Chapter 932: Contact

"Transcend the Three Realms, break the cycle of reincarnation. The Three Realms are mind-only; all phenomena are consciousness-only."

As Bai Lingmiao's slender fingers brushed over the top of the head, its eyes closed forever, and a faint smile touched its lips. It had finally found liberation from this endless purgatory.

Gently holding the deceased head, Bai Lingmiao asked the willow tree before her, "Can I exchange this for information now?"

"Yes! Absolutely!" the heads on the willow tree exclaimed in unison, as if fearing that a moment's delay would make Bai Lingmiao regret her offer.

In this place, the most precious and cherished thing amidst the karmic suffering was likely death itself. Every being here would willingly give everything for eternal peace.

"The Xinsu are to the east!"

"There's a river to the east!"

"Not far, just thirty li!"

"After crossing the river, follow the mountain path into the deep mountains!"

"Once you enter the mountains, you might see them!"

"There are quite a few of them, perhaps a dozen! They're not to be trifled with!"

The heads eagerly competed to share information about the Xinsu.

Hearing there were over ten Xinsu, Bai Lingmiao's heart filled with joy, confirming she had come to the right place.

"We've told you! Let us die quickly! Hurry! We want to die!!"

"Don't go back on your word! If you don't let us die, we'll haunt you forever!"

The heads on the tree fell like hailstones, tumbling around Bai Lingmiao like a pack of puppies begging for food.

As Bai Lingmiao's hand brushed over their skulls, the heads gradually quieted, their faces revealing peaceful smiles.

Witnessing this scene, Tuoba Danqing, standing nearby, showed extreme longing in his eyes. For years, he had constantly yearned for death; he had nothing to eat and yet could not starve, perpetually tormented by hunger. Death would mean an end to all torment, making it a powerful temptation for him.

However, just as he was about to approach Bai Lingmiao, he vigorously shook his head and turned away. "No! I can't! I want to get out alive! I want revenge on Feng Erniu!!"

Suddenly, he burst into maniacal laughter. "Hahahaha!! Feng Erniu! You didn't think I could get out, did you?! Just you wait for me! I'm going to kill you! I'm definitely going to kill you!"

As the heads gradually died, the lush willow tree quickly withered, eventually turning black and cracking. Bai Lingmiao now somewhat understood why they hadn't gone mad; it was actually the willow tree that was truly alive, and the heads were merely its means of communication.

Having completed her transaction with the heads, Bai Lingmiao led the others eastward.

With a clear destination, Bai Lingmiao and her companions were filled with renewed vigor. They reached the river the heads had mentioned in less than a day.

A solitary pontoon bridge spanned the slow-moving river, with a sign next to it that read "Naihe."

"Naihe Bridge?" Bai Lingmiao pursed her lips, then led the others across the pontoon bridge with utmost vigilance.

To Bai Lingmiao's surprise, nothing happened on the bridge. They safely reached the opposite bank, where the great mountain, home to the dozen or so Xinsu, loomed before them.

The mountain in the darkness loomed like a sleeping giant, exuding an oppressive presence. A gravel path stretched from Bai Lingmiao's feet deep into the mountain.

"Be careful. If a dozen Xinsu really go mad, it'll be quite a spectacle."

Bai Lingmiao nodded, reflecting on how other sects had kept Li Huowang stable throughout their journey, as she walked into the mountain.

Once inside the mountain, Bai Lingmiao had the White Donkey call out to the forest, assuring them not to be nervous, as they had come with no ill intent.

"Everyone! Come out. I can help you escape this endless torment, whether it's the torment of the Xinsu or the torment of the Xinzhuo!"

Bai Lingmiao's actions demonstrated sincerity and a desire to engage with them without ill intent. She ultimately decided not to treat the Xinsu as others did, perhaps because Li Huowang was one. She believed Xinsu should be amenable to reason. In a win-win situation, there was no need for pretense; any rational person would know how to choose.

After walking about two li along the gravel path, Bai Lingmiao and her companions were stopped by a disheveled woman.

"Go back," she said to Bai Lingmiao in a hoarse voice.

The woman's attitude made Bai Lingmiao clench her hands inside her sleeves.

"We are here to help you. Don't be afraid, I'm here to save you," Bai Lingmiao said, subtly stepping forward.

"Get out!" the female Xinsu roared, and the ground instantly swelled, forming a stone sphere that rolled towards Bai Lingmiao and her companions with a trembling rumble, blocking the entire path.

The God-Striking White Donkey swiftly moved forward. Thirty-six people simultaneously squatted and then forcefully pushed, sending the stone sphere flying away.

They were just about to surround the female Xinsu but immediately stopped. Ten other people had appeared beside the woman. These individuals, of varying heights and genders, were dressed in tattered clothes, looking like members of the Beggar's Sect.

But the White Donkeys dared not be careless. These were all Xinsu, capable of conjuring things from nothing—a dozen such rare and invaluable treasures gathered together was truly priceless.

"Miss Bai, perhaps we should withdraw," Tuoba Danqing advised Bai Lingmiao. "These Xinsu might already be completely mad. We can formulate a better plan once we're outside."

"We're not mad."

Bai Lingmiao looked up to see a dark-skinned man. Judging by the bone rings adorning his hair, he was likely from Qingqiu.

"If you're not mad, what's wrong with you?! Can't you understand reason? Come with us quickly! We have a way out! Do you intend to stay here forever?" Ershen's words, however, did not elicit agreement.

"Get out? What for?" the leading Qingqiu Xinsu asked. "To be chased and beaten like cornered rats?"

"We have a way to remove the Innate Qi from your bodies, allowing you to live like ordinary mortals," Bai Lingmiao tried to persuade them again.

"Hmph! Mortals?" came the scoff. "We've endured so much suffering just to become ordinary mortals?"

Hearing this, Bai Lingmiao grew anxious. "If you don't leave, do you intend to stay here forever? There isn't even death here. What exactly do you plan to do?"

"What do we plan to do? We plan to become the Ten Kings of Hell!"

Hearing their words, Bai Lingmiao and her companions were momentarily stunned, unsure how to respond.

The Qingqiu Xinsu pointed to the ground. "What do you think this place is? This damned place *is* the underworld! It's only in this wretched state because no one is in charge!"

"As long as we become the new Kings of Hell," he continued, "we will not only gain eternal life but also ascend to the ranks of immortals!!"