Chapter 5, The Road to the Underworld

They have been running all day without food, and even a person cannot endure it, let alone a hungry wolf. The Wolf Demon King Er has not eaten since yesterday.

This fellow has long been accustomed to eating well and then sleeping. He has indeed been quite tired these past couple of days and can no longer hold on.

Is there such a saying?

"No." Wang Er continued to stare without blinking.

Alas, there has not been a suitable place to rest along this journey

Where is the underworld?

I am dead

Am I not talking to you about food?

Before long, the wolf demon indeed returned with the head of a wild boar in its mouth

At this time, Chen Jiu and the Wolf Demon King had already arrived at the highest peak beside the stream

They have been running all day, and it is certainly not feasible without water; they will definitely be unbearably thirsty by night.

The Tiger Demon Divine Fist can be considered a semi-divine level martial art, as reaching the ninth level allows one to transform into the Tiger Deity, which ordinary deities cannot withstand

Before long, the brown rice and pork along with the bones were completely consumed by them, and each person and demon finally managed to eat to their fill.

The Wolf Demon King was surrounded by the shadow of a tiger, and his crimson eyes were filled with a frenzied look, as if he were ready to devour anyone in his path

Although they are fleeing for their lives and cannot be particular about conditions, at the very least, there must be a source of water

I did it, I did it, I finally reached the fourth level

This book is of no use; it can be discarded after reading

His physical body remained seated, motionless, while his soul had already opened its eyes, yearning to depart from the body

Am I really about to embark on the path to the underworld

This fellow is a bit foolish, how should I teach him

He pondered for a while before cautiously asking, "Brother Wang, do you know what visualization is?"

At this moment, in the underworld's Yimok Yin Division, the City God Xu Gongfu had already gathered his subordinate spirits in the main hall, awaiting news.

The Wolf Demon King stared at the small wild boar on the campfire, wishing he could transform into a flame and savor it to his heart's content

Hurry, focus, inhale, gather your energy, quickly eat. If you shout so loudly, there is an eight or nine out of ten chance that it will attract the spirits of the underworld and the people of the Langya Wang family.

The underworld is devoid of sun and moon, perpetually shrouded in a gray haze akin to eternal night, which is why spirits and deities are accustomed to roaming during the night

It is truly uncomfortable to wait for food while feeling hungry; it would be best to find something to distract myself.

Chen Jiu was somewhat impatient and said, "Alright, that's enough."

Although the subordinates of the Wang family from Langya had many spiritual officers, none possessed the ability of night vision, and thus they did not send anyone to pursue into the pitch-dark forest at night

"Chen Jiu, hasten to follow us to the underworld. Your soul cannot remain in the realm of the living; otherwise, after seven days, your vital energy will be exhausted, your soul will scatter, and you will never attain rebirth!"

The night is deep, and the mountains and forests under the moonlight are dark and eerie. The trees swaying in the evening breeze resemble ghostly shadows, which indeed appear somewhat frightening

Chen Jiu felt increasingly hungry as he drank more. He looked up at the dimly lit jungle in the twilight and couldn't help but sigh, "Brother Wang, it is getting dark, and I can't see anything around. Hunting is not feasible. How about I chop some bamboo tubes and cook some porridge to drink?"

As dusk fell, Chen Jiu and the Wolf Demon King continued to hasten through the dimly lit forest.

The flames continuously licked at the outer skin of the young wild boar, the fat slowly oozing out, and the aroma of the meat gradually spread.

A faint whisper suddenly echoed through the eerie and terrifying forest.

This time he was truly sincere, the rich aroma of meat did not awaken him

He had not found any trace of Chen Jiu throughout the day, and he was feeling a bit anxious

This call is so distant, as if it comes from the depths of the soul

The Wolf Demon King was staring at the wild boar over the campfire, drooling. When he threw the first book, the Wolf Demon had not yet reacted; by the time he threw the second book, the Wolf Demon finally looked up in shock, his face filled with astonishment.

Chen Jiuru fell into a cloud, and in a daze, he seemed to hear something, yet also seemed not to hear it.

The Howling Sky Technique is not entirely without its uses; at the very least, this fellow has developed a dog-like nose.

The Wolf Demon King Er was so excited that he just wanted to laugh out loud to the sky, but as soon as he opened his mouth, a fragrant roasted wild boar leg flew over.

A dog cannot change its habit of eating excrement, and a wolf is even more fond of internal organs.

At this moment, the Wolf Demon King II's gaze shifted once again to the fragrant roasted suckling pig, and he said intently: "To observe is to look, to think is to store what is seen in the mind; this is the secret technique passed down from my ancestors"

Your posture suggests that you only want to stuff the roasted suckling pig into your belly

How can one teach this deliciously life-threatening wolf demon

Am I really dead

In other words, without a soil spirit root, studying "Divine Concealment of Earthly Mechanisms, Eternal Life of the Thick Soil" is of no use; even if one possesses a soil spirit root, it is futile if the earthly mechanism cave cannot be opened

I teach you

He has mastered the unique skill of the Black and White Impermanence, "Soul Summoning"

Alright, having meat to eat is already quite good

Even dogs wouldn't drink that stuff

Chen Jiu, your lifespan has come to an end, quickly follow us to the underworld to report.

The flaws in this martial art are too significant; if not handled properly, it could lead to the development of mental disorders.

Why did you burn all the secret manuals

Where is the underworld?

Suddenly, a wisp of smoke inexplicably emerged from the case, followed by the appearance of a ghostly talisman right before him

Thus, the man and the wolf did not pause; even as the sun set, they continued to hasten westward

Upon hearing this, the Wolf Demon King awkwardly shifted his gaze and said, "It has been over a hundred years; I have certainly seen the image of the Tiger God and have contemplated it, but the problem remains unresolved."

The City God, Xu Gong, lowered his head and said with authority: "A sudden tiger's roar has been heard from the mountains and forests to the west of the Yifeng Inn; it must be that Chen Jiu is practicing his demonic arts.

This little bit of food is just enough to give him a base, and after finishing it, he couldn't help but glance at the small wild boar in Chen Jiu's hand

With a howl, the Martian splashed Chen Jiu's face, and the shockwave nearly extinguished the campfire

Chen Jiu said nonsensically: "The secret manual is for practicing, not for reading. Just remember it, carrying it around is troublesome"

They are all extremely hungry and utterly exhausted

Chen Jiu still adhered to his old habits, sitting cross-legged there, silently practicing the guiding techniques of the Taiyin Scripture. A faint circle of white light had already emerged around him.

The wolf demon awkwardly said, "I don't know where the big one has gone to hunt for food; I am so hungry that I feel dizzy and have no strength to search for it."

Chen Jiu also opened the pig's belly and stuffed his mouth with the oily and rich brown rice inside

There are indeed no spiritual beings or deities of the underworld waiting near this stream, but the issue is that this time it will certainly not be possible to satisfy one's hunger.

Chen Jiu quickly broke off a pig's leg and threw it over, saying irritably: "I meant that the pork is almost roasted, who told you to break through the barrier!"

Wang Er replied without hesitation, "Thinking about that thing is useless; I might not even be able to handle a fierce tiger, let alone the Tiger God. I never think about things that I cannot obtain"

Chen Jiu immediately jumped into the stream, exerting his strength to extinguish the bonfire with a sweep. He then waved his hand and said, "Let’s go, we must hurry to the highest peak over there. This way, if the ghosts of the underworld and the people of the Langya Wang clan come, we will be able to see them in advance and run in the opposite direction"

This fellow immediately followed up with, "The difficulty of opening the acupoints is harder than ascending to the heavens"

Wang Er lowered his head and carefully sniffed along the banks of the stream for a while, and suddenly exclaimed with joy: "Do you remember I mentioned that I would find you a wild boar? Please wait a moment, and tonight I will treat you to wild boar meat."

Who is calling me

Night is the realm of the spirits and ghosts.

Xu Ning's acupoints were not opened by himself, but were opened by the Grand Spirit Officer of the Wang family

If you can reach the seventh level, then you will be the king of the jungle, able to defeat even the earth dragons, and at that time, you will be free to eat whatever you desire

If one day I become the Wolf King, I will definitely have a taste of dragon liver and phoenix gall!

Upon seeing this, his brows involuntarily furrowed, and the more he looked, the deeper his frown became

Having said that, he directly took out a formation plate, infused it with spiritual energy, and began to mutter incantations.

Indeed, that makes sense

At this moment, they are fleeing for their lives; it is certainly not feasible to go without a full meal. Keeping the brown rice would only add to their burden, making it inconvenient to run. It would be better to consume it as soon as possible

The Wolf Demon King Er devoured the internal organs in a manner that was truly gluttonous, swallowing several kilograms in just a few blinks of an eye.

Upon hearing this, the wolf demon was momentarily taken aback, and its gaze shifted towards the small wild boar on the campfire, unable to resist the excited drool that began to flow down again

Chen Jiu helplessly said, "If you do not visualize the image of the Tiger God, how can the Tiger Demon Divine Fist break through to the fourth level?"

Is it almost done

My lifespan has come to an end

In the pitch-black night, being stared at by such a terrifying wolf would likely scare an ordinary person to the point of losing control of themselves

If he were not so lazy, he would not have spent over 100 years cultivating without reaching the fourth level of the Tiger Demon Divine Fist

The Wolf Demon King, on the other hand, was lying beside him, sleeping soundly

Well, this guy is just a foodie

Xu Ning mentioned that the Wang family of Langya inherits the "Divine Repository of Earth Mechanisms, Eternal Life of the Thick Soil". The Earth Mechanism is a type of orifice that can only be opened by one who possesses the Earth Spiritual Root.

He prepared everything and then inserted the already sharpened wooden stick into the mouth of the small wild boar, pushing it through to the other side, and then propped it up on the branches that had already been nailed, slowly turning it.

If it were known that he was practicing the "Taiyin Scripture," it is likely that all the prominent families and aristocrats in the world would swarm towards him, pursuing him to the ends of the earth, leaving him with no way to escape.

The Black and White Impermanence, upon seeing the situation, quickly bowed and said, "As you command," and then hurriedly walked outside the hall, stepping onto the yellowish road, drifting towards the horizon.

Upon seeing this, Chen Jiu quickly drew his machete and chopped some dry branches around him, lighting a bonfire by the stream and waiting.

This seat shall now open the path to the underworld. Black and White Impermanence, you are to swiftly bring Chen Jiu's soul to the netherworld, while the corpse shall be left to the Langya Wang clan, for it is of no further use.

The openings of these acupoints vary from person to person, and each individual can access different acupoints. If one attempts to experiment recklessly, it is possible to practice for a lifetime without successfully opening a single acupoint

Chen Jiuling was momentarily taken aback, then subtly remarked, "This little wild boar must have just been weaned, right"

As for any form of cultivation, that will only be considered when he is full of vitality and spirit

What are wild boars, and what are tigers?

Is it still the secret technique passed down from our ancestors

Chen Jiu asked, "So after you visualized the image of the tiger deity on the scripture, did you store it in your mind?"

Are you treating your ancestor's words as mere nonsense

He immediately retracted the illusory form of the Tiger God and began to devour it fiercely

Will the spirits of the underworld and the Wang family of Langya come chasing after us at night?

At last, a faint sound of flowing water could be heard from ahead, as another stream arrived.

Chen Jiuhuan shook his head slowly and said, "That must be because you didn't focus enough. You didn't remember the image of the Tiger God completely in your mind and contemplate it. You didn't consider how the shadow of the Tiger God is formed after the separation of Qi and blood, nor did you consider which meridians are the best and most suitable for the separation of Qi and blood."

Chen Jiu asked in confusion, "Why?"

Having said that, he darted away like a hunting dog, with his nose pressed to the ground, towards the valley beside the stream

Moreover, not every person with spiritual roots can open the same acupoint using the same method

After finishing reading, Chen Jiu let out a deep sigh and threw the book directly into the fire pit.

A beam of dim yellow light slowly extended from the array, transforming into a faintly yellow road as it reached beyond the hall, stretching all the way to the horizon

The Wolf Demon King Erdai was momentarily taken aback, but suddenly became excited and said, "By the way, didn't you say you would teach me the Tiger Demon Divine Fist?"

This fellow's mind seems to be somewhat impaired, likely a side effect of practicing the Tiger Demon Divine Fist

By the way, I haven't finished reading the scrolls I obtained from Xu Ning yet. Although that fellow did not record any specific techniques, at least I can gain some knowledge from it

Stepping onto the path of the underworld signifies one who shall not return

Is all that is left in your mind just food

The Wolf Demon King eagerly spat out the scripture, unfurling it with his claws. By the light of the campfire, he focused intently on the image of the Tiger God depicted in the scripture.

The so-called "separation of yin and yang" indicates that the underworld and the world of the living do not exist on the same plane; they can only be connected through a teleportation array

Chen Jiu glanced at the Wolf Demon King Er, whose eyes resembled those of a person suffering from dementia, and could not help but feel a sense of difficulty

This is not all; more importantly, opening the acupoints and the *Tushu* acupoint requires a spiritual root. Without a spiritual root, there is no spiritual power, and without spiritual power, one cannot communicate with the world within the acupoints, let alone open them.

It smells wonderful

However, that head weighs at most a little over 10 pounds; after removing the internal organs and bones, the meat is less than 10 pounds.

Chen Jiu, taking advantage of the afterglow of the setting sun, carefully surveyed the surrounding hills before waving his hand and heading towards the stream with the Wolf Demon King Er.

Chen Jiu felt an inexplicable wave of sorrow in his heart, a sorrow that was tinged with a hint of unwillingness and a trace of doubt

Chen Jiu, Chen Jiu

This amount of meat is not enough for him to eat alone; usually, he consumes porridge from a basin, not to mention that he has been hungry for an entire day, and even ten kilograms of meat would not suffice

If it weren't for the sake of satisfying his appetite, this guy wouldn't have been caught by him.

This is quite complicated

This time, Chen Jiu heard and saw it.

Chen Jiu took the wild boar, used a cowhorn knife to make a cut on its belly, removed the entrails and tossed them to the wolf demon, and then began to wash it in the stream.

The Road to the Underworld is indeed the teleportation array that connects the realms of Yin and Yang

The suckling pig has been roasted for about half an hour and is finally nearly done

Chen Jiu thought for a moment and said in a different way: "You say you cannot overcome the fierce tiger because you are not putting in enough effort. If you can sincerely visualize the image of the Tiger Deity and reach the fourth level, you could easily knock the fierce tiger down with a single slap, how could you possibly not succeed?"

He hurriedly took out the scroll and examined it closely by the light of the fire

This item cannot be kept either

The White Impermanence waved the mourning staff while murmuring softly

The Wang family of Langya must have some hereditary condition in this regard; otherwise, how could there be so many descendants with earthy spiritual roots, and moreover, they are able to open the Earthly Mechanism Cavern

Chen Jiu was so hungry that he felt as if claws were about to stretch out from his throat; however, he was not accustomed to eating raw food, and roasting such a wild boar would take at least half an hour.

The Wolf Demon King slowly closed his eyes and silently began to operate the Tiger Demon Communication Fist technique.

There are rumors in the mortal realm that the Road to the Yellow Springs is the path taken by the deceased to report to the underworld after death

His eyes seemed to open and yet not open; he appeared to see a hazy yellow road suddenly descending from the horizon, and the legendary figures of the Black and White Impermanence were floating towards him.

Seeing this, Chen Jiu simply untied the bag of rough grain, poured half of the ten or so pounds of rough grain into the empty belly of the little wild boar, added a bit of water, and then carved a few curved wooden spikes to seal the pig's belly

He pondered for a moment, then took out his handwritten copy of the "Ta Yin Zhen Jing" guiding technique and tossed it into the fire.

The Black Wuchang waved the mourning staff while murmuring incantations