Journey to the Netherworld! Yun Xiao Wept with Regret!

"Nothing gets past Dao Friend Ling Xiao. We did indeed come to Penglai Immortal Island bearing Houtu's decree to ask for your help!"

Tai Xuan smiled as he looked at Ling Xiao and spoke slowly.

After Ling Xiao left the Sect of Interception, he had become a favored figure in the eyes of many Sages. Now, even Houtu needed his help.

"Please explain in detail, Dao Friend."

Ling Xiao smiled faintly, his expression unchanged.

Houtu governed the Netherworld and the Six Paths of Reincarnation, bearing the Earthly Dao Rules and the authority of the Heavenly Dao. Ling Xiao had to give her this courtesy.

Moreover, if the Earthly Dao was to awaken completely, Houtu's help would also be needed.

The Primordial Earth Veins were all linked by Zhen Yuanzi's Earth Book, but the Netherworld had not formed any connection with those veins. Instead, it was like an independent universe.

If Houtu permitted Zhen Yuanzi to wield his great mana and establish an order of Earthly Dao Rules linking the Netherworld to the Primordial Earth Veins, the Earthly Dao would surely awaken. Zhen Yuanzi could then attain Sagehood through this merit.

Seeing this, Tai Xuan's face brightened with delight as he slowly said, "When living beings of all races die, their departed souls are summoned by the order of the Heavenly Dao into the Netherworld, where they are judged before being reincarnated."

"During this process, the many creations of the Netherworld must cleanse these departed souls of their seven emotions and six desires, especially the towering resentment they carried before death. Only then can they sever the karma of their previous lives in their new ones."

"Yet over time, the seven emotions and six desires have filled the Netherworld. They have seeped into the Six Paths of Reincarnation and, in the end, polluted Houtu's origin and True Spirit."

"Dao Friend Ling Xiao, you wield the supreme Great Dao and can purify the world's evil, foul energies. Please help Houtu cleanse away these seven emotions and six desires..."

His words fell.

Ling Xiao stroked his chin, pondering inwardly.

Houtu's fate was intimately tied to the Netherworld and the Six Paths of Reincarnation. If her origin were damaged by the seven emotions and six desires, or even if dust clouded her Dao Heart, it would bring catastrophic disaster upon all beings of the Primordial Wilderness.

But even though he wielded the Pure Creation Dao, the seven emotions and six desires that had accumulated over countless ages were likely not something he could clear away and purify in a short time.

If he could shape the foundation of the Thirty-Six Grade Pure World White Lotus, he could purify them with ease. But he still lacked the Karma Fire Red Lotus, Taiyi Whisk, and Three Treasures Jade Scepter.

Could it be that he had to refuse Tai Xuan?

At this moment, Xingtian spoke in a pleading tone. "Dao Friend Ling Xiao, whether or not you can resolve this matter, please make a trip to the Netherworld. That way, we will not have failed the important task Houtu entrusted to us."

Hearing this, Ling Xiao no longer hesitated and gave a slight nod.

"Fellow Dao Friends, I agree to go to the Netherworld!"

"Better now than later. Let us set out at once!"

With the Pure Creation Dao, Ling Xiao might not be able to purify all the seven emotions and six desires, but he could at least ease Houtu's burden.

This was an undertaking of immense merit. How could Ling Xiao stand by and watch coldly?

"Ling Xiao, go ahead."

"Remember to thank Houtu for me. I need to refine the Mysterious Yin Jade Hairpin, then cultivate in peace and break through to the late stage of Golden Immortal of Hunyuan."

Wangshu looked at Ling Xiao, her red lips parting slightly.

Gentle by nature and fond of peace and quiet, Wangshu did not intend to go to the Netherworld.

"Alright!"

Ling Xiao nodded. Then, riding Auspicious Clouds, he followed Xingtian and Tai Xuan toward the Netherworld.

Golden Ao Island, Palace of Green Essence.

Tongtian sat cross-legged upon the Cloud Terrace. Below him stood Duobao, Yun Xiao, and the other disciples of the Sect of Interception. Fury was written across all their faces, and they looked filled with righteous indignation.

"Master, we cannot endure this insult."

"The Netherworld has targeted the fallen disciples of our Sect of Interception, sending them into the Eighteen Levels of Hell to be tortured over and over. It has not even spared the dozens of fallen Quasi-Sages of the Phoenix Clan. This is simply too much bullying, an insult to the prestige of our Sect of Interception."

Lu Ya stepped forward and spoke to Tongtian.

Deep in his eyes lay hatred for the Netherworld and Houtu.

Following the normal procedures of the Netherworld, those disciples of the Sect of Interception and Quasi-Sages of the Phoenix Clan should have long since had their memories erased and been reincarnated. How could they have suffered such punishments?

But that was indeed the reality now!

"It is all because Xingtian, Tai Xuan, and the others left our Sect of Interception, causing Houtu to bear a grudge against us as well. That is why she deliberately humiliated the prestige of our sect and brought disgrace upon us."

"Now everyone in the Sect of Interception is uneasy. All our junior brothers fear that after they fall, they will be cast into the Eighteen Levels of Hell. After all, that traitor Ling Xiao controls the Investiture of the Gods List and will not easily allow disciples of our Sect of Interception to be listed and become gods."

"Thus, any fallen disciple of the Sect of Interception will go to the Netherworld to await reincarnation. Yet even after reaching the Netherworld, they will still suffer countless ages of torment and brutal punishment..."

Daoist Duobao's face was full of anger, his words laden with resentment.

Ling Xiao controlled the matter of the Investiture of the Gods and would absolutely not easily permit disciples of the Sect of Interception to become gods. And once they reached the Netherworld, they would still have to endure the punishments and condemnation imposed by Pingxin.

Therefore, once they fell, no disciple of the Sect of Interception would have a good end.

The Investiture of the Gods Tribulation was about to descend. If this matter could not be handled properly, the fighting spirit of the Sect of Interception's disciples would be weakened, and they might even fear participating in conflicts between sects.

If that happened, all the Sect of Interception's plans would come to nothing.

"At the root of it all, it is because of that calamity, Ling Xiao!"

"If he had not betrayed the Sect of Interception, how could Xingtian, Tai Xuan, and the others have disrespected Master? In the end, they even brought about this disaster."

"And as for the Investiture of the Gods List, Ling Xiao is even more arrogant and conceited. Relying on his status as the Great Emperor of the Azure Radiance, he has repeatedly schemed against our Sect of Interception. I never imagined he was such a petty man who loved stabbing others in the back..."

Our Lady of Golden Spirit frowned, gritted her silver teeth, and spoke in a deep voice.

Both her words and expression carried a sense of bitter disappointment.

The moment she said this, a commotion arose within Biyou Palace. Several Female Immortals of the Sect of Interception instantly revealed disappointed expressions and began verbally condemning Ling Xiao.

"The conflict and misunderstanding between Pingxin and our Sect of Interception must be resolved. Which of you is willing to take my decree to the Netherworld?"

At last, Tongtian spoke!

As a Sage of the Heavenly Dao, he could not lower himself to personally seek out Pingxin. Thus, he could only entrust the matter to his disciples of the Sect of Interception, hoping that Pingxin would no longer make things difficult for their fallen disciples.

"Reporting to Master, this disciple is willing to go!"

Yun Xiao immediately stepped forward, her pretty face devoid of color.

Ever since she and Qiong Xiao had gone to Penglai Immortal Island to rekindle their former relationship with Ling Xiao, only to be rejected, she had been unable to lift her spirits. Her entire being carried an air of self-pity and remorse.

Cracks had formed in her Dao Heart, and her heart was filled with endless regret.

If she had cared for this junior brother's feelings after Ling Xiao lost all his cultivation, the two of them would not have reached such a point. Whenever she thought of it, Yun Xiao's heart ached terribly.

Endless regret surged like a tide, as though it would drown her.

"Master, this disciple will go with Senior Sister Yun Xiao!"

A female immortal dressed in a long red gown, surrounded by seven-colored radiance, walked to the center of the Great Hall and cupped her hands in salute to Tongtian.

Her eyebrows were slender, her features exquisite, and she seemed untouched by worldly dust.

She was Fairy Caiyun, an inner disciple of the Sect of Interception. She possessed peak Golden Immortal of Grand Dao cultivation and was close to Yun Xiao, so she was unwilling to let Yun Xiao go alone.

When she looked at Yun Xiao, Fairy Caiyun's face showed concern.

"Excellent!"

Some of the gloom on Tongtian's dark face dissipated.

Even without Ling Xiao, the Sect of Interception remained united as one, and its disciples shared the same hatred toward their enemies.

In his view, Yun Xiao and Fairy Caiyun were gentle by nature, and both were female immortals. They would surely win Pingxin's sympathy and resolve the misunderstanding with the Sect of Interception.

"Master, then Caiyun and I will depart now!"

After bidding Tongtian farewell, Yun Xiao and Fairy Caiyun left Biyou Palace and flew toward the shores of the East Sea. There was a spatial gateway there leading to the Netherworld.

Though the Netherworld appeared to be part of the Primordial World, it possessed unique barriers. One could only enter it through a spatial gateway.

In the mortal world, this spatial gateway was also called the Ghost Gate!

Riding Auspicious Clouds and looking down upon the surging sea, Yun Xiao's mood gradually improved somewhat.

But very soon!

Above the shores of the East Sea, Yun Xiao and Fairy Caiyun's delicate bodies trembled.

For beside the gateway below!

A familiar figure stood next to Xingtian and Tai Xuan.

"It is Junior Brother Ling Xiao..."

Yun Xiao's small mouth parted slightly, mist rising in her eyes.

Bitterness, grievance, and regret all surged into her heart...