The world before me was completely different from the clear, vast, and vibrant wilderness of the Primordial Wilderness.
The sky here is eternally dark, not night, but a deep, gloomy darkness that swallows up light.
A chilling aura permeated every inch of space; it was the product of the purest Greater Yin energy intertwined with the resentment of the dead.
The enormous Six Paths of Reincarnation Disk, like a giant wheel supporting heaven and earth, slowly rotates at the core of the Netherworld, emitting a deep and majestic Dao Sound. Each rotation draws countless lines of law, determining the destination of billions of souls in their next life.
Below, the strict structure of the Underworld is already complete, with the Yellow Springs Road to the Underworld, the River of Oblivion, the Bridge of Helplessness, the Ten Kings of Hell, the Judge's Hall... all the buildings appear and disappear in the hazy ghostly atmosphere, yet remain orderly.
Countless hazy, translucent remnant souls, guided by the power of reincarnation, Jieyin from all corners of the Primordial Wilderness like fireflies drawn by an invisible force, forming vast rivers of souls. Carrying their attachments, pain, confusion, and tranquility from their previous lives, they silently surged into the six enormous vortexes.
Standing tall in the void, Qing Huan could clearly "see" with a slight sweep of his divine sense that, with the influx of countless souls and the operation of the cycle of reincarnation, the vast and pure power of Merit, as well as the immense and profound world Luck representing the authority of the underworld, were continuously converging towards the core of this world, almost condensing into a visible golden and Xuan Huang halo, cycling endlessly and relentlessly.
Even Qing Huan, Sage, couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy and emotion at this moment.
"Houtu Daoist Houtu... you truly have a great Creation and a great blessing."
This body, through reincarnation, mended the deficiencies of the Heavenly Dao. The Merit and Luck gained were simply... simply as boundless as the Yin Energy of the Netherworld, like money was free..."
Just as his thoughts were turning, a gentle, compassionate, yet supremely majestic and indifferent female voice, seemingly integrated with the entire Netherworld, rang out from the deepest part of that world, clearly entering his ears and resonating directly within his mind:
"Fellow Qing Huan, since your esteemed presence has reached the outskirts of my Netherworld, why do you merely linger and observe from the outside, instead of venturing into the depths of the Netherworld to have a conversation with me?"
As the sound rang out, the world barrier that had been like a curtain of water covering the entire Netherworld suddenly began to ripple.
The purest Yin Energy intertwined with the profound laws of reincarnation, rapidly forming a stable and peaceful passage.
The passageway, shimmering with light, isolates itself from the chaos and corruption of the outside world, leading straight to the unfathomable depths of the underworld. It is like a silent invitation, demonstrating the absolute control of the master of this place.
Qing Huan's expression remained unchanged, a faint smile still playing on his lips, as he stepped into the passage.
The sound spread peacefully within this special space:
"I have come here today with great trepidation, specifically to pay my respects to Fellow Houtu."
"This is a sacred place in the Netherworld, the core of reincarnation. The matter is of utmost importance. If there is any disturbance, I hope you will forgive me, fellow Daoist."
The rules of space seemed to lose their meaning beneath his feet. With just one step, the surrounding scenery had already changed abruptly.
The pervasive chill became rich and pure, but it was no longer corrosive; instead, it gave people a sense of tranquility, as if returning to their origins.
We were now inside a magnificent, spacious, and extremely secluded palace.
This is the Palace of Reincarnation.
The main hall was of immeasurable size, and the pillars supporting its roof seemed to embody the laws of life and death.
Beneath their feet lay black, mirror-like stones that reflected no image.
In the surrounding void, countless fine, spiderweb-like lines of law appeared and disappeared, forming the foundation of the cycle of reincarnation and bearing the weight of the births and deaths of all living beings in the Primordial World.
Here, the concepts of time and space become blurred, and only the eternal meaning of "reincarnation" permeates everything.
In the center of the main hall, a figure stood quietly.
She was dressed in simple linen clothes, with a slender figure and a compassionate and holy face. She exuded a powerful aura that was of the same origin as the entire Underworld, yet strangely retained a kind of earthy weight and vitality that belonged to the "Ancestral Witch".
Qing Huan's gaze fell on Houtu, scrutinizing her carefully. A slight, almost imperceptible surprise flickered in his heart.
Contrary to his predictions based on the trajectory of Heavenly Dao, the Houtu before him did not seem to have been completely assimilated or covered by the authority of the Netherworld.
She was still "Houtu," the Earth Ancestral Witch with a heart full of love and compassion, her expression and temperament no different from what he remembered, rather than the legendary "Pingxin" goddess who was emotionally detached, only respected the order of reincarnation, and was almost an incarnation of the Dao Incarnation.
Perhaps this subtle difference is related to my initial intervention?
Houtu was also looking at Qing Huan, her gaze complex and unfathomable.
It contained sincere gratitude. If it weren't for Qing Huan's guidance and protection at the crucial moment, she might have become a saint, but she would likely have completely lost herself and become a puppet of the rules of reincarnation.
At the same time, there was also a trace of the natural alienation and vigilance that Ancestral Witch would feel when facing Sage had a close relationship with the demon race.
Deeper within, there lies a profound sense of melancholy and worry about the future of the Witch Clan and the fate of his elder brothers.
She spoke slowly, her voice echoing in the empty hall, carrying a unique rhythm:
"Fellow Qing Huan, I was able to transform into reincarnation, complete the Heavenly Dao, and attain the Hunyuan Saint Dao. I was also fortunate that I was not completely devoured by the supreme authority and responsibilities of this Netherworld. I was still able to retain the thought of 'Houtu'. All of this is thanks to your guidance at the foot of Buzhou Mountain that day, and your protection at the crucial moment of becoming a saint."
This is an immense debt of gratitude concerning the very foundation of my path and existence; I, Houtu, will always remember this debt of Karma.
"Now that you, my fellow Daoist, have come in person, if there is anything I can do to help you, please speak frankly, and I will do my utmost to repay you without hesitation."
Upon hearing this, Qing Huan gently shook his head, the faint smile on his face remaining unchanged, his tone carrying a hint of detachment and casualness, as if he were discussing a trivial matter unrelated to himself:
"Alas, Houtu Daoist Houtu's words are too distant and too heavy."
What I said that day was merely something I had observed and learned from the heavens and the earth, and I just mentioned it casually. It was nothing more than some kind of guidance.
As for offering support, it was simply following the Heavenly Dao order and doing what was right; how could it be considered Karma?
"Fellow Daoist, you have performed this Heaven-Opening feat with great compassion and perseverance. This is due to your own Merit and the Luck. How dare I claim credit for it?"
The tone shifted, his expression becoming slightly more formal, and he looked at Houtu with a calm gaze:
"I have come here today not to seek any reward or to settle any Karma."
But I feel something in my heart and want to discuss it with fellow Daoists about the future pattern of this ancient world, especially... about the seemingly endless fate of the two Lich clans."
He paused, noticing the probing look in Houtu's eyes, and continued:
"Indeed, our two races have fought for countless Kalpa to seize the position of protagonist in this Primordial Wilderness world and the Luck upon us. Our grudges run deep, and our Blood Sea has flowed endlessly. We are truly mortal enemies who will never rest until the very end."
However, the universe operates in cycles, the Great Dao is fifty, the Heaven Deduces Forty-Nine, and humanity escapes one of them.
There is more than one dead end for everything.
Perhaps, within this seemingly unsolvable deadlock, there still exists Thread of Life, a... chance to turn things around.