Chapter One: The Silver Flame of the Immortal Spirit (Part One)

Volume Three Synopsis:

For millions of years, those who traverse the cycle of life and death have been as countless as grains of sand by the Ganges, each but a speck of dust in the vast, ever-flowing world, all under the inexorable laws of the infinite universe...

After a series of adventures and extraordinary encounters, Shi Jun finally reunites with his long-lost friends in the Underworld, where Chiyang brings them to her secluded estate for a period of respite. Yet, in the quest to discover the fate of his father, Shi Jun, prompted by Hu Hai, Rakshasa, and Motuo, secretly investigates the Soul Guardian and battles Broken Peak, eventually entering the secret realm of Ancestor Huangquan—Netherworld Jade Heights—where he meets the mysterious figure whose destiny is intricately entwined with his own.

Alerted by the news, Chiyang and her companions hasten to the Underworld River, where they find Shi Jun and inform him of a major upheaval in the human world. Thus, Shi Jun and his friends return hurriedly, and so begins their struggle against the token-bearing ghost spirits who bring chaos to the realm of mortals...

Motuo and Rakshasa are embroiled in a lively quarrel, yet Chiyang senses something amiss—though her eyes remain fixed on Shi Jun, her keen senses miss nothing occurring around her. The moment Motuo crawls out from Rakshasa’s Spirit Gathering Pouch, Chiyang immediately detects a strong aura of the Demon Realm emanating from him, swiftly concluding that Motuo is a little demon who has secretly entered the Underworld. However, this fellow appears alongside Shi Jun’s friend Hu Hai and claims to be his companion. Unable to press further at present, Chiyang decides to feign ignorance, sitting quietly in place as she watches Shi Jun and Hu Hai reminisce.

Human speech is truly peculiar; a few simple greetings after a long separation allow Shi Jun and Hu Hai to read concern and friendship in each other’s eyes, leaving their spirits stirred yet unable, for a moment, to find the right words.

Noticing that Chiyang is left aside while Rakshasa and the young man who accompanied Hu Hai are arguing loudly, Shi Jun feels it improper to be so disorderly in someone else's “workplace.” He turns to Chiyang and says, “Do you think we could find somewhere else to talk? This place doesn’t seem very convenient.”

Chiyang rises and replies, “I was waiting for you to say that! Let’s go to Su Feng Pavilion for a rest. We can speak there.”

“I’m going too!” Rakshasa, upon hearing the words “Su Feng Pavilion,” is instantly delighted. Ignoring Motuo, she rushes to Shi Jun’s side, exclaiming, “This time I’ve rendered great service—if you’re going somewhere so fun, you have to take me with you!”

Shi Jun is unsure what kind of place Su Feng Pavilion is, but he is indeed grateful to Rakshasa for reuniting him with Hu Hai. Seeing her plea, he cannot refuse outright, so he turns to Chiyang for her opinion.

“Very well, you may come too!” Chiyang blushes as she realizes Shi Jun cares more for her feelings, and tender affection wells up in her heart, softening her attitude toward Rakshasa.

“Hey, is this the wicked woman you mentioned?” Hu Hai, seizing the opportunity, has already sized up everyone in the hall. Seeing Shi Jun and Chiyang’s intimate manner, he tugs at Shi Jun’s sleeve and whispers, “She doesn’t seem as scary as you say! Ouch…” Shi Jun, fearing that Chiyang might overhear such ambiguous words, quickly gives him a hard jab.

“Do you wish to come with us?” Though Chiyang is unsure of the demon’s exact identity, as the Commander of the Underworld she cannot let him slip away under her watch, so she addresses Motuo as well.

“Of course!” Motuo, facing a beautiful woman, responds with extra courtesy, his voice dropping an octave. Pointing at Hu Hai and Shi Jun, he says, “We’re all brothers, so naturally we advance and retreat together!”—Eager to close the distance, he forcibly includes Hu Hai and Shi Jun in his brotherhood.

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Accompanied by a group of officials from the Security Bureau who respectfully see them off, the party leaves the gates of the Warden’s Office. Chiyang, noticing that the Blue Souls remain silently trailing behind Shi Jun, says, “Shi Jun, you and Hu Hai don’t know the art of flight, and the journey is long. Why not send the Blue Souls back to the Underworld River first? I can use the Portal of Instants to take you all.”

The Blue Souls immediately crowd around Shi Jun, clearly reluctant to depart.

“Huh? Aren’t these the fish? Why are they still following you?” Hu Hai finally notices these beautiful creatures from the Underworld River, now here as well. “They’re lovely—having a few would be nice!”

Rakshasa is delighted to find a kindred spirit and quickly replies, “I want to keep a few myself, but they only listen to the Underworld Hunter and ignore me.”

“Really? You too? Keeping fish is more environmentally friendly, but these little things seem quite formidable…” Hu Hai, putting past grievances aside, enthusiastically discusses pet-keeping with Rakshasa. In truth, he doesn’t even like pets that much; it’s just that Chen Ya’s excessive compassion led her to bring home a Persian cat one day, a poodle the next, a Dutch pig another, turning their house into a miniature zoo. Not to mention the overwhelming stench, Chen Ya’s interest was fleeting—she’d tire of a pet after a couple of days and order Hu Hai to care for it, making him almost a full-time animal caretaker. Because of this, Hu Hai can speak knowledgeably about pet-keeping, and his conversation with Rakshasa flows easily.

Rakshasa doesn’t really understand what “environmentally friendly” means. Despite her considerable age (though she appears only fifteen or sixteen, she’s actually dozens of times older than Hu Hai), she retains a girlish heart. Listening to Hu Hai’s tales of pets in the human world—creatures she’s never even heard of—her eyes shine with longing. She thinks to herself that after all these years, the human world has changed so much—she must see it for herself. Her impression of Hu Hai also improves greatly; as the Underworld Hunter’s companion, he seems much less annoying—indeed, he’s funny, witty, and unafraid of her, making him quite endearing!

Motuo, restless by nature, originally scowled at Hu Hai’s “betrayal,” chatting away with that pesky girl. Yet after listening for a while, his interest is piqued, and he quickly joins in, boasting about the various pets of the Demon Realm. Now it’s Rakshasa and Hu Hai’s turn to listen, fascinated and full of envy.

Thus, the three “people,” setting aside previous grudges, become engrossed in conversation, while Shi Jun and Chiyang discuss how to deal with the Blue Souls. It’s as if nothing untoward had ever happened.

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Shi Jun, seeing the Blue Souls dawdling and unwilling to go, tries to persuade them for some time, but the little creatures refuse to listen, leaving him at a loss. Suddenly, he remembers the magical pouch Chiyang gave him. He quickly pulls out the Treasure Bag and looks to Chiyang for approval.

Chiyang, smiling with lips pressed, nods. “Very well, clever of you to think of this. These little ones are lucky.”

Shi Jun invites all the Blue Souls into the Treasure Bag. Chiyang then produces a talisman, tosses it into the air, and calls, “Open!”

The talisman floats in midair for a moment, then descends. A white light flashes before everyone, and suddenly a rippling water curtain appears from nowhere. Looking from outside, one can see only swirling white mist, nothing else, but a chilling, icy aura flows out from within, making everyone shiver.

Motuo, being from the Demon Realm (where most are of the fire element), is especially sensitive to water magic. He grabs Hu Hai and says, “This thing’s a bit strange—the aura inside feels off. You’d better be careful!” Even as he speaks, as if in response, the gray-black water curtain ripples suddenly, emitting a wailing, hair-raising sound.

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Hu Hai, feeling uneasy, stops and tugs at Shi Jun, casting him a questioning look.

Shi Jun pays no mind, merely smiles and grabs Hu Hai and Motuo by the hand, striding toward the water curtain.

Chiyang, smiling at Shi Jun’s reaction, nods inwardly and says, “Be quick—the Portal of Instants only lasts for a short while!” With that, she leads the way inside.

* * * * *

Once through the Portal of Instants, the white mist thickens before their eyes. In the darkness, a pure, delicate fragrance gradually fills the air; the harsh sounds and icy chill vanish without a trace. Suddenly, their vision brightens, and the group finds themselves in an entirely new world.

Before them lies a verdant garden, with streams flowing gently, rocks and pavilions nestled among lush greenery. Brightly feathered birds perch on treetops and pavilion roofs, or wheel through the air. The grassy meadows stretch like carpets beneath their feet, and in the distance, clusters of pale purple flowers bloom profusely—the delicate fragrance emanates from these blossoms.

“This—this looks so much like the scenery back home!” Hu Hai stretches his neck, gazing around in amazement.

Shi Jun is also somewhat surprised. Since coming to the Underworld, most scenes he’s encountered have, to some degree, resembled the human world, yet always with some odd or discordant element. Only Su Feng Pavilion, from the moment they entered, evokes a powerful sense of familiarity—as if he’s returned to the mortal realm, with nothing in its flora or foliage differing from what he knows.

“Just to be clear, I won’t accept your kindness. I’ll only thank the Underworld Hunter,” Rakshasa mutters quietly, standing beside Chiyang.

Chiyang smiles without a word, leading the group through blossoms and trees, until they arrive at a small pavilion surrounded on all sides by water.

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