Ambushing the Underworld

Pity they didn't draw out those remnants of the Heavenly Court; the newly established Demonic Jar Court didn't get involved either.

The Underworld Quasi-Emperor held absolute confidence in this battlefield, seemingly wishing with regret to trap and kill even more factions.

They had long since turned the Golden Mace to their side, and the previous engagement was merely an act, waiting for the optimal moment to launch a fatal strike.

Now the Heaven-Piercing Nether Treasure single-handedly contended with three Imperial Weapons, while the remaining two were dealt with by the Golden Mace and the Heavenly Halberd, with the imperial array functioning at maximum efficiency.

With all methods unleashed, the defeat of the few Imperial Weapons was only a matter of time.

Just then, a stream of light flashed across, charging toward the edge of the imperial array. The Hegemon shouted, the forbidden artifact in his hand shattering open a fissure, supreme aura spreading as even the star regions trembled.

Everyone, I carve out a sliver of opportunity for you; these children are entrusted to you.

He carried a fatal resolve, using the destruction of his clan's supreme forbidden artifact as a price to blast open a gap and help the Supreme Emperor Weapons extricate themselves.

This was the wisest choice.

If they did not do this, everyone would die in this starry sky, and once the Supreme Emperor Weapons sank, the next would be them.

A Supreme-level aura swept across the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, the battlefield shattering directly at this moment as boundless light erupted, vast energy surged, and dazzling brilliance exploded.

The energy spewed forth upon self-destruction by a forbidden artifact refined from a Great Accomplishment Hegemon Body lost nothing to a strike from a Supreme.

At this moment, it emitted an angry roar, rushing to the Yellow Springs together with a Hegemon to carve out a hope of life for their descendants.

The Heavenly Halberd imperial artifact hummed, the Underworld Quasi-Emperor calling upon it to suppress the Hegemon, but the few Supreme Emperor Weapons reacted first, risking everything to block all attacks.

The firmament collapsed, stars fell, Imperial Dao Laws shot forth, light blazed, and a corner of the imperial array emitted a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering massive explosion, instantly turning dim.

Shattered bones shook the soul, mingling with the cracking fragments of the forbidden artifact as they dissipated in light and heat, leaving not a trace in the end.

The imperial array has shifted, a corner is exposed! Hurry, there is only a momentary chance!

The Great Sage clad in the Dreamlike Divine Garment screamed hysterically.

All the Emperor Weapons shot toward the gap, taking the surviving living beings along the way.

Stop them!

The Underworld Quasi-Emperor nearly jumped in anger; how could this happen? He immediately issued orders to the Heavenly Halberd.

The Heavenly Halberd pursued fiercely, yet could not force the few Emperor Weapons to halt, instantly collapsing more than half the star region and drawing ever closer to the gap.

No matter, they cannot escape. The imperial array seals the heavens and earth; to be within it is to sink into mire. Unless an Emperor arrives personally, escape by one's own power is impossible.

The Heaven-Piercing Nether Treasure stated simply and mechanically, the deity within executing forbidden secret arts, beams of light illuminating and cutting off two realms, dividing the entire world in two.

No matter how the Emperor Weapons flew toward the gap, a sliver of distance always separated them, and to the end of their days they would never reach the other shore.

The Void cuts off the two banks; if this continues, we cannot escape the imperial array.

The immortal mirror illuminated the vast heaven and earth, a massive fissure severing the void and blocking their path, cutting apart the sky and earth and dividing the two banks.

Pool our full strength together, first help one person out! Escaping as many as possible is better than all sinking here!

The situation was critical; without doing this, not a single one would escape. All the Emperor Weapons tacitly made their move, handing all the living beings they carried entirely over to the Void Mirror.

These Emperor Weapons of theirs were fine, merely falling dormant for a period of years, whereas the other living beings would all die right here.

The one among them trusted most was the Void Mirror, and it was chosen to take the lead. Several Emperor Weapons unleashed their remaining imperial power in a single breath, aiding the Void Mirror in breaking out of the array and entrusting all hope to it.

Order Divine Chains intertwined, protecting the Void Mirror as it fiercely rushed across the fissure. Vast beams of light illuminated infinite radiance, crashing out at the impending fusion of the gap, and finally burst out of the imperial array in a one-in-a-billionth of an instant.

The remaining Emperor Weapons all heaved a sigh of relief, their law divine runes growing dim as they sank within the imperial array.

To think one actually escaped, and the Void Mirror of all things. Alas.

The Underworld Quasi-Emperor sighed heavily.

Since its birth, the Void Mirror had been utterly irreconcilable with darkness, possessing zero possibility of blending into the dust; it was destined to be an imperial artifact that would oppose them in the future.

This Emperor Weapon posed the greatest threat, and held the highest probability of ruining their plans in the future. Once it escaped this time, there would never be another chance to capture it.

He glanced at the Heavenly Halberd, his eyes filled with dissatisfaction, blaming it for not giving its all.

The Heavenly Halberd vibrated, directly smashing out an aura that shattered his body to pieces.

What kind of thing are you? Merely an ant, yet you dare hold opinions of me.

The deity spoke in a cold voice, as though crushing a dead insect. He had exerted himself yet still had to listen to the complaints of an ant; even a mud figurine possessed three parts of fire, let alone an Emperor Weapon.

The Heaven-Piercing Nether Treasure did not cast a single glance over here. It had just uttered grand words only for the Void Mirror to escape, losing face and feeling displeased in its heart as it ignored the various Emperor Weapons.

Even if the remaining several Emperor Weapons struggled with unwillingness, they could never reproduce a second instance of escape. Trapped within this imperial array, being sealed was only a matter of time.

Breaking free, the Void Mirror intended to return to the Big Dipper, but met a figure head-on.

Who are you?

The figure likewise emanated a supreme aura, Zhang Huan having arrived here in advance to wait specifically for it.

He had not entered the imperial array, as that place could now rightly be called the most dangerous location in the universe; supreme aura raged there, and even a Dao Attainer would die upon entering.

Master of the Demonic Jar Court, I intend to counterattack the Underworld together with you. The Underworld is currently empty; dare you follow me straight to strike at Dragon's Cave and level their old nest for revenge?

Holding the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Jar, Zhang Huan questioned it.

The Underworld had always been guarded by the Heaven-Piercing Nether Treasure, and since ancient times no one had dared harbor ideas against them.

Yet now the Nether Treasure was in the outside world, and that group of higher-ups in the Underworld had hauled the imperial array over all at once, making it unprecedentedly empty throughout ancient and modern times.

If two supreme imperial artifacts slew toward the Underworld together, it would be simply unstoppable, capable of piercing straight through the Underworld.

We won't go deep into the interior; with just two Emperor Weapons, the Supremes won't necessarily awaken. Even so, the harvest will not be small, and the Underworld will feel the pain for a long time.

Hearing that Zhang Huan had even considered the Supremes, the Void Mirror grew moved.

Your suggestion is good. I still retain some remaining strength and can accompany you on a rampage. The Underworld acts without regard for consequences, which must conceal a deeper scheme. Since that is the case, all the more reason not to leave them to their own devices.

The Void Mirror vibrated, the Ji Family's old Great Sage also following with firmness.

That Demon God Flower had also fallen into the hands of the Underworld; the Underworld could be said to have achieved a sweeping victory this time.

Other factions suffered heavy losses, with even their Emperor Weapons perishing on the battlefield. With the rise of one and fall of another, when future conspiracies descended and the Underworld stirred the winds and clouds, the other factions would find it even harder to maintain a balance.

Settling the rescued living beings onto an ancient star far from the battlefield, the Void Mirror and Zhang Huan headed toward the Underworld's old nest together.

I know where they are, I'll lead the way for you.

The two and the mirror traversed the void, catching sight of the Underworld gates from afar.

Operating the Demonic Jar to unleash a Supreme Dao Light Wave, they pulverized the gates spanning several star systems, clearly revealing the scene of the baleful earth.

Someone is invading! It's a Supreme Dao force. Ah, it's you!

A surviving nether general cried out, his eyes widening after making out the appearance of the invaders.

Zhang Huan also looked along that gaze, spotting an old acquaintance.

So it's him, no wonder he recognized me.

When he first came to the Underworld, it was precisely this guarding nether general who had received Zhang Huan.

Before he could utter another sentence, another wispy thread of Supreme Dao Pressure descended, suppressing and slaughtering all the nether generals here.

Hurry up, the Eternal Universe Furnace and the others cannot hold out for long. Don't wait until the immortal treasure returns and blocks us inside the Underworld.

The Ji Family's Great Sage charged in first.

Zhang Huan followed closely; having spent fifty years in the Underworld and traveled through many places, he knew like the back of his hand where treasures were located and where danger lurked.

There was also the Demon Box chattering away to tell him details, turning the Underworld's foundations inside out.

Acting separately from the Void Mirror, Zhang Huan first arrived at the ancient stone tablets, where a Quasi-Emperor with red eyes questioned him. Without a word, Zhang Huan suppressed and killed him, collecting the corpse.

This war slave had no idea when he was enslaved by the Underworld to guard the ancient stone tablets here. He had once met Zhang Huan, and the baleful aura on his body was towering, having committed quite a few evils.

One corpse pill acquired, Zhang Huan murmured softly, then gazed upon these ancient stone tablets. He knew these objects held great secrets, and with many ancient stone tablets possessing immense origins, he had long wanted to take a look.

I'll uproot a few hundred tablets first; I'll make another trip to the Underworld when I have the chance in the future to specifically study these stone steles.

There were too many stone tablets, and they were protected by laws. Acting within his capability, Zhang Huan stored over a hundred into the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Jar and flew elsewhere.

Arriving at the grand hall, he barged into the treasury like crushing dry weeds and smashing rotten wood. The items inside dazzled the eyes, with all manner of rare treasures piled high and glittering in full view.

Heavenly materials and earthly treasures, rare and peerless curiosities, were stacked casually in the treasury like a child's toys.

Ethereal Immortal Gold, Quasi-Emperor corpse pills, Sun Fruits, Paired Sacred Crabapple Flowers...

Almost everything that could be named in records existed right here, alongside some rare and scarce precious materials that held immense use even for Quasi-Emperors.

There were over a dozen corpse pills alone, which Zhang Huan swept entirely into his pouch. Arriving outside the hall, a familiar-looking Great Sage was fleeing for his life in a panic with others within their spiritual sense.

I was wondering who it was; turns out it's that servant who gave me the corpse pill back then.

This Great Sage and another individual were protecting a youth at the Sage realm, flying toward the depths of the baleful earth.

Tearing through space, Zhang Huan stepped forward and blocked their path, the youth sitting onto the ground in terror with a start.

You were the one who gave me the corpse pill back then? You didn't even condescend to show your face, yet sent me to collect a Quasi-Emperor servant for you?

Zhang Huan sneered, the youth shaking his head repeatedly upon hearing this and refusing to admit it, though unfortunately Zhang Huan had already learned the truth from the faces of the two Great Sage servants.

He didn't even use an Emperor Weapon, wishing to personally grant the three of them a quick end. With two palms down, the Great Sage's skull exploded like a watermelon, collapsing to the ground on cue and frightening the youth until his eyes turned white and he slumped limply to the earth.

Cause and effect run in a cycle; retribution is unflinching. Treating life as you did, you deserve to suffer this calamity.

Ruthlessly, Zhang Huan hoisted him up, breached the seal within his spiritual sense to read his memories, and then brought down another palm, extinguishing all life force in the three of them.

At this moment the Void Mirror flew over. It had wreaked almost complete destruction, nearly exterminating the nether generals. Pillaging resources was secondary; its purpose was precisely to sever the Underworld's living strength.

No rush, wait until I finish one last task.

Zhang Huan walked toward the center of the grand hall, reaching out to grab downward and tearing open a thousand miles of land. Beneath it lay a pocket dimension, where a Supreme Dao embryonic immortal gold cauldron sat squarely upon a jade platform, absorbing myriad essences.

Primal Chaos Qi hung downward, and the essence of the undead dotted the scene. An embryonic Supreme Dao cauldron forged from ethereal azure gold had been infused with countless treasures, possessing immeasurable value.

He had just learned from the youth's memories that such a divine treasure existed beneath the grand hall.

So the azure gold in the treasury was just leftover scraps.

Zhang Huan laughed at himself, having just treated those as treasures earlier, only to find the most precious materials had already become part of this cauldron.

Yet at this moment, this immortal gold cauldron belonged to him as well. Black light transformed into tentacles, and Zhang Huan instantly took it into the Demonic Jar; once refined, this cauldron would bear his imprint.

The Ji Family's Great Sage exclaimed in wonder. The Underworld possessed vast estates; before even reaching the core depths, they had already harvested countless treasures, gaining more in the span of a few breaths than he had seen in his entire life.

Time to go.

The Void Mirror spoke up once more.

Deeply aware of the perils of lingering in the Underworld, Zhang Huan gave a word of assent and broke through the void together with it, rushing out of the Underworld almost by teleportation and leaving in a sweep across the wreckage.

Returning to the ancient star where the living beings were placed, less than ten minutes had passed since their departure.

Master of the Demonic Jar Court, after this matter, the Underworld will not let it go. You must be careful from now on, and should crisis arise, call upon my Ji Family at any time.

The Ji Family's Great Sage spoke in a deep voice. He had witnessed the unfathomable foundation of the Underworld; relying on either of them alone was absolutely no match for the Underworld. Under a situation where they and the Underworld were like fire and water, they needed all the more to unite.

Pardon the trouble. If help from the Ji Family is needed in the future, I will certainly pay a visit.

Responding thus, Zhang Huan parted ways with them there. The Ji Family's people still needed to transport the survivors back in batches; this was a favor they owed and must report back to the various factions.

Zhang Huan was different. He now needed only to elevate his strength, and the Demonic Jar Court did not yet require worry, for the Underworld did not know his whereabouts.

Taking advantage of this opportunity to loot, he needed to rapidly translate it into strength.

Zhang Huan headed toward an uninhabited star region to seclude himself in closed-door cultivation.

Come to think of it, it seems I haven't fought seriously once since advancing to the Quasi-Emperor realm. I wonder if my potential can touch the Divine Forbidden Zone.

Zhang Huan felt rather regretful. Quasi-Emperors were scarce in this era, lacking even a sparring partner, which left him without a clear understanding of his own strength.

Whether he could reverse-slaughter stronger Quasi-Emperors or remained utterly mediocre had always been a mystery.

Yet judging by his own two transformations, he could at least emerge victorious across realms; among the Quasi-Emperors he had seen, not a single one possessed an aura as condensed and profound as his, and by his feel he could beat them to death in two or three moves.

Taking out the corpse pills, Zhang Huan swallowed them all in a single breath.

Vast energy erupted within his body, not a single shred leaking out as it was all absorbed into his body and transformed into foundations.

Still somewhat lacking, it seems.

Muttering as he dissolved the medicinal potency, Zhang Huan swallowed another stalk of the Paired Sacred Crabapple Flower. This was originally a body-tempering Saint Medicine capable of forging a physique rivaling a Quasi-Emperor, rendering it invulnerable. At this moment its medicinal strength was directly refined, becoming resources for cultivation.

At this tier, utility effects and the like could rarely influence him anymore, allowing him to directly absorb essence through medicinal herbs for cultivation without wasting a single shred of medicinal potency.

Cultivating for fifty years and squandering the medicinal herbs entirely, Zhang Huan successively crossed two heavenly tribulations, advancing to the fifth layer.

He wielded the Ethereal Azure Gold Cauldron as naturally as an extension of his own arm, connecting to Zhang Huan's heart and mind.

Cauldron, actually I wanted a sword even more. After all, sword cultivators and the like truly have style; I yearned for it in my past life.

Zhang Huan looked at the azure gold cauldron and sighed, quickly talking himself around. Since it came for free, he would just recast it later if he ever got the inclination.

Nurturing it into his own Quasi-Emperor artifact would still require quite a bit of time, so Zhang Huan first branded his own mark upon it; for now, relying on its sheer hardness was enough.

Fifty years have passed since the Supreme Dao great war, and I wonder what movements the Underworld has made.

Zhang Huan guessed the Underworld's commotion shouldn't be small.