Chapter 282: The Origin of the Ancient Ruins
Upon hearing the words of the golden-haired woman, everyone was stunned.
In particular, Xiao Ze keenly noticed that when the golden-haired woman mentioned that the ancient Dou Sheng had given them their name, she used the word "us." This indicated that the spiritual liquid of the underworld was not limited to a single person.
"Could you explain in more detail how you are related to all this? And most importantly, do you have any way to get us out of here?"
Xiao Ze's questions made the golden-haired woman pause for a moment, but then she nodded, showing a faint smile that intensified her sacred aura.
"You should have noticed that the ancient Dou Sheng not only named me but also represented the spiritual liquid of the underworld as two people, two forces, coexisting together."
"If the Nether Sea nurtured us, then that ancient Dou Sheng was the one who truly raised us."
"When he discovered us, he moved his residence to the bottom of the Nether Sea, which is to say, these ancient ruins, and took meticulous care of us."
When the golden-haired woman mentioned the ancient Dou Sheng, her face showed great reverence.
"Later, the spiritual liquid of the underworld grew in strength and split into two: one part became the Netherworld and the other the Holy Spirit. The part of the force that I have is the Holy Spirit."
"That's when the problems started. We were both born in the Nether Sea, and our innate strength was extremely powerful. After splitting, we reached the highest level of Dou Zun."
"The Netherworld, being compatible with the environment of the Nether Sea, grew rapidly after the split, while I, on the other hand, didn't advance at all for many years."
"One day, the Netherworld reached the state of a Saint and became Dou Sheng. Both the ancient Dou Sheng and I were very happy, but soon we discovered that the Netherworld had completely changed character."
Everyone listened attentively to the Holy Spirit's words, understanding this ancient and secret story.
"Later I found out that the Netherworld had absorbed too much Nether Qi, and because the spiritual liquid of the underworld was a single entity before splitting, my lack of progress severely affected its mental state."
"Finally, this led to a radical change in the Netherworld, and from that day on, this residence turned into ruins under the control of the Netherworld's minions."
"Thanks to the protection of the ancient Dou Sheng, I was able to avoid disaster. The Netherworld set its sights on me, as if it devoured me, it would achieve fullness and continue advancing in the state of a Saint."
Later, the ancient Dou Sheng sacrificed himself to imprison the Netherworld, and the Holy Spirit sealed herself within a glass pearl.
After hearing this ancient story, everyone felt moved.
Due to the lack of understanding of their own strength, the hasty division led to a tragedy that spanned from ancient times to the present.
Over the centuries, the ancient Dou Sheng could not keep the Netherworld fully imprisoned. After all, the spiritual liquid of the underworld was a rare existence created by heaven and earth, with a very long life. Although the ancient Dou Sheng had reached a transcendent state, he was still only a human cultivator, with a much shorter life span than these celestial creatures.
The trap set by the Netherworld sought to attract more human cultivators to completely break the ancient Dou Sheng's imprisonment. The Holy Spirit's assertion that she was related to the trap was true, as the Holy Spirit and the Netherworld were originally a single entity.
After understanding the whole story, Xiao Ze asked what worried him the most.
"Holy Spirit, do you really have a way to get us out of here?"
The Holy Spirit smiled and nodded, looking at Xiao Ze.
"The key to getting you out is in you. I can feel an extremely powerful force in you. If you lend me that force temporarily, I will be able to face the Netherworld."
Hearing this, Xun Er immediately stepped between Xiao Ze and the Holy Spirit, exclaiming coldly, "In the end, what you say is only your version. We can't trust you, and even less give you access to Xiao Ze's strength. We can't agree to your request!"
Faced with Xun Er's harsh words, the Holy Spirit showed a slight disappointment but still smiled with effort.
"Of course, if you don't trust me, I can also use my primordial strength to negotiate with the Netherworld and have it release you. That way, I will pay my debt for being saved."
The Holy Spirit spoke sincerely, and although Xun Er frowned, Xiao Ze patted her on the shoulder.
"Xun Er, don't be so tense. Let's hear what force she wants to borrow."
Xiao Ze was also curious. As a rare existence born of nature, she shouldn't need the strength of someone like him.
Xun Er hesitated for a moment but finally stepped back next to Xiao Ze, watching the Holy Spirit coldly.
Feeling Xun Er's gaze, the Holy Spirit smiled apologetically and then explained to Xiao Ze.
"When I say borrow, I don't mean taking your strength, I just need a part of that energy."
"What kind of strength do I have that can help you so much?"
Hearing Xiao Ze's question, the Holy Spirit slightly frowned.
"I'm not sure of the name, but that force is extremely fiery, like the sun in the sky, emanating a majestic dignity."
"It was thanks to that force that I briefly woke up and ended up in your hands."
After hearing the Holy Spirit, Xiao Ze reflected and concentrated a golden flame in his palm, a flame that seemed to contain all colors.
"Yes! That's the force that makes me want to bow down, as if I were before the highest existence in this world!"
The Holy Spirit exclaimed excitedly, looking fervently at the flame in Xiao Ze's hand.
Everyone was surprised by the flame in Xiao Ze's hand.
The people around Xiao Ze were knowledgeable and well-versed in exotic flames, but this flame didn't resemble any on the list of exotic flames.
Xun Er felt that the golden flame inside her transmitted fear, and she was even more surprised.
What had Xiao Ze experienced in recent years to subdue a flame of such magnitude?
That the golden flame transmitted fear could only mean that it was a flame superior to hers.
And the only flames superior to the golden flame were three flames.
The Pure Lotus Demonic Flame, the Void Swallowing Flame, and the mysterious number one flame on the list of heavenly flames.
The flame in Xiao Ze's hand did not resemble the white color of the Pure Lotus Demonic Flame or the black color of the Void Swallowing Flame.
By its color, it more closely resembled her own golden flame.
As for the number one flame on the list, Xun Er knew nothing about it and could not be sure it was that flame.
(End of chapter)
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