Chapter Seven: The Difficult Crossroads (Part One)

Restricted by the powerful barrier that prevented instant teleportation within the Underworld, Shi Jun had no choice but to form hand seals and employ the "Art of Qi Manipulation." Guided by the blue spirits, they soon arrived at the Burning Heart Hell. According to the spirits, both the Burning Heart and Marrow-Washing Hells housed refining departments, but the one in Burning Heart was far more advanced, offering superior medicines, talismans, and even weapons. Shi Jun reckoned that Yaksha must have returned here to make "pre-battle preparations."

"We're here! This is the place!" the voice of the blue spirits echoed in Shi Jun's mind.

A massive mountain range stretched before Shi Jun, its slopes lush, green, and precipitous. It bore a resemblance to Mount Asura, though it was significantly taller. To his astonishment, Shi Jun saw countless colorful clouds layered halfway up the mountainside, shimmering with a dazzling, fluid radiance.

These clouds—red, yellow, blue, purple, and even black—floated slowly at the waist of the mountain. They neither rose nor fell, as if anchored at that altitude, yet they swirled with an independent life of their own.

Without stopping to admire the view, Shi Jun followed the chattering spirits and quickly located the entrance to the refining department.

He had not expected the department to be hidden within a massive mountain belly, with a colossal waterfall at the entrance. It reminded him of the Water Curtain Cave on Mount Huaguo, and he hesitated at the threshold, wondering if he would find monkeys of all sizes inside.

Just as he prepared to step forward, a splash of water rippled, and the dark face of Yaksha suddenly appeared before him. With an indescribable mix of surprise and relief, Yaksha called out, "Lord Underworld Catcher, why have you come?"

Shi Jun thought to himself, *Was I supposed to wait for you to come find me in the human realm? My uncle might have discovered us, and we would have ended up fighting.* Aloud, he smiled and said, "Isn't it better to head to the Demon Realm directly from here? Besides, I wanted to see what you've prepared." He caught a glimpse of four armored figures standing in a line not far behind Yaksha, eyeing him with curiosity.

Yaksha glanced back and said with a smile, "Oh, these are our four commanders of the Earth Element: Thick Soil, Green Rock, Yellow Sand, and Profound Stone. They will be joining us on our journey to the Demon Realm." He then commanded, "Come over here and pay your respects to the Lord Underworld Catcher!"

The four stepped forward, cupping their hands in a salute. "Greetings, Lord Underworld Catcher!" they said, introducing themselves with crisp, polite brevity.

Shi Jun observed them, noting their distinct appearances and personalities:

Thick Soil was bald, short, and sturdy, wearing dusty armor. His face was expressionless, his golden, goldfish-like eyes protruding blankly. He was not much of a talker, resembling a simple, honest country lad.

Green Rock was fair-skinned, thin, and possessed lively, intelligent eyes. He was exuberant and seemed to have a head full of mischievous ideas. His white armor appeared unwashed and dirty, and his waist was draped with all manner of small bottles and jars.

Yellow Sand was handsome and tall, clad in ornate, golden armor. However, his demeanor was strangely effeminate; he smiled constantly, spoke in soft, gentle, and melodic tones, and seemed perpetually afraid of offending anyone. It was a jarring contrast to his warrior appearance, and listening to him sent a shiver down Shi Jun's spine. He could not fathom how someone like this had become a commander.

Profound Stone was tall and lithe, wearing black armor speckled with silver stars. Her gaze was sharp, her brows arched, and her movements were decisive. It took Shi Jun a moment to realize she was a female warrior; had he not looked closely, he would never have guessed. Her name was so harsh that she seemed more masculine than the other three.

"All of you, go back and settle your affairs immediately, then wait for us at the Underworld River. We will join you once the Lord and I are ready," Yaksha ordered. The four commanders acknowledged the command, saluted once more, and took flight, vanishing in an instant.

"Come, let me take you inside to have a look," Yaksha said, clearly delighted by Shi Jun's arrival, draping an arm around his shoulder.

"Didn't you just come out?"

"Yes," Yaksha nodded. "I was planning to pick up some things for you. Don't worry, the Bright Dragon Envoy of the refining department is an old friend of mine. He has many good things there. Don't be modest—whatever you like, just take it. It’s all on my military account!"

Shi Jun was surprised by Yaksha's generosity. "Oh? Is that really alright?"

"What's there to be hesitant about?" Yaksha waved a hand dismissively. "We aren't doing anything underhanded; saving A-Yang is what matters." Without further ado, he ushered Shi Jun into the refining department.

"Commander!" Thick Soil and the others, who had been waiting at the Underworld River, rushed to greet them as Yaksha and Shi Jun approached.

"Commander Yaksha, just now, when I returned... I saw Purple Smoke," Green Rock said.

Yaksha froze for a moment, then a cold sneer appeared on his face. "Ignore her! Let's go."

Yellow Sand cleared his throat and said "gently," "Commander, you should reconsider. If Purple Smoke finds out about our plans, she might..."

"Might what? Report us to that treacherous wretch, Impermanence? Do you think I fear him?" Yaksha cut him off with a cold snort and a look of deep disdain. "To abandon a comrade in their hour of need—that kind of wretch will meet a bad end sooner or later! Even if he reports us to the Underworld Emperor, I am not afraid. Besides..." He paused, leaving the sentence unfinished.

"...Brother Yaksha, how many of us are actually going? And what is the Demon Realm like?" Shi Jun asked, trying to change the subject as the atmosphere grew awkward.

Yaksha offered a forced smile. "Just us. And, of course, the medallion in your hand."

Shi Jun instinctively touched the token hanging around his neck. "But... I still don't know how to use it."

"It doesn't matter. I will teach you," Yaksha said, his spirits seemingly restored. "We once heard the Underworld Emperor mention the method to activate it. But we don't need it yet. For now, let's treat it as our secret weapon. Once we reach the Demon Realm—heh—we’ll catch them off guard and turn the world upside down in a river of blood! I haven't been in a battle for a long time!" He grinned, clapped his hands together, and a flicker of excitement crossed his eyes.

Seeing Shi Jun’s shocked expression, Yaksha realized he had lost his composure. He glanced around the Underworld River and asked, "Where are the blue spirits? Why aren't they guarding the river? Where have they all gone?"

Shi Jun, still shaken by the war-crazed look on Yaksha’s face, was momentarily stunned. He said with slight embarrassment, "Er, they are all in my treasure pouch. They said they wanted to come to the Demon Realm to see the excitement..."

Yaksha paused, then burst into laughter. "You really have a way with them, Lord! These troublesome little things actually like following you... Very well. The blue spirits are unaffected by the restrictive barriers and can move freely in and out of the Underworld. They might even be of some help."

He turned to Green Rock and the others. "Alright, I am going to break the guardian barrier at the entrance to the Demon Realm. You four, guard me and don't let anyone disturb us." He patted Shi Jun on the shoulder, signaling him to wait with peace of mind.

The four commanders responded in unison, took flight, and positioned themselves around Yaksha—above, below, left, and right. They formed hand seals and began to chant in low voices. Yaksha hovered in the void, pondered for a moment, and then, with a solemn expression, cast a hand seal.

The Underworld River flowed on, indifferent to their actions, yet kept a distance as it rolled through the grey dust, emitting a faint, rumbling sound.

Shi Jun watched Yaksha’s every move intently, memorizing each gesture, thinking that if he ever returned to the Demon Realm, he would no longer need a guide.

A moment later, a series of subtle "pop" sounds began to emerge. At first, they were barely audible, but they grew louder and louder, like thunderclaps striking Shi Jun’s heart. A delicate, ethereal fragrance drifted into his nostrils, faint and elusive.

*What is this scent?* Shi Jun wondered, surprised. He couldn't help but take a deep breath—he had never smelled anything so unique before. Even after traveling across the breadth of the human world, he had never encountered anything comparable.

Though the fragrance was intoxicating, the thunderous explosions did not cease. Shi Jun found the noise unbearable, yet Yaksha and the four commanders seemed to have nerves of steel, continuing their chanting and spellcasting as if nothing were wrong. Feeling embarrassed to cover his ears, Shi Jun endured the relentless noise, praying for the thundering to stop.

At the same time, he was secretly puzzled. Why did their spellcasting seem to have no visible effect? There were no special lights, no doors appearing, and no paths opening—how were they supposed to open a gateway to the Demon Realm?

The answer came quickly. As the five of them withdrew their power, a round object, only about half a meter in diameter, appeared before Yaksha.

"Ready! Jump in quickly!" Yaksha wiped his forehead. Shi Jun noticed for the first time that his face and neck were drenched in sweat; the spell had clearly been taxing.

"Yes!" the four commanders replied. Thick Soil jumped onto the round object without hesitation and vanished in a flash. Green Rock, Yellow Sand, and Profound Stone followed suit.