After weighing it for a moment, Empress Pingxin said coolly, "Please come in, fellow Daoist."
As she spoke, the doors of Pingxin Hall quietly opened.
Hearing Empress Pingxin's response, Haotian stepped into the hall.
Glancing at Pingxin on the seat of honor, Haotian cupped his hands and said, "Greetings, fellow Daoist Pingxin!"
"Greetings, fellow Daoist Haotian!
Please, have a seat!"
A short while later,
Haotian settled into his seat.
Only then did Empress Pingxin ask, "May I ask what brings you here, fellow Daoist?"
Hearing this, Haotian glanced at Empress Pingxin.
Then he replied calmly, "Not long ago, I was rescuing Lost Souls throughout the Primordial World.
I discovered that far too many Lost Souls remained across the land.
So I came to ask your opinion on the matter. What do you think?"
As Haotian finished speaking, Empress Pingxin frowned. "Are you blaming me for this, fellow Daoist?"
Hearing the displeasure in Empress Pingxin's tone, Haotian paid it no mind.
It was only natural for someone to misunderstand when you called on them to point out their shortcomings.
Aside from holding a nominal title, he, Haotian, had never involved himself in the Underworld at all.
So even if Empress Pingxin was displeased now, Haotian did not particularly care.
But even if he didn't care on the inside, he still had to put on an act on the outside.
If you weren't thick-skinned and ruthless, how could you survive in the Primordial World?
As for being too direct?
Being "direct" was the whole point of a discussion.
In the Primordial World, getting cultivators to swear oaths was hardly feasible.
The only way was to make everything clear during discussions.
After all, in the cultivator's line of work, every word spoken brought Karma in its wake.
If you were vague, there would be no binding force.
Then the other party could break their promise without suffering any consequences.
That was simply how things were in the Primordial World.
It wasn't a place for beating around the bush or speaking in euphemisms.
The most typical example was that fellow Hong Yun.
A mere polite remark in Zixiao Palace had made him lose his chance at Sainthood because of that fellow Zhunti.
You might have principles and value harmony.
But the other person might not have the same sense of honor!
Were you really going to risk losing out just to bet on the other person's integrity?
He, Haotian, had no intention of doing that.
After a moment's thought, Haotian said coolly, "Do you think I shouldn't have?
Some time ago, several Sages went to the Heavenly Court and spouted nonsense.
I didn't back down in the slightest.
There shouldn't be any Sages holding the Underworld in check, should there?
And yet, in these circumstances, you still..."
Before Haotian could finish, Empress Pingxin said sternly, "If you came here merely to mock me, fellow Daoist, then you've achieved your goal. You may leave now."
Hearing this, Haotian felt a pang of helplessness.
Were cultivators' hearts really so fragile these days?
He'd only said a few truths, and she was already turning hostile.
The six Sages before her, and even their disciples, had been the same.
He'd only told them a few things as they really were, and they'd immediately lost their composure.
First Guangchengzi had flaunted his backing, then Primordial Heavenly Venerate had resorted to force.
Thankfully, he had nerves of steel. Otherwise, his Dao Heart would have shattered.
Thinking this, Haotian shook his head. "Perhaps you've misunderstood something, fellow Daoist.
I already said that I came to resolve the problem.
If things continue like this and the Underworld remains in chaos,
then it won't be your problem alone.
Whether other factions will interfere in the Underworld is beside the point for now.
Even the effects of disorder in the Underworld and entangled Karma are something I, as Heavenly Emperor, cannot avoid.
So don't try to fob me off by saying this has nothing to do with me.
To put it plainly, I'm here to solve the problem."
Hearing Haotian's words, Empress Pingxin suppressed her displeasure.
She slowly said, "Then please share your brilliant solution, fellow Daoist."
But Haotian simply shook his head.
What kind of joke was this?
Terms, benefits.
We haven't discussed a thing, and you expect me to hand over my solution?
Did you really think I was running a charity?
This time, I had to secure the naming rights to the Underworld.
At the very least, I had to put my own stamp on it first.
If possible, the best outcome would be to extend my authority in the Underworld even further.
I had to look after the well-being of all living beings, but I couldn't give up my own interests either.
Besides, by my plan, she and the Witch Clan would be the ones benefiting.
There was no reason for him, Haotian, to walk away empty-handed, was there?
Having made up his mind, Haotian said, "You're being a little unreasonable, fellow Daoist.
I may indeed be the Heavenly Emperor.
But do you think it's fair to expect me to solve the Underworld's problems for nothing?
Though I bear the title of Heavenly Emperor, when it comes to the Underworld,
you're the one in control, after all."
As Haotian finished speaking, Empress Pingxin thought, Here it comes.
That fellow Haotian was going to make demands.
I knew he wasn't being kind for nothing.
There was no way he'd give up his solution for free.
Indeed.
The Primordial World was a great vat of dye.
How long had it been since Haotian left Zixiao Palace?
At most, a few dozen Yuanhui had passed.
And during those few dozen Yuanhui, Haotian had spent his days in the Heavenly Court, rarely setting foot anywhere else in the Primordial World.
Yet even so, Haotian had managed to become an old fox.
Cultivators' hearts really have changed!
At that moment, Haotian had no time to concern himself with what Empress Pingxin was thinking.
This was the best opportunity to secure benefits for himself.
This negotiation could determine a third of his influence in the Primordial World from then on.
After considering it for a moment, Haotian said, "Since you've put it that way, let me lay out what I have in mind.
First, the Underworld will come under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Court.
Of course, it will only need to follow my commands.
Do you have any objections to that?"
Hearing Haotian's words, Empress Pingxin's brows furrowed at once.
"I can accept the Underworld coming under the Heavenly Court's jurisdiction.
But we must be clear about having it obey your commands.
I must remain stationed in the Underworld. As for matters outside the Underworld,
the cultivators of the Underworld and I will only carry out your orders selectively, under certain conditions."
Hearing this, Haotian pondered to himself.
Carry them out under certain conditions?
And selectively?
If we didn't spell things out now, later they might refuse to heed either a "transfer order" or a "proclamation."
Then all his "hard work" would have been for nothing.
After thinking it over, Haotian said, "I can agree to your conditions, fellow Daoist, but only with some conditions of my own.
How about this?
There will be two circumstances under which I can mobilize the Underworld's forces.
First, to launch campaigns against Lost Souls elsewhere in the Primordial World.
Second, if the Heavenly Court faces a major crisis and needs to call on the Underworld's forces.
When either of these conditions is met, the Underworld must not disobey my orders.
What do you think?"
Empress Pingxin considered Haotian's proposal for a moment.
"That sounds reasonable.
Let's settle the first condition."
Seeing Empress Pingxin agree to the first condition, Haotian continued, "Second, you will handle the Underworld's day-to-day affairs.
But I will have the right to reject unreasonable requests or appointments.
Put simply, you submit the applications, and I approve them.
So please think things through before submitting an application,
to avoid thinking I'm deliberately being difficult if I reject too many of them."
But when Empress Pingxin heard this, her brows shot up.
"Impossible!
I can't agree to that condition.
If I agreed, wouldn't that leave the entire Underworld under your control?"
Haotian shook his head. "Perhaps you didn't notice the first part of what I said.
I said that you would still control the Underworld's day-to-day affairs.
I generally wouldn't interfere.
That includes appointing divine officials, which you may recommend.
I'll assess whether the cultivators you recommend are suitable before approving the appointments.
As for whom you recommend, that's up to you.
Now that the Underworld has come under my authority,
I have to know which cultivators are serving as my divine officials, don't I?
If I don't even know who the gods under my command are, wouldn't I be a laughingstock as Heavenly Emperor?"
Before you continue