Nether Realm

Mingyao felt a sudden tug in her mind, like unseen hands trying for control over the wheel. Then, a warm current, a soft current pulsed through her. The wild tremors stilled, and the treasure stabilized. But this qi… it wasn't her own. It was as though someone were pouring energy directly into her dantian. Even her fading consciousness, which had begun to slip away, anchored itself once more in her body.

Confusion clouded her thoughts—until a faint silvery giggle rang from within. It rippled through her bones, vibrating in the hollow of her chest, brushing against her heart. In that instant, she remembered her "ghost sister." Calming herself, she reached for the second book and began to read.

"The Nethermoon Crossing Method," she whispered.

She opened the first page.

The Nethermoon Crossing Method is a technique that allows one to traverse between the physical world and the spirit realm through the Law of Beginnings and Ends—the Authority of Life and Death.

Its key lies in the Moonshadow Pearl, harvested during the most auspicious hours of a full moon, when the spiritual tide reaches its height. Bathed for three hours in true moon essence, the pearl becomes a vessel that grants three days of entry into the spirit realm—thirty Nether-days beneath the dominion of the current Law Holder.

The spirit realm is a domain of chaos and mystery, where the ordinary laws of space and time hold no authority. It encompasses both the existence and the absence of all things, simultaneously. Navigation within this realm is possible only through a Law—an Authority—such as that governing Life and Death.

By stabilizing a portion of the chaos, one may carve out a domain, like the Nether Continent, where souls gather before reincarnation. With such territories, the flow of time can be shaped at will. In extreme cases, one might even travel through time itself—into the past or the future. But beware: such acts are perilous, especially for those bound to the lower worlds.

"So that's why," Mingyao muttered. "In essence, I have thirty-two days for cultivation… but—" She turned the page and continued reading.

The spirit world is all-encompassing, overflowing with countless forms of energy. From abundant elemental qi and pure spirit-origin qi, to sinister baleful qi, and even the most abstract forces such as primordial qi, chaos qi, and the heaven-and-earth qi—it contains them all. Within this boundless sea of power, cultivation proceeds ten times faster than in the material realm.

Yet, such abundance carries great peril. The spirit world teems with powerful spirit beings, and the risk of a cultivator being devour or worse transformed into one of them is alarmingly high. For this reason, no one may embark upon the journey unprepared. A ritual is required, and the Nethermoon Crossing Method provides one such safeguard—known as the Trinity of the Nethermoon.

As with all great rituals, however, suitable preparations must be made before one begins.

Trinity of the Nethermoon.

Preparation

The Moonshadow Pearl must be bathed in three hours of true full-moon light—also called the Spirit Moon—until it bears the moon's shadow within. To complete the process, pure spirit energy is required, either drawn from spirit stones or transmuted from life essence into spiritual qi. Throughout, the practitioner's body must remain still, the breath steady, and the heart free of turbulence.

Only then may the Trinity begin.

Once these preparations are complete, the steps of the Trinity of the Nethermoon must be followed without deviation otherwise cultivators risk losing themselves to the boundless chaos of the spirit world.

First step. Heart-Sealing Coffer 

Seal the Heart, Empty the Mind

Close the eyes and summon forth an image of a black-and-silver coffer within the chest. Place within it all stray thoughts: fear, longing, anger, doubt.

Close the coffer and bind it with the Pearl's light.

Recite:

"The dust of ten thousand thoughts is sealed.My heart is still, my intent is pure.Let no shadow follow me into the Nether."

Step Two: Cycle-Balancing Sphere 

Balance the Currents of Life and Death

Inhale deeply, drawing spiritual energy into the dantian.

Hold the breath, and visualize threads of black and silver weaving into a sphere about your form. Exhale, letting the sphere expand outward until you are encased within a cocoon of balanced qi.

Recite:

"Life and Death turn as one wheel.Yin and Yang rise and fall without strife.In their balance, I walk unharmed."

Step Three: The Nethermoon Vow 

Proclaim Identity, Intent, and Right of Passage

Place the Pearl to the brow, or hold it in the palm over the heart. Let its lunar light mingle with your own spirit. Speak aloud or within the soul:

"I am not bound to flesh alone; my spirit walks the currents of Yin and Yang.By this vow, I seek growth in harmony with the Law of Life and Death, rejecting all chaos unfit for my path.I call upon the Nethermoon's light to guide, guard, and return me whole."

Crossing

When the Pearl stirs with warmth, or glows as if holding a living moon, inhale once, exhale thrice, and let your spirit tilt forward.

In that instant, the tether is cast: body anchored, soul crossing.

Three days in the realm of flesh shall pass, yet thirty days shall unfold beneath the Nethermoon's gaze.

These steps are vital for the detachment of the spirit body: the primordial spirit for cultivators at Core Formation and below, and both the primordial spirit and nascent soul for those at the Nascent Soul stage and above. This is necessary because a material body beneath the Deity Kindling stage is far too fragile to traverse the spirit world physically.

The ritual, and the crossing into the Nether Realm, may only be attempted during the narrow window between midnight and three hours past. Once that time passes, the gates of the Nether Realm close. Upon returning, one must be vigilant—for if the Moonshadow Pearl disintegrates before the spirit body rejoins the flesh, the soul will perish, and the body will follow.

You may now wonder: how does this cultivation work? The answer is simple. The spirit body and the physical body are tethered. What befalls one is mirrored by the other. If the spirit body cultivates, the physical body reflects its advancement. But if the spirit body is harmed, that same harm is inflicted upon the flesh.

Mingyao felt enlightened, amazed, and a little confused all at once. She had never imagined such a vast and hidden world lay before her. Rising to her feet, her gaze lifted to the window where moonlight span across the floorboards, pale and cold. She could feel time slipping past her.

I can still make it.

She knew the dangers, yet time was still within the three-hour window. First, however, she needed to extract spirit energy from the stones—both to preserve her body during the three-day vacancy and to fuel the journey to and from the Nether Realm. Her aunt's stones gleamed faintly on the table; she was ready to proceed.

And yet, questions stirred within her. If she departed, what would happen to her sister? Would she gain free rein over the body? And if she encountered a spirit beast in the Nether Realm, how could she fight it—could her spirit body even harm such beings?

Then, a bold thought crystallized.

It's do or die, she told herself. If this is the path chosen for me, then I will start from the very beginning.

She had endured enough of her aunt and her games. From the fragments of information she had gathered, it was clear that advancing to Foundation Establishment through martial cultivation would be heavily obstructed by the being responsible for the false tribulations. Moreover, a foundation built upon martial cultivation was likely weaker than one established through immortal cultivation. Since she intended to pursue the immortal path regardless, she might as well begin anew.

Another matter weighed heavily on her mind—the Ascendance Token. If she abandoned martial cultivation and embraced immortal cultivation instead, would the token still bind her? She despised how her aunt toyed with her, treating her like a pawn. From this thought, her resolve sharpened.

Once within the spirit realm, she would shatter her martial cultivation and begin anew with immortal cultivation. If the Ascendance Token still held sway, then so be it—she would cast it aside along with everything else. Her aunt needed to understand that she could not be controlled so easily. This was her choice, her path—even if it ended in her death.

With her determination solid, she began the ritual.

She found brief instructions tucked within the book's margins—lines on refining spirit stones—and followed it carefully. Her aunt's stones now gleamed faintly in her hands, then dissolved like sugar in hot water, releasing streams of pure energy that sank into her meridians. Her veins pulsed, her skin thrummed, and power flooded her frame until her body shivered under its weight. She clenched her fists, grounding herself against the surge. So much energy…

Clasping the Moonshadow Pearl in her hand, she began the Trinity of the Nethermoon. First, she created the Coffers, which left her body light and her mind sharply focused. Next, she spread out the energy, a warm veil of protection wrapping around her. Finally, her spirit lifted free from her body as a vast gate, glowing with a deep violet radiance, opened before her. In an instant, she was drawn inside.

When she opened her eyes, two luminous threads shimmered before her: one long and endless, dissolving into infinity, and another one shorter and brighter tethered to her male form.

"Hello, brother," the male body greeted with a faint smile.

Mingyao chuckled softly. "I suppose that question has been answered."

She lifted her gaze to her surroundings. The Nether Realm was as exotic as she expected. Above her stretched an infinite sky, washed in hues of violet, black, and faint streaks of silver.

A brilliant purple moon loomed low on the horizon, radiating otherworldly light. It was alive, casting a shimmering glow that spilled across the shifting ground. The air was cold, yet serene, filled with richness that stirred the soul.

Beneath her feet stretched a plane of half-formed landscapes: barren wastes dissolving into oceans of mist, twisted forests of black and silver trees whose branches wept streams of strange essence, and rivers that flowed upward into the heavens before vanishing among the stars.

When her gaze lingered too long, the world bent and warped, as though reality itself had yet to decide on its shape.

The air was thick. Every inhalation carrying traces of profoundness and power. It was intoxicating but dangerous. The realm promises limitless growth while hiding danger behind every shadow.

Far in the distance, mountains of bone and crystal rose their peaks piercing the sky. Ghostlike clouds drifted between them. She could hear faint murmurs through the distance.

Yet, despite its strangeness, there was a profound beauty to it: a realm where the soul was laid bare.

This was the Nether Realm—the threshold between endings and beginnings.

Mingyao and "Mingyu," as they had chosen to call themselves, walked side by side through the barren realm. Mingyao's gaze hardened. "We need a place," she murmured, eyes scanning the desolate ground. "Somewhere hidden. A cave, a hollow… anything."

Her plan was set—she would crush her dantian, sever her martial path, and begin again from the very bottom. Qi refining… the true immortal path. The thought both chilled and strengthened her.

The ground crunched faintly beneath them, scattered with otherworldly vegetation. Twisted shrubs bore leaves of blue fire and violet frost, glimmering faintly under the purple light. For what felt like an eternity, the pair trudged forward, the silence gnawing at their nerves—until at last, Mingyao spotted it.

A cave calling in the distance.

"There." She pointed sharply, quickening her pace.

But the closer they drew, the less real it became. The edges blurred, shimmered, melted like smoke. The harder she pushed forward, the farther it seemed to retreat.

Mingyao's teeth clenched. "A mirage…?"

Mist rolled across the barren plain swallowing them whole. The air cooled until each breath scraped like frost in her lungs. When the fog thinned, they were no longer on a barren road.

A forest loomed.

The trees stood tall and skeletal, their bark the color of ash, their branches clawing into the sky. The sound struck next—harsh and grating.

Caw.

A crow's cry echoed, sharp enough to make her flinch. Then another.

Mingyao whipped her head up, scanning the skeletal canopy. Nothing. Only a single feather drifted down—black, gleaming faintly, landing before her feet.

Her gut tightened.

Mingyu glanced around uneasily. "I don't like this."

"Neither do I," Mingyao replied, forcing calm into her tone. "Keep moving."

They pressed forward. But the silence fractured again—this time with a sound far worse than caws.

Wailing.

Soft at first, like a mournful wind. Then louder. Weeping, sobbing, countless voices whispering loss. The cries layered together until they became an unbearable cacophony of grief. The very air vibrated with despair.

Mingyao's chest constricted. A prickling sense of wrongness climbed her spine. Her fingers seized Mingyu's wrist. "Run!"

They bolted. Branches whipped at them as the forest twisted in protest.

Then, as suddenly as it had begun, the wailing cut off.

The silence that followed was worse.

A crack. A groan.

The trees themselves began to move.

Trunks bent unnaturally, twisting with a sound like grinding bones. Roots tore free from the soil, writhing like serpents. Branches stretched, creaked, clawing toward them with a hunger that felt alive.

The ground shook with each heaving contortion.

Mingyao's heart thundered. She dragged Mingyu faster, lungs burning. "Don't stop! No matter what, don't—"

The sky erupted.

One crow. Then two. Then ten.

A tide of black wings burst into the air, blotting out the fractured moonlight. The flock swirled above them, cawing in unison, the sound sharp enough to pierce bone.

Mingyao's breath caught. They're driving us… herding us…

Then the ground betrayed them.

Mingyu stumbled. His foot snagged on a writhing root, and in an instant, the living trees seized him. Branches lashed, coiling around his limbs, dragging him back.

"No—!" Mingyao lunged, but the tether between their souls tightened, yanking her down as the trees ensnared her too. Bark dug into her skin, sap searing like acid.

Her body quaked as energy drained from her veins, siphoned mercilessly. Her vision blurred, colors dimming, the world swimming in haze.

"Brother…" Mingyu's voice was weak, thready.

She clenched her teeth, fury and despair colliding. "Fight it! Don't give in!"

She clawed at the bark, trying to loosen its grip, but it was useless. Her energy drained, growing weaker with every passing moment.

Above, the crows descended. Their shadows fell like a curtain, their wings thunderous. And at their head—monsters.

Three-eyed crows, their gaze gleaming unnaturally. They swooped, talons outstretched, a wall of death crashing down from the sky.

Mingyao's last sight, through her fading vision, was of their burning eyes and the storm of beaks and claws hurtling toward her. The roar of wings thundered in her ears, drowning out the fractured moon—and even her own thoughts.

She tried to summon energy from within, and for a moment, her robes shimmered with a blue hue. She dared to hope she could salvage something—yet…

It powered down.

Her heart screamed No! as her mind raced to Yue Ying's blade. If only she had thought to carry it… but the darkness swallowed her before the word could escape her lips.

Then, as her consciousness began to fade, she felt something warm.