242: Chapter 242: Testing the Gods (18)

"This is the first basement level, the Yin Purgatory."

Lord Yan left after leading them to this place.

Qian Ye departed along with him.

Only Nangong Yan and his companion remained.

"How... are we supposed to get in?"

As the lieutenant was speaking, a pitch-black hole appeared before them.

Go inside?

It seemed they had no other choice.

As they began to absorb the Yin Energy, the ghostly aura around them surged.

Nangong Yan felt as if his soul was being torn apart, but he gritted his teeth and endured.

As time passed, he noticed his soul gradually becoming more solid.

But just then, a sharp screech echoed from the depths of the darkness, and a black shadow lunged toward them, seemingly intent on preventing them from successfully cultivating this technique; a battle between a soul and an unknown black shadow was about to unfold.

Enduring the agonizing pain in his soul, Nangong Yan dodged the shadow's strike.

The shadow was incredibly fast, turning back in an instant. The lieutenant beside him also stopped absorbing Yin Energy and joined the fray.

Nangong Yan tried to attack the shadow with his newly solidified Soul Power, but his strength felt like a clay ox entering the sea—completely swallowed up.

A thought struck Nangong Yan; perhaps this shadow was a sentient spirit formed from the Yin Energy of this place, attacking because it didn't want its energy absorbed.

So he shouted, "Stop for a moment! Try to communicate with it." Though confused, the lieutenant did as he was told.

Nangong Yan spoke sincerely to the shadow, "We mean no harm. We only wish to use the Yin Energy here for cultivation. We apologize for the intrusion."

The shadow seemed to understand, and its movements slowed. But a moment later, with another sharp shriek, it attacked again.

"Yo... Your Highness, this place is literally called Purgatory. Can there really be anything good in here?" The lieutenant’s words were followed by an even more ferocious attack.

While fending it off, Nangong Yan gritted his teeth. "You certainly have a way with words."

Realizing that the shadow was not an entity that could be easily reasoned with, Nangong Yan decided to change his strategy.

He focused his mind, gathering the Soul Power he had just solidified into his hands, attempting to trap the shadow.

Seeing this, the lieutenant followed suit, and together they temporarily restricted the shadow's movements.

However, the shadow suddenly released a powerful burst of Yin Energy, blasting them back.

Knowing he couldn't drag this out, Nangong Yan took a risk and absorbed a large amount of Yin Energy again, ignoring the stabbing pain in his soul to forcibly enhance his Soul Power.

As the shadow lunged again, Nangong Yan unleashed a full-strength blow. When the strike hit, the shadow actually dissipated into wisps of Yin Energy.

Meanwhile, Lord Yan and Qian Ye returned to the main hall together.

The atmosphere was somewhat somber.

Lord Yan broke the silence, saying, "I hope they can pass the test smoothly. If they fail, I'm afraid..."

Qian Ye added, "They are both capable people; they won't fall so easily."

Their vengeance was yet to be had; they would survive no matter what.

"If not for the restrictions, this old king could have gone out to take a look too."

"Has it really become this chaotic up there now?"

Lord Yan clenched his fists. "They really are something!"

"How dare they!"

"To actually think of conspiring with the tiger for its skin."

"Do they think those people sacrificed themselves for nothing?" Lord Yan became filled with righteous indignation.

"Oh my, Little Yan-Yan is actually so angry."

"Not bad, not bad. It seems my teaching wasn't in vain." Qian Ye looked at him with satisfaction.

"Sigh, even at a time like this, you're still teasing me."

"I see the power in your body has weakened again. How about you stay and guard, and I'll go up to take a look?" Lord Yan suggested.

Qian Ye looked at him with a half-smile. "What good would it do me to let a directionally challenged person like you go up?"

...

Yes, yes, his fault. He shouldn't be directionally challenged.

The dignified Lord Yan was actually completely directionally challenged!

What a disgrace, a total disgrace!

"It's all because of these damned rules."

Something about not allowing the two of us to appear together.

Heh, they're just afraid of us.