Jointly Allying with Houtu (1)

However, Houtu's becoming a saint had come at a rather inopportune time.

That was because the Witch-Demons were competing for supremacy at the time, and Houtu's attainment of sainthood disrupted the balance.

Thus, for the sake of many people's interests, Hongjun directly brought several saints along and fabricated an excuse, forcibly trapping Houtu in the Netherworld Palace.

Even now, Houtu still had no way to escape.

"Ding! Congratulations, you have successfully triggered a hidden option."

"Option One: Continue cultivating in seclusion. You will obtain the Cloud-Piercing Shuttle (Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure) and the Nine Yang Flower (Innate Spiritual Root)."

"Option Two: Go to the Netherworld Palace and rescue Houtu. You will directly learn the divine ability: Earthly Path Sublimation."

Looking at the two options provided by the system, Tongtian actually found himself in a bit of a dilemma.

Compared with each other, the reward for the first option was clearly better, while the second option offered only one divine ability.

Although it granted only a single divine ability, that divine ability was extraordinarily powerful.

Earthly Path Sublimation—as its name suggested, it could raise a cultivator's Heaven and Earth Karma Position within the Netherworld Palace!

If his Heaven and Earth Karma Position were raised, then helping Houtu escape the Netherworld Palace would be a simple matter, wouldn't it?

"Can I use the divine ability Earthly Path Sublimation to reach an alliance with Houtu?"

A spiritual light flickered in Tongtian's eyes as he began considering what to do.

The great tribulation would arrive soon, but the land of reincarnation in the Netherworld Palace could allow one to avoid it.

As a saint, Houtu could control the Netherworld Palace's Heaven and Earth reincarnation. Although she was constrained by the Heavenly Dao, that was only because the Heavenly Dao was stronger than the Netherworld Palace.

If he could raise the Heaven and Earth Karma Position, then he could help Houtu break free of the Heavenly Dao's restraints!

If that happened, wouldn't Tongtian soon have a saint's assistance as well?

With all of Tongtian's treasures combined, dealing with Yuanshi, Jieyin, and Zhunti would be a piece of cake!

But adding Hongjun and Nuwa to the mix would make things difficult.

If Hongjun truly attacked my Interception Sect, it would be excellent if I could use the Netherworld Palace to hold him back.

Especially Taishang. The only reason he had not acted yet was that the great tribulation had not arrived.

Once the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation arrived, there was no way he would not act against the Interception Sect.

Therefore, no matter what, he had to make his plans first.

"Option Two!"

Tongtian spoke in a firm tone.

As soon as he finished speaking, Tongtian's primordial spirit was directly enveloped by a mass of light.

Before long, Tongtian directly comprehended the divine ability Earthly Path Sublimation.

After fully comprehending the divine ability, Tongtian's mouth fell wide open.

He had originally thought that even after Earthly Path Sublimation was used, the enhanced Earthly Path would still be inferior to the Heavenly Dao.

After all, the Heavenly Dao had dominated the primordial world for countless years.

However, Tongtian was directly shocked by this method.

Although this divine ability could only be used once,

that single use alone was already so astonishing, so unbelievably powerful!

That was because it could directly raise the Heaven and Earth Karma Position within the Netherworld Palace all at once—and this increase would not be controlled by the Heavenly Dao. It could break free of the Heavenly Dao!

This was an operation that would establish another Earthly Path outside the Heavenly Dao!

If the Earthly Path became a complete system of its own, then it would no longer fear the Heavenly Dao's suppression!

From now on, the Heavenly Dao would control only the laws of the Heavenly Dao, while the Earthly Path would share control of the laws of the earth!

Tongtian firmly believed that under the effects of Earthly Path Sublimation, Houtu would definitely ally with him and help him!

Tongtian lightly waved his arm, and a spatial gate appeared.

Without the slightest hesitation, he stepped inside and headed for the Netherworld Palace.

At that moment, within the Netherworld Palace, where black winds occasionally ran rampant,

the Netherworld Palace's world had continued operating normally ever since Houtu attained sainthood.

But because of the Heavenly Dao's control,

Houtu had not been free in the slightest after becoming a saint. She could only move about in the Netherworld Palace and could not go anywhere else.

Whoosh!

A spatial gate appeared, and Tongtian stepped out.

Tongtian did not pause at all. He walked straight toward the depths of the Netherworld Palace and arrived before the Palace of Pingxin.

Boom!

Sensing Tongtian's arrival, Houtu immediately opened the palace doors. Tongtian then walked inside and met with Houtu.

"Brother Tongtian, what brings you here today?"

Houtu said with a smile.

She had been trapped in the Netherworld Palace for many years. Normally, not a single person would come here.

Hearing this, Tongtian also replied with a smile, "I truly envy how leisurely you are—carefree and unafraid of the great tribulation's arrival."

Hearing this, Houtu was rather helpless as well. She said, "No matter how powerful this great tribulation is, it won't descend upon my Netherworld Palace!"

"I can only idle away my days and live a leisurely life."

Hearing this, Tongtian also smiled. From Houtu's words, he could hear her yearning for freedom.

It was only natural. If anyone were trapped in a dark, sunless place for so long, who could endure it?

Houtu had become a saint, but her freedom had also been stripped away in an instant.

"Brother Tongtian, you didn't come merely to see me this time, did you?"

Houtu looked at Tongtian meaningfully. After all, she and Tongtian had no particular friendship, so she concluded that he had come with an ulterior motive.

"The great tribulation is approaching!"

"I came this time because I wish to form an alliance with you."

Tongtian did not beat around the bush and directly stated his intentions.

Hearing this, Houtu furrowed her brows slightly and said, "This great tribulation poses no threat to my Netherworld Palace."

"I'm afraid an alliance won't be possible."

There was no friendship to speak of between Houtu and Tongtian.

Even taking the most pessimistic view, the great tribulation would not descend upon the Netherworld Palace at all.

Why interfere in matters that had nothing to do with her?

Seeing Houtu reject him without even thinking, Tongtian was not surprised.

"Don't rush to refuse. I wouldn't have come to ally with you without reason. Listen to what I have to say first."

Tongtian said.

Hearing this, Houtu furrowed her brows slightly and waited quietly for Tongtian to speak.

Tongtian did not keep Houtu waiting. He got straight to the point and said, "I can help you leave this wretched place and free you from the Heavenly Dao's oppression!"

"Then you can reclaim your freedom!"

Hearing Tongtian's words, Houtu was instantly left speechless with shock.

"Reclaim my freedom?"

"Leave this wretched place?"

Could this be real?

There were six saints in the primordial world, and without exception, every one of them was controlled by the Heavenly Dao.

How could Tongtian possibly have the ability to resolve the Heavenly Dao's suppression of her and help her reclaim her freedom?

"How will you do it? Demonstrate it first."

Houtu looked at Tongtian and spoke with hope in her eyes.

Hearing this, Tongtian smiled faintly, formed hand seals, and released an awe-inspiring aura.

Tongtian directly enveloped the Palace of Pingxin with his aura, isolating the heavenly secrets to prevent the other saints from divining what was happening.

"Watch how I do it!"