The battle between the desolate gods and the demons turned into a prolonged tug-of-war within the Yin-Yang Passage.
However, under the Eight Immortals' guidance, and as they steadily grew familiar with the demons' methods, the desolate gods gradually began to bring their own advantages into play.
They pushed the battlefield into the underworld.
With every territory they captured, the World-Opening Primordial Spirit could use his authority as Lord of the Heavenly Dao to cleanse it and claim it for himself.
Originally, the World-Opening Primordial Spirit had intended to destroy the netherworld and gather all authority into the mortal realm and the heavenly realm, so that it would not be snatched away again by the Twelve Underworld Kings.
But Iron Crutch Li's counsel made him understand that a situation where the three realms stood together, with heaven held in common reverence, was what best suited this world.
Without the netherworld, this world would lose its ability to cycle and become nothing more than a pool of stagnant water.
No matter how powerful it became, there would be no essential difference from the Demon Alliance seizing the netherworld.
Having heeded Iron Crutch Li's advice, the World-Opening Primordial Spirit enfeoffed some of the desolate gods whose authority leaned toward the netherworld within it.
They guarded the reclaimed underworld lands.
The alliance between the Eight Immortals and the desolate gods did not come as a surprise to the Demon Alliance.
They had even prepared for it long ago.
Just as Han Zhongli had said, they knew it as well.
With the Eight Immortals watching from the side, it was no longer possible to swallow this world whole.
Moreover, since their actions had already drawn the Eight Immortals here, they would surely not escape the Demon-Subduing Emperor's notice.
They had believed this world would be