Free Web NovelChapter 78: Chapter 51: Bone-Burning Suffering Realm
Xuzhuang retracted his glimmering light, landing in the heart of Suffering Realm Mountain. He swept his gaze around and saw a stone stele standing at the bottom. The stele’s face was perfectly smooth and bore no inscription, making it look quite peculiar.
Surrounding the stele were six dark pools of water. They appeared bottomless, their surfaces emitting an inexplicable faint glow as bubbles occasionally rose to the top.
Before Xuzhuang could get a closer look, a tall and a short Daoist flew out from a palace hall embedded in the mountainside, blocking his path. The shorter of the two demanded, "Who goes there? Why do you trespass on Suffering Realm Mountain?"
Before Xuzhuang could reply, the taller Daoist tugged on the shorter one’s sleeve, floated slightly forward, and cupped his hands. "I was wondering why I was hearing magpies sing of good fortune here on Suffering Realm Mountain today. So it’s because Senior Brother Xu has graced us with his presence."
"Senior Brother Xu?" The shorter Daoist seemed to recall something. "Are you perhaps Senior Brother Xuzhuang?"
Xuzhuang cupped his hands in return. "The very same."
The shorter Daoist’s demeanor instantly became much more respectful. "Greetings, Senior Brother. May I ask what business brings you to the Suffering Realm?"
The taller Daoist chimed in, "If you have any instructions, Senior Brother, I will not hesitate to carry them out."
Xuzhuang said, "I wish to take a trip into the Bone-Burning Suffering Realm. I wonder, would it be possible for you to open the Realm Gate for me?"
"What? No, absolutely not." Just as the taller Daoist was about to speak, the shorter one shook his head again and again. "The Suffering Realm is a restricted area of the sect. To travel there, one must have a talismanic decree from the Law Enforcement Hall. Only then can the Realm Gate be opened. The decision is not ours to make."
"I see," Xuzhuang said thoughtfully. "And what must one do to request a talismanic decree from the Law Enforcement Hall?"
"You need a legitimate reason to register an application at the Law Enforcement Hall." The taller Daoist opened his mouth, but the shorter one cut in again, "Then it must go through several rounds of approval within the Hall, and finally be signed by the Vice Institute Venerable. Only then can the talismanic decree be issued."
"This..." Xuzhuang frowned slightly. ’This process is far too lengthy.’ If that was really the case, he would have no choice but to postpone this matter. He had an arrangement with Sun Suzhen to set out in two months; he didn’t have that much time to wait around.
Just then, the taller Daoist finally managed to find an opening to speak. "Oh, come on, Junior Brother, it doesn’t have to be so complicated! Senior Brother Xu, I have a way."
"Oh?" Xuzhuang’s gaze shifted to him. "And you are, Junior Brother...?" he asked, intrigued.
The taller Daoist replied, "I am Dongguo Yi."
Xuzhuang said, "And what way might that be, Junior Brother Dongguo?"
The taller Daoist smiled. "You may not be aware, Senior Brother, but my father is the Guardian Elder of Suffering Realm Mountain. I can go ask him to issue a permit for you, and that will be enough to open the Realm Gate."
The shorter Daoist protested anxiously, "How could that be right? The Elder’s authority isn’t something to be used so casually...!"
"And why not?" the taller Daoist retorted, annoyed. "Senior Brother Xu has to go to the Suffering Realm, which means he must have urgent business. Where would he find the time to wait for the Law Enforcement Hall’s approval?"
After refuting his partner a few more times, the taller Daoist turned back to Xuzhuang. "Don’t you worry, Senior Brother. I’ll go get the permit for you. However, the Suffering Realm is, after all, a restricted area. I will need to accompany you to be aware of your activities there. That way, I’ll have a proper report to give the Law Enforcement Hall afterward."
Xuzhuang asked in surprise, "Is such a course of action truly within the rules?"
"Within the rules, of course it’s within the rules. This is all part of a Guardian Elder’s duties; it’s just that most people don’t have the standing to request it." The taller Daoist grinned. Without waiting for Xuzhuang to hesitate, he said, "Please wait a moment, Senior Brother." With that, he leaped into the air, transformed into a streak of light, and flew back into the palace hall. Seeing this, the shorter Daoist scrambled to follow.
Before long, the taller Daoist returned alone, clutching a Clear Light Talisman Book. "Success!" he said joyfully. "Senior Brother, please follow me."
Xuzhuang nodded and cupped his hands. "Thank you for your generous assistance, Junior Brother."
Dongguo Yi laughed. "Think nothing of it, Senior Brother! I have long admired you. There’s no need for such pleasantries with me."
As they spoke, the two of them landed beside the dark pools at the heart of the mountain. With a wave of his hand, Dongguo Yi cloaked himself in a clear light. "The Bone-Burning Suffering Realm is filled with a roiling, searing corruption that dissolves the soul and corrodes the bone," he said. "You’ll need to protect yourself, Senior Brother."
Xuzhuang replied, "Naturally." He pondered for a moment. ’I might as well test the defensive power of the Purple Qi Xiaoyi.’ With a flash of intent, a wisp of his Core Energy flowed into the Purple Qi Jar. He urged it on slightly, and a thin layer of purple twilight immediately enveloped his body.
Seeing that Xuzhuang had his defenses up, Dongguo Yi slapped the Talisman Book, casting a beam of clear light upon the stone stele. The stele showed no reaction, so Dongguo Yi simply gestured toward one of the pools and said, "After you."
He then leaped into one of the dark pools. Xuzhuang saw this and quickly followed suit, jumping in after him.
The moment he entered the dark pool, he experienced the bizarrely contradictory sensation of leaping out of water, only to find the two of them suddenly floating in mid-air.
Xuzhuang looked around. The Bone-Burning Suffering Realm truly lived up to its name. The sky was a murky yellow, and the ground was fractured by countless fissures. From these cracks, billowing waves of searing corruption rose to fill the space between heaven and earth. The moment it touched the clear light protecting Dongguo Yi, it caused the glow to flicker violently.
Xuzhuang’s Purple Qi Xiaoyi, however, merely flashed once before returning to normal. Aside from him sensing a slightly faster drain on his Core Energy, it was completely unaffected.
’It seems this treasure is truly extraordinary. Although it requires Core Energy to be controlled, it’s for that very reason that in the hands of a powerful cultivator, its might naturally far surpasses that of ordinary Magical Artifacts.’
Dongguo Yi was inwardly shaken. Having served on Suffering Realm Mountain for many years, he knew better than anyone how potent the bone-searing corruption was. Yet for Xuzhuang’s ’Daoist art,’ it was like a gentle breeze on his face. He couldn’t help but think, ’So this is the Divine Technique of a True Disciple? It’s incredibly powerful. This favor was definitely worth granting.’
The smile on Dongguo Yi’s face grew even wider. "I haven’t yet asked, Senior Brother, what business brings you to the Bone-Burning Suffering Realm? If you’re looking for someone, I can certainly lend a hand."
Upon hearing this, Xuzhuang replied, "That would be perfect. Please, Junior Brother, help me find the whereabouts of Chen Zongyu."
Dongguo Yi laughed. "Then watch carefully, Senior Brother." From his hand, he produced a Magical Artifact, solid brass and shaped like a Dragon-Seeking Ruler. He mumbled a few words, and the ruler immediately swiveled to point in a specific direction.
"This way, Senior Brother," Dongguo Yi said, then flew off in the direction the ruler indicated.
Xuzhuang followed Dongguo Yi in their Flying Escape for a short while before Dongguo Yi descended toward a mountain below. He scanned the area briefly, and his eyes landed on a cave. Dongguo Yi’s brow furrowed. He formed a hand seal, then slapped several more layers of spiritual light onto himself for protection before finally leading the way into the cave.
Xuzhuang followed him in. The moment he entered the cave, he noticed that the searing corruption within was a little weaker than it was outside. Though the difference wasn’t dramatic, for the prisoners of this Suffering Realm, it might mean the difference of a few more days of life.
’A location like this must be a highly contested spot among the prisoners of the Suffering Realm.’
Sure enough, after just a few more steps, Xuzhuang saw numerous shackles scattered across the ground, though there were no signs of any skeletons.
Dongguo Yi seemed accustomed to the sight. Xuzhuang’s eyes flickered, but he asked no questions. The two continued deeper into the cave and soon reached its end.
Xuzhuang’s eyes immediately fell upon a figure so mangled it was barely recognizable as human, leaning silently against the cave wall. Its neck, wrists, and ankles were all bound by the same type of shackles he had seen on the ground.
The moment Xuzhuang entered that section of the cave, the person suddenly lifted their head. The movement was apparently too much, as a chunk of flesh abruptly sloughed off their face. It was dissolved by the searing corruption before it even hit the ground. The person paid it no mind. The intact half of their face twisted into a horrifying grin as they rasped, "I was wondering who had come to see me. So, it was you."
"Xuzhuang."
