032 The Underwater Palace of the Nether River

Thirty thousand fathoms beneath the earth.

A vast river, shimmering with a ghostly blue glow, surged endlessly through the depths. Within its currents, spectral souls rose and fell, swept along by the relentless waves toward distant unknowns.

Above the river loomed a profound darkness; on either bank, jagged rocks and slick cliffs bristled with countless caverns, hollows, and shadowy tunnels. The wind howled endlessly, chilling the air.

From the gloom emerged a white bone shuttle, gliding gracefully through the void. It circled once and sped upstream along the Netherworld River.

Before long, a massive boulder jutted from the riverbank into the water, its summit forming a flat clearing where a pair—a man and a woman—stood.

The man was tall and robust, with an extraordinary air about him. Dark demonic energy coiled around him, yet beneath it lingered a cold, ruthless aura.

The woman wore a splendid gown, her features radiant and dignified, her skin pale and delicate, her bearing noble and elegant. At first glance, she left a deep and lasting impression.

She was flawless.

A nearly perfect woman.

As another beauty, Xiong Ying, beheld Gao Yan, only those words echoed in her mind.

The bone shuttle descended above the giant rock, its shadow flickered, and Xiong Ying emerged.

She gazed at Pang Yue with a complex expression. Memories flooded her mind—how they had entered the Bone Demon Sect together, and now, fifty years had passed in the blink of an eye.

Never had she imagined that the senior brother she had long cherished and entrusted with her heart would turn out to be an undercover agent sent by the righteous sects!

Moreover, he had collaborated with them to annihilate all participants in this generation’s Demonic Pill Banquet.

After this calamity, the demon sect would suffer immense losses—perhaps even be driven from Xuyuan Prefecture by the righteous factions.

The mastermind behind it all was the masked man before her, who had lived a double life for more than fifty years...

Yet, he had been abandoned by the righteous sects.

At this thought, a surge of hope and relief welled up within Xiong Ying.

The giant rock before them bore the name Lovers’ Bluff, a name she and Pang Yue had chosen together.

Half a year ago, they had arrived early at the Great Netherworld Gorge to explore the river in preparation for the Demonic Pill Banquet.

The Netherworld River, perilous for disciples of the righteous sects, was a treasure trove for those of the Bone Demon Sect.

Its endless monsters provided excellent materials for forging bone artifacts.

Here, they hunted monsters and refined their own artifacts, gaining tremendous rewards.

During their time together, they discovered this ugly boulder. Caught up in the passion of the moment, they named it Lovers’ Bluff.

In truth, the rock was hideous and had nothing to do with love.

“Senior brother, are you alright?”

Xiong Ying spoke with concern.

Pang Yue shook his head and smiled at her, “Junior sister, someone has used Soul Locking Incense on me. I need to use the Netherworld River to conceal myself. Quickly, take me to the Water Palace with the Bone Shuttle to hide. If we delay, the Golden Core elders from Azure Cloud Mountain will catch up.”

Xiong Ying rolled her eyes and teased, “If you had known it would come to this, why do it at all? Now you’re despised by both the righteous and demonic sects—they both want you dead!”

Pang Yue looked at her with deep affection, “Except for you, I have nothing left...”

Her cheeks blushed as she glanced at Gao Yan, then asked, as if casually, “Why did you bring her down?”

With that, she activated her bone artifact, the Bone Shuttle, and drew both Pang Yue and Gao Yan inside.

The Bone Shuttle’s interior was three yards wide and ten yards long. The three sat within; its walls were transparent, offering a clear view of everything outside.

Xiong Ying formed hand seals and piloted the shuttle into the Netherworld River.

Pang Yue explained, “This is Gao Yan from Azure Cloud Mountain. Her father, Gao Chong, is a powerful Golden Core cultivator. Keeping her gives us a bargaining chip.”

Xiong Ying nodded outwardly but disagreed inwardly, thinking, “He probably spared her because she’s so beautiful.”

The Netherworld River teemed with monsters, and its waters corrupted the magic and flesh of cultivators. Disciples of the Yellow Springs Demon Sect often refined its waters into a spring to enhance their cultivation.

Only a few special artifacts could enter the river’s depths and explore its mysteries.

The Bone Demon Sect’s Bone Shuttle was one such artifact.

Inside it, they carefully navigated past ferocious monsters, pressing onward upstream.

After half a day’s journey, the Bone Shuttle stopped before a stone wall at the bottom of the river.

Vines and water plants concealed an ancient bronze door.

A flash of spiritual light shot from the shuttle, striking the door. The bronze glowed and slowly opened.

The shuttle slipped through.

Beyond the door lay a three-chambered Water Palace: a front hall, middle chamber, and rear courtyard.

Its furnishings were antique and elegant, starkly different from modern styles, clearly relics of ancient cultivators.

Unfortunately, no treasures remained; it had long been emptied by explorers.

When Pang Yue and Xiong Ying had first discovered it by chance, they had only used it as a resting place to escape the river’s monsters.

Of course, it also became the site of many cherished memories.

Here, they had studied several dual cultivation demonic arts, indulging in moments of intimate pleasure.

Now, it was Pang Yue’s secret refuge from the Golden Core masters of the righteous sects.

In the entire world, only Xiong Ying knew of this place.

Other cultivators, searching for it in the vast depths of the Netherworld River, would have to rely on pure luck.

Once inside, Pang Yue retreated to the middle chamber’s secret room to cultivate and recover his strength.

After repeatedly wielding the Book of Separation, his magic was nearly depleted. Without his innate talent, he wouldn’t have subdued Gao Yan.

Soon, Xiong Ying quietly entered.

“You remembered me only because you can’t return to being a righteous sect cultivator, is that it?” Her beautiful eyes watched Pang Yue, her expression distant.

“Junior sister, how could you think that?” Pang Yue forced a bitter smile.

“Then tell me: if the righteous sects had accepted you, how would you have treated me—a demon sect disciple? Your master is the famous Sun Yiyan from Cloud Heaven Sect. Would he allow his disciple to become a Dao partner with a demoness?”

Pang Yue grew serious. “I infiltrated the Bone Demon Sect to repay my master’s kindness. My feelings for you are true as day. I only wanted to resolve my sect’s karma, then take you away as carefree wanderers. How can one have it all in life? I’d honor my master and not betray you.”

“Don’t try to fool me, senior brother... I know you too well,” Xiong Ying said with a mocking smile.

“Junior sister, listen to me...” Pang Yue reached for her slender waist, drawing her into his embrace, soothing her until she relented.

There followed a scene of tender intimacy within the secret room.

After a long while, the clouds parted and the rain ceased.

Xiong Ying, wrapped in a sheer veil, lay lazily on Pang Yue’s chest, her delicate fingers tracing circles upon his broad torso.

“Senior brother, I was wrong just now. I misjudged you...”

She whispered softly by his ear, her voice fragrant as orchids, cheeks flushed with lingering passion.

“Senior brother, why not use Gao Yan to replenish yourself? You could restore your strength faster and even advance further—perhaps perfect your Dao foundation sooner.”

Pang Yue coughed lightly, neither agreeing nor refusing.

Xiong Ying continued, “We’re not safe now. If the Golden Core masters find us, you’ll need to recover your power quickly to command that demonic treasure.”

“So be it, as you say,” Pang Yue sighed.

Xiong Ying giggled, offering herself in devotion. “I’ve sealed her magic and placed her on the jade bed next door. Her clothes are already gone; she truly is a peerless beauty. You must take good care of her!”