Ye Yunfei and the others continued downwards along the pitch-black passage. They had no idea how much time had passed when the scenery before them suddenly changed. A vast, seemingly boundless expanse of empty land appeared, stretching as far as the eye could see. Devoid of life, it gave off a feeling of stagnant desolation.
"Have we come to an underground world?" a Reincarnation Palace elder exclaimed in surprise.
"This place is too vast. It's like a whole continent, not something that should be underground. Have we entered a Small World?" another elder questioned, perplexed.
Ye Yunfei didn't speak. He released his Soul Power energy to sense the distance, only to find that his powerful Soul Power seemed completely useless here.
"It's impossible to fly here. We can only proceed on foot," an elder said, attempting to rise into the air. But immediately, a mysterious energy pressed down from above, forcing the elder back to the ground. Flight was utterly impossible.
"Yes, there's some kind of mysterious and powerful restriction here. Flight is prohibited," Ye Yunfei confirmed after trying himself, expressing surprise.
One had to consider that Ye Yunfei was now among the top-tier powerhouses within this realm of space-time. If even Ye Yunfei couldn't fly here, one could imagine just how formidable the restrictive energy present here must be.
"Looks like we'll have to proceed on foot," Ye Yunfei said with a furrowed brow. "Alright then, I'll carry you forward."
He unleashed his physical body divine ability, extending one hand which enlarged continuously. He then had everyone stand upon his palm.
*Whoosh!*
Supporting everyone on his palm, Ye Yunfei strode forward with great strides. He mobilized his physical strength, his speed so terrifyingly fast it was impossible to discern with the naked eye.
"Fortunately, the suppression against the physical body here doesn't seem too severe!" Hun Lao remarked.
Ye Yunfei advanced relentlessly, having no idea how far he had traveled.
"Look! It seems there's a river ahead! And it's a black river!"
Suddenly, a Reincarnation Palace elder cried out in astonishment, pointing forward.
Ye Yunfei also saw it. A wide, black river blocked their path ahead. The black river flowed in utter silence, its water moving so slowly it appeared almost static.
"Whatever you do, don't use Soul Force Energy to sense that river! It seems this river can devour Soul Force Energy!" Hun Lao warned Ye Yunfei urgently via spiritual message.
As Hun Lao spoke, Ye Yunfei's Soul Force Energy was already probing the silent river. Sure enough, he discovered those inky black waters emitted an extremely strange aura, attempting to swallow his Soul Force Energy. Ye Yunfei immediately retracted his energy.
"Aah!"
Two Reincarnation Palace elders suddenly screamed in agony, clutching their heads as if in immense pain.
The other four elders and three Mages also grew pale, their bodies trembling uncontrollably, drenched in cold sweat as if suffering.
With a wave of his hand, Ye Yunfei erected several isolating great formations, enveloping the Reincarnation Palace higher-ups. These formations served to isolate Soul Power perception. While deploying the formations, Ye Yunfei also released a powerful surge of Soul Power energy to protect them.
"That was close! Young Master Ye, my Soul Body almost detached from my form, nearly getting sucked into this dreadful river!" one of the elders said to Ye Yunfei, his face filled with terror. Under Ye Yunfei's protection, the six elders and three Mages finally relaxed, as if having escaped a grave danger.
"Everyone, don't use Soul Force Energy to sense this river," Ye Yunfei warned.
"There's a bridge downstream," Golden Horned Dragon Silkworm suddenly spoke.
Ye Yunfei immediately looked downstream and, indeed, spotted a bridge.
In this space, Soul Force Energy was almost unusable; one could only rely on their eyes to see.
"Let's see if we can cross using that bridge," Ye Yunfei said.
The black river ahead had completely blocked their path. To continue forward, they had to find a way across.
Soon, Ye Yunfei brought everyone to the bridge's side.
"Mengpo Bridge."
Ye Yunfei immediately spotted a stone stele with three words carved upon it: 'Mengpo Bridge'.
"So Mengpo Bridge truly exists? According to our Reincarnation Palace's ancient texts, the Reincarnation Passage contains a Nether River, and upon that river is a bridge known as the Mengpo Bridge or the Naihe Bridge.
It's said a Samsara Deity, named Goddess Meng Po, guards the Mengpo Bridge specifically. All wraiths entering the Reincarnation Passage must set foot upon Mengpo Bridge, pass under Goddess Meng Po's great divine power, have all the memories and karmic debts carried from their previous lives cleansed, transforming into a pure Soul Body devoid of any memories or karmic burdens. Only then can they step onto the true Samsara passage for rebirth.
To think we've truly arrived at the Mengpo Bridge!" a Mage said in shock.
"There's a line of words here!"
Ye Yunfei saw writing on the bridge and immediately went closer for a better look.
On the Naihe Bridge, no Meng Po;
Within the Samsara path, Soul Soup absent.
"What is 'Soul Soup'?" Ye Yunfei couldn't help but frown.
"Let's go. We'll cross the bridge," Ye Yunfei said, raising everyone on his palm and stepping onto the bridge.
*Boom…*
A terrifying Reincarnation Energy and Samsara law instantly surged forth, cascading down, intending to suppress Ye Yunfei.
*Buzz…*
Just as Ye Yunfei prepared to mobilize his power to resist, the identity tokens on the six elders and three Mages of the Reincarnation Palace suddenly shone simultaneously, radiating brilliant light.
Then, Ye Yunfei saw that dreadful wave of Reincarnation Energy and Samsara law retreat and vanish.
"Our identity tokens actually work here!" an elder exclaimed joyfully.
"This proves that this is indeed the legendary Reincarnation Passage! It's said our Reincarnation Palace once controlled the Reincarnation Passage in ancient times. That's why our identity tokens are effective here!" a Mage explained.
Ye Yunfei was also somewhat astonished. From this, it seemed the Reincarnation Palace might very well have controlled this Reincarnation Passage in the past. Although, upon careful thought, it wasn't surprising, considering the entrance to this mysterious Reincarnation Passage was within the Reincarnation Realm!
Ye Yunfei led the group across the bridge. This time, they encountered no hindrance and walked directly to the opposite shore.
Next, Ye Yunfei led everyone forward, continuing their journey across this boundless, dead, desolate land.
"Has anyone sensed Qing Luo and the Ancestor's aura?" Ye Yunfei couldn't help but ask.
Ever since entering this strange land, Ye Yunfei had been diligently sensing his surroundings and secretly performing divinations, but he had yet to detect any aura or trace of Su Qingluo or the Reincarnation Old Ancestor.
"Young Master Ye, allow us to sense it," a Mage said.
Thus, the three Reincarnation Palace Mages jointly performed the ancestral divination technique of their palace, beginning their calculations.
"The Old Ancestor and Palace Lord Su… it seems they've been here! I've just captured a fleeting glimpse of their backs!"
A moment later, a Mage suddenly spoke.
"Truly!" Ye Yunfei couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.