Chapter 483 - 490: Netherworld: Crossing the Forget River

The Netherworld was thick with Yin Qi. Coupled with the Forget River, which only ghosts could cross, it was fundamentally impossible for cultivators to venture deep inside.

Countless ages had passed since then, and who knew what the Netherworld had become. If she charged straight in, she would struggle to survive, even if the Mahayana cultivators didn’t kill her.

But with this Guiding Stone, things were different.

It could release a protective barrier around a cultivator, which not only blocked the dense Yin Qi but also helped navigate the dangers of the Forget River.

With it, her journey to the Netherworld would be much safer.

Song Wanning clutched the Guiding Stone, her gaze intense.

"We’ll wait another two days, just in case we run right into those powerful figures when we go down."

The Netherworld was full of temptations, but she remained calm.

’No amount of treasure is more important than my own life.’

So, she waited in the cave for two more days. Only after confirming that the Mahayana cultivators had not come back up did she finally leave and head toward the entrance to the Netherworld.

However, the moment she stepped into the entrance, the Three Lives Mirror suddenly went dark, no longer able to provide any assistance.

Song Wanning’s heart sank.

’What exactly happened to the Netherworld during the ancient war?’

’It seems to have been completely severed from the Heavenly Dao of the Upper Realm!’

The passage before her was pitch-black. She tried to take out a Luminous Pearl to light the way, but it had no effect.

Even the Divine Nether Profound Fire was useless. The entire passage was so dark you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face. She couldn’t extend her Divine Sense and could only feel her way forward cautiously.

Protected by the Guiding Stone, the dense Yin Qi was kept at bay. Song Wanning only felt a bit of a chill, but her movements were not affected.

But the passage seemed endless. At first, she could still clearly calculate the distance she had traveled, but she eventually grew numb to it.

All she knew was that she was moving forward in an endless darkness. There was no light, no sense of time—only her two legs moving mechanically onward.

Fortunately, she had a few companions to joke around with, which made the days less tedious.

But she still had no idea how much time had passed...

Time slipped by quietly. Just when Song Wanning thought she would spend countless more eons in the dark, a glimmer of light finally appeared.

A vast field of red spider lilies appeared in her vision. Following that, a mixed red and black light shone down, finally allowing her to see clearly.

She let out a long sigh of relief at the long-awaited light. ’Darkness itself isn’t scary, but endless darkness is terrifying.’

She walked out of the passage and was greeted by a field of blooming spider lilies. The flowers were so vibrant they seemed to drip with color, and there were even dewdrops on the tips of their petals.

A small path wound between the spider lilies, twisting toward a bend in the distance.

Song Wanning drew her longsword, on high alert. She cautiously stepped onto the path. After rounding one bend, there was another, and then another. After a series of twists and turns, she found herself at the so-called Forget River.

According to the records, the Forget River was extremely dangerous. Countless souls, unwilling to be reborn and heavy with resentment, chose to linger within its waters.

The resentment emanating from them was overwhelming and could affect a person’s mind. Those with weak willpower would be influenced and ultimately trapped in the Forget River forever.

Thus, this was the place most feared by countless souls. Once trapped, they would lose all chance of reincarnation.

Song Wanning’s expression was grave. The Forget River before her looked calm and placid, but she knew turbulent currents lurked beneath.

On a large stone standing nearby, the two large words "Forget River" were written in what looked like blood, a shocking sight.

"Sister, the Forget River is incredibly dangerous! You must be extremely careful!!"

’For someone with a Heart Demon, the Forget River is practically a deathtrap!’

’Our master was influenced by her Heart Demon in her past life. Even though she got her revenge in this life, her Heart Demon is still there.’

’If the Forget River manages to lure it out, it’s all over!’

"Sister, why don’t we go back? There’s nothing that great about the Netherworld anyway!!"

The Dragon Spirit also chimed in, trying to persuade her out of fear. The Divine Nether Profound Fire even tugged on Song Wanning’s collar, its expression worried.

Its eyes were pitiful and pleading. They were all worried about Song Wanning.

A warmth spread through Song Wanning’s chest, and she stroked each of them in turn.

"Since fate led me to discover this place, it’s highly likely it’s related to the world’s recovery. I must press on."

"Besides, you’re right. For someone with a Heart Demon, this place is a deathtrap."

"And I need to find life in a place of certain death—to completely annihilate my Heart Demon!!!"

Once a Heart Demon appeared, it was nearly impossible to destroy.

At most, one could only suppress it, just as she had done in the past, holding it down so it couldn’t cause trouble.

But as long as it remained, it was a hidden danger.

It could make a comeback at any moment, leading to the same end as Huo Jinchuan.

Therefore, this was also an opportunity for her—a chance to sever her Heart Demon completely.

Song Wanning’s gaze grew resolute. She closed her eyes, cleared her mind of stray thoughts, then took out a small boat and set out across the Forget River.

Just after entering the river, everything was calm and peaceful. The boat drifted slowly forward.

But then, human bones began to appear on the surface of the water around her.

Skulls and limbs floated haphazardly on the water. For many newly deceased ghosts, this would be a terrifying scene.

Song Wanning gave them a cold glance, not particularly bothered. But the further she went, the more bones appeared, until they even began to obstruct the boat’s path.

She had no choice but to swing her longsword, blasting the bones away.

After much difficulty, she made it through the first third of the journey, only for a new situation to arise.

Countless ghosts began to emerge from the river’s surface. Most of them had died violent deaths, and their appearances were ghastly.

Some had tongues lolling down to their chests. Others had both ears sliced off. Some even had their heads split into several pieces, held together only by flaps of skin...

There were even those who had been turned into human swine...

The sight of all these different malicious souls made Song Wanning’s skin crawl.

She couldn’t even begin to count them; she had no idea how many malicious souls had accumulated here.

Among them were some dazed and confused souls. They didn’t seem to carry as much Evil Qi, and were likely the ones whose minds weren’t strong enough to cross the Forget River.

The malicious souls shrieked, their hoarse, piercing cries ringing in her ears. Song Wanning immediately blocked her hearing.

But the sound still penetrated deep into her Divine Soul.

Song Wanning’s small boat began to rock violently, in danger of capsizing at any moment.

She struggled to remain calm, using her Spiritual Power to stabilize the boat.

But under the constant assault of those voices, a crack appeared in her Divine Soul.

The next moment, Song Wanning lost consciousness.

...

When she opened her eyes, Song Wanning felt a sharp pain all over her body.

She looked around and found herself at the bottom of a cliff.

She shook her head hard, and the memories from before she lost consciousness came flooding back. Her expression immediately turned ugly.

It had been the Demon Clan’s pursuit that forced her into this dead end.