Watching the surging crimson river water before him, Ji Shiyou narrowed his eyes.
Diao Shou had already announced his true form.
Upon hearing the words "Nether River," Ji Shiyou suddenly recalled a book he had seen.
He had found it in a hidden corner of the Golden Crow Palace's library.
It recorded legends and anecdotes of the Moon Radiance Realm, including an ancient tale.
It spoke of a magical river in the Moon Radiance Realm, a river whose whereabouts were unpredictable, with no fixed course.
Today it might be at the edge of the sky, and tomorrow it could appear at the corner of the sea, thousands of miles away.
Furthermore, those who saw it all did so in the dead of night.
The river water possessed extremely strong corrosive properties. If mortals fell in,
they would instantly dissolve, leaving not even a bone. Hence, it was called the Nether River.
However, despite its strangeness and magic, this river had existed for thousands of years without causing harm.
Until five hundred years ago, when the Nether River suddenly gained sentience and descended into demonic cultivation.
To practice its demonic arts, it would often swallow over a dozen villages in a single night,
using the souls of mortals to cultivate supreme demonic techniques.
In just one month, it had consumed nearly a million innocent lives.
Such an act, detrimental to the heavenly way, attracted the attention of the immortal sects of that era.
But the Nether River's movements were elusive. Even when immortal sect disciples were dispatched en masse,
they could not find its trace. It was only when the Living Immortal intervened.
He pursued it relentlessly for three days and nights.
Only then was the malevolent Nether River cornered in the Death Desert.
A battle ensued for three days and three nights, with only the Living Immortal emerging victorious.
After exiting the Death Desert, he announced that the Nether River had been annihilated.
The Living Immortal also became famous from this battle, his status greatly elevated.
As a mere rogue cultivator, he was now on par with the major sects.
Of course, this was merely a trivial matter in the legendary life of the Living Immortal.
Time had passed, ages had turned, and it was now largely forgotten.
If not for that ancient book, Ji Shiyou would never have known.
Thus, upon hearing Diao Shou claim to be the Nether River, Ji Shiyou remained skeptical and did not believe him.
But seeing Diao Shou gather the blood sea, the manifestation of his slain form, into a crimson long river,
he began to believe. However, new doubts arose.
The Nether River had supposedly been destroyed by the Living Immortal five hundred years ago.
So why had it appeared today? Was this the legendary Nether River?
But he had no time to ponder, for Diao Shou was already directing the Nether River's waters.
They surged towards the Golden Lotus where everyone was hiding, waves crashing.
The Golden Lotus was instantly submerged. When the river receded,
the once golden, shimmering Golden Lotus had become dim and lusterless.
The corrosive power of the Nether River water was indeed terrifying.
Even the extremely defensive Golden Lotus could not withstand it.
Based on the current situation, the Golden Lotus could not endure three more assaults from the Nether River's waters.
After two more, it would be completely corroded, losing all its defenses.
At that point, those inside would also be killed by the river water, leaving no trace.
Diao Shou stood on the water's surface, cackling madly. With a wave of his right hand,
another colossal wave formed on the river and surged towards the Golden Lotus.
Ji Shiyou dared not delay. His hand gestures shifted, and the silver dragon in the air roared.
It opened its maw and inhaled deeply, drawing the colossal wave into its belly.
But its body was immediately corroded, its silver scales rapidly peeling off.
Then, its body twisted, and its light vanished.
The Nether River's water passed through the silver dragon's body and fell back into the Nether River.
Following that, the silver dragon's hundred-zhang long body vanished into thin air.
It reverted to the form of the Spirit Devouring Whip and fell into the Nether River with a plop.
Water churned, and it was instantly melted.
"Ji Shiyou, kill him for me.
My Spirit Devouring Whip, it pains me so!"
Seeing the Spirit Devouring Whip destroyed, Ming Yue, within the Golden Lotus, jumped up in anguish.
But Diao Shou had no soul, so the Soul Bewildering Pearl was ineffective against him.
Ming Yue also recognized the potency of the Nether River's water and dared not step out of the Golden Lotus.
She could only shout at Ji Shiyou to avenge her Spirit Devouring Whip.
"Heh heh heh! Such bold words!
I have no soul, so how can I have life or death?
You dream if you think you can kill me!"
Diao Shou also heard Ming Yue's cry. Standing on the river's surface, he mocked.
He was a river, existing with heaven and earth, enduring with the sun and moon.
As long as the Nether River existed, no one could destroy him.
Ming Yue's words were the funniest joke he had ever heard.
"You are the one speaking boldly. Didn't the Living Immortal kill you five hundred years ago?"
Ji Shiyou did not respond to Ming Yue. He dared not be distracted.
Diao Shou was truly troublesome, requiring his full concentration to deal with.
However, upon hearing Diao Shou's words, he couldn't help but inquire.
"You know about the events of five hundred years ago? That doesn't count, doesn't count.
Besides, I didn't die. If it weren't for...
Why waste words? In short, you are all doomed today."
Suddenly hearing Ji Shiyou mention the events of five hundred years ago, Diao Shou stammered.
A hint of embarrassment appeared on his face, his words cut off mid-sentence.
Then, in a fit of rage, he roared at Ji Shiyou and waved his hands.
He drove the Nether River's waters towards Ji Shiyou in the air.
Clearly, Ji Shiyou's mention of the events five hundred years ago had caused him to change his plan.
He would no longer attack the Golden Lotus but would first eliminate Ji Shiyou before harvesting the lives of the others.
Ji Shiyou stood in the void, seeing the Nether River's waters, like water dragons, surge towards him.
He swung his Moon Reflecting Sword, severing the water waves.
The overwhelming river water fell back into the Nether River.
Just as Diao Shou had said earlier, cutting the water with a blade had no effect.
The river water suffered no damage or reduction, and Diao Shou showed no sign of being attacked, his expression unchanged.
He then forcefully swung his arm, and the river water surged skyward again.
The volume was several times greater than before, and this time,
it rushed towards Ji Shiyou from all directions, a comprehensive assault.
North, south, east, west, above, and below Ji Shiyou, all were crimson water waves.
Even if he used the Moon Reflecting Sword to block one direction, he could not protect his entire body.
Given the formidable nature of the Nether River's water, even a drop touching him
would corrode his physical body and soul, turning him into nothingness.
Ji Shiyou instantly unleashed three sword strikes, respectively cutting down the water waves in front of him, above him, and below him.
But he did not have time to unleash a fourth sword strike before the water waves from other directions
surrounded him, converging together.
Like an impenetrable cage, they trapped Ji Shiyou within.
Seeing this, the onlookers immediately cried out in alarm.
Ji Shiyou was their only hope.
Now, surrounded by the Nether River's water, it seemed he was doomed.
Thus, after their cries of alarm, everyone's faces turned dejected and disheartened.
Only Ming Yue stood there, silent.
She refused to believe that Ji Shiyou had been defeated so easily.
She believed that Ji Shiyou would bring her a surprise.
Ming Yue stared stubbornly at Ji Shiyou, who was surrounded by the Nether River's water, her gaze unwavering.
"Little tree demon, is he that important to you?
You care for him so much, but it's too late.
If you had handed over the exotic treasure earlier, perhaps I could have spared both of you.
But now, he has been touched by the Nether River's water and is certain to die.
Even if I wanted to spare him now, it would be too late.
He's probably already soul-scattered and utterly annihilated!"
Diao Shou, treading on the water waves, approached the Golden Lotus and taunted Ming Yue.
Ming Yue acted as if she didn't see him, ignoring him completely.
"Still a stubborn girl. It's a shame you'll die.
But for the exotic treasure, I cannot spare you either."
Ming Yue's silence made Diao Shou's one-sided monologue tiresome.
He no longer dallied, raising his hand to summon a water wave and sending it towards the Golden Lotus.
He wanted to finish this quickly and return to report.
But at that moment, the waves beneath his feet suddenly vanished.
Diao Shou stumbled and fell from the air.