Abyssal Cell Beneath the Nine-bend Nether River

The Nether Envoy explained, "Twenty years ago, His Majesty King Hades activated the Yin–Yang Isolation Grand Array here. It blocks all talismans, so you can't reach him even with a Messenger Charm."

"Yin–Yang Isolation Grand Array?" Adrian Drake glanced at Lily Bai.

Lily Bai nodded and sent a voice transmission: "There's definitely an array here! It's a grand barrier formation built from the Underworld's unique yin energy. With yin and yang cut off, if they don't let us in, we really can't get through!"

"Eh? What's Ian Yan playing at!" Adrian Drake looked incredulous and asked the Nether Envoy, "Is this rule that only the Celestial Emperor's personal writ allows entry also set by him?"

"This rule has existed since ancient times," the Nether Envoy replied. "The Underworld can't be contaminated with too much divine yang energy."

"Isn't this a special situation now? Ian Yan should update the rule and let the Crown Prince's writ work instead of the Celestial Emperor's!"

Nether Envoy: "Sorry."

Adrian Drake fell silent for a moment and sent a voice transmission to Lily Bai: "...What now?"

Lily Bai frowned and replied, "Let's find Sean Shaw. Maybe he has a way."

Once outside, Lily Bai called Sean Shaw and explained the situation: "...I remember back when you were still Demon Emperor, you smuggled me into the Underworld. Do you have any connections to sneak us in again?"

Sean Shaw replied, "You came to the right person. This Demon Emperor has connections in the Underworld."

Lily Bai: "Ha!"

The next day, two Nether Envoys met up with them, handing over Underworld clothing and forged identity passes.

At last, the two of them managed to sneak into the Underworld smoothly.

Then they descended into the Nine-bend Nether River.

They had no idea where the Giant Salamander had been imprisoned back then.

Luckily, Lily Bai was skilled at divination and tracking.

Adrian Drake also caught some aquatic creatures in the river to ask around, and they actually managed to find the place.

The spot was well hidden, shielded by a barrier.

Lily Bai used a Barrier-Breaking Talisman and slipped inside with Adrian Drake.

Inside was a huge prison cage, hidden in a thick tangle of long water grass. You could only glimpse the top of the cage through gaps in the swaying grass.

"Is this the water grass?" Adrian Drake asked.

Lily Bai nodded, "Harvest a lot. I need it for an array."

So Adrian Drake swam in and started cutting water grass.

He'd barely started when he quickly swam back out and sent a voice transmission: "There's a ghost!"

"A ghost?" Lily Bai laughed. "Isn't running into ghosts in the Underworld normal? Meeting a living person would be more rare!"

"No! There's someone in that cage!" Adrian Drake said. "There's a mass of chilling yin energy, pitch-black and terrifying."

Lily Bai, bold and skilled, cast a spell to part and pin down the water grass, exposing the cage.

There really was someone inside.

Just as Adrian described, the yin energy was thick and the figure was pitch-black, floating in the water. His hair and beard were extremely long, his body overgrown with water grass—he looked like a half-rotted log.

Lily Bai swam over and pressed herself against the cage, staring for a long time before asking Adrian Drake, "Tell me, doesn't he look a bit like Ian Yan?"

Adrian Drake also stared for a while. "Now that you mention it, he really does look a bit like him."

Lily Bai examined the cage closely. "This cage is nearly indestructible. Without a key, I doubt we can open it."

"So what do we do?"

Lily Bai thought for a moment. "Looks like the person inside is still alive. If we channel him some spiritual power, maybe he'll wake up."

Adrian Drake nodded.

So the two of them began channeling spiritual power into the man.

Lily Bai's power was especially strong. After a while, the man really woke up, opened his eyes, looked at them, and suddenly called out excitedly, "Divine Lady Lucia! Is that you?"