Chapter 515

After news spread that the Nine Underworld Soul Realm was about to open, not only did all the races of the Nine Underworld brace themselves, but the human race was also watching closely.

Not only the Demon Suppression Army of the Central Sacred Ground, but other human forces also employed various means, dispatching elite personnel to venture deep into the Nine Underworld hinterlands, attempting to seize the keys to open the Soul Realm.

Thus, when the news of "a single human" spread from the fifth layer of the Nine Underworld to the first layer, sparking a tsunami of discussion throughout the Nine Underworld, the hidden human operatives also secretly used mystic arts to transmit this information into human hands.

The Nine Pass Auction is held once every fifty years, lasting a total of eighty-one days.

At the auction site, human and Nine Underworld forces gathered, the atmosphere fervent.

On the eightieth day of the auction, while both human and Nine Underworld forces were engrossed in bidding wars, the communication devices of various factions began to vibrate one after another.

The news of "a single human" had traveled from the depths of the Nine Underworld to the Nine Passes of the Demon Prison.

Wei Zhenjie had just lost a bid for a top-grade baihua flower and was drinking tea to calm his mind when Chu Junyi's message arrived.

"Pfft~"

Even though he had long trained himself to remain expressionless even if Mount Tai collapsed, upon learning the news of "a single human" that was sweeping through the Nine Underworld, he was so startled that he spat out his tea.

Not only him, but in other seats, many similar reactions of composure loss appeared.

Not long ago, there had been news of an Underworld Deer appearing in the Nine Underworld, and all factions were still worried about it.

Who would have thought that so soon after, so many explosive pieces of news would emerge, making even cultivators at the Spirit Platform Realm feel somewhat overwhelmed.

Wei Zhenjie discreetly scanned the various human factions, paying particular attention to the Four Sacred Lands, the Five Guardian Families, as well as the Three Pure Palaces, Taichu Palace, and the aristocratic families headed by the imperial clan.

He knew that all these factions had sent people deep into the Nine Underworld hinterlands.

Although he was highly skeptical of the authenticity of the rumor about "a single human," he had little doubt that turmoil had arisen in the Nine Underworld hinterlands.

Perhaps the upheaval in the Nine Underworld hinterlands was caused by the infiltrators from the various factions.

"That's not bad either..."

It was probably impossible for the human race to seize the keys to open the Nine Underworld Soul Realm from the Nine Underworld races, but using this opportunity to stir up some chaos in the Nine Underworld was a good thing.

At the same time, other human factions were also exchanging subtle glances, and most of them shared similar thoughts to Wei Zhenjie.

Even if the rumor of "a single human" was somewhat exaggerated, they all felt that their dispatched agents stirring up chaos in the Nine Underworld was enough to justify this risky venture into its depths.

The news of "a single human" was undoubtedly "good news" for the human race, but for the Nine Underworld forces, it was undoubtedly "bad news."

Immediately, some Nine Underworld forces began to voice accusations.

The representative of Netherworld City glared coldly at the human factions: "The human hand is stretching farther and farther. What, building the Demon Prison at the Great Rift Abyss in the center of the Nine Underworld isn't enough? Do you also want to go deep into the Nine Underworld hinterlands and stir up trouble?"

Logically, apart from the passage of souls, the human world and the Nine Underworld should have no interaction.

However, due to the existence of the Demon Prison, and since the current era is in a stage of spiritual energy recovery—with the rules of the Four Spirit Realms still incomplete—human cultivators can freely enter and exit the Nine Underworld.

For Netherworld City, which governs order in the Nine Underworld, this undoubtedly poses a major potential threat.

It must be noted that not long ago, in the Ghost Domain's forbidden area, Ghost Mother Mountain and Ghost Infant River suffered heavy losses at human hands.

The Ghost Race representative immediately chimed in: "Indeed, what do you humans intend to do? Isn't occupying the human world enough? Do you also want to dominate the Nine Underworld?"

The Demon Race representative snorted coldly, looking contemptuously at the humans: "Want to dominate the Nine Underworld? You'll have to ask if my demon race agrees!"

Other Nine Underworld forces also spoke up one after another to express their discontent.

Facing the surging fury of the Nine Underworld forces, Wei Zhenjie remained calm and said with a faint smile: "It's just a rumor, not to be taken seriously."

Guardian Family Dragon Clan's Great Elder, Long Xiaoteng, picked up the thread: "Indeed, if humans really could cause such a big commotion in the Nine Underworld hinterlands, then the races of the Nine Underworld would be far too incompetent."

"If you all truly believe the rumor, wouldn't that be admitting your own incompetence?"

At these words, the Nine Underworld forces grew even angrier.

The representative of the Yellow Spring Race spoke sternly: "You humans are full of deceit—either launching sneak attacks or playing tricks. If we truly fought face to face, do you think the Nine Underworld would fear you?"

The Great Elder of the Guardian Family Zhu Clan, Zhu Ling, retorted: "Hasn't the Nine Underworld always followed the rule of the strong preying on the weak and might makes right? Regardless of the methods, if you lose, you have to admit it."

Seeing the tension escalate, Wei Zhenjie stepped in with a chuckle to smooth things over: "Let's continue the auction. Everyone gathered here is looking to trade for treasures they desire. As for other matters, we'll discuss them later."

"Hmph!"

Though the Nine Underworld forces were still furious, they ultimately stopped pressing the issue.

Just as the human realm needed certain unique cultivation resources from the Nine Abysses, the Nine Abysses likewise required certain cultivation resources from the human realm.

This was the fundamental reason for the existence of the Nine Gates Auction.

The auction continued...

At the same time, to the west of the Demon Prison, a mass of deep blue light streaked down from the high sky.

"Bam!"

Hua Changxi jumped off the Nether Deer and gazed at the towering, pitch-black gate tower that pierced the clouds on the horizon—the Gate of Ghosts.

Once through the Gate of Ghosts, heading east all the way would lead to the Demon Prison.

"Little deer, we part ways here."

While feeding the Nether Deer Soul River water, Hua Changxi stroked its smooth back: "You are the Nine Abysses Dao Envoy. Strong experts of the Nine Abysses all want to lure you out. When you return, be extremely careful—don't get caught."

With the Nether Deer as her mount, although she had drawn some attention along the way, it had also saved her a lot of trouble.

If not for the fact that the Nether Deer only roamed the Nine Abysses, she would have truly wanted to take it back to the human realm.

After the Nether Deer finished drinking three tons of Soul River water, Hua Changxi took out another storage ring, filled it with some soul flowers, soul fruits, and soul plants it liked, hung the ring around the Nether Deer's neck, and then began urging it to leave.

The Nether Deer did not move; its eyes actually revealed reluctance.

Seeing this, Hua Changxi sighed: "I know you still want to hear the soul ballad, but I really have to go. If I don't leave now, I'm afraid the strong experts of the Nine Abysses will all come to surround and kill me."

"Don't be reluctant to part with me either. In the future, a Nine Abysses creature that can play the soul ballad will definitely appear..."

While reassuring the Nether Deer, Hua Changxi put away the soul bead, inserted a top-grade Nether Hour into the slot array of the Heart-Mask, and simultaneously mobilized ghostfire to shroud herself, transforming once again into a ghost race.

"I'm leaving. Goodbye."

"No, never see you again."

She had already decided—in the future, she would visit the Nine Abysses less often.

Transformed into a ghost race, Hua Changxi no longer looked at the Nether Deer. She dashed swiftly toward the direction of the Gate of Ghosts and soon disappeared into the boundless gray mist.

The Nether Deer remained standing in place until it sensed several powerful auras approaching.

"The Nether Deer is over there!"

Just as those auras sped closer, the nine deep blue patterns on the Nether Deer's body simultaneously blazed with intense light.

Then, under the shocked and regretful gazes of those figures, the Nether Deer transformed into a deep blue radiance.

The light surged and vanished without a trace in an instant, leaving only a few standing figures and the endless gray mist.