Netherworld Grand Gathering, Winds and Clouds Converge; The Map Unfurls, the Dagger Revealed, Asura Appears

Inside the Secret Valley of the Sea of Blood, Tongtian slowly opened his eyes. The light of Chaos within them receded, and his aura became seamless and perfect. The vital blood and magic power he had depleted from saving others from afar had completely recovered. He had even benefited from this misfortune, gaining a more refined control over the power of Chaos.

He opened his palm, and the Space Rune he had obtained from Old Ancestor Yang Mei floated quietly, emitting increasingly profound fluctuations. After a period of dedicated study, he could now preliminarily control this rune. While he was far from Old Ancestor Yang Mei's ability to create and destroy at will, traversing the Netherworld for short distances and concealing his tracks was no longer an issue.

What concerned him even more was the Chaos Thunder Bead beside him, which had absorbed a portion of the Source of Destruction from the Primordial Asura King. The bead's color had deepened to an almost black hue, with dark purple destructive lightning occasionally flashing across its surface. The dangerous aura it exuded made even him feel a flicker of trepidation.

"This item might serve as an unexpected trump card," Tongtian carefully put it away, his gaze piercing through the layers of the Sea of Blood and looking towards the direction of the Netherworld's Underworld.

The appointed time was drawing near. Empress Pingxin's announcement of the "Reincarnation Protection Association" had already sent ripples like a massive stone dropped into water across all realms of the Great Desolation. Today was the day when representatives from all factions would gather at Fengdu Hall to "discuss" grand plans! This was destined to be a "grand gathering" where everyone harbored their own intentions and danger lurked everywhere.

"Fellow Daoist Minghe, are preparations complete?" Tongtian asked via telepathic transmission.

A sinister laugh echoed from the depths of the Sea of Blood, belonging to Old Ancestor Minghe. "Everything is ready! That fake Witch Tribe member has had several 'coincidental' encounters with Ksitigarbha's confidants, and has half-heartedly delivered that 'great gift' into Ksitigarbha's hands. As far as I know, that bald donkey Ksitigarbha treasures it like gold and is accelerating contact with those stubborn old witches of the Witch Tribe! Heh heh, we just need to wait and watch the show today!"

"Excellent," Tongtian replied calmly. "At that time, your subordinate 'witness' will need to make a timely appearance."

"Rest assured! I've already arranged everything perfectly!" Old Ancestor Minghe said with full confidence.

Tongtian said no more. With a ripple of spatial energy around him, his figure vanished soundlessly from the Secret Valley of the Sea of Blood. He did not head directly to Fengdu Hall. Instead, relying on the advantage of the Space Rune, he stealthily moved like a ghost through the shadows of the Netherworld's Underworld. He wanted to personally observe the movements of all parties first.

Outside Fengdu Hall in the Netherworld's Underworld.

The normally gloomy and silent realm of Reincarnation was now filled with immortal light, Buddhist shadows, and faint demonic auras. It was unprecedentedly "lively."

The Heavenly Court's representative, Grand White Gold Star, arrived early with a group of immortal officials. He greeted everyone with a smile, but his eyes shrewdly scanned the entire scene.

The Chan Teachings were led by Guangchengzi, accompanied by Golden Immortals such as Chijingzi and Yu Ding Zhenren. Each of them exuded arrogance and vast immortal light, forming their own distinct group. They maintained a subtle distance from the Western Teachings, yet seemed to be in tacit coordination.

The Western Teachings had the largest contingent, led by Maitreya Buddha and Medicine Buddha, with Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva standing beside them. Behind them followed dozens of Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and Vajras. Buddhist light permeated the area, and faint Sanskrit chants were heard, attempting to overwhelm others with their sheer presence. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's expression appeared compassionate and solemn, but a trace of uncontrollable excitement and anticipation flickered deep within his eyes.

Several ancient Demon Gods from the Demon Tribe arrived, their auras fierce and their gazes cold. They were clearly there to stir up trouble.

Surprisingly, several elder figures of the Witch Tribe, with ancient auras yet radiating immense killing intent, had also arrived. These were some of the surviving Great Witches! They stood silently in a corner, their gazes complex as they looked towards Fengdu Hall. They neither welcomed nor rejected the attention from various parties, appearing exceptionally reserved. Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's gaze frequently fell upon them.

Old Ancestor Minghe of the Sea of Blood did not come in person. Instead, he sent an Asura Demon King, exuding a strong bloody aura and an untamed demeanor, as his representative. The demon king sat casually to the side, making no effort to hide his hostility towards the Western Teachings.

There were also other rogue cultivators from the Great Desolation and Ghost Kings from the Netherworld, all waiting with varied expressions.

The entire scene appeared calm on the surface, but undercurrents surged. Divine senses clashed silently in the air, creating an oppressively suffocating atmosphere.

Buzz! The great doors of Fengdu Hall slowly opened. Empress Pingxin's (Houtu's) avatar sat beneath the phantom image of the Reincarnation Disk, her voice calm yet carrying supreme authority. "All fellow Daoists, please enter."

The Immortals, Buddhas, Demons, and Devils composed themselves and entered the hall in order, taking their seats according to their designated positions.

At the beginning of the meeting, there were naturally the perfunctory statements from each faction.

Grand White Gold Star, representing the Heavenly Court, declared their full support for protecting Reincarnation and offered to dispatch Heavenly Soldiers and Generals for joint defense, subtly emphasizing the Heavenly Court's leading position.

Guangchengzi, representing the Chan Teachings, spoke of the great tribulation as the operation of the Heavenly Dao, urging all beings to follow destiny. The Chan Teachings were willing to provide "guidance from the Heavenly Dao," subtly placing themselves on a moral high ground.

When it was the Western Teachings' turn, Maitreya Buddha, with a beaming smile, reiterated the Western Teachings' philosophy of "compassion for all beings and salvation for all sentient creatures." He proposed an extremely detailed plan for "Buddha's Blessing to Reincarnation and Jointly Building Pure Lands of the Six Realms," almost bringing the Underworld entirely under the Western Teachings' system, their ambition clearly revealed.

Every time a faction spoke, the others would either openly or implicitly question and refute them, nearly causing the situation to spiral out of control. It was only through Empress Pingxin's forceful suppression with the power of Reincarnation that order was maintained.

Tongtian, hidden within a spatial rift, watched this farce with cold eyes, patiently waiting.

Finally, as Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva once again attempted to steer the conversation towards "the deep connection between the Western Teachings and the Witch Tribe, and their joint leadership in protecting Reincarnation," the Asura Demon King sent by Old Ancestor Minghe slammed the table and let out a cackling laugh.

"Hah! How amusing! Truly amusing! You bald donkey Ksitigarbha, you claim the Western Teachings have a deep connection with the Witch Tribe? How is it that I heard not long ago, some brothers from the Witch Tribe came to the Sea of Blood crying, saying that your Western Teachings used the name of the Ancestor Witches to deceive them?"

The entire hall was shocked by this declaration!

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's expression changed slightly, and he immediately rebuked sternly, "Demon King, do not speak nonsense! You are slandering the purity of the West!"

"Slander?" The Asura Demon King burst into laughter and pointed towards the outside of the hall. "Whether it's slander or not, let that brother from the Witch Tribe come in and tell you himself!"

As soon as his voice fell, a burly Witch Tribe warrior, radiating intense killing intent and a face filled with "righteous indignation," was "escorted" into the great hall by several Ghost Kings who "happened" to be passing by!

This was the fake Witch Tribe member meticulously crafted by Old Ancestor Minghe!

Upon entering the hall, the fake Witch Tribe member immediately knelt down with a thud and cried out mournfully towards the few true Great Witches, "Ancestors! Descendants of the Ancestor Witches! We have been deceived! The Western Teachings are not truly helping our Witch Tribe! They forged Ancestor Witch Houtu's Mercy Seal, tricking us into believing they could help the Witch Tribe regain its glory, but in reality, they only want to use us to control the Underworld!"

As he spoke, he forcefully expelled a wisp of golden seal that emitted a faint "aura of the Ancestor Witch" yet contained the power of Buddhist salvation!

"This was personally bestowed by Ksitigarbha, who claimed it was an inheritance from the Ancestor Witches! Please, Ancestors, discern this!"

Boom!

The hall instantly erupted into chaos!

The few true Great Witches shot to their feet, staring intently at the seal, their faces contorted in shock! They could feel a semblance of the Ancestor Witch's aura, but more clearly, they sensed the hidden Buddhist power of salvation within it! For them, who held the glory of the Ancestor Witches as paramount, this was an utter humiliation!

"Ksitigarbha! Is this true?!" The leading elderly Great Witch, his beard and hair bristling, his killing intent surging, pressed Ksitigarbha, his voice like thunder!

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's face turned deathly pale, cold sweat beading on his forehead! He had never expected things to be exposed so suddenly! He had examined the seal himself, and although he felt something was slightly off, his eagerness to succeed had prevented him from investigating further. Now, it seemed it was a trap?!

"No! This is slander! It's the Sea of Blood! Minghe is framing me!" Ksitigarbha desperately tried to explain, but his words sounded weak and unconvincing.

"Framing?" The Asura Demon King sneered again. "Ksitigarbha, you have had numerous private meetings with this Witch Tribe member, and you conversed happily. There are quite a few 'witnesses'! Do you need me to invite them in for a confrontation?"

The Ghost Kings, arranged by Old Ancestor Minghe, immediately chimed in with "quiet" affirmations, solidifying the fact that Ksitigarbha had frequently interacted with the "Witch Tribe."

The situation instantly reversed!

The Western Teachings immediately became the target of universal criticism! Forging Ancestor Witch seals and deceiving the Witch Tribe – such actions crossed the bottom line for all factions!

Guangchengzi immediately kicked them while they were down, harshly reprimanding, "Such actions by the Western Teachings, are they truly the path of righteousness? Utterly despicable!"

Grand White Gold Star also frowned, no longer trying to mediate.

The representatives of the demon tribe seized the opportunity to mock and sneer.

Several Great Witches trembled with rage, their gazes towards the people of the Western Teachings practically spitting fire!

The smile on Maitreya Buddha's face completely vanished, his expression ashen. He glared fiercely at Ksitigarbha, cursing him internally for being useless! He knew that the Western Teachings' plan to annex Reincarnation had utterly failed! It might even lead to a significant drop in their prestige!

"Empress Pingxin! This matter—" Maitreya attempted to force an explanation.

"Enough!" Empress Pingxin interrupted sharply, her voice icy, filled with suppressed fury. "The Land of Reincarnation is not a place for your schemes! I will thoroughly investigate this matter!"

Her gaze swept across the crowd, finally landing on the Great Witches. Her tone softened slightly: "The Witch Tribe is the true lineage of Pangu and the foundation of the Underworld. Protecting Reincarnation cannot be done without the Witch Tribe's strength. From this day forward, all duties such as the patrols of the Netherworld specters and the guarding of the River of Forgetfulness shall be taken over by the disciples of the Witch Tribe!"

This declaration was tantamount to directly reclaiming most of the Western Teachings' authority in the Underworld and handing it over to the Witch Tribe!

Upon hearing this, the Great Witches' expressions eased slightly. Although they still harbored reservations about Empress Pingxin, they had gained tangible benefits and now shared a common enemy in the Western Teachings. They cupped their fists in unison: "We respectfully obey the Empress's decree!"

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva's face turned ashen; years of effort, ruined in an instant!

A hint of venom flashed in Maitreya Buddha's eyes, but knowing the tide had turned, he could only suppress his anger and remain silent.

However, just as everyone thought this farce would end with the Western Teachings' bitter defeat, a sudden turn of events occurred! The fake Witch Tribe member kneeling on the ground had a hidden restriction planted by the Asura King suddenly triggered within him! He violently raised his head, his eyes instantly turning blood-red, his aura surging madly. It was a mixture of the Sea of Blood and the Witch Tribe's power, and he let out a roar that was not human:

"Western Teachings! Asura King! You will all die! I, your ancestor, am the Primordial Asura King! Hate, hate, hate!"

He lunged at Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, who was closest to him. His body began to inflate like a balloon, intending to self-destruct!

This sudden development stunned everyone! The Primordial Asura King? What was going on?!

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva was terrified and retreated frantically!

Tongtian, hidden in the void, frowned! That old scoundrel Asura King still had a trick up his sleeve? Was he trying to stir up more trouble? Or, at this critical juncture, Guangchengzi, who had been watching coldly, saw a glint of ferocity and opportunity in his eyes!

Without hesitation, he unleashed the Fan Tian Yin. Instead of striking the fake Witch Tribe member, he seemingly "in a panic" and "unable to control his strength," smashed it fiercely into a main pillar supporting the Fengdu Hall! At the same time, he secretly activated a Jade Pure Divine Thunder he had already palmed!

"Be careful, fellow Daoist!" he cried out, as if trying to stop the fake Witch Tribe member.

BOOM!!! The power of the Fan Tian Yin combined with the Jade Pure Divine Thunder was terrifying! The main pillar was instantly pulverized! The entire Fengdu Hall shook violently, the projection of the Reincarnation Disk flickered unstably, and the formation within the hall was thrown into chaos!

More importantly, the shockwaves from the explosion, mixed with the terrifying impact of the fake Witch Tribe member's self-destruction, surged towards everyone in the hall like a tsunami!

"Guangchengzi! You!" Empress Pingxin was both shocked and furious. She fully activated the Reincarnation Disk to stabilize the hall, but it was too late to fully protect everyone!

The scene instantly spiraled completely out of control!

In the chaos, a strange, almost imperceptible Jade Pure Immortal Light, using the explosion as cover, shot towards the true Great Witches like a venomous snake!

Simultaneously, another deeply hidden golden light of Buddhist salvation quietly swept towards the Great Witches!

The Chan Teachings and the Western Teachings, without prior coordination, had both seized this sudden chaos to launch a sneak attack on the Witch Tribe! They both wanted to control this suddenly important force for themselves!

"Despicable!"

Tongtian, hidden in the void, saw it all clearly. Cold light erupted in his eyes, and just as he was about to act, he suddenly sensed that the two Saint's Wills (Yuanshi, Zhunti) that had been hovering above the Fengdu Hall, indifferently "watching" below, had suddenly intensified, pressing down on the chaotic scene like invisible mountains, and were faintly locking onto his hiding spot!

The might of a Saint descended with a roar!

The plot was revealed! The true killing game had only just begun! Without hesitation, Tongtian instantly activated the mutated Chaos Thunder Bead, its target aimed directly at the two Saint's Wills!