Li Xuan stopped outside Youdu City.
Li Xuan suddenly recalled a problem. The Underworld was inhabited by the Nine Nether race. His own human aura was completely different from theirs. Moreover, the Nether Pagoda was clearly no ordinary item and would surely have powerful guardians.
If he were to proceed alone, he would be like a lamb entering a tiger's den if he encountered an insurmountable opponent.
Li Xuan knew that such a powerful being would likely pay no heed to a mere subordinate like Ming Luo.
"Young Master, please rest assured. Even if the guarding powerhouse does not give you face, they will give my father face," Ming Luo said hurriedly after hearing Li Xuan's concerns.
Clearly, Ming Luo valued his own life dearly. If he couldn't demonstrate sufficient value at this moment, Li Xuan might not keep him, an insignificant individual.
"Oh?" Li Xuan looked at Ming Luo with surprise.
"My father is an elder of the Nine Nether tribe, and no one dares to disrespect his face within the tribe. Otherwise, with my own strength, how could I have entered the attention of the higher-ups and descended to the fifth dimension?" Ming Luo said with a wry smile.
A flicker of surprise flashed in Li Xuan's eyes. He hadn't expected that his first encounter in the Underworld would be with the son of a Nine Nether elder. Upon learning of Ming Luo's background, Li Xuan finally understood why Ming Luo had been arranged to descend to the fifth dimension.
"Rest assured, as long as I can enter the Nether Pagoda and see Yao'er safely, I will guarantee your safety," Li Xuan stated.
A hint of relief crossed Ming Luo's face. Sensing that Li Xuan was not a bloodthirsty individual, a flicker of struggle appeared in his eyes.
After a moment, Ming Luo looked at Li Xuan and said, "While your strength is not weak, it will be very difficult to rescue the person from the Nether Pagoda. The opening of the Nine Nether Palace is less than half a year away. The Nether Pagoda will be opened to outsiders then, and you might have a chance."
Li Xuan's gaze immediately fell upon Ming Luo. "Nine Nether Palace?"
Ming Luo explained, "The Nether Pagoda is located within the Nine Nether Palace. This Nine Nether Palace opens once a year. Our Nine Nether tribe holds the Nether Competition, and the top hundred individuals on the Nether Rankings can enter the Nether Pagoda for a month of cultivation. If you wish to enter the Nether Pagoda, this is your only opportunity."
Li Xuan finally understood. According to Ming Luo, this was indeed the best timing.
"What is this Nether Rankings you speak of?" Li Xuan asked again after some thought.
Ming Luo replied, "The Nether Rankings are the rankings of our Nine Nether tribe members at the Dao Fusion realm and above. Every year, the Nether Rankings are determined through competition when the Nine Nether Palace opens. However, these rankings rarely change, as few individuals achieve major breakthroughs each year."
Li Xuan nodded slightly and then asked curiously, "Since the Nether Rankings are for those at the Dao Fusion realm and above, your strength should place you on the list."
Ming Luo nodded bitterly. "With my strength, I am only ranked nine hundred and fifty-seventh on the Nether Rankings. To enter the Nether Pagoda through this ranking is not enough. It is unlikely I will ever enter the top hundred in my lifetime."
Li Xuan's eyes widened in surprise. Ming Luo, at the initial stage of Dao Fusion, was only ranked nine hundred and fifty-seventh. The strength of those in the top hundred could only be imagined. Such formidable combat power was truly terrifying.
In the vast universe, they would likely be overlord-level existences.
"However, this is nothing. The top ten individuals have all broken through to the Realm Fusion stage. They have held the top ten rankings for decades," Ming Luo said, noticing Li Xuan's expression and feeling a hint of pride as he revealed more information.
Li Xuan's expression indeed became more solemn.
After the Dao Integration Realm came the Dao One Realm, the Realm Creation Realm, and the Dao Fusion Realm. Li Xuan's current strength was only at the initial stage of Realm Creation, and it was artificially boosted by absorbing the spiritual sword. His true combat power was likely only at the peak of the Dao One Realm.
"I must say, your Nine Nether tribe is very powerful. But one thing I am curious about is, with so many powerful individuals, why would Ming Jiuyou agree to send you to the fifth dimension? I would think that even with your familiarity with the Anwu Continent, such an important matter wouldn't fall to you?"
Seeing the expression on Ming Luo's face, Li Xuan's mind stirred, and he spoke.
Ming Luo's expression immediately became nervous, his averted gaze as if a secret had been discovered.
Li Xuan then chuckled and continued, "And you mentioned your father is an elder of the Nine Nether tribe, implying your family holds significant status within the Nine Nether tribe, right? Otherwise, would the guardian of the Nether Pagoda give your father face?"
The bitterness on Ming Luo's face deepened, and he replied, "Your insight is demonic, truly admirable. Our family does indeed hold considerable weight within the Nine Nether tribe."
"Besides my father being an elder of the Nine Nether tribe, my ancestor was once a clan elder of the Nine Nether tribe. Because of this, our family possesses some say within the Nine Nether tribe. We also enjoy more resources than ordinary elders."
Li Xuan's eyes also showed a hint of surprise. He hadn't expected Ming Luo's family to have such a background.
"I didn't expect your family to have such a background. No wonder you have achieved such strength at such a young age. It seems your family's cultivation resources are very abundant. Tell me, besides Ming Jiuyou, which other powerful families are there in your Nine Nether tribe?" Li Xuan asked, his eyes showing a trace of astonishment.
Ming Luo rolled his eyes. This was incredibly sarcastic.
However, seeing Li Xuan looking at him curiously, Ming Luo could only give a wry smile and say, "There are six clans in our Nine Nether tribe. Excluding the Patriarch's family, they are divided according to the Great Elder to the Fifth Elder."
"Our family is the Second Elder of the Nine Nether tribe. Each elder has their own jurisdiction. Within these regions, there are tribal members and city lords. Furthermore, our Nine Nether tribe has an Elder Council, and all major decisions are made jointly by our five families and the Patriarch."
Li Xuan nodded in realization. Based on Ming Luo's description of the power distribution, Li Xuan now had a good understanding of the Nine Nether tribe's overall structure.
He hadn't expected Ming Luo's family to hold such a position within the Nine Nether tribe. However, the stronger Ming Luo's family's influence was, the more advantageous it would be for Li Xuan.
According to Ming Luo, his family, the Second Elder's lineage, only had Ming Luo as a direct descendant. This was a bargaining chip Li Xuan would naturally use with caution.
"Since there is still half a year until the Nine Nether Palace opens, I will go into seclusion here. We can then proceed to compete when the Nine Nether Palace opens," Li Xuan said after some thought.
"However, before that, I need an identity. Otherwise, my human aura will likely be detected as soon as I arrive."
Seeing Li Xuan's gaze shift to him, Ming Luo immediately said, "That is simple. Our Nine Nether tribe has a large population, and under our family's rule, there are many smaller clans. Among these smaller clans are human cultivators who have ascended. I will arrange an identity for you, Young Master, ensuring no mistakes. After all, my life is still in your hands."
Ming Luo clearly felt a strand of sword energy in his dantian. If this sword energy were to be agitated, his life would be forfeit.
Li Xuan nodded in satisfaction and said, "In that case, I will trouble you. Rest assured, once this is accomplished, I will release you."
Ming Luo nodded. His utmost cooperation was only to save his life. Moreover, the information he provided to Li Xuan could be easily verified with a little investigation. Ming Luo was naturally not hiding anything, hoping to gain Li Xuan's favor.
Half an hour later, Li Xuan entered a newly dug stone cave to begin his seclusion. As for Ming Luo, Li Xuan set up a barrier outside the stone cave and also created a stone cave for Ming Luo to rest.
Although Ming Luo had considered contacting his family, he ultimately did not dare to take the risk. Furthermore, Li Xuan had warned that if the sword energy left his body for more than a hundred meters, he would activate it. Ming Luo did not dare to try to escape on his own.
After Li Xuan began his seclusion, Ming Luo, after spending a day in the stone cave, eventually chose to enter his own cave to cultivate. Although Li Xuan had placed restrictions, it did not hinder cultivation. Moreover, staying alone in the cave doing nothing was not as good as choosing to cultivate like Li Xuan.
Time flew by, and without realizing it, three months had quietly passed.