Still Sleeping? I've Come to Get You!

While Haotian was pondering how to suppress the Western Teachings—and, in the future, the Buddhist Gate—

Empress Pingxin, after a moment of deliberation, also arrived at an answer in her heart.

Establishing the Yin Si would indeed bring tremendous benefits to the Underworld.

And those benefits were not limited to the Underworld alone.

Even the Witch Clan stood to gain.

Just as Haotian had said, the Witch Clan was now steeped in Karmic Sin.

If they did not find a way to resolve their Karmic entanglement, they would surely face the possibility of falling into tribulation again in the future.

Now, Haotian's plan not only resolved the chaotic state of the Underworld but also opened a path for the Witch Clan to accumulate Merit.

True, Haotian had also taken the opportunity to formally bring the Underworld under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Court.

But he himself had gained no tangible benefit.

Thus, this favor was ultimately owed.

And this fellow's favors were no easy thing to repay!

Spiritual treasures?

If they had no other use, he simply didn't lack them.

Resources?

Haotian was already at the same realm as her—what resources could possibly move him?

But if she didn't seize this chance to repay the Karmic debt of favor, she would surely have to pay a far greater price later.

What about not repaying it?

Then she'd have to be prepared for social ruin.

Just look at the Six Sages.

Haotian had exposed their old secrets before a crowd of great powers.

That one move

had severely diminished the reverence the Primordial World cultivators held for the Six Sages.

"Respect" had been cut by more than half.

What remained was mostly just "fear."

A cultivator whose word could not be trusted—what did it matter if his cultivation reached the heavens?

At worst, they simply wouldn't play along.

Thinking of this, Empress Pingxin couldn't help but furrow her delicate brows.

The Witch Clan was already burdened with Karmic Sin; if they also gained a bad reputation—

compared to other factions, the Witch Clan had no Sage-level cultivator to hold the line.

This was undoubtedly their greatest weakness.

Then the Witch Clan would become a target for everyone in the Primordial World, hunted and reviled.

If it truly came to that, how could the Witch Clan even stand?

After a long silence, Empress Pingxin let out a soft sigh.

"Daoist friend, you have resolved a great trouble for This Seat. This Seat will remember this favor!

This Seat will begin implementing the matter of the Yin Si shortly.

Thank you, Daoist friend!"

Hearing Empress Pingxin's words, Haotian nodded.

"Since the matter has been settled, Imperial We shall take our leave.

Imperial We descended to the mortal realm this time to liberate Lost Souls.

The task has only just begun, and Imperial We cannot abandon it halfway."

With that, Haotian rose.

Seeing this, Empress Pingxin also stood.

"Since Daoist friend still has important matters to attend to, This Seat will not detain you."

"Good! Farewell!"

With those words, he departed.

Haotian strode straight out of the Underworld.

Watching the spot where Haotian had vanished, Empress Pingxin's heart was suddenly filled with worry.

This favor owed was enormous, and she had no idea how to repay it in the future.

But soon, Empress Pingxin set aside her worries.

Compared to the uncertain future, what was most urgent now.

Was to first establish the framework of Yin Si.

Whether it was the Five Ghost Emperors and the generals under their command.

Or the Ten Great Yin Marshals and the rest, many Witch Clan members could be stuffed into those positions.

Given the current state of the Witch Clan, stuffing in people on a large scale was certainly not feasible.

Fortunately, Yin Si's situation didn't require too many hands to complete the framework's construction.

Under these circumstances, it was practically perfect for the Witch Clan.

With the Witch Clan holding the upper positions, the lower ranks could be selected from among the Lost Souls.

Having made up her mind, Empress Pingxin immediately transmitted a message to Xuanming and Jiu Feng, summoning them to the Underworld for discussion.

As for Haotian, after leaving the Underworld, he once again set off on a northward journey.

The Investiture of the Gods.

Had three hundred and sixty principal god positions, two thousand deputy positions, and eighty-four thousand group stars and evil Sha.

Leaving aside the rest, Haotian at least had to fill the three hundred and sixty-five principal gods.

The deputy gods and group stars and evil Sha could be taken care of slowly.

Therefore, the path of elevating Lost Souls could not stop!

He was counting on this batch to get his fill of meat!

Traveling north, Haotian had no idea how far he had gone.

Along the way, he had elevated Lost Souls a dozen or so times.

But what disappointed Haotian was that during this stretch, he hadn't encountered any Demon Race suitable for enfeoffment.

Either their cultivation was too low, or their sins were too heavy.

Or both.

With such trash, Haotian naturally wouldn't drag them to the Heavenly Court and lower his own standards.

Thus, for these Demon Race, since they had crossed his path.

He could only send them to re-cultivate.

At this point, Haotian couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

Indeed.

The farther from the Northern Region, the worse the quality of the Demon Race.

If this were in the Northern Region, having traveled this far.

He could have pulled in at least a dozen Demon Race.

But the banner of elevating Lost Souls had already been raised.

Haotian could only grit his teeth and accept it.

Slow and steady would have to do.

As long as the final goal was achieved.

However, given the poor "quality" of the Demon Race in the south, Haotian's range for each elevation of Lost Souls grew farther and farther.

After all, with the Ten Thousandfold Amplification talent, a greater distance wouldn't affect his gathering of Lost Souls.

After another arduous trek, Haotian finally found a suitable target.

Looking at the mountain peak in the distance, where black smoke of karmic obstacles rose faintly.

Haotian immediately swept his Spiritual Sense over it.

The foundation of the monster on the mountain was instantly clear to him.

A Pig Demon, with cultivation at the early Golden Immortal stage.

Relatively speaking, his karmic burden wasn't too heavy.

After all, this fellow's old habits were hard to break—his laziness and gluttony persisted even after becoming a great demon at the Golden Immortal level.

Thus, at worst, he only plagued the living beings on the nearby mountain peaks.

He lacked the motivation to cause trouble farther away.

As a result, the karmic burden he carried was naturally much lighter.

After sizing up the Pig Demon for a moment.

Haotian was already pondering which divine position would suit this fellow.

The Marshal Tian Peng from the original trajectory?

The attributes didn't seem quite right.

With this fellow's fire-based nature, expecting him to command the Heavenly River?

Wasn't that nonsense?

That being the case, it seemed only the Fire Department True God, the Twenty-Eight Mansions Fire Pig, was a fitting divine seat for him.

Besides, who said one had to be a pig to become Marshal Tian Peng?

Now that I, Haotian, hold the Investiture of the Gods, as long as the conditions are met.

Whom I enfeoff as Marshal Tian Peng depends entirely on my, Haotian's, will.

With a Golden Immortal cultivation, taking the seat of Marshal Tian Peng was, after all, a bit low.

After weighing the matter, Haotian reached a decision in his heart.

Then, with a flicker of his form, he abruptly appeared before the Pig Demon.

In an instant.

A stench rushing straight to the heavens assaulted Haotian's senses.

Frowning, he flicked his sleeve, clearing out all the filth in the cave along with the foul air.

Only then did Haotian, expressionless, look at the sleeping Pig Demon.

The snoring shook the heavens; clearly, this fellow showed no sign of waking anytime soon.

Haotian stepped forward, grabbed the Pig Demon's ear, and shouted, "Still sleeping!

I've come to collect you!"

Startled by Haotian's shout, the Pig Demon jolted awake.

His eyes flew open, and he saw Haotian gripping his ear.

Without a second thought, the Pig Demon sprang up from the stone bed like a reflex.

But this movement put his ear through hell.

As he leaped, the ear Haotian held nearly tore off.