Ambushing the Underworld

"What a shame, they didn't draw out the remnants of the Heavenly Court, nor did the newly established Demonic Court get involved."

The Underworld's Quasi-Emperor was confident about the outcome of this battle, but he regretfully wished to trap even more factions.

They had long since turned the Golden Mace to their side; their previous actions were merely an act, waiting for the opportune moment to launch a fatal strike.

Now, the Heaven-Piercing Nether Treasure was single-handedly holding its ground against three Emperor Weapons. The remaining two, the Golden Mace and the Heavenly Halberd, were dealing with the other two, while the Emperor Formation was operating at its maximum efficiency.

With all their methods deployed, it was only a matter of time before the Emperor Weapons were defeated.

Just then, a streak of light flashed across, charging towards the edge of the Emperor Formation. The Hegemon Body roared, a crack splitting open in the Forbidden Artifact in his hand as an ultimate aura spread, making the starfield tremble.

"Everyone, I'll buy you a sliver of hope. I entrust these children to you."

He charged with a death wish, at the cost of his clan's supreme Forbidden Artifact being destroyed, intending to blast open a gap and help the Supreme Emperor Weapons escape.

This was the wisest choice.

If they didn't, everyone would die in this starfield, and the Supreme Emperor Weapons would be next.

An aura at the level of a Supreme Being swept across the nine heavens and ten earths. The battlefield instantly shattered, boundless light erupted, and vast energy surged, dazzling and brilliant.

The energy spewed from a Forbidden Artifact refined by a Great Accomplishment Hegemon Body, self-destructing, was no less than a Supreme Being's strike.

At this moment, it let out an enraged roar, charging towards the Yellow Springs alongside a Hegemon Body, fighting for a sliver of hope of survival for their descendants.

The Heavenly Halberd Emperor Weapon chimed. The Underworld's Quasi-Emperor was calling for it to suppress the Hegemon Body, but the few Supreme Emperor Weapons reacted first, sacrificing themselves to block all attacks.

The sky collapsed, stars fell, imperial laws shot out, and light blazed. A corner of the Emperor Formation let out a world-shattering explosion, instantly dimming.

Bones shattered, shocking the heart and soul, mixed with the cracking of Forbidden Artifact fragments, dissipating in light and heat, leaving no trace in the end.

"The Emperor Formation has shifted, a corner is exposed! Quickly, it's only a momentary chance!"

The Great Saint, clad in a divine garment of dreams, shouted hysterically.

All the Emperor Weapons shot towards the gap, bringing the surviving beings with them.

"Stop them!"

The Underworld's Quasi-Emperor was about to jump out of his skin. How could this happen? He immediately issued an order to the Heavenly Halberd.

The Heavenly Halberd pursued fiercely, but it couldn't make the few Emperor Weapons stop. In an instant, it shattered more than half of the starfield, getting closer to the gap.

"It's fine. They can't escape. The Emperor Formation seals heaven and earth. Being inside is like sinking in mud. Unless an Emperor personally arrives, they can't escape on their own."

The Heaven-Piercing Nether Treasure said simply and mechanically. The deity within unleashed a forbidden secret technique, a beam of light illuminating, severing the two areas, splitting the entire world in half.

No matter how the Emperor Weapons flew towards the gap, they were always separated by a distance, unable to reach the Other Shore in their lifetime.

"The void has severed the two shores. If this continues, we won't escape the Emperor Formation."

The Immortal Mirror shone upon the vast heavens and earth. A huge rift cut across the void, blocking their path, separating heaven and earth, dividing the two shores.

"Let's pool all our strength together and help one person get out first. However many can get out is how many. It's better than all of us perishing here!"

The situation was dire. If they didn't, none of them would escape. All the Emperor Weapons tacitly acted, handing over all the beings they carried to the Void Mirror.

They, the Emperor Weapons, were fine; they would only fall silent for a period of time. But the other beings would all die here.

The Void Mirror was the one they trusted the most. It was chosen as the first to act. The few Emperor Weapons unleashed their remaining Emperor Power in one go, aiding the Void Mirror to exit the formation, entrusting all their hopes to it.

Order divine chains intertwined, protecting the Void Mirror. It suddenly rushed through the rift, its light vast and boundless, illuminating infinite light. It collided and broke through at the gap that was about to close, finally escaping the Emperor Formation in the last fraction of a second.

The remaining Emperor Weapons breathed a sigh of relief. The divine patterns of their laws dimmed, sinking into the Emperor Formation.

"One actually escaped, and it's the most important one, the Void Mirror. Alas."

The Underworld's Quasi-Emperor sighed heavily.

From its birth, the Void Mirror had been irreconcilably opposed to the forces of darkness. It was impossible for it to blend in with the light, and it was destined to be an Emperor Weapon that would oppose them in the future.

This Emperor Weapon posed the greatest threat and was most likely to disrupt their plans in the future. Now that it had escaped, there would be no chance to capture it again.

He looked at the Heavenly Halberd, his eyes filled with dissatisfaction, blaming it for not trying its best.

The Heavenly Halberd trembled and directly smashed out an aura, shattering his body.

"What are you? You're nothing but an ant, and you dare to have opinions about me."

The deity said coldly, as if swatting a bug. Even a clay figurine would get angry after working hard only to be complained at by an ant, let alone an Emperor Weapon.

The Heaven-Piercing Nether Treasure didn't even glance this way. It had just boasted, and the Void Mirror had escaped, losing face. It was also displeased and ignored the other Emperor Weapons.

Even though the remaining few Emperor Weapons struggled unwillingly, it was impossible for a second escape to happen. Trapped within the Emperor Formation, it was only a matter of time before they were sealed.

The Void Mirror had escaped and originally intended to return to the Big Dipper, but it ran into a figure head-on.

"Who are you?"

The figure also emanated a Supreme Dao aura. Zhang Huan had arrived here specifically to wait for it.

He had not entered the Emperor Formation, which could now be called the most dangerous place in the universe. Supreme Dao auras ran rampant, and even an enlightened being would die if they entered.

"I am the Lord of the Demonic Court. I plan to counterattack the Underworld with you. The Underworld is currently empty. Do you dare to go with me and strike at their lair to get revenge?"

Zhang Huan asked, holding the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Jar.

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

But now the Nether Treasure is outside, and the high-ranking officials of the Underworld have even invited an Emperor Formation, which is an unprecedented emptiness.

If two Supreme Emperor Weapons were to attack the Underworld together, they would be invincible and could shatter it.

"We aren't going into the depths. It's just two Emperor Weapons. The Supreme Beings won't awaken. Even so, the gains won't be small, and the Underworld will ache for a long time."

Hearing that Zhang Huan had even considered the Supreme Beings, the Void Mirror was tempted.

"Your suggestion is good. I still have some energy left and can accompany you in causing trouble. The Underworld's reckless actions must hide deeper schemes. Since that's the case, we can't just let them be."

The Void Mirror vibrated, and the Ji Family's Great Saint resolutely followed.

That Demon God Flower also fell into the hands of the Underworld. The Underworld can be said to have achieved a great victory this time.

Other forces suffered heavy losses, even losing Emperor Weapons on the battlefield. With this shift in power, when future conspiracies descend and the Underworld stirs up trouble, it will be even harder for other forces to check them.

After settling the brought-out living beings on an ancient star far from the battlefield, the Void Mirror and Zhang Huan headed to the Underworld's lair together.

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

The two and the mirror passed through the void and saw the gates of the Underworld from afar.

Activating the Demonic Jar, it unleashed a Supreme Dao light wave, shattering the gate that spanned several galaxies. The scene of the Wasteland became clearly visible.

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

A surviving Underworld General shouted, his eyes widening as he recognized the invader.

Zhang Huan also looked in the direction of the gaze and saw an acquaintance.

"So it was him. No wonder I recognized him."

When Zhang Huan first arrived at the Underworld, it was this same Underworld General who had received him.

Before he could say another word, another wave of Supreme Dao Pressure descended, killing all the Underworld Generals present.

"Hurry, the Eternal Universe Furnace and the others can't hold on for much longer. Don't wait until the Immortal Treasure returns and traps us in the Underworld."

The Ji Family's Great Saint charged in first.

Zhang Huan followed closely. He had stayed in the Underworld for fifty years and traveled to many places. He knew exactly where treasures were and where dangers lay.

The Demonic Box also chattered, telling him all the details and revealing the Underworld's secrets.

Splitting up from the Void Mirror, Zhang Huan first went to the ancient stone tablets. A Quasi-Emperor with red eyes asked, but Zhang Huan killed him without a word and collected the corpse.

This War Slave had been enslaved by the Underworld at some point to guard the ancient stone tablets. He had met Zhang Huan before, and his killing intent was overwhelming, having committed many evils.

"One Corpse Pill obtained."

Zhang Huan whispered, then looked at the stone tablets. He knew these things held great secrets, and many of the stone tablets had significant origins. He had long wanted to examine them.

"I'll take a few hundred first. I'll have a chance to come to the Underworld again later to specifically look at these stone tablets."

There were too many stone tablets, and they were protected by laws. Zhang Huan acted within his capabilities, collecting over a hundred and putting them into the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Jar before flying elsewhere.

He arrived at the main hall and broke into the treasury like a destructive force. The items inside were dazzling, with all sorts of rare treasures piled up, a feast for the eyes.

Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, rare and exotic treasures, were piled up in the treasury as if they were children's toys.

"Ethereal Immortal Gold, Quasi-Emperor Corpse Pills, Sun Fruit, Paired Sacred Crabapple Flower..."

Almost everything named in the records was here, along with some extremely rare materials that were of great use even to Quasi-Emperors.

There were over a dozen Corpse Pills alone, all of which Zhang Huan pocketed. He then went outside the hall and saw a familiar Great Saint and his men fleeing in panic through their spiritual sense.

"I wondered who it was. So it's that servant who gave me the Corpse Pill back then."

This Great Saint and another person were escorting a young man at the Saint realm, flying towards the depths of the Wasteland.

Tearing through space, Zhang Huan stepped forward and blocked their path. The young man, terrified, sat down on the ground.

"You were the one who gave me the Corpse Pill back then? You didn't even deign to show your face and instead sent me to collect a Quasi-Emperor slave for you?"

Zhang Huan sneered. The young man repeatedly shook his head upon hearing this, refusing to admit it. Unfortunately, Zhang Huan had already learned the truth from the faces of the two Great Saint slaves.

He didn't even use an Emperor Weapon, intending to give the three a swift end himself. With two palms, the Great Saints' heads exploded like watermelons, falling to the ground. The young man's eyes turned pale with fright, and he collapsed on the ground.

"Karma cycles, retribution is swift. You treated life like this, you deserve this calamity."

Zhang Huan ruthlessly lifted him, broke through the restriction in his spiritual sense to read his memories, and then struck again, extinguishing the life force of all three.

At this moment, the Void Mirror flew over. It had caused considerable destruction, nearly annihilating the Underworld Generals. Looting supplies was secondary; the goal was to eliminate the Underworld's fighting strength.

"No rush, let me finish one last thing."

Zhang Huan walked to the center of the main hall and reached down, tearing open a thousand-mile area. Beneath it lay a grotto-heaven, where an embryonic Supreme Dao Immortal Gold Cauldron sat on a jade platform, absorbing immense essence.

Primal Chaos Qi cascaded down, and Essence of the Undead adorned it. It was an embryonic Supreme Dao artifact forged from Ethereal Azure Gold, infused with countless treasures, making it priceless.

He had just learned from the young man's memories that there was such a treasure beneath the main hall.

"So the Azure Gold in the treasury was just scraps."

Zhang Huan scoffed. He had just considered it a treasure, but it turned out the most precious part had become part of this cauldron.

However, this Immortal Gold Cauldron was now his. Black light transformed into tentacles, and Zhang Huan instantly absorbed it into the Demonic Jar. Once refined, this cauldron would bear his mark.

The Ji Family's Great Saint marveled. The Underworld was immensely wealthy. Before even reaching the core, they had already obtained countless treasures. In just a few breaths, Zhang Huan had acquired more treasures than the Great Saint had seen in his entire life.

"It's time to go."

The Void Mirror spoke again.

Zhang Huan knew the dangers of lingering in the Underworld, so he responded with a sound and they both broke through the air, almost instantly teleporting out of the Underworld and leaving the mess behind.

Returning to the ancient star where the living beings were kept, less than ten minutes had passed since they departed.

"Lord of the Demonic Court, the Underworld will not let this matter rest after it's over. You must be careful from now on. If you face any danger, call upon my Ji Family at any time."

The Great Saint of the Ji Family said solemnly. He had already witnessed the unfathomable foundation of the Underworld. None of them alone could possibly be an opponent of the Underworld. Given their irreconcilable conflict with the Underworld, they had to unite.

"Thank you for your concern. If I need the Ji Family's help in the future, I will certainly pay you a visit."

Zhang Huan replied and parted ways with them. The people from the Ji Family still needed to send the survivors back in batches. This was a debt of gratitude they had incurred, and they had to report back to their respective factions.

Zhang Huan was different. He only needed to increase his strength now. He didn't need to worry about the Demonic Court, and the Underworld didn't know his whereabouts.

He would take this opportunity to plunder and quickly convert it into strength.

Zhang Huan headed to a deserted star field to go into seclusion.

"Speaking of which, I don't think I've ever seriously fought since I advanced to Quasi-Emperor. I wonder if my potential can reach the Divine Prohibition."

Zhang Huan felt a bit regretful. Quasi-Emperors were rare in this era, and he didn't even have anyone to spar with, so he had never had a clear understanding of his own strength.

Whether he could defeat stronger Quasi-Emperors or was just mediocre had always been a mystery.

However, judging by his two transformations, he could at least win battles across realms. None of the Quasi-Emperors he had encountered had an aura as condensed and profound as his. In his perception, he could kill them in two or three moves.

He took out the Corpse Pills and swallowed them all in one go.

A vast amount of energy erupted within his body, not a single bit overflowing, all absorbed into his body and converted into his foundation.

"It's still not quite enough."

Zhang Huan said as he dissolved the medicinal power. He then swallowed a Paired Sacred Crabapple Flower. This was originally a Saint medicine for body refinement, capable of forging a body comparable to a Quasi-Emperor's, impervious to all damage. Now, its medicinal properties were directly refined and became resources for his cultivation.

At this level, the effects of such things rarely influenced him anymore. He could directly absorb the essence from medicinal ingredients to cultivate, without wasting a single drop of medicinal power.

After cultivating for fifty years and exhausting all the medicinal ingredients, Zhang Huan endured two heavenly tribulations in succession, advancing to the fifth heaven.

The Ethereal Azure Gold Cauldron was driven with ease, like an external limb connected to Zhang Huan's mind.

"Cauldron, actually, I wanted a sword more. After all, sword cultivators are truly stylish. I've admired them since my previous life."

Zhang Huan sighed as he looked at the Azure Gold Cauldron, but he quickly came to terms with it. After all, it was obtained for free. He could recast it later when he had the inclination.

It would take quite some time to nurture it into his own Quasi-Emperor Artifact. Zhang Huan first imprinted his own mark on it. For now, its hardness alone was sufficient.

"Fifty years have passed since the Supreme Dao battle. I wonder what the Underworld has been up to."

Zhang Huan guessed that the Underworld's movements should be quite significant.