The speed of this bloated, rosy-faced fat Daoist was truly astonishing.
He looked like a bouncing ball, yet his movements were nimble, and his speed surpassed that of light.
Xiao Ping'an chased close on his heels. After pursuing him through the starry sky and around the Cosmic Frontier, he returned to Earth.
"Which Heavenly Venerable are you?" Xiao Ping'an asked.
The rosy-faced fat Daoist looked at Xiao Ping'an and sat down on a large bluestone.
Xiao Ping'an found a large bluestone of his own and sat down opposite him.
"Are you the Netherworld Venerable, the legendary founder of the Underworld?" Xiao Ping'an asked.
"That's right. I am the Netherworld Venerable. Some also call me the Netherworld Emperor," the Netherworld Venerable said.
The Netherworld Venerable really had not died. He was still alive.
At this point, he had not yet fallen into slumber.
Xiao Ping'an did not know which reincarnation the Netherworld Venerable was on now.
"Overlord Heavenly Venerable, you truly are powerful. You avenged your parents and flattened the Beast God Mountain Forbidden Zone."
"You soundly defeated Carefree Heavenly Venerate, and your strength has shaken all ages," the Netherworld Venerable said.
Xiao Ping'an had sought out the Netherworld Venerable to discuss the method of reincarnating through nine lifetimes and to learn the Source Heaven Great Dao.
Yes, this old fellow, the Netherworld Venerable, had not only created the cultivation methods and secret arts of the Underworld's Netherworld Emperor lineage. He had also created the Source Heaven Great Dao, cultivated it to become the Source Emperor, and worked with Emperor Venerable to complete the Ninety-Nine Dragon Mountains.
Everyone knew that Emperor Venerable had used the terrain there to refine the Immortal Ascension Cauldron, an immortal artifact.
But everyone had overlooked something: while refining the Immortal Ascension Cauldron with Emperor Venerable, the Netherworld Venerable had also reforged the Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure.
Although the Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure had not immediately become an immortal artifact like the Immortal Ascension Cauldron for various reasons, it too had become a true immortal artifact after the passage of countless years.
In other words, the Immortal Ascension Pool in the Ninety-Nine Dragon Mountains of the Kunlun Secret Realm had very likely nurtured two immortal artifacts: the Immortal Ascension Cauldron and the Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure.
To tell the truth, Xiao Ping'an was envious. He hoped his Tyrant Bell could seize the opportunity to become an immortal artifact as well.
The Kunlun Secret Realm had not yet been conquered by Emperor Venerable. The Kunlun Immortal Clan occupied it.
They possessed not only the Extreme Dao Weapons of Huashe and Zhulong, but also a weapon like the Kunlun Immortal Bell.
Where was the Desolate Pagoda at this time? Xiao Ping'an did not know either.
"You were watching me from afar. Was there something you wanted to say to me?" Xiao Ping'an asked.
"Heavenly Venerable, you have already reached this point, and your strength is boundless. What advice could this old man possibly offer you?" the fat man said with a smile.
"I have studied physiognomy extensively. Your facial features are quite peculiar, Overlord Heavenly Venerable. I merely wanted to see them for myself," the fat man said with a smile.
"Oh? Is there something wrong with my face?" Xiao Ping'an asked.
"Heaven's secrets must not be revealed." The fat man smiled mysteriously, then shook his head.
Xiao Ping'an did not press him. He said to the fat man, "I would like to ask you about the Source Heaven Great Dao and your deductions concerning the Nine-Lifetime Red Dust Immortal Method. I would also like to know about the cultivation methods and secret arts of the Underworld lineage, so I can study them."
The fat man was speechless for a moment, then laughed. This Overlord Heavenly Venerable wanted far too much. He practically wanted to clean out everything the fat man had.
Xiao Ping'an then spoke with the fat man at length about longevity, deductions concerning Red Dust Immortals, and research into the various great Daos.
The Netherworld Venerable generously expounded upon his great Dao, which came as something of a surprise to Xiao Ping'an.
The Netherworld Venerable had founded the Underworld and brought life forth from death. His strength was indeed formidable, and his imagination was astonishing.
Although he was somewhat disappointing in later ages, at this time, the Netherworld Venerable truly was powerful.
Moreover, he had studied a great many things, and his studies were formidable.
Xiao Ping'an discussed the methods of longevity with him, and they got along quite well.
The Netherworld Venerable of this era was not the rather comical fat man of Ye Fan's time. He truly possessed the majesty of an ancient Heavenly Venerable.
"According to my deductions, I will bury my corpse, and at intervals, a new soul will be born within it."
"Perhaps one day I will reappear in the world. Or perhaps I will slumber forever."
The Netherworld Venerable spoke to Xiao Ping'an with great seriousness and solemnity.
Ordinarily, he would not have told anyone such an important secret, not even Emperor Venerable.
But he felt that he and Xiao Ping'an had hit it off, so he generously regarded him as a kindred spirit.
After discussing the mysteries and the Dao for several hundred years, the Netherworld Venerable gave Xiao Ping'an a long look and said, "Take care, fellow Daoist. I hope that one day we can drink and make merry together again."
Xiao Ping'an nodded, bid the Netherworld Venerable farewell, and returned to the Tyrant Body Ancestral Star.
From the Netherworld Venerable, Xiao Ping'an obtained the Source Heaven Great Dao he wanted, as well as a method of deducing how to form the Nine-Lifetime Reincarnation Seal.
Others might not know it, but Xiao Ping'an knew the value of the Netherworld Venerable's cultivation methods and secret arts.
For he knew that the Nine-Lifetime Reincarnation Seal was indeed a path that led to success.
Not only had the Netherworld Venerable successfully walked this path, but Daode Heavenly Venerable, Amitabha Great Emperor, Emperor Hengyu, and Void Emperor had also set foot on it.
It was just that they had fallen before they could walk the entire path. It was truly a pity.
Even in the lifetime when they were Laozi and Buddha Ancestor, they had entered the Immortal Domain with half their bodies, but later there had been no word of them at all. No one knew whether they had become Red Dust Immortals, and by the Sacred Ruins era, there was no sign of them at all.
It seemed that the Netherworld Venerable was the only one in the entire world who had succeeded in merging the Nine-Lifetime Reincarnation Seals.
Xiao Ping'an knew that merging the Nine-Lifetime Reincarnation Seals was the right path, one that could indeed be walked to its end.
Although he did not intend to walk it himself, he planned to pass the method of merging the Nine-Lifetime Reincarnation Seals to his faith body.
He might have no use for it himself, but his faith body might.
As for the Source Heaven Great Dao, Xiao Ping'an knew that once one had thoroughly mastered the Dao of formations, one could also use formations to live a new lifetime.
Both Desolate Heavenly Emperor and the Heavenly Emperor Chu of later ages had once used formations or field domains to live a new lifetime.
Thus, Xiao Ping'an also hoped to delve into the Source Heaven Great Dao and use formations to live a new lifetime.
Xiao Ping'an had no enemies in this world, so he did not need to worry about foes coming to his door in his later years.
Besides, his two wives, both Great Accomplishment Sacred Bodies who had achieved Alternative Dao Attainment, were also on the Tyrant Body Ancestral Star. Who would dare come looking for trouble?
Carefree Heavenly Venerate? Xiao Ping'an had already beaten him into submission, and he had long since gone into hiding in the Reincarnation Sea.
For some reason, Xiao Ping'an always felt that Carefree Heavenly Venerate was terribly afraid of him, which left Xiao Ping'an rather baffled.
Xiao Ping'an continued studying the method of becoming a Red Dust Immortal on the Tyrant Body Ancestral Star.
Day by day, he grew old, and his Qi and blood gradually began to weaken.
By the time he was over twenty-three thousand years old, he felt like a hero in the twilight of his life.
Even so, Xiao Ping'an continued striving to stay alive. As he recalled, Ye Fan had seemed to live to twenty-six thousand in his first lifetime, hadn't he?
Though he could not remember the exact number, it should not have been less than twenty-five thousand.
So Xiao Ping'an made that number his goal and strove to live that long. Even though he had already lived more than twenty-three thousand years in his first lifetime, far surpassing an ordinary Supreme, he was still not satisfied. He wanted to keep living.
By now, Xiao Ping'an's hair had turned completely white, and the marks of time had appeared on his face.
When Xiao Ping'an was twenty-four thousand years old, he suddenly received a letter.
He held out his hand, and with a flash of divine light, the letter appeared in it.
It was a letter from the Netherworld Venerable.
"Overlord Heavenly Venerable, I never imagined your life would be so long. You're over twenty-four thousand years old and still haven't died?"
Xiao Ping'an looked at the Netherworld Venerable's letter with a strange expression. Wasn't this the letter Duan De had written to Ye Fan in a later age?
He had not expected the Netherworld Venerable to write him a similar letter in this era.
Could it be that different souls born from the same corpse actually had similar personalities?
"Don't come looking for me. I've already buried myself, and my primordial spirit is exhausted."
"I wrote this letter long ago and set a time for it to be sent automatically."
Judging from the time the letter had been sent, the Netherworld Venerable had died at sixteen thousand years old in this lifetime.
Xiao Ping'an did not know whether he had deliberately understated his age or had really lived only that long.
In any case, he had not taken an Immortal Medicine before this lifetime ended.
As Xiao Ping'an recalled, this fellow was supposed to work with Emperor Venerable again and create the Ninety-Nine Dragon Mountains.
Could it be that the Netherworld Venerable had emerged again later? Or had Emperor Venerable dug him up?
"Whatever you do, don't come looking for me. Although I passed the Source Heaven Great Dao on to you, I also kept a trick up my sleeve. Don't even think about becoming a grave robber."
Xiao Ping'an was somewhat speechless when he read this. Who was like the Netherworld Venerable, digging up graves and robbing tombs whenever he had nothing better to do?
"In another hundred thousand years or so, or perhaps another million, when I appear again, I'll definitely dig up your grave. I hope you'll hide yourself well."
Looking at the letter, whose contents were much the same as the one Duan De had written to Ye Fan in a later age, Xiao Ping'an was somewhat speechless.
Their personalities really were similar. Back then, he had probably put on that air of Heavenly Venerable majesty for a long time, hadn't he?
From then on, hardly anything came to trouble Xiao Ping'an.
He remained in the Heavenly Pillar Mountain Ancient Cave. Aside from discussing the mysteries and the Dao with his two wives from time to time, he never again left Heavenly Pillar Mountain.
Using every method except taking an Immortal Divine Medicine, he held on until he was twenty-six thousand five hundred years old.
That was five hundred years longer than Ye Fan.
By then, his body was as thin as firewood, the essence blood throughout his body had been exhausted, and he had reached the end of his life.
Xiao Ping'an's first lifetime was drawing to a close.
By this time, rumors had already spread in the outside world that Overlord Heavenly Venerable had passed away.
Twenty-six thousand five hundred years truly exceeded the expectations of many people.
Many even believed that Xiao Ping'an had probably taken an Immortal Divine Medicine long ago and could no longer live a new lifetime.
Next, he would either accept death in peace or cut himself down and become a Forbidden Zone Supreme.
Of course, Xiao Ping'an chose neither. He had long since made his own plans.
Divine light flashed in his hand, and two pink, doll-like fruits appeared. They were two fully mature Ginseng Fruits.
As long as he swallowed one, he could live a new lifetime.
Even if he took more afterward, he could not live another new lifetime. Their effects would only grow weaker.
For example, taking a second Immortal Divine Medicine might only let him live an extra thousand years. A third might only give him three or five hundred more. In any case, the effect would grow worse and worse.
A Ginseng Fruit matured every four or five thousand years, and Xiao Ping'an had indeed accumulated a few.
To make his second lifetime longer, Xiao Ping'an planned to take two Ginseng Fruits at once. When more Ginseng Fruits ripened later, he would continue taking them as long as his second lifetime had not ended.
Xiao Ping'an even had another goal: he wanted to surpass Ye Fan, the protagonist of the original story, again.
Ye Fan had lived twenty-six thousand years in his first lifetime, and Xiao Ping'an had succeeded in living five hundred years longer.
In his second lifetime, Ye Fan had taken the Qilin Immortal Elixir and lived twenty-six thousand years.
Xiao Ping'an's goal was to strive to live twenty-eight thousand to thirty thousand years in his second lifetime.
Xiao Ping'an even considered taking more Immortal Divine Medicines of other kinds. He also thought that perhaps he could ask Emperor Venerable for a Nine-Turn Immortal Pill later, which would add another two thousand years to his life.
When the time came, by piecing it all together, he might live beyond thirty thousand years.
In this world without Longevity Substance, as long as one had not cut oneself down, living a long time was almost synonymous with possessing great strength.
Xiao Ping'an simply hoped to make the foundation of his great Dao firmer and more solid, so that he could travel farther along the Red Dust Immortal Path of nine lifetimes.
In the original story, Ye Fan's path to becoming a Red Dust Immortal had only been mentioned briefly, stating what methods he had used to live each new lifetime.
Although there were no specific details, someone at Xiao Ping'an's level had long since known the correct answer.
Working backward from the correct answer to the process was much easier.
Thus, Xiao Ping'an was brimming with confidence that he could complete the Red Dust Immortal Path.
It was not that he was completely certain of success, but that he already had the correct answer in hand.
Of course, there were some difficulties. For example, in the lifetime when he transformed into a Chaos Body, he would certainly need a real Chaos Body as a reference.
But what about that? Wang Bo, the Chaos Body, had already been killed and refined into the five continents of the Big Dipper.
At this time, no one knew what corner Wang Bo, the Chaos Body, was hiding in as he underwent his transformation.
So many Dark Supremes had tried to deduce his whereabouts, yet none had found him.
That suggested he might have been hiding all along in a very strange place, making it impossible to deduce his whereabouts.
Xiao Ping'an had also tried to deduce this man's whereabouts, but the result showed that Wang Bo was actually dead.
This had left Xiao Ping'an deeply shocked.
For the original story had plainly stated that Wang Bo had not died. He had sealed himself in Immortal Source, and only after Ye Fan had killed all the Dark Supremes, flattened all the forbidden zones, and many tens of thousands more years had passed did he quietly emerge and become the Chaos Heavenly Emperor.
Xiao Ping'an comforted himself with the thought that perhaps Wang Bo, the Chaos Body, had not yet completed his transformation.
Of course, Xiao Ping'an also had a theory: Wang Bo, the Chaos Body, was very likely hiding inside the Primordial Ancient Mine.
After searching the entire universe, Xiao Ping'an had been surprised to discover that the Undying Mountain had not yet been found. Even the Primordial Ancient Mine, famous in later ages, had not yet been discovered by those Dark Supremes.
Of these two undiscovered places, Xiao Ping'an felt that if Wang Bo, the Chaos Body with heaven-defying fortune, was hiding in a forbidden zone, he was very likely undergoing his transformation in one of them.
After all, as a Chaos Body, he was the darling of all heaven and earth, even more favored than those Saint Spirits who were Great Perfection Saint Spirits from the moment they were born.
So it was really no surprise that he might discover blessed Grotto-Heavens.