Cultivating Through The Game-Chapter 658 - 353: The Real Netherworld_2

Heave, heave, heave~ Lu Yu heard strange sounds, like something inhaling and exhaling, and turned toward the sound. The thick fog over there was roiling continuously, as if something was stirring within.

"Observe the true Netherworld," the elder said to him, leading him towards the turbulent fog.

As they approached, Lu Yu saw enormous figures encircling the high walls, like diners around a table, drawing countless souls out with each inhalation from within the walls.

Those souls cried out in terror, screamed, yet could not resist being sucked into the giant mouths. They could not see the enormous figures gathered by the walls.

They only saw several black holes suddenly appear in the sky, pulling them up with immense gravitational force.

Had it not been for the white-haired elder leading him here, Lu Yu would never have imagined the high walls isolating the mist were actually a farm for these eerie existences to breed souls.

He once thought those high walls truly served to protect Netherworld residents from the monsters within the mist.

But in reality, they were just fences used by the monsters to pen up the Netherworld residents.

The fences continuously grow taller, preventing the food within from leaving the table.

After some time, as the food inside the fences was almost consumed, the figures gradually disappeared into the fog.

During this entire observation of their feeding, Lu Yu dared not breathe, fearing he might catch the monsters' attention.

Even the elder remained silent during their feeding, only speaking after they had left, "You see now, this is the true Netherworld."

"The Netherworld has become a breeding ground for demons; who knows how many of those demons lurk in the mist."

"The Great Sage left the Netherworld to seek a way to defeat the demons. Now it's been over five thousand years since the Great Sage departed, and we only occasionally get news from the Great Sage."

"Until a thousand years ago, we completely lost contact with the Great Sage," the elder said solemnly.

Without looking at Lu Yu, he continued, "From the moment you entered here, I understood—the Great Sage has fallen."

After finishing, he looked at Lu Yu and asked, "Seeing all this, how do you feel?"

Lu Yu paused and asked, "You say these are... demons?"

The massive creatures in the mist differed greatly from the demons he knew, thus arousing Lu Yu's doubts.

The white-haired elder stared into Lu Yu's eyes, making Lu Yu feel a chill, as if secrets could not hide from the elder's gaze.

Of course, the elder did not intrusively pry into Lu Yu's secrets; partly because he wasn't interested, and partly because he didn't need to—he could see through Lu Yu's thoughts with a glance.

He saw the demons Lu Yu had encountered and the demon battles Lu Yu had experienced.

Lu Yu turned away first, discomforted by the elder's gaze; no one enjoys having their memories peered into.

Upon seeing Lu Yu turn away, the elder said, "It's all the same. Your world is in the early stages of demon invasion; later, it will become like the Netherworld, a demon dining table."

Lu Yu's complexion paled—would the Divine Martial Realm also become like this?

He then thought of Zhao Tianjue, the Divine Weapon Pavilion, the Great Zhou Dynasty, the battlegrounds beyond the region, and the powerful figures and forces fighting demons.

Lu Yu couldn't help but feel relieved; at least before danger arrives, there's a group of big shots above him to bear the burden.

Even if the sky were to fall, there'd be taller ones to hold it; it wouldn't fall to him.

Before Lu Yu could ask any other questions, he and the elder swiftly moved away, disappearing into the sky, and returning to the island on the River of Darkness.

Not long after they left, a colossal head appeared high in the sky, surveyed its surroundings, and upon finding no movement, vanished into the skies.

The viewpoint soared above, surpassing the limits of the Netherworld, to gaze down upon the entire Netherworld and the River of Darkness.

In the vast expanse, the great Netherworld was merely a floating star in the River of Darkness, its surface covered by a faint grayish-white mist.

Similar stars, innumerable like stars in the night sky, floated across the boundless River of Darkness.

Returning to the island, Lu Yu's consciousness settled back into his body. Observing the knowledgeable ones before him, Lu Yu pondered for a long time before asking, "Do you know where the Water of the Moon can be obtained?"

The elder who previously took Lu Yu to the heavens said, "I can help you obtain the Water of the Moon, but I have a request."

"You possess the Great Sage's power, signifying a connection with the Netherworld. I hope if your world finds a way to save itself in the future, you would come and inform us." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"If you're willing, I won't only tell you where to find the Water of the Moon but also bestow the Great Sage's strongest divine techniques upon you."

The elder's offer was exceedingly generous, and the request didn't require Lu Yu to do anything.

It seemed the elder was losing out, but in reality, they were giving nothing away; neither the location of the Water of the Moon nor the Great Sage's divine techniques held any value to them anymore.

Their sole hope now was to save this world; if they cannot save it, they would accompany the Netherworld in burial.

As the strongest of the Netherworld, the Great Sage was historically the only one capable of transcending, having to pay a hefty price to sever his ties and search other worlds for salvation.

Their connection with the Netherworld was too deep, lacking the Great Sage's strength to withstand the backlash of world imprint removal; thus they could only live or die with the Netherworld.

Therefore, saving this world is their sole wish, forced upon them.

Lu Yu contemplated repeatedly, finding no hidden traps in the elder's words, then accepted the elder's request, saying, "Sure, if I have the ability to find a way to save the Netherworld, I will definitely return to inform you."

Just after speaking, Lu Yu sensed an invisible force settling upon him—that was the power of the Netherworld's Heavenly Dao.

To the elder who had unified with the Heavenly Dao, Lu Yu's words constituted a Heavenly Dao oath without needing an extra vow.

Even if he left the Netherworld, retribution from its Heavenly Dao weakened considerably, yet the Heavenly Dao remained the Heavenly Dao; even slight punishment could create substantial obstacles in Lu Yu's cultivation path.

The elder nodded, and a light from the slowly burning flame in the cave center flew into Lu Yu's body, inundating his mind with information.

[Congratulations, player, for completing the divine technique "Finger of Great Annihilation"]

[Congratulations, player, for acquiring the divine technique—Great Annihilation Technique]

"Great Annihilation Technique was comprehended by the Great Sage from the death principles of the River of Darkness, surpassing the death principles of the Netherworld," the elder explained.

The death principles of the Netherworld belong to the Netherworld's Heavenly Dao rules.

The death principles of the River of Darkness belong to the cosmic Dao rules.

This is why the elder said the Great Sage had the capability to transcend the Netherworld; yet, even such a powerful being perished.

Though Lu Yu learned the Great Annihilation Technique, he couldn't use it yet; its usage required a minimum of Soul Power.

For most divine techniques, the user needs Soul Power.

There are few divine techniques that could activate through hereditary strength or external objects.

The former, Lu Yu had encountered in two people: Wang Hong, whom he defeated in An Nan City, and Chu Tiange.

The latter was Lu Yu's Finger of Great Annihilation.

The Finger of Great Annihilation, a part of the Great Annihilation Technique, could be activated using the mysterious black rune within the bone of his hand.

Though wielding the Finger of Great Annihilation, he was merely charging it.

It's like he already possesses a gun and is loading it with bullets (Spiritual Qi).

To use divine techniques, one must first create weapons with Soul Power, then expend Spiritual Power or Soul Power to load ammunition.

When Lu Yu finished digesting all information and opened his eyes, he found himself lying on a small boat, seeing the bald ferryman standing at the stern when looking up.

From the hands of the skeletons, he obtained benefits and accepted the mission to lead Lu Yu to the location of the Water of the Moon.

Lu Yu sat up, holding his somewhat swollen head, sorting through the contents in his mind.

After what felt like an eternity, having sorted out the information about the Great Annihilation Technique in his head, he heard the sound of rushing water.

Looking up, on the sea ahead hung a massive star, dark blue like an ascending full moon emerging from the water.

From a distance, he could see a waterfall cascading from the dark blue moon, crashing into the River of Darkness.