Chaos Thunder Bead Shakes Saint, Empress Pingxin Invites, Chess Game Settled, Calamity Arises

The mutated Chaos Thunder Bead, born from the origin of the Chaos Bead, was further catalyzed by Tongtian's Primordial Unity Dao Fruit and the blood essence of demon gods. Its power had long surpassed ordinary limits, and it even contained a trace of destructive intent that defied the Heavenly Dao, pointing directly towards the Primordial Chaos!

At this moment, Tongtian detonated it without hesitation, its target the two Saintly Wills hanging above Fengdu Hall, pressing down like heavenly decrees!

There was no earth-shattering explosion, nor any dazzling burst of energy.

Only a muffled hum, as if originating from the very root of the Great Dao, yet potent enough to shatter the primordial spirits of Golden Immortals!

At the center of the Thunder Bead's explosion, space silently collapsed and annihilated like a mirror, transforming into an infinitesimally small, absolute dark singularity that devoured all light! Immediately after, endless ripples of chaotic destruction spread out from the singularity like water waves!

Where these ripples passed, laws retreated, and myriad paths wailed! The domain of Saintly Might, formless yet tangible, formed by the Saintly Wills of Venerable Lord of Primordial Beginning and Daoist Zhunti, was rapidly dissolved and disintegrated by the chaotic ripples, like ice and snow under the sun!

"Hmm?!" From the distant Jade Void Palace on Kunlun Mountain and the Spirit Mountain's Pure Land in the West, two muffled grunts of shock and fury were heard almost simultaneously!

For the first time, a clear ripple appeared on Venerable Lord of Primordial Beginning's indifferent face. His boundless Saintly Will felt as if it had been struck by an invisible giant hammer, causing a slight stinging and sluggishness. His control over Fengdu Hall instantly developed an extremely subtle gap!

Daoist Zhunti's face turned pale, and the benevolent Buddhist light flowing around him became disordered. He felt his divine sense collide with a chaotic swamp filled with thorns. Not only was he forcefully pushed away, but a trace of strange and domineering destructive aura also counterattacked along his divine sense. Though instantly ground away, it was enough to startle him!

A mere Quasi-Saint, and not even the Saint's true body acting, just a peculiar Thunder Bead, could shake a Saint's divine sense?!

This completely overturned their understanding!

Although this was only a portion of their divine sense, far from their full power, how could the might of a Saint be challenged by an ant?!

The gazes of the two Saints instantly pierced through infinite space, locking onto the void where Tongtian was hidden, their killing intent soaring! However, it was precisely this momentary gap, caused by the Saintly Might being briefly shaken by the Chaos Thunder Bead, that became a crucial turning point for life and death for the beings within Fengdu Hall!

The all-encompassing explosion shockwave and self-detonation energy, deprived of the Saints' direct suppression, were still terrifying, but they gave the powerful beings within the hall a chance to breathe!

Empress Pingxin reacted the fastest!

"Reincarnation Seal!"

She let out a clear cry, and the phantom image of the Reincarnation Disk beneath her feet suddenly solidified. The vast power of the Six Paths of Reincarnation surged out like a tide. It was no longer a simple defense, but was guided in a profound way, diverting most of the violent energy and forcefully channeling it into the endless Reincarnation channels, dissolving it into nothingness!

Several Great Witches roared, revealing their true Ancestral Witch forms, and endured the remaining energy shockwaves. Although they were shaken and their blood essence churned, they were ultimately not ambushed or heavily wounded!

The Jade Pure Immortal Light and the Buddhist Salvation Golden Light, secretly unleashed by Guangchengzi and Maitreya Buddha, in the instant they lost the cover of the Saintly Will and encountered the interference of the Reincarnation power, were "coincidentally" deflected by the energy turbulence guided by Empress Pingxin. They "accidentally" collided with each other, annihilating each other!

The expressions of the two instantly turned extremely ugly!

Their plan had failed! And the fake Witch Clan member who triggered the self-detonation had long since turned to ash in the explosion, leaving no evidence.

The entire Fengdu Hall was in ruins, formations shattered, pillars toppled, and beams broken. Only the Reincarnation Disk beneath Empress Pingxin remained stable.

Silence! After a brief silence, came boundless anger and suspicion!

"Guangchengzi! Maitreya! What were you trying to do just now?!" A Great Witch with a fiery temper was the first to attack, pointing at the two and roaring. They had clearly sensed those two deeply hidden attacks!

Guangchengzi's face turned ashen, and he forced himself to calm down: "What's the panic?! This Immortal was trying to suppress that demonic creature, and it was an accidental slip!"

Maitreya Buddha also quickly resumed his smiling Buddha appearance, though his smile was somewhat stiff: "Amitabha, a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. This humble monk also wished to prevent the tragedy."

"A fine 'accidental slip'! A fine 'misunderstanding'!" Another Great Witch sneered, "Do you take us for blind?!"

The Asura Demon King sent by Old Ancestor Minghe cackled, as if reveling in chaos: "Fight! Fight! This old ancestor loves watching dogs bite dogs the most!"

The scene once again became tense, with suspicion and anger permeating among the various factions.

Empress Pingxin's face was ashen, her gaze coldly sweeping over Guangchengzi and Maitreya Buddha, then at the ruined hall, and finally looking towards a certain spot in the void, precisely where Tongtian was hidden, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

She naturally knew who had intervened just now, and even more so, she understood that the Thunder Bead had bought her a crucial moment.

"Enough!" Empress Pingxin's voice rang out again, containing undeniable authority and a hint of weariness: "Today's events end here! Fengdu Hall must be immediately sealed for repairs! The sacred grounds of Reincarnation must not be disturbed further! Everyone, please leave!"

She directly issued an eviction notice!

Although Guangchengzi and Maitreya Buddha were unwilling, they knew that further persistence would only worsen things. They could only snort coldly, and with their disciples, they flicked their sleeves and departed, their faces so gloomy they looked as if they could drip water. This trip to the Underworld had seen the Chan Teachings and Western Teachings attempt to steal a chicken only to lose the rice, not only had their plan failed, but their relationship with the Wu Clan, and even Empress Pingxin, had deteriorated.

Old Ancestor Minghe's Asura Demon King cackled and turned into a stream of blood light, fleeing, clearly to report this "wonderful" outcome to Old Ancestor Minghe.

Grand White Gold Star sighed, cupped his hands to Empress Pingxin, and also departed with the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals.

In the blink of an eye, the boisterous Fengdu Hall became deserted, leaving only Empress Pingxin, several Great Witches who were still shaken but not appeased, and a host of Netherworld ghosts and gods.

A Great Witch stepped forward, cupped his hands to Empress Pingxin, his tone still somewhat stiff, but much gentler than before: "Your Ladyship, thank you for your protection today. The Western Teachings and Chan Teachings have gone too far!"

Empress Pingxin nodded slightly: "The Wu Clan is the foundation of the Underworld, and this seat will naturally not stand by. You should all return to reorganize your tribes, take over defense, and strictly guard against the schemes of villains."

"Yes!" The Great Witches cupped their hands in response, glanced at Empress Pingxin, and finally withdrew from the hall with their people.

After everyone had left, Empress Pingxin stood alone in the broken hall, silent for a long time, before slowly speaking. Her voice was clear and cold, yet it clearly reached Tongtian, who was still hidden:

"Fellow Daoist, you've watched enough of the show. Please reveal yourself."

The void rippled slightly, and Tongtian, with Saint Mother Wudang, slowly appeared.

"Fellow Daoist Tongtian, it has been a while," Empress Pingxin looked at Tongtian, her gaze profound. "Or rather, what should I call you? Sect Master Tongtian, or a Primordial Unity cultivator who defies the heavens?"

Tongtian smiled slightly and cupped his hands: "Titles are but illusions. Tongtian is Tongtian. I apologize for the intrusion today, please forgive me, Your Ladyship."

Empress Pingxin shook her head: "If not for your intervention just now, repelling the Saintly Wills and seizing that fleeting moment, the Underworld today might have changed hands. The one who should thank you is this seat."

Her tone shifted, getting straight to the point: "Fellow Daoist, you took such a great risk to infiltrate the Underworld and stir up trouble. It's unlikely you did it merely to watch a lively scene, or simply to assist this seat, right?"

Tongtian calmly replied: "Your Ladyship sees clearly. Tongtian's journey here indeed has important matters to discuss."

"Oh?" Empress Pingxin's eyes flickered. "Is it to form an alliance against the Saints? Or is it for the impending calamity from another world?" She spoke the last few words very softly, yet they made Tongtian's heart jolt!

She knew after all!

Tongtian suppressed the turmoil in his heart and said solemnly, "All of it. With internal strife and external threats, the Great Desolation has reached a critical juncture. The Saints are busy with infighting, treating all beings as pawns, and the Heavenly Dao is unjust. We can only save ourselves. Empress, you are confined to Reincarnation, seemingly detached, but in reality, you are also within the game, unable to be free. And that calamity from beyond the domain is a blade hanging over the heads of all beings in the Great Desolation! Tongtian is untalented, but I am willing to use the path of Primordial Unity to forge a new way, to fight for a sliver of hope for this Great Desolation! May I ask if Empress is willing to join hands?"

Empress Pingxin remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Your path of Primordial Unity is indeed different from that of the Heavenly Dao Saints. The power of that lightning bead just now could actually shake Saintly Might for a moment... unbelievable. Perhaps, you can truly forge a new path."

She raised her eyes and looked at the slowly rotating Six Paths of Reincarnation, a hint of deep helplessness and longing in her eyes: "Being trapped here is not my wish. However, Reincarnation is of great importance, and any move will affect the whole. I can form a karmic connection with you, provide some convenience in secret, and even conceal Heavenly Secrets for you when necessary, but on the surface, the Underworld must remain neutral, at least until you possess sufficient strength."

This was already the best outcome Tongtian had anticipated! Empress Pingxin's identity was special, and gaining her tacit approval and support was a great success!

"That will be enough!" Tongtian cupped his hands solemnly, "Thank you, Empress!"

"No need to thank me," Empress Pingxin waved her hand, "It is also for you, for the Great Desolation, and for myself to seek a variable. You may go now, it is not advisable to stay in the Underworld for long. If you have important matters, you can contact me through the 'Spring of Rebirth' in the depths of the Netherworld."

She flicked her finger, and a point of light containing the mark of Reincarnation flew into Tongtian's hand.

Tongtian put away the mark, thanked her again, and said no more. He took Saint Mother Wudang with him, and their figures slowly merged into the void, disappearing from sight.

After leaving Fengdu Hall and traversing the gloomy ghost realm, Saint Mother Wudang could not help but transmit her voice and ask, "Master, Empress Pingxin she..." "She is a wise person trapped by responsibility and reality," Tongtian said lightly, "She sees the crisis, and she sees the variables. She is investing in the future. This karmic connection is crucial."

"Then what do we do next..."

"The matter of the Underworld is settled, and the objective has been achieved. Next..." Tongtian's gaze sharpened, "It's time to 'have a chat' with Ksitigarbha. He lost so much face and authority, and is at his weakest and most unwilling moment... Perhaps, from him, we can gain some unexpected rewards regarding the Western Teachings and even that other world."

His figure gradually faded into the ghost fog, but his voice carried a cold decisiveness.

"The Western Teachings sent such a 'great gift,' it wouldn't be hospitable not to return the favor, would it?"

The wind in the Netherworld Underworld seemed to become even colder and more bone-chilling, as if foreshadowing a greater storm brewing. And Tongtian, with the chess pieces in hand, had already made his next move.