Netherworld Invitation, Li Yu Peers into Heaven's Secrets

Zhu Lingzi had taken form from an innate spirit root. His origins were considered exceptionally lofty, and his future achievements would not be low either. If Li Yu brought him into the Human Sect, they might very well gain another Quasi-Saint in the future.

Of course, this was only Li Yu's idea for now. When the time came to put it into action, he would still need to ask the Saint sect leader. However, given Zhu Lingzi's talent, the Saint sect leader would surely not refuse.

After Li Yu returned to Five Villages Temple this time and witnessed Bitter Bamboo take form, he was in no rush to immediately return to the Human Race. Instead, he rested at Five Villages Temple for a time.

Outside Five Villages Temple stood one man with an ox head and another with a horse's face. It was none other than the Netherworld brothers, Ox-Head and Horse-Face.

"Is this Five Villages Temple?" Ox-Head asked.

"It should be. Look, the plaque over the temple gate already says so," Horse-Face replied.

"Then shall we just go in?"

"How could we do that? This isn't the Netherworld. We must follow the rules."

With that, Horse-Face led Ox-Head to the entrance of Five Villages Temple and knocked three times.

Before long, the temple gate creaked open from within, and a small head poked out through the crack.

Qingfeng had come to open the gate. Through the gap, he first saw only four sturdy legs. Looking upward, he saw two fellows whose faces did not look human, baring their teeth at him.

Demons!

Qingfeng jumped in fright and cried, "Hey! You two bold demons, do you know where this is? You dare come knocking at our gate? Are you not afraid that my master will beat you until your ashes scatter and your souls disperse?"

The moment Ox-Head and Horse-Face heard this, they knew their appearances had caused a misunderstanding. They hurriedly explained, "Young Daoist master, we are not demons. We are Ox-Head and Horse-Face of the Netherworld!"

"Then you are even bolder!"

Pointing at the two of them, Qingfeng said, "People of the Netherworld dare come to Five Villages Temple to seize souls?"

"We are not here to seize souls! We have come to request assistance and pay a visit to Senior Li Yu, deputy sect leader of the Human Sect!"

So that was it!

Only then did Qingfeng understand Ox-Head and Horse-Face's purpose. "In that case, follow me inside. But whether Master Li is willing to see you, I cannot guarantee."

After settling Ox-Head and Horse-Face in, Qingfeng went to inform Li Yu.

Ox-Head and Horse-Face?

Could something have happened in the Netherworld? Had Houtu sent these two brothers to seek reinforcements? But as he remembered it, no major upheaval had occurred in the Netherworld. Or perhaps something had gone wrong with Fuxi's divine soul?

At that thought, Li Yu hurriedly emerged from seclusion to meet Ox-Head and Horse-Face.

"Ox-Head and Horse-Face of the Netherworld pay respects to Senior!"

Seeing Li Yu enter from outside, Ox-Head and Horse-Face hurriedly rose to their feet. Li Yu did not stand on ceremony with them, merely waving a hand for them to sit and speak.

"You two came to Five Villages Temple to find me. Has something happened on the Netherworld's side?"

"Reporting to Senior, all is as usual in the Netherworld. Her Ladyship also asked us to tell you that the one within reincarnation has encountered no mishap. The one who may truly be in trouble is the Human Race. But this matter is of great importance, so Her Ladyship specifically sent the two of us to seek you out and invite you to the Netherworld."

Something had happened to the Human Race?

This could not be ignored. Besides, during this period, the Human Race Li Yu had seen showed no abnormalities and was flourishing vigorously. Yet Li Yu believed that Houtu's words were not without cause. The most likely explanation was that someone had evaded his eyes and ears, acting in secret to harm the Human Race.

Though Li Yu pressed further, Ox-Head and Horse-Face did not know the specifics. Houtu had merely instructed them to invite Li Yu.

Since Houtu had not revealed even the slightest detail to Ox-Head and Horse-Face, this matter truly seemed troublesome.

"Since that is the case, let us head to the Netherworld at once!"

Li Yu immediately took Ox-Head and Horse-Face with him and hastened toward the Netherworld.

Upon arriving in the Netherworld, Li Yu left Ox-Head and Horse-Face at Ghost Gate Pass, while he himself went to the location of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, where Houtu cultivated and resided.

Li Yu had only just arrived,

when Houtu revealed herself from within the Six Paths of Reincarnation. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Houtu said, "The Six Paths of Reincarnation repels the approach of all living beings. Let us speak elsewhere."

"Then I shall trouble you to lead the way, Daoist friend!"

With that, the two left the Six Paths of Reincarnation and arrived atop a cliff within the Netherworld.

"Daoist Li, I sent Ox-Head and Horse-Face to find you because, recently, a strange occurrence has appeared among the Human Race. Many members of the Human Race have died, yet their souls have not entered the Netherworld," Houtu said.

Li Yu frowned upon hearing this. After members of the Human Race died, their souls should have come to the Netherworld to be reborn through reincarnation. This was the law governing the Heavenly Dao's operation. Even if some souls did not enter reincarnation after death, they would only be a small number—not enough for Houtu to take the matter so seriously.

"Exactly how many Human Race souls have vanished?" Li Yu asked.

"Over the years, there have been no fewer than a hundred thousand in total!"

"A hundred thousand! So many!"

No wonder Houtu placed such importance on this. There was certainly nothing simple behind this matter. It concerned not only the Human Race, but also affected the Netherworld.

"Does Daoist friend know where these Human Race souls have gone?"

Houtu shook her head. "I do not know. The heavenly calculations are now in utter chaos, making them truly difficult to deduce. However, I suspect this matter is connected to the Demon Race. In the Primordial World, the Wu Clan has always been on good terms with the Human Race, and the Wu Clan's divine abilities and secret arts have no need for Human Race souls. Other than the Wu Clan, only the Demon Race possesses such capability."

Though Houtu was of the Wu Clan, Li Yu felt that her analysis made a great deal of sense.

Li Yu immediately began calculating with his fingers before Houtu. Although Houtu had been unable to derive any clues, he still wanted to try.

Using the Dao of the Primordial World as cover, he secretly wielded the power of the new Dao he had comprehended. Amid the haze, he caught sight of a long sword forged from the living souls of the Human Race. In that instant, Li Yu knew that sword was the Witch-Slaying Sword.

As the Heavenly Dao operated, it seemed to sense someone peering into the heavenly calculations. For a time, muffled thunder rumbled above the Netherworld.

Houtu looked up at the changing celestial signs, then looked toward Li Yu and asked, "Has Daoist Li deduced something?"

Li Yu withdrew his divination art and said, "Wait a moment."

After some time, once the Netherworld's celestial signs had returned to normal, Li Yu said, "This matter was indeed the Demon Race's doing. They are using the living souls of the Human Race to forge the Witch-Slaying Sword, specifically to counter your Wu Clan!"

Houtu's expression changed drastically upon hearing this. "The Demon Race truly is despicable! I ask Daoist Li to resolve this matter. It is not only for the Human Race and the Netherworld, but also Houtu's personal request of you!"

"As deputy sect leader of the Human Sect, I naturally will not stand by with my hands tucked in my sleeves in the face of such a matter. But time is pressing, and there is no time to speak further with Daoist friend. I must return to the Human Race at once."

"Go, Daoist friend. Should you have need of the Netherworld, I will certainly assist with all my strength!"

With that, Li Yu transformed into a streak of rosy light, departed the Netherworld, and flew straight toward Five Villages Temple.

This matter was of great importance. Li Yu knew that handling it alone might leave him unequal to the task, so he could only ask his two friends, Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun, to lend their aid.

Li Yu had originally known of the Demon Race forging the Witch-Slaying Sword. But now that the Witch-Demon Calamity grew fiercer by the day, its clouds of tribulation had already affected him, causing him to unconsciously overlook this matter. Had he not performed this divination today, the Human Race would likely have lost even more lives because of it.