The six Ghost Bailiffs Ye Yunfei had subdued each herded a file of lingering souls. In order, they climbed back onto the towering black ice mountain deep within the hell and arrived before that sinister spatial channel.
Thick death energy transformed into howling whirlwinds that blasted out from the channel, a sight that inspired awe and fear.
Ye Yunfei was currently within the Phantom Tower, which was carried by one of the Ghost Bailiffs. After waiting for a moment with his file of souls, this Bailiff finally stepped into the spatial channel.
It was a pitch-black passageway, twisting and turning as it stretched forward. The lingering souls walked within this dark corridor, each step producing a crisp footstep sound.
Normally, these incorporeal spirits shouldn't make any noise when they moved. Yet, inside this dark channel, eerie footsteps inexplicably manifested.
Thump… thump… thump…
The continuous footsteps echoed within the black passageway, growing louder the further they traveled.
"This place is saturated with dense death energy and death laws," Hun Lao quietly sent a Sound Transmission to Ye Yunfei.
"Indeed. Ever since entering the Netherworld, the predominant energies and laws in the space have been death-related. The cultivation techniques practiced by these denizens of the underworld are primarily focused on death energy and death laws," Ye Yunfei nodded.
One after another, the Ghost Bailiffs herded their files of lingering souls, swaying as they walked in order through the dark channel.
Neither the Bailiffs nor the souls made a sound; only the rhythmic thumping of footsteps could be heard, creating an extremely unsettling atmosphere.
After walking for an unknown length of time, a glow suddenly appeared ahead. Then, Ye Yunfei realized they had arrived at a dimly lit hall.
In the center of this hall was a white pond. Since the hall was vast and the white pond occupied roughly two-thirds of the area, the pond itself was also immense.
White water churned and rolled within the pond. Around it stood numerous Ghost Bailiffs holding pitch-black tridents. Each Bailiff had a fierce, ugly visage, spewing vile curses as they incessantly drove the lingering souls to jump into the white pond.
"This aura… It's Samsara. This white pond contains incredibly pure and concentrated Samsara energy," Ye Yunfei said with some surprise.
From the moment they entered the Netherworld until now, death energy and laws had been dominant everywhere. Yet, upon reaching this hall, it was flooded with intense Samsara energy and Samsara laws.
"I think I understand," Hu Miao spoke up. "Master, the Netherworld drives these souls here and forces them to jump into this white pond. They must be using this pond to undergo Samsara and be reborn."
"Correct. It seems this white pond must conceal profound arrangements. A place that allows souls to be reincarnated is certainly not simple," Ye Yunfei said.
He immediately released his Mental Force Energy to perceive the white pond while simultaneously opening the Divine Pupil in his forehead to analyze it.
The six Ghost Bailiffs controlled by Ye Yunfei had herded the souls here and now stood waiting at the side. The Ghost Bailiffs who were already waiting in the dim hall swarmed forward. Raising their black tridents menacingly, they forcibly drove the lingering souls one by one into the white pond.
Ye Yunfei's released Mental Force Energy and the Divine Pupil in his forehead rapidly studied and analyzed the white pond.
"Through mysterious connections, this white pond seems to be linked to another, utterly gigantic white pond located in a different, distant space. The one before us is merely a conduit. After entering this pond, these souls will be transmitted to that colossal white pond in another space. Within that enormous pond exists even higher-level, purer Samsara energy and Samsara laws. I speculate that the gigantic white pond in the other space is the true final destination for these souls' journey towards reincarnation," Ye Yunfei stated.
Suddenly, his forehead's Divine Pupil glimpsed an unimaginably vast white pond that seemed to exist in another dimension altogether. At every moment, enormous quantities of lingering souls fell into that pond, sinking to its bottom before being pulled away and vanishing by a mysterious Samsara force.
"A giant white pond… Gathering countless souls… Could the immense white pond you described be the legendary Wheel of Fate Pond?" Hun Lao pondered for a moment after hearing Ye Yunfei's words.
"The Wheel of Fate Pond? Hun Lao, does your racial memory contain information about it?" Ye Yunfei's heart stirred, and he asked.
"Yes. I just found records within my racial memory regarding a giant white pond. Legend says this white pond was mysteriously born by itself when the void was first created. It possesses the function of facilitating Samsara and reincarnation and is called the Wheel of Fate Pond. Later, it was controlled by the Reincarnation Sect. It's said that souls entering the Wheel of Fate Pond can be reborn, beginning their next life, through the mysterious Samsara laws contained within. Some speculate the reason the Reincarnation Sect can govern the Samsara order of the world is precisely because they control that Wheel of Fate Pond. But why do these souls from the Netherworld also end up at the Wheel of Fate Pond? This Netherworld is a branch stronghold of the Great Netherworld. The Great Netherworld and the Reincarnation Sect are already irreconcilable enemies. In theory, the Reincarnation Sect would never allow the Great Netherworld to use the Wheel of Fate Pond," Hun Lao explained.
"So that's it. The gigantic white pond my Divine Pupil saw must be the Wheel of Fate Pond," Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Is it possible that the Wheel of Fate Pond has been seized by the Great Netherworld? Perhaps it's now under their control, which is why the souls from this Netherworld ultimately go there to undergo reincarnation?" Hu Miao thought for a moment and suggested.
"Hu Miao, you make a good point. The Great Netherworld and the Reincarnation Sect fought wars in ancient times. It's quite possible the Wheel of Fate Pond was indeed seized by the Great Netherworld. So now, the Great Netherworld might be using the Wheel of Fate Pond to control the world's Samsara order," Hun Lao couldn't help but nod in agreement with Hu Miao's words.
"Master, then what should we do now? Follow these souls to investigate that Wheel of Fate Pond?" Hu Miao spoke again.
"No! With our current strength, we are not qualified to provoke that legendary Wheel of Fate Pond. That pond is extremely sinister. Only souls can enter it, and once inside, they are immediately reincarnated. We are living beings. There's no reason for us to enter the Wheel of Fate Pond without cause," Hun Lao immediately objected.
"Hun Lao is right. The Wheel of Fate Pond spontaneously appeared when the void was first created in ancient times. It's mysterious and unfathomable. With our current power, we probably can't afford to provoke it. Moreover, my primary purpose for entering the Netherworld is still to search for Elder Huang's whereabouts and to see how the Netherworld of the Great Netherworld operates. There's no need for us to delve further into the truths of soul reincarnation," Ye Yunfei said.
"Master, then what should we do now? Search for Elder Huang within this Netherworld? But this is the Fourth Void," Hu Miao asked again.
"This is the territory of the Great Netherworld. Since I've entered, the least I can do is cause a major commotion or destroy this place," Ye Yunfei said with a cold laugh.
The Great Netherworld Sovereign Gods' attempt to capture Huang Shang, leading to his disappearance, had thoroughly infuriated Ye Yunfei. Now that he was in their territory, he naturally wouldn't hold back.
"Great! Next, let's stir up chaos in the Netherworld. It's a branch stronghold of the Great Netherworld, possessing considerable overall strength. Even though this place looks gloomy and unpleasant, it probably hoards many precious treasures. We can turn this Netherworld upside down," the Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm became enthusiastic upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words.
"Very well. Let's act now," Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
As soon as he finished speaking, Ye Yunfei concentrated his will. He immediately began deploying the Mind Reading Art, the Puppet Soul Thread Secret Art, and Heart Sword against the Ghost Bailiffs in this hall.
Though these Ghost Bailiffs appeared quite eerie, they were nothing special in Ye Yunfei's eyes. After all, the energy and laws they cultivated were familiar to him, stemming from the Great Netherworld's techniques and secrets.
Soon, the Ghost Bailiffs in the hall fell one by one into endless, complex, and chaotic thoughts. Some even lost control, collapsing to the ground, clutching their heads as they rolled in agony.
Numerous Puppet Soul Threads continuously poured deep into the soul bodies of these Bailiffs. Before long, the eyes of all the Ghost Bailiffs became docile. They lined up neatly before Ye Yunfei and bowed respectfully.
"These Ghost Bailiffs all seem to originate from races that are innately aligned with darkness," Hun Lao remarked, observing the Bailiffs standing before them.
"Yes. Those seven over there are from the Shadow Serpent Clan. They are naturally suited for being Ghost Bailiffs. After joining the Netherworld, they were assigned this duty. And those nine are from a race called the Violet Phantom Clan. They are born carrying large amounts of pure ghostly energy. All the techniques they cultivate in their lives are related to ghostly energy or ghost path laws. They are also naturally fit for being Ghost Bailiffs," Ye Yunfei casually pointed at some of the Bailiffs and explained with a smile.
"It seems all the Ghost Bailiffs in the Netherworld are drawn from more specialized races. However, according to legends, many Ghost Bailiffs within the Samsara Passage are souls who willingly remain there to serve. The Reincarnation Sect helps these souls improve their cultivation. I suppose that's the biggest difference between the Bailiffs of the Samsara Passage and those of the Netherworld," Hun Lao added.
After subduing all the Ghost Bailiffs in the hall, Ye Yunfei left the chamber and retraced his steps along the dark corridor. Soon, he exited the spatial channel and returned to the top of the tall black ice mountain.
Emerging from the channel, Ye Yunfei saw several dozen black-cloaked figures sitting cross-legged around the spatial channel's entrance. Each figure was shrouded within a black robe, making their true appearances impossible to discern.
The moment Ye Yunfei stepped out of the channel, he had already begun employing the Mind Reading Art, Heart Sword, and Puppet Soul Thread Secret Art.
Ye Yunfei discovered that the cultivation levels of these black-robed figures were all at the First Level Sovereign God realm; not a single Second Level Sovereign God was present.
Only souls would come to this place. Stationing so many Sovereign Gods here was already a significant show of force; there was no reason to deploy higher-level ones.
Facing Ye Yunfei, these First Level Sovereign Gods were incredibly weak and offered no resistance. Their minds were instantly compromised. Endless streams of bizarre, various thoughts began to well up uncontrollably within each of them. They questioned themselves incessantly about what was happening, why these strange ideas were surfacing, and why they couldn't control them.
At the same time, countless Puppet Soul Threads drilled into their soul seas, binding and entangling their soul bodies before penetrating deep within them.