I've Become the King of Villains in the Game
Chapter 859 - 545 Journey to the Netherworld

After leaving the principal’s office.

Chen Lun first went to the great library to intentionally search for information about the "Netherworld," but he found nothing.

It was evident that this region, within the mystic realm, was indeed a highly secretive existence, with ordinary means unable to obtain its information.

So Chen Lun returned to the apartment, using his incarnation far in Cold Leaf City, and summoned the Spiritual Realm Messenger of the Generous Council to help obtain detailed information about the "Netherworld."

The faceless attendant never disappointed him, and this time was no exception. It returned in just over an hour, providing the needed information to Chen Lun’s incarnation.

Because of the shared senses of his dual bodies, Chen Lun, sitting in the professor’s apartment at the academy, could easily access what the incarnation saw and heard.

However, to Chen Lun’s surprise, even the Generous Council did not have much intelligence about the "Netherworld," only some superficial and basic information...

The Netherworld, along with the Spirit World, Star Realm, and Dream Realm, collectively known as the "Otherworld," stands in contrast to the present world, possessing a mysterious connection yet remaining independent.

Throughout history, countless mystics, and even high-ranking individuals, have successively researched the Otherworld. These individuals might have different views, but one definition was consistent among them... that the appearance of the Otherworld was accidental, not inevitable, and it is very likely the abode of gods, the realm where angels and sub-gods roam, which mortals could almost never set foot in.

Even if a few lucky ones accidentally enter the Otherworld due to various coincidences, most end up with tragic and unknown fates.

Chen Lun also noticed a note from Speaker Azjiluo on the intelligence file:

"Originally, the Otherworld and the present world were completely independent, but due to the Bone Burial Elder, the two worlds have been connected by the ’Webbed Hell’ He wove, creating many concealed passages and bridges made of pale webbing... It has been confirmed that there is a relatively stable connection between the Netherworld and the Dream Realm. If you intend to go to the Netherworld, using the Dream Realm as a transfer station would be a good choice. However, be very cautious, as the Spirit World is considered the least dangerous in the Otherworld."

Chen Lun sat on the chair in his room, contemplating.

According to the intelligence, there is another older method to reach the Netherworld, which involves a directed prayer ritual, beseeching Lady Rose or the Bone Burial Elder, with a certain chance of being taken to the Netherworld.

However, this ancient ritual, after the passage of time, has become a legend. After all, high-ranking individuals all know the reason... the Bone Burial Elder has fallen, and Lady Rose has hidden away, no longer responding to the present world.

The decline of the ritual became inevitable.

’So how did the old principal manage to enter?’ Chen Lun could not help but speculate.

After a moment of thought, he smiled. As the principal of one of the two academies of the Byron Kingdom, the knowledgeable high-ranking mage Hugo must know more than himself. Without special means, how could an exploration journey be discussed?

’I am indeed worrying unnecessarily. I will know tonight.’

Soon, time turned to late at night.

Chen Lun, leaning on a white cane, slowly walked to the foot of the two main buildings and looked up at the mechanical clock hanging on the "Bridge of Thoughts," which showed half past eleven.

"You’re very punctual, Your Majesty."

The short old principal Hugo smiled and spoke.

He seemed to have been waiting there for a long time, dressed in a loose, neatly pressed dark green suit, standing with his hands behind his back in the cold night.

"Punctuality is a gentleman’s creed, Principal."

Chen Lun said jokingly, taking off his black hat to show his courtesy.

The academy at midnight was still rather cold, with tiny snowflakes leisurely falling. The old principal looked up at the big clock and softly said:

"It seems that Your Majesty Ibrayin will be slightly late. I hope He won’t be too late, or we will have to wait until next month to enter the Netherworld again if we miss midnight."

As soon as he finished speaking, a clear voice drifted over:

"Apologies, I was delayed on the way. I hope I haven’t hindered your plans, Hugo."

Chen Lun and the old principal turned to see a tall, short-haired woman clad in a silver veil quickly approaching.

"No worries, it’s barely a minute late, and we still have time before the departure."

Principal Hugo smiled.

Ibrayin saw the black-hat gentleman and a flash of surprise crossed her eyes, but she quickly returned to normal, smiling faintly:

"Nice to see you again, Jack, but this time I should address you as Your Majesty. I just heard you say ’punctuality is a gentleman’s creed,’ and I couldn’t agree more, yet I was late..."

"Punctuality is a lady’s privilege, Your Majesty Ibrayin."

Chen Lun nodded slightly.

Ibrayin was slightly taken aback and then chuckled softly.

"You’re right."

With that, she even laughed out loud.

Hugo saw that they knew each other and gave up his plan to introduce them, instead directly explaining the precautions for this Netherworld journey:

"It is said that the Netherworld is Lady Rose’s residence, and before the Bone Burial Elder went out of control, he almost only operated in the Netherworld... It is different from the Spirit World, much more dangerous, so we must be careful."

’The Netherworld is Lady Rose’s domain?’ Chen Lun couldn’t help but note in his mind after hearing the old principal’s words.

Next, Hugo gave some other instructions, such as avoiding making too much noise and avoiding excessive use of mythical power, as it would easily attract the attention of Netherworld creatures. Though the three’s strength was sufficient, dealing with them would be troublesome.

Some unknown entities residing and wandering in the Netherworld can even threaten high-ranking individuals, so it’s better to avoid them. After all, Hugo’s purpose this time was to trace the footsteps of the "First Scorpio" Honorino, not to hunt monsters.

Chen Lun and Ibrayin both nodded, indicating their understanding.

The old principal then took out some high-level supernatural materials and began to arrange a complex array on the ground. While busy, he explained to the two without looking up:

"This special ritual was developed by Your Majesty Honorino, and later optimized by Your Majesty Clarence. It helps us enter the spirit world safely and remain undetected."

"So, Your Majesty Honorino indeed attacked Lady Rose’s divine kingdom?"

Chen Lun raised his eyebrows and asked casually.

Otherwise, why would he develop such a ritual?

It wouldn’t be for a leisurely stroll in the spirit world, fixing Lady Rose’s plumbing with a square hammer...

"I don’t know."

Principal Hugo paused for a moment, shook his head, and said.

"The past history has long been buried by time. This is one of the purposes of our trip. I need to find traces of Your Majesty Honorino and uncover the hidden mist within my heart."

After speaking, he continued arranging the ritual, his movements meticulous, skillful, and natural.

Time flowed, and when the minute and hour hands of the mechanical clock overlapped and pointed to twelve o’clock at the top, the clock rang.

Dong—

"Prepare to depart."

Principal Hugo said in a deep voice.

Chen Lun and Ibrayin nodded.

The old principal threw a burning match into the center of the array.

Boom!

A blazing blue-green flame rose, similar to the magical flame on the giant hammer of Enlightenment Harbor.

Under the firelight, the falling snowflakes evaporated before they drew near, and a vague, irregular long passage quietly appeared.

Hugo took the first step into it, followed closely by Chen Lun and Ibrayin. As the three figures disappeared, the ritual array and the flames gradually dissipated, leaving not a single trace.

Chen Lun’s [Five Senses Perception] had long been activated, and he did not experience any sensory discomfort. He clearly perceived the abrupt change in environment as he appeared on an endless crimson land.

Empty, dead silent, devoid of any life.

The sky had no sun, moon, or stars, only twisted deep red hues, occasionally descending with a pinkish mist, exuding an eerie, hallucinating power, intensifying the ominous and eerie atmosphere.

He could constantly smell a decaying, pungent bloody scent, immediately abandoning his sense of smell, keeping his expression unchanged.

Hugo and Ibrayin beside him took several seconds to adapt to the sudden change in environment, enduring the harshness while noticing the black-hatted gentleman’s calm, feeling a pang of surprise inside.

"According to the original plan, we need to follow the direction of the ’Fog of Cadavers’ and finally reach our destination under the ’Giant Skull Peak’..."

The old principal looked at the two, pointing at the pink mist.

"Fog of Cadavers" is a unique substance of the spirit world, also considered a spectacle. Its method of birth is unknown, its pattern hard to find, but it possesses a certain mysterious influence... Any creature entering the mist would be driven by intense hunger and fall into a frenzied state of extreme food cravings.

Creatures in this state would lose sanity, killing and devouring all targets around them, even themselves.

Of course, "Fog of Cadavers" can be collected through special means, considered a high-level supernatural material.

The three walked slowly, their feet on the deep red land seeming soaked in blood for an endless time, muddy and sticky, occasionally sensing it lightly squirming like a living thing.

Along the way, they communicated sparingly, Hugo leading the way, using the pink mist as a landmark and direction while staying far away. Hugo should be interested in the "Fog of Cadavers", but his purpose this trip isn’t collecting it, thus not bothering.

Through a few casual conversations, Chen Lun learned why the spirit world isn’t known in the mystic realm... Its portal not only hard to find but requiring extremely high insight to discern.

The standard is divided by high position holders.

’In other words, at least 80 points of insight attribute are needed to see the spirit world’s portal? And without the corresponding ritual, it can’t be opened... For players, the spirit world must be a late-stage map.’

Chen Lun couldn’t help but think.

After walking for about three hours, the surrounding environment slightly changed... In the vast deep red wilderness, some bizarre flora appeared. They grew like clusters of shrubs, their branches and leaves not green but crimson, pale, and flesh-colored.

Upon closer inspection, these "flora" were actually groups of living beings made of flesh and bone, with bulging branches rhythmically beating as if growing an organ similar to a heart inside their hollow cavities.

Streams of blood, origins unknown, spread in all directions, and these flesh plants seemed to draw nutrients from them, consequently existing.

Further away, roars and sounds of flesh tearing could be heard.

"There’s fighting ahead."

Hugo made a gesture, and the three stopped.

He pulled out a wand as long as his arm and thick as a finger, swung it horizontally in front, and lightly tapped twice in the air. A hazy mirage slowly appeared before the three.

In the image, hundreds of silver three-meter-tall insect people were fighting fiercely with thousands of flesh monsters.

Those flesh monsters were covered in strange scales; some had no heads, some had dozens, their limbs deformed, making them unrecognizable by common standards.

"Didak Bug People and spirit world creatures…"

Ibrayin frowned beside him and said.

"The pollution from the spirit realm has spread here?"