Chapter 369: Chapter 373: The Strange Meng Po_1
On the road to Yellow Spring, never look back. If it were not for the prompt of the Book of Life and Death, Qin Wudao might truly have been bewitched by the old woman’s deception and turned away. If a departed soul looks back, their soul will fall into the River of Forgetfulness and never be reborn. So what price would a living person pay for looking back? Qin Wudao didn’t know, but he wouldn’t put himself in danger!
"Senior, I want to give it a try!" Qin Wudao said, taking a step onto the Naihe Bridge. The path before him was one of constant progression. Never mind the unknown dangers of retreating; the supreme legacy of Yellow Spring lying ahead alone was worth his risk.
"Why won’t you listen to advice, young man?" the old woman raised her brow. Before Qin Wudao took his step, she left Naihe Bridge and stood in the shop behind it, her head bowed as she stirred the soup in her pot. Standing on Naihe Bridge, Qin Wudao breathed a sigh of relief. He had faced no danger, which meant his gamble had paid off. Who is this old crone? Qin Wudao watched the old woman in the shop, frowning inwardly. If this place was the location of the Yellow Spring’s supreme legacy, then it had existed for nine eras. Normally, no living beings should be here.
Before he knew it, Qin Wudao had crossed Naihe Bridge. As he prepared to walk towards the shop, the Book of Life and Death started to tremble faintly again. Qin Wudao took out the Book of Life and Death and checked the contents of the sixth page. It depicted a young and beautiful woman with a peaceful demeanor, feeding soup to the souls who had crossed Naihe Bridge. The Soup of Oblivion! It was a concoction made from Equinox Flowers, a potion that could make one forget all worries, loves, hates, and resentments. All souls who crossed Naihe Bridge had to drink the Soup of Oblivion. Life in the mortal world is filled with suffering. A bowl of the Soup of Oblivion brings release, a complete severance from one’s past life.
Looking at the beautiful woman in the painting, then at the ugly old woman in the shop, Qin Wudao found it hard to believe they were the same person. "Why didn’t you heed my advice? The obsession of the Yellow Spring Supreme is to construct a world for the deceased. If you cannot pass the Yellow Spring Supreme’s trial, your soul will disintegrate!" The old woman shook her head from side to side as she spoke, her tone filled with such deep concern it would make anyone subconsciously lower their guard.
"Senior, do you know how to pass the Yellow Spring Supreme’s trial?" A glint flashed in Qin Wudao’s eyes as he cupped his hands and asked respectfully.
The old woman’s lips curved slightly into a smile, though her tone remained sorrowful as she said, "The Yellow Spring Supreme controls the laws of departed souls, a power of extreme Yin. See your surroundings? They are incompatible with your aura. Seeing as you’re the only living being to enter this mystic realm in hundreds of millions of years, I’ll give you a piece of advice. You must transform the extreme Yang energy within you into extreme Yin energy to have a chance of success!"
Qin Wudao didn’t look behind him; he primarily scanned the area in front and to his sides. The light was dim, and just as the old woman had said, extreme Yin energy permeated the surroundings, with not a hint of Yang energy. Standing in this Void, he was like a ball of fire in a world of ice and snow—utterly incongruous. "Senior, may I ask how to transform extreme Yang energy into extreme Yin energy?" Qin Wudao asked humbly.
"It’s simple. The soup I’m currently stirring is the Soup of Oblivion. It’s made from Equinox Flowers and can transform extreme Yang energy into extreme Yin energy!" the old woman said with a smile, scooping a bowl of Soup of Oblivion. She reached out and placed it before Qin Wudao. Only then did Qin Wudao realize that an invisible barrier surrounded the old woman’s shop, isolating all the extreme Yang energy he emitted. Gazing at the dark red Soup of Oblivion in the bowl, a chill ran down his spine. The old woman claimed that this Soup of Oblivion, renowned for making one forget everything, could transform extreme Yang energy into extreme Yin energy. What was her true motive?
"Senior, we barely know each other. Why do you wish to help me?" Qin Wudao took the Soup of Oblivion and asked calmly.
A hint of anxiety flashed in the old woman’s eyes, but she maintained her cheerful expression as she said, "I am the guardian left behind by the Yellow Spring Supreme to select an inheritor for the legacy. You are the first person to arrive here in hundreds of millions of years!
"Helping you also aids me. Only when you acquire the legacy can I leave this place and be free from the torment of loneliness!" At this point, the old woman subtly urged, "The Soup of Oblivion cannot be kept for long, or it will lose its effect!"
After listening to the old woman’s words, Qin Wudao was certain something was wrong with her. He tossed the Soup of Oblivion to the ground and scoffed, "Why have I heard that the effect of the Soup of Oblivion is to make departed souls forget everything?"
The Soup of Oblivion splashed onto the ground, morphing into the shape of Equinox Flowers before vanishing in a sky full of red light. The old woman’s face stiffened. Forcing an ugly smile, she said, "The Soup of Oblivion has two effects. If a departed soul drinks it, they will forget everything. Since you are a living person, it will only transform extreme Yang energy into extreme Yin energy..."
"Enough!"
Qin Wudao waved his hand, interrupting her, and said coldly, "I will not drink the Soup of Oblivion. Now tell me, who are you really?"
A strong murderous aura erupted from his body. His black hair whipped around, two golden dragons coiled about him, and the might of an emperor shook the Void. The overwhelming pure Yang energy surged towards the old woman.
BANG!
Outside the shop, a black light screen emerged, wreathed in extreme Yin energy, obliterating the encroaching pure Yang energy. The Void began to tremble, and a series of chilling screams echoed from the nearby River of Forgetfulness. The blooming Equinox Flowers started to wither one by one, turning into wisps of black qi... Qin Wudao’s released aura, including his pure Yang energy, was bringing immense changes to this world.
"Junior, I am Meng Po!" the old woman still tried to argue.
"Slash!" Qin Wudao had no patience for further words. He abruptly drew his Xuanyuan Sword. The power of the Human Emperor filled the cosmos, and myriad golden Sword Qi danced about, their sharp edges capable of pulverizing all things. A Sword Qi infused with potent imperial might materialized in the Void, stretching thousands of meters long. With boundless sharpness, it slashed towards the shop.
CRACK!
The black light screen shattered instantly.
"Hmph, little brat, I’ll remember you!" the old woman spat venomously. She transformed into a black skeleton and vanished, leaving only her chilling voice echoing in the Void.
She’s definitely not Meng Po. Then what was she? Qin Wudao frowned slightly, retracted his Xuanyuan Sword, glanced at the ruined shop, and continued forward.
After a dozen or so steps, a giant stone emitting a mysterious power appeared before him. The Book of Life and Death floated in the air, turning to its seventh page. A drawing of a massive stone was on it: the Stone of Three Lives. The causes of past lives, the effects in the current life, the cycles of fate and Reincarnation, beginnings and endings—all were deeply carved into this stone. Qin Wudao looked at the stone with curiosity, wanting to see his own three lives, but found it muddled and indiscernible. Can the living not see their three lives? Qin Wudao stroked his chin, bypassed the Stone of Three Lives, and continued forward.
Soon, he arrived outside a large black hall...