Invincible Dad-Chapter 497: Three Crows_1
"An old man rowing a boat in the Netherworld... smiled at you?"
Xu Lai’s expression finally turned grave. This problem was far more serious than the Emperor Realm corpse in the Samsara Sea. In a place where the laws of life and death cycle, it was impossible for any living being to exist!
Even an Emperor Realm expert could not survive there.
Unless the person in question was already dead.
"He smiled, he... AHHHHHHH!"
Li Yuan only got halfway through his sentence before his expression suddenly became agitated. He screamed out loud and clawed frantically at the walls. The newly healed wounds on his fingertips split open again, leaving crooked streaks of blood on the wall.
Hearing the commotion, Li Yuan’s mother hurried to open the door. Just as she was about to step inside, she heard Li Yuan shriek, "Get out! All of you, get out!"
"..."
Li Yuan’s mother covered her mouth and sobbed, but she didn’t dare take another step forward.
With a point of his finger, Xu Lai made Li Yuan’s body go limp. He collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
"Let him sleep for a while."
After speaking, Xu Lai turned and left the apartment. After a moment of thought, he personally carved a protective formation for the Dongli student.
He was the head of Dongli University’s infirmary, after all. Only he was allowed to bully his students. No one else!
「...」
Li Yuan had gone mad.
The news gradually began to spread throughout Dongli University.
Xu Lai sought out all the teachers and students who had participated in the archaeological dig with Li Yuan. He spent the afternoon questioning them and offering comfort, and by the end of it, he had finally confirmed the location where the Netherworld had appeared, along with some specific details.
The site wasn’t too far away, located on a mountain on the border between East Sea City and Hangcheng. A resort was originally planned for the site, but construction excavators had dug up a coffin. After expert analysis, it was believed to be the tomb of some ancient official. His life story indicated he was a great general who had spent half his life in battle, a discovery of immense historical research value. After the artifacts were removed and studied by professional researchers, the site was preserved and designated as an extracurricular study location for history and archaeology majors.
For years, nothing had happened there.
Unfortunately for Li Yuan, he had seen something he shouldn’t have.
The Netherworld Road is extremely dangerous.
Even Xu Lai had to take it seriously, so he brought his daughter, Yiyi, and Qian Xiao along. Ancient texts recorded that the Great Emperor Youming had fallen into the Netherworld as a young boy with his parents. His parents died, but he survived.
Xu Lai suspected that the younger one was, the safer they might be when facing the Netherworld.
Of course, Xu Lai mainly wanted Yiyi to broaden her horizons. After all, the Netherworld Road was a sight that appeared only once in many eons. Some Emperor Realm powerhouses had searched their entire lives without ever finding it.
Xu Lai drove toward the nameless mountain. From the back seat, Qian Xiao asked cheerfully, "Uncle Xu, where are we going?"
"I’m taking you on an adventure."
"Really?"
Qian Xiao was skeptical but didn’t overthink it. Although Uncle Xu always seems to want to beat me up for no reason, he wouldn’t actually harm a kid, right? Besides, as long as I can be with Big Sis, I’ll go anywhere!
Qian Xiao stole a glance at Xu Yiyi. When her gaze met his, he quickly looked away and stared out the window.
Yiyi didn’t notice anything, busy eating the cloud candy in her hand.
After a moment, Qian Xiao sneaked another peek at Yiyi and let out a foolish chuckle, as if he were looking at the most beautiful scenery in the world.
Xu Lai saw everything clearly in the rearview mirror and curled his lip. This little brat is definitely after my precious daughter. Once we get to the construction site, I’ll have Qian Xiao scout ahead!
They arrived at the mountain on the border of the two cities. The area was desolate and uninhabited.
The dilapidated construction site spoke of endless desolation. Atop the withered trees by the road, three crows cawed eerily, "CAW, CAW, CAW!"
This strange atmosphere made Qian Xiao tense up. "Uncle Xu, are we here for an adventure in the wilderness?"
"Scared?" Xu Lai picked up Yiyi and said with a smile, "If you’re scared, you can go back first."
Qian Xiao was speechless. I do want to go back, but how am I supposed to get home? It’s over a hundred kilometers from here!
Qian Xiao declared earnestly, "Uncle Xu, I’m a man, a real man! How could I be scared? Besides, there’s nothing here—"
Before he could finish, the three crows on the withered tree flew over his head and started cawing loudly. Crows were a symbol of ill omen. Even a child like Qian Xiao, who didn’t know much, felt a deep sense of dread. With a "WAAAH!" he hugged Xu Lai’s thigh like a koala, his expression one of sheer panic.
"Weren’t you just saying you weren’t scared?" Xu Lai chuckled.
"I’m not scared at all! I’m just... just a little tired," Qian Xiao said cautiously.
Xu Lai said nothing, simply grabbing Qian Xiao by the scruff of his neck and setting him back on the ground.
Under Qian Xiao’s resentful gaze, the trio walked into the mountain range that had been deserted for many years.
The mountain itself was nameless.
There had once been plans to build a resort here. The general outline of the project was still visible, including a gigantic Ferris wheel. The once-magnificent structures were now covered with patchy rust, and wild hares ran through the nearby woods. Coupled with the three crows circling in the sky, the desolation was absolutely terrifying.
"Uncle Xu, what treasure is here? Why did we have to come here?" Qian Xiao was almost crying with fear.
Xu Lai was concentrating on sensing his surroundings and ignored him.
Yiyi clung nervously to Xu Lai’s neck and asked the same question.
Xu Lai whispered, "We’re here to find the Netherworld."
"..."
Qian Xiao’s calves trembled. "Uncle Xu, I’m still little, just a child. Can’t we go back?"
Yiyi, however, narrowed her large, crescent-shaped eyes and said in a sweet, soft voice, "With Daddy here, Yiyi isn’t afraid of any Netherworld."
As she spoke, the little girl planted a kiss on Xu Lai’s cheek. "Mwah."
"Hehe."
Xu Lai laughed out loud.
Seeing that his Big Sis was getting excited, Qian Xiao could only follow with a grim face, not daring to say another word.
"Yiyi, use your Divine Sense to feel everything around you. Divine Sense is your second pair of eyes. Use these eyes to see the insects, plants, birds, and trees."
Xu Lai began to teach Yiyi how to use her Divine Sense. Yiyi did as she was told.
After a moment of hesitation, Qian Xiao also activated his Divine Sense, and the two children began crying out in surprise and amazement.
"Wow, Uncle Xu, there’s a monkey on the mountain! And it’s a boy monkey!"
"Daddy, those crows keep watching us."
"..."
Xu Lai humored them while scanning the surroundings, his brow slightly furrowed. He had just swept the entire mountain with his Divine Sense but found no trace of the Netherworld—not even a hint, not even near the tomb where the coffin and artifacts had been discovered.
"Daddy, there’s an old grandpa on that yellow river," Xu Yiyi suddenly said, pointing ahead. "Look, he’s smiling at us!"
