The Antiquity Treasures Pavilion, located in the cultural and educational district of Fengdu, is a nine-story octagonal tower, featuring overhanging eaves and bracket sets, exuding an ancient aura. Unlike the solemnity of the Hall of Yama or the chaos of Remnant Soul Alley, this place is permeated with a tranquil, profound scholarly atmosphere. It is the authoritative institution in the Underworld for collecting, appraising, and researching various ancient artifacts and rare treasures. The Pavilion Master, Mr. Xuanji, holds an extraordinary status; even the Yama Kings of the Ten Halls must respectfully address him as "Sir."
Three mornings later, Judge Lu donned his formal crimson Judge's Robe, held a visiting card, and arrived before the Antiquity Treasures Pavilion. The reason stated on his card was: to consult on several questions regarding ancient Nether race Totems for the purpose of perfecting an old case file involving ancient artifacts.
A young attendant in green led Judge Lu through the front courtyard, which was filled with various strange stones, exotic woods, and broken steles, and up the winding wooden staircase directly to the seventh floor. This floor was where Mr. Xuanji usually rested and received important guests.
The seventh-floor pavilion was decorated with elegant simplicity. The four walls were lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, which held not only scrolls but also many small, exquisite ancient objects. Near the window was a large rosewood desk, fully equipped with brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Beside it, a small red clay stove was bubbling away, brewing tea, emitting the faint, calming aroma of Nether Tea.
An elderly man, clad in a moon-white long robe, with white hair and beard, a lean yet ruddy complexion, and eyes gentle yet filled with the light of wisdom, was seated behind the desk, carefully reading a bamboo slip. This was Mr. Xuanji.
Upon seeing Judge Lu enter, Mr. Xuanji set down the bamboo slip and rose with a smile to greet him: "Judge Lu's esteemed presence truly brings glory to this humble pavilion. Please, have a seat." His voice was gentle, making one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.
"This junior has taken the liberty to disturb you; I hope Sir will forgive my intrusion." Judge Lu bowed respectfully and sat in the guest seat. The attendant served two cups of clear tea, then quietly withdrew.
"No trouble at all, no trouble at all." Mr. Xuanji stroked his snow-white long beard and chuckled, "Judge Lu is young and capable, and his enforcement of the law is strict; this old man has long heard of you. What brings you here today? Please speak freely."
Judge Lu picked up his teacup and took a small sip. The unique coolness and soul-soothing power of the Nether Tea flowed into his Soul Body, instantly refreshing his Mind, which was somewhat fatigued from days of investigation. He set down the cup, his gaze sweeping over the bamboo slip on the desk, which appeared to be a scholarly examination of the habits of Ancient Nether Beasts.
"I dare not accept your high praise, Sir," Judge Lu replied humbly. "This junior was recently organizing case files and encountered an old matter involving several rather ancient Totem Imprints. I searched all existing records, but found no clear documentation. I heard that Sir is profoundly knowledgeable, having mastered antiquity and understood the present, so I came to seek your guidance."
He took out a Jade Slip he had prepared earlier and offered it with both hands. The Jade Slip contained reproductions of several authentic, yet relatively obscure, ancient tribal Totems that were distinctly different in style from the Moon-Erosion Demonic Pattern. This was his carefully prepared diversion.
Mr. Xuanji accepted the Jade Slip, his Divine Sense sweeping over it, and a look of interest appeared on his face: "Hmm... The rain-praying pattern of the 'Nether Spring Tribe,' the strength Imprint of the 'Stone Savage Clan'... and this one, it seems to be a fragment of the Stealth Talisman from the 'Shadow Clan.' The old case Judge Lu is handling must date back quite far."
He spoke eloquently, clearly and concisely explaining the origins, symbolic meanings, and general period of popularity for these Totems, his profound knowledge commanding admiration.
Judge Lu feigned sudden enlightenment and repeatedly expressed his thanks: "Sir truly has eyes like a torch; this junior's mind is suddenly clear! It seems that old case may need to be sorted out by tracing much older lineages." He paused, then mentioned casually, "Speaking of which, a few days ago, I went to Solitary Delusion Peak on official business to deal with an Underworld Fiend Lair outbreak. Near there, I seemed to see some different, broken etchings, entirely unlike the styles of the Totems Sir just mentioned. They appeared more... primitive, even possessing a savage and violent aura. I wonder if Sir knows if any ancient tribes in the Underworld Earth had a Rune tradition of a similar style?"
As he spoke, he carefully observed Mr. Xuanji's reaction.
The hand holding the teacup in Mr. Xuanji's grasp paused almost imperceptibly for a fraction of a second. The smile on his face remained gentle, but a faint ripple seemed to flash across the depths of his warm eyes. If Judge Lu hadn't been fully focused, he would have almost missed it.
"Solitary Delusion Peak... Underworld Fiend Lair..." Mr. Xuanji gently set down his teacup, his fingers tapping the desk twice unconsciously, as if recalling something. "Ancient, savage, violent... There are indeed a few tribes that fit this description, such as the 'Soul Devouring Clan' that once occupied the 'Black Mountain' area, or the 'Poison Witch Tribe' active in the 'Blood Swamp'... However, the Runes of these tribes are mostly lost. Even if fragments remain, they are often unsystematic pieces, making verification difficult."
The answers he provided seemed comprehensive but cleverly avoided the most crucial term: "Moon Erosion."
Judge Lu understood perfectly; Mr. Xuanji certainly knew something, but he was unwilling to mention it. Was it due to a taboo, or because of... something else?
"I see, I have learned much," Judge Lu said calmly, thanking him again. He decided to change tack and attempt a more subtle probe. "It seems this junior was overthinking things, mistaking them for something ominous. After all, the Underworld has enjoyed long peace. If those evil traditions, long swept into the dust of history, were to reappear, it would likely stir up trouble again."
Hearing this, Mr. Xuanji sighed softly, his gaze drifting toward the gray sky outside the window, his tone tinged with emotion: "Long peace... Yes, a century has passed since the Great Emperor entered seclusion. During this century, the surface has appeared calm, but undercurrents have never ceased. The old Order is loosening, and new desires are breeding. No matter how deeply some things are buried, there will always be a day when they are unearthed by those with intent. Fortune or disaster, who can say for certain?"
His words carried a sense of destined melancholy, seemingly hinting at something deeper.
Judge Lu's heart stirred, and he followed up naturally: "Sir speaks the truth. In handling official duties recently, this junior has also felt increasing friction between various factions, especially in the Northern Territory, which seems quite restless. Even evidence and witnesses from old cases have been meeting with accidents one after another, as if an invisible hand is trying to erase something." He mentioned the Black Mountain Ghost General Case and the death of Storehouse Clerk Wang Shan, but did not explicitly name the Northern Ghost Emperor.
Mr. Xuanji turned his gaze back to Judge Lu, his gentle eyes seeming to deepen slightly, as if able to see through people's hearts. "The tree desires stillness, but the wind will not cease. Beneath the dust of history often lie astonishing secrets. Some people wish to conceal the past for a better future; others wish to excavate the past to satisfy their own selfish desires. Judge Lu, you are young, sharp, and persistent—this is a good thing. But some Vortices are bottomless; plunging in rashly may lead to utter ruin."
This was almost an explicit warning.
Judge Lu met his gaze, replying frankly: "As a Judge of the Underworld, it is my duty to uphold the fairness of the law and purge evil. If I were to stand by out of fear of the Vortex, watching the Order collapse, I would be unworthy of this Judge's Robe and the statutes established by the Great Emperor."
Mr. Xuanji gazed at Judge Lu for a moment, a flicker of imperceptible approval in his eyes, but more so, a complex worry. He said slowly, "Your resolve is commendable. But in action, you must remember: 'Water dripping wears away stone'—this is not achieved by force, but by persistence. Haste makes waste; sometimes, taking a step back is not cowardice, but a way to accumulate strength and see the bigger picture clearly."
He picked up his brush and wrote the four ancient characters for "Water Dripping Wears Away Stone" on a blank sheet of Xuan paper, the ink flowing richly, as if imbued with some kind of Dao Rhyme.
"I present these four characters to Judge Lu," Mr. Xuanji pushed the paper over. "As for those savage etchings you mentioned... This old man is aged, and his memory is hazy. Perhaps I saw some similar fragments when organizing the old items unearthed from the 'Ancient Battlefield' fifty years ago, but it was only a fleeting glimpse, and I did not investigate further. The era is too distant; it is impossible to trace now."
Ancient Battlefield! Fifty years ago! Mr. Xuanji had finally, albeit subtly, confirmed the connection between the Moon-Erosion Demonic Pattern and that batch of Burial Goods! And he emphasized again "did not investigate further" and "impossible to trace"—was he distancing himself, or hinting at the difficulty and danger of the investigation?
Judge Lu's mind cleared, yet his heart felt heavy. He stood up, solemnly accepting the sheet of paper, and bowed deeply: "Thank you, Sir, for your guidance! This junior will certainly keep your teachings in mind."
As he left the Antiquity Treasures Pavilion, Judge Lu's mood was even more complex than when he arrived. Mr. Xuanji's attitude was ambiguous; he provided a crucial clue （Ancient Battlefield Burial Goods）, yet issued a clear warning. He seemed to know much inside information but could not or would not speak plainly for some reason.
"Water dripping wears away stone..." Judge Lu savored the four characters. Was this telling him that the opponent was powerful and he could not confront them head-on, but needed patience, needed to start from the minute details, accumulate slowly, and wait for the right moment?
He looked down at the calligraphy in his hand, his gaze gradually becoming firm. Whether the path ahead led to a bottomless abyss or a mountain of knives and sea of fire, since he had chosen this road, he would never turn back.
Now, the target was clear—the Burial Goods unearthed from the Ancient Battlefield fifty years ago and sent to the Secret Vault! The truth of the Moon-Erosion Demonic Pattern, and the key evidence against the mastermind, might be hidden there!
However, the Secret Vault was heavily guarded, especially the Wuzang Cave where forbidden items were stored. With his authority as a mere Judge, he could not casually access the records of specific items entered fifty years ago, let alone touch the physical objects.
He needed to find a way to obtain higher-level clearance, or... discover an unknown path.
Just as Judge Lu was racking his brain for a countermeasure, another Jade Talisman in his robe, used for receiving official emergency notices, suddenly vibrated. He injected Soul Power, and a formal notice from the "Hall of Yama Council" appeared:
"A Quarterly Council Meeting of the Ten Yama Kings is hereby scheduled to be held at the Hall of Yama in three days. All officials at the rank of Judge and above from each Hall are required to attend and observe. Topics include: Northern Territory defense, the spiritual energy quota for the Well of Reincarnation, and... deliberation on the 《Proposal Document for establishing a new 'Blood Sea Hunting Ground' and resource exploitation》, jointly submitted by the Northern Ghost Emperor."
A Proposal Document from the Northern Ghost Emperor! It was actually being formally submitted for deliberation by the Ten Halls Council! And they planned to establish a Blood Sea Hunting Ground?
Judge Lu's pupils contracted sharply. He instantly connected the fact that the Black Mountain Ghost General had been abducted toward the Blood Sea with this piece of information!
The opponent's moves were relentless, one following the other, one linked to the next! From covert sabotage, silencing witnesses, and kidnapping prisoners, to now pushing policy on the main stage! This was no longer just an undercurrent; they were preparing to crash the surging waves directly against the face of Fengdu's core power structure!
The Council meeting three days later would undoubtedly be a fierce, bloodless war!
He had to attend! Moreover, he must find irrefutable evidence or arguments strong enough to be presented forcefully at the Council meeting before then! Otherwise, once the Northern Ghost Emperor's Proposal Document passed, his faction would gain a massive, officially recognized expansion, and curbing them afterward would be nearly impossible!
Time had become urgently pressing as never before.