"The Netherworld… what exactly happened…"
Black City God narrowed his eyes, flickering with astonishment, uncertain whether the 'Black Impermanence' before him was truly Black Impermanence.
As 'Black Impermanence' approached the opposite shore, the feeling 'Black Impermanence' gave Black City God became increasingly distinct, and even more bizarre.
Calling it Black Impermanence was not entirely wrong—there was indeed a faint divine aura of a Netherworld deity, but the aura was too chaotic. It was like a fragrance mixed with more than ten other scents, distorting its essence.
No longer fragrant.
Instead, the excessive mixture of scents became nauseating.
Black City God could not help but somewhat understand why the aura of 'Black Impermanence' made him feel uncomfortable.
Even considering the circumstances, looking again at the appearance of 'Black Impermanence', he couldn't help but have a strange thought.
Perhaps the 'Black Impermanence' before him was truly Black Impermanence, but Black Impermanence, along with Ox-Head and Horse-Face—three Netherworld deities—had, for some reason, been forcibly fused together.
No.
Perhaps it was not just the 'Black Impermanence' before him.
Perhaps the so-called disappearance of the Netherworld was not a disappearance at all, but rather, all the deities of the Netherworld had been eerily fused together, resulting in this state—neither human nor ghost.
As soon as the thought arose, even Black City God shuddered at his own idea. But he had no time to dwell on the plausibility of his thoughts, for 'Black Impermanence' had already reached the shore, now separated from Black City God by only the Yellow Springs River.
Whether due to some kind of perception or for some other reason, its stiff neck suddenly twisted, turning toward the opposite shore to look at Black City God.
Logically speaking, Black City God had already concealed his entire aura, and the Bridge of Helplessness obstructed the line of sight. Moreover, 'Black Impermanence' was looking in the opposite direction—there was no reason it should have discovered Black City God.
Yet, it did.
As their eyes met, the next second, 'Black Impermanence' moved, disregarding the Yellow Springs River before it, stepping directly into the river. Under Black City God's astonished gaze, it waded through the water, rushing across the Yellow Springs River.
Splash!
The Yellow Springs River water submerged its knees, then quickly engulfed its upper body.
Then, an event unfolded that defied Black City God's understanding.
Theoretically, 'Black Impermanence' should have been eroded by the terrifying power of the Yellow Springs, its three souls and seven spirits dissolved by the river's force—no exception, not even for Netherworld deities.
However, in reality, 'Black Impermanence' moved through it as if merely wading through an ordinary river, still walking in its spasmodic manner, swiftly crossing the river.
"The Yellow Springs… does not harm it?" Black City God was shaken. But there was no time to process his thoughts—'Black Impermanence' had already launched an attack.
"It hurts, it hurts…"
The Ox-Head behind 'Black Impermanence' let out painful moans, its mouth spewing thick, black viscous liquid, saliva flying everywhere.
Clang!
The soul-reaping chain in 'Black Impermanence's' hand lashed out, whipping toward Black City God. The Horse-Face head on the chain came hurtling forward, its mouth opened wide.
If the chain struck Black City God, he would undoubtedly be bitten by the Horse-Face head.
Boom!!
Black City God flicked his sleeve, sending surging incense-fueled divine power crashing toward the Horse-Face head.
A bizarre occurrence took place. Incense power, which should have absolute dominance over yin energy and ghostly qi, failed to take effect at this moment.
The Horse-Face head opened its mouth, chewing like it was eating food, gnawing at the incense power as if consuming a meal. With each bite, it devoured a portion of the divine power.
Furthermore, the eerie scene continued.
"Moo—It hurts! It hurts so much!!"
The Ox-Head behind 'Black Impermanence' let out a piercing scream, its cries sharp enough to strike at the soul.
Black City God's vision swam with dizziness.
Clang!
Though 'Black Impermanence' had transformed into something neither human nor ghost, its combat instincts remained, and the soul-reaping ability unique to Black Impermanence was still intact.
Taking advantage of Black City God's momentary stagger from the attack, it swung its soul-reaping chain again.
At the critical moment, Black City God regained his balance, sidestepping to avoid the Horse-Face head on the chain.
Simultaneously, he flipped his hand. A large seal appeared.
The symbol of a City God—the City God Seal.
Sizzle!
As the City God Seal emerged, the divine authority of the City God manifested.
Though Black City God was often called a false god, it was undeniable that he had replaced the former City God. He might be a false god, but he was still a genuine deity receiving incense offerings—the Incense God of the City God.
"Rise!" Black City God's voice carried divine command.
The City God Seal flew forth, hovering above 'Black Impermanence's' head, radiating divine light that enveloped it.
For a moment, 'Black Impermanence' was immobilized.
"Suppress!" As this single word was spoken.
The City God Seal expanded in the wind, growing from palm-sized to the size of a building in the blink of an eye. With an earth-shaking roar, it crashed down upon 'Black Impermanence'.
The momentum was overwhelming. Like the mighty Tathagata suppressing the Great Sage Sun Wukong, most of 'Black Impermanence's' body was crushed and sealed beneath the City God Seal.
Yet…
Black City God's expression showed no joy, his narrowed eyes flickering with unease.
"Why… is there no trace of a divine soul's aura?"
He realized that although 'Black Impermanence' had been crushed, its three souls and seven spirits should have been largely destroyed. Yet, he could not sense even the faintest wisp of a Netherworld deity's divine soul escaping.
Suddenly.
'Hmm?!'
The City God Seal suppressing 'Black Impermanence' emitted creaking sounds.
Black City God fixed his gaze upon it. His pupils contracted.
Though the City God Seal had crushed half of 'Black Impermanence's' body, it was not fully suppressed. From its lower half, thick, black viscous liquid flowed.
The liquid writhed, it reconstructed the destroyed body. Even the Horse-Face head. Despite having its skull shattered, spewing a mass of thick, black liquid, it too reformed, resurrecting itself, opening its mouth once more to gnaw at the City God Seal.
Not just incense power. Even the City God Seal could be eaten.
Black City God, usually smiling with squinted eyes, raised his brows, unable to hold back his words.
"What exactly… are you…"
He had confidence in his strength. A millennium of incense offerings. A thousand years of confinement within the Heavenly Law Prison. He had long surpassed the scope of an ordinary City God. Otherwise, how could he have refined the Heavenly Law Prison?
This was his confidence in entering the Netherworld.
Not only could he handle Black and White Impermanence, or Ox-Head and Horse-Face, but even against the Ten Yama Kings, he was confident he could put up a fight.
Yet now…
'Black Impermanence' had completely surpassed the limits of what Black and White Impermanence should be.
As the City God Seal began to crack, Black City God furrowed his brows and immediately retrieved the seal. He had initially planned to capture 'Black Impermanence' alive to interrogate about the Netherworld's disappearance.
Now, it seemed impossible.
But just as Black City God intended to leave, 'Black Impermanence' refused to let him go, attacking relentlessly like a rabid beast, swinging Horse-Face's head to bite at him.
Black City God, as an Incense God, should have naturally restrained ghostly beings. Now, his entire perception was overturned.None of his methods worked—either ignored by 'Black Impermanence' or rendered ineffective.
For a moment, Black City God was completely entangled by 'Black Impermanence', unable to break free.
Just as Black City God was pondering how to deal with or escape from 'Black Impermanence'...
Drip.
Once again, as 'Black Impermanence' swung the soul-reaping chain, the Horse-Face head lunged toward Black City God, its mouth spewing thick, black viscous liquid as if drooling uncontrollably.
A single drop of the black liquid landed on Black City God's body…
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