Transcendent Dawn

Chapter 613: Chapter 0613: Hades (Seeking Subscription)

Ghosts and monsters!

These are even more terrifying than demons.

A ‘ghost’ has no definitive form, making them difficult to eliminate. They take pleasure in killing people in a variety of eerie and brutal ways.

Moreover, they aren’t frightened by magic artifacts, meaning they could even be present within Qingyang City!

As for the ‘monsters’!

They are referred to as large-scale ‘weird’ phenomena with unknown origins. Their emergence is akin to a natural disaster! If they appear nearby, the entirety of Qingyang City may have to be abandoned!

Obtaining their post-mortem remains, even just a part, is extremely difficult.

“Obviously, nothing of this sort exists here.”

Su Lu asserted, “The so-called weird creatures are mostly ghostly in nature! They’re the remains left by ghosts! It’s certain that no such thing exists within a few tens of miles of your village unless you’re thinking of robbing others. There’s only one option left… explore the Ghost Realm!”

“Ghost Realm?”

Xu Changqing repeated, startled.

“It’s what you call hell!” Su Lu let out an ambiguous laughter, “Seven days have yet to pass, maybe you can even come across some familiar faces!”

“Familiar faces?”

“Yes, I need you to prepare some things… yellow paper, glutinous rice, rooster, cinnabar, needle and thread…”

This is what’s needed for the ‘Spirit Communication Ritual’ of this world, equivalent to the [Spirit Medium]’s ‘Soul Trance’.

However, in this world, it’s not called a soul, but a ‘soul and spirit’!

Su Lu had been interested in hell for a long time, so this time, he was preparing to have Xu Changqing take him there.

As for the method of spirit communication?

He naturally acquired it from the ‘Corpse Resolving Immortal’ and that ‘weird’ creature.

In this world, he would neither use his own strength nor reveal the profession path from other worlds.

He would only choose a native and upgrade within the strength system of the native land. This way, he could achieve perfect concealment and achieve his objective of smuggling into the Abyss.

…

“Cough, cough… Alright, everyone, go prepare. Just as a pair of birds in the same forest would fly their separate ways in the face of danger, wouldn’t humans do the same? Those who can seek refuge, do so as soon as possible. In three days time, even if it costs me my old bones, I’ll lead the remaining people to Qingyang City!”

The elder coughed, concluding his speech.

His face was devoid of expression, just a deathly pallor, reflecting a kind of despair that was more sorrowful than death itself.

Traveling in the wilderness at this time was undoubtedly dangerous.

It can be said that some people have never left the village their entire lives.

To lead a group of elderly, weak, sick, and disabled people to Qingyang City, the road would be fraught with difficulties. Losing up to two-thirds of the group might be possible.

And this is all under the premise of taking the well-explored safe routes!

Xu Changqing moved his lips, wishing to say that he had a way and that everyone didn’t need to leave, but he didn’t voice it.

The underworld was undoubtedly a dangerous place. There was only a ‘possibility’ of finding weird creatures there, not a certainty.

Hastily giving hope, then brutally shattering it, is the most painful of all.

“I need to prepare myself first, test it out, and see if I can acquire a magic artifact.”

Xu Changqing internally made up his mind.

He grew up being fed by the villagers, to whom he owed many favors. If he had the capacity, he would definitely not hesitate to help.

…

The next day.

Every household was filled with gloomy despair, and some had already begun to pack up, preparing to leave.

Seeing this, Xu Changqing was even more determined to attain a breakthrough immediately.

The items Su Lu required weren’t precious; he gritted his teeth ready to gather them.

By nightfall, within a thatched cottage.

Xu Changqing, holding a cinnabar pen, was drawing lines on a piece of yellow paper, forming a talisman inscribed with mysterious symbols.

“Your spiritual blood is insufficient, and so is the cinnabar. But it will have to make do!”

Su Lu casually commented, “You managed to successfully draw a talisman out of every five attempts, it seems you have a bit of talent for this…”

He originally thought this guy would fail more than ten times.

Although it was just a minor Transcendent artifact that didn’t even qualify as entry-level, for a youth to achieve this was quite remarkable.

“My father once told me that painting and writing are the same, emphasizing ‘attention and mindfulness’, not necessarily focusing on the connection of the pen tip…”

Xu Changqing lifted his head and said.

“Emphasize intention, not form? This essentially means concentrating spiritual power, it does help a little…”

Su Lu inwardly nodded, “Did you remember the next steps? If you fail, there may be no coming back.”

“Old grandfather, rest assured.”

Xu Changqing asserted in reply.

“Then…now that it’s just past midnight, the timing is just right, let’s start.”

Su Lu urged.

“Alright.”

Xu Changqing grabbed a handful of glutinous rice, sprinkling a circle around the edge of the bed, then took out a red-crowned rooster from a bamboo cage next to him, tying one of its legs with a red thread, the other end tied to his own toe.

Free, the rooster immediately ran to the ground to eat rice, tightening the red thread.

Xu Changqing lay on the bed, sticking the talisman paper on his forehead, muttering incantations under his breath.

“Soul Trance, or to say Soul Out of Body is simple… Imagine a moment when you’re in a deep sleep and you suddenly feel like you’re falling from a high tower, tense all over. With a strong surge of intention, the soul will come out.”

Su Lu said, “Some frail people have weak souls, and there seems to be a sense of Yin energy in their sickrooms, that’s the reason for the scattering of souls… try it a few times.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Before his words had finished, Xu Changqing’s body suddenly stiffened, and a soul appeared.

“Is this my soul?”

Xu Changqing looked at his semi-transparent hands, and his body on the bed, feeling quite curious.

“Soul out of body is the first step, the most important second step is to enter the Underworld… Watch the red string on your body, it’s the key to your return. If you get lost in the Underworld, well…”

Su Lu’s voice echoed in his soul.

“Old grandfather… you can actually come with me?”

Xu Changqing looked around his body and still couldn’t find any trace of Su Lu.

“Of course… Do you see the rooster eating rice around your bed? Follow it…”

Su Lu said, “Time waits for no one, fight quickly, go!”

…

“Speed!”

According to the method provided by Su Lu, Xu Changqing muttered the mantra, his soul suddenly plunged into darkness.

Whoo!

A howling wind arose, turning into ghostly wails. The temperature around him dropped rapidly.

For some reason, under this environment, his soul seemed to be in its element and became more crystal clear.

“Old grandfather…”

Xu Changqing was nervous, he called out.

“I’m here!”

Su Lu’s response came, “Don’t be afraid, keep moving forward.”

Xu Changqing stepped forward, and the fog gradually disappeared, revealing a dim world.

The sky was grey, there was no sun, moon, or stars.

Under Xu Changqing’s feet, there was a waste ground, and it seemed that there was a ruin not far away.

Silent, desolate…

This was Xu Changqing’s first impression of the Underworld.

He curiously asked, “Since this is the underworld, where are the souls of people? Why is it so desolate?”

“The souls of ordinary people disperse on their own after most seven days of existence, as for the remaining fierce ghosts?” Su Lu said with a mysterious smile, “If the Underworld is empty, then of course the evil ghosts have all run into the mortal world!”