking their true ascent as representatives of the Underworld among mortals, equating them with millennium-old family dynasties that control empires."

"By then, the whole Hezhou region will become the Li Family’s domain. What an unparalleled honor that is!"

As the young martial artist marveled, a streak of danger flashed in Lu Yan’s slightly squinted eyes.

Others might not be clear about the so-called Underworld Envoy, but how could Lu Yan not know?

As the Lord of the Underworld and the one who holds its source, Lu Yan could confirm he hadn’t dispatched any Underworld Envoy.

Thus, the actions of the Li Family appeared exceedingly suspicious.

"Li Hao isn’t a fool. It’s only been less than half a year since I displayed divine might in the urban version, and the leftover momentum ought to remain."

"Yet the Li Family dared to create a so-called Underworld Envoy, widely spreading the news and inviting all nations. Aren’t they afraid of the Underworld’s wrath upon learning the truth?"

"Is the Li Family trying to gain influence? Or is there another agenda at play?"

Lu Yan plunged into contemplation, his gaze growing deeper and deeper.

This matter exudes an unusual vibe, warranting careful consideration and action.

This mishap rendered the original plan — going directly to find the Li Family under the guise of the Underworld Envoy and having Li Hao assist in hiding the True Technique — undoubtedly bankrupt.

Until he clarified the background of the suddenly appearing Underworld Envoy, Lu Yan dared not easily reveal himself, lest he falls into some sort of trap.

After Lu Yan sank into thought, the previously excited young martial artist also calmed down somewhat, as the Scale Beast Carriage wobbled its way toward Luo City.

Unknown time passed, accompanied by a vigorous shake of the Scale Beast Carriage, prompting Lu Yan, who was meditating with closed eyes, to slowly open them.

Those inside the carriage were also startled awake by the intense shaking, casting fearful and uncertain glances outside.

Conversely, the people in the caravan were quite composed; there were even some running back and forth around the caravan, loudly shouting:

"Everyone, rest assured, it’s our human race Ancestor traveling, stay inside the carriage."

"Those who haven’t practiced the True Technique are advised not to look out the window, to avoid being influenced by dao resonance."

Upon hearing this, the young martial artist seemed to hear good news, hurriedly lifting the curtain to peer outside.

Meanwhile, the others inside the carriage adeptly pulled out a packet of medicine from their bosoms, poured it into their mouths, then closed their eyes, immediately falling asleep inside the carriage.

This bizarre phenomenon sparked Lu Yan’s curiosity. He did not employ Divine Sense to probe but instead looked outside from the gap in the curtain pulled by the young martial artist.

In the plains over ten miles away, a mountain-sized giant was walking slowly. Its body seemed to be assembled from countless huge stones, every step causing the earth to tremble, being the source of the previous ground shaking.

Next to the mountain giant crawled a colossal crocodile demon, its scale-covered body stretching a hundred meters long, adorned with dark green moss.

The two demons were jointly pulling an ancient copper coffin, radiating an eerie bronze hue under the moonlight. The coffin was enveloped with thick chains, each ring producing a dull clash that seemed to pound on everyone’s hearts, causing their hearts to rise and fall with each sound.

Such a bizarre spectacle shocked Lu Yan greatly.

Whether the mountain giant or the crocodile demon, both exuded an aura comparable to Golden Core practitioners.

On the ancient copper coffin they were tugging, the aura was profound and ocean-like, carrying an indescribable sense of oppression.

"Nether Abyss Realm?"

Lu Yan speculated inwardly but was suddenly interrupted by a burst of roars from within the caravan.

A Mortal Martial Artist at the Early Stage of Transcendence was standing outside, eyes fixated on the copper coffin emitting abyssal aura, his flesh beneath the skin squirming like worms.

With each alteration of his flesh, his body swelled several sizes akin to a balloon, quickly transforming from a normal size to a portly figure, his burgeoning flesh on the stomach almost about to touch the ground.

Enduring the torment of flesh mutation, this Mortal Martial Artist’s expression didn’t show the slightest worry, rather, it was filled with uncontrollable ecstasy.

"I’ve made it!"

"I’ve made it!"

Witnessing this scene, the others in the caravan cast envious glances, even the Martial Artist at the Early Stage of Soul Burial who presided over the caravan couldn’t help but exclaim:

"To see the Ancestor travel while in the Transcendence Realm is truly fortunate."

At the entrance to Lu Yan’s carriage, a young Martial Artist also spoke with envy:

"It’s said that the Ancestor in the Nether Abyss Realm has a cultivation that pierces the heavens and the earth, his flesh body is nearly at the Path of Transformation, observing the Ancestor of the Nether Abyss is like facing the Great Dao directly.

We Martial Artists in Transcendence must shed our mortal bodies to ascend to the Soul Burial Realm, wondering how many times we would have to comprehend True Technique and how many precious resources we would spend to completely shed the mortal body.

This guy is really lucky, just one observation of the Ancestor’s procession allowed him to fully complete his Transcendence, and now with just a bit of effort, he can step into the Soul Burial Realm, it can be considered as a leap to heaven."

Lu Yan wore an unusual expression, with his insight, he could naturally see that this so-called Transcendence was to actively accept pollution from the Great Dao.

Doing this can indeed bring one closer to the Great Dao, and even elevate their understanding of the True Intent of the Great Dao after advancing, but this approach is undoubtedly like grabbing sesame seeds while losing a watermelon.

Only these demon-like True Martial Artists can do such a thing.

Completing Transcendence, a human-shaped Meat Mountain True Martial Artist stands in place, and everyone else steps forward to congratulate.

Even the young Martial Artist from Lu Yan’s carriage squeezes in, but nobody pays attention to him, considering that his cultivation at the Early Stage of Transcendence is the lowest in the entire caravan.

What’s more, the young Martial Artist’s mutation level is too low, with only a few scales on his face that slightly set him apart from normal people.

Many seasoned True Martial Artists easily see that the young Martial Artist is not practicing True Technique, but a Pseudo Technique modeled after True Technique, unqualified to be listed on the Heaven and Earth True Technique List, having only the form of a demon but no connection to the Path of Heaven and Earth.

After some interactions, the self-deprecating young Martial Artist soon returns angrily, muttering curses under his breath:

"Just someone cultivating the ’Meat Mountain Technique,’ what’s there to show off?

The Meat Mountain Technique ranks beyond ten thousand on the Heaven and Earth True Technique List, and last time it came to the world, there were over twenty thousand people practicing it.

With a multitude vying for the bottom-tier path, even if promoted, one can never comprehend the True Intent of the Great Dao."

Unveiling the curtain, the young Martial Artist finally notices Lu Yan remaining clear-headed and instantly feels uneasy.

The person who just completed Transcendence is surely destined to become a True Martial Artist in the Soul Burial Realm, muttering criticism is fine in private, but with Lu Yan present, if he lets slip what he’s said, he wouldn’t come out unscathed.

Lu Yan, on the other hand, maintained a calm demeanor pretending he heard nothing, ready to close his eyes again.

Yet suddenly, a violent explosion resounded throughout the camp.

The young Martial Artist and Lu Yan immediately looked in the direction of the sound, seeing three Martial Artists attempting to use Great Dao pollution to complete their Transcendence explode violently, with their bodies and bones flying and splattering, penetrating several carriages.

One of the hearts even dropped right in front of the carriage they sat, the heart, mingled red and black, continued pulsing away from the body, with residual blood vessels seemingly supporting the heart as it tried to wriggle and escape like tendrils.

The young Martial Artist, looking delighted, grabbed the heart and stuffed it into his clothes, then sneakily glanced around.

But at this moment, the caravan was busy dealing with the few carriages pierced by body fragments and the injured crowd, paying no mind to the young Martial Artist’s small actions, which made him quietly show a pleased look.

Cradling the pulsating heart carefully, the other ordinary people in the carriage remained unconscious, clearly still under the effects of the drug.

Only Lu Yan opened his eyes, his gaze fixated on the violently beating heart.

The young Martial Artist hesitated, Lu Yan was merely an ordinary person, theoretically a casual threat would keep him obedient and quiet.

Yet whenever he harbored ill intentions towards Lu Yan, he couldn’t shake an inexplicable sense of unease, as if his conscience was reminding him he shouldn’t act this way.

"Alas, ultimately not a true demon,"

The young Martial Artist sighed inwardly, finally deciding with conviction and speaking:

"This heart seems to have completed Transcendence and moved beyond the human body domain, since you’ve seen it, I’ll share a portion with you.

Utilize this heart well to aid in Transcendence, find a True Technique, and perhaps you might have a future as a True Martial Artist."

Adding a hasty warning: "But I took down this heart, my share has to be larger, don’t even think about splitting it equally."

Lu Yan showed a peculiar expression, surprised at the drama within this guy’s heart.

After a brief contemplation, he extended his index finger to lightly tap the heart in the young Martial Artist’s hand.

In the next moment, a ferocious and twisted visage appeared on the originally throbbing heart, its mouth stretched wide in a frenzy, as if about to devour someone.

The young Martial Artist’s right hand trembled, almost dropping the heart onto the floor.