The Lord of Void and Real
Chapter 996

Chapter 996: Chapter 993: Hooked Chapter 996: Chapter 993: Hooked Shen Luo's voice fell, and once again, silence encompassed the outside.

“If I remember correctly, it was the Heavenly Court that first fell, followed by the Demon Clan's attack on the Underworld, right?” A moment later, Shen Luo broke the silence and spoke up.

“Correct,” Zhong Kui answered.

“In that case, the Underworld should have been prepared, so why did it suffer such a quick defeat that year?” Shen Luo continued to inquire.

After a long while, Zhong Kui's voice finally came through:

“That year… the events of that year were also quite mysterious. In theory, with the arrangements made by Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, even if we ultimately couldn't resist the Demon Clan, we wouldn't have lost so swiftly, so miserably. So much so that for many years afterward, we were criticized, accused of being surrenderists, people claimed we hadn't resisted at all.”

Hearing this, Shen Luo didn't say anything more, his gaze slowly dropping to the Dragon-binding Circle in his hand, lost in thought.

Zhong Kui outside, seeing Shen Luo fall silent, didn't speak further either.

It's unsure how much time had passed when Shen Luo suddenly heard a strange noise from the outside, followed by Zhong Kui's sudden shout:

“Who?”

However, as soon as his voice started, it was as if something was blocking his throat, immediately making a choking sound, but the noise quickly disappeared.

“Who's out there?” Shen Luo instantly realized something was wrong and spoke in a low voice.

“It's me.” A somewhat dry voice came from outside.

“Cai Zhu?” Shen Luo was somewhat surprised.

“This Golden Cymbal is Master Huang Mei's Magical Treasure; I can only open a slit at most. Are you confident you can get out?” Nie Caizhu asked.

“How did you get here?” Shen Luo quickly asked.

“Let's not talk about that now. I'll rescue you first,” Nie Caizhu said urgently.

“Alright,” Shen Luo hesitated for a brief moment and then nodded.

Outside the Golden Cymbal, Nie Caizhu looked at the unconscious Zhong Kui beside her with a complex expression, holding a delicate White Jade Purifying Vase in her hand, her fingers pinching a segment of the Yangliu Branch inserted into it, and she began to chant silently.

Moments later, she pinched the Yangliu Branch and suddenly pulled it out of the vase, pointing it towards the Golden Cymbal.

A drop of crystal-clear water fell from the tip of the Yangliu Branch, flying into the joint where the Golden Cymbal's components met.

The perfectly sealed Golden Cymbal began to tremble rapidly the instant the drop of water entered the crevice, with golden light flickering on it as well.

Seeing this, Nie Caizhu's expression tightened, she formed hand seals with one hand, and mana surged out of her body, almost losing the reserve as it coursed into the drop of water.

That drop of water, continually nourished by her mana, began to shine with a snow-white light, and started to expand like a bubble, struggling fiercely to force open an almost imperceptible slit between the two parts of the Golden Cymbal.

An instant later, the light on the Golden Cymbal surged, and the expanding drop of water “pop” burst apart, causing the two sides of the Golden Cymbal to close back together.

A look of despair flashed in Nie Caizhu's eyes as her mana became depleted, and she nearly collapsed.

At that moment, a broad shoulder suddenly appeared behind her, steadying her.

“Cousin…” Seeing that it was Shen Luo, Nie Caizhu turned around and was immediately filled with overwhelming joy.

“This is not the place to talk. Let's head to the Netherworld Ghost Streams first,” Shen Luo said softly, his hands still confined by the Dragon-binding Circle.

“I'll lead the way,” Nie Caizhu nodded and summoned up her spirits again.

Under her guidance, the two of them swiftly and quietly escaped the altar, heading towards the direction of the Hell Maze.

At the same time, not far from here within a dilapidated building, Zhenyuanzi, who was seated cross-legged, slowly opened his eyes and furrowed his brows as he said, “It seems like the bait has been taken.”

Having said that, another figure transformed from his body, and in an instant, it vanished into thin air, disappearing from the spot.

…

Elsewhere, Shen Luo and his companion hastily fled to the entrance of the Evil Yin Valley, but Nie Caizhu suddenly stopped in her tracks.

“What's wrong?” Shen Luo asked anxiously upon seeing this.

“Cousin, are you truly not a traitor?” Nie Caizhu stared intently into Shen Luo's eyes and asked seriously.

“I am not,” Shen Luo replied, his gaze unwavering as he firmly shook his head.

“Then I'm relieved. Go ahead, I'll escort you this far,” Nie Caizhu said, letting out a sigh of relief.

“You're not coming with me?” Shen Luo asked in surprise.

“You carry the entrusted wishes of others, as do I have my sect's dying command. I can't bear to see you throw your life away so vainly, but I also cannot abandon my duty, so I cannot go with you,” Nie Caizhu said with her lips slightly trembling.

“I…”

Shen Luo was momentarily at a loss for words.

“Cousin, the thing you said about time travel, is that also true?” Nie Caizhu asked again.

“It's true,” Shen Luo nodded.

“If you truly can return to a thousand years ago, I hope you can either change The Disaster of Demons that took place back then and save this terrible future or… I hope you can stay by my side. I don't want to be that lonely again,” Nie Caizhu said with a complex smile, speaking slowly.

“I promise you,” Shen Luo said after a long pause, nodding earnestly.

Having received Shen Luo's answer, Nie Caizhu's smile finally relaxed somewhat. She said no more, only waving at Shen Luo before turning around and walking back the way she came.

Watching her somewhat desolate figure, Shen Luo couldn't help feeling a twinge of guilt in his heart.

However, after watching her for a moment, he too turned and made his way toward the Iron Chain Bridge.

Just as Shen Luo crossed the bridge, a figure emerged slowly from within the Black Bamboo Forest ahead, seemingly waiting for him.

“Brother Shen, where might you be heading?” the man asked with a smile on his face.

“Daoist Huang Mei…” Shen Luo raised his eyebrows and called out.

“Seeing your reaction, you don't seem too surprised. What, you knew I would stop you?” Huang Mei Monk furrowed his brow slightly and asked upon seeing Shen Luo's reaction.

“After all, the Golden Cymbal is your Magical Treasure, how could you not know about the trouble here? I didn't dare touch the Dragon-binding Circle of the Town Primordial Great Immortal for fear of alarming him. But still, I'm somewhat surprised, how did you arrive so quickly?” Shen Luo said with a smile.

“There's nothing strange about it. Since I've already stopped you, don't bother struggling in vain. Hand over the Heavenly Book, and while I can't guarantee what others will do, I can offer you a way out,” Huang Mei Monk said.

“And here I thought you'd tell me to obediently come back with you,” Shen Luo said, puzzled.

“To take you back with me would be to drive you to a dead end, and why would you agree to that? Anyway, it doesn't matter to me whether you're an inside agent of the Demon Clan or not, just hand over the Heavenly Book. Don't obstruct our efforts to rectify the chaos and restore the Heavenly Dao, as for the Jilei Mountain and Wuzhuang View… that's your private grudge with them,” Huang Mei Monk stated frankly.

“You talk quite openly, but why should I believe you?” Shen Luo said with a laugh.

“A monk does not speak false words. Hand over the Heavenly Book and I can indeed let you go,” Huang Mei Monk said, gesturing with his hand.

“Ha, hand over the Heavenly Book… I think not. There's no need to pretend anymore at this point, I truly have defected to the Demon Clan. I intended to make one final stand, but unfortunately, I was discovered by you as soon as I arrived. Now, Lord Jiuming has already deployed forces from two directions, striking here from both the Eighteen Layers of Hell and this Hell Maze,” Shen Luo said with an easygoing demeanor, laughing aloud.

Huang Mei Monk frowned slightly upon hearing this, uncertain whether Shen Luo's words were true or false.