After passing through the “Heart Station,” there was no longer a maze in the building. Everyone walked forward for a moment when they suddenly smelled a strong, pungent scent of blood. Jiang Chong looked at the sheepskin in his hand, his face becoming quite grave as he said, “Ahead is the final obstacle. Everyone be careful.”

The group walked about a hundred zhang when they felt the bloody smell growing stronger and stronger, making people want to vomit. Suddenly they heard Jiang Chong say in a trembling voice, “We’ve arrived… this is the place…”

Everyone gazed ahead and saw before them a blood-red lake, as if formed from fresh blood. In the dim light, lake waves gently lapped against the shore, looking like a scene from hell. Jiang Chong carefully read the sheepskin and said through gritted teeth, “This place is called the Nether Sea. If mortals touch even a drop of the lake water, their entire body will immediately rot and they’ll die. Do you want to try?”

Since everyone wasn’t completely mad, how could they joke with their lives? In an instant, they all retreated quickly, saying, “No… no…”

Zhuo Lingzhao shook his head and said, “This place is so dangerous, but how are we to cross it?”

Jiang Chong frowned and said, “Last time I was also blocked here. It seems unless we build a bridge, there’s absolutely no way to cross.”

Just then, deep rumbling sounds came from the distance, continuous and unending. Then the ground began jumping and shaking. Everyone’s faces changed color as they said, “Another earthquake!”

Everyone couldn’t stand steadily and each sought something to hold onto. The deep rumbling grew closer and clearer, like cannon fire or thunder, coming from far and near in endless waves. The cave was shaken by this tremendous sound, causing dust to fly and rocks to fall with whooshing sounds. Seeing this strange phenomenon, everyone feared the cave would immediately collapse.

Jiang Chong’s face was deathly pale as he muttered to himself, “This… this sheepskin doesn’t record such strange phenomena…”

Suddenly there was a thunderous “BOOM!” Everyone’s ears rang with buzzing sounds, nearly deafening them. Yan Ting covered her ears and screamed loudly, “Ah! Save me!” But her delicate cry was drowned out by the waves of tremendous sounds, and even she herself couldn’t hear it. Wu Dingyuan pulled her to his chest and gently embraced her shoulders.

Just then, the lake water of the Nether Sea was affected by the aftershocks and suddenly raised towering waves that rushed toward the shore. Several Brocade Guard warriors couldn’t escape in time and were immediately swept into the lake, crying out in anguish.

Seeing the lake water continuously rising, everyone’s shoes and socks were corroded by the lake water and immediately tattered. Wu Dingyuan shouted, “Miss Yan Ting, jump on my back!” Yan Ting cried out in alarm and hurriedly climbed onto his back. Wu Dingyuan carried her and rushed urgently toward higher ground.

Just then, there was a thunderous sound from underground. Everyone felt their bodies dropping downward as the ground had actually collapsed and caved in, forming a deep pit. Suddenly, lake water surged violently from all directions. Everyone was as if placed in a sea of blood, all crying out in alarm.

An’dao Jing shouted, “Terrible! Even the exit has been flooded! Now we can’t get out!” Seeing the lake water already rising, everyone either used long spears to prop against the ground or iron chains to bind to walls, each displaying their abilities to flee from disaster.

Luo Moshi saw not far away there was high ground that stood like an isolated island in the flood. He hurriedly carried Jiang Chong on his back and rushed toward that place. While running, the lake water at his feet had already risen high. Without thinking carefully, Luo Moshi grabbed a Brocade Guard expert and threw him into the lake water, then stepped on that person and leaped forward about one zhang.

That person, thrown into the lake water, immediately screamed in agony. An’dao Jing saw his subordinate killed and shouted loudly, “Luo Moshi, how vicious you are!” While he was speaking, who knew that a great wave from below would surge toward him. An’dao Jing was startled and hurriedly reached out to grab, but he also followed the same method, throwing Luo Moshi’s gunner into the water to use as a stepping stone.

These two men were vicious and selfish. In an instant, their four hands kept grabbing wildly, actually using everyone as stepping stones, continuously throwing subordinates into the water. The subordinates panicked and fled for their lives.

At this moment, the Kunlun sect members were also extremely anxious. All the disciples saw the lake water rushing toward them and were shocked beyond measure, not knowing what to do. Zhuo Lingzhao assessed the situation and knew that at this point they couldn’t escape. He called out, “Everyone follow me! Don’t panic!” He led everyone rushing outward. After running about a hundred zhang, they reached a cliff wall and were in a situation with no retreat possible.

Qian Lingyi called out, “Sect Leader! What can we do?”

Zhuo Lingzhao said, “Everyone don’t panic!” He gathered his energy and leaped up, touching the cliff wall with his foot. His body rose more than ten zhang as he flew up the cliff wall. He raised his long sword and forcefully stabbed it into the cliff wall. The long sword immediately penetrated the cliff wall and was firmly clamped there.

Zhuo Lingzhao called out, “Did you see clearly? Quickly use this method to come up!”

Zhuo Lingzhao’s martial arts were superb – what could be difficult for him? But seeing this cliff wall was slippery and smooth, with the disciples’ limited skills, how could they climb up? For a moment, screams could be heard continuously as several people were swept by the lake water and cried out in anguish on the spot.

Zhuo Lingzhao saw the situation was terrible and couldn’t let the entire Kunlun sect perish here. He flew down low, stabbing one sword one hole, continuously stabbing into the wall. The cliff wall immediately showed dozens of bowl-sized deep holes. Zhuo Lingzhao firmly grasped the holes with his left hand, his feet suspended in air, his right hand extended as he shouted, “Come over quickly!”

In the blink of an eye, the flood water surged and nearly submerged the path. Qian Lingyi saw the situation was bad and rushed out first, grabbing Zhuo Lingzhao’s hand. Using his strength, he leaped up and stepped into the holes on the cliff wall. He continuously stepped through dozens of holes and his body was already climbing high on the stone wall.

Jin Lingshuang was concerned for his disciples’ safety and unwilling to escape alone like Qian Lingyi. He immediately called out, “Sect Leader, catch them!” Speaking thus, he threw the disciples beside him one by one toward Zhuo Lingzhao. Tu Lingxin hurriedly helped him throw them. Zhuo Lingzhao caught the disciples one by one continuously and then placed them on the cliff wall.

The disciples, having escaped with their lives, hurriedly reached out to grasp the holes, hanging on the cliff wall like bats. Jin Lingshuang saw dozens of disciples had already escaped and hurriedly reached out, calling, “Third junior brother, come over quickly! I’ll throw you over!”

Tu Lingxin shouted loudly, “What about you? How will you get over?” Jin Lingshuang didn’t speak further. His right hand suddenly reached out and grabbed Tu Lingxin’s clothing, forcefully throwing him out.

Tu Lingxin, while in mid-air, suddenly saw Jin Lingshuang already surrounded by lake water and cried out, “Second senior brother! Come up quickly!”

Jin Lingshuang smiled sadly. In an instant, the lake water had already rushed toward him and was about to submerge him. Looking at the rolling red water, he suddenly felt regret in his heart, thinking, “Our sect has done many evil deeds and killed like hemp. Today, I, Jin Lingshuang, dying here can also be considered retribution.”

Thinking of his beloved disciple’s tragic death, his heart was cut like a knife, and he completely didn’t know to dodge. Just at this moment, something wrapped around his waist and then a great force came, lifting him into the sky – it was Zhuo Lingzhao who had removed his belt to save him. Jin Lingshuang flew through the air toward Tu Lingxin. Tu Lingxin reached out his right hand and forcefully grabbed him. The two men connected like a string and immediately hung on the cliff wall.

At this moment, Luo Moshi, carrying Jiang Chong, had also climbed to the peak of the isolated island with only An’dao Jing accompanying them. The terrain there was relatively low, and the lake water had already risen sky-high. Seeing the lake water still continuously rising, a crowd of subordinates fled in panic. Luo Moshi saw that under his feet was only a square inch of land – how could so many people stand? He immediately kicked down those climbing up beside him one by one. An’dao Jing was even more ruthless – as soon as anyone approached, he immediately killed them with one slash, showing no mercy.

The subordinates were at a loss and cried out miserably, “Save us! Let us come over!”

Luo Moshi and An’dao Jing paid no attention. Many subordinates saw death approaching – poisonous water ahead, tigers and wolves behind – and were so frightened they wept bitterly. Luo Moshi said, “Lord Jiang, why is this lake water rising like this? How can we escape?”

Jiang Chong’s face was iron-blue, but he was also at a loss.

Luo Moshi had a thought. Seeing that where Jiang Chong stood was half a foot higher than himself, he secretly thought, “If this water continues to rise, for the sake of having one more place to stand, I’ll have to throw Lord Jiang into the water.” He turned to look at An’dao Jing and thought, “Before that, I must first throw this person into the water.”

An’dao Jing saw his unfriendly gaze and thought, “Looking at Luo Moshi’s appearance, he’ll definitely seek to save himself later. I must get ahead of him and find a way to push him into the water.”

The two men’s thoughts raced, but their feet didn’t stop at all, kicking the subordinates climbing up into the water.

At this time, Wu Dingyuan and Yan Ting were also in mortal danger. He carried Yan Ting on his back and saw the flood water continuously surging, already covering his feet. The Nether Sea’s toxicity was strong, and in an instant it corroded his shoes and socks. Wu Dingyuan saw a rock nearby and hurriedly jumped onto it, but in a moment, both sides were flooded by lake water. It seemed that in just a moment, the lake water would rise up.

Zhuo Lingzhao saw Wu Dingyuan’s tragic situation and hurriedly called out, “Wu Dingyuan! Jump over quickly and you can still save your life!”

From far away, Jiang Chong also saw Wu Dingyuan’s life hanging by a thread and called out, “Commissioner Wu, come to me quickly! I can save you!” Although both men were eager to save him, they were both very far from Wu Dingyuan at this time. Apart from shouting, they were powerless to help.

Wu Dingyuan heard both men calling and knew they had need of him, and definitely weren’t concerned about his life or death as a person. He thought, “Should I go beg them to save me? Since they still have use for me, they definitely won’t harm me.” Then he thought again, “Seeing this Nether Sea rising so fiercely, even if I beg them to save my life, I’d only live a moment longer. Either way it’s death – I’m a dignified man of iron, why should I disgrace my reputation before dying?”

Watching the lake water continuously rising, it seemed that in just a moment, whether it was the treacherous Jiang Chong or the fierce Zhuo Lingzhao, all would be soaked and rotted by this lake water, becoming like black mud. In the distance, crying and wailing could still be heard – the sounds of Brocade Guard experts crying and screaming before death. Wu Dingyuan gazed into the distance and saw Luo Moshi and An’dao Jing, for the sake of a tiny foothold, still kicking their companions into the water – truly without any humanity.

Wu Dingyuan watched coldly, seeing them doing all manner of evil deeds like insects, birds, and beasts just to live a moment longer. Suddenly his heart awakened: “In this world, life is only a few short years, and in the end isn’t it all just death? This An’dao Jing is so treacherous, but won’t he still rot and die on the spot in a moment? I’m afraid before the King of Hell he’ll get a few extra beatings. Sigh, in these few short decades of life, why must everyone struggle so much?” For a moment, he actually became dazed and lost in thought, without any desire to live.

Just at this moment of enlightenment, he heard Yan Ting scream, “Lord Wu! Don’t just stand there dazed! Let’s quickly think of a way to escape!” Wu Dingyuan turned to look at Yan Ting on his back and saw her face full of panic and terror, obviously frightened by the strange phenomenon before her. Wu Dingyuan sighed, “Miss Yan Ting, don’t be afraid. Everyone will die soon anyway – a moment earlier or later is all the same.”

Yan Ting looked around at all the people crying in their death throes, each one rotting in the lake water. It seemed that even after death, they would still suffer the agony of skinning and bone decay. Fear filled her heart and she couldn’t help crying loudly, “I don’t want to die! I don’t want to rot into that ugly state! Master, where are you! Come quickly and save Yan Ting!” Although Yan Ting was naturally strong-willed, the current scene was too frightening, like hell itself, making her unable to help but wail loudly.

Wu Dingyuan looked at the pitiful Yan Ting, thinking that she was still young and really couldn’t endure such suffering. Although he himself was determined to die, at this moment, hearing Yan Ting’s cries, he couldn’t help but risk his life once more.

Wu Dingyuan suddenly gritted his teeth and thought, “Even if I risk this life, I must let this little girl live a moment longer.”

Wu Dingyuan placed Yan Ting on his shoulder and said gently, “Good child, don’t cry. I’ll take you to escape.” He gave a tiger’s roar and with a splash, Wu Dingyuan actually jumped into the lake water and walked straight toward Zhuo Lingzhao.

Everyone seeing him do this were shocked beyond measure. Zhuo Lingzhao called out, “Don’t soak in there! Your body will rot!” Yan Ting cried out, “Lord Wu! Don’t do this!”

Wu Dingyuan’s toes ached as they were slowly corroded by the poisonous water. He endured the pain and walked forward – each step was piercing agony. He looked down and was horrified to see his toes already corroded to the bone, and the clothes on his lower body had also rotted away.

Gradually, the lake water rose higher and higher, already reaching Wu Dingyuan’s waist. Wu Dingyuan walked with great strides. Seeing Zhuo Lingzhao was already about one zhang away, Wu Dingyuan looked up at Yan Ting and smiled sadly, “Little girl, farewell!”

Yan Ting was alarmed and said, “What about… what about you?”

Wu Dingyuan paid no attention at all and immediately shouted, “Sect Leader Zhuo! I beg you to save her life!” He suddenly rolled his eyes back and then swung both arms vigorously, throwing Yan Ting out with force. With a whoosh, Yan Ting’s petite body flew toward Zhuo Lingzhao. Zhuo Lingzhao reached out his left hand and instantly caught Yan Ting in his arms.

Zhuo Lingzhao raised his voice and shouted, “Wu Dingyuan! Hold on tight and I’ll pull you over!” He gave a “hey” and immediately threw out his belt with his right hand. With his profound internal strength, the belt immediately wrapped around Wu Dingyuan’s arm. Zhuo Lingzhao pulled with his right hand, about to drag him over.

Wu Dingyuan looked at the belt on his hand and thought, “As a constable, not only can I not bring criminals to justice, but to live this moment longer, I actually have to accept favors from this villain. I… I am the most useless bastard in the world! Haha! Wu Dingyuan, Wu Dingyuan, you’re so ridiculous – better to die! Die!”

Wu Dingyuan looked at the crowd crying and dying around him, suddenly smiled sadly, actually threw off the belt, turned around and walked into the lake.

Zhuo Lingzhao was shocked and said, “Wu Dingyuan! Don’t you want your life?”

Wu Dingyuan looked up to the sky and roared wildly, “Heaven!” Then with a splash, he had already jumped into the lake water and instantly disappeared from sight.

Everyone was horrified and cried out in alarm. Yan Ting screamed miserably and fainted.

Zhuo Lingzhao was bewildered and confused, thinking, “Wu Dingyuan, Wu Dingyuan, why wouldn’t you let me pull you over? This way you could have lived. Why must you act so high and mighty?”

Jiang Chong saw Wu Dingyuan jump into the lake and commit suicide, feeling miserable as he thought, “This guide is dead – how are we to cross?”

Jin Lingshuang thought, “This man is truly a good hero. He sacrificed his life to save this little girl. How many people in the world could have such spirit and courage?” But he heard Qian Lingyi laughing loudly, “This man is an idiot!”

Everyone wildly guessed why Wu Dingyuan jumped into the lake, but no one knew his true heart.

Wu Dingyuan wasn’t someone who acted high and mighty, nor was he material for doing great deeds. Others liked to seek fame and act upright, liked to flatter and curry favor – these things weren’t what he loved doing. He was just a worldly-wise constable who knew when to advance and when to retreat. At thirty-six, he had long known when to open his eyes and when to close them. In this chaotic world, he had his own measuring stick in his heart.

But because of the Yanling Escort Agency case, this constable who believed in the middle way was shaken. The moment Qi Runxiang died in his arms, he was only alert that a big case had come. But at the instant of Qi Bochuan’s death, he deeply understood that the justice and righteousness in his heart had been shattered.

For the Yanling Escort Agency case, Prefect Lu Qingzheng had threatened him, and Zhi Guan and Fang Zijing had also advised him. Everyone told him to put down this burden, telling him he needn’t bear this major case involving political strife. If Wu Dingyuan had really dropped this case, no one would have blamed him.

Why would a constable who deeply understood human nature and worldly affairs choose to persist stubbornly, ending up losing his position and fleeing for his life?

Because Wu Dingyuan’s measuring stick had been broken.

For Wu Dingyuan, you could kill one escort in front of him, even kill two escorts – he wouldn’t consider you an enemy. At most he would come arrest and prosecute you, but he wouldn’t hate you. But you absolutely couldn’t exterminate an entire family in front of him. If you killed even the last surviving orphan, he would find it very hard to forget you.

Probably never would.

Unfortunately, the Kunlun sect had done it, and so had Jiang Chong. In that moment of life and death, Wu Dingyuan knew he couldn’t accept life-saving grace from Zhuo Lingzhao and these people. He completely understood that as long as he accepted this favor, the measuring stick in his heart would have no way to forgive himself.

Wu Dingyuan chose death because he hated his own weakness and incompetence, hated that Heaven had placed too heavy a burden on his shoulders, hated that his conscience was too strong, hated life’s helplessness…

Pitiful this constable who had fled to the ends of the earth died just like this in Shenji Cave.

Dying without a penny to his name.

Seeing Wu Dingyuan jump into the lake and commit suicide, everyone was amazed and puzzled when suddenly they heard the thunderous rumbling in the distance gradually cease. The flood water then retreated. The great water receded so quickly that in a moment it had retreated dozens of zhang.

Jiang Chong and the others, seeing they were saved, both felt their legs go weak and the three men sat down together on the ground. They turned to look and saw dozens of Brocade Guard experts had all perished completely. The gunners Luo Moshi brought also had none who survived.

An’dao Jing wiped the cold sweat from his head and asked, “Lord Jiang, this Shenji Cave is really too terrifying. Are we still going over?”

Jiang Chong’s face showed fierce and vicious expression as he stared at the distant Nether Sea and coldly smiled, “If I don’t see that person, I tell you I will never give up!”

An’dao Jing, seeing his expression, was so frightened his whole body shook and he couldn’t speak for a long time.

Over there, the Kunlun people saw the great water recede and all leaped down from the stone wall. Zhuo Lingzhao’s face was ugly as he muttered to himself, “Wu Dingyuan is dead. Without this guide, how are we to cross?”

The others, having seen such tremendous changes of heaven and earth, all had extremely ugly expressions. Only Yan Ting alone had tears in her eyes. She gazed at the red lake water, thinking of Wu Dingyuan’s heroic act of jumping into the lake to commit suicide, and for a moment seemed dazed.