Chapter 294: Lifting Hell
Wang Zhendong, who had been flung backward, quickly broke free from the entangling forces of the Hell-level River of the Dead and returned to the small town. Feeling the reverse rules once again, he suddenly felt a strange sense of familiarity and comfort.
In just that brief moment, he had been teetering on the edge of life and death, almost forced to unleash his most powerful techniques. Now, as he stood in the town, he felt a deep sense of fear and relief at having narrowly escaped death.
Seeing the young man's figure swallowed by the dark mist, Wang Zhendong snapped back to reality, his expression changing as he took a step forward. However, his rational mind quickly stopped him. Charging back in would only make things worse; he would be more of a burden than a help.
As the backbone of the Wang family, having explored the Rivers of the Dead for over a century, Wang Zhendong had always been the pillar of support for his family. Yet today, he had been pulled back and protected by a sixteen-year-old boy he had just met, who took on all the dangers for him.
Wang Zhendong stared blankly at the black mist, his heart filled with a complex mix of emotions that he could not put into words.
Wang Yongzhi and the others quickly gathered around Wang Zhendong.
"Uncle Zhendong, are you alright?"
"I'm fine, but he…"
"Haotian Divine General should be fine, right? I heard he easily defeated the Taiping Daoist, Long Jue Shen, and Feng Lingxiao," Wang Yongzhi said, trying to reassure himself and the others, though his face still showed signs of fear and worry.
Wang Zhendong was an exceptionally powerful figure, yet he had nearly been in serious trouble. None of them could say for sure if the young Divine General could withstand the dangers of the Hell-level River of the Dead.
They all stared at the dark mist outside the town, unable to see anything beyond its impenetrable shroud with either their spiritual senses or their souls.
Though they were individuals who could make others tremble with a mere stomp of their feet, at this moment, they were like helpless villagers, waiting anxiously. If the young man could not retrieve the tokens, they were all as good as dead.
Wang Zhendong clenched his fists, his eyes fixed on the dark mist.
Wang Yongzhi held his breath, wishing desperately that his gaze could pierce through the darkness.
Meanwhile, outside the town, in the midst of the dark mist, Li Hao's Dao Domain was holding strong, resisting the corrosive rules of the River of the Dead as he followed the guidance of the golden paper.
Though the tenfold Dao Domain was shielding him from the rules, it was slowly being penetrated, and it wouldn't last forever.
Before long, Li Hao reached a place where a tattered banner fluttered in the wind. Looking up, he saw the words "Qingzhen" on it.
Li Hao paused, realizing that behind the banner was another small town. This town was eerily similar to the one he had just left. His spiritual sense had already scanned the layout of the first town, so he quickly recognized that this Hell-level River of the Dead had somehow replicated the town!
This strange phenomenon caused Li Hao to hesitate slightly. His knowledge of Hell-level Rivers of the Dead was limited, as even the Wang family had little information, much of it gained at the cost of many lives.
Li Hao's expression grew more serious as he noticed a large number of wooden plaques hanging beneath the tattered banner, suspended on red strings swaying in the wind.
These plaques looked similar to the one Wang Yongzhi had handed him earlier, but the color seemed darker, perhaps due to the surrounding darkness.
Remembering some basic information about the Rivers of the Dead, Li Hao noted that the higher the level of the River, the larger its range… although there were exceptions. This Hell-level River of the Dead was clearly not confined to just one small town; this town was likely just a small portion of the overall area, transformed to resemble the original town.
No wonder the tokens had been replaced. The two Rivers had already merged, and the Hell-level River had overridden the previous tokens. Fortunately, perhaps due to the initial stages of the merge, these tokens were not located within the town's ancestral hall but were instead hanging just outside.
Without hesitation, Li Hao rushed toward the Qingzhen wooden tokens.
This Hell-level River of the Dead was too strange. Although the Wang family speculated that clearing it might yield a million merit points, Li Hao didn't dare to assume that he could clear it as easily as the previous ones.
As soon as he grabbed a token, the surrounding dark mist surged violently, and from the depths of the mist emerged dark, ghostly figures, moving with terrifying speed as they charged at Li Hao.
Li Hao unleashed his Dao Domain, smashing these figures into black liquid. However, as soon as the domain retracted, the liquid began to slowly reform.
Li Hao's eyes narrowed as he sensed that these creatures contained traces of true Dao power, making them indestructible. They had become one with the Hell-level River of the Dead.
As more and more creatures emerged from the mist, seemingly enraged by Li Hao taking the tokens, they rushed at him, snarling and howling.
Li Hao didn't linger to fight. Using his Dao Domain to crush the creatures, he swiftly moved toward the exit.
The creatures, once splattered by his domain, quickly reformed and chased after him. Soon, Li Hao found himself surrounded by these ghostly figures.
They charged into his Dao Domain fearlessly, attacking with ferocity comparable to the full force of an explosive realm warrior, unafraid of death.
Moreover, as they pushed into his domain, they extended the rules of the River of the Dead into it, making Li Hao feel as though his domain was being quickly infiltrated.
Li Hao's expression darkened as he realized that these creatures might be physical manifestations of the Hell-level River of the Dead's power.
"Get out of my way!"
Li Hao unleashed a flurry of punches, forcing the creatures out of his domain. The true Dao power within them made it impossible to destroy them completely, so he could only drive them back.
While Li Hao was fighting off the horde, the Wang family members outside were growing increasingly anxious.
"The Hell-level River of the Dead… our ancestors once asked the True Daoist to intervene, but he was injured within the River and never entered one again," Wang Zhendong said, his eyes filled with concern. His Dao Domain had been breached in just two breaths, yet Li Hao had been inside for over ten breaths already.
"Could he already be…"
Some of the more pessimistic members of the group turned pale at the thought.
Wang Yongzhi's heart clenched. As the family head, if he led everyone to their deaths here, he would never be able to rest in peace. Moreover, if the Haotian Divine General fell here, it would be a tragedy of immense proportions—this sixteen-year-old boy had the potential to challenge the Saints, and the responsibility would be unbearable!
Just as their nerves were fraying, the black mist outside the town suddenly surged like waves.
The next moment, the darkness seemed to be torn apart by a brilliant silver light, splitting open like the first light of dawn, illuminating the area with dazzling brilliance!
Boom!!
A fierce sword energy ripped through the dark forces, tearing a rift in the Hell-level River of the Dead!
The powerful shockwave made their hair stand on end.
In the light of the sword, they saw Li Hao clutching a bunch of wooden tokens on a red string, rushing toward them.
But on the ground around him, black, viscous liquid was gathering, forming twisted, monstrous figures that charged at Li Hao with terrifying speed.
These figures exuded a sinister, ancient aura, like ancient evil spirits.
However, when they touched Li Hao's Dao Domain, they were immediately blocked.
"Ah, my eyes!"
Suddenly, one of the Wang family members screamed in agony, clutching his eyes.
Blood spurted from his eye sockets, followed by streams of black liquid that crawled out from the corners of his eyes, forming the same twisted figures they had seen earlier.
Wang Zhendong immediately realized what was happening. "Close your eyes, quickly!"
He extended his Dao Domain to shield everyone, but the black figures resisted, refusing to be destroyed by his domain, only barely restrained!
Wang Zhendong was shocked. What kind of monsters were these?
Meanwhile, he felt a strange itch in his own eyes, as if something was trying to claw its way out.
More screams followed as others in the group experienced the same horrifying phenomenon, with black liquid monsters emerging from their eyes, only to be swiftly subdued by Wang Zhendong's Dao Domain.
With his extensive experience in the Rivers of the Dead, Wang Zhendong quickly deduced what was happening. "Don't look at those things! They possess a 'reflection' rule!"
"They can crawl out from our eyes!"
Everyone hastily covered their eyes, but several more black figures had already emerged, and Wang Zhendong was struggling to contain them. Just then, a sharp sword energy swept through, effortlessly cutting through his domain and slicing the creatures apart.
The creatures didn't die; they squirmed and began to reassemble.
It was Li Hao who had acted, his body flickering as he appeared beside them.
This ability wasn't a simple Dao resonance but a critical power he had used against the Buddha—his final trump card, the Realm of Emptiness!
He could teleport within a five-kilometer radius, with no warning, no resonance, true instantaneous movement!
In this chaotic environment where Dao resonance was impossible, the Realm of Emptiness wasn't limited, giving Li Hao a crucial advantage.
Following the path carved by his sword fingers, Li Hao instantly appeared before them, quickly sealing the black figures within his domain before hurling them back into the Hell-level River of the Dead.
"Go!"
Li Hao tossed the wooden tokens, ensuring everyone received one.
But as he distributed them, he noticed that there was one more person than expected among the Wang family members.
"Die!"
Li Hao's eyes blazed with divine fire as his soul merged with his true sight, instantly revealing that one of them was shrouded in black mist—a vengeful spirit from the Netherworld.
With a thought, he crushed the spirit into oblivion.
The others snapped back to their senses, horrified by the near miss.
Some of them had bloodied, mutilated eyes, but most were in the Three Undying Realms. They quickly swallowed elixirs, using their regenerative abilities to speed up their healing.
Those at the peak of the Three Undying Realms, the Indestructible Realm, directly activated their indestructible power, healing their injuries in an instant.
Meanwhile, Wang Zhendong felt something tearing its way out of his eyes. His eyeballs had turned completely black after witnessing the creatures in the Hell-level River of the Dead.
Black liquid was slowly seeping out of his eyes, and though he tried to suppress it with his Dao Domain, he couldn't stop it.
Seeing that some of the others were also struggling, covering their eyes, Li Hao quickly extended his Dao Domain, bypassing Wang Zhendong's defenses and directly suppressing the black liquid, expelling it from his body.
The reflected power of the River of the Dead disappeared from Wang Zhendong's eyes, and Li Hao swiftly repeated the process on the others, removing the monsters before hurling them out of the town.
"Haotian Divine General…"
Wang Yongzhi was filled with gratitude, but then he noticed the black mist outside the town surging like a tidal wave, flooding across the town's boundary, and rushing toward them.
Li Hao noticed this too. The creatures that had reflected in their eyes seemed to have triggered the Hell-level River of the Dead's rules, causing it to accelerate its encroachment.
"Hurry, leave now!"
Li Hao shouted urgently.
Everyone quickly activated their golden papers, which connected with the wooden tokens. The light from the tokens started to converge into an exit, but the process was agonizingly slow.
Wang Zhendong's face turned grim once more, feeling a chill in his heart. "The exit rules are being affected!"
The other Wang family members turned pale, their eyes fixed on the slowly forming exit.
The tokens had established a link to the exit, but no one knew if it would shift or break off—this was something they had never encountered before and had no experience with.
Meanwhile, the dark mist behind Li Hao surged forward like a breached dam, crashing down upon them. The golden light from their tokens flickered, and the exit formation slowed even further, causing Li Hao's face to darken.
He knew the Hell-level River of the Dead was rapidly replicating the small town. Once it had fully merged, the town's rules would be completely overridden, and the Hell-level River of the Dead would take over.
Gritting his teeth, Li Hao turned and charged toward the approaching black mist.
"Haotian Divine General!"
Wang Yongzhi was startled by Li Hao's actions, crying out in confusion.
The others were also shocked, their faces paling.
Wang Zhendong immediately realized what Li Hao intended to do. The realization hit him hard, sending a rush of heat to his head, making his eyes widen in shock. "Haotian Divine General, you…"
"You go! I'll hold them off!"
Li Hao's voice carried an undeniable authority. He rushed into the surging black mist, layers of Dao Domains unfolding around him.
Eleven layers, twelve layers, thirteen layers…
Each layer of his Dao Domain radiated a brilliant light, not just protecting Li Hao but expanding outward, forming a barrier!
The larger the Dao Domain's range, the more its power was dispersed, slightly weakening it.
A loud, invisible clash echoed through the air as the surging black mist collided with Li Hao's Dao Domain, but his barrier held firm.
The Wang family members were left in awe at this incredible display, their emotions complex and conflicted.
Many clenched their fists in frustration, feeling powerless. They wanted to help, but in the face of the Hell-level River of the Dead, they were so vulnerable that even a single glance could nearly kill them.
"I'm coming to help!"
Wang Zhendong rushed toward Li Hao.
Li Hao's eyes flashed with anger. "Stay back! You'll only get in the way!"
Seeing the young man's fierce, godlike gaze, Wang Zhendong instinctively stopped.
Then he saw that the fifteen-layered Dao Domain barrier was already being infiltrated by the black mist from the Hell-level River of the Dead!
His pupils contracted in shock.
Li Hao's strength was beyond what he had imagined, but even so, the fifteen-layered Dao Domain was barely holding up?!
Li Hao was also keenly aware of this, his heart sinking. He could feel a menacing consciousness within the Hell-level River of the Dead, roaring and pushing its numerous rules against him.
There were at least seven or eight different rules, each one layered over the other like a series of sharp blades, cutting into his Dao Domain.
Even with fifteen layers of his Dao Domain, the rules contained traces of true Dao power, making them more refined and sharper.
Li Hao's face darkened. At this rate, he wouldn't last more than ten breaths.
Transform!
Fifty percent!
Without hesitation, Li Hao unleashed his trump card.
Boom!
A vast wave of energy erupted from beneath his feet as he absorbed celestial energy, drawing power from the surrounding heavens!
His eyes gleamed with divine light as he entered his divine state, his body glowing with a golden, godlike aura.
At the same time, the heavenly veins extended, gathering all the ambient energy he had quietly drawn in earlier, channeling it into his body, then infusing it into his fifteen-layered Dao Domain.
The once-penetrated Dao Domain vibrated, solidifying like divine iron, forcing out the invasive power of the River of the Dead and forming an impregnable barrier!
"Go now!"
Li Hao, his golden hair flowing, roared at the Wang family members.
With his Dao Domain extended, blocking the River of the Dead, the rules stabilizing their exit became less chaotic, and the golden light from their tokens began to gather more quickly.
Wang Zhendong was stunned, staring at the boy who now radiated an aura like that of a divine being. As a Taiping Daoist himself, he could tell that if they were to duel, he would likely be defeated instantly!
At this moment, the tokens' exits finally opened, creating a path out of the River of the Dead.
"The exit is open!"
One of them exclaimed in relief, shouting to the others.
Soon, the exits for everyone else began to open as well.
Seeing the way out, Wang Yongzhi and the others felt a wave of relief, but they immediately turned their attention back to Li Hao.
"Haotian Divine General…"
"Go!"
Li Hao's roar echoed through the area.
The joy in Wang Yongzhi's eyes turned to sorrow as he gazed at the young man who was single-handedly holding back the Hell-level River of the Dead's power. Their hearts ached.
Meanwhile, the two younger members of the group, their faces filled with glee, scrambled toward the exit, eager to escape.
Wang Zhendong also realized that Li Hao was the only thing holding back the Hell-level River of the Dead's power. The longer they stayed, the more strain they put on him.
"Hurry up and get out!"
He shouted in anger.
With his order, Wang Yongzhi and the others knew this was no time for sentimentality. They gritted their teeth and quickly stepped into the exit, disappearing one by one.
"Haotian Divine General, you must come back alive!"
Wang Yongzhi shouted as he stepped through the exit.
Wang Zhendong didn't linger either. He knew that, like the others, he was more of a burden than a help.
Standing on the exit platform, he took one last deep look at the young man, clenching his fists tightly.
After all his years exploring the Rivers of the Dead, this was the first time he had ever felt so powerless, reduced to a mere burden needing to be rescued.
In the blink of an eye, his surroundings shifted, the light and shadows blending together as he passed through the void. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself back in the hollow mountain hall outside the Earth-Treasure Buddha.
"Hmm, resolved so quickly?"
The Earth-Treasure Buddha statue's eyes seemed to narrow in a smile, while nearby, Wang Zhenfeng and Wang Zhenping, the two elders who had remained outside, looked on in surprise. They had not followed the others inside, preferring caution.
The younger generation loved excitement, but these old men knew the value of patience.
Seeing the golden light flickering on the Earth-Treasure Buddha's head as people began to reappear, those outside were astonished.
Though "Chong Er" had cleared the Netherworld-level River of the Dead, every River had different rules. Even if he could clear it, this was too fast, wasn't it?
Could there really be a one-size-fits-all method?
But when Wang Zhendong stepped out, the golden light on the Earth-Treasure Buddha faded and disappeared.
"Huh? Where's the Haotian Divine General?"
Wang Zhenfeng blinked in surprise, a sinking feeling beginning to form in his chest.
Wang Zhendong's face was grim as he stepped out. Wang Yongzhi and the others were similarly tense and anxious.
But one breath passed, then another… as time dragged on, a stick of incense burned away, and still, there was no sign of any further activity from the Earth-Treasure Buddha. No new portals opened.
Wang Zhendong's heart trembled, his face growing darker by the moment. He suddenly recalled what the young man had said earlier.
Given the situation, was he really planning to try and clear the River of the Dead?
"What's wrong? Why isn't anyone speaking? Did something happen to the Haotian Divine General?"
Seeing Li Hao still hadn't returned, the others outside grew pale with realization—something had gone terribly wrong.
Wang Zhendong and the others looked at each other, all sharing the same guilt and unease.
To think that they might have caused the death of a Divine General, a Haotian Divine General! A young general with the potential to become a Saint, who had sacrificed his own life to save theirs.
This was a heavy burden to bear!
If the emperor found out, he would likely be so furious he'd vomit blood. They didn't even want to imagine the consequences.
Each of them was filled with self-recrimination and guilt, cursing themselves. How could they have been so arrogant? They should have known better!
"What do you mean he's dead?"
Wang Zhenping finally recovered, demanding answers from his grandchildren.
The two younger members, Li Jiangying and Li Rumeng, had not recognized Li Hao after his physical reconstruction.
But hearing the others refer to him as "Haotian Divine General," they had quickly realized that the young man was the same peer they had been chasing after for so long.
In the Wang family's Divine General Hall, their talents had been overshadowed by his. They were indignant, believing that their mother was right—life was long, and anything could happen.
There were plenty of examples of geniuses who had fallen by the wayside, which comforted them greatly.
Only those who laughed last were the true geniuses.
"He hasn't come back yet, so he's probably dead." Li Rumeng pouted, her voice dismissive.
Wang Zhendong's face went blank with shock, as did everyone else. Her clear, sharp voice echoed in the stillness of the mountain hall, hitting them all like a slap to the face.
If Li Hao hadn't returned yet, it was likely he was trapped in the Hell-level River of the Dead, cut off from any escape. Whether he was still trying to clear it or simply holding on, the odds were against him—nine out of ten, he was already dead!
Wang Zhendong clenched his fists, remembering the young man's words. They hadn't known each other long, and there was no deep friendship between them, yet he had sacrificed himself for them, giving them a way out while trapping himself in mortal danger.
The young man who had such an illustrious future, a potential Saint, had given up everything for them.
Wang Yongzhi and the others exchanged glances, all sharing the same sense of profound regret and sorrow.
It was like a smoldering anger was trapped in their chests, unable to be released.
They had started out happy, looking forward to the excitement, but now they were nothing but deadweight, dragging the Divine General down into danger.
If the emperor found out, he would likely be furious. A young general with the potential to reach sainthood, lost because of their foolishness—this was a disaster beyond words!
They were filled with remorse, wanting to slap themselves. How could they have been so careless?
"How could he be dead?"
Wang Zhenping was in disbelief, demanding answers from his grandchildren.
Though he had no great affection for the young man, he didn't wish for his death. The Haotian Divine General was a mighty warrior of the human race, after all.
"He wanted to show off, insisting on staying behind when we could have all left together. Hmph, he just wanted to be a hero," Li Jiangying muttered, his eyes filled with jealousy.
In the Divine General Hall, ever since Li Hao had revealed his true strength, he had become the center of attention, eclipsing all others.
His brilliance had overshadowed everyone in their generation, including the once-promising Li Qianfeng, who had become little more than a footnote after being defeated by Li Hao.
Although the young man's voice was low, the mountain hall was so quiet that it was as if he had spoken directly into their ears.
Wang Zhendong turned suddenly, his eyes as fierce as a hawk's, glaring at Li Jiangying. "What did you just say? Say that again?"
Li Jiangying froze, shocked by his second granduncle's reaction.
Before he could speak again, Wang Zhendong's hand shot out, slapping him hard across the face.
His withered old hand packed a fierce punch, knocking two of Li Jiangying's teeth loose and sending him sprawling to the ground.
"Brother!"
Li Rumeng screamed, rushing to help him.
Wang Zhenping was stunned, stepping forward to block his brother's advance. "Second Brother, what are you doing?"
"Did you not hear what that brat just said?!" Wang Zhendong roared, his voice echoing through the mountain hall, his anger like that of an enraged lion.
Wang Zhenping was taken aback. "He was out of line, yes, but he's just a child. What's the big deal…?"
"Fourth Brother!!"
Wang Zhendong's voice thundered, his hair standing on end. "Are you deaf, or just stupid?"
Wang Zhenping flinched, shocked by his brother's rage.
"Just a child? That's a Divine General, someone on par with our ancestors! Who does he think he is, daring to insult him like that?!"
"If not for the Haotian Divine General, we'd all be dead—those two included! And yet, after being saved, this is how they repay their benefactor? With mockery?!"
Wang Zhendong's face was flushed with rage, his eyes gleaming with cold fury.
Wang Zhenping's face twisted in embarrassment, unable to argue. He knew he was in the wrong, but he was also deeply afraid of his brother.
"They're completely lacking in discipline, completely ungrateful!"
Wang Zhendong glared at the tearful Li Rumeng, his expression one of icy disdain. "You asked me to take care of them, to let them learn from me in the Rivers of the Dead, and I agreed. We poured resources from two Divine General Halls into them, and this is the result?!"
"Your daughter may have married out, but these two are still of the Li family. From now on, they are not welcome in the Wang family!"
His words were a decree, an outright banishment. Wang Zhenping's face turned ashen; he hadn't expected his brother to be so harsh.
The crying Li Rumeng paled, her tears freezing in her eyes as she looked pleadingly at her grandfather.
Li Jiangying, clutching his face, looked around in fear, seeing only cold, unfeeling stares from the Wang family elders. His heart thudded painfully in his chest.
"Take them away!"
Wang Zhendong ordered curtly.
Wang Yongzhi nodded and motioned to his men.
Soon, they were dragging the siblings out of the mountain hall.
"Grandfather…"
Their voices faded into the distance as they were hauled away.
Wang Zhenping's face darkened, but he said nothing.
Wang Zhendong glanced at him coldly. He had long lost patience with his younger brother's soft-heartedness. Turning to Wang Yongzhi, he instructed, "Send in two teams of death warriors. Let them scout out the situation."
"Yes, sir."
Wang Yongzhi immediately issued the order.
But along with the death warriors came a scout, carrying a military report.
The report was handed to Wang Yongzhi, who frowned as he wondered what could be so urgent. Had the Hell-level River of the Dead already caused casualties?
But as he opened the report, his expression quickly changed.
"What is it?"
"It's military intelligence…"
Wang Yongzhi's face was pale with shock. "The demons are attacking the capital! All the top demon forces from beyond our borders have gathered outside the imperial city and are laying siege to the capital!"
"What?"
Everyone froze in disbelief.
A demon siege on the capital itself?!
The Wang family had been managing the Rivers of the Dead for so long that they had lost touch with military affairs, but they knew that under normal circumstances, the demons wouldn't dare approach the capital.
After all, the strongest protector of Great Yu resided there!
That figure, sitting in the Daoist Palace, cast a shadow over the nineteen provinces. Even the most powerful demons on the borders feared that the True Daoist might bring his sword and strike them down. An attack on the capital was unthinkable!
People born and raised in the capital had no idea what demons even looked like.
"This report is a plea for help from the capital."
Wang Yongzhi looked to Wang Zhendong, his face a mix of shock and confusion.