The ancient martial arts master traveled through time

Blood beads clung to the spiderwebs dangling from the Nether Palace's ceiling. The demon's bony fingers caressed the edges of the crystal stone. Dark green slime seeped from between his nails and trickled down the lines, staining the runes even crimson. Ruan Xiaojiu clenched the "Nether Phoenix Whip" at his waist, his knuckles turning white from the strain. He glared at the man, his pupils surging with dark purple flames. "Who the hell are you?"

A-Yao's neck twisted at an odd angle, moonlight glancing across her pale cheeks. A tiny crack at the corner of her eye oozed black liquid. Her bloodshot eyes sifted Ruan Xiaojiu from top to bottom, as if examining a decaying corpse. "Want to know the answer? Soon, you'll see for yourself."

Memories suddenly pierced her mind like a sharp blade, and Ruan Xiaojiu stumbled back half a step, her temples throbbing. Countless images exploded before her eyes—the poisoned wine spilled in her father's study, A Yao's suddenly cold expression, and the familiar yet unfamiliar black-robed figure outside the underworld barrier. "It's you!" She pointed at him, her fingers trembling slightly. "You possessed A Yao and killed her! You are my father's most trusted lord of Fengdu City... the demon!"

The crystal stone suddenly exploded in the demon's palm, sending flying fragments lingering in the air, reflecting a thousand twisted smiles. "Little Jiu is still so naive." He licked the blood from the corner of his mouth, the veins on his neck bulging like a coiled black snake. "If that old man hadn't married the princess of the Fire Phoenix Clan, would he have been worthy of the throne of Hades with his methods? I've dealt with more underworld rebellions than he's ever seen, yet I can only serve as a city lord to clean up his mess!"

The demon suddenly approached, and the smell of decay sprayed on Ruan Xiaojiu's face: "Over the years, he has been enjoying his wife and daughter, while throwing the mountains of government affairs to me. Now that the crystal seal is in hand, it's time to change the master of this underworld!"

"Shameless!" Ruan Xiaojiu could no longer contain himself. His "Phoenix Whip" transformed into a stream of crimson light and lashed out at the man's throat. The demon chuckled softly, his figure vanishing like smoke, the tip of his whip only picking up a few dead leaves. When he reappeared thirty feet away, the "Soul-Eroding Silk" swung from his sleeve had already wrapped around Ruan Xiaojiu's ankle, a faint green light rapidly spreading along his skin.

Ruan Siqi's "Qingyue Sword" cut through the silk thread in time, but the ice pattern on the sword edge shattered into pieces the moment it came into contact with the demonic energy. She grabbed Ruan Xiaojiu's sleeve and felt his body trembling violently: "Don't be impulsive! His "Netherworld Transformation Technique" has reached perfection! "

"Is that all you can do?" The demon spread his arms, and behind him appeared twelve white-skeletal golems, with ghostly blue will-o'-the-wisp flickering in their hollow eye sockets. "Back when I used this trick to annihilate the entire Blood Demon Palace, you were still nursing at your mother's breast!"

Ruan Xiaojiu bit his tongue and sprayed his blood into his palm, condensing it into the "Nether Phoenix Burning Heaven Seal." The moment the flames collided with the demon's "Nine Nether Devil Mist," the entire Nether Palace trembled. But with a casual wave of his hand, a black vortex swirling with the scent of rotting flesh devoured the attack. The recoil sent Ruan Xiaojiu flying, plowing a half-man-deep gully in the ground.

"Xiaojiu!" Xiao Zeming's "Soul-Calming Ruler" blocked the fatal blow in time, and the flashing runes barely held off the demon's "Soul-Snatching Claw." He stared at the dark green ball of light condensing in the other's palm. It was the "World-Destroying Miasma" that could corrode the soul, and cold sweat dripped down his chin. "Siqi, take the princess to Hell Valley!"

Ruan Siqi was about to open her mouth to retort when Ruan Xiaojiu grabbed her and yanked her away. The three of them raced frantically along the thorny netherworld road, the demonic laughter of a demonic being echoing behind them: "Want to escape? Every stone here bears my mark!" As they leaped over the poisonous "Forgetful River" tributary, Ruan Xiaojiu suddenly remembered the valley where the Hellflowers grew—perhaps there lay a chance for a change.

The "Netherworld Soul-Locking Chain" at the entrance of Hell Valley made a sharp buzzing sound, and a dark red light faintly shone through the thick fog.

Ruan Siqi gripped the hilt of her sword tightly, looking at the bone-white battle flag floating in the air: “This place…even the air is burning the soul.

Just as they walked deeper into the valley, suddenly, a black figure emerged from the darkness. He was wearing a black robe and a black mask on his face, revealing only a pair of cold eyes.

"Who trespassed into Hell Valley?" The black-robed man's voice was low and cold.

"We are being hunted by the Lord of Fengdu City and hope to find refuge here." Xiao Zeming answered first.

The man in black robe appeared and looked Xiao Zeming up and down. He indeed had the aura of Pluto's magic weapon.

Ruan Xiaojiu walked out from behind, and the man in black robe recognized Ruan Xiaojiu at a glance. She was their princess.

The black-robed man stepped forward and came in front of Ruan Xiaojiu. "Your Highness, Princess, why are you here?"

Before he finished speaking, the roar of demons could be heard in the distance, and the entire valley began to shake violently. The black-robed man instantly understood what was happening and quickly formed a seal. Twelve blood-red beams of light rose from the valley entrance: "Princess, follow me! The 'Nine Nether Dragon Trap' set up by Hades back then may be able to trap that traitor!"