Into the Netherworld

Boom!

A heaven-shaking aura instantly pressed down upon the entire primordial world.

When a Saint grew angry, heaven and earth changed color; hundreds of millions of corpses fell, and blood flowed into rivers.

Venerable Primordial took a single step and arrived above the Eastern Sea, rescuing Grand Master Lingbao from Buddha Pilu's grasp.

"Death!"

The moment his words fell, the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi flew from above his head and smashed toward Buddha Pilu.

"No!"

"Two World-Honored Ones, save me..."

Buddha Pilu cried out in terror.

He had thought that, with the Two Sages of the West backing him, he would certainly emerge unscathed.

But Sect Master Tongtian had suddenly blocked the Two Sages of the West, who had come to rescue him.

Bang!

Buddha Pilu was not Ye Changqing. Without Becoming a Saint, one was ultimately but an ant; in an instant, he exploded into a mist of blood.

With a wave of his hand, Venerable Primordial condensed the blood mist into a great pill of essence and reshaped Grand Master Lingbao's body on the spot.

The Demon Slaying Sword and Dragon Tiger Seal also returned to Grand Master Lingbao's hands.

"Thank you, Master!"

Grand Master Lingbao knelt before Venerable Primordial.

"Hmph!"

Venerable Primordial snorted coldly. He had yet to settle the matter of the women's clothing with him.

But clearly, now was not the time to discuss that.

Those Western Sect sages, driven mad by poverty, had actually dared set their sights on his disciple. Their crime was utterly unforgivable.

Venerable Primordial was the most protective of his own. Otherwise, he would not have harmed the entire Jie Cult over his disciples' tribulations of slaughter.

His gaze sharpened, murderous intent bursting forth as the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi smashed toward the group of Western Sect disciples who had just been converted.

"Daoist friend, don't!"

Daoist Jieyin cried out, hoping he would show mercy.

But Venerable Primordial could not be bothered with him. He had to reclaim his face first.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The immense power instantly annihilated one bald head after another, making Daoist Zhunti's eyes split with fury.

Though these disciples had only just been converted from the Jie Cult, if they died, they would fail to complete the task assigned by the Heavenly Dao.

The day of the West's great prosperity would be indefinitely delayed!

Fortunately, Sect Master Tongtian opened the way in time, and they still managed to save several of them.

Compared to the dead Buddha Pilu, these people were far inferior.

And among them was the undercover agent Ye Changqing had chosen to infiltrate the Western Sect.

That was also why Sect Master Tongtian had suddenly stepped aside.

"Two Daoist friends, until we meet again!"

Daoist Jieyin glanced at Ye Changqing on Golden Ao Island, then left the Eastern Sea in disgrace with Daoist Zhunti, his face drawn.

His meaning was obvious: the next time they met, it should be Ye Changqing's day of death.

Venerable Primordial's gaze upon Ye Changqing was also exceedingly complicated. In the end, it turned into a cold snort, and he grabbed Grand Master Lingbao and returned to Kunlun Mountain.

Sect Master Tongtian burst into hearty laughter, feeling more refreshed than ever before.

Thanks to Ye Changqing, he had finally vented a mouthful of pent-up rage.

It was only a pity that Ye Changqing did not have much time left...

Sect Master Tongtian felt that he should seize the time. There were still two chances to save him.

Deep within the Netherworld Underworld, behind Yin Mountain, stood a vast and majestic palace.

The entire palace radiated an ancient, weathered, yet powerful invisible pressure.

This was Pangu Hall, formed from the heart of Great God Pangu.

In those days, the Witch Race's Twelve Ancestral Shamans had also been conceived and formed here, eventually becoming a generation of mighty figures.

Empress Pingxin sat upon the last meditation cushion in the great hall. Before her eyes, it seemed she saw her elder brothers and sisters once more.

But when she reached out to touch them, everything turned into a bubble and vanished.

Only then did she remember that the Witch Race had long since been destroyed, and her eleven brothers and sisters had already passed away.

She began to hate herself. Why had she sacrificed herself to become reincarnation?

If I were there, the Twelve Capital Celestial Evil Formation could crush the Demon Race's Heavenly Court.

Even if the Witch Race and Demon Race were both left crippled in the end, as long as she could die together with them, she would be willing.

Though Empress Pingxin was a Saint, she could only remain forever imprisoned in this lightless place, enduring pain that pierced her heart.

"Empress, visitors have come seeking an audience!"

A deep, heavy voice rang out beyond the hall, interrupting her memories.

Even these members of her clan had always addressed her as Empress Pingxin, never as Houtu Ancestral Witch.

Perhaps they harbored hatred toward her as well!

Empress Pingxin had originally been unwilling to see anyone, but the two visitors were special.

Sect Master Tongtian of the Jie Cult, and the Jie Cult's first disciple, Ye Changqing.

"Let them enter..."

After considering it again and again, she ultimately chose to meet Ye Changqing.

Anyone feared by the Great Dao was naturally no ordinary figure.

"Ye Changqing pays his respects to Houtu Ancestral Witch!"

In Pangu Hall, Ye Changqing still called her Houtu Ancestral Witch, which greatly surprised Empress Pingxin.

Though she had long guessed why he had come, she still felt a faint sense of anticipation.

Perhaps this meeting would bring her an unexpected gain.

"I know you wish to send him into reincarnation."

"But I cannot guarantee that it will succeed..."

Before Sect Master Tongtian could speak, Empress Pingxin spoke first.

Sect Master Tongtian's purpose in coming was nothing more than to extract a wisp of Ye Changqing's True Spirit and send him into reincarnation.

But Ye Changqing had suffered Great Dao backlash. It was difficult enough to say whether an intact True Spirit could even be extracted.

She reached out and placed her hand atop Ye Changqing's head, sensing the injuries within his body.

Saintly power continuously poured into his body, yet in the end it was all absorbed into his sea of consciousness and vanished without a trace.

Empress Pingxin let out a sigh and forcibly drew out a wisp of Ye Changqing's True Spirit.

But the instant it left Ye Changqing's body, it turned into flying ash and vanished.

Ye Changqing suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, and his aura grew even weaker.

Clearly, sending him into reincarnation was impossible. The Great Dao curse would slowly grind away his True Spirit bit by bit.

"Is there truly no way?"

The disappointment on Sect Master Tongtian's face was impossible to conceal. With desolation filling his eyes, he muttered to himself.

"Life and death are ordained by fate; wealth and honor are decided by Heaven."

"Master need not take it to heart!"

Ye Changqing wiped the blood from the corner of his lips. As though he had long anticipated this outcome, he spoke with immense ease.

A strange light flickered repeatedly in Empress Pingxin's eyes. This Ye Changqing truly was extraordinary.

"The main purpose of my visit is not to seek help, but to form an alliance with Houtu Ancestral Witch!"

Ye Changqing said each word distinctly.

Just as expected...

Empress Pingxin had long sensed it.

Yet she still refused. "I am bound by the Heavenly Dao and cannot leave the Netherworld Underworld by even half a step. How am I supposed to form an alliance with you?"

She had been schemed against by the Heavenly Dao and could never leave the Netherworld Underworld. Back then, she could only watch helplessly as the Witch Race was destroyed and her brothers and sisters died, powerless to do anything.

"Do you hate it?"

With clear eyes that seemed able to see through the human heart, Ye Changqing asked her.

How could she not hate it?

But what could she do?

They said that Empress Pingxin's strength within the Netherworld Underworld was perhaps no less than that of Old Ancestor Hongjun, who had merged himself with the Heavenly Dao.

But that was only within the Netherworld.

Though she could draw upon the power of the Earthly Dao, she could not fully merge with it. No one knew where the problem lay.

Ye Changqing, however, knew some of the secrets involved.

To merge one's body with the Dao, one needed a supreme treasure to assist.

When Old Ancestor Hongjun merged himself with the Heavenly Dao, he relied on the Jade Plate of Creation.

Unfortunately, the Jade Plate of Creation was damaged. Otherwise, he would have become a true Heavenly Dao Saint.