Chapter 896: The Directory

"Senior, who are you? Have I ever offended you in any way?" Yu Qingzhi asked in a tone filled with uncertainty.

The deck of the massive ship was lined with Yin Soldiers, their expressions dark and cold, as though they were looking at him like prey. The one who had bound him exuded a powerful, unfathomable aura. He was wrapped in thick Yin energy, his cultivation level seemingly beyond measure!

Du Yunxu spoke calmly. "Who I am is of no concern to a mere Yin Walker. It's been many years since anyone has carried out a soul-crossing ritual in Yunfu's territory. Why are you here now, and why didn't you announce your arrival beforehand?"

Yu Qingzhi's mind raced. This person was undoubtedly a major figure in the Underworld, and they seemed to have a strong aversion to Yin Walkers. It made sense that in a place where the Yin path had been lost for many years, they hadn't encountered a Yin Walker before.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Yu Qingzhi quickly explained, "Senior, you misunderstand. I accidentally acquired the technique for carrying out the soul-crossing ritual and simply wanted to explore the Underworld. I mean no harm. If this place does not permit Yin Walkers to enter, I will leave immediately. I ask you to show mercy, Senior."

Yu Qingzhi's heart sank. Had he known that the Underworld was this dangerous, he would never have ventured here so easily. Instead of encountering opportunities, he now found himself facing the danger of losing his soul in the Underworld....

Du Yunxu chuckled, glancing at Yu Qingzhi with a hint of disdain. "You think I'll let you off with a mere excuse?"

Yu Qingzhi tried to speak again, but his words were cut off. He had been completely immobolized.

A deep sense of dread filled his heart, as he wondered what kind of fate awaited him.

The next scene unfolded in the Yunfu City Nether Guards Division.

Du Yunxu personally intervened and subjected Yu Qingzhi to various tortures—tongue extraction, boiling in oil, skinning, and bone dissection...

Since Yu Qingzhi's soul was in the form of a Yin spirit, the pain pierced deep into his soul. It could be repeatedly applied as long as the Yin energy remained and his Yin Lifespan did not end.

At first, Yu Qingzhi tried to explain the misunderstanding, but after dozens of rounds of torture, he was too weak to explain and could only beg for mercy. He also desperately tried to inquire about Du Yunxu's intentions and what his goals were.

Having experienced another round of torment, Yu Qingzhi struggled to maintain his focus. He looked at Du Yunxu, pleading with desperation. "Senior... I really... I am just a Yin Walker... If you have any goals, please just say it..."

"Do you think I would seek anything from an insignificant insect like you?" Du Yunxu said coldly. "You snuck into the Underworld, which means you must have ulterior motives. Do you think I don't know the methods of these Yin Walkers? Stop talking and just endure the pain. You would never experience this kind of suffering in the Mortal Realm."

Yu Qingzhi's expression suddenly shifted. He glared at Du Yunxu with fierce eyes, his voice dripping with hatred. "You damn Yin Spirit, I am the Spirit Lord of the Spirit Blood Sect in the Mortal Realm! You wait and see... my fellow Spirit Blood Sect cultivators will soon enter the Underworld. The major figures only need to move a finger to destroy you! If the Spirit God intervenes, the Underworld will be torn apart!"

"The Spirit Blood Sect?" Du Yunxu responded with a faint smile. "I've never heard of it. As for the Spirit God you're referring to, I do know a thing or two about them. But I wonder if we're talking about the same one."

Yu Qingzhi was slightly stunned. "You've heard of the Spirit God too?"

As he was in a daze, a group of wandering souls entered, and the leader was Du Heng. Du Heng looked coldly at Du Yunxu and said, "How dare a Yin Walker from the Spirit God Sect come here?"

"He's talking about the Spirit Blood Sect. What does that have to do with your Spirit God Sect? Don't think just because the Mortal Realm has Spirit God Sect cultivators everywhere that everything is about your sect," Du Yunxu said indifferently.

Yu Qingzhi looked confused. "Spirit God Sect? Spirit Blood Sect?"

Du Heng sneered. "The Spirit God Sect's followers are spread across the Nine Realms, and they have different names and titles in every region. Do you want me to educate you on all of them?"

After saying that, he turned to Yu Qingzhi and calmly said, "Tell him what your duties are."

"Duties...?" Yu Qingzhi froze for a moment. He cautiously said, "To refine the Blood Spirit Pill?"

"So you really are a Yin Walker from the Spirit God Sect?" Du Yunxu frowned slightly. In the end, he nodded. "In that case, it was just a misunderstanding. I'll take my leave."

By the time Du Yunxu and his people left, Yu Qingzhi still hadn't reacted. It took him several breaths before he looked at Du Heng in confusion, unsure of what had just happened. "You... who are you?"

"I am Du Heng, the Day Walker General of the Nether Guards Division of Yunfu City in the Underworld," Du Heng said indifferently. "I was also a cultivator of the Spirit God Sect in my past life."

After saying that, Du Heng ordered his subordinates to release Yu Qingzhi and took him to the Nether Guards Division's Day Walker General's office. He then served him a pot of good tea.

It wasn't until half an hour later that Yu Qingzhi learned from Du Heng many things he had never known before.

"Ah, so... the Mortal Realm is so vast, there are actually nine Realms..." Yu Qingzhi murmured to himself, his mind tumbling.

He once believed that the Central Continent Empire, Celestial Heaven, and Northern Dipper were the entire world.

He realized he had been nothing but a frog in a well.

He had never imagined that the Underworld spanned across every corner of the Mortal Realm, and even the Spirit Blood Sect had its own influence in the Underworld.

After pondering this, Yu Qingzhi no longer found it strange. The Spirit Blood Sect was so powerful, so it made sense that its cultivators, even in death, would not be ordinary.

"Daoist Yu, the place you come from... is resource-poor. Even the Path of Yin technique had been lost there for many years. I have been serving in Yunfu City for nearly 3,000 years, and I've never seen a Yin Walker from there," Du Heng said, smiling. He took a sip of tea and continued, "You are the first. You're a cultivator of the Spirit God Sect, too. We are destined to cross paths."

Yu Qingzhi's eyes showed a hint of contemplation. "Daoist Du, about that person earlier...."

"Don't worry about that person. He is prejudiced against Yin Walkers. If you hadn't mentioned the Spirit God Sect, he would've tortured you till your soul scattered," Du Heng replied.

Yu Qingzhi nodded thoughtfully. It seemed that his bad luck had led him to encounter an existence with such prejudice against Yin Walkers.

"Daoist Du, you mentioned that you are the Day Walker General, and that you can roam the Mortal Realm by day to judge good and evil?" Yu Qingzhi asked, still processing the earlier conversation.

"Indeed," Du Heng replied. "Your surname is Yu, so you must be from the royal family of Li Xiao."

Yu Qingzhi nodded, surprised by the accuracy of Du Heng's knowledge.

Du Heng continued, "I have roamed most of Li Xiao. Recently, it seems your family's old ancestor is preparing to ascend to become an Immortal King? Congratulations in advance. If successful, your family will have an Immortal King to oversee it, making your territory a real Celestial Court."

Yu Qingzhi's heart skipped a beat in shock. The fact that Du Heng knew so much was unsettling, yet the more he listened, the more he realized the depth of Du Heng's connections.

Before he could gather his thoughts, Du Heng spoke again. "I hadn't noticed any Spirit God Sect cultivators in this realm before, but now that I know, I cannot stand by idly. Tell me the roster of names. I will pass it on to my colleagues. In the future, when they enter the Underworld, they will receive certain privileges."

Yu Qingzhi didn't hesitate or question the request. The trust that Du Heng had shown in saving his life and his connection to the Spirit God Sect made this seem entirely reasonable. Besides, this was the Underworld, and Du Heng was not just any person but also a cultivator of the Spirit God Sect himself.

Yu Qingzhi mentally went through the list of names in his mind and began to relay them to Du Heng. Each name was accompanied by detailed information: physical descriptions, the cultivation location in the Mortal Realm, cultivation level, and more.

While Du Heng meticulously wrote down the details, Fang Chen silently observed from the shadows, committing every piece of information to memory.