First Move: Scheme the Underworld

After weighing the matter for a moment, Empress Pingxin spoke faintly, "Friend, please enter."

As her words fell, the doors of Pingxin Hall quietly swung open.

Hearing Empress Pingxin's response, Haotian stepped into the hall.

Glancing at Pingxin on the main seat, Haotian made a salutation and said, "Greetings, Friend Pingxin."

"Greetings, Friend Haotian! Please, have a seat."

A moment passed.

Haotian sat down.

Only then did Empress Pingxin ask, "May I ask what brings you here today?"

Hearing this, Haotian looked at Empress Pingxin.

Then he replied calmly, "Not long ago, I was rescuing Lost Souls in the Primordial World. I discovered that there are far too many lingering souls left on the Primordial Earth. Thus, I came to ask you, friend, what do you make of this?"

As Haotian's words fell, Empress Pingxin frowned and said, "Friend, are you blaming me?"

Hearing the slight displeasure in Empress Pingxin's tone, Haotian paid it no mind.

Coming to someone's door to point out their shortcomings naturally invites misunderstanding. As for the Underworld, aside from his nominal title, Haotian had never set foot in it. So, even if Empress Pingxin felt dissatisfied now, Haotian wasn't particularly concerned.

But while he didn't care inwardly, he still had to put on a show outwardly. Without a thick face and a dark heart, how could one stand firm in the Primordial World?

As for speaking too bluntly?

"Bluntness" was the essence of negotiation.

In the Primordial World, getting cultivators to swear oaths was nearly impossible. The only way was to speak plainly during discussions. After all, in this line of work, every word carried Karma. If things were left vague, there would be no binding force. If someone later broke their word, nothing would happen to them.

Thus, the Primordial World was no place for cryptic talk or euphemisms.

The most typical example was that fool Hongyun. In Purple Cloud Palace, a mere polite remark got him tricked by that scoundrel Zhunti into losing his saint seat.

You might have principles and seek harmony, but others might not share that integrity!

Betting on someone else's integrity while bearing the cost of your own loss?

Haotian had no interest in that.

After pondering for a moment, Haotian said calmly, "Friend, do you think I shouldn't? Some time ago, several saints went to the Heavenly Court and made grand speeches. I didn't back down an inch. Your Underworld isn't constrained by saints, is it? Under such circumstances, you still..."

Before Haotian could finish, Empress Pingxin said in a deep voice, "If you came here just to mock me, then you've achieved your goal. You may leave now."

Hearing this, Haotian felt a wave of helplessness.

Were cultivators' Dao hearts so fragile these days?

I only spoke some truth, and they turned hostile.

The six saints before, including their disciples, were the same. I just said a few honest words, and they immediately broke down.

First, Guangchengzi pulled rank, then Primordial Heavenly Venerate struck directly.

Good thing my mental fortitude was top-notch; otherwise, it would have been my Dao heart shattering.

Thinking this, Haotian shook his head and said, "Friend, you may have misunderstood something."

Imperial We just said that the purpose of this visit is to resolve the matter.

If things have come to this point, and the Underworld remains in chaos, then it will no longer be merely Fellow Daoist's concern.

Whether other forces have meddled in the Underworld is still an open question for now.

But the mere disorder of the Underworld's order and the entanglements of Karma—their effects are something Imperial We, as the Heavenly Emperor, cannot avoid.

So Fellow Daoist should not fob Imperial We off with words like "it has nothing to do with you."

To put it bluntly, Imperial We came here to solve the problem."

Hearing Haotian's words, Empress Pingxin suppressed the dissatisfaction in her heart.

She slowly spoke: "Then please, Fellow Daoist, share your brilliant plan!"

But upon hearing this, Haotian gently shook his head.

What a joke?

Terms, benefits.

Nothing has been negotiated yet, and you want Imperial We to just toss out the method?

Do you truly take Imperial We for the operator of a charity hall?

This time, Imperial We must secure the "naming rights" of the Underworld.

At the very least, the Underworld must first be stamped with Imperial We's Haotian label.

If possible, extending Imperial We's authority within the Underworld would naturally be the best outcome.

The welfare of all living beings must be sought, but Imperial We's own interests cannot be discarded either.

And according to Imperial We's design, the ones who gain benefits are Empress Pingxin and the Witch Clan.

There's no reason for Haotian to walk away with nothing at all, is there?

Having thought this through, Haotian spoke: "Fellow Daoist saying that is rather disingenuous.

Imperial We is indeed the Heavenly Emperor.

But asking Imperial We to solve the Underworld's troubles for nothing—do you think that's appropriate, Fellow Daoist?

Though Imperial We bears the title of Heavenly Emperor, this place, the Underworld, is ultimately still under Fellow Daoist's control."

As Haotian's words fell, Empress Pingxin silently thought, "Here it comes."

That scoundrel Haotian is about to state his terms.

Just as she suspected, he wasn't so kind-hearted.

Getting his method for free was impossible.

Indeed.

The Primordial World is a great dye vat.

How long has it been since Haotian left the Purple Cloud Palace?

At most, it's only been a few dozen epochs.

And in those few dozen epochs, Haotian has mostly stayed in the Heavenly Court, rarely setting foot elsewhere in the Primordial World.

Yet even under such circumstances, Haotian has become a wily old fox.

The hearts of cultivators are no longer what they used to be!

But Haotian, at this moment, had no mood to care about Empress Pingxin's thoughts.

This was the perfect opportunity to fight for his own interests.

A third of his future say in the Primordial World could be decided right here.

After deliberating for a moment, Haotian spoke: "Since Fellow Daoist has raised the matter, Imperial We will state his intentions.

First, from now on, the Underworld shall be placed under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Court.

Of course, it only needs to heed Imperial We's commands.

Does Fellow Daoist have any objections to this clause?"

Hearing Haotian's words, Empress Pingxin immediately furrowed her delicate brows.

"The Underworld being placed under the Heavenly Court's jurisdiction—This Seat can accept that.

However, having the Underworld obey Fellow Daoist's commands—this matter must first be clarified.

This Seat must remain stationed in the Underworld. As for matters outside the Underworld, This Seat and all the cultivators of the Underworld can only carry them out on a conditional basis."

Hearing this, Haotian couldn't help but ponder silently.

Conditional execution?

Still choosing?

If he didn't lay things out clearly in advance, a faction that heeded neither "adjustment" nor "declaration" would eventually emerge.

When that happened, wouldn't all of Haotian's "hard work" here go to waste?

After pondering for a moment, Haotian spoke: "Daoist friend, Imperial We can also agree to your terms—conditionally.

How about this:

Imperial We's premise for mobilizing the Underworld's forces is divided into two items.

First, when campaigning against Lost Souls elsewhere in the Primordial World.

Second, when the Heavenly Court faces a major crisis requiring the Underworld's strength to be drawn upon.

Under these two premises, the Underworld must not defy Imperial We's commands.

What does Daoist friend think?"

Hearing Haotian's words, Empress Pingxin thought it over for a moment.

"That works too!

Let the first condition be settled as such."

Seeing that Empress Pingxin had accepted the first condition, Haotian continued: "Second, the Underworld's specific affairs will be handled by Daoist friend.

But Imperial We retains the right to reject unreasonable requests or certain unreasonable appointments.

Simply put, Daoist friend submits applications, and Imperial We approves the slips.

So before submitting an application, Daoist friend should think carefully.

Otherwise, if it gets rejected too many times, you might think Imperial We is deliberately finding fault."

Yet upon hearing these words, Empress Pingxin's brows immediately shot up in anger.

"Impossible!

This condition, This Seat cannot accept.

If This Seat agrees to this condition of yours, wouldn't the Underworld be entirely under your control?"

Haotian shook his head and said: "Daoist friend may not have noticed the first half of Imperial We's words.

Imperial We said that the Underworld's specific affairs would still be handled by Daoist friend.

Imperial We generally will not interfere.

That includes the appointment of divine positions—Daoist friend may also make recommendations.

Imperial We will consider comprehensively whether the cultivator you recommend is suitable, then issue a response.

As for which cultivators to recommend, that is Daoist friend's own matter.

Since the Underworld has been brought under Imperial We's command, Imperial We must at least know which cultivator is serving in which divine post, mustn't I?

Otherwise, not even knowing who the gods under my own command are—wouldn't Imperial We, the Heavenly Emperor, become a laughingstock?"