Facing an Ancient God for a Year

Chapter 1611: Chapter 1606: Netherworld River Severed (Part 1)

This... really is hard to deny.

The on-the-spot presentation of the method of elimination by an academic leader, with its wild creativity, clearly left a deep impression on the young mentor.

Fortunately, the other party did not deny a chance to catch his breath, offering his critique while nonchalantly leaping forward.

"A place where the dead reside, are you trying to tell me that this is the Netherworld as depicted in so many legends?"

This trust was certainly comforting, but upon following her jump, Professor Lisa couldn’t help but ask first.

"Why? Do you think it’s impossible, or you just don’t like it?"

Fu Qian didn’t even turn his head, casually observing the surroundings as he proceeded forward.

Not only beneath his feet, but as far as the eye could see, every direction was constructed with the same massive stones, forming a passage full of a gloomy aura.

Even though there didn’t seem to be any lighting equipment, everything still appeared to be bathed in a dim, eerie light.

Moreover, a certain fragrance, not at all unpleasant, wafted subtly through this space.

It does feel similar...

This scene, coupled with Fu Qian’s retort, left Lisa silent for a moment.

The special existences fluttering in the mist possessed an incredible awareness.

When the two descended, they hardly made a sound, yet they were still faintly noticed.

The manifestation was a creation that resembled a giant white-shelled beetle halted suddenly in its crawl through the mist and looked towards them from afar.

Compared to the giant bat from last time, its emotions were much more stable.

It neither attacked nor attempted to call its kin.

But precisely this attitude, coupled with the echo of their footsteps, gave the impression of being escorted onto the mortuary pathway.

"It’s not about liking or disliking, just that it’s hard to believe."

However, when a downward staircase actually appeared before them a moment later, Professor Lisa, bolstered by reliable intelligence and feeling somewhat reassured, cautiously expressed her opinion.

"The destination after death is a topic spanning countless ages, the depictions in various legends are strikingly similar..."

She paused for a moment.

"But even with the blessing of Transcendent powers, it seems that not a single Lost Soul has clearly sent back a message from the world beyond death."

...

Indeed, that’s a reasonably serious line of logic.

The way down was not steep, and even the occasional step seemed designed to ensure a child could cross easily.

And while feeling this sense of humanistic care, Fu Qian similarly acknowledged Lisa’s reasoning.

If there truly is an afterlife, whether it’s the Netherworld or Huangquan, and if these realms truly exist, then in a non-Transcendent world trapped by certain dimensional limits, any information unable to cross those boundaries, separating the living from the dead, is conceivable.

But in a world filled with immense power, it’s hard to imagine an unbreakable barrier existing.

Not to mention, throughout history, among all fallen wills, there is no shortage of divine existences.

Yet, they still haven’t helped people confirm the afterlife; the Netherworld remains in legend.

There’s even prepared evidence of this status quo.

"Well said, in fact, not long ago, a young person really asked me that question."

With a slight nod, Fu Qian was naturally referring to Sophia, whom he sent to the Unseen Hillock.

Faced with fear of death, to even entertain this possibility with hopeful anticipation already says a lot.

"So how did you answer?"

Apparently accustomed to Fu Qian’s old-soul demeanor, Lisa stared into his older, wise eyes.

"Hard to say."

Fu Qian’s answer remained honest.

"...And now?"

"Looks like there is one."

Faced with Lisa’s further questioning, Fu Qian pointed to the side.

...

As expected of the pathway repeatedly chosen by the Divine Ashes Institute’s explorations, the route they walked felt somewhat like a main thoroughfare.

Though it wound and twisted, the advantage was that the depth never doubled back.

And as they descended, what lay before them was finally no longer that monotonously extreme tomb passage scene, but rather expansive enlightenment.

Of course, what appeared before them was far different from any common notion of architecture, whether above ground or underground.

Lisa’s statement about it being a labyrinth of chaos wasn’t just for show.

Not only in terms of location, but at one glance, it seemed like a collection of various bizarre spaces.

Stone pillars, rotundas, disproportionately sized rooms, secret chambers with just a sliver of an opening, there was even a dried-up riverbed...

Indeed, right now beneath their feet, a long trench of infinite ruin could be clearly seen, boldly winding among numerous structures, and at its edge one could even see part of a house corner supported by a pillar rising above the ground.

In short, at a glance, it was filled with a sense of quiet withering.

Truly strange, but thinking carefully, there’s no better comparison for this place than the afterlife.

Under Fu Qian’s guidance, Professor Lisa also seemed to vaguely share this sentiment.

"So now the question is, where are the dead?"

Truly an academic worker, unable to outright deny such things.

Yet after gazing at this scene for a few seconds, Lisa ultimately did not follow blindly and even posed an incredibly sharp question.

"You just said it, those things outside aren’t the residents here, so where have the Lost Souls, who were supposed to enjoy true peace here, gone? Could they have died again in this place?"

Gesturing towards the empty path with her gaze, Lisa simply stopped, a faint sneer on her face.

"A very insightful hypothesis, quite specific even."

The aggressiveness of this retort was substantial, yet Fu Qian not only remained unconcerned, but even found it interesting, seemingly realizing something.

"Are there really corpses further down?"

...

Clearly inclined to deny it, yet Lisa ultimately couldn’t help but avert her gaze, startled by the other’s sharpness.

"Indeed, the investigation reports related to Linghui mention that this place is not entirely empty, but has some bodies in an extremely peculiar state."

The next moment she sighed, acknowledging Fu Qian’s prediction.

So it is...

"Corpses of the Domain of the Dead," truly a unique concept.

Fu Qian listened intently for a moment, then looked her over with a hint of a smile.

"To convey such an important piece of information as a joke, even inducing me to deny it... Professor Lisa seems to handle the legendary invasion of death rather well."

"Not quite that well..."

Lisa undeniably felt a bit unnatural being scrutinized, but ultimately managed to snort defiantly, candidly admitting her little scheme.

"I just wanted to see your reaction after all your analysis when you saw that scene."