Chapter 1016: Re-entering the Gate of Death

"Rumble..."

Deep within a certain mountain in the Cultivation World.

A tremor shook the well, accompanied by a heavy rumble.

A figure hesitated before the open door, then leaped down into the well.

Within Nanyuan.

Manyue was reading a book when she felt a sudden jolt in her heart.

She paused for a second before realizing what it was.

Her figure vanished from Nanyuan.

When she opened her eyes again, her gaze encompassed the entire Underworld.

The might of heaven rumbled!

"Boom!"

A deafening boom echoed through the realm.

The Evil Phoenix, having plummeted into the Underworld, froze at the sight. He quickly cried out, "Spare me! Spare me! I came here to surrender! I surrender!"

Manyue's figure materialized before him.

Her sharp gaze swept over the Evil Phoenix. "Surrender?"

The Evil Phoenix nodded repeatedly, swallowing hard. "That demon wanted to refine me into a Blood Pill. I barely managed to escape, and now I have nowhere else to go, so... so..."

Manyue scrutinized him in silence.

The Evil Phoenix fell to his knees. "Everything I said is true! I sincerely wish to surrender. Please, give me a chance. I want to live. I don't want to die..."

He lifted his head and cried, "I know! I know where that head is! I know where it is!"

Manyue simply raised her hand. With a wave, the surrounding hills converged upon the area.

"Rumble!"

The Evil Phoenix froze.

He tried to flee, only to realize he was completely unable to move an inch.

Heaven and earth had already sealed off the surroundings.

The mountains pressed down, pinning him beneath their weight.

"Ah!!"

The Evil Phoenix shrieked, instantly realizing he had been sealed beneath the mountain. Restrictive Seals blanketed his surroundings. No matter how he struggled, escape was impossible.

"I truly wish to surrender! I truly surrender!"

The Evil Phoenix roared in bitter defiance.

Manyue paid him no heed. Once the Restrictive Seals were fully set, she left the area without a single word.

It was best to leave this creature for Chen Changsheng to deal with when he returned.

"Hey!!"

"Hey!!!"

The Evil Phoenix shouted, but his cries went completely unanswered.

He was left to scream himself hoarse in the desolate wasteland.

Manyue gave the Evil Phoenix no further thought, deaf to his shouting. Instead, she set about searching for the ancient entrances to the Demon Domain.

The Evil Phoenix's appearance today had put her on high alert.

There were likely many entrances to the Demon Domain. She needed to carefully track them down and seal them one by one to prevent any hidden dangers.

...

Chen Changsheng awoke from his long dream.

When he opened his eyes, he was already in Nanyuan.

He let out a slow breath. Turning his head, he spotted Manyue reading a book.

"You're awake,"

Manyue noted calmly.

Chen Changsheng rubbed his temples, seemingly fighting a headache, and gave a small nod in response.

"Did anything happen over these past three years?"

Manyue set her book aside. "There is one thing. A year ago, that Evil Phoenix somehow slipped into the Underworld, and I happened to catch him."

"Oh?"

"According to him, he came specifically to surrender. I ignored him and pinned him in a corner of the Underworld."

Chen Changsheng pondered this for a moment before standing up. "I'll go take a look."

"Mn."

Chen Changsheng descended through the well and entered the Underworld.

Riding his sword, he soon found the Evil Phoenix, who was sealed away by the might of heaven and earth.

Looking down, the scene was reminiscent of the Great Sage trapped beneath Five Finger Mountain. The Evil Phoenix was completely unable to move an inch. Only his drooping head remained exposed, leaving him looking thoroughly wretched.

Having been passed out for who knew how long, the Evil Phoenix suddenly sensed movement in front of him.

He forced his eyes open, and upon recognizing his visitor, immediately grew frantic with excitement.

"Mister Chen! Mister Chen!!" the Evil Phoenix cried out. "I beg you, Mister, save me!"

Chen Changsheng walked over and crouched down, sizing up the Evil Phoenix. In his current state, he truly was a pitiful sight.

Clinging to him like a dying man to a lifeline, the Evil Phoenix wailed, "That demon wants to refine me into a Blood Pill! Mister, please save me!"

"Aren't you a demon yourself?" Chen Changsheng pointed out.

The Evil Phoenix smacked his lips together. "I truly had no other choice! Now, I sincerely repent. I beg you to take me in, Mister."

Chen Changsheng stroked his chin. "And how is This Chen supposed to trust you?"

The Evil Phoenix froze for a moment before replying, "My life rests entirely on your whim, Mister. You can plant a Restrictive Seal in my Sea of Consciousness or scour my soul—I won't utter a single complaint!"

"You said it yourself."

As Chen Changsheng raised his hand, the Listening Rain Sword appeared in his grasp.

"Then This Chen will simply cut you down right now."

"Wait!" the Evil Phoenix hurriedly shrieked. "Stay your hand, Mister! I'm still useful! Aren't you looking for that demonic corpse? I know where its head is!"

With the blade resting right before his eyes, he didn't dare gamble on whether Chen Changsheng would actually swing it.

After all, he had learned his lesson the hard way.

Chen Changsheng was truly the type of person who would strike the moment he promised to, without the slightest hesitation.

"Oh?"

Chen Changsheng smiled. "Tell me then. Where is this head?"

"In a place called Nanyuan," the Evil Phoenix answered.

Chen Changsheng's heart gave a slight jolt. "Where is this Nanyuan?" he asked.

The Evil Phoenix faltered. "Th-that I don't know. I only overheard the name. I have no idea exactly where it is."

Even as he spoke, the blade pressed flush against his neck.

"Mister, I swear I'm not lying! I truly don't know where it is!"

"Who did you hear it from?"

"From that demon."

"The demon?"

"Yes."

"Years ago, he ordered us to search for Nanyuan," the Evil Phoenix explained, "but we could never make any progress."

Chen Changsheng fell into deep thought, though he kept his sword perfectly leveled. Cold sweat poured down the Evil Phoenix's face as his anxiety skyrocketed.

When the Mister finally snapped back to reality, his first words were, "Tell me, should I believe you, or should I cut you down?"

The Evil Phoenix gulped hard. "I'm... I'm not lying."

Chen Changsheng withdrew his sword.

The Evil Phoenix's heart finally settled back into his chest.

"This Chen will come back to cut you down another day."

With that, Chen Changsheng turned to leave.

The Evil Phoenix opened his mouth. "Mister, could you..."

Chen Changsheng shot a glance back at him.

The Evil Phoenix flinched and offered an awkward laugh. "N-never mind."

Chen Changsheng departed the area and soon returned to Nanyuan.

As the Heavenly Dao of the Underworld, Manyue had naturally overheard their conversation.

She looked at him. "You kept him alive. Do you have other plans for him?"

"It's hard to tell if he's telling the truth or not," Chen Changsheng replied. "This Chen wants to search around first."

"Hard to tell?" Manyue questioned. "We are in Nanyuan right now. Whether or not that head is here, wouldn't you know better than anyone?"

"There is more than one Nanyuan in this world," Chen Changsheng said.

Manyue paused, visibly perplexed.

Chen Changsheng smiled warmly but offered no further explanation. He simply said, "This Chen is heading out for a while."

Manyue didn't press the issue and simply let him go.

After stepping out of Nanyuan, Chen Changsheng turned to look at the heavy stone door closing behind him.

After a moment of thought, he pressed his fingers against the door in sequence.

[Three] [Ten] [Three] [Death]

"Rumble!"

The heavy door slid open once more.

Chen Changsheng stepped through. The plaque hanging above the entrance still read [Nanyuan], yet this was not the same Nanyuan he had just left.