At this moment, at the entrance of the Nether Valley.
Yan Ruyu was sitting there, looking at the swirling black gas within the valley, her brows slightly furrowed.
"The Nether Valley imprisons the ancient fierce beast Hundun. If nothing unexpected happens, it should remain sealed forever."
Yan Ruyu got up and walked towards the valley entrance.
She stretched out her right hand and gently touched the seal of the Nether Valley.
With a slight push, she entered the valley completely.
From the outside, one could only see that the valley was shrouded in black gas and couldn't discern the inside. But if one passed through the barrier and entered, they would find the view in front quite spectacular. There were green mountains and clear waters, as well as flying birds and running beasts. It was a place with the most perfect ecological environment.
Yan Ruyu paused for a moment and then disappeared from where she stood.
When she reappeared, she had already reached the place where Hundun was imprisoned.
At this moment, Hundun opened its cloudy eyes and looked at the man with peerless looks in front of it.
In front of Hundun, Yan Ruyu seemed extremely tiny.
But Hundun knew that the man in front of it was more dangerous than anyone else and should never be underestimated. Once the vertical flute at his waist was played, within a hundred miles, everything would be reduced to ruins in an instant.
Hundun spoke.
"Old friend, long time no see."
Yan Ruyu waved his hand, and Bai Ze leaped out. He then smoothly climbed onto Bai Ze's back.
After a thorough inspection, Bai Ze turned back and said, "Your Majesty, there's nothing unusual here."
"Old friend, after all these years, don't you even want to greet me?"
Yan Ruyu looked at Hundun and said indifferently, "I've sentenced you to a thousand years of punishment. Hundun, once the thousand years are up, I'll surely let you out."
Hundun lowered its head and lay on the ground.
It said, "I'm just a fierce beast, and I've been doing quite well here. Over these years, I've strictly followed your order and never dared to take a single step out of the Nether Valley."
"Has anyone ever entered here?"
"No. This is the barrier you set up personally. Who in this world could enter?"
Bai Ze also said at this time, "Your Majesty, there are indeed no traces of other strangers here."
Yan Ruyu nodded.
Hopefully, it was just his over - caution.
"Xiaobai, you go and patrol the entire Nether Valley. Don't miss any place. If there's any situation, inform me at once."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Bai Ze shook its body and disappeared from Yan Ruyu's sight.
After being alone for so many years, with a rare old friend by its side, Hundun couldn't help but talk more.
"Old friend, how have you been these years?"
"Fine."
"Has she ever come back?"
Yan Ruyu knew who Hundun was talking about, its first master - Luo Qiu.
"No."
Hundun let out a heavy breath.
How could it dare to hope that its master would come back?
Yan Ruyu sat down beside Hundun.
Hundun was originally split when the ancient great god created the world. At first, it had no physical form and was just a white mist.
At that time, Hundun was kind - hearted and helped people everywhere.
Back then, the king of the South Sea was named "Shu", the king of the North Sea was named "Hu", and Hundun was the king of the Central Region.
Hundun helped them when they were in trouble and was extremely kind to them. The kings of the South Sea and the North Sea wanted to repay Hundun.
Seeing that everyone had eyes, ears, mouth, and nose to see, hear, eat, and smell, while Hundun had no seven orifices, they decided to drill seven orifices for it. They drilled one orifice each day. After seven days, the seven orifices were complete, but Hundun died.
From then on, a new species - Hundun - was derived from the dead Hundun.
There were many descriptions of Hundun at that time.
However, it was no longer a just existence. The two kings back then drilled the seven orifices for it, but they also released all of its evil thoughts.
Back then, someone recorded Hundun's appearance like this.
There was a snake king in the land of Chu. It looked like Di Jiang, without ears, eyes, claws, or nose, but only a mouth. Its shape was like a meat cabinet. It moved clumsily, and wherever it passed, the grass and trees withered.
Someone else described it like this.
There was a beast west of Kunlun. It looked like a dog, with long hair, four feet. It resembled a bear but had no claws. It had eyes but couldn't see, walked unsteadily, had two ears but couldn't hear. It was aware of people's nature. It had a belly but no internal organs, and its intestines were straight without twists. Food passed through directly. If a person was virtuous, it would attack them. If a person was evil, it would rely on them.
It meant that Hundun was extremely cruel. It was afraid of and relied on evil people, but would kill and treat cruelly those with noble morals.
Half of these legends were false, and half were true.
Hundun was originally an ancient divine beast. Later, Yan Ruyu took his first female disciple, named Luo Qiu. Luo Qiu was extremely talented, good - looking, and kind - hearted.
When she reached the level of a nine - level spiritual pharmacist, Yan Ruyu gave her a gift, which was Hundun.
At that time, Hundun was very satisfied with its master, Luo Qiu. They went on expeditions together and pacified many upheavals.
But in the end, Luo Qiu died an unjust death at the hands of a group of mortals. Hundun was greatly stimulated and began to attack humans on a large scale. If it weren't for Yan Ruyu's intervention, perhaps half of the living beings on the Nine - Continent Continent would have suffered heavy losses.
And it was from that time on that Hundun was defined as a fierce beast.
Its evil thoughts remained. No matter how many times Yan Ruyu tried to persuade it, it couldn't let go of Luo Qiu's death. So, Yan Ruyu had no choice but to imprison Hundun in the Nether Valley, letting it reflect on its mistakes.
Regarding Luo Qiu's incident back then, Yan Ruyu had also conducted a careful investigation.
But the truth was changeable.
Whether the body of Luo Qiu really died at the hands of humans was still a mystery.
"Hundun, it was me who gave you to Luo Qiu back then. Do you still remember what I said before? A spiritual pharmacist can only sign a contract with one demon or divine beast in their lifetime. Generally speaking, when the person dies, the contract will be dissolved. But the contract in your body has never disappeared."
Hundun said, "But I can no longer feel the slightest trace of my master's life force, right?"
Yan Ruyu sighed.
He rarely saw such a strange thing.
At this time, Bai Ze returned after a full - circle inspection.
"Your Majesty, there are no traces of other suspicious creatures."
Yan Ruyu nodded.
"Hundun, Bai Ze and I are leaving first. You stay in the Nether Valley and don't go out without permission."
Hundun lay on the ground.
It said weakly, "If I could get out of this barrier, I would have gone out hundreds of years ago to kill all humans to avenge my master. Your Majesty, you know I can't get out."
"This place helps to temper your mind. You should think carefully about the past. Some things aren't that simple. What we see may not be the truth."
Yan Ruyu left with Bai Ze.
At this moment, Hundun let out a long breath.
It whispered, "They're gone, Your Excellency. You can come out now."
Under Hundun's body, Zhao Huai's spiritual soul slowly emerged.
So close! If Yan Ruyu hadn't used seven - tenths of his power to seal the Ghost Domain barrier before, he would have easily discovered his existence just now.
"Thank you for protecting me."
"The chaos of the beast world pays homage to Your Excellency."
Zhao Huai nodded slightly, but his face was no longer the gentle one from before.