Take Command of the Underworld?

"Rumble!"

The thunder of myriad Daos from the Underworld's star domain shook nearly half the universe. Viewed from outside, that vast expanse of stars lay shrouded in darkness of the utmost density. Countless Imperial Dao formation patterns trembled there, shattering untold numbers of distant stars.

"It still got away."

Inside the Corpse Emperor Hall, Yuangeng drew a deep breath, a helpless look on his face. He had just clashed head-on with the Underworld's Netherworld Venerable formation patterns and expected a great battle. Never had he imagined that the Heavenly Nether Treasure would flee, let alone so decisively.

Of all the beings in the Underworld, the one Yuangeng held in the lowest regard was undoubtedly the Heavenly Nether Treasure.

Although the Heavenly Nether Treasure was only a weapon, it had once been a precious treasure that the Netherworld Venerable cultivated with his very life. Its intrinsic nature far surpassed that of ordinary Extreme Dao Weapons. It had awakened its own sentience and could even sustain its awakened state for a considerable time.

Its role in history was much like the Undying Heavenly Emperor's. It was one of the most active and powerful shit-stirrers of the entire Shrouding the Heavens era.

As far as Yuangeng knew, this thing was the source of the ominous twilight years suffered by the Sacred Body Lineage. The curse upon that lineage during the Desolate Ancient Era, including the deaths of Great Emperor Wushi's parents, could all be laid at that weapon's door.

Moreover, the Heavenly Nether Treasure was suspected of having initiated the Underworld's artificial Chaos Body project. The weapon had always been obsessed with becoming an Immortal Artifact, and a Chaos Body was its ideal vessel.

In the future Desolate Ancient Era, after the Ruthless Great Emperor transformed herself into a Chaos Body through the Heaven-Devouring Demonic Art and the Indestructible Heavenly Art, that very artificial Chaos Body project prompted the Underworld to act. It slew the Sun God Sect's last Quasi-Emperor, hastening the decline of the two Human Emperors' traditions on Ziwei Ancient Star.

"It went to the Reincarnation Sea and witnessed you in action. Afterward, it seemed to lose its mind, terrified that you were the Netherworld Venerable in disguise, here to settle accounts with it and his other creations and extinguish their spirits."

The Corpse Emperor was also shocked by Yuangeng's strength. He and the other three Supreme Artifacts surrounded Yuangeng, ready to strike at any moment, but he still spoke up to explain.

"What a pity. I wanted to have a chat with it."

Yuangeng felt regretful. Although what the Heavenly Nether Treasure had done in the original story made him want to destroy it, the Sacred Body Lineage had yet to suffer any ominous twilight years. The Underworld had not yet slaughtered its way through the universe or collected myriad bloodlines to create an artificial Chaos Body. None of those events from the original story had happened yet.

In other words, at this stage, the Heavenly Nether Treasure, Source God, Source Ghost, and Source Demon-these creations of the Netherworld Venerable-could still be considered "innocent."

"After all, your aura is very similar to the Netherworld Venerable's, and your combat strength is no weaker than his was back then. Perhaps it is even greater."

Among the three Imperial Dao Weapons, an icy ripple of divine thought emanated from a pitch-black war spear. Clearly, a supreme will resided within it. Its true body had sealed itself away because of its limited lifespan, but its will had come here.

"How should I address you?" Yuangeng set aside his thoughts, swept his gaze over the three weapons, and nodded.

"I am the Prison-Suppressing Venerable. I founded the Underworld together with the Netherworld Venerable."

The will within the war spear spoke those words.

Yuangeng studied the pitch-black war spear. In the original story, an Extreme Dao being bearing the title Prison-Suppressing had also emerged. He had fought Chuan Ying, the Heavenly Court's First Divine General, and protected the Underworld until the very end of its tradition.

"So it was the Heavenly Nether Treasure that detected that burial Dao aura in the Reincarnation Sea?"

His aura became still and peaceful again, and the burial Dao universe outside dissipated as well. This was a gesture, showing that he had no intention of fighting and was willing to talk.

"Indeed. Back then, it only wanted to confirm the Undying Daoist's condition. We never expected such an unexpected discovery."

Divine thought rippled within the pitch-black war spear. A pair of illusory eyes watched Yuangeng, carefully sensing the mighty power emanating from his body, as a voice spoke faintly.

"The burial Dao? An aura similar to the Netherworld Venerable's... So this great Dao is the connection between you and him."

As it spoke, the weapon shone, manifesting the image of an ancient, imposing man. Profound netherworld Dao resonance enveloped him as he gazed ahead, searching for the end of reincarnation.

Without a doubt, this man was the Netherworld Venerable. He did indeed bear the aura of someone who cultivated the Burial Domain Method. His aura even shared certain similarities with the Burial Cultivators native to the Burial Domain-that intrinsic quality of having slumbered through long ages was something Yuangeng could never mistake.

After all, his Dao companion was a Golden Burial Cultivator. They had often discussed the Dao and cultivated together in the past, and Yuangeng considered his understanding of the burial Dao to be extraordinarily profound.

"Where is the Netherworld Venerable now?"

He posed the question. Although he was somewhat guilty of asking what he already knew, Yuangeng still wanted a clearer understanding of the Netherworld Venerable's movements.

"He left. In that battle at the end of the Mythological Era, he used death to escape, abandoning his weapon and a group of old friends. Many people departed. Only we remained, keeping an empty vigil over everything here."

At his question, the Netherworld Venerable's phantom vanished. There was some disappointment in the Prison-Suppressing Venerable's voice. When the Underworld was established, he had been among its first ancient venerables. To say he had no friendship with the Netherworld Venerable would be a lie, but some of the Netherworld Venerable's actions at the end of the Mythological Era had chilled their hearts.

"That does not matter. We are enough for the Underworld."

From the depths of the armor on the other side, darker even than the netherworld itself, came a low ripple of divine thought.

"The Netherworld Venerable is a threat now. We must find him. Too much happened at the end of the Mythological Era. We need to understand everything, then destroy him before he settles accounts with us."

Clearly, this emperor was resolute in his desire to kill the Netherworld Venerable. Even if the Netherworld Venerable's ideals had once won him over, the passage of time had erased that friendship.

This was the Yama Emperor, also known as the Yama Venerable, another ancient supreme being from the Mythological Era. He had come to the Underworld because of the Netherworld Venerable's ideals. Even after the Netherworld Venerable departed, he continued to honor his old vow and never left.

"I cannot accept it. Before I die, I must see the Netherworld Venerable once more!"

A sigh also came from the final weapon, a Heavenly Halberd cast in bronze. This was the Underworld's Rebirth Venerable, another ancient venerable from the Mythological Era. His condition was far worse than that of the Corpse Emperor and the others, and the flame of his primordial spirit was the dimmest of all.

None of the supreme beings present, including the Prison-Suppressing Venerable, believed that the Netherworld Venerable could perish completely. With the abilities he had possessed back then, death was merely a means to an end. He had far too many ways to survive.

"That truly is a pity. With the Netherworld Venerable gone, the once supremely glorious Underworld has nothing left but you few old, weak, sickly, and crippled survivors of the Mythological Era. In a few more years, it will probably be finished."

Yuangeng felt regretful. The Underworld's succession of Extreme Dao beings seemed to have simply ended. The Corpse Emperor, Prison-Suppressing, Yama, and Rebirth-these four ancient venerables had all met the Netherworld Venerable in person.

In other words, from the beginning of Primordial Antiquity until now, the Underworld had not produced a single emperor.

At his words, the supreme beings all fell silent. Of course they also hoped that another Extreme Dao being would arise to oversee the Underworld, if only to inject some fresh blood into it. Unfortunately, their descendants had failed to live up to expectations, and no new emperor of the Underworld had ever emerged.

"What about the Longevity Heavenly Venerable?" Yuangeng continued.

"He went mad and left. Before leaving, he unleashed an upheaval. Not only did he destroy an era, he also took away much of our accumulated reserves," the Prison-Suppressing Emperor said coldly.

At the mention of the Longevity Heavenly Venerable, these supreme beings all showed some anger, but even more wistful sorrow. He was far older than any of them-so old that his convictions had wavered, and even his primordial spirit could no longer restrain that obsession and madness.

"Then I will have to find a chance to kill him later."

Yuangeng felt regretful. The Longevity Heavenly Venerable had indeed gone mad. That fellow should long since have died of old age amid the passing years, yet he had survived by unleashing upheaval after upheaval. He was simply too ancient. Lasting until the late Primordial Antiquity would already have been a miracle, yet repeated upheavals had kept him alive until Ye Fan's era.

As for the Underworld's other old, weak, sickly, and crippled beings, he had little interest in them. These fellows were unexpectedly principled. Every one of them had died amid the passing years, and none had attempted to unleash an upheaval to prolong his life.

"Daoist Yuangeng, might you be willing to take command of the Underworld?" Seated high above in the towering hall, the Corpse Emperor suddenly spoke.