Arriving at the Netherworld, Merit Cleanses the Wicked Sword

This was the age of Saints!

The six Saints were like six towering mountains beyond all reach, weighing upon the hearts of every living being in the Primordial World.

Even as the emperor of the Demon Race, commanding countless demons, once Saints were involved, one had no choice but to look before and after, proceeding with the utmost caution.

All beneath Saints were ants. Though the Wu Clan and Demon Race were mighty now, with no one in the Primordial World daring to provoke them, if a Saint acted, wiping out both races would hardly be a difficult matter.

The Demon Race could originally have relied upon Nüwa, this Saint, but Fuxi's matter had severed that possibility. Since attaining sainthood, Nüwa had never summoned a single member of the Demon Race. This was the Saint's attitude.

During this time, Di Jun had secretly forged the Witch-Slaying Sword. Only gradually did he discover that it required far too many living souls—nearly enough to slaughter the existing Human Race until fewer than one in ten remained.

Naturally, Di Jun would not commit such an exterminating deed. After much deliberation, unwilling to give up, he came up with a gradual method, letting a thin stream flow long. Yet he had never expected it to be discovered so quickly, and the Witch-Slaying Sword he had forged was far less powerful than anticipated.

"Brother, give me the Witch-Slaying Sword. I'll handle what comes next!"

Seeing Di Jun remain silent for so long, Taiyi knew that his elder brother had given up—or rather, was willing to take a step back.

With a turn of his hand, Di Jun took out the Witch-Slaying Sword. It contained the living souls of one hundred thousand humans, making it appear exceedingly sinister and wicked.

Taiyi took it and said, "This object harms the harmony of Heaven. It should be returned to the Human Race for them to deal with."

When Di Jun said nothing, Taiyi took it as tacit approval of this method of handling the matter. He immediately left Di Jun's palace and, to demonstrate the Demon Race's sincerity, personally brought the Witch-Slaying Sword to the Human Race of the Primordial World.

Within the Huaxu Tribe, Li Yu met the Demon Emperor Taiyi, as well as Bixiao of the Three Xiao Sisters and two great Wu Clan shamans, Hou Yi and Kua Fu.

At this sight, Taiyi felt somewhat fortunate. Thankfully, there was still room to salvage this matter. Otherwise, the Demon Race would face immense pressure.

"Fellow Daoist Li, this is the Witch-Slaying Sword. I have come today specifically to return it!"

The moment the Witch-Slaying Sword appeared, Kua Fu and Hou Yi instinctively felt disgust arise in their hearts, along with a faint, indescribable fear.

"This sword is too fierce and baleful, especially since it was made specifically against the Wu Clan. Sect Leader Li, please destroy it at once!" Kua Fu and Hou Yi urged from the side.

Li Yu put away the Witch-Slaying Sword and said, "You two need not be nervous. Since this sword has entered the Human Sect, it will not be used to harm the Wu Clan. There are one hundred thousand human living souls within it. Destroying it rashly would naturally be improper. I will make a trip to the Netherworld and try to find a way to save these human souls."

The Netherworld was Houtu's domain. Hearing Li Yu's handling of the matter, Hou Yi and Kua Fu were naturally convinced and no longer pressed the issue.

"Fellow Daoist Li, might we speak somewhere privately?"

Seeing the matter settled without incident, Taiyi breathed a sigh of relief. Yet at the sight of Hou Yi and Kua Fu, another hidden worry rose in his heart.

"Very well. This way."

With that, Li Yu led Taiyi to the summit of a mountain beside the Huaxu Tribe and asked, "What matter does the Demon Emperor insist on discussing with me in private?"

"Among those present just now, I saw someone from the Truncated Teaching. Considering that the three teachings are one family, that is understandable. But the two great shamans of the Wu Clan were also here. I ask you to speak plainly, Fellow Daoist: has the Human Race allied with the Wu Clan?"

With relations between the Demon Race and Human Race presently strained, Taiyi's concern was entirely understandable.

"Demon Emperor, rest assured. Hou Yi and Kua Fu are here because your Demon Race intends harm toward the Wu Clan. They came for the Wu Clan, not to form an alliance with the Human Race. The Human Race is weak and merely wishes for a place to stand in the Primordial World. We have no desire to take part in the struggle between your two races."

After answering Taiyi's doubts, Li Yu continued, "I also ask the Demon Emperor to honor your prior promise. The Demon Race must not come harm innocent humans again. Otherwise, if you touch a Saint's bottom line,

losing face would be the lesser matter; survival or extinction would be the greater. I hope the Demon Emperor will weigh this clearly!" It was only because the visitor was Taiyi rather than Di Jun that Li Yu was willing to say a few more words.

These two innate Golden Crows were brothers, yet their temperaments differed greatly. Taiyi was the easier of the two to deal with and understood reason better.

After Taiyi departed, Li Yu also took the opportunity to send Kua Fu and Hou Yi away. As for Bixiao, she returned to join her two sisters in protecting the Human Race for a while longer. After all, Taiyi's assurance could not be trusted completely.

Li Yu, meanwhile, brought the Witch-Slaying Sword to the Netherworld and met Houtu.

"Fellow Daoist, this is the Witch-Slaying Sword. The missing one hundred thousand living souls are likely within this sword. I wonder whether you have a way to save them?"

Looking at the Witch-Slaying Sword, Houtu said, "What a sword of sin. There is a way: it must be cleansed with Merit Power. However, the rescued living souls will possess very little spirituality. They may dissipate between Heaven and earth during the cycle of reincarnation."

As long as there was a way!

Li Yu immediately took out the Mysterious Origin Water-Control Banner and shook out all the Merit Power within it, which had been gifted by Nüwa.

As the Merit Power merged into the Witch-Slaying Sword, Li Yu saw souls radiating faint spirituality fly out from the blade one after another. Then, like fireflies, they entered reincarnation.

Watching Li Yu's actions from the side, Houtu was deeply appreciative.

Merit Power was exceedingly precious, yet Li Yu had used it without hesitation to save these souls. This was enough to show the kindness and benevolence in his heart.

When she, Houtu, had transformed into reincarnation, was it not partly because the Heavenly Dao's workings demanded it, and partly because of the kindness in her heart, because she could not bear the suffering of Primordial World beings having no reincarnation after death?

After every soul within the Witch-Slaying Sword entered reincarnation, Li Yu had little Merit Power left. He simply poured all of it into the Witch-Slaying Sword.

After accepting the remaining Merit Power, the sword quietly underwent some changes. It now exuded an awe-inspiring righteous aura, yet its power of slaughter did not diminish.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for your guidance this time. Otherwise, many more humans would have died innocently, and these living souls likely would not even have had the chance to reincarnate." Li Yu put away the Witch-Slaying Sword and thanked Houtu.

"There is no need for this. I did it for the Netherworld and for the Wu Clan as well!"

There was no need to say more about such matters. Entangled karmic ties could not be erased by a word or two of gratitude. In the future, Li Yu would inevitably have further connections with the Netherworld.

"Is that person's soul well?"

Houtu nodded. "After being nourished over this period of time, it can already enter reincarnation. We need only wait for the opportunity Fellow Daoist spoke of to arrive."

The opportunity had not yet come. At the very least, they would have to wait until the war between the Wu Clan and Demon Race had ended.

Li Yu could not conveniently remain in the Netherworld any longer. Once this matter was resolved, he bade Houtu farewell and returned to the Human Race of the Primordial World.

After some more time passed, the Human Race remained calm and peaceful. Li Yu had the Three Xiao Sisters return to the Eastern Sea for secluded cultivation. Xuandu also left the Primordial World with Azure Ox and Immortal Deer, returning to Eight Views Palace, while Hongyun and Zhen Yuanzi returned to Five Villages Temple.

After these people departed, though the Human Race experienced minor disturbances, they had nothing to do with the Demon Race's retaliation. This tribulation had passed.