Qin Weiji paused mid-step as a soft, delicate young woman nestled into his embrace.
She wrapped her arms around his waist, tilting her head up with crescent-shaped eyes and a voice dripping with sweetness, “Husband, you can’t bear to part with me, can you?”
He looked down into her moon-bright eyes, noticing her triumphant smile as she clung to him coquettishly. “I knew it—you wouldn’t abandon me and return alone. You’re so good to me.”
Her fluttering eyelashes brushed against his heart like feathers as she asked, “Are you worried about me? Will you accompany me to the Gates of Hell?”
Perhaps it was her softness, her delicacy, or her clinginess.
But in that brief moment, the gathered Sword intent in Qin Weiji’s palm abruptly dissipated.
Gazing at Shen Xin, he instinctively raised his hand and gently patted her head. “Mm, this lord will accompany you.”
After speaking, he fell silent.
Career-focused, [Divine Lord…]
Qin Weiji remained quiet for a few moments before calmly stating, “You’re right. She still holds value to me. I cannot kill her now.”
Career-focused, […Hmph!]
In Shen Xin’s Divine Sense, Xiao Ai felt as though she had just ridden a rollercoaster and weakly complained, [Host, the target genuinely wanted to kill you earlier. Weren’t you afraid? I told you using that card on him would easily arouse his suspicion.]
Shen Xin continued smiling at Qin Weiji, her expression full of reliance.
She replied to Xiao Ai only through her Divine Sense: “Although I don’t know why he’s approaching me, I can sense that I still have value to him. He won’t kill me now. Besides…”
She suddenly stopped. Xiao Ai wondered, [Besides what?]
Shen Xin pursed her lips and didn’t elaborate.
Even though Qin Weiji’s favorability toward her remained negative, she inexplicably felt—she somehow believed—he would never harm her.
But voicing this would make her seem overly confident.
So she simply hummed lightly, “Anyway, I think my favorability will turn positive soon.”
Xiao Ai fell silent for a few seconds before choosing to encourage her: [Alright, host, do your best.]
Nearby, Yan Jun was stunned.
Rumors had always circulated throughout the Six Realms that the Divine Lord and his useless wife were merely a couple in appearance.
After witnessing Shen Xin and Qin Weiji’s interaction earlier, he had his doubts. But just now, he had truly felt the overwhelming divine power.
He had even thought that in the next moment, both he and Shen Xin would be annihilated.
In that instant, he had confirmed the rumors: the Divine Lord and the Divine Maiden were indeed at odds—not even a surface-level couple, but outright enemies.
Yet with a simple turn and a few words from Shen Xin, that oppressive force suddenly vanished.
As if it had never existed, as if it were all his illusion.
Yan Jun watched the clingy couple with mixed feelings. Though the Divine Lord’s expression remained aloof, the resignation in his eyes was unmistakable even to him.
This was far from a superficial marriage—the Divine Lord was clearly wrapped around the Divine Maiden’s finger.
His heart stirred as Yan Jun’s gaze returned to Shen Xin, his eyes lighting up.
It seemed the Netherworld had stumbled upon a treasure through misfortune.
With Shen Xin here, wasn’t it equivalent to having the Divine Lord personally guarding the Netherworld?
Shen Xin released her hold on Qin Weiji. “Shall we go check out the Gates of Hell now?”
Qin Weiji responded with a faint “Mm.” Shen Xin promptly said to Yan Jun, “Lead the way.”
The Netherworld was vast—the largest of the Six Realms—yet exceptionally desolate.
Devoid of sunlight year-round, it was naturally the gloomiest place.
Beyond the River of Oblivion lay the entrance to the Netherworld, marked by a boundary stele taller than any city gate Shen Xin had ever seen.
Behind the stele stretched a barren and empty desert, known to Netherworld inhabitants as the Desert of Death.
Earlier, when the Yin Fiends caused trouble, they had surged to the boundary stele, stirring restlessness among the souls in the River of Oblivion. It was here that Yan Jun and his companions battled the Yin Fiends, and from here, they glimpsed Shen Xin afar on the River of Oblivion.
Past the Desert of Death lay the Naihe Bridge, as Shen Xin knew it.
On the bridge stood the Mirror of Retribution, which judged the virtues and sins of souls in their past lives.
On both sides of the bridge sprawled seemingly endless fields of Nether Flowers, crimson as blood, each blossom representing a departed soul.
Beyond the Naihe Bridge stood the various halls of the Netherworld, and further behind lay the Nether City.
Souls reporting to the Netherworld awaited judgment or reincarnation here. Those deemed fit for reincarnation entered the cycle via the Path of Rebirth, while wandering spirits temporarily ineligible for rebirth resided in the Nether City.
Of course, those who committed heinous sins in life were sentenced to the Eighteen Levels of Hell according to their crimes.
Yet few knew that beyond the Eighteen Levels lay an Asura Hell, imprisoning souls who remained unfit for reincarnation even after serving their infernal punishments.
Asura Hell lay in the deepest part of the Netherworld, directly beneath the God of the Underworld Palace.
Shen Xin only now realized that the God of the Underworld Palace served to suppress this Asura Hell.
Being beneath the palace, this area was darker than the outside. What was called the Gates of Hell appeared more like a lake to Shen Xin, with the God of the Underworld Palace constructed directly upon it using divine power.
Beneath the lake, countless wicked ghosts and resentful spirits were imprisoned, enduring eternal suppression without hope of liberation.
The God of the Underworld had even sealed it with his own Core Essence, making it nearly impossible for others to break open—even Qin Weiji would struggle greatly to do so.
But when the God of the Underworld suddenly departed, his Core Essence cracked, and someone seized the opportunity to break the seal.
The three hovered above the lake’s seal, observing the floating red Core Essence. Yan Jun solemnly stated, “We’ve temporarily repaired the seal, but the cracks in the Core Essence remain. Over time, they will only multiply.”
If the God of the Underworld returned, his Core Essence would heal accordingly.
Conversely, if the Core Essence shattered completely before his return, he might be lost forever.
Shen Xin nodded, glancing around.
Even from the lake’s surface, the relentless wails and shrieks of the tormented below echoed—piercing and shrill.
The surroundings were oppressively dark, with only the seal’s barrier emitting a blood-red glow. Combined with the ghostly cries, it evoked the atmosphere of a horror film.
Uncharacteristically flustered, Shen Xin instinctively moved closer to Qin Weiji and gripped his sleeve.
Qin Weiji glanced down. “What is it?”
Shen Xin replied calmly, “I’m not afraid.”
Qin Weiji, “…”
He hadn’t thought she was afraid.
He assumed she wanted to cling to him.
Shen Xin realized her nervous slip-up.
She blinked, edging closer still, and softened her tone. “Actually, I just wanted to be near my husband. Don’t you like it?”
Qin Weiji fell silent for a moment, then clasped her delicate hand firmly in his. “Why hold a sleeve? Hold my hand.”
After a pause, he added with a light hum, “Hold on tight. If some evil spirit snatches you away, I won’t bother saving you.”