Chapter 164: Scattered

Yin Yin finished reading the message, her expression easing slightly.

All eyes turned to her.

She stood up, took Jiang Zhao's hand, and said softly, "Don't worry."

Jiang Zhao sat beside her and asked, "Does the Divine Messenger have a way to deal with the Dead Man Jade?"

Beside them.

Liu Liu Tiezhu sighed and urged, "Yin Yin, just say it straight."

Yin Yin glanced at him and said, "The Dead Man Jade is indeed an ill omen."

"Once the gray mist surrounds a soul, it drags the living soul away."

"But my father also said."

"Recently, the Prayer Star Palace's research has discovered."

"The Dead Man Jade has another function."

"This object can protect a living soul and allow it to enter the Dead Realm."

"In other words."

"With it."

"Even if you fall into a gateway to the Earth Realm, you can return safely before the gray mist runs out."

Hearing this,

Liu Liu Tiezhu's gaze darkened and said, "So you're saying Shi Shi Xuan sent us the Dead Man Jade to force us into the Earth Realm?"

"If we don't go, the Dead Man Jade will steal our souls."

"This is his idea of a friend."

"How ridiculous!"

As he spoke, Liu Liu Tiezhu's expression grew even darker. "The Earth Realm is where the dead dwell. If we truly fall in, how could we ever return?"

"Don't panic," Yin Yin said gently. "My father said he'd rather expend the Prayer Palace's divine power than let us come to harm."

At these words,

the tense atmosphere inside the cabin eased at once.

"That's great!"

Shan Ye rubbed his forehead and exhaled. "If the Divine Messenger acts, we don't have to worry."

Liu Liu Tiezhu's expression froze, then improved slightly.

Jiang Zhao asked, "Will the Divine Messenger come himself?"

Shan Ye shook his head and explained, "The Divine Messenger of each prefecture governs the Prayer Palace, is the Prayer Commandant of the prefecture, and controls all divine power collected by the Prayer Palace over centuries."

"Within the prefecture's borders, divine power is nearly omnipotent."

"He doesn't need to move—he can intervene in prefectural affairs at any moment."

"Even the Prefectural Governor must show him respect."

As he spoke,

the Cross-Border Shuttle entered the continent and descended toward the banks of Shaoshui.

Shan Ye continued, "Each prefecture's Divine Messenger can directly connect to the Moon Realm and answer only to the Prayer Star Palace—absolute authority."

"Your Yin Yin is truly a Young Lady in every sense."

Jiang Zhao blinked. "My Yin Yin?"

Zhong Ling sat quietly to the side, silent, her expression complex.

She and Jiang Zhao had once been extremely close.

But since transferring to Linjiang Academy, though they still stuck together, a third person—Yin Yin—had appeared between them.

As they chatted,

the Cross-Border Shuttle landed.

Yin Yin stood up, her expression solemn. "My father will act to remove the Dead Man Jade's aura."

"But he also said we must not enter the Earth Realm under any circumstances."

"Once we step in carelessly, everything slips beyond control."

"We can observe from afar—see what Shi Shi Xuan is up to."

"But we must not believe a single word he says!"

She turned to Jiang Zhao. "Jiang Zhao, you don't have the Dead Man Jade—you're not in danger. Stay on the shuttle. Don't come down."

Jiang Zhao hesitated, glancing at her brother.

Jiang Jian stood, walked to the cabin door, and said softly, "Decide for yourself."

Jiang Zhao nodded obediently. "Then I won't go down. I'll watch from the window. Come back quickly."

The cabin door opened.

The night wind was icy and biting.

Waves crashed against the rocks, roaring with a splash.

Jiang Jian descended the gangway, gazing at the murky river—and immediately sensed something unnatural.

"This water vein is abundant. By all logic, it should teem with ghosts and spirits."

"Yet now, there's not a trace of living energy."

He took two steps forward, staring at the churning river surface.

A few meters away, the deep water surged violently.

Strangely, the water vein's spiritual energy was utterly dead—no ripple, no fluctuation.

"This area is under lockdown! No approach allowed!"

Dozens of meters away, a patrol unit marched forward in unison.

The patrol captain halted, his face cold. "The Prefecture has issued a lockdown order. No one is permitted near this area. Leave immediately!"

Liu Liu Tiezhu stood before him, shrugged, and said nothing.

Zhong Ling and Jiang Zhao remained aboard the Cross-Border Shuttle, not descending.

Shan Ye stepped forward, lowered his voice, and said to Jiang Jian, "Shi Shi Xuan said we should send him a message once we reach the coordinates. You're closest to him—you send it."

Yin Yin's gaze also turned toward him.

This original study group

once again handed the decision to Jiang Jian.

"Fine."

Jiang Jian nodded, opened his identity device.

The patrol captain, ignored, grew displeased and raised his voice. "Students, leave the lockdown zone immediately! Or don't blame me for being harsh!"

Behind him, the patrol unit stood ready.

The next instant,

strange gray mist surged from nothingness.

In an instant, it swallowed the entire patrol unit.

Seeing this,

Liu Liu Tiezhu's face changed, his spiritual energy roiling as if facing a great enemy.

A few seconds later,

a thin figure emerged from the gray mist.

"Long time no see."

He wore the academy uniform, carried the Moon-Chasing Blade on his back, his voice hoarse.

The gray mist dispersed.

The patrol unit lay unconscious, sprawled haphazardly across the riverbank.

"I thought someone wouldn't come."

Shi Shi Xuan smiled. "But you all came."

His appearance was unchanged from when they last parted.

Only his face had lost its color, tinged with an unnatural pallor.

Shan Ye and Yin Yin exchanged a glance, silent.

Liu Liu Tiezhu coldly said, "Shi Shi Xuan, we treated you as a friend. You sent us the Dead Man Jade. What are you really after?"

Shi Shi Xuan's expression remained calm. "I already said in the message—I need my friends' help."

"If you don't want to come, don't."

"I didn't force you."

Hearing this,

Liu Liu Tiezhu flew into a rage, pulled the Dead Man Jade from his pocket, and hurled it to the ground. "This is your 'no force'?!"

"When this thing activates, won't my soul be gone?"

Shi Shi Xuan fell silent for a moment, then said, "Its purpose isn't to harm you—it's to protect you from the Dead Realm's aura."

Liu Liu Tiezhu snapped, "You're still spouting nonsense! This is Dead Man Jade—the aura inside clearly—"

His voice cut off abruptly.

Because Shi Shi Xuan had already picked up the Dead Man Jade and gently rubbed it.

The jade turned to dust, scattering across the riverbank.

At the same time.

Liu Liu Tiezhu also felt that the strange aura surrounding his soul had vanished completely, leaving not a trace.

He opened his mouth, wanting to curse some more, but no sound came out.

Shi Shi Xuan said nothing, his expression sorrowful, gazing at the other three.

Shan Ye walked forward in silence, took out the Death Jade, hesitated a moment, then tossed it onto the riverbank.

When the moment came, no one would risk their life for a joke.

A light breeze blew.

Shi Shi Xuan bent down and swept his hand across the ground.

The jade shattered into powder.

Yin Yin sighed and asked, "Shi Shi Xuan, what exactly have you been through these past days? Just tell us."

Shi Shi Xuan stood up and repeated his earlier words: "I need help."

Yin Yin's tone turned cold: "Do you insist on being cryptic?"

Shi Shi Xuan looked at her but said nothing.

Yin Yin pulled out the Death Jade and waved it before his eyes, asking again: "Be clear—what kind of help do you need?"

Shi Shi Xuan finally spoke: "Come with me into the Underworld."

Though they had suspected it before.

Yet now, hearing those words outright, their expressions turned icy.

Liu Liu Tiezhu gritted his teeth: "Only the dead can enter the Underworld!"

Shi Shi Xuan said calmly: "This jade can protect the soul."

Liu Liu Tiezhu sneered: "In the past few hundred years, no one who entered the Underworld has ever returned."

Shi Shi Xuan remained silent.

Yin Yin, however, offered no bias: "The Temple of the Prayer Star has recently studied the Death Jade. It is highly likely that it allows safe passage through the entrance to the Underworld."

"But until now, no one has dared risk their life to test it."

"Shi Shi Xuan, you won't even explain clearly—you're asking us to gamble our lives."

"No matter how you spin it, it makes no sense."

Yin Yin said seriously, "My father is the Fuanhezhou Divine Envoy. If you explain clearly, and if I can help, I will find a way."

Shi Shi Xuan shook his head and said no more.

He flicked his finger toward Yin Yin.

Instantly.

The Death Jade in Yin Yin's hand turned to dust and scattered with the wind.

"I once said this was a gift for you."

Shi Shi Xuan's expression grew even sadder: "You are my friends—I would never harm you."

He stepped forward and looked at Jiang Jian.

"Jiang Jian, will you help me?"

Shi Shi Xuan's gaze carried a faint plea.

Jiang Jian hesitated, pulled out the Death Jade, and opened his mouth to speak.

At that moment, Shi Shi Xuan's eyes turned sharply cold.

His face twisted into a grotesque mask; his entire body dissolved into gray mist, engulfing Jiang Jian completely!

"Jiang Jian!"

Seeing this, Yin Yin's face turned ashen; her Shen Que spiritual energy roared like thunder, and her body instantly shattered into snowflakes.

In the blink of an eye, she wove herself into the space where Jiang Jian had stood.

Her speed was already extreme.

Yet the white-robed girl's hand grasped only air.

"Jiang Jian?!"

Snowflakes drifted down; Yin Yin straightened, scanning the surroundings.

Her expression was filled with worry, confusion, and shock.

"Where did they go?"

Her face turned pale; a terrifying suspicion rose in her heart.

"Could it be…"

"That they went into the Underworld?"

At the same time.

Liu Liu Tiezhu and Shan Ye both widened their pupils in horror, their faces grim.

"Jiang Jian!"

"Jiang Jian! Shi Shi Xuan! Where did they go?!"

They searched everywhere but found no trace.

Only Yin Yin stood by the riverbank, staring at the spot where they vanished, like a statue.

Jiang Zhao and Zhong Ling had already descended from the Cross-Boundary Airship and flew over.

"Where is Jiang Jian?"

Jiang Zhao stopped, her usually clear, melodious voice now hoarse.

Yin Yin stood motionless, silent.

Zhong Ling asked anxiously: "Where did they go?"

Yin Yin snapped back to herself, her heart pierced like a needle stab; she murmured, "I'm sorry—I should have stopped him sooner."

Only the dead can enter the Underworld.

Living beings who enter the Underworld have never returned.

This has been an unshakable truth across the Four Realms of Earth and Moon for centuries.

Jiang Zhao stood beside her, silent.

Within her cold, still pupils, silver light roared.

"Zhaozhao, should we report this to the Academy?"

Zhong Ling's eyes were red, her hands trembling as she clutched Jiang Zhao's arm, on the verge of tears.

Liu Liu Tiezhu strode forward, looked at Yin Yin, and said firmly: "Immediately report to the Fuanhezhou Divine Envoy: Fifth-Tier Talent student Jiang Jian has been pulled into the Underworld's entrance. Tell the Envoy to find a solution!"

Shan Ye, forcing calm, opened his identity device and said: "I'll report to the Academy."

A few minutes later.

Yin Yin's fingers trembled as she removed her identity device, her face as white as paper.

All eyes turned to her.

The white-robed girl's lips quivered; pain twisted her face, and she could not speak.

"Yin Yin!"

Liu Liu Tiezhu barked sharply: "What did the Divine Envoy say?!"

The white-robed girl's voice carried a tremor of tears: "Father said—if you enter the Underworld, you're dead. You never come back."

She crouched down, kneeling on the riverbank, her shoulders shaking intermittently, her skirt fanning out like a blooming white flower.

……

……

……

(End of Chapter)