Page 498

The four of them quickly closed in together, and with that an endless cold wind coiled around them.

Gu Xiaoxi swallowed hard and tightly grasped Quan Shaoqing’s hand.

At this moment, they had no time to worry about their past entanglements.

They just huddled closely together.

When Gu Xiaoxi looked up again and surveyed her surroundings.

Greenish dots of light were approaching them.

Nearby ferocious ghosts, raising their sharp claws, were floating towards them step by step, as if they wanted to devour them.

Mi Xi didn’t hesitate to release a green protective shield, enveloping everyone within it.

"Retreat quickly!" Mi Xi ordered. The presence of the green protective shield frightened the ferocious ghosts into not daring to approach.

But they didn’t leave either, as if they would rush forward and tear them to shreds the moment the shield disappeared.

"Retreat where?" asked Gu Xiaoxi, her heart fuzzing with dread. No matter how brave she was, she had never encountered such a horrific scene.

Moreover, their surroundings consisted of nothing but chilling water and hard stones, immersed in darkness, without a single guiding direction.

"Gu Xiaoxi, use your blood to light the lamp! Feel the direction with your heart!" Mi Xi said.

Gu Xiaoxi had no idea why Mi Xi knew so much.

Without hesitation, she cut her finger, and a trickle of fresh blood oozed out.

In an instant, the blood at her fingertip burst into flames, illuminating their world.

The evil ghosts closest to them were instantly dissipated by the light of the fire.

Quan Shaoqing and Yi Chentian looked at Gu Xiaoxi in astonishment.

Even Gu Xiaoxi herself did not understand what was happening; she looked to Mi Xi.

But Mi Xi just smiled easily, her gaze holding an indulgence that Gu Xiaoxi could not understand.

"Feel the direction with your heart, and you will find a place with light," Mi Xi said, her smile warm and easy, offering no explanation.

At such a critical moment, she was actually able to smile.

Gu Xiaoxi immediately closed her eyes, releasing her Spiritual Sense.

Moments later, she actually saw a place with light.

With her eyes closed, she felt as if she were walking on level ground and quickly led everyone towards the light.

Gradually, the ferocious ghosts dared not follow them any further.

Gu Xiaoxi then opened her eyes.

But the instant she opened her eyes, darkness enveloped her vision as if all her strength had been drained in an instant.

Quan Shaoqing immediately reached out to support her, asking with concern, "What’s wrong with you!"

Mi Xi answered before her, "She’s fine. The Fire of the Blazing Sun just now drained a lot of her vital energy, but she’ll be alright after some rest."

Gu Xiaoxi took a deep breath and circulated her Spiritual Power, and after a moment, she felt a little strength return.

Yet that sense of weakness still lingered.

Quan Shaoqing felt a deep sense of powerlessness at that moment, unable to be of any help in such a time.

Looking at the pitch-black palace ahead, Mi Xi’s expression turned grave, "I didn’t expect that after a whole loop, we would end up back here."

His words were completely beyond the comprehension of Gu Xiaoxi and Quan Shaoqing.

Yet he took the lead and walked forward.

Yi Chentian was completely petrified with fear, unsure of what to do.

Quan Shaoqing, supporting Gu Xiaoxi, glanced back at him, "Keep up."

For some reason, the closer they got to this place, the more panic he felt.

It seemed that this place was even more terrifying than the earlier ferocious ghosts.

Mi Xi had already moved ahead and disappeared from sight.

Quan Shaoqing, supporting Gu Xiaoxi, felt a heavy heart, "Are you afraid?"

"Afraid!" Gu Xiaoxi bit her lip, speaking truthfully. Having seen too many things beyond her imagination, even though she had grown numb to them, that sense of fear grew rather than lessened.

Mi Xi, with her unique identity, had given her an odd feeling from their first meeting.

And now, she felt even weirder about him.

"Yi Chentian, keep up and be careful," Quan Shaoqing looked back at him.

Yi Chentian immediately swallowed hard, feeling much more reassured.

Gradually, Gu Xiaoxi felt her strength returning.

So she didn’t let Quan Shaoqing support her anymore.

By this time, they were also very close to the palace.

Mi Xi’s figure had already disappeared into the entrance of the palace.

Gu Xiaoxi stood there, unsure whether to enter or not.

"Don’t be afraid, I’m here!" Quan Shaoqing extended his hand and held hers.

Gu Xiaoxi nodded; fear was of no use now.

Following the path Mi Xi had taken, they all headed deep into the palace.

Soon, they arrived at the entrance of the palace.

The icy palace walls, just like the frosty waters outside, sent waves of cold air surging towards them, causing everyone to shiver uncontrollably.

Where was this?

Gu Xiaoxi didn’t know, and neither did Quan Shaoqing.

Yi Chentian followed closely behind the two, his breathing growing heavier.

Suddenly, a green shadow leapt out, charging ferociously at Quan Shaoqing.

Gu Xiaoxi clenched her dagger and slashed at the green shadow.

Quan Shaoqing clenched his fist to strike back at the same time.

He threw a punch, slamming it hard into the green shadow and forcefully dispersing the ghostly figure.

At the same time, two more green shadows, baring their fangs and claws, charged towards Quan Shaoqing.

For a moment, Quan Shaoqing and Gu Xiaoxi were busy dealing with the ghostly shadows.

And more and more kept coming.

"Where did Mi Xi go?" Although there were not as many Evil Spirits here as before, these ghostly shadows were even stronger and harder to deal with.

Her dagger was fast, but it was difficult to inflict damage on them at once.

"I’m here!" Mi Xi suddenly reappeared beside them.

Soon, the ghostly shadows disappeared again.

Quan Shaoqing looked up at Mi Xi, observing the gloomy surroundings, and asked, "Do you know where we are?"

"We’re beneath the Naihe Bridge!" Mi Xi stated bluntly.

"What does that mean?" Gu Xiaoxi furrowed her brows, already so shocked that she didn’t know what to do.

"Stop joking around, we’re still in the Mortal World and very much alive!" Yi Chentian said with a stiff smile.

Turning, Mi Xi, with his tall silhouette exuding an indescribable sense of helplessness, said, "Go to the palace ahead. There, you can see the Mortal World."

With that, he led the group on.

It was not until this moment that Gu Xiaoxi believed that there were ghosts in this world, and in this Mortal World, there were gods.

Many things beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

In the Mortal World, the sunlight was brilliant, the streets bustling with endless streams of traffic.

Money and architecture, luxury and poverty, they were all before their eyes.

"Are we all dead?" Gu Xiaoxi asked in disbelief.

But Mi Xi turned around, glanced leisurely at Gu Xiaoxi, and shook his head, "How could that be? It’s just the Divine Blood in your body that guided us, leading us out of Hell’s Abyss."

Gu Xiaoxi didn’t understand his meaning, "What Divine Blood?"

"Every cultivator carries Divine Blood. At the same time, she carries the divine mission to protect the earth," Mi Xi explained.

"How do we get out of here now?" That was Gu Xiaoxi’s main concern.

"Two lives in exchange for two rebirths. That is the rule of the Netherworld!" Mi Xi said, facing the Mortal World with a serene tone.

Quan Shaoqing and Gu Xiaoxi instinctively tightened their grip on each other’s hands and gasped sharply.

Gu Xiaoxi forced a faint smile and shook her head consistently, "Impossible! What kind of rule is that?"

"The Abyss of Evil Spirits we were in earlier had no exit, the area beneath the Naihe Bridge was the only way out. And every human who steps on the Naihe Bridge always has a price to pay," Mi Xi stated, standing tall with a voice of ancient wisdom.

Yi Chentian sat at the head of the bridge, his mind suddenly becoming tranquil.

"I never thought I’d see this place in my lifetime. I’ve seen my family, and I am satisfied," he said with a smile, and then, looking at Quan Shaoqing, he added, "I’ll stay behind. You go!"

Gu Xiaoxi felt like she was in a dream.

"I don’t believe it! There’s no such thing as the Underworld." Gu Xiaoxi scoffed, as she gripped Young Master Quan’s hand and realized that both their hands were piercing cold.

The inability to feel each other’s warmth immediately sent her into a panic.

"Gu Xiaoxi, think about it carefully. Can everything you’ve encountered really be explained by science?"

Those words from Mi Xi sent a chill straight through Gu Xiaoxi’s heart.

"But rest assured, you are the Child of God, the chosen child. The Underworld dares not keep you; you can leave. However, I want to know, with only two able to leave, which two out of the three of us remaining will you choose?" Mi Xi asked.

Gu Xiaoxi was immediately frozen in her tracks.

As if heaven had hurled a bolt of lightning at her, she stood petrified for a long time before she reacted, her face turning ashen as she said, "If I am the Child of God, I will take everyone out with me."

"I came to rescue people in the first place, how can I just stand by and watch you die here?" Gu Xiaoxi felt, she must have fallen asleep and had a terrible nightmare.

Her heart was so cold.

Mi Xi remained silent.

Quan Shaoqing took a deep breath and stepped forward, looking towards the Mortal World from the edge of the Naihe Bridge.

His expression was calm and his tone low, "I didn’t expect Gu Feng to have such a trick up his sleeve. I really underestimated him."

From the Ancient Battlefield to the Underground Abyss, then to the Abyss of Thousands Ghosts, and finally to this Land of the Underworld.

If it wasn’t for Gu Xiaoxi’s Fire of the Blazing Sun, they might have already been devoured by the Abyss of Thousands Ghosts.

Making it here and reclaiming two lives was already a win.

Gu Xiaoxi didn’t expect that she would be betrayed by Gu Feng and brought into this place!