Styx Entry, Heavenly Dao Mission... Need to Contain Qin Luo

The next morning.

Sunlight spilled onto the streets of the Netherfrost Divine Realm as Qin Luo and Su Muwan walked side by side along the cobblestone path.

Su Muwan yawned, her eyes still glistening with sleep, her entire body draped lazily over Qin Luo’s arm like a drowsy cat.

"Didn’t sleep well last night, Miss?"

Qin Luo tilted his head to look at her, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Hmph!"

Su Muwan shot him a glare, puffing her cheeks in annoyance. "It’s all because of you and your ghost stories last night!"

Qin Luo shrugged innocently. "That wasn’t a story—it really happened."

"Ahhh! Stop it!"

Su Muwan immediately covered her ears, shaking her head vigorously. "No, no, no! I don’t want to hear it! Qin Luo, you’re just spouting nonsense!"

Qin Luo chuckled, reaching out to ruffle her hair. "Alright, alright, I won’t say another word."

Only then did Su Muwan lower her hands, grumbling as she continued walking.

As they strolled, she suddenly noticed the cultivators darting through the sky.

There were far more than usual, and all of them seemed to be in a hurry, as if preoccupied with something.

"Huh? What are they up to?"

Su Muwan tilted her head upward, curiosity gleaming in her eyes.

"Oh, that?"

Qin Luo followed her gaze and explained, "They’re delivering spiritual energy to other major realms while also setting up signal towers for the Great Cosmos Network."

"Li Mingyuan and the others are busy constructing teleportation gateways too. Soon, trade between the various sacred realms will be seamless—no more isolation like before."

Su Muwan blinked, her mind buzzing with confusion.

Trade? Teleportation gateways? The Great Cosmos Network?

Though she wasn’t particularly interested in these matters, one thing stood out to her—

"So, you mean…"

Her eyes lit up as she tugged at Qin Luo’s sleeve. "Does this mean we can finally live a peaceful life from now on?"

Hooray! World peace at last!!

Qin Luo thought for a moment, then grinned. "In theory, yes, but—"

"But?"

Su Muwan’s brows furrowed, her guard instantly up. "But what?"

Qin Luo spread his hands. "But the moment you say that, I can’t help feeling like trouble’s about to start again."

Su Muwan: "…"

What?! Seriously?!

Ugh, can you believe this guy?! Qin Luo, you’re the worst!!

Trembling with rage, she balled her fists and pounded his chest. "Ahhh! Qin Luo, shut up! Don’t jinx it!"

Qin Luo took the playful hits with a laugh, then caught her wrist and gently pulled her into his arms.

"Alright, alright, my bad."

He lowered his voice, whispering near her ear, "So, Miss, how should I make it up to you?"

Su Muwan’s ears flushed pink as she huffed and pushed him away. "I’m hungry. Let’s have barbecue for lunch!"

No sooner had she spoken—

"Barbecue?!"

"Hubby! Count me in for barbecue!"

Two figures suddenly popped up beside them—none other than Su Muwan’s "besties," Yan Qiuyue and Alicia.

Su Muwan: "…"

She stared at them blankly. "Do you two have to be everywhere?"

Yan Qiuyue giggled, looping an arm around hers. "Oh, come on! What are friends for? Sharing food, right?"

Alicia nodded eagerly. "Exactly! The more, the merrier!"

Qin Luo chuckled. "Fine, let’s invite more people. Might as well celebrate world peace while we’re at it."

Su Muwan massaged her temples. "…Whatever makes you happy."

Meanwhile, in the Nether River.

Inside a dimly lit hall, eerie green candlelight flickered against cold stone walls.

At the center, seated on a pitch-black throne, Little He swung her tiny legs, gleefully admiring a photograph in her hands.

The person in the photo? Qin Luo.

"Grandpa~"

She looked up, pouting sweetly. "I want Qin Luo! Help me get him, please~"

Beside her, an elderly man in black robes sighed helplessly, patting her head. "My dear, Qin Luo already has a girlfriend."

"Ugh! I don’t care!"

Little He puffed her cheeks, shaking her head stubbornly. "I want Qin Luo! You have to help me! Please, please!!"

"All the spirits in the supernatural circles keep talking about how amazing he is!"

"If I can have Qin Luo, then I’ll be the most dazzling one in the entire spirit world!!"

The Lord of the Nether River, unable to resist her pleading, finally relented with a doting smile. "Fine, fine. Grandpa will help you."

He lifted his gaze, sweeping it over the black-robed figures kneeling below. "You heard my granddaughter. Go to the Great Cosmos and bring Qin Luo here."

"Remember—bring him politely. Don’t harm my future grandson-in-law."

The lead figure hesitated before speaking cautiously, "My Lord… wouldn’t this violate our pact with the Heavenly Dao?"

The Lord’s eyes turned icy.

The subordinate shuddered, quickly correcting himself, "I—I’ll see to it at once!"

With that, he and his men hastily retreated.

Silence reclaimed the hall.

One second, two seconds, three seconds…

The Lord of the Nether River exhaled softly, his gaze profound. "The pact? Hah…"

"It’s precisely because of the pact that I must compete fairly."

He glanced down at Little He in his arms, murmuring, "The Heavenly Dao, the Abominations, the Nether River… three forces vying for supremacy."

"Good granddaughter, Grandpa will definitely help you seize Qin Luo."

"Because... that existence..."

"Must belong to our Nether River."

As he spoke, he gazed meaningfully into the distance.

No doubt... the other two factions had already begun to move as well.

"Celestial Dao, you excel at scripting fate. But so far, has everything still been within your script?"

Tch, it’s truly maddening to think about.

The Lord of the Nether River shook his head.

If not for the Celestial Dao’s madness spawning endless hordes of abominations, he wouldn’t have been dragged into this mess.

Those things were like locusts—even the Nether River couldn’t repel their infiltration.

And so...

For the Nether River, for his granddaughter.

He had no choice but to do this.

He must.

...

...

Time passed, and evening arrived.

"Back... back at last?"

Even after four days, Luo Ya still felt as though she’d crossed lifetimes.

She sat by the window, staring blankly outside.

"My god..."

"We actually made it back."

What she’d thought would be a simple mission to recover remains had spiraled into an unforeseen crisis.

Thankfully, cultivators from the Great Thousand Worlds had resolved the disaster—otherwise, they’d all have been doomed.

But what now?

Luo Ya sighed softly.

The Celestial Dao’s missions never ceased. Would they... be forced to carry out its tasks until death?

Just as the thought crossed her mind—

[Luo Ya, Luo Ya, respond if you hear me!]

A teammate’s voice echoed in her mind.

[The captain’s calling an emergency meeting!]

Luo Ya snapped back to attention, frowning. "Another mission? We just got back."

[Not sure, but this time... it feels different. Just enter the Celestial Dao Space first.]

Celestial Dao Space, Central Hall.

The moment Luo Ya stepped through the teleportation gate, her pupils constricted violently.

The usually vast silver hall was now packed shoulder-to-shoulder.

Thousands of cultivators in varied uniforms stood in solemn silence, the atmosphere so thick it was suffocating.

"Is this... every squad?"

The Mechanic whispered, his glasses glinting with unease.

Not only were renowned squads like Radiance and Blazing Ember fully assembled—

Even legendary teams like [Demon-Slayer] and [Star-Burial], who were rarely seen, stood present!

The Black Crow Squad was absent, rumored to have been wiped out.

But what truly stole all breath was the sight at the hall’s forefront—

Five figures clad in pristine white uniforms, the golden emblem of the Celestial Dao emblazoned on their left chests.

At their head stood a young man with his hands behind his back, his gaze as indifferent as if surveying ants.

"The Celestial Dao Squad..."

Luo Ya’s throat went dry. "They’re here too?!"

This squad was the stuff of legends within the Celestial Dao Space—each member a "Proxy of the Celestial Dao," their strength unfathomable.

Rumors claimed they’d once single-handedly suppressed a rampaging S-Class world.

And their captain, [Celestial Pivot]—

He had been granted the divine authority of "Deicide" by the Celestial Dao itself!

During the Immortal-Demon War, they’d witnessed [Celestial Pivot] annihilate a god’s divinity from afar!

Then—

Hummm!

The massive black sphere at the hall’s center suddenly flared to life, crimson text cascading down like a waterfall:

[Final Mission Commenced]

[Completers shall receive the Celestial Dao’s Blessing—any wish fulfilled.]

The crowd erupted.

"Any wish? Does that mean even immortality?!"

"Or... can I return to my original world?"

"Wait—look at the mission details—"

Luo Ya lifted her head. Two lines of blood-red text materialized on the sphere:

[Mission One: Eradicate all abominations within the Great Thousand Worlds.]

[Mission Two: Secure the Target—Qin Luo.]