Cultivation Starts from Killing Pigs-Chapter 286 - 273: Gathering in Qingzhou, First Foray into the Underworld (2)

After Zhang Kui modified the Dragonbone Divine Ship, which originally could accommodate dozens of people, this time he chose only ten Mahayana Realm cultivators, perhaps with the intention of practicing combat.

Now, the Divine Court Bell can open the passageway at any time, unlike before when it could only be accessed before Mid-Autumn, so it doesn't really matter where they go.

"Fellow cultivators..."

Zhang Kui's expression became serious, "The road ahead is unpredictable. For safety's sake, do not act on your own; otherwise, don't blame me, Old Zhang, for turning against you!"

The group shuddered, bowing in unison, "We heed Sect Leader Zhang's command."

Zhang Kui nodded slightly, waving his hand. The Divine Court Bell appeared instantly, and golden divine light illuminated the entire valley.

The Tai Shi Golden Body Dharma Aspect appeared next, staring at a certain spot in the air. A flash of divine light gleamed in its eyes, and immediately a swirling black circular space gate slowly emerged, from which seemed to issue countless pitiful screams...

Everyone held their breaths.

Most of them had been to the Underworld before, and in the past, they could only open a small door with the Divine Strange Pearl. The passage opened by the Divine Court Bell was hundreds of meters wide—no wonder Zhang Kui wanted to steer a dragon ship to enter it.

Zhang Kui's eyes also narrowed slightly as he said in a deep voice, "Fellow cultivators, board the ship!"

Immediately, silhouettes wrapped in black smoke landed on the divine ship, and Zhang Kui jumped onto the bow, casually patting the slightly nervous Fatty Tiger's head. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The divine ship was now controlled by the Immortal Slave Yellow Turban Warriors, and with a mental command from Zhang Kui, the huge dragon bone supporting the hull of the ship slowly moved towards the Underworld passage.

Just as they were about to enter the swirling, dark passage, Zhang Kui turned his head for one last glance, and the Tai Shi Golden Body Dharma Aspect clasped its hands together in a gesture of farewell.

The main body of the Divine Court Bell needed to suppress the Divine Land Array and the human race's destiny, so only a part was taken away this time.

The leaders of the Kaiyuan Divine Dynasty were overly concerned; Zhang Kui wouldn't leave without making proper arrangements. Whether it was the Earth Demon Ten Halls of the Profound Sect or the Human Race Divine Path, everything could continue to function normally in his absence. Even if the Divine Continent faced a crisis, Tai Shi could control the Divine Land Array to suppress it.

The stern of the Dragonbone Divine Ship quickly disappeared into the dark passage.

Tai Shi's gaze remained indifferent as he waved to close the passage. The Divine Court Bell vanished in an instant, and the ruins returned to their former silence...

...

The ghostly wind, carrying black sand, howled through a dimly lit world.

Zhang Kui, long immune to heat and cold, could still sense the piercing chill in the air, as if the cold of the Jiangnan rainy season seeped into his bones, resembling the Nine Netherworld cold wind attempting to freeze the divine soul.

It was a black desert, with undulating dunes and slowly shifting black sand. No light could penetrate, and even with the divine sense of a Mahayana Realm cultivator, it was only possible to detect within a kilometer.

On the deck of the Dragonbone Divine Ship, the large golden defense array had already risen, and the Soul Suppressing Tower embedded in the boat pavilion hummed, continuously emitting lighthouse-like rays of light.

Everyone held their breath, watching cautiously. Yuan Huang, staring below, furrowed his brows, "Strange, why is there nothing here?"

Seeing Zhang Kui turn his head, Yuan Huang quickly explained, "The Underworld is vast, and no one has ever been able to survey its edges. But entering through a node usually brings you near some ancient ruins."

Zhang Kui nodded.

He wasn't puzzled by this but rather noticed that the eerie mists in this realm were remarkably similar to the mist that blocked divine sense in the Ji Temple Secret Realm and the Jingjiang Secret Realm, suggesting that its origin might also lie in the Underworld.

Following them in, Chi Liyan's face changed dramatically, her expression frantic as she looked around in horror, anxiously saying, "No, no! After my father's disappearance, I once came here; at that time, there were still remnants and ruins. Why is it now..."

"Don't panic!"

Zhang Kui's face darkened slightly, then his pupils rotated with the Sun and Moon Light Wheel.

The demons saw the twin divine lights in his eyes shoot out violently, fading into the ghostly wind and dark fog, leaving them utterly speechless.

Yuan Huang looked on with a tinge of envy; he knew this was the Tongyou Skill, capable of looking up to the Cyan Nether and down into the Nine Netherworld. However, its complexity was mind-boggling, and reaching Zhang Kui's level of mastery was astoundingly challenging.

The demons watched as Zhang Kui's eyes, radiating divine light, scanned methodically across their surroundings, their mouths closed tight in silent respect.

Since the Profound Sect opened, nearly everyone had visited those Earth Demon Ten Halls, and the breadth of techniques Zhang Kui had mastered was downright astonishing, reinforcing their growing confidence.

Just as Zhang Kui's gaze fixed southeast, he suddenly stiffened and said gravely, "There's something over there."

No sooner had he spoken than he issued a mental command, and the Dragonbone Divine Ship surged forward, covering thousands of meters in an instant. A shadowy figure appeared before them.

It was a crumbling Soul Suppressing Tower, half-buried in the black sand. The original bronze tower body appeared charred as if burned, and the bronze bells hanging from it were completely shattered.

"This is bad!"

Yuan Huang and the other demons instantly paled, looking around nervously.

The Four-Eyed Monk of the Celestial River Water Mansion, Bonaluo, recited a Buddhist chant, "Sect Leader Zhang, this place has likely long been breached by underworld anomalies. We'd best leave quickly."

"Underworld anomalies..."

Zhang Kui's gaze sharpened as he surveyed the surroundings.

Having planned to explore the Underworld, he had naturally gathered much information.

In folklore, the Underworld was a place for the reincarnation of souls; indeed, some had seen the wandering Yin Souls of the deceased.

But the greatest threat here was the so-called underworld anomalies.

No one knew where these things originated; some appear part-human and part-ghost-god, others are indescribably monstrous beasts, and many defy any explanation.

Yet, regardless of their form, they were utterly mad, harboring profound hatred towards explorers and ancient ruins, as well as the Soul Suppressing Towers, tirelessly seeking to destroy all.

The Soul Suppressing Tower's purpose was to repel these underworld anomalies, making areas between relics unprotected by these towers exceedingly dangerous.