Chapter 1409: Return to Forgotten River

Nanming Shaoze chased in vain. With his level of cultivation, he simply couldn't keep up with a first-transformation Great Yin Demon. Not to mention Fang Chen, who, wearing the Monarch Yan Armor, was comparable to a second-transformation Great Yin Demon.

The Thousand-Legged Great Yin Demon had placed Fang Chen on its must-kill list, as if holding a deep, irreconcilable grudge, and pursued him madly all the way. Fang Chen didn't fight it and kept flying south directly instead.

On the way, they occasionally encountered other beings. Upon sensing the aura of the centipede Great Yin Demon, they all hid away, not daring to get close.

Lin Yuan and the other two had already returned to the Enlightenment Underworld with Nanming Shaoze and his group. In the Nether Guards Division of Enlightenment Underworld, a group stood before Ji Sheng with their heads lowered.

Ji Sheng's expression shifted erratically. After a long silence, he finally scolded them harshly with deep frustration, "They were entering the Underworld for the first time and hadn't even gone through the proper channels. And you let them go hunt Yin Demons with you? Do you even know they're not officially registered in the Enlightenment Underworld?"

Du Rufeng kept his head down, not daring to say a word. The others only dared glance at Nanming Shaoze out of the corners of their eyes. Among them, only Nanming Shaoze had the connections that might spare them from punishment.

Nanming Shaoze spoke in a low voice, "We didn't know... that Yin Demon would advance to a Great Yin Demon mid-battle."

Ji Sheng let out a cold snort. "Battle is full of uncertainties. Since you weren't fully confident, you shouldn't have brought them along."

Nanming Shaoze took a deep breath. "I'll take responsibility for this. Daoist Fang only ended up in danger because of us. I owe him a life."

Du Rufeng and the others were also still shaken. If Fang Chen hadn't intervened in time, they would probably have perished already, their divine souls scattered.

"And how exactly will you take responsibility?" Ji Sheng sneered coldly.

He then looked at Lin Yuan and the others. He couldn't stop himself from rubbing his forehead.

He was the one who brought these few into the Enlightenment Underworld. Now that something had gone wrong, he naturally bore some responsibility. If they were just ordinary unregistered cultivators, it would be one thing. But the person involved happened to be very close to Hong Zhi.

"Wait here. I'll go check on the situation. If I can bring him back, fine. If not, I'll notify your clansman to come handle this. Li Shanzi may also get involved. And Junior Sister Hong."

With that, Ji Sheng left the Nether Guards Division without looking back.

Du Rufeng and the others instantly breathed a sigh of relief. Facing a core disciple always made them feel immense pressure and anxiety.

"Who exactly is he? Even Senior Brother Li Shanzi is involved with him?" one of them asked Nanming Shaoze in a low voice.

Nanming Shaoze replied, "Daoist Fang's background is a bit special. One of the newly promoted core disciples was actually a member of the same expedition team he used to lead. They're very close."

Du Rufeng and the others were shocked.

"You should've said that earlier!"

If they had known Fang Chen had that sort of connection, there's no way they would have dragged him into hunting a Yin Demon.

Nanming Shaoze gave a bitter smile. "What's done is done. It's too late to say anything now."

He then looked toward Lin Yuan and the rest, whose expressions were already heavy with worry.

"Gentlemen, about Daoist Fang..."

Lin Yuan forced a smile. "The Captain will be fine. He's much stronger than any of you realize."

Stronger? Can he be stronger than a Great Yin Demon?

Everyone inwardly sighed.

Someone hesitated for a few moments before asking, "If this situation blows up... could we be taken by the Nether Guards to the Judgement Division?"

The moment the Judgement Division was mentioned, clear fear appeared in his eyes.

"Surely not, right? Shaoze, your clansman is with the Judgement Division, isn't he? Maybe he could..."

Nanming Shaoze stayed silent.

Although Lin Yuan was worried about Fang Chen's fate, he couldn't help but ask, "Gentlemen, these divisions you mentioned... what exactly are they?"

Nanming Shaoze explained, "The Enlightenment Underworld is governed through these divisions. Only core disciples can serve as division heads. Core Disciple Ji is one of the division heads of the Nether Guards Division,"

"And what about us, unofficial cultivators? Is there any chance we could..."

Nanming Shaoze nodded slightly. "There is. As long as you have the right connections and enough strength, once you ascend to a first-transformation immortal, in theory, you're eligible to hold a minor post. For someone like Daoist Fang, if he reaches the first transformation, he would definitely be able to take up an official role here in the Underworld. Of course, no matter what, he'd still be under the jurisdiction of the core disciples. That's the rule."

***

Several days passed in the blink of an eye.

Ji Sheng returned. With him were Li Shanzi, Nanming Ruyue, and Little Immortal Honglian. As soon as Lin Yuan and the others saw the Little Immortal Honglian, awkwardness appeared on their faces.

She said indifferently, "Daoist Fang's matter has nothing to do with the three of you."

Though the three of them agreed with her in principle, they still felt deeply guilty. During that critical moment, they hadn't been able to offer the slightest help.

Nanming Ruyue cast a cold glance at Nanming Shaoze, making him squirm uncomfortably under her gaze before she finally opened her mouth, "I'll cooperate with Junior Brother Ji and send people out to search for Fang Chen's whereabouts. If we can't find him, we'll have to give the higher-ups an explanation. Fang Chen and the rest were in the wrong for entering the Underworld without registration, but you were also wrong to bring them to a hunt for Yin Demons without authorization. One wrong offsets the other. In the end, you few will serve ten years in the Judgement Division. That will be the price."

Everyone's hearts trembled.

"Ten years..."

Ten years might not seem long, but the experience of being confined in the Judgement Division... that wasn't something anyone wished to endure.

Ji Sheng looked toward Little Immortal Honglian. "I also bear some responsibility. If I hadn't brought them here, none of this would've happened. I'll mobilize more Nether Guards to expand the search range. But... this is the Underworld. If he really died, there's nothing we can do. Still, we need to at least recover a body. Dead or alive, we must find him. I hope you will understand."

Little Immortal Honglian nodded lightly. "As long as the senior brothers are willing to help search, everything else is negotiable."

She then glanced at Lin Yuan and the others. "You three come with me. For now, protect Daoist Fang's physical body."

"Yes, protect the body first. If his divine soul fades completely, there will be signs. As long as the body remains intact, there's still hope to save him," added Ji Sheng.

Li Shanzi and the Little Immortal Honglian left with Lin Yuan and his companions.

After they left, Nanming Ruyue took Nanming Shaoze and the others to the Judgement Division.

Nanming Shaoze said in a low voice, "Cousin, what happened to Daoist Fang was because he saved us. If it weren't for him, we would have died to that Yin Demon."

Nanming Ruyue replied calmly, "I've already heard the full story. No need to repeat it. Since he saved the disciples of the Nanming Family, this favor must be repaid. I'll personally lead a search effort. As for you, just stay here for now."

Nanming Shaoze let out a sigh of relief and slowly nodded.

"Yes."

***

Several years later, since no trace of Fang Chen had been found, the Nether Guard Division and the Judgment Division officially halted the search.

Originally, Nanming Shaoze and the others were to toil for ten years in the Judgment Division, but since Fang Chen's physical body showed no signs of deterioration, the sentence was postponed.

Meanwhile, Fang Chen finally saw a familiar sight. The vast, surging Forgotten River, like a colossal slumbering beast, lay coiled in the underworld realm before him.