Li Yu Visits the Netherworld, Fuxi Enters Reincarnation

With the Netherworld newly established, the souls of all living beings in the Primordial World drifted here one after another after death, as though summoned by some unseen call.

But not much time had passed yet, and the departed souls had yet to arrive. Li Yu walked alone along Yellow Springs Road until he reached Ghost Gate Pass.

It was the Netherworld, after all, so an air of gloom and chill was unavoidable.

Fortunately, Li Yu had already attained the cultivation of a Quasi-Saint. The Netherworld's sinister scenery no longer stirred any fear in him.

The moment Li Yu arrived before Ghost Gate Pass, he saw Ox-Head and Horse-Face coming to greet him. Yet their bodies were still human in form, and they were extraordinarily tall, towering far above Li Yu.

Seeing the two in such forms, Li Yu made a guess. Ox-Head and Horse-Face's appearances were likely disguises, while their true origins were most likely members of the Wu Clan whom Houtu had brought over.

When Houtu transformed herself into reincarnation, she must have glimpsed the Wu Clan's future fate as well. To preserve a trace of the Wu Clan's legacy, she had selected some Wu Clan members to fill the various vacant posts in the Netherworld: the Ten Kings of Hell, judges, Ox-Head and Horse-Face, the Black and White Impermanence, ghost generals, ghost soldiers...

Although this method preserved some of the Wu Clan's bloodline, once they entered the Netherworld and took up official posts, they would be bound by heavenly regulations. They would lose the chance to reproduce and could only maintain their current numbers.

Yet the merit earned by Houtu's transformation into reincarnation was immense. Apart from this branch in the Netherworld, the Wu Clan would naturally have other bloodlines continuing into the future.

"Senior, the Netherworld has only just been established. May I ask why Senior has come to our Netherworld?" Ox-Head and Horse-Face blocked the way before Ghost Gate Pass.

"An old friend from Purple Cloud Palace has come to visit. I wish to meet your ancestral shaman, Lady Houtu," Li Yu said.

Ox-Head and Horse-Face did not dare agree at once. Just as they were about to stall for time, Houtu's voice rang out. "Fellow Daoist Li has come to visit. You need not stop him!"

After hearing Houtu's voice, Ox-Head and Horse-Face led Li Yu all the way to the Six Paths of Reincarnation. This was the core of the Netherworld. Once they had brought Li Yu here, they withdrew.

Li Yu waited alone beside the endlessly revolving Six Paths of Reincarnation. After some time, Houtu finally emerged from reincarnation itself. Before this meeting, the last time they had met was years ago, when they had listened to the Dao at Purple Cloud Palace.

"I have kept Fellow Daoist waiting. I hope you will not blame me," Houtu said with slight apology after appearing.

Li Yu hurriedly waved his hand. "I came uninvited. It is only right that I wait awhile."

"I never expected Fellow Daoist to be the first to arrive."

Hearing Houtu's words, Li Yu smiled. "Speaking of which, I have Fellow Daoist to thank. It was only by taking advantage of reincarnation's appearance in the world that I was able to eliminate Minghe. That counts as owing Fellow Daoist a small favor. Should the Wu Clan have any need in the future that lies within my power, I will certainly lend a hand."

Upon hearing Li Yu's words, Houtu's expression darkened. After a long while, she said, "It seems Fellow Daoist has also glimpsed the Wu Clan's fate. In the future, we too will follow in the footsteps of the three clans from the previous calamity."

"Such is the ordained course of heaven; it cannot be altered. But with the merit Fellow Daoist has earned today, the Wu Clan will still retain a thread of life in the future. It simply will not be able to restore today's prosperity," Li Yu said.

Houtu sighed. "When things reach their peak, they turn in the opposite direction. This is also the operation of the Heavenly Dao. When the Wu Clan's time comes, I hope Fellow Daoist will extend a helping hand."

"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist, I meant what I said. But I have one matter to ask of you as well. I wish to place the divine soul of a friend in the Six Paths of Reincarnation to nurture it. When the time is ripe, I ask Fellow Daoist to send him into the Six Paths of Reincarnation."

After hearing Li Yu, Houtu nodded. "I roughly understand what you mean. I had only thought that she would come in person."

"With a Saint's exalted status, she cannot move about lightly. It is more fitting for me to handle such a matter," Li Yu explained.

Having reached an agreement with Houtu in the Netherworld, Li Yu left and flew toward the heavens beyond.

After arriving at Wa Palace, Li Yu met with Saint Nüwa.

Within the Earth-Society Landscape Scroll,

Nüwa and Li Yu appeared beside Fuxi's divine soul. "At last, this day has come. The bond between my elder brother and me, as brother and sister, is about to be severed," Nüwa said sorrowfully.

Li Yu said nothing more, merely waiting quietly at the side until Nüwa handed Fuxi's divine soul over to him.

"Could Fellow Daoist Li reveal something about my elder brother's next life?"

Even as a Saint, Nüwa could not calculate events of the next calamity. She could only glimpse vague fragments, yet she felt that Li Yu might know something.

"Fellow Daoist need not worry. Fellow Daoist Fuxi will have a good outcome in the future. For the Human Race, he will be a pivotal figure," Li Yu said.

He was not being deliberately mysterious. It was enough to touch upon such matters; saying too much might invite unforeseen changes.

"The Human Race? The beings I created... my elder brother will also become one of them in the future."

Nüwa sighed with emotion, then brought Fuxi's divine soul out of the Earth-Society Landscape Scroll and handed it to Li Yu.

"When it comes to nurturing a divine soul, the Earth-Society Landscape Scroll cannot compare to the Six Paths of Reincarnation. I ask Fellow Daoist to thank younger sister Houtu on my behalf. Given my current status, it is inconvenient for me to set foot in the land of reincarnation."

Li Yu took his leave of Nüwa at Wa Palace and immediately returned to the Netherworld, where he sent Fuxi's divine soul into the Six Paths of Reincarnation. As for how it would be nurtured, Houtu would make the arrangements. Li Yu could not interfere.

Only after finishing these matters did Li Yu return to Five Villages Temple.

"Fellow Daoist Hongyun, that wretch Minghe has already perished, body and Dao alike, destroyed by a Saint with a spiritual treasure. The old grudge has finally been avenged."

Li Yu's words truly startled Hongyun and Zhen Yuanzi. These past days, the cultivators of the Primordial World had all been drawn to Houtu's transformation into reincarnation. None had noticed that Minghe, one of the great powers of the Primordial World who had long occupied the Blood Sea, had already perished, body and Dao alike.

"If that is so, I wish to return to my old cave abode."

Clearly, Hongyun missed his deceased Dao companion. Among the surviving beings of the Blood Sea, there was no sign of his Dao companion; otherwise, he would have found her long ago.

"It is fine to go back and take a look, but do not linger too long. You must return soon," Zhen Yuanzi reminded him from the side.

Hongyun immediately left Five Villages Temple, while Zhen Yuanzi and Li Yu came before Bitter Bamboo. As usual, Li Yu gave Bitter Bamboo some Chaos Qi and Merit Qi to help it grow.

"I have a feeling that Bitter Bamboo may take form before long. Have you made any arrangements for when that happens?" Zhen Yuanzi asked.

At this, Li Yu sighed helplessly. "Since I began cultivating the Dao, aside from my realm and cultivation, which are still somewhat presentable, I have nothing else worth praising. For now, I can only place my hopes on Fellow Daoist."

"Very well, I agree. But let us make this clear beforehand: once Bitter Bamboo takes form, it must enter my lineage as my chief disciple!" Zhen Yuanzi said.

"Of course. No one will compete with you for it. Back then, I only acted on a whim. I never expected things to turn out as they have today," Li Yu said.

Then the two looked toward the Ginseng Fruit Tree beside them. "Still, what a pity. The Ginseng Fruit Tree likely cannot follow Bitter Bamboo's path."

"That is simply the affinity of fate. It cannot be forced."

With that, the two finally left and returned to their respective cultivation.

Zhen Yuanzi's earlier words had awakened Li Yu. All this time, he had focused on improving his own cultivation. Whenever he fought, he simply smashed people with spiritual treasures, neglecting the study of spells, divine abilities, formations, and the like. It was time to make up for this shortcoming.