Underworld.
The Purple Sky Vine rooted itself on the high ridge, its branches dancing through the air as they blocked the attacks of countless flesh-and-blood tentacles.
The vines connected to the sky, their stems and leaves growing immensely large to prop up the flesh-and-blood firmament and contend against that colossal, peerless entity. They not only guarded the Palace of Thick Virtues, but even had spare strength to shelter the living beings of the Underworld.
If Immortal Lord Purple Sky were to witness this scene, he would undoubtedly be shaken beyond measure. The Purple Sky Vine in his hands had never possessed such terrifying might.
Empress Houtu had already refined the Purple Sky Vine into a magical treasure, branding it with the mark of reincarnation and transforming it into a supreme treasure that unified the Great Dao of the Underworld. It was formidable indeed; even the flesh-and-blood assault covering the sky could not breach the defense of the Purple Sky Vine for a time.
The Heavenly Lord's voice came from afar. "All mortals in the Western Ox Continent are now petrified, and the gods have fallen. It is merely history repeating itself. Since the Empress knew which way the wind blew back then and allowed the gods to fade into obscurity, why make a futile last-ditch struggle today?"
Empress Houtu looked toward the source of the voice and saw the Heavenly Lord walking over. With white hair and white eyebrows, dressed in a plain unlined robe, his facial features did not appear aged.
Having issued commands atop Despair Slope for years on end, he had cultivated a poised bearing, appearing noble and extraordinary.
Empress Houtu smiled faintly. "Times change, and so do circumstances. True King Zhu was too naive back then, carrying the Yin Yang Qi Bottle to Despair Slope so