Chapter 100: Return to the Underworld

Li Tian wanted to say more but ultimately sighed deeply, gazing silently at Nü Luo without uttering a word.

Nü Luo remained quiet as well. She had once asked herself what was truly worthwhile. After the Earth God's lineage paid such a heavy price for the human realm, was it all worth it? The answer was a resolute yes.

Everything she had done was for both the human realm and herself. She had merged completely with the human world; it was the source of her strength and the essence of her existence. If one day she were to meet an untimely fate, she would undoubtedly pour her final strength into the human realm.

At this moment, Nü Luo’s body had not yet fully recovered. She had suffered endless injuries once again. Though Li Tian had helped her at the last moment, one wound had sunk deep into her soul—a scar she would never erase.

Sensing the changes within her body, a wave of powerlessness surged in her heart, which she deliberately chose to ignore.

From the extinguishing of the Sacred Fire in the Earth's core to its rekindling, and the establishment of the City of Reincarnation, she had tirelessly rushed through every perilous moment, traversing the most dangerous places across the Three Realms, for she had no right to rest. Everyone else could rest—only she could not.

Indeed, only she could not.

Just as now, the Path of Reincarnation had been opened. Though the soil beneath still awaited reforging, the mortal dangers were gone.

Ahead lay the Underworld.

The passage between the human realm and the underworld was finally open. She would once again set foot in the underworld.

The first time she entered, she was filled with anxiety and uncertainty. Had she not needed the Underworld Fire, Nü Luo vowed she would never have entered.

It was a world no god had ever set foot in—dark, sinister, filled with the stench of death and bone-deep despair. Legend had it the King of the Underworld shrouded every corner in darkness, destroying all hope for life’s survival.

The Grim Reaper’s scythe hung perpetually over the underworld, the most bloodthirsty deity there.

The God of Sleep could easily lull life into eternal slumber—alive yet dead.

The God of Dreams crafted nightmares that trapped souls forever in illusions, unable to discern reality from fantasy.

Before going to the underworld, she had prepared for the worst. Even at all costs, she would bring back the Underworld Fire to the human realm and never set foot in that dark world again.

Yet, events had once again exceeded her expectations. The world she once swore never to enter was now permanently linked to the human realm in this way.

Rumors had indeed diverged greatly from reality. At least in her eyes, though the underworld was dark, it was another form of light.

The underworld lay ahead, and Nü Luo already felt its characteristic wind blowing in her face—but this time, she felt relief.

Her body was slowly healing and she was able to stand.

Li Tian looked at Nü Luo and led the way into the underworld.

The underworld had not changed much from before; it was the familiar scene she had once traversed step by step, as if preserving remnants of its lingering breath.

The waters of the Three Paths River flowed quietly, its calm surface masking the hidden dangers beneath.

Nü Luo understood the peril intimately and knew the sorrow it held.

Once a soul fell into the Three Paths River, no matter their past life, their fate was sealed. They had no hope of reincarnation. Souls clinging to attachments were tormented endlessly in pain and despair, eventually becoming vengeful spirits who fought amongst themselves until vanishing.

That was the unchangeable fate of the dead. They had no right to say “no,” only struggling within the bloodstained waters to grasp a sliver of hope for continued existence rather than becoming prey for other lost souls.

Nü Luo quietly gazed at the river, thick with countless vengeful spirits. Had the City of Reincarnation existed earlier, would many of them have shared a different destiny?

Li Tian stepped beside her, his gaze following hers to the river. Before meeting Nü Luo, he had never considered the souls there; he would never have turned his eyes to this river so familiar to him.

Now, however, he felt the source of her sorrow. But the fate of these souls was already determined—there was no room for negotiation.

Some things, once set in motion, could never be changed. Too many souls gathered in the Three Paths River, and once inside, escape was impossible without immense power.

Nü Luo longed to ask Li Tian if she could save these souls, but one look at him was enough to understand his meaning.

Impossible.

Some truths needed no words; she already knew. Any change here would shake the underworld profoundly, triggering unforeseeable consequences. Li Tian would never allow such a thing—just as he would never tolerate anyone shaking the foundations of the human realm, Nü Luo would also oppose it.

Even if Li Tian agreed, her own power alone was insufficient for such a task. She had no allies. An unseen force in the underworld constantly suppressed her power—perhaps life and death were inherently opposed.

Now, she could only hope that the souls remaining in the human realm could seize this rare chance for rebirth. Beyond that, it was beyond her control.

The Three Paths River remained unchanged, and the ferry boat was nowhere in sight. Without the ferry, how could souls cross?

“Your Majesty, how do souls cross the Three Paths River upon arrival?”

“Everything is already arranged.”

Nü Luo looked into the distance but saw no sign of a ferry. Could there be a hidden path that crossed this river thick with despair?

Once the City of Reincarnation was established, souls with confirmed identities would have two routes: first, those with no chance of rebirth would enter the underworld directly, cast into the Three Paths River or subjected to other punishments—no hope for return.

Second, souls who passed through the City of Reincarnation would gain the chance to be reborn, though dangers remained. They must board the ferry successfully.

Li Tian pointed ahead, where a small black dot appeared.

Nü Luo’s heart leapt in joy—the ferry had arrived, the only vessel to safely carry souls across.

The ferry drew closer, a familiar sight.

It was the same boat she had encountered before. She even recalled her own previous situation, though then it was only herself and Niao Niao aboard. Now, with the City of Reincarnation built, countless souls would board simultaneously. Was such a small boat enough?

Nü Luo felt a little embarrassed. “Your Majesty, isn’t the boat a bit small?”

If Niao Niao were here, she would surely complain that such a grand realm as the underworld was using such a tiny boat—it was a blow to its dignity.

But Nü Luo sensed she was asking too much. She was not good at bargaining, especially since Li Tian had never imposed any extra conditions, instead conceding step by step.

Still, the boat was truly a bit small.

“Small? I don’t see it that way,” Li Tian said dismissively. “Do you think crossing the Three Paths River is that easy?”

“What kind of boat does the Earth Goddess suggest then?”

Nü Luo pondered. She had never actually witnessed souls crossing by boat—only the image of the God of Dreams throwing souls attempting to board into the river, which was no easy matter.

“I honestly don’t know the specifics. I’ve never seen souls crossing. But I wonder how such a small boat could handle the vast number of souls.”

“Souls who avoid entering the river have already evaded punishment. But don’t think it comes without cost or just by waiting. If they lack even the patience for this, then they needn’t proceed further.”

Li Tian’s words were unwavering. She had no choice but to accept. She had come to understand him well—he would yield where he could, but never where his bottom line was crossed. No room for bargaining at all.

Perhaps there were secrets she did not know. But she didn’t want to know, and Li Tian would not reveal them.

She made no attempt to change his decision, knowing he would stand firm no matter what.

Back in Fengdu City, she would explain this to Shikong. Since Li Tian could not change his stance, they must make concessions. Waiting was all they could do, and the souls should be able to endure that.

“A proper measure of compassion is good, but excess is dangerous. Earth Goddess, please do not forget this is still the underworld. The rebirth of souls has already altered the underworld’s established order to some extent. There will be no concessions on this point,” Li Tian said, unwilling to explain further. And he need not—the underworld harbored too many secrets, some of which must never be made public.

“I was reckless,” Nü Luo admitted, sensing there was more complexity than she realized. Was she overthinking, or was there another hidden truth?

Perhaps the underworld would always remain the underworld. Though she had set foot on this mysterious land twice, she could never fully understand it.

Moreover, sometimes knowing too much was not a blessing. Let the secrets remain forever veiled.

Even if souls waited here for a long time, it was not a bad thing. Compared to those with no chance of rebirth, just waiting was already a blessing.

On this topic, she ceased further discussion and accepted the reality.

Li Tian did not board the ferry, nor did Nü Luo feel any desire to. She might soon return to the human realm. Here was the underworld—some things she could not change. She could only change what was within her power.

Once back, she would replace all the soil on the Path of Reincarnation with material from the human realm. If souls gained more hope, perhaps it could counter some of the resistance from the underworld.