The Buddhist saying "the sea of suffering has no bounds; turn back and you will find the shore" was meant for those venturing into the Nether (Yin) Ruins. Once inside, one risked sinking completely into a sea of bitterness, forever lost, exiled from the Three Realms and Six Paths. Returning was nearly impossible. In that place, there was no direction, no other shore—only endless Nether Ruins.
Escaping it was unimaginably difficult.
In other words, back on the Bridge of Yin and Yang, had Yi Tianxing failed to resist temptation and stepped off the bridge, returning might have been forever out of reach.
"It's said that in the Nether Ruins, all forms of life—every essence and source—merge with the ruins themselves. Trying to break free is like expecting a drop of water to escape the ocean. In the end, it always returns. Pulling that giant serpent with your Death Fishing Rod wasn't a matter of strength—it was equivalent to fighting against the entire Nether Ruins."
Meng Qi spoke solemnly.
As he tried to haul the serpent, the Nether Ruins pulled it back. In that tug of war, the serpent's body was the first to give in, torn apart on the spot. Creatures that die in the Nether Ruins leave behind a kind of remnant—not a blessing, but a law-bound reward. That was the law of the Nether Ruins: survival of the fittest.
The strong feed on the weak. This was an iron rule.
The serpent's blood and essence were nothing more than spoils of war. Battle and reward—this was nature's oldest law.
"According to ancient records, the beings in the Nether Ruins are called Aberrants, or Omens. The Buddhists call them Heart Demons, the Daoists call them Yin Devils—all referring to the same thing. If possible, it's best never to set foot in the Nether Ruins. Once pulled in, it's too late for regrets."
Meng Qi warned again. This was no joke.
Once it happened, it was true terror.
"Relax. I haven't lost my mind. I wouldn't touch the Nether Ruins lightly. Last time was just an accident. Still, if I could reel in a few big catches, that wouldn't be such a bad thing."
Yi Tianxing smiled faintly.
Then, glancing at the sky, he turned around and once again pressed Meng Qi beneath him. Amidst a surprised gasp, soft moans echoed like a song in the air. Only after a long while did it end. Dolphin-like cries occasionally rose in the midst of their passion, like sobs, like song.
Much later, Meng Qi emerged from the room glowing with radiance, as if she alone held all the world's brilliance.
Inside, Yi Tianxing stood at the window, watching her leave. His eyes flashed with a peculiar glint as he murmured, "Meng Qi… I still don't know your true motives, or why you insist on not bearing a child. But now that you're my woman, the title of Empress of Great Yi will forever be yours. Besides, you've given me quite the surprise."
He looked within himself.
There, a new Life Aperture had formed, called Yellow Springs, located at the sole of his foot—precisely where the original Yongquan Aperture had merged into his Divine Sea during his cultivation.
A small stream flowed within the aperture—its origin and end unknown. This was the Yellow Springs River, born within his body. Though minuscule compared to the Yellow Springs Holy River of the underworld, its essence was authentic—genuine Yellow Springs Origin.
It held true Yellow Springs Power.
In the Heavenly Emperor Dragon Map, another illusory dragon solidified into a Yellow Springs Dragon, coiling around the Heavenly Emperor's Dharma Body. The Life Map grew more complete, more powerful.
Moreover, Meng Qi's artifact was no ordinary one—it was called the Nine Nether Demon Toad, something that lingered in memory and soul.
[New Life Aperture: Yellow Springs]
[Heavenly Emperor Dragon Map: Yellow Springs Dragon formed]
[Artifact: Nine Nether Demon Toad]
Not long after, a knock came at the door, followed by the little skeleton's voice:
"Sir Yi, the boss-lady asks me to inform you—King of the Underworld is here. Waiting for you up front."
"King of the Underworld? She came personally?"
Yi Tianxing's eyes flashed in surprise.
Even he hadn't expected the King of the Underworld herself to show up. He knew she might move freely through the underworld due to Heavenly Dao, but for someone of her status to appear in person—it was indeed shocking.
Still, since she came, he had no fear.
This was the poise and boldness befitting the master of the first Emperor Dynasty under Heaven.
Even if King of the Underworld could move freely, she couldn't act lightly against others—not without violating the mandates of the Heavenly Dao, which would bring divine punishment upon her.
Without hesitation, he opened the door and descended.
Guided by the little skeleton, he was led naturally into a private room.
Inside, Zhao Li stood respectfully to one side. At the center sat a young girl, her back to the door. All Yi Tianxing could see was a figure.
Yet even that back sent ripples through his heart, causing unease.
"How strange," he murmured. "Just a silhouette, but so many contrasting auras…"
One moment she was regal, the next a shy girl. She shifted from frail to bold, pitiful to commanding—constantly changing, displaying all aspects of the human condition through just a single figure.
It was terrifying.
In ordinary cases, this would signal split personality or insanity, but Hades clearly wasn't insane. That made her even more dangerous.
A person whose mind changed like this was completely unreadable—unfathomable, uncontrollable.
Suddenly—
Whoosh!
Her aura changed again—into that of a dominant queen. A pressure filled the room, not deliberately imposed, yet suffocating. Even Zhao Li subconsciously tensed up.
He knew all too well what kind of person King of the Underworld was—a walking trap. Anyone could be lured in, and once inside, there was no escape.
"I knew it… Acha showing up like this is big trouble."
Zhao Li smiled bitterly to himself.
"Emperor Yi, this is my lord, Acha. She's here about opening the Yin-Yang Intermarket," Zhao Li said hurriedly.
Yi Tianxing nodded with a smile and stepped inside, facing Acha directly. Only now did he see her face—a breathtaking beauty with a mysterious, shifting aura. At this moment, she carried the bearing of a sovereign queen, one that could not be looked at directly.
Were it not for Yi Tianxing's own status—Emperor of an Imperial Dynasty—he might have been overwhelmed. This was pressure from a higher lifeform.
"You're Yi the Emperor? The first Emperor under Heaven."
Suddenly, Acha smiled. Her queenly aura disappeared, replaced by a curious young girl. She blinked and said, "Your eyes… they're quite special."
She leaned in, examining his eyes with intense interest.
"You actually have Innate Yin-Yang Eyes! One of the top divine eyes in all Heaven and Earth. And they're innate! You really do live up to the title of First Emperor. Fascinating—absolutely fascinating. Say… can I have them?"
Her expression was so pure and eager, her gaze so limpid, it was impossible to refuse her. That alone felt like a sin.
"Here we go again. Acha is messing around…" Zhao Li sighed internally. Eyes aren't something you just ask for... especially from someone like him.
But there was no place for him to interrupt. He could only watch helplessly.
Yi Tianxing smiled calmly. "Acha must be joking. These eyes may not be much, but they were born with me—my parents' gift. After all these years, I'm quite used to them. I couldn't bear to part with them. But if you're truly interested in eyes, I do have some from the Three-Eyed Clan. They're better than mine—I'd be happy to offer them."
He remained composed. He already had some understanding of Hades' temperament and was mentally prepared for such eccentricities.
This was nothing.
"All right, all right, boring—no fun anymore," Acha pouted, her aura shifting again as she adopted a serious tone.
"You wish to build cities in the underworld. You want to open a passage between Great Yi and the Netherworld. Do you understand the consequences of such an act?"
"Of course. At worst, I'll become a target for everyone. But with Great Yi's power, we can handle it."
Yi Tianxing replied confidently.
"You can't handle it," Acha said with a half-smile. "You think all the true powerhouses of the world are really sealed away?"