My Crazy Upgrade System

Soon, all four of them were on the raft, paddling with wooden boards and moving forward at a steady pace. It was as if they had become ordinary people again. They had to paddle slowly and couldn’t risk using their hands. Otherwise, they would be poisoned to death by the Netherwater long before they ever reached the Netherworld.

As they traveled, a dark aura constantly rose from the Nether River, attempting to envelop them. Yi Tianyun’s title effect repelled the dark aura, but the others had to steadily circulate their Spiritual Power to force it back. Otherwise, if it invaded their bodies, they would surely die on the way to the Netherworld.

Yi Tianyun also received a wooden board and paddled along with them. As he pushed through the Netherwater, it felt like he was moving through a viscous liquid, making it quite difficult. With his strength, it was still easy for him, but he slowed down to match the others’ pace. With his power, he could have been moving much faster.

While they paddled, everyone’s expression was grim. They scanned their surroundings vigilantly, worried about a potential attack. The Demon Trees on the outside had been dangerous enough; it was bound to be worse in here.

Yi Tianyun glanced at them. He wanted to ask why they weren’t trying to go to the Celestial Realm, but he held his tongue. ’Although the world is divided into the Three Realms, no one knows how to ascend to the Celestial Realm. The only known path leads down to the Netherworld, right through here. That must be why everyone is heading this way.’

"Paddle hard! We need to pick up the speed, get out of here, and reach our destination! The longer we linger, the greater the danger! Once we reach the Netherworld and put down roots, we can carve out a new future for ourselves! The legends say the Netherworld has an abundance of Spirit Medicine and inheritances scattered everywhere. When we get there, I’ll lead you to find them!" Liu Long’s voice drifted over from a nearby raft. His words made the Cultivators following him swell with excitement, and they began paddling much more vigorously.

"We’re with you, Liu!"

A fanatical light gleamed in their eyes, each of them filled with beautiful dreams for the future.

’Their cultivation levels aren’t low, yet they believe such empty promises?’ Yi Tianyun frowned. ’It’s like they’ve been brainwashed. How can there be so many gullible fools? If they were only at the Body Refining Stage, I could understand. But the ones following him are at the Spirit Pill Stage, some even at the Core Formation Stage. How could such powerful cultivators be so naive?’

"The reason he can get so many people to trust him, Yi, is because he has a map of the Netherworld! And some other assorted Treasures. He’s shown them off a bit to prove that traversing the Netherworld Passage is no problem for him. That’s why they follow him so blindly," Yang Zhiwen said disdainfully. "I don’t buy it. Liu Long’s reputation is awful, but plenty of people still fall for his act."

"Exactly. Who knows where he got that map, or if it’s even authentic. We’ll just stick to our own plan," Ren Liangchen said.

Yi Tianyun had no idea who Liu Long was, as he generally didn’t pay attention to such things. After hearing their explanation, he realized it was because the man possessed some valuable items; otherwise, no one would have believed him. ’Some people believe, some don’t. As for me, I’ll just trust myself.’

He glanced to the side and saw two other rafts had pulled up to the bank. People were beginning to climb the cliff face, clearly intending to harvest the Spirit Medicine and Spirit Flowers growing there. Not everyone wanted to go to the Netherworld. Without a guaranteed safe route, few would risk the journey.

Unless they had no other choice, almost no one would attempt to go to the Netherworld. It was simply too great a risk.

One of the cultivators picking Spirit Medicine had barely started climbing the cliff face when it suddenly began to tremble. A massive, blood-red maw opened up and snapped at him. The Core Formation Stage expert reacted instantly, leaping to the side. Just as he tried to get another handhold on the cliff, it moved again, its giant mouth lunging to bite him once more!

This time, there was no escape. The cliff face swallowed him whole, and he vanished into the rock. The sight left everyone dumbfounded, especially those who had never witnessed such a thing before. They were terrified.

Outside, it was the trees that attacked. Here, it was the cliff walls! Truly, nowhere was safe. The slightest lapse in concentration could lead to an attack.

BOOM!

Just then, an explosion erupted from within the cliff face, and the Core Formation Stage expert was blasted out. He was a complete mess, and unable to fly, he plummeted from the air.

SPLASH!

The Core Formation Stage expert plunged into the water, only to immediately burst back to the surface. He began flailing his arms, desperately swimming toward his raft. But his speed was incredibly slow. He was using every last ounce of his strength just to propel himself forward. As he swam, his complexion grew darker and darker, a clear sign the Nether River’s poison had seeped into his system.

"Quick! Pull me up!" the Core Formation Stage expert roared, his voice so hoarse he could barely get the words out.

His companions quickly paddled over. When they reached him, they didn’t dare use their hands to pull him out. Instead, they extended a wooden board for him to grab onto, then hauled him aboard. Once on the raft, his entire body was pitch-black, as if thoroughly poisoned. The areas where he had been injured were already starting to rot. It was a gruesome sight.

HUFF... HUFF... "Antidote... antidote..." the Core Formation Stage expert gasped, lying on the raft, completely spent.

His companion immediately forced an antidote into his mouth. He seemed to recover slightly, but it was clear he wouldn’t be moving for a while. A Core Formation Stage expert, reduced to a severely injured, immobile state in the blink of an eye. The Nether River was truly terrifying.

Still, his companion’s first aid was quick, at least managing to stabilize his condition.

"They look like they’re from a third-rank faction. Their technique was quite practiced, but they just had some bad luck and fell into the trap anyway," Ren Liangchen remarked.

Yi Tianyun nodded, his understanding of this place growing. ’The most venomous thing here is undoubtedly the Nether River. If you fall in, especially with an open wound, and there’s no one to help you, you’re just waiting to die.’

"Th-that’s terrifying... W-we’re not going to fall into the Nether River, are we?"

"The Netherworld Passage is this dangerous...? I... Is it too late to go back?"

Just then, some of the people with Liu Long began to show their fear, wanting to leave.

"We’ve come all this way, and you’re saying that now?" Liu Long glared at the man and roared, "If you don’t have the guts for this, how will you ever achieve anything great? Trust me! I will lead you safely into the Netherworld!"

His reassurance quieted them down somewhat, but they were still clearly worried about what lay ahead.

"Just a disorganized mob. They think they can reach the Netherworld on sheer enthusiasm alone? They’re just asking to die!" Leng Hu snorted from the side, his voice filled with disdain. He then looked over at Yi Tianyun. "You’re not starting to have similar ideas, are you? If you’re afraid, it’s not too late to turn back. There’s no shame in retreating. Your life is what’s most important. There are no second chances once you’re dead."

Leng Hu’s words were cold, but that last part was surprisingly heartwarming. A cold expression hiding a warm heart.

Yi Tianyun smiled. "Leng, it’ll take more than this to scare me."

"Good. Just stay close. Our group is well-prepared for this journey to the Netherworld. Follow our lead, and our chances of success are very high." Seeing Yi Tianyun’s determined expression, Leng Hu managed a rare smile, though it looked more painful than a grimace. It seemed he was beginning to approve of Yi Tianyun—at least he wasn’t like those other Cultivators who immediately looked ready to flee.