119: A terrifying journey on the plank road, a love story stirred in the netherworld.

Following the path planned by the System, Lin Xuan and Qu Feiyan traveled through the gray fog for two days. Along the way, they avoided several spatial rifts and Vicious Beast nests, and also collected some rare Yin-attribute spiritual materials from the outside world. The deeper they went, the denser the surrounding Death Qi became, and the strange whispers that eroded the mind grew clearer. Even with their considerable cultivation, they had to constantly circulate their magical power to protect their minds.

On the afternoon of the third day, the gray fog ahead suddenly thinned, and a spine-chilling sight came into view.

It was an ancient boardwalk clinging to the cliff face of a ten thousand-zhang abyss, built of some kind of pitch-black timber, winding its way toward the deeper fog. Beneath the boardwalk was the bottomless Nether Abyss, churning with gray-black fog. Just one glance made one feel as if their Divine Soul would be sucked into it. And the boardwalk itself was filled with specters!

Countless translucent, distorted vengeful spirits wandered and wailed on the boardwalk. They had no substance, yet they emitted chilling Soul Power impacts. More bizarrely, the space in certain sections of the boardwalk showed unnatural distortion, as if it might break or shift at any moment. The air was filled with intense resentment Qi, Death Qi, and a maddening sense of insanity.

[Warning: Target area "Hundred Ghosts Night Parade Boardwalk" reached. Detecting ultra-high concentration Resentment Force Field, Soul Power contamination, and unstable spatial ripples. Strongly advised to activate comprehensive protection.]

[The light path on the incomplete map points to the mid-to-right section of the boardwalk, approximately fifteen li away.]

"This is it... the Hundred Ghosts Night Parade Boardwalk." Qu Feiyan took a deep breath. Even she felt a chill facing this ghostly scene. She subconsciously moved closer to Lin Xuan, her slender hand gripping his sleeve.

Lin Xuan could feel the slight coolness and a barely perceptible tremor from her fingertips. He grasped her hand in return, transferring a stream of warm magical power, and said calmly, "Stay close to me. The System will warn us of spatial anomalies. As for these vengeful spirits... I will clear the path."

With a thought, his Golden Core circulated within him. His Supreme Yang Vitality and Blood slightly surged, forming a faint reddish-gold halo on his body surface. At the same time, the System began high-speed scanning of the boardwalk ahead, marking areas dense with vengeful spirits and spatial distortion points.

"Let's go!"

The two moved, stepping onto the sinister and terrifying boardwalk.

Their feet stepping on the pitch-black wood planks made a "creak" sound, especially jarring in the dead silence. Instantly, dozens of nearby vengeful spirits seemed to smell the aura of the living, letting out sharp shrieks and rushing over like a tide! The icy Soul Power impacts were like ice picks, stabbing straight into the Sea of Consciousness!

"Hmph!" Lin Xuan snorted coldly. He didn't draw his sword, but merely intensified his Supreme Yang Vitality and Blood. The reddish-gold halo seemed to transform into invisible fierce flames. The moment the rushing vengeful spirits touched it, they let out miserable screams, their soul bodies melting like ice and snow, instantly fading and dissipating!

Supreme Yang Vitality and Blood was precisely the bane of these Yin spirits and ghosts!

Seeing this, Qu Feiyan felt slightly relieved. She also activated her magical power, and a phantom of the blood lotus appeared behind her, emitting a seductive demonic sound. This was not an attack, but formed a Mental Protective Barrier, resisting the pervasive erosion of resentment and the Soul Power impacts.

The two proceeded one after the other. Lin Xuan was like a burning torch; wherever he passed, the vengeful spirits retreated. Qu Feiyan was responsible for filling gaps, dealing with Soul Power attacks that came from strange angles, while also staying alert to the surrounding spatial fluctuations.

The boardwalk twisted and turned, seemingly endless. The surrounding vengeful spirits seemed infinite; even if they were incinerated and dissipated by Lin Xuan's Vitality and Blood, new ones quickly condensed from the abyss fog. Even more troublesome were the spatial distortions. Sometimes a seemingly flat section of the boardwalk, when stepped upon, could instantly lead to falling into a spatial fold. Had the System not warned them in advance, both would have already been affected.

After continuously advancing for about ten li, Lin Xuan's Supreme Yang Vitality and Blood was significantly depleted. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and his breathing was slightly hurried. Qu Feiyan, who continuously maintained the Mental Protective Barrier, also had a somewhat pale face.

"Junior Brother Lin, how about a rest?" Qu Feiyan suggested worriedly, looking at Lin Xuan's slightly tired profile.

Lin Xuan checked the System map. The light path designation point was about five li away. "Alright, there seems to be a small shallow cave behind that boulder ahead. We'll recuperate there for a moment."

The two quickened their pace and rushed behind the boulder protruding from the cliff face. Sure enough, there was a shallow, narrow cave barely large enough for two or three people. Lin Xuan quickly set up a small Concealment and Protection Formation, temporarily isolating the vengeful spirits' shrieks and Soul Power impacts from the outside.

The space was cramped, and the two sat down almost pressed against each other. Qu Feiyan could even clearly smell the masculine scent on Lin Xuan, a mix of Yang essence and faint sweat, which made her heart beat involuntarily faster. After traveling together through the dangers, their sense of reliance and affection was magnified infinitely at the edge of life and death.

"Here, quickly restore your magical power." Qu Feiyan took out a Medicinal Pill that replenished Vitality and Blood and magical power, and brought it to Lin Xuan's mouth. Her movement was natural and intimate, her eyes seductive, showing undisguised concern.

Lin Xuan looked at her delicate face, which was close enough to touch. Though slightly pale from the consumption of magical power, it only added to her pitiful charm. He did not refuse, opening his mouth to swallow the Medicinal Pill, his fingertip brushing unintentionally against her soft palm.

Their eyes met. In the confined space of the cave, the atmosphere instantly became ambiguous and enchanting. Outside was a land of utter despair where ten thousand ghosts wailed, but inside, it felt as if only their heartbeats and breathing remained.

Qu Feiyan watched his Adam's apple bob as he swallowed the Medicinal Pill, and watched his slightly pursed lips from fatigue. She felt a surge of heat rise from her lower abdomen. As if possessed, she tilted her head slightly and pressed her soft red lips against his.

Lin Xuan's body stiffened slightly.

The sensation of their lips touching was cool and soft, carrying her unique rich fragrance. He could feel the fervent affection she conveyed, mixed with a slight tremor. In this Netherworld death zone, at a time of unknown fate, this sudden intimacy seemed to carry a sense of desperate breaking free and indulgence.

He did not push her away.

Instead, after a brief moment of surprise, he reached out and wrapped his arm around her slender, supple waist, deepening the kiss. It was no longer Qu Feiyan's one-sided giving, but a forceful response and conquest.

"Mmh..." Qu Feiyan let out a muffled whimper. Her delicate body completely melted into his embrace, her arms wrapping around his neck like water snakes, responding passionately. Her seductive eyes were hazy, as if she wanted to dissolve into his arms.

The temperature inside the cramped space suddenly rose. The friction of clothes made rustling sounds, intertwining heavy breathing with suppressed moans. Lin Xuan's palm rubbed against her smooth back, feeling its surprising elasticity and slight shivers. Qu Feiyan boldly unfastened the buttons of his lapel, her fingertips drawing circles on his firm chest, sending waves of numbness.

Lust surged between the two like a dark current at the bottom of the Nether Abyss. Just as Lin Xuan's hand was about to delve deeper into her clothes—

[Warning! High-Energy Soul Power Aggregate detected rapidly approaching! Threat Rank: Golden Core Peak!]

[Warning! A spatial node three zhang away on the left is about to undergo severe fluctuation!]

The System's warning sound was like cold water being thrown on them!

Lin Xuan instantly sobered up. He abruptly shielded the dazed Qu Feiyan behind him, his gaze sharply fixed outside the cave!

A black soul shadow, incredibly solid and nearly material, radiating the terrifying pressure of the Golden Core Peak, silently penetrated the Formation barrier and appeared at the cave entrance! The soul shadow's face was indistinct, save for a pair of eyes burning with ghastly green ghost fire, fixed intently on Lin Xuan!

Simultaneously, the boardwalk on the left emitted a teeth-grinding "crack," and a section of space about a zhang in circumference shattered and distorted like a mirror, generating a powerful suction force!

Crisis suddenly descended at the moment of passion!