Twenty-Eight Mansions Tail Fire Tiger

The words fell.

The Tiger Demon raised his great blade, transforming into a gale as he charged toward Haotian.

Seeing the Tiger Demon's move, Haotian continued his sutra recitation unchanged.

Yet with a single thought, he froze the Tiger Demon before him.

With the Tiger Demon immobilized, Haotian's chanting shifted.

"By the Heavenly Emperor's decree, I transcend you, solitary souls.

All ghosts and spirits, the four births receive grace.

Those with heads are transcended, those without...

By this decree, all beings, swiftly transcend rebirth!"

The words fell.

Haotian waved his sleeve, and a gateway to the Underworld opened.

Seeing this, the host of Lost Souls bowed three times in unison.

Then, in orderly fashion, they stepped through the gateway.

A long while passed.

All the Lost Souls had entered the Underworld.

Just then, a beam of Merit descended from the heavens.

This stream of Merit clearly exceeded what was due for this act of transcending the dead.

It was because Haotian had pioneered the practice of transcending Lost Souls, opening a new path out of suffering for all the Lost Souls of the Primordial World.

In a way, it also resolved some entanglements of Karma.

And the cultivators of the Primordial World, seeing Haotian repeatedly blessed with Merit, could not help but mutter inwardly.

Could facing a Sage once truly unlock one's thinking, making accumulating Merit from then on effortless?

Look at this Haotian fellow.

He had been in the Heavenly Court for dozens of kalpas.

Before facing a Sage, there was not a stir.

After facing a Sage, wondrous methods poured forth.

So, should This Seat also face a Sage once?

As this thought arose, the cultivators could not help but shudder.

Especially Minghe in the Sea of Blood.

He quickly snuffed out the idea in his mind.

What was he thinking?

Face a Sage?

That was a path to death!

Haotian dared to do this because he had the Dao Ancestor backing him.

What about himself?

What did he have?

Not even a hair!

If he dared to provoke a Sage, he would likely turn to ash in an instant.

Forget it!

Better just follow along with transcending Lost Souls!

The previous attempt at refining spiritual treasures had failed.

This time, transcending Lost Souls surely could not fail.

Refining treasures required technique and exclusive secret arts.

This time, transcending Lost Souls, just reciting the sutra directly—there should be no problem.

As for the sutra and incantations possibly involving other great powers?

That was fine!

Using their names did not leave them without gain.

At the very least, they could share a portion of the Merit.

And in terms of fortune, they could also gain a little.

After all, the name had spread.

And it had spread precisely while helping living beings escape the sea of suffering.

The number of believers would naturally increase.

And with that, fortune would rise as well.

Moreover, when it came to liberating lost souls, I, Minghe, had uniquely favorable conditions.

Where in the Primordial World were the most lost souls?

Naturally, none other than the Underworld.

But aside from the Underworld, it had to be his Sea of Blood.

Within the Sea of Blood, lost souls accumulated over countless kalpas—there was no shortage of subjects to liberate.

Thinking of this, Minghe couldn't help but feel secretly delighted.

This Seat was about to strike it rich!

Imitate?

He, Minghe, was very good at that!

First there was Nuwa creating humans, then there was he, Minghe, creating the Asura Race.

Having thought it through.

Minghe immediately stepped onto the Karma Red Lotus, his figure appearing above the Sea of Blood.

Following Haotian's procedure, he began his first journey of liberation.

As for Haotian, after receiving the Merit.

He finally had time to deal with the Tiger Demon.

Opening his Dharma Eye, Haotian first examined the Tiger Demon's karma.

One look and Haotian immediately furrowed his brow.

Black smoke curled above this wretch's head—clearly, he was no good thing.

Then he looked at the Tiger Demon's cultivation, merely at the Golden Immortal realm.

Haotian hesitated a little in his heart.

Golden Immortal realm?

Seemed a bit low!

But considering the current state of the Heavenly Court, Haotian decided to spare his life.

Golden Immortal realm was barely enough to be useful.

With a thought, Haotian dispelled the Tiger Demon's restraints.

"I am Haotian, the Heavenly Emperor!

By all rights, with your karma, falling into my hands like this should leave you no chance of survival.

But.

Now I am giving you a chance to live.

Submit to me, and from now on, follow my orders.

Otherwise, die!"

As Haotian's words fell, the Tiger Demon's face instantly turned pale.

Heavenly Emperor Haotian?

Good heavens!

He had run into a big shot.

Between death and life, the Tiger Demon hesitated only a moment.

Then he knelt and bowed: "Jun Ruoxu pays respects to Your Majesty!

Willing to follow Your Majesty's orders!"

Hearing this name, Haotian immediately frowned deeply.

You, a minor demon, dare to call yourself 'Jun'?

Then what should I call myself?

He then spoke: "You say your name is what? What 'xu'?"

The Tiger Demon replied nervously: "This minor demon is named Jun Ruoxu!"

"What 'Ruoxu'?"

Hearing Haotian's repeated questioning, the Tiger Demon's heart jolted.

He could only reply, "This little demon has no title! I beg Your Majesty to bestow one!"

Haotian nodded at this and produced the Investiture of the Gods. "Split off a strand of your Primordial Spirit, and I shall confer a divine position upon you!"

The Tiger Demon immediately complied. As for asking why? That could not be asked. The more questions one asked, the faster one died! It was best not to speculate on the intentions of a great power.

Haotian moved his mind, and the Investiture of the Gods unfurled on its own. As Mana flowed, the two characters "Zhu Zhao" were left upon the scroll. With a wave of his hand, he cast the Tiger Demon's strand of Primordial Spirit into the Investiture of the Gods. Thus, the first deity of the Investiture of the Gods appeared.

Once the divine position was settled, Haotian finally spoke: "Zhu Zhao!"

"Here!"

"I, Haotian! In the name of the Heavenly Emperor, do hereby decree you as the Twenty-Eight Mansions Tail Fire Tiger. I charge you to strictly observe the Heavenly Rules and diligently fulfill your duties."

"Your servant Tail Fire Tiger Zhu Zhao accepts the Imperial Decree! I thank Your Majesty for the conferment!"

Haotian put away the Investiture of the Gods and nodded. "Rise! Go and gather all the little demons under your command and arrange for them to go to the Heavenly Court. Upon arrival, first lead them to comprehend the Great Grade Heavenly Immortal Art beside the Immortal Transformation Pool. Then enter the pool together, using its power, supplemented by the Great Grade Heavenly Immortal Art, to transform that full body of demonic aura into immortal aura for Me."

"Your servant accepts the order!"

With that, Zhu Zhao flew away.

Haotian's actions here had not yet drawn the attention of Nuwa or the Demon Race. They only assumed Haotian was once again after Merit. But after Jun Ruoxu had left, Haotian was pondering what he might have overlooked on this trip.

After a moment of thought, Haotian suddenly jolted awake. His vision seemed to have been limited. The Primordial World was not just the Heavenly Realm and the yet-unnamed Earthly Immortal Realm. There was also the Underworld—a place he had simply forgotten. As the Heavenly Emperor, he nominally governed the Three Realms. If not for this matter of elevating Lost Souls, by the time he remembered, the Underworld would likely have become someone else's back garden. This elevation of Lost Souls had given him the perfect opportunity to intervene in the Underworld.

With that, Haotian's form flickered, and he headed straight for the Underworld.

In a moment.

Outside the Pingxin Hall of the Underworld.

Haotian stood at the gate, glanced at the plaque hanging above it, and then declared loudly, "Daoist Pingxin! Haotian has come to call!"

Hearing Haotian's voice, Empress Pingxin's heart stirred. So this Heavenly Emperor had finally set his sights on the Underworld. The purpose of his visit was nothing more than one thing: to bring the Underworld under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Court. This matter was hardly a big deal. Given the state of the Underworld, even if Haotian hadn't come...

Sooner or later, the Six Sages would set their sights on them.

It was merely a matter of time, or who would be the one to intervene.

Between the Six Sages and Haotian, she had to choose one.

Empress Pingxin, however, was willing to choose Haotian.

Only because Haotian's cultivation level matched her own.

This meant that, in the future, she would not lose too much say in the affairs of the Underworld.

Many matters could still be settled through negotiation.

There could even be mutual benefit and cooperation.

But if she were to face a Sage, the situation would be entirely different.

With the overbearing nature of a Sage, would they truly be willing to negotiate with her?