The Monk's Merit is Minus Ten Thousand...

Xiruan held out a Peaches of Immortality and offered it to Houtu, saying in a childish voice, "Auntie, this is for you!"

"You helped me so much, please accept this as a token of my gratitude!"

When someone helps you, you should repay them.

The best way to repay someone is to give them what you like and cherish the most.

This peach was the biggest, most fragrant, and most beautiful among all the delicious foods she had "borrowed" from that big company called Heavenly Court!

She had originally planned to save it for her daddy's birthday to give him a surprise.

But today, this kind-looking auntie had helped her so much, not only by punishing the bad guys but also by helping her find back so many employees.

She felt this auntie needed this peach more than her daddy!

Empress Houtu was slightly taken aback.

How long had it been since she received a gift from anyone?

Ever since she transformed into the cycle of reincarnation and guarded the Underworld, all beings in the Three Realms had only shown her reverence and fear.

Even her elder brothers and the Wu Clan warriors of the past had been respectful in her presence, not daring to overstep.

She was the high and mighty Empress Pingxin, the ruler who controlled life and death.

But she was also the loneliest person, imprisoned in this eternal darkness.

Houtu looked at those clear eyes, devoid of any impurity, and felt as if the softest part of her heart had been gently touched.

She gently stroked Xiruan's fluffy little head.

"Silly child, you should keep such a precious thing for yourself."

"No! I want you to have it!"

Xiruan, however, was very stubborn and directly shoved the large Peaches of Immortality into Houtu's arms.

"Auntie, eat it quickly! It's very sweet!"

Houtu looked at the heavy Peaches of Immortality in her arms, fell silent for a moment, and smiled helplessly.

"Alright, I'll accept it then."

She no longer refused and genuinely liked the gift.

The Peaches of Immortality were carefully put away.

"Alright, I've found your people for you, and I've accepted your gift."

Houtu looked at Xiruan and said softly, "Shouldn't you be taking your... employees home now?"

"Your daddy must be waiting anxiously."

"Oh, right!"

Xiruan patted her head, just remembering how long she had been out. Her daddy must be so worried in the Small Dark Room!

She had to hurry back with these newly found employees to give her daddy a big surprise!

Let him know how capable his daughter was!

"Auntie, we're leaving now!"

Xiruan waved her little hand vigorously at Houtu.

"I'll come visit you again in the future!"

"Okay, I'll be waiting for you."

Houtu smiled and nodded.

Xiruan wasted no more time and turned to shout at the assembled disciples of the Intercepting Sect behind her, "Little ones! We're going home! Let's go give the boss some good news!"

"Yes, Junior Sister!"

The disciples of the Intercepting Sect responded in unison, their voices echoing through the nine netherworlds.

Under Empress Houtu's smiling gaze, they sped towards Zixiao Palace.

Until their figures completely disappeared into the sky of the Underworld.

Only then did the smile on Houtu's face slowly fade.

She turned around, her eyes instantly becoming cold and indifferent.

"From this day forward, the Underworld does not welcome the Western Religious Sect."

Her voice was not loud, but it instantly imprinted itself into the fundamental laws of the Underworld.

The next second.

The entire Cuiyun Palace, along with all the Buddhas and Arhats who had been beaten to the ground inside, and the unconscious Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, were forcefully uprooted from the Underworld.

They were thrown out of the netherworld and back in the direction of Spirit Mountain in Western Niu Hezhou.

After completing all this, Empress Houtu's figure also slowly dissipated into the air.

As if she had never appeared at all.

Far in the West, on Spirit Mountain, at the Great Thunderclap Monastery.

The Buddha, Tathagata, who was lecturing the Buddhas, suddenly changed his expression. He looked towards the direction of the Underworld in shock, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"Ksitigarbha... he... he was actually expelled from the Underworld?!"

"BOOM--!"

A deafening sound came from outside Spirit Mountain.

Immediately after, a massive complex constructed from Buddha Light and Prayer Power descended from the sky, smashing heavily at the foot of Spirit Mountain, kicking up a cloud of dust.

It was Cuiyun Palace, thrown back from the Underworld by Empress Houtu!

"Bodhisattva! Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva he..."

A Bodhisattva with sharp eyes spotted a figure in the ruins, bound like a zongzi and knocked unconscious.

Tathagata's figure flashed, and he instantly appeared within the ruins.

He found Ksitigarbha's holy body shattered, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

Just then.

Ksitigarbha slowly woke up, and with his last ounce of strength, he uttered two words.

"Milk... bottle..."

After saying these words, his head lolled, and he completely fainted.

Tathagata recalled the events that had transpired on Spirit Mountain some time ago, and the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily. As he turned, his expression returned to normal.

"Guanyin, quickly go report to the two Saints."

"Yes, my Buddha."

Guanyin Bodhisattva emerged from a group of utterly shocked Buddhas and walked away expressionlessly.

Ksitigarbha had made the grand vow, "If the hell is not emptied, I will not become a Buddha," originally intending to use it to steal Merit from the Underworld.

As a result, hell was eaten empty by Xiruan.

His grand vow not only failed to bring him Merit, but it also triggered a backlash from the Heavenly Dao for violating his oath!

His Merit instantly reset to zero, becoming negative!

And not just any negative number, but a astronomical figure.

From then on, Ksitigarbha could not only never accumulate Merit, but he would also have to constantly endure the boundless pain of his soul being burned by karmic fire.

Truly a fate worse than death.

The sermon on Spirit Mountain continued. No one noticed that Tathagata's gaze had, at some point, drifted towards the heavens.

Inside Zixiao Palace.

"What... what is all this..."

Sect Master Tongtian muttered to himself. He raised his hand and pinched his thigh hard.

Hiss--

It hurt!

This wasn't a dream!

All of this was real!

He looked at the Water Mirror, watching his Daughter fly back with several Intercepting Sect disciples, his heart filled with an extremely complex emotion.

"Fellow Daoist Houtu... this... how should I repay this karma..."

Sect Master Tongtian chuckled bitterly and shook his head.

The scene in the Water Mirror shifted, switching to the Youming Blood Sea.

Patriarch Styx looked grimly in the direction Houtu had left, his eyes filled with unwillingness and venom.

"Houtu! You just wait!"

"I will repay this humiliation a hundredfold in the future!"

As soon as he finished speaking.

A giant palm slammed down towards him!

Patriarch Styx's expression changed drastically. Without thinking, he was about to transform into a blood god clone to escape.

However, the entire space of the blood sea was completely sealed!

His proud four hundred and eighty million blood god clones couldn't even move!

"Houtu! You..."

"Slap!"

A crisp, loud slap echoed throughout the entire Youming Blood Sea.

Patriarch Styx was sent flying by the slap.

"If you dare to gossip about me behind my back again, next time it won't be just a slap."

Empress Houtu's cold, indifferent voice echoed.

In the Sea of Blood, Patriarch Styx's face was swollen on one side. He clutched his face, feeling utterly humiliated, yet he dared not utter a harsh word.

Sect Master Tongtian watched this scene, his eye twitching fiercely.

He silently added "Absolutely do not provoke Houtu" as the first rule to his Sacred Heart Memorandum.

This young lady was not only protective, but her temper also seemed rather bad.

While Sect Master Tongtian hid in Zixiao Palace, gloating and secretly delighted...

Xiruan and the others had already majestically flown out of the Thirty-Three Heavens.

Along the way, the disciples of the Intercepting Sect were still in a state of extreme excitement and disbelief.

They looked at Xiruan with eyes full of endless admiration and reverence.

This was the hope of their Intercepting Sect!

This was the one who would lead them to revival... their Junior Sister!

"Junior Sister! Junior Sister!"

Immortal Wuyun sidled up to Xiruan, asking with a face full of adoration.

"That power you used just now to devour that Avici Hell, what kind of Spiritual Power was it? It was too amazing! Can you teach us?"

As soon as he spoke, all the surrounding Intercepting Sect disciples perked up their ears in unison, their eyes filled with longing.

They wanted to learn too!

If they learned this move, who would they have to fear?

Just devour anyone they couldn't beat!

How domineering!

"That thing?"

Xiruan stopped and thought for a moment, then answered very seriously, "That wasn't Spiritual Power."

"Ah? Not Spiritual Power?" Immortal Wuyun was stunned.

"That's right," Xiruan nodded. "I was just hungry, so I ate it."

Immortal Wuyun: "..."

All the Intercepting Sect disciples: "..."