Supreme of the Heavenly Realm
Chapter 382 - 379: Netherworld Cave

Chapter 382: Chapter 379: Netherworld Cave

"These issues, I’ve considered them already."

Ye Xuan’s expression remained unchanged. He naturally understood what Ye Mei meant, and her words were all reasonable. However, he had already thought them through, and although he could not say he was completely sure he could rescue the person, he did have some confidence.

If one only acted when there was absolute certainty, then Ye Xuan would never have grown to where he was today. The many opportunities he had seized were all accompanied by dangers. In this world, there were no certainties.

"I just want to rescue her sooner rather than later, to spare her from suffering any more in the Ice Prison."

A flicker of resolve passed through Ye Xuan’s eyes. "Aunt Ye, you just need to tell me where the entrance to the Ice Prison is, and I will handle the rest."

It seemed that Ye Mei was also touched by Ye Xuan’s words. She pondered for a moment but ultimately shook her head, feeling that what Ye Xuan proposed was still entirely uncertain. If she really told him the entrance to the Ice Prison, she might instead be sending him to his death.

"It seems you still don’t have confidence in me. Since you insist on not telling, I will have to ask someone else. Huoyou Demon Venerable might know about this."

Ye Xuan shook his head. He knew it would be difficult to get the information he needed from Ye Mei, and he didn’t plan to say more. With that, he turned and walked away.

"Wait a moment."

Seeing Ye Xuan heading out of the hall, Ye Mei furrowed her brows and stopped him. "Huoyou Demon Venerable is friend or foe, we are unsure. Aren’t you walking right into a trap by going to ask her?"

"That’s not necessarily true. How can we know if she’s not a friend unless we ask?"

Ye Xuan paused and said calmly.

"Don’t ask her. I’ll tell you."

Ye Mei had no way to deal with Ye Xuan, and out of helplessness, she conceded. Although she hadn’t known Ye Xuan for long, she understood his temperament. He wouldn’t change his mind just because of her few words of advice.

"That would be for the best."

Ye Xuan finally showed a smile. Indeed, without some form of threat, she would not easily divulge the information.

Ye Mei sighed. She didn’t know whether what she was doing was right or wrong. But having said it, it wasn’t appropriate to retract her words now. She slowly began, "The location of the Ice Prison is deep within Sky Demon Mountain, where the concentration of demonic energy is the heaviest. The entrance is guarded by ten Sky Demon Mountain Elders and protected by Arrays and Prohibitions set up jointly by Demon Dragon Venerable and Sky Fox Venerable. It’s very difficult to enter the Ice Prison through this entrance."

"Are there any other entrances?"

Ye Xuan’s eyes lit up. It seemed Ye Mei had spent a lot of time investigating the Ice Prison over the years. If there were another entrance, it would be foolish to overtly challenge the ten Elders guarding the known one.

"Indeed, as Ye Mei mentioned, trying to storm the Ice Prison from the front was an exceedingly difficult task."

"Yes."

Ye Mei nodded, then continued, "This entrance, although unguarded and without any Arrays or Prohibitions, harbors dangers no less than that of the first entrance, perhaps even more."

"Oh?"

Ye Xuan raised an eyebrow. No guards and no prohibitions, yet still so perilous?

"Yellow Spring Water Marsh."

Each syllable carried weight as it left Ye Mei’s mouth, and her expression became exceptionally grave.

The woman nearby in palace attire also changed color upon hearing this.

"Yellow Spring Water Marsh, known as ’no return,’ once you enter, you cannot come out, no different from the gates of hell. Even for you, Lord Ye, it would be very risky, and the chances of falling there are great."

"A road with no return? I would like to see just how true that is, whether this place is as dangerous as you claim."

Seeing their solemn expressions, Ye Xuan instead became intrigued. Entering the Ice Prison through the entrance guarded by the ten Elders was not only difficult, but also likely to cause alarm. This was a troubling situation, but if he could enter through Yellow Spring Water Marsh, these issues would be resolved, and he could sneak in undetected without alerting Long Guihai and others.

Regardless of the dangers of Yellow Spring Water Marsh, Ye Xuan knew he had to choose this entrance.

After leaving Demon Dragon Peak, Ye Xuan continued to masquerade as Elder Qianshui and made his way deeper into Sky Demon Mountain. Per Ye Mei’s directions, he now knew the location of the Yellow Spring Cave—an area scarcely known to anyone in Sky Demon Mountain. It was only after extensive searching that Ye Mei had managed to find it.

Disguised as Elder Qianshui, Ye Xuan would likely go undetected for a short while, but it was inevitable that he would eventually raise suspicions if he lingered too long, hence the need for his hurried descent into the Yellow Spring Cave to avoid further complications.

However, as Ye Xuan drew closer to the deepest parts of Sky Demon Mountain, he occasionally sensed increasingly powerful auras. Once or twice, someone swept across his concealing spot with their Divine Sense. Had Ye Xuan not been cautious, those ancient creatures of Sky Demon Mountain would have surely discovered him.

Utilizing his keen perception and adept stealth, Ye Xuan navigated perilously close to many powerful beings but managed to silently reach his intended location without arousing suspicion.

Deep within Sky Demon Mountain was a colossal dark abyss, over thirty feet wide and seemingly bottomless. From its depths, a terrifyingly cold air, like violent wind, continuously howled upwards, freezing the blood and demonic power in the veins of even the most formidable Demon Kings who dared stand near it.

This was the Yellow Spring Cave, the hidden entrance to the Ice Prison.

Practically undefended due to its dangerous repute, those aware of the Yellow Spring Cave understood that entering it was a perilous gamble; even a Half-step Demon Venerable wouldn’t dare trespass unwisely.

"Entry unto Yellow Spring Cave, to Life and Death a foggy wave."

Standing beside that dark cavern, Ye Xuan paused only briefly before waving his sleeve robe. Rich True Qi surged from within his body, enveloping him completely and forcefully piercing through the biting Gang Wind as he dashed into the pitch-black Yellow Spring Cave.

Hiss, hiss, hiss...

No sooner had Ye Xuan entered the cave than the exterior True Qi began to struggle against the fierce assault of the Gang Wind. Amid such intense friction, tiny sparks burst forth across Ye Xuan’s body.

Withstanding the pressure, streams of True Qi continuously surged from his core, maintaining a True Qi Shield around him to defend against the fierce winds.

The depths of the cave were fathomless, and even with Ye Xuan’s speed, it took nearly half an hour before he finally reached the bottom. Coming into view was a dark lake emitting a chilling air that seemed as though it came straight from the Yellow Springs of death.

The vast water marsh, meshed with tinges of blood in its black, still waters, birthed the unbearably cold Gang Winds.

"Yellow Spring Water Marsh."

Looking at the gloomy waters before him, Ye Xuan heaved a sigh of relief and stepped closer. The moment his palm touched the water surface, a black frost crystal suddenly spread from his fingertips up his arm, freezing his wrist solid and sending chilling forces burrowing into his body.

"Indeed tricky."

Ye Xuan quickly extended his palm, then stimulated his True Qi to shatter the frost crystals on his arm. With a thoughtful expression, he realized why even Half-step Demon Venerables couldn’t traverse Yellow Spring Cave. The depths of this marsh were unknown—his soul power could only probe about a hundred meters deep, beyond which, the surging frigid power ruthlessly obliterated further exploration.

"Fortunately, I have the Molten Lava Earth Core Fire to protect me from the chilling power of this Yellow Spring Water Marsh."

Prepared for such circumstances, Ye Xuan paused briefly before delaying no further, powerful flames rapidly seeping from the pores of his skin. The terrifying heat met the chill, causing a vast expanse of white mist to erupt from the water surface.

Splash!

Activating the Molten Lava Earth Core Fire and shielding his body, Ye Xuan exhaled a tense breath, then darted into the Yellow Spring Water Marsh. His form, nimble like a large fish and swift as lightning, streaked towards the bottom of the marsh.

Hiss, hiss, hiss...

As Ye Xuan entered the marsh, white vapor also rose from the water surface, and ceaseless bubbles popped forth—clearly the work of the Molten Lava Earth Core Fire.

"It’s no wonder the Yellow Spring Water Marsh is said to be a place of no return; the chill here is truly terrifying."

Ye Xuan bolted through the water like lightning while gradually a serious expression appeared on his face. The overwhelming chill contained within the marsh was a formidable foe. Although he was protected by the naturally-formed Spiritual Fire—the Molten Lava Earth Core Fire, his body still suffered from the cold, his limbs growing numb and movements gradually slowing.

"I must not linger here!"

Growing more alarmed by the minute, Ye Xuan channeled his full strength into the Molten Lava Earth Core Fire to counter the chill, consuming a tremendous amount of True Qi. Despite his considerable strength, since his Cultivation was merely at the level of a Fifth Grade Demon King, lingering in this place for too long spelled a real danger of depleting all his True Qi.

Whoosh!

With that thought crossing his mind, Ye Xuan’s form shifted, his speed skyrocketed anew, leaving deep water trails wherever he dashed. As his form surpassed them, the lake water rushed in, quickly filling and covering his tracks.