As Xiao Ping'an saw it, the Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure had indeed evolved into an Immortal Artifact, but it was not as powerful as he had imagined. He could handle it easily.
"Hmph! With the Netherworld Venerable away, Emperor Venerable actually sent you here to plant his people among us. It would be one thing if you just minded your own business, but you dare point fingers at me?" The Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure glittered as it expressed its displeasure and anger.
Xiao Ping'an looked at the weapon deity, who resembled a fat Daoist, and waved his hand, forcibly yanking him straight out.
He clutched the deity by the neck, nearly squeezing him to death.
It was not that Xiao Ping'an refused to show the Netherworld Venerable respect, but that this weapon deity refused to show Xiao Ping'an respect.
Sensing that Xiao Ping'an was truly angry and was nearly squeezing him to death, the weapon deity immediately backed down.
Looking terrified, he said, "Overlord Heavenly Venerable, stop! We can talk this over. The Netherworld Venerable is your closest friend. This old man spoke out of turn."
Looking at the weapon deity acting like such a clown, Xiao Ping'an could not help thinking of Duan De in later generations. Their personalities really were exactly alike.
Xiao Ping'an tossed the weapon deity back, and he immediately hid inside the Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure, which resembled a turtle shell.
He whispered, "This Overlord Heavenly Venerable is actually stronger than Emperor Venerable. When Emperor Venerable came to seek an audience with the Netherworld Venerable back then, I beat his teeth out and sent him scrambling across the floor for them. Once he transformed and lived a new lifetime, even I was no match for him."
"I never expected Overlord Heavenly Venerable to be even stronger than Emperor Venerable. Now Emperor Venerable is playing at being Lord of the Heavenly Court. There'll be a good show to watch."
At that, the Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure let out a sinister chuckle.
"Overlord Heavenly Venerable, I cultivate here in the Underworld's Fire Domain. I don't leave it even once in many years, and I never meddle in the Underworld's affairs. May I ask what brings you here?" The Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure had returned to normal, and his speech was normal again too.
The weapon deities of other people's Extreme Dao Weapons generally took no interest in anything and slept all the time.
The weapon deity of the Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure was probably much the same.
It was just that he acted like a clown from time to time, which Xiao Ping'an found somewhat amusing.
"I didn't come to you for anything else. I wanted to see the immortal dao runes on you," Xiao Ping'an said.
"Is that so?"
The Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure immediately became smug, flashing with dark light as it turned gently in place.
"Although you're stronger than me, I really have become an Immortal Artifact, while you haven't become an immortal yet," the Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure said smugly. "I can have a virtually endless life in this world, but you can only cut yourself down like a Dark Supreme. Sooner or later, you'll have to become a Dark Supreme too if you want to keep living."
Xiao Ping'an looked at the smug Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure and wondered why it was acting like such a fool.
The Netherworld Venerable was also walking the Red Dust Immortal Path. Surely he had told the Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure's weapon deity about it?
Surely he was also secretly protecting the Netherworld Venerable as he transformed?
By now, the Netherworld Venerable had probably died and come back to life several times. Xiao Ping'an did not know how many Reincarnation Seals he had formed.
Since the Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure knew that the Netherworld Venerable was also exploring the Red Dust Immortal Path, could it be playing dumb?
Xiao Ping'an reached out with his great hand again and seized the Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure.
Countless immortal dao runes immediately flashed across the Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure, enveloping its body as it tried to break free of Xiao Ping'an's grip.
With Xiao Ping'an's current strength, wasn't suppressing the Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure simple? He had already suppressed it once. What was stopping him from doing it again?
No matter how the Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure struggled, it could not escape Xiao Ping'an's grip.
Xiao Ping'an snorted coldly. "Don't think I don't know that the Netherworld Venerable has been walking the Red Dust Immortal Path, seeking Red Dust Immortal Ascension. You're playing dumb with me."
"I too will walk the Red Dust Immortal Path like the Netherworld Venerable. I too will transform and live on, lifetime after lifetime. I'll achieve Red Dust Immortal Ascension before he does."
"Now shut your mouth and behave. I'm going to study the immortal dao runes on you," Xiao Ping'an shouted.
Once again restrained by Xiao Ping'an, the Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure finally learned to behave. Without another word, he silently manifested the immortal dao runes on the treasure for Xiao Ping'an to study.
The Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure was crystalline and radiant, yet black as ink. Immortal dao runes flowed across its surface like a tide, and the presence of the immortal dao filled the air.
"Overlord Heavenly Venerable..."
The Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure suddenly lost his nerve again.
Under the pressure of Xiao Ping'an's overwhelmingly domineering presence, he trembled with fear, terrified that he might displease Xiao Ping'an again and be smashed apart on the spot.
Although it was an Immortal Artifact, it really did not amount to much before Xiao Ping'an.
If Xiao Ping'an were truly determined to destroy him, it might take a long time to smash his true body, but destroying his weapon deity would be easy.
So he no longer dared to test Xiao Ping'an's limits.
He obediently displayed the immortal dao runes on himself for Xiao Ping'an to study.
By now, the Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure had become a symbol of the Underworld, representing its supreme deterrent power as well as the Netherworld Venerable himself.
If Xiao Ping'an really destroyed it, he would most likely exchange a smile with the Netherworld Venerable, wipe away their grievances with that smile, and then forge another one together.
So the weapon deity really did not dare take that gamble.
Though it was the weapon with which the Netherworld Venerable had attained the Dao, given his bizarre personality, it was entirely possible that he would smash it and give it away.
In particular, when Xiao Ping'an's terrifying gaze swept over the Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure, the weapon deity felt as though his soul were about to split apart and collapse.
The Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure said in a faint voice, "Nether Treasure was arrogant and ignorant and offended Overlord Heavenly Venerable. Please forgive me, Heavenly Venerable."
The inky-black treasure wheel trembled gently, begging Xiao Ping'an for mercy.
Xiao Ping'an said:
"I am now the master of the Underworld. Even if you're an Immortal Artifact, you must know your place."
"Although Emperor Venerable said I was to take charge of the Underworld temporarily, in my heart, I've already come to regard it as my own territory. I want everything to be under my control."
"Of course, if the Netherworld Venerable returns one day, this place will still belong to him. My base is on the Tyrant Body Ancestral Star."
"I don't like the atmosphere here, and I won't stay here for long. I am, however, very interested in the countless skeletons and corpses here."
"Although I am the master of the Underworld, I don't intend to interfere in your affairs. You may sleep and comprehend the Dao here as you please. If the Netherworld Venerable summons you one day, you may leave."
"Since the Netherworld Venerable left you here, he must have wanted you to guard this Netherworld Soil too."
"Not every expert is as easy to talk to as I am. You'd better conduct yourself accordingly," Xiao Ping'an said solemnly.
After Xiao Ping'an's scolding, the Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure was utterly convinced.
The current master of the Underworld was Xiao Ping'an, no longer the Netherworld Venerable.
The Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure could no longer put on the airs of the master of the Underworld.
In the past, the Netherworld Venerable and the Underworld had stood high above all others. As their symbol, the Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure had thrown its weight around and held sway over its domain.
Now, faced with the even more powerful Overlord Heavenly Venerable, the Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure quickly gave in.
With that thought, the Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure transformed into a plump middle-aged Daoist, the very image of the Netherworld Venerable.
He waved his hand, made copies of the endless immortal dao runes, and presented them to Overlord Heavenly Venerable.
He bowed respectfully to Xiao Ping'an. "Overlord Heavenly Venerable is right. It seems I'll have to be careful of my words and actions from now on."
Xiao Ping'an nodded. The Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure looked exactly like the Netherworld Venerable he had met back then.
Back then, the Netherworld Venerable had shared his scriptures with Xiao Ping'an, and the two had discussed mysteries and debated the Dao for many days. They could be said to have been on good terms.
Now, Xiao Ping'an did not know where the Netherworld Venerable had hidden himself away to transform.
Come to think of it, Xiao Ping'an missed him somewhat. After all, at Xiao Ping'an's level of cultivation, it was truly difficult to find a friend he could talk to.
The relatives and friends from those days had either died or regarded him with awe, their eyes full of worship and respect. He could no longer converse with them as he would with close friends.
The Heaven-Penetrating Nether Treasure then reached toward the earth and seized the little flame tree and the little flame bird.
He respectfully presented them to Xiao Ping'an.
"These are the Fire Domain's most essential parts. Heavenly Venerable, you may study them carefully."
Xiao Ping'an looked at the little flame tree and the little flame bird. They were indeed wondrous and mysterious enough, and extremely powerful.
In the original story, Gai Jiuyou had used it to fight a Dark Supreme to the death, killing him.
After studying them for a while, however, he put the flame and the little flame bird back where they had been.
With his current strength, studying these things for a while was enough. This was not his great Dao.
In the days that followed, Xiao Ping'an sat cross-legged in the Yellow Springs, carefully studying a way to live out a fourth lifetime.
He had originally planned to accumulate longevity essence and nurture an Immortal Fetus to live out his third lifetime. Unexpectedly, he had encountered many upheavals and narrowly escaped death, only managing with great difficulty to live that third lifetime.
So, as he continued accumulating longevity essence, Xiao Ping'an also studied a way to live out his fourth lifetime in the Yellow Springs.
This time, he intended to make two sets of preparations. He absolutely could not repeat what had happened last time.
Last time, he had been brimming with confidence and far too conceited.
He had nearly died because he had made too few preparations.
He was not a reckless person; he had always been careful and cautious.
The years flew like a shuttle, and time slipped away.
For an expert like Xiao Ping'an, time passed all too quickly when he cultivated and comprehended the Dao.
Xiao Ping'an sat cross-legged there, steadily studying the secret of living a new lifetime in the Yellow Springs.
At the same time, Xiao Ping'an noticed that after the Corpse Emperor's corpse had devoured countless mysterious substances in the waters of the Yellow Springs, the vitality within its body had grown increasingly vigorous, surpassing the death Qi within it.
He had truly returned from the dead.
Beside him, Yongsheng also watched with wide eyes, carefully observing how it formed a Reincarnation Seal and how a new soul was born.
Sure enough, not long afterward, before their astonished eyes, they clearly saw an incomparably sacred halo suddenly appear within the corpse. It was the legendary Reincarnation Seal.
The path of the Nine-Lifetime Reincarnation Seal seemed to take an extremely long time, but it was actually the surest of the Red Dust Immortal Paths.
It was also the path Xiao Ping'an most hoped Yongsheng would take.
For even as he underwent nine lifetime transformations himself, he was not sure whether he could make it to the end.
As long as Yongsheng remained alive, he could return once more.
It could be said that Yongsheng was both an independent individual and Xiao Ping'an's hope of resurrection after death.
They watched with their own eyes as the Corpse Emperor's corpse gained sentience. If nothing unexpected happened, he would surely attain the Dao and become an emperor in the future.
The Corpse Emperor stepped out of the Yellow Springs River. Looking at Xiao Ping'an and Yongsheng, who resembled ordinary people, he instinctively felt that the two were far from ordinary.
He bowed respectfully to them. "Seniors, may I ask where this is, and who I am?"
Yongsheng laughed aloud. "You don't need to know who you are, because you're about to die."
As Yongsheng spoke, he seized the Corpse Emperor and snapped his neck with a crack. Then he devoured the origin within his body.
The Corpse Emperor, who would later have been renowned far and wide, died just like that at Yongsheng's hands.
Xiao Ping'an glanced at the corpse in disgust. "Hurry up and get rid of him."
Yongsheng opened his great mouth and swallowed the Corpse Emperor, leaving not a scrap behind.
Before, Yongsheng had used the Great Dao Treasure Bottle to devour things. Now he seemed to have come around.
He simply opened his great mouth and swallowed whatever corpses he found, thoroughly extracting their origins and refining their bones to ash, eating them without leaving a scrap.
One day, Xiao Ping'an suddenly received a message from Emperor Venerable.
It turned out that Emperor Venerable had discovered the world formed from Lingbao Heavenly Venerable's corpse. No, it should not be called a world formed from his corpse, but one formed from his head: the so-called Heavenly Soldier Ancient Star.
Emperor Venerable invited Xiao Ping'an to come and see for himself, so they could determine together whether Lingbao Heavenly Venerable was truly dead or whether this was merely an old body he had shed.
Xiao Ping'an was also very interested in the matter.
When he had read the original story, Ye Fan had entered the world formed from Lingbao Heavenly Venerable's body and sensed that Lingbao Heavenly Venerable had lived several lifetimes. That was further evidence of Lingbao Heavenly Venerable's strength.
Judging from the fact that he had lived several lifetimes, Lingbao Heavenly Venerable back then might not even have been weaker than Emperor Venerable.
Unfortunately, he had fallen at some unknown point while transforming into another lifetime.
Nor had he managed to discover and enter the Strange World.
He had left behind only legends of how he had suppressed corpse calamities, and the world formed from his corpse, a sight to inspire regret.
Xiao Ping'an also wanted very much to know whether Lingbao Heavenly Venerable was dead now.
Xiao Ping'an soon met Emperor Venerable, and was also surprised to see Longevity Heavenly Venerable.
Longevity Heavenly Venerable was dressed as a Daoist, wearing a purple-gold crown and purple Daoist robes. His long hair fell over his shoulders, and in his eyes, the sun, moon, and stars revolved as universes were born and destroyed.
Longevity Heavenly Venerable had visited Xiao Ping'an at his grand wedding and had also exchanged fruits of Immortal Divine Medicines with him, so they could be considered acquaintances.
Clearly, Emperor Venerable had already invited Longevity Heavenly Venerable out of seclusion.
After sensing Xiao Ping'an's immensely powerful presence, Longevity Heavenly Venerable bowed to him. "Overlord Heavenly Venerable, long time no see. You look even younger. Congratulations, fellow Daoist, on living a new lifetime!"
Longevity Heavenly Venerable was a being who had lived a very long time. Back when he had perished together with the Great Accomplishment Sacred Body on the Big Dipper's Road to Immortality, he had still been wondering aloud whether he was the longest-lived being.
At the time, Xiao Ping'an had really wanted to ask him: Are you blind? Netherworld Venerable Duan De has been wandering around this world so many times. Were you too blind to see him?
Now, Xiao Ping'an certainly could not ask that.
Since Longevity Heavenly Venerable was deliberately cultivating good relations with Xiao Ping'an, the two could be considered friends now, perhaps.
It seemed Emperor Venerable had invited not only him, but also Longevity Heavenly Venerable, to explore Lingbao Heavenly Venerable's corpse, or remains, and see whether he still had any hope of living a new lifetime.
Xiao Ping'an also returned the greeting politely. "Longevity Heavenly Venerable, how have you been?"