The cave dwelling of the Feng family.
Amidst the night, Great Elder Zhang and Elder Feng sat facing each other, drinking wine with heavy expressions.
"Brother Zhang, you mean... the Underworld?" Elder Feng frowned deeply.
As soon as the words "Underworld" were spoken, the atmosphere in the room turned a few degrees colder.
Great Elder Zhang nodded, speaking in a deep voice: "It seems someone wants to open the âUnderworldâ path in Kan State..."
Elder Feng frowned, "Who?"
Great Elder Zhang shook his head, "Even the ancestors cannot predict it..."
Elder Fengâs expression grew more grave, and after a moment he asked solemnly, "Is there really... such a thing as the âUnderworldâ?"
Great Elder Zhangâs face was grim as he slowly said:
"In ancient records from ten thousand years ago, the words âUnderworldâ are indeed mentioned, described as a great disaster leading to state boundary extinction."
"But what exactly is this âUnderworldâ?"
"Is it a Big Demon, a Great Ghost, or a massive corpse?"
"Is it a Demonâs Cave, some ancient Taoist, or a celestial calamity, a disaster of causality... no one really knows."
"How exactly to open the Underworld path, and what it truly means, is still a mystery to me."
Elder Feng said, "Since we donât know anything... Brother Zhang, how did you come to know thereâs a sign of the âUnderworldâ path opening in Kan State?"
Great Elder Zhang said coldly, "An ancestor visited me in a dream, bearing an ominous omen. The Canglan state boundary was destroyed, and the eerie Netherworld Water flowed along the ground river, distorting all living creatures throughout Kan State."
"The entire Kan State became an Underworld Netherworld where Yin and Yang were indistinguishable, and humans and ghosts were inseparable..."
Just thinking about this scene made Elder Feng shiver slightly.
Great Elder Zhang sighed, "The disaster of the Underworld is recorded in ancient texts of all states."
"The Cultivation World is divided into the Nine States, with the Taoist State at the center, and the other eight states surrounding it according to the principles of the Eight Trigrams."
"My Zhang Family resides in Kan State. Kan signifies water."
"The Underworld is also the water of the Nine Nether."
"According to the principles of the Eight Trigrams, the disaster of the Underworld must start from Kan State. It is the source of the Nine Nether and the origin of the Underworld."
"If Kan State suffers the disaster of the Underworld, my Zhang Family will bear the brunt. The ancestral foundation is here, and I dare not be anything but painstaking in this endeavor..."
Elder Feng pondered for a moment, worry in his gaze, but also a hint of confusion:
"Brother Zhang, thereâs one thing I donât understand."
"Please speak, Brother Feng," Great Elder Zhang said.
Elder Feng said, "Looking at the Qianxue State Boundary, you can see a bustling scene, suggesting this world is peaceful, the Nine State is prosperous, and everything is flourishing..."
"But..." Elder Feng frowned, "as you said, Kan State has the threat of the Underworld, Li State has the unrest of the Southern Wilderness, and other regions occasionally have Taoist..."
Elder Feng hesitated, as if reluctant to mention those two words, but after a moment of courage, he lowered his voice and said:
"Taoist Demon trouble..."
"So, is this world truly peaceful and prosperous, or is it filled with unrest and disasters?"
Elder Fengâs voice carried deep confusion.
Great Elder Zhang remained silent, then lifted his gaze to look deeply at Elder Feng, "Brother Feng, do you really not know?"
Elder Fengâs eyes flickered, but he shook his head nonetheless.
Great Elder Zhang spoke slowly, word by word:
"The aristocratic families are prosperous, and as an elder of such a family, you feel the Cultivation World is prosperous."
"But the prosperity of the aristocratic families comes at a price."
"And those who bear this price endure the unrest and disasters..."
Great Elder Zhangâs gaze was profound, and his tone was full of meaning.
Some enjoy prosperity, while others bear the cost. Thatâs why the Cultivation World is so turbulent, and why Kan State shows signs of the Underworldâs origin.
Elder Feng seemed to ponder this, but apparently did not fully understand.
Great Elder Zhang was not inclined to delve deeply into this matter; his current focus remained on Kan State.
Great Elder Zhang sighed and earnestly said:
"To be honest, Brother Feng, my personal visit to the Qianxue State Boundary this time was firstly to attend the sword discussion, allowing the disciples of my family to witness the demeanor of Qianxueâs Genius, learn that there are always people better than oneself, and not to lose their pursuit of the Dao..."
"Secondly, to visit old friends;"
"Thirdly, itâs about this Underworld disaster."
Great Elder Zhang looked solemnly at Elder Feng, "The Qianxue State Boundary is a Fifth Grade State with a long history of aristocratic families and sects, and there must be many ancient books and texts in the Taoist Repository."
"Given the chance, I wish to conduct some research."
"Some elders and knowledgeable peers within the Qianxue State Boundary, if the opportunity arises, I hope Brother Feng could introduce them."
"I wish to find the origin of the words âUnderworldâ through this..."
"The disaster of the Underworld, elusive as it is, would be best if it does not exist."
"But if it does exist, it surely is a great catastrophe. My Zhang Family has lived in Kan State for generations, and we have the duty to find a way to suppress it, to resolve the disaster of one state and the world."
In the Feather Transformation Realm, Great Elder Zhang rose, bowing to Elder Feng with sincerity, "I humbly ask for Brother Fengâs support."
Elder Feng hurriedly stood aside to avoid it, saying swiftly, "Brother Zhang, thereâs no need for this, I genuinely donât dare accept."
After giving it some serious thought, he honestly said, "To be frank, regarding such a significant matter as the Underworld, my level of cultivation and network really canât assist Brother Zhang."
"But if itâs just to check ancient books and records, and to introduce some elder Taoist Friends, then I cannot refuse."
Great Elder Zhang felt relieved at heart, clasping his hands in thanks, "Thank you!"
The two of them, under the cover of night, discussed specific matters for a while longer until it was late, and then each rose to bid farewell.
Great Elder Zhang returned to the guest room of the Zhang Family and, as per routine, first called the roll.
By now it was already at 22 p.m, and most of the clan members and disciples had returned on time, with the exception of one person.
Great Elder Zhangâs gaze darkened, "Where is Zhang Lan?"
The members of the Zhang Family looked at each other, not daring to speak.
It wasnât that they wanted to hide anything, but rather their little skill and cultivation were nothing in front of the Great Elder, and they would be seen through as soon as they opened their mouths.
It was better to speak the truth.
If they concealed it, everyone would suffer.