Chapter 647: In the Abyss, I Spotted the Hellfire Divine Tree, Relying Only on Myself

With a single paw, he smacked the Dragon Emperor like a toy, exploding and soaring through the air like a cannonball!

And relying solely on the force of a dog‑leg stomp, he trampled the Nether Barrier behind him, shattering it open.

Such a terrifying eruption…

You call that cover?

Cover that wipes out the enemy, right?!

Li Che couldn't help but gasp, his heart roiling with a storm, utterly shocked and amazed by Gou Ye's power!

Here, within the Nether's domain, Gou Ye's combat strength seemed unlimited, fully unleashed, far stronger than in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Perhaps this is Gou Ye's true strength!

Li Che's eyes flickered, and a thought arose: Gou Ye… has been part of the Nether from the start?

Is he, like the three great Sovereigns of the Nether, one of the pinnacle beings within the Nether?

Boom—

Inside the Nethermouth, a terrifying explosion occurred!

The Nether Dragon Emperor roared in fury, emitting a deafening howl; countless dragon bones seemed ready to burst, turning into sharp bone arrows that rained toward Gou Ye.

The illustrious immortal Dragon Emperor, transformed into the Nether Dragon Emperor, was knocked down by a nameless black dog with a single paw?!

What kind of dog is this, damn it!

Boom—

The Death Sovereign, who killed his way back into the Nethermouth, unleashed a raging death source, swirling like an incredibly dense black fog.

Beside him, the Nether Dragon Emperor re‑emerged from a crack in the Nethermouth; the Death Sovereign glanced at the Nether Dragon Emperor and coldly spat, "Useless."

Truly useless, unable even to stop a black dog.

But…

The Death Sovereign's gaze swept over and landed on Gou Ye, who floated in the air.

Gou Ye hovered above the Nethermouth, his dog paws crossed over his chest, his tail flicking, and his dog eyes lazily glanced at the Death Sovereign.

The Death Sovereign fixed his stare on Gou Ye, the two locking eyes.

Faintly, the Death Sovereign seemed to recall something.

Within the Nether, there is certainly no such number‑one dog, but the opponent must have some connection to the Nether.

As a powerful being who commands one of the three great origins within the Nether, he is extremely familiar with its power.

Although he verbally called the Nether Dragon Emperor useless, in fact the Death Sovereign became unusually solemn.

It was a gravity more serious than the respect he gives the Heaven‑Piercing Divine Emperor.

It felt as if he were facing a great adversary.

Li Che hovered, and behind him the Nethermouth shattered completely; he gave Gou Ye a deep look, said nothing, stepped forward, and turned into a flash of light, diving in at lightning speed.

He formally entered the Nether.

Gou Ye covered him, so he couldn't just stand idle; he had to seize the moment to enter the Nether and find the Hellfire Divine Tree!

This Second Saint Top‑Grade Divine Tree is one of his most important goals for entering the Nether.

On Gou Ye's side, Li Che believes Gou Ye can handle it.

Both Gou Ye and the Boss have very mysterious backgrounds, and Gou Ye's single paw that sent the Nether Dragon Emperor flying gave Li Che even greater confidence.

Boom—!!!

At the instant Li Che entered the Nether—

The Death Sovereign narrowed his eyes, feeling a slight oddity in his heart.

"A cultivator from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths dares to enter the Nether without fearing death? Unafraid of being eroded and fallen by the three origins—death, reincarnation, and the Nether—transforming into a Nether being?"

"Once you enter the Nether… you won't think of leaving!"

The Death Sovereign sneered.

Boom—!!!

Beyond the Nethermouth, a terrifying battle erupted!

The Heaven‑Piercing Divine Emperor unleashed four‑colored God‑slaying sword light, cascading dream‑like, as if to cleave the heavens themselves!

The Nether Ying Dragon roared, its ruined, skeletal wings flaring out, bellowing, spewing dragon breath infused with the death source.

It evaporated vast amounts of the Endless Sea's water, blocking the terrifying sword light the Heaven‑Piercing Divine Emperor slashed.

The skeletal bones on its body were riddled with dense sword scars from the blade's intent, nearly pulverized.

The Heaven‑Piercing Divine Emperor naturally sensed the battle within the Nethermouth.

Although he still didn't understand why Li Che entered the Nether, as a fellow Daoist and a kindred in swordsmanship, the Heaven‑Piercing Divine Emperor chose to trust.

The sword in his hand grew ever sharper; the four divine swords in his grasp burst forth with Heaven‑Piercing divine might!

The void shattered, and the Endless Sea was cleaved.

The Nether Ying Dragon's flesh was brutally chiseled apart, and it fell into the Nethermouth.

Countless shards of bone flew wildly.

The Heaven‑Piercing Divine Emperor crossed his arms, silver hair streaming, stamped a foot, and seemed to become a sword that split the heavens, piercing the inside of the Nethermouth.

"Dragon Emperor, go pursue that intruder in the Nether…"

"Find out what his true purpose is."

The Death Sovereign said lightly.

Then he glanced at Gou Ye, then at the Heaven‑Piercing Divine Emperor who had stormed into the Nethermouth.

"Heaven‑Piercing, inside the Nethermouth, your cultivation will be heavily suppressed, yet you truly fear death not and dare to charge!"

The Death Sovereign's words fell.

The overwhelming death aura on his body suddenly exploded with a thunderous blast, and over his entire form, using the Source of Death as power, a ferocious and jet‑black armor coalesced.

Huh—

The moment his body moved, the area where the death aura spread seemed as if it became a place he could instantly shift to.

The Heaven‑piercing Divine Emperor's eyes narrowed slightly, and his five fingers clenched forcefully.

Four divine swords intertwined before him.

Dong— a booming crack.

The Death Sovereign, appearing at an unknown moment, delivered a terrifying punch that struck hard onto the defensive sword‑shield formed by the four overlapping swords of the Heaven‑piercing Divine Emperor.

The Heaven‑piercing Divine Emperor surged forth like a falling meteor, continuously blasting out from the Nether Gate.

Gou Ye squinted, and on his body began to slowly manifest patterns like hellish magma.

After the Death Sovereign knocked the Heaven‑piercing Divine Emperor flying with a strike, his five fingers clenched, and a jet‑black Death Divine Spear, etched with ancient runes, materialized; a forward thrust, its sharp tip already appeared before Gou Ye's forehead.

It must be pierced through in one thrust!

Bang—!!!

Brilliant sparks burst and exploded!

One man and one dog began a rapid duel within the Nether Gate; each collision sent brilliant sparks scattering and burning.

Seizing the chance, the Nether Dragon Emperor rushed toward the shattered Nether Gate, plunged into the Nether, and pursued Li Che.

Gou Ye cast a glance, yet was helpless.

Blocking the Death Sovereign was already difficult enough; the Heaven‑piercing Divine Emperor was obstructed by a Nether Yinglong reshaped by the Source of Death within the Nether Gate.

Rushing to aid Li Che was simply impossible.

Gou Ye sighed.

"Li Che, kid, from now on you'll have to rely on yourself."

…

…

Boom—!!!

He spanned the Nether Barrier and entered the Nether.

Li Che instantly felt an extremely terrifying pressure of the Heaven‑and‑Earth will.

As if detecting that Li Che did not belong to this world, a force full of repulsion descended like a massive pressure, crushing down.

It was like an absolutely towering sacred mountain being cut at the waist, toppling and crushing him to pieces!

Such immense pressure was something Li Che had not anticipated.

Of course, within the Nether also swirled an extremely dense, omnipresent Nether aura, death aura, and reincarnation aura!

Or rather…

The three were like three terrifying stars in the Nether heavens, constantly emitting three kinds of primordial aura.

Thump thump thump—

The blood within his body seemed about to be completely suppressed; the golden, radiant Martial Immortal qi‑blood, at this moment, was forcibly pressed beneath his skin.

Of course, it is not that Li Che cannot release his Martial Immortal qi‑blood, but that there is no need.

With his current strength, if he forced an eruption of Martial Immortal qi‑blood, he could certainly do so.

But there is no need.

Forcefully opposing the Nether Heaven‑and‑Earth will would only make him a conspicuous target, subject to being attacked, then eroded by the three ruling sources, ultimately collapsing into a Nether creature.

Li Che entered the Nether with purpose, so he could not do such a thing.

"Choose integration, not confrontation…"

"Confrontation only leads to being smothered, whereas integration still leaves room for maneuver."

Li Che exhaled.

He raised his hand and tapped the point above his eyebrows.

In an instant, the powerful Martial Immortal will fully condensed into the inner scene of his dantian, as if completely sealed off.

And within his chest, each Dao Fruit vibrated violently, leaping as if emitting terrifying thunderclaps.

The Dragon Elephant Vajra and numerous other Dao Fruits gradually fell silent.

The Hell and Reincarnation Dao Fruits, however, jumped wildly.

Especially the Hell Dao Fruit, which had reached the ultimate Eight‑Molting stage, instantly usurped the primary position of Li Che's original Dao Fruit.

Chichichi—

The primordial death aura instantly spread over Li Che's entire body, as if seeping into his limbs and bones, gradually transforming his very life essence and aura.

Boom—

Li Che suddenly lifted his head, his jet‑black hair whipping fiercely, while the death aura swirled around him.

The originally terrifying, oppressive Nether Heaven‑and‑Earth will then receded like a tide, no longer affecting Li Che at all.

"Huh—"

It succeeded.

Li Che exhaled, a brilliant curve lifting the corner of his lips.

Then, the Heaven‑and‑Earth chessboard burst forth from his forehead point, spiraled, and then expanded.

The death aura surging from the Hell source permeated the Heaven‑and‑Earth chessboard, enabling it to be used within the Nether.

Li Che's aura completely withdrew, as if vanishing within the Nether. Boom—

The terrifying dragon roar detonated, a powerful aura unleashed like a dreadful energy storm, blasting the void here in the Nether into a violent explosion.

The Nether Dragon Emperor's form chased from the Nether Gate, and after Li Che's aura withdrew, successfully caught up.

The Dragon Emperor's gaze swept, and the mighty dragon might surged, terrifying the death creatures in the Nether Realm into trembling with extreme fear.

"Where have you gone?"

"As a being of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths... in the Nether Realm, it's like a blazing sun falling into darkness, blindingly bright, with nowhere to hide! Where exactly is it?!"

The Dragon Emperor roared!

His fury was unparalleled, and he felt jealousy—how could he enter the Nether and be immediately corrupted, forced to fall into the Nether, while Li Che seemed to block the Nether's corruption and vanish swiftly in concealment?

Who can move freely between the Nether and the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths?!

Curiosity stirred in the Dragon Emperor's heart, eager to uncover the mystery!

Perhaps this could lead to a chance to restore the beings of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

The terrifying dragon might raged, the dragon's broken body exuding and suffusing a deathly aura.

Boom—

He crashed to the ground, his dragon claw clenching, and seized a death creature in his palm.

He began interrogating Li Che about his whereabouts.

However, Li Che's Heaven and Earth Chessboard had gone dormant; even an Imperial‑grade Celestial Immortal could be concealed, let alone ordinary beings perceiving it.

Li Che sat cross‑legged within the Heaven and Earth Chessboard.

The death‑laden Heaven and Earth Chessboard seemed to spread out like a board within the Nether Realm.

He watched the Nether Dragon Emperor's irritability and anger with indifference, finding some inspiration in the other's actions.

After the Dragon Emperor's fury faded and he continued to pursue his trail.

Li Che also acted, capturing a death creature.

"Where is the Hellfire Divine Tree? Do you know?"

Li Che asked calmly.

The Hellfire Divine Tree... the boss said Gou Ye could take him there, but now Gou Ye is confronting the Death Sovereign at the Nether entrance.

Before Gou Ye enters the Nether to meet him, Li Che may have to rely on himself to search.

"The Hellfire Divine Tree... is, is within the Hell Abyss."

The death creature said in terror.

"Hell Abyss..."

Li Che's brows twitched slightly; knowing little about the Nether's interior, he chose to directly read the creature's memory.

Soon, the death creature's memories were cleanly extracted by his Pure Heart Dao Fruit ability.

"Nether Realm, the Four Great Abysses: Death Abyss, Reincarnation Abyss, Hell Abyss, Nether Abyss..."

"The Four Great Abysses are vast and boundless; among them, the Death, Reincarnation, and Nether Abysses are governed by three great Sovereigns."

"The Hell Abyss, however, is peculiar: it has no Sovereign seated, yet it exists within the Nether Realm, and the three great Sovereigns seem restrained by the Nether Realm's will, unable to intrude, divide, or occupy the Hell Abyss..."

Li Che squinted, analyzing the specific details he had learned about the vast Nether Realm.

"Rumors of the Nether say that within the Hell Abyss dwells a terrifying death creature not weaker than any Sovereign! It is called the Hell Sovereign, yet no one has ever seen it."

Li Che shook his head; his understanding of the Hell Abyss had become slightly clearer, yet a veil of mist still obscured it.

"I cannot linger in the Nether; once I obtain the Hellfire Divine Tree, I must leave the Nether swiftly..."

"Of course, before that, I can try to mature the Hell Dao Fruit and the Reincarnation Dao Fruit."

Thus, Li Che's current goal is to head to the Hell Abyss!

Rising from the Heaven and Earth Chessboard, Li Che's golden blood was transformed by the Hell Dao Fruit into death blood, changing from golden hue to pitch black; amid the surge, Li Che shot out of the Nether like a cannonball.

Based on the extracted memory, he rushed toward the Hell Abyss.

All the way, Li Che kept hurrying.

He directly employed the Heaven and Earth Chessboard's Flying Star relocation, each sweep spanning thousands of miles.

In the boundless Nether, he burst forth at high speed.

The Nether Dragon Emperor had completely missed Li Che.

The Nether is so boundless; where the Dragon Emperor goes, Li Che cannot know.

At least, the two are now moving in opposite directions, never to meet again.

The Hell Abyss resembles a territorial domain of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, yet lacks any boundary walls.

Instead, powerful beings actively claim and partition the region.

Thus, within the Nether, there are far fewer regional divisions than in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths—only the four Great Abysses: Nether, Death, Reincarnation, and Hell.

When Li Che, guided by the death creature's memory, arrived beyond the Hell Abyss.

Li Che realized he had underestimated the Hell Abyss.

Beyond the Hell Abyss, terrifying Hell Origin forces formed orderly chains that clanged across, sealing every region.

To cross, one must break the Hell Origin Chains, cleave a segment of the area, then step inside.

Breaking the origin chains is only one aspect.

For Li Che, breaking the Hell Origin Chains is not particularly difficult.

The difficulty lies in that unraveling the Hell Origin would cause the Heaven and Earth Chessboard's aura concealment to fail.

Beyond the Hell Origin Chains lie terrifying Nether beings in the Hell Abyss, each a fearsome Nether Celestial Immortal radiating Imperial‑grade aura!

Li Che cannot easily breach the seals of the four Imperial‑grade Celestial Immortals to enter the Hell Abyss and harvest the Hellfire Divine Tree.

"So, the boss said... Gou Ye can lead me to the Hellfire Divine Tree, perhaps that's what he meant..."

If Gou Ye assists, perhaps I can truly enter the Hell Abyss.

"Hell Origin..."

Li Che felt the Hell Dao Fruit in his chest pulsating explosively, a fierce desire and greed erupting at this moment.

Hell Dao Fruit, unwilling to let the origin condensed into Hell Chains be completely devoured.

"Hell Abyss…… what causal relationship does it have with the Hell Dao Fruit?"

"Or perhaps, the Lord of Hell Dao Fruit created the Hell Abyss?"

Li Che pondered.

In the depths of the Hell Abyss, does the Lord of Hell Dao Fruit exist? Is this Lord of Hell Dao Fruit, like the Three Worlds Tathagata, had his memories washed away?

Various thoughts surged up to Li Che's heart.

But, not thinking too much, what Li Che now needs to consider is how to surpass the Hell Origin Chains…… and the four Hell Sovereigns garrisoning the Hell Abyss!

The Heaven-Earth Chessboard emitted a scattered starlike luster.

Li Che stood upon it, the Hell Dao Fruit throbbed, and his gaze looked forth.

He then saw within the Hell Abyss a gigantic divine tree burning with flames condensed from Hell Origin.

Upon the divine tree were densely packed ancient symbols flowing like molten lava.

"Hell Fire Divine Tree!"

Li Che exhaled a breath.

In the next moment, a plan had already formed in his mind.

Gou Ye now grappled with the Lord of Death, not knowing when he could enter the Netherworld, perhaps never able to enter the Netherworld……

Therefore, Li Che could not keep waiting.

He could first act according to his plan.

With a stir of his mind, the Heaven-Earth Chessboard again expanded like scattered stars; clenching his five fingers, he appeared at the starting point of entering the Netherworld.

If Li Che wanted to enter the Hell Abyss without revealing himself and cut down the Hell Fire Divine Tree……

He would need a stirring stick.

Stir the waters of the regional abyss to make them turbid.

Now, for Li Che, the available stirring sticks are few; the enraged Netherworld Dragon Emperor counts as one.

The Netherworld Dragon Emperor searched around; if he couldn't find him, he would surely come back.

If so……

Li Che then returned to wait.

As expected.

The Netherworld Dragon Emperor quickly spread his terrifying dragon might, returning from afar, unwilling to give up, wanting to sweep again.

And Li Che, at the edge of the dragon's might sweep, released his aura; upon appearing, like a startled bird, he burst forth with golden qi and blood, shooting out like a cannonball.

The Netherworld Dragon Emperor's dragon might shook; sensing Li Che's Martial Immortal golden qi and blood instant, he instantly let out an earth-shaking dragon roar!

Finally found this damned guy!

Fortunately, this dragon is cunning, knowing to kill with a returning shot!

Roar——!!!

The Netherworld Dragon Emperor let out an earth-shaking roar, his tattered frame revealing skeletons, he swung and shot forth at high speed, pursuing Li Che!

After Li Che's aura had fled far, he again concealed himself with the Heaven-Earth Chessboard.

When the Netherworld Dragon Emperor was about to lose his target, he again erupted at the edge of his dragon might, letting the Netherworld Dragon Emperor confirm direction, enabling him to continue the pursuit.

One person, one dragon, thus in the Netherworld, you chase me flee, I flee you quickly chase……

Li Che guided the Netherworld Dragon Emperor to before the Hell Abyss.

Finally, Li Che took a step forward, his whole body directly disappearing, entering the Ink City of the Dead.

He completely vanished between Heaven and Earth!

Only a Flying Thunder Chess Piece remained in the void, like an eye left by Li Che, faintly gazing at the situation outside the Hell Abyss.

And the Netherworld Dragon Emperor, having lost his target, began to gradually become irritable!

The dragon roar exploded, the Netherworld Dragon Emperor narrowed his dragon eyes, gradually gazing toward the Hell Abyss……

Then he shook his head and sneered.

"You want to scheme against this dragon emperor?"

"Too obvious……"

(End of chapter)