NOVEL NEXT Chapter 206: Chapter 206: Acheron River
Chapter 206: Acheron River
The glow emitted by Cerberus's core didn't obscure Qian Renxue for long. After all, even its master had fallen to her; how could a weakened core pose a threat?
In just two to three hours, Qian Renxue had refined most of the core. The faint red light it emitted was gradually converted into black light by her soul power, which condensed into a massive black soul ring. The ring slowly shrank, drawing toward her body, while her original six soul rings shone brilliantly.
A wave of intense energy rippled out. The six-winged angel phantom behind Qian Renxue suddenly became tangible. Its face was identical to hers, but its aura was even nobler, with a newfound sense of majesty.
Xiao Yu, whose strength surpassed Qian Renxue's, saw through her new level with a glance and remarked casually, "Rank 72, not bad."
Having just finished refining the core, Qian Renxue snorted lightly at his comment. "Don't get too cocky! One day, I'll catch up to you, and when that day comes, hmph, I'll beat that playboy face of yours to a pulp!"
"Let's go! Once Lingling and… whoever finishes their cultivation, we'll proceed to the next trial!"
Without waiting for Xiao Yu's response, the newly advanced Qian Renxue eagerly waved at him, clearly excited to test the extent of her newfound power.
The group had stayed at the Gates of Hell solely for Qian Renxue to break through to Rank 70. With that goal achieved, Xiao Yu saw no reason to linger.
Although cultivating here was highly efficient, excessive cultivation without combat would dull their fighting edge. Moreover, defeating the Underworld's bosses would open up plenty of opportunities for future training.
When Huo Wu and Ye Lingling completed their cultivation, the four set off toward the First Prison.
Passing through the Gates of Hell, the dense spiritual energy thinned again. The sky grew darker, shrouding the surroundings in a deep gloom that seemed to hide endless dangers.
"Be careful!"
Xiao Yu's heightened awareness picked up subtle shifts in the air. His Nether King martial soul activated instantly, and with a powerful push off the ground, his figure shot forward. The Nether King Sword, glowing with a chilling white light, sliced through the darkness with a sharp whistle. A hidden skeleton soldier was instantly reduced to dust.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Before Xiao Yu could catch his breath, three more figures leapt from the shadows, heading straight for the three women.
"Courting death!"
Qian Renxue shouted, releasing a soft golden glow that instantly enveloped the three skeleton soldiers. This was her second soul skill, Holy Light, which utilized the sacred properties of her six-winged angel martial soul to dispel darkness and purify evil.
For ordinary soul masters, this ability would weaken their martial souls to varying degrees based on their attributes. For dark and sinister beings like evil soul masters or undead creatures of the Underworld, it was devastating—reducing them to ashes instantly.
"That was too easy," Qian Renxue muttered, pouting slightly, as if dissatisfied with the lack of challenge.
"Don't worry. That was just the appetizer."
Xiao Yu appeared beside Qian Renxue, staring into the darkness ahead. "There are at least a few hundred skeleton soldiers hiding in there."
Thud! Thud! Thud!
As if to confirm Xiao Yu's words, synchronized footsteps echoed from the shadows. Hundreds of skeleton soldiers emerged, moving like a disciplined army in neat rows of ten. The dark mass advanced toward them with an imposing momentum.
Behind these skeleton soldiers were eight knights clad in bronze armor. Their long swords glimmered with a chilling light, but the most terrifying part was that none of them had heads. Their necks ended in empty air, an eerie sight that sent shivers down the spine.
"Roar!"
Somehow, the eight headless knights emitted a sound that rallied the skeleton soldiers. The soldiers' arms transformed into sharp bone blades as they charged at the four with killing intent.
The group quickly adjusted their formation. Xiao Yu, Qian Renxue, and Huo Wu each took a corner, forming an equilateral triangle to protect the support-type soul master, Ye Lingling, in the center.
"Nether God Domain!"
"Angel Domain!"
"Life Domain!"
Three powerful domains were unleashed simultaneously. Xiao Yu's Nether God Domain suppressed the undead with an overwhelming aura of deathly sovereignty, while Qian Renxue's Angel Domain flooded the battlefield with sacred light, purifying the dark forces. Ye Lingling's Life Domain supported the group, rejuvenating their strength and ensuring their endurance.
The clash with the horde of skeleton soldiers and the terrifying headless knights had begun.
As the formation shifted, Xiao Yu, Qian Renxue, and Ye Lingling simultaneously activated their respective domains. With the three domains empowering them, the group's aura surged dramatically.
"Hold the formation, charge through, and take down those headless knights! Otherwise, these skeletons won't stop coming!"
Xiao Yu shouted, and the four advanced in formation, heading straight into the sea of skeletons.
Xiao Yu made the first move. His second soul ring lit up, and over a dozen fireballs materialized around him. With a wave of his hand, they streaked like meteors, crashing into the horde of skeletons.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The fireballs exploded, shattering large swaths of skeletons into dust. These skeleton soldiers were far inferior to the giant skeleton Xiao Yu had encountered at the Yellow Springs Hirasaka. They were smaller, roughly the size of an adult man, and their cultivation levels were much lower, at best equivalent to Rank 30 Soul Elders.
Though Xiao Yu used only his second soul skill, his soul power had already surpassed Rank 75. The explosive energy of the fireballs annihilated swathes of skeleton soldiers, disrupting their formation.
"Push through!"
Seizing the opportunity, the group charged into the skeleton army like a sharp blade piercing through a sea of bones. With Ye Lingling's Life Domain supporting them, Xiao Yu, Qian Renxue, and Huo Wu unleashed powerful soul skills without fear of exhausting their soul power. Wherever their attacks landed, waves of skeleton soldiers were reduced to fragments.
In just a few moments, they reached the headless knights.
"Fifth Soul Skill, Fire Dance Storm!"
As a control-type soul master, Huo Wu had been preparing this move for a while. Her Fire Shadow Martial Soul spun rapidly, forming a vortex of intense flames that ensnared all eight headless knights at once.
"Huo Wu, great job!"
Xiao Yu shouted in excitement. His sixth soul ring, pitch black as ink, erupted with dazzling light. Thanks to the evolution of his martial soul, his Sixth Soul Skill: Death Ray had grown even more devastating.
Crack! Crack!
The armor on the headless knights shattered instantly. Their bodies disintegrated under the relentless beam, consumed until nothing remained.
With the death of the eight headless knights, the skeleton soldiers froze in place before retreating in all directions. In no time, they disappeared entirely. Meanwhile, the previously murky air began to clear, and their surroundings became much more visible.
Only then did the group notice a wide river not far ahead. The surface churned with waves, and from the depths came the wails of anguished spirits.
This was none other than the fabled River of the Underworld, also known as the Acheron River.
(End of Chapter)
🌟 Unlock the World of Stories with Early Access on Patreon! 🌟
Hello, beloved readers and supporters!
I am thrilled to offer you an exclusive opportunity to dive deeper into our captivating stories before anyone else. By joining the Patreon community, you'll unlock a treasure trove of benefits, including:
📚 Early Access to 20 Chapters: Be the first to explore new chapters, experiencing the twists and turns of our tales well ahead of regular readers. Your journey through our stories doesn't have to wait!
💬 Connect with the Community: Join a vibrant, like-minded group of readers who share your passion. Engage in exciting discussions, share theories, and make new friends who love the stories as much as you do.
👏 Support the Creator: Your patronage directly contributes to the ongoing creation and improvement of the content you love. Be a vital part of the creative journey!
Patreon.com/anish_44
https://ko-fi.com/anish_44