Chapter 130: Is This Going to Hell?

The underworld emissaries were stunned by these words. They had considered that Yi An might refuse or perhaps agree, but they never expected such an ambiguous answer.

Yi An’s statement essentially sentenced them to death while simultaneously leaving a sliver of ambiguity. Yet, they knew full well that the chance of survival hidden within that sliver was virtually non-existent.

After a moment of hesitation, an emissary tentatively asked, "Sir, is there still room for negotiation?"

"We are truly sincere, without a hint of deception. We do not shirk our responsibilities. It was wrong of us to offend you just now, but surely that does not warrant death, does it?"

"Perhaps you could reconsider, sir. If you would only nod, we would certainly handle the matter impeccably, ensuring that no one could ever trace it back to you."

Yi An nodded and replied, "That may be so, but the feasibility is extremely low. It would be better if I sent you to another place; that would be good for both you and me."

The emissary: "..."

*No, that would not be good for me!*

However, they could only harbor such complaints in their hearts, not daring to voice them. If they provoked him further, their lives would truly be in jeopardy. After all, standing before them was a killing god who would resort to violence at the slightest disagreement.

"Does that mean... going to hell?" the emissary asked with a bitter expression. Having already guessed the truth, he was not naive enough to think that "another place" meant anything else.

"Correct, you guessed right. But unfortunately, there is no prize," Yi An agreed.

Upon hearing these words, the emissaries' faces turned ash-gray. The lingering hope they had held vanished in an instant. The next second, they exchanged glances, preparing to fight to the death. Since they were doomed anyway, even if the odds were impossible, they would struggle to the end—after all, things could not get any worse, could they?

But before they could move, Yi An continued, "However, this hell is not the hell you imagine. You can no longer remain in this Ghost City, so you might as well seek a new path in the Underworld. As for the outcome, that will depend on your own capabilities."

"This..."

The emissaries hesitated once more. Theoretically, a miserable life is better than a quick death; only by staying alive could there be any hope.

However, the Underworld was no pleasant destination. It was a place flowing with darkness, making the Ghost City seem like a mere trifle by comparison. It was on an entirely different scale. Once there, even the hope of merely scraping by would likely be a luxury. To put it more accurately, once they fell into the complex vortex of the Underworld, they would face an endless prison, losing their freedom forever and becoming mere tools in the power struggles of others.

Perhaps that was even more agonizing than death. But to defy Yi An’s will meant certain death right here and now. *Perhaps... scraping by is better than dying for nothing,* they consoled themselves.

"It seems you have made your decision," Yi An said with a smile, sensing the murderous tension in the air dissipate. He had known their decision before they even spoke.

"Indeed. We were just unlucky to suffer such unprovoked disaster. But things have come to this; there is no point in saying more. We will do as you say," the emissary sighed after a long silence, finally hardening his resolve.

Yi An nodded with satisfaction. As they said, they were victims of an unprovoked disaster. Caught between their superior and a stranger, it was only natural and human to trust their own leader. There was no right or wrong, only differing stances. This did not mean he would forgive them, but he would treat them with relative leniency. If they had been the same sort as their former leader, he would not have wasted so many words.

"Just as you considered, only by staying alive can there be infinite possibilities, right?"

"Perhaps, once you reach the Underworld, you will achieve great things?"

Although Yi An did not hold high hopes for them, the logic held true. Their lack of ability was their own affair, but the opportunity was there. Sometimes, it is much easier to carve out a name for oneself in chaotic times than in times of prosperity.

The emissaries smiled bitterly, knowing Yi An was merely being polite. They had no confidence in themselves, let alone anyone else.

"Please open the path for us, sir," the emissary sighed. At this point, dragging it out was meaningless.

"Decisive. You are a man of character," Yi An said, looking slightly surprised. This earned them a measure of respect in his eyes. From the very beginning, they had maintained their composure—if nothing else, that was a quality most lacked.

"You flatter us, sir. If we were not decisive, our fate would likely be the same as Leader Liu's," the emissary cast a resentful glance at Yi An. At this moment, he felt no fear, perhaps due to a shift in his mindset. Perhaps they had feared death at the start, but knowing their next destination made death seem less terrifying.

Yi An felt no great ripple in his heart at the pointed remark. Anyone in such a position would have their own thoughts. Many would hide their resentment, but it was rare to find those who dared to express their displeasure.

Putting these thoughts aside, Yi An scanned the surroundings, finding an area where the yin energy was relatively dense, and began to prepare to tear through the spatial barrier.

In the mortal realm, opening such a passage might be as difficult as ascending to heaven. But here, at the boundary between yin and yang, it was easy. Even without the aid of the Green Lotus Banner, Yi An was confident in his current strength to open a path to the Underworld.

This place naturally connected yin and yang, and the space was unstable. Whether opening a path to the Underworld or the more difficult path to the mortal realm, it was manageable. The mortal realm, however, possessed perfect celestial laws and stable space; even powerful immortals found it difficult to influence its order.

Relatively speaking, opening a path to the Underworld versus the mortal realm was not the same concept. The Underworld and this place were two paths leading to the same destination, with no fundamental difference. But the mortal realm was different, filled with yang energy that was the exact opposite of this place. The repulsion between the two spaces would, nine times out of ten, trigger spatial turbulence.