The mutated Chaos Thunder Bead was born from the origin of the Chaos Bead, and further catalyzed by Tongtian's Hunyuan Dao Fruit and Demon God Essence Blood. Its might had long since surpassed the ordinary scope, and it even contained a trace of destructive intent that jumped free from the Heavenly Dao and pointed straight to the Primordial!
Right now, it was detonated by Tongtian without a moment's hesitation, targeting the two saintly wills that hung high above Fengdu Hall, pressing down like the mandates of heaven!
There was no earth-shattering explosion, nor was there any dazzling beam of energy light.
There was only a strange hum, seemingly originating from the root of the Great Dao, dull yet sufficient to shatter the Nascent Souls of Golden Immortals!
At the center of the thunder bead's detonation, space collapsed and annihilated silently like the surface of a mirror, transforming into an extremely tiny, absolute darkness singularity that swallowed all light! Immediately following that, endless chaotic ripples of destruction took the singularity as their core, rippling outward like water waves!
Wherever these ripples passed, the laws retreated and the myriad daos wailed! That formless yet substantial realm of saintly might transformed from the wills of Venerable Lord of Primordial Beginning and Daoist Zhunti dissolved and disintegrated under those chaotic ripples as swiftly as snow in the sunlight!
"Hm?!" From the distant Kunlun Mountain's Jade Void Palace and Western Spirit Mountain's Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, two muffled grunts carrying astonishment and fury rang out almost simultaneously!
A trace of clear fluctuation appeared on Venerable Lord of Primordial Beginning's indifferent face for the very first time. His boundless saintly will felt as though it had been fiercely struck by an invisible giant hammer, actually sending a wave of slight stinging and sluggishness, and his control over Fengdu Hall instantly experienced an extremely minute gap!
Daoist Zhunti's face turned even paler, and the compassionate Buddha light circulating around his body was thrown into disarray. He felt his will crash into a chaotic swamp full of spikes, and not only was it forcibly pushed away, but a trace of strange, overbearing destructive aura counter-attacked along his will. Although it was instantly obliterated, it was enough to leave him shaken!
A mere Quasi-Saint, and not even a Saint's true body taking action, but just a peculiar thunder bead, could actually shake a Saint's will?!
This completely subverted their understanding!
Although these were only partial wills they had descended, far from their full strength, how could the might of a Saint be provoked by mere ants?!
The gazes of the two Saints instantly pierced through endless space, locking firmly onto the void where Tongtian was hidden, and their killing intent soared steeply! However, that very instant when the saintly might was briefly shaken by the Chaos Thunder Bead and a gap appeared was a matter of life and death for the beings within Fengdu Hall!
The explosion shockwave and self-destruction energy that swept through everything lost the most direct suppression of the saintly wills. Although still terrifying, they gave the Great Powers within the hall a moment to catch their breath!
Empress Pingxin reacted the fastest!
"Reincarnation Suppression!"
She gave a clear shout, and the phantom of the Reincarnation Disk beneath her feet suddenly solidified. The boundless Power of Reincarnation surged out like a tide, no longer acting merely as a defense, but guiding and shunting that violent energy in an arcane manner, forcibly channeling the majority of it into the endless Reincarnation Channel to dissolve it into nothingness!
Several Great Witches roared repeatedly, their Ancestor Witch True Bodies manifesting to withstand the remaining energy impact head-on. Although shaken until their vital energy churned, they ultimately suffered no underhanded plotting or heavy injuries!
The Jade Pure Immortal Light and Buddhist Liberating Golden Light secretly emitted by Guangchengzi and Maitreya Buddha were knocked off course by the turbulence of energy that Empress Pingxin "happily" guided. The moment they lost the cover of the saintly wills and encountered the interference of the Power of Reincarnation, they "inadvertently" collided with each other, annihilating and dissipating!
The complexions of the two instantly turned exceptionally ugly!
All their efforts fell short of success at the very last moment! And that fake witch who had triggered the self-destruction had long since been reduced to ashes in the explosion, leaving no corpse as evidence.
The entire Fengdu Hall was in utter chaos, with broken formations, collapsed pillars, and slanted beams; only the Reincarnation Disk at Empress Pingxin's feet remained steady.
Dead silence! Following the brief dead silence came boundless anger and suspicion!
"Guangchengzi! Maitreya! What were you two attempting just now?!" A Great Witch with a fiery temper took the lead in making trouble, pointing at the two and roaring. They had clearly perceived those two deeply hidden attacks!
Guangchengzi's face turned ashen as he forced himself to remain calm: "What are you panicking about?! This immortal merely acted to suppress that demonic entity and slipped up for a moment!"
Maitreya Buddha also quickly resumed his smiling Buddha persona, though his smile was somewhat stiff: "Amitabha, it is a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding. This poor monk simply wished to prevent a tragedy from occurring."
"A fine slip-up! A fine misunderstanding!" Another Great Witch sneered: "Could it be you take us for blind fools?!"
The Asura Demon King dispatched by Ancestor Minghe cackled fiendishly, fearing the world wouldn't plunge into chaos: "Fight! Fight! Old Ancestor I love watching dogs bite dogs!"
The atmosphere turned tense once more, with suspicion and anger permeating among all the factions.
Empress Pingxin's face was as dark as water. Her cold gaze swept past Guangchengzi and Maitreya Buddha, glanced at the chaotic main hall, and finally looked toward a certain spot in the void—precisely the direction where Tongtian was hidden—with an expression difficult to fathom.
She naturally knew who had intervened to disrupt the situation just now, and was even clearer that the thunder bead had bought her crucial timing.
"Enough!" Empress Pingxin's voice rang out once more, containing unquestionable majesty and a hint of fatigue: "Today's affairs end here! Fengdu Hall must immediately be sealed off and repaired! The sacred ground of reincarnation brooks no further disturbance! Everyone, please return!"
She directly issued a dismissal order!
Although Guangchengzi and Maitreya Buddha were unwilling, they knew nothing more could be accomplished. Staying longer would only make things worse, so they could only snort coldly and flick their sleeves to leave with their disciples, their complexions so gloomy they were practically dripping water. On this trip to the Underworld, the Teachings of the Primordial Beginning and Western Teachings could be said to have tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used as bait; not only had their plan collapsed, but their relationships with the Witch Clan and even Empress Pingxin had deteriorated.
Ancestor Minghe's Asura Demon King let out a strange laugh, transformed into a streak of blood light, and fled, evidently returning to report this "wonderful" battle result to Minghe.
Grand White Gold Star sighed, cupped his fists toward Empress Pingxin, and also departed with the Heavenly Soldiers and Generals.
In the blink of an eye, the bustling Fengdu Hall grew desolate, leaving only Empress Pingxin, several startled yet furious Great Witches, and a crowd of netherworld ghosts and deities.
A Great Witch stepped forward and cupped his fists toward Empress Pingxin. Although his tone remained somewhat stiff, it was much milder than before: "Empress, many thanks for your protection regarding today's matters. The Western Teachings and Teachings of the Primordial Beginning have bullied us too severely!"
Empress Pingxin nodded slightly: "The Witch Clan is the foundation of the Underworld, so this seat naturally will not sit idly by. You all head back first to reorganize the tribes, take charge of defense, and strictly guard against scoundrels causing trouble."
"Understood!" Several Great Witches cupped their fists in compliance. Glancing at Empress Pingxin once more, they ultimately withdrew from the hall with their people.
Once everyone had departed, Empress Pingxin stood alone in the shattered hall in silence for a long while before slowly speaking. Her voice was cold and clear, yet it accurately reached the ears of Tongtian, who remained concealed:
"Fellow Daoist, you have watched enough of the play, so please reveal yourself."
The void shifted slightly, and Tongtian's figure, along with Saint Mother Wudang's, slowly emerged.
"Fellow Daoist Tongtian, trust you have been well since we last met." Empress Pingxin looked at Tongtian with profound eyes. "Or rather, what should I call you? Sect Master Tongtian, or the Hunyuan cultivator who goes against the heavens?"
Tongtian smiled slightly, cupped his fists, and said: "Titles are merely illusions; Tongtian is simply Tongtian. My abruptness today begs the Empress's understanding."
Empress Pingxin shook her head: "If Fellow Daoist hadn't taken action just now to repel the Saint's will and buy that fleeting moment, the Underworld might well have changed hands today. It is this seat who should be thanking you."
Her tone shifted abruptly, pointing straight to the core: "Fellow Daoist braved extreme danger to sneak into the Underworld and stir up the winds and clouds. Surely it wasn't merely to watch a show, or to simply assist this seat?"
Tongtian replied candidly: "The Empress sees clearly. Tongtian's trip indeed involves important matters to discuss."
"Oh?" Empress Pingxin's pupils flashed slightly. "Is it to form an alliance to counter the Saints? Or for that impending otherworldly calamity?" She said her final few words extremely softly, yet they caused Tongtian's heart to jolt fiercely!
She actually knew!
Tongtian suppressed the ripples in his heart and said solemnly: "Both. With internal troubles and external aggression, the Primordial has reached a moment of life and death. The Saints are busy fighting among themselves, viewing all living beings as chess pieces; the Heavenly Dao is unjust, and we can only save ourselves. The Empress is trapped guarding reincarnation, appearing transcendent, but in truth, you are also within the game, unable to attain true freedom. And that extraterritorial calamity is a sharp blade hanging above the heads of all Primordial Beings! Though lacking in talent, Tongtian is willing to use the Hunyuan Dao to blaze a new trail and fight for a thread of survival for this Primordial! I wonder if the Empress is willing to join hands?"
Empress Pingxin was silent for a moment before slowly speaking: "Your Path of Hunyuan is indeed different from the Heavenly Dao Saints. The power of that thunder bead just now could actually briefly shake the saintly might... Incredible. Perhaps you truly can walk a new path."
She raised her eyes to look at the slowly revolving Six Paths of Reincarnation, a trace of deeply hidden helplessness and yearning leaking from her gaze: "Being trapped in this place is not my desire. Yet reincarnation is of the utmost importance, affecting the whole body with a single hair. This seat can forge a good affinity with you, secretly providing some convenience and even masking the heavenly secrets for you when necessary. On the surface, however, the Underworld must still maintain neutrality, at least until you possess sufficient strength."
This was the best possible outcome Tongtian had anticipated! Empress Pingxin possessed a special status; gaining her covert recognition and support was already a massive success!
"That is quite enough!" Tongtian cupped his fists solemnly. "Many thanks, Empress!"
"Do not thank me." Empress Pingxin waved her hand. "It is also for you, for the Primordial, and to plot a variable for myself. Be on your way now; the Underworld is no place for a prolonged stay. If there are important matters, you may contact me through the Spring of Rebirth deep within the Nine Netherworlds."
She flicked her finger, and a point of light containing the Reincarnation Seal flew into Tongtian's hand.
Tongtian put away the seal, expressed his thanks once more, and without further ado, took Saint Mother Wudang and slowly melted into the void, vanishing.
Leaving Fengdu Hall and traversing the gloomy ghost domains, Saint Mother Wudang finally couldn't help asking via voice transmission: "Master, Empress Pingxin, she..."
"She is a wise person trapped by responsibility and reality." Tongtian said calmly: "She saw the crisis, and she saw the variable; she is investing in the future. This affinity of kindness is of utmost importance."
"Then what shall we do next..."
"The matter of the Underworld is concluded, and our objective has been met. Next..." Tongtian's gaze grew sharp. "It is time to go and 'chat' with Ksitigarbha. Having lost such a huge face and his authority, he is at his weakest and most resentful... Perhaps we can glean some unexpected harvests from him regarding the Western Teachings and even that otherworldly realm."
His figure gradually drifted further away in the ghost fog, his voice carrying a cold decisiveness.
"Since the Western Teachings sent such a 'generous gift', failing to reciprocate would hardly be treating our guests with hospitality."
The wind in the Netherworld Underworld seemed to grow even colder and more bone-piercing, seemingly portending an even greater storm that was brewing. As for Tongtian, he had already taken the chessboard in hand and played his next move.
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