Chapter 50: Nightmare (Part 6)

The massive Soul spoke slowly, its voice deep and majestic: "Who goes there? Why have you trespassed into my Netherworld?"

Although Lin Chen was afraid, she braced herself and took a step forward, her voice trembling yet firm: "It is me. I want to return to the real world!"

The Nether King's massive form trembled slightly, and he let out a cold snort: "Please address me as 'King'. The Netherworld is the place of reincarnation for Souls. A Soul without spirit cannot be reincarnated!"

Lin Chen looked up at the Nether King's hideous face, took a deep breath, and continued: "King, I do not wish to be reincarnated. I only wish to pass through the Netherworld to return to my world."

As she spoke, she cautiously held up the map, her hands trembling slightly, praying in her heart that this map would elicit a reaction from the Nether King.

The Nether King looked down at the map in Lin Chen's hands, his massive eyes narrowing slightly as if recalling something. He murmured to himself: "It is her…"

This whisper left Lin Chen somewhat puzzled, but she did not speak, simply waiting quietly for the Nether King's reaction.

The Nether King raised his head, took a deep look at Lin Chen, and then sneered: "Fine. Since it is her map, very well, I will make an exception for you this once."

His bell-like voice echoed in the cold air, but it was followed by a sense of unease.

Lin Chen felt a sense of relief, but immediately after, the Nether King's next words made her tense up again.

"However…" the Nether King said slowly, his massive form leaning forward slightly, a strange light glinting in his eyes, "you must wear these shackles. These shackles will prevent you from sneaking through and reincarnating in secret. Once you leave the Netherworld, these shackles will naturally fall off."

As he finished speaking, a pitch-black iron chain suddenly appeared in the Nether King's thick fingers.

At the other end of the iron chain were two ancient locking rings, which looked heavy and cold, emitting a faint, eerie light.

Lin Chen hesitated for a moment, a trace of unease flashing through her heart.

The iron chain clearly possessed some kind of mysterious power; once put on, she feared that her every move would be under the Nether King's control.

However, she had no choice; she had to pass through the Netherworld, otherwise, she would be trapped in this terrifying City of Corpse Souls forever.

She took a deep breath, her voice trembling slightly: "Fine, I agree."

Seeing that Lin Chen had agreed, a cold smile appeared on the Nether King's face.

He waved his hand, and the iron chain floated on its own to Lin Chen's feet, the two locking rings colliding in the air with a "clanking" sound.

Lin Chen gritted her teeth and gently extended her foot. The iron chain quickly wrapped itself around her ankle and locked tightly.

"Very good." The Nether King's voice sounded again: "Remember, you only have seven days. If you exceed seven days, these shackles will trap you completely in the Netherworld, and you will never be able to return to the real world."

Lin Chen felt the cold touch on her ankle, and a chill surged in her heart, but she could only grit her teeth, nod, and grip the map in her hand tightly.

"Thank you… King." She tried her best to remain calm, but her voice trembled uncontrollably.

The Nether King waved his hand slightly, signaling that she could leave: "Go. I hope you can walk out of the Netherworld alive."

Lin Chen turned around silently, dragging her heavy footsteps as she walked forward. The iron chain on her ankle made a faint "clinking" sound, as if constantly reminding her of this heavy burden.

The Nether King's sneer echoed behind her.

Although the Nether King had agreed to let her pass, he would occasionally use his sneer or shadows to lurk behind her, as if ready to go back on his word at any moment.

Lin Chen dragged the shackles, her steps heavy, with the Nether King's sneer echoing endlessly in her ears.

She tried hard to ignore the mocking echoes, clutching the map tightly, her gaze fixed straight ahead—the road leading to the real world.

However, with every step she took, the surrounding scenery began to change. What had originally been a dim wasteland suddenly became like a deathly silent graveyard, with the air permeated by the scent of decay.

In the distance, black mist churned endlessly, as if an abyss were waiting to devour her.

Lin Chen swallowed hard, her heartbeat gradually quickening.

She continued walking forward, but found her footsteps becoming heavier and heavier.

The ground gradually became muddy, and every step felt like sinking into a swamp; the weight of the shackles also seemed to be constantly increasing.

She looked down and saw that her feet had actually been grabbed by a cold hand! The hand was skeletal and thin, belonging to some unknown existence beneath the ground.

"Don't go! Stay with me… and remain here…"

Lin Chen was terrified and struggled desperately to break free, but the shackles were tightly connected to that hand, and she could not escape at all.

As she struggled, more and more hands emerged from the ground, like countless departed Souls trying to drag her into the dark abyss.

"Stay away!"

Lin Chen screamed, her body trembling violently, cold sweat pouring down her forehead.

Her strength was gradually fading, and it looked as though she was about to be dragged into the darkness by those countless hands.

Just then, Lin Fan's voice rang in her ears: "Lin Chen, relax, don't be afraid! Trust me, leave it to me!"

She gritted her teeth, realizing that if she continued to resist, she would only be devoured by these departed Souls.

Lin Chen finally stopped struggling, her body relaxing for a moment, and she felt the pulling force suddenly weaken.

She took the opportunity to pull with all her might, suddenly breaking free from those cold palms, and stumbled forward.

The departed Souls behind her were still whispering her name; the sound was hair-raising, as if they could catch up to her at any moment.

Lin Chen panted incessantly, the black mist around her growing thicker, and her vision gradually blurring.

Just then, a blinding white light appeared before her; the radiance came from afar, as if guiding her to a path leading to the exit.

She did not hesitate and ran desperately toward the direction of the light, the "clinking" sound of the iron chain exceptionally clear in the silence.

However, as she approached the light, a deep and majestic voice came from the darkness: "Do you really think this is the end?"

Lin Chen's steps faltered, and she stopped abruptly, her heart feeling as though it had been struck hard by that deep voice.

She widened her eyes, looking toward the end of the white light; she had originally thought the light would lead her out of the nightmare, but that voice made her feel a bone-chilling cold.

"Who are you?" Lin Chen asked, her voice trembling, as the surrounding black mist gradually closed in, isolating her from the light.

"Me? I am the true master of this Netherworld." The voice was full of mockery and majesty, as if controlling the fate of the entire world. "Do you think you can escape? Here, no one can escape."

The black mist grew increasingly dense, and a powerful sense of oppression struck. Lin Chen felt her breathing become rapid, and her legs felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead.

"This is impossible…" A trace of despair flashed in her eyes, and she turned around, attempting to find another way out, but she was already completely surrounded by black mist. She felt as if she were trapped in a giant cage, unable to take a single step.

"You do not belong to the real world." The voice continued, carrying a ruthless coldness. "You are merely a Soul, a false existence, destined to wander in this Netherworld."

Lin Chen shook her head, desperately trying to deny it all: "No! I don't believe it! I must go back! I am alive! I have a name!"