At this moment.
Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, at Zixiao Palace.
Dao Ancestor Hongjun arrived with Tongtian and the other four Saints.
Tongtian stood alone to one side, while Yuanshi, Jieyin, Zhunti, and Nuwa stood together on the other.
In this contest for control of the Underworld, Yuanshi had enlisted the other three Saints to ensure nothing could go wrong.
They were there to guard against Tongtian's intervention.
After all, the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation he had set up could only be broken by the combined power of four Saints.
But no matter how carefully Yuanshi had planned, he had never expected—
Qin Mu and Pingxin to become two unpredictable variables.
As the four Saints worked together to break Tongtian's Immortal Slaying Sword Formation, Qin Mu had charged into the formation.
With the Primordial Quantity Heaven Ruler, he had shattered Saint Zhunti's golden Dharmic body.
Then Pingxin had appeared, and with a casual palm, she had pinned Zhunti down.
In truth, Yuanshi had realized then and there that their bid for control of the Underworld was likely doomed to fail.
What he hadn't expected was—
That the affair would ultimately draw Dao Ancestor Hongjun down in person.
Hongjun didn't speak at once. He simply stood there in silence.
After a moment, Yuanshi was the first to speak.
"Teacher."
"About the Underworld..."
Before Yuanshi could finish, Hongjun's gaze turned cold, and he said sternly,
"From this day onward, none of you may interfere in the affairs of the Underworld!"
His tone brooked no argument.
The Saints bowed at once and accepted his command.
"We will obey your decree, Master."
Of course, although Yuanshi, Jieyin, and Zhunti said this aloud, they were far from satisfied.
They had been so close to taking control of the Underworld.
That would have been a tremendous boon