Heading to the Netherworld! Yunxiao Regrets and Weeps!

"Nothing escapes Fellow Daoist Lingxiao's notice. Taixuan and I truly came to Penglai Immortal Island bearing Lady Serenity's decree, to seek your aid!"

Taixuan smiled as he looked at Lingxiao and spoke slowly.

After Lingxiao left the Interception Sect, he had become a prized figure in the eyes of many Saints. Now, even Lady Serenity needed his help.

"Please explain in detail, Fellow Daoist!"

Lingxiao remained impassive and smiled faintly.

Lady Serenity governed the Netherworld Underworld and the Six Paths of Reincarnation, bearing the rules of the Earth Dao and the authority of the Heavenly Dao. Lingxiao had to show her respect.

Moreover, if the Earth Dao were to fully awaken, Lady Serenity's assistance would also be needed.

The Primordial World's earth veins were all linked by Zhenyuanzi's Earth Book, yet the Netherworld Underworld had never formed a connection with the Primordial World's earth veins. Instead, it resembled an independent cosmos.

If Lady Serenity permitted Zhenyuanzi to employ his great divine power to establish an order of Earth Dao rules connecting the Netherworld Underworld and the Primordial World's earth veins, the Earth Dao would surely awaken, and Zhenyuanzi could attain the Dao and become a Saint through this merit.

Seeing this, delight appeared on Taixuan's face as he slowly said, "When living beings of all races die, their departed souls are summoned by the order of the Heavenly Dao into the Netherworld Underworld, where they are judged before being reincarnated."

"Throughout this process, the many creations of the Netherworld Underworld must wash away these departed souls' seven emotions and six desires—especially the towering resentment they harbored before death. Only then can they sever the karmic ties of their previous lives in their new incarnation."

"But as time passed, the seven emotions and six desires spread throughout the Netherworld Underworld. They seeped into the Six Paths of Reincarnation and eventually contaminated Lady Serenity's origin and true spirit."

"Fellow Daoist Lingxiao commands a supreme Great Dao capable of purifying the evil and foul miasma of this world. I ask that you lend a hand and help Lady Serenity cleanse away these seven emotions and six desires..."

As his words fell.

Lingxiao stroked his chin and pondered inwardly.

Lady Serenity's fate was inseparably bound to the Netherworld Underworld and the Six Paths of Reincarnation. If the seven emotions and six desires damaged her origin or even clouded her Dao heart, it would bring a catastrophe of extinction upon all living beings of the Primordial World.

But even though he commanded the Purification-Creation Dao, the seven emotions and six desires accumulated over countless ages were likely not something he could clear away and purify in a short time.

If he forged the foundation of a thirty-sixth-grade World-Purifying White Lotus, Lingxiao could easily purify them. Yet he currently lacked the Karmic Fire Red Lotus, the Taiyi Whisk, and the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi.

Could it be that he had to refuse Taixuan?

At that moment, Xingtian spoke in a pleading tone, "Fellow Daoist Lingxiao, whether you can resolve this matter or not, please make a trip to the Netherworld Underworld. That way, we will not have failed the grave task Lady Serenity entrusted to us."

At these words!

Lingxiao no longer hesitated and nodded lightly.

"Two Fellow Daoists, this humble Daoist agrees to go to the Netherworld Underworld!"

"Better to act today than wait for another day. Let us depart at once!"

With the Purification-Creation Dao, Lingxiao might not be able to purify every trace of the seven emotions and six desires, but he could at least ease Lady Serenity's burden.

This was an act of immense merit. How could Lingxiao stand by with folded arms?

"Lingxiao, go ahead!"

"Remember to thank Lady Serenity on my behalf. I need to refine the Dark Yin Jade Hairpin, then cultivate in tranquility and break through to the late stage of the Primordial Golden Immortal realm."

Wangshu looked at Lingxiao, her red lips parting slightly.

Gentle by nature and fond of peace and quiet, Wangshu did not intend to go to the Netherworld Underworld.

"Alright!"

Lingxiao nodded. Then, riding upon an auspicious cloud, he followed Xingtian and Taixuan toward the Netherworld Underworld.

Golden Turtle Island, Azure Roaming Palace.

Lord Tongtian sat cross-legged upon a cloud platform. Below him stood Daoist Duobao, Yunxiao, and the other disciples of the Interception Sect. Anger filled all their faces, and they looked as though righteous indignation burned within them.

"Master, we cannot swallow this outrage."

"The Netherworld Underworld has targeted our Interception Sect disciples who have already fallen, casting them into the Eighteen Levels of Hell to be tortured again and again. They have not even spared the dozens of fallen Phoenix Clan quasi-Saints. This is truly going too far—humiliating the majesty of our Interception Sect."

Lu Ya stepped forward and spoke to Lord Tongtian.

Deep within his eyes lay hatred for the Netherworld Underworld and Lady Serenity.

Under the Netherworld Underworld's normal procedures, those Interception Sect disciples and Phoenix Clan quasi-Saints would have had their memories washed away long ago and been reincarnated. How could they possibly have suffered all manner of punishments?

Yet now, that was indeed the reality!

"It is all Xingtian, Taixuan, and the others' fault for leaving our Interception Sect. They caused Lady Serenity to bear a grudge against us as well, which is why she deliberately humiliates our sect's majesty and makes our Interception Sect suffer disgrace."

"Now, everyone in the Interception Sect is in a state of panic. All the junior brothers fear that after they fall, they will be cast into the Eighteen Levels of Hell. After all, that bastard Lingxiao commands the Investiture of the Gods and will not easily allow our Interception Sect disciples to enter the list and become gods."

"In that case, every fallen Interception Sect disciple will go to the Netherworld Underworld to await reincarnation. But even after reaching the Netherworld Underworld, they will still have to endure countless ages of ravaging and brutal punishment..."

Daoist Duobao wore an angry expression, his words laden with resentment.

Since Lingxiao commanded the Investiture of the Gods, he certainly would not easily allow Interception Sect disciples to become gods. And once they reached the Netherworld Underworld, they would still have to suffer the punishments and reproaches imposed by Lady Serenity.

Thus, it could be said that once Interception Sect disciples fell, none of them would meet a good end.

The Investiture of the Gods Calamity was about to descend. If this matter could not be handled properly, the fighting spirit of the Interception Sect disciples would be diminished, and they might even dare not take part in conflicts between sects.

If that happened, the Interception Sect's plans would be stillborn in the womb.

"At the root of it all, it is because of that scourge, Lingxiao!"

"If he had not betrayed the Interception Sect, how could Xingtian, Taixuan, and the others have dared disrespect Master? In the end, it only brewed disaster."

"And speaking of the Investiture of the Gods, Lingxiao was even more arrogant and conceited. Relying on his status as the Qinghua Emperor of the Eastern Pole, he repeatedly schemed against our Interception Sect. I never imagined he was such a petty villain, one who liked to stab people in the back..."

Holy Mother Golden Spirit's willow-leaf brows knit together as she gritted her silver teeth and spoke in a heavy voice.

Both her words and expression carried the feeling of lamenting that iron had failed to become steel.

The moment those words fell, a stir swept through the Azure Roaming Palace. Several female immortals of the Interception Sect revealed disappointed expressions and launched a barrage of verbal condemnation at Lingxiao.

"The conflict between Lady Serenity and our Interception Sect must have its misunderstanding resolved. Who is willing to carry my decree to the Netherworld Underworld?"

At last, Lord Tongtian spoke!

As a Saint of the Heavenly Dao, he could not possibly lower himself to seek out Lady Serenity in person. Thus, he could only entrust this matter to the disciples of the Interception Sect, hoping only that Lady Serenity would no longer make things difficult for the fallen disciples of the Interception Sect.

"Reporting to Master, this disciple is willing to go!"

Yunxiao immediately stepped forward, her lovely face drained of color.

Ever since she and Qiongxiao had gone to Penglai Immortal Island to renew their former bond with Lingxiao, only to be rejected, she had been unable to lift her spirits. Her entire being carried an air of self-pity and self-reproach.

Cracks had appeared in her Dao heart, and her heart was filled with boundless regret.

If, after Lingxiao had lost all his cultivation, she had been able to care for this junior brother's feelings, the two of them would not have reached such a point. Whenever she thought of it, Yunxiao's heart ached terribly.

Endless remorse rose like a tide, as though it would drown her whole.

"Master, this disciple will go together with Senior Sister Yunxiao!"

A female immortal dressed in a long red gown, her entire body suffused with seven-colored radiance, walked to the center of the great hall and performed a Daoist salute to Lord Tongtian.

Her brows were slender, her features exquisite, untouched by the dust of the mortal world.

This was Colored Cloud Immortal, an inner disciple of the Interception Sect. She possessed peak Primordial Unity Golden Immortal cultivation. Her relationship with Yunxiao was deep, so she was unwilling to let Yunxiao go alone.

When she looked at Yunxiao, Colored Cloud Immortal's face revealed concern.

"Excellent!"

Some of the gloom on Lord Tongtian's darkened face finally dispersed.

Even without Lingxiao, the Interception Sect remained united as one, and its disciples shared a common hatred for their enemy.

In his view, Yunxiao and Colored Cloud Immortal were both gentle in temperament and both female immortals. They would surely be able to stir Lady Serenity's sympathy and resolve the misunderstanding with the Interception Sect.

"Master, then Junior Sister Colored Cloud and I shall leave now!"

After bidding farewell to Lord Tongtian, Yunxiao and Colored Cloud Immortal departed from the Azure Roaming Palace. The two flew toward the shore of the Eastern Sea, where a spatial gateway leading to the Netherworld Underworld lay.

Though the Netherworld Underworld appeared to be part of the Primordial World, it possessed its own unique barrier. Only by passing through the spatial gateway could one enter it.

In the mortal world, this spatial gateway was also known as the Gate of Ghosts!

Standing upon auspicious clouds and looking down at the surging sea, Yunxiao's mood gradually improved somewhat.

But very soon!

Above the shore of the Eastern Sea, Yunxiao and Colored Cloud Immortal's delicate bodies trembled.

For beside Xingtian and Taixuan, at the gateway below!

Stood a familiar figure.

"It's Junior Brother Lingxiao..."

Yunxiao's small mouth fell open slightly, and mist welled up in her eyes.

Bitterness, grievance, and regret all surged into her heart...