Courting the Nether Realm! A Conspiracy!

Meanwhile, in the Nether Realm, separated from the Beast Realm by an unknown distance...

The sky was as gray as lead, and the earth was as silent as a tomb.

The Nether Realm is devoid of sunlight and has been shrouded in a gray, deathly aura since time immemorial; the aura of Death Dao permeates the heavens and earth, and all things appear grayish-white.

The rivers were gray, the mountains were gray, even the air carried a Decay smell; the threat of death was everywhere.

The heart of the Nether Realm, on the banks of the Nether River.

A colossal river stretches across the entire Nether Realm, its waters as black as ink, with countless ghostly specks of light floating on its surface.

Those were soul flames formed from the aura of Death Dao, each one representing the lingering will of a once-existing being.

The banks of the Nether River are the territory of the Nether River Imperial Clan.

The gray-white palace complex stretches for tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands of miles along the riverbank. Its architectural style is austere and solemn, and the entire structure is made of a special material called "Mingyan" (Nether Rock).

Within the Nether Rock, the aura of Death Dao flowed like blood.

Within the many palace complexes, at its deepest point, lies an altar suspended directly above the Nether River, where two figures sit facing each other.

A figure with earthen yellow skin and faint rock-like patterns on his skin was none other than Returning Earth Dao Venerable of the Peak and Mountain Imperial Clan in the Beast Realm.

The other figure was entirely gray-white, exuding a deathly aura, with a withered face like a walking corpse, but two eerie green flames flickered in its eyes.

This is the Nether Domain Dao Venerable the Nether River Emperor.

He holds the [Nether Domain] position among the four positions of the Death Dao, and is second only to the Nether Emperor himself in the Nether River Imperial Clan.

The two Dao Venerable sat facing each other, their Daoist auras deliberately restrained, yet still slightly distorting the space within the altar.

"The battle between the Beast and Spirit Realms is currently raging. Fellow Earth Dao Tu has come from afar. I have already heard what brings you here."

The voice of the Nether Domain Dao Venerable was hoarse and deep, as if it came from the depths of the earth.

"The Nether Realm is not unaware of what the Spirit Race has done in the Dao Realm."

Returning Earth Dao Venerable nodded slightly and said without any formalities, "Since fellow Daoist from the Nether Domain already knows my purpose, Return to Earth will speak frankly."

"The Spirit Race covets the Treasured Earth Dao Fruit, and our Beast Realm has long been locked in a stalemate with them in the Dao Realm. Now that the war is at a stalemate, the Spirit Race has retreated to its southern defense line, using the Spirit-Draining Grand Array to plunder the life force of all living beings in heaven and earth to nourish the Lingyuan of those ants as they seek their Dao."

"The Emperor already has a plan; the Spirit Race cannot take away the Treasured Earth Dao Fruit."

Upon hearing this, the Nether Domain Dao Venerable was clearly somewhat surprised, and the ghostly green fire jumped slightly. "Since you can't take it away, why did Fellow Earth Dao come to the Nether Realm in the first place?"

Returning Earth Dao Venerable's voice was calm. "The dispute over the Treasured Earth Dao Fruit is merely a visible conflict; the Spirit Race's ambitions extend far beyond just one fruit position."

"The Myriad Spirits Imperial Clan has managed the Spirit Realm for tens of thousands of years, possessing all four stages of the Life Dao; their ambition to seize the Dao Realm is not merely for the Bailu Lingyuan, but to establish a foothold Dao Realm and gradually erode the resources of the surrounding realms."

"Today they devour the Dao Realm, tomorrow they can covet the Nether Realm."

"The day after tomorrow, we will be able to seize power in all four realms. The current state of our clan's emperor may very well be the same as the fate of the Nether Emperor in the future."

The Nether Domain Dao Venerable remained silent for a moment.

While Returning Earth Dao Venerable's words may be exaggerated, the Nether Realm has indeed taken notice of the Spirit Race's expansion in recent years.

In the southern part of the Dao Realm, the Spirit Race has annexed dozens of small and medium-sized races, using the Spirit-Draining Grand Array to plunder the life force of all living beings in the world.

Although the Death Dao in the Nether Realm is incompatible with the Life Dao, it does not mean that the Spirit Race cannot have a say in it.

Moreover, the authority over the Death Dao is already vacant. If the Spirit Race were to try and seize it again, they might have the opportunity to block the authority over the Death Dao in the future.

Returning Earth Dao Venerable continued, "Our clan's emperor has a sincere wish to discuss with the Nether Emperor."

"Fellow Daoist, you also Dao Realm, there is a Returning to Stillness Dao Venerable, who holds the [Returning to Stillness] fruition of the Death Dao and has occupied the Dao Realm for thousands upon thousands of years."

Upon hearing this, the ghostly green flames of the Nether Domain Dao Venerable suddenly shone brightly.

[Returning to Stillness], one of the four stages of the Death Dao.

The Nether River Imperial Clan holds the three major positions of Nether Domain, Deathly Fate, and Yellow Springs, but they do not possess the position of Returning to Stillness, making it difficult to complete the Great Dao.

That Returning to Stillness Dao Venerable attained enlightenment through cultivation by a native cultivator of the Dao Realm, and had no connection whatsoever with the Nether River Imperial Clan; he occupied a unique position, always remaining outside the control of the Nether River Imperial Clan.

The Nether Emperor wanted to complete the four stages of the Death Dao and ascend to the Dao Ancestor, but the Returning to Stillness was the biggest obstacle.

However, Returning to Stillness Dao Venerable was hiding deep within the Dao Realm, and with the tacit protection of the eight native clans of the Dao Realm, the Nether River Imperial Clan's attempts to probe him failed several times.

Now that the Returning Earth Dao Venerable has taken the initiative to bring up this matter, he wants to win over the Nether Realm to jointly resist the Spirit Race, thereby drawing the Nether Realm into the game and invading the Dao Realm in order to seek the status of Returning to Stillness.

"What does the Emperor mean?"

"The Spirit Race's forces in the southern part of the Dao Realm have forced the eight native clans of the Dao Realm to retreat to the east and west; Returning to Stillness Dao Venerable is certainly in a bad situation now."

Returning Earth Dao Venerable smiled slightly, "Our Beast Realm is willing to join forces with the Nether Realm to seize the opportunity to take down Returning to Stillness Dao Venerable while the Dao Realm is besieging the Spirit Race."

"After this is accomplished, our two realms will join forces to kill Returning to Stillness Dao Venerable and seize his position to aid the Nether River Imperial Clan."

"The Underworld Emperor has completed the four fruit positions and become the Dao Ancestor of the Death Path. Our Beast Realm is delighted to see this happen."

"Furthermore, if the Nether Emperor becomes Dao Ancestor today, we might need his help in the future to jointly attack the Spirit Realm Nether Emperor forcefully kill Gen Earth!"

Upon hearing this, the Nether Domain Dao Venerable remained silent for a long time.

Within the altar, the aura of the Death Dao and the aura of the Earth Dao slowly intertwined, the two completely different Dao auras colliding in the void to generate a faint chaotic aura.

"This is a matter I cannot decide."

"We need to consult the Nether Emperor."

Returning Earth Dao Venerable nodded, knowing that this meant tacit approval.

If the Nether Domain Dao Venerable were truly uninterested, he wouldn't have bothered to ask the Emperor for permission; he would have simply refused outright...

The fact that they were willing to report it indicates that the attitude of the Nether River Imperial Clan has already wavered.

The allure of Returning to Stillness is too great.

To complete the four stages of enlightenment and achieve the status of Dao Ancestor has been the obsession of the Nether River Imperial Clan for tens of thousands, and even more than a hundred thousand years...

Returning Earth Dao Venerable stood up, his Earth Dao aura subdued, and slightly cupped his hands. "Return to Earth will await the Nether Emperor's reply here."

"No rush, we can take our time to consider it."

"After all, the show with the Spirit Race isn't over yet."

In the eyes of the Nether Domain Dao Venerable, the eerie green ghost fire flickered slightly. His withered face remained expressionless, yet he nodded slightly.

Returning Earth Dao Venerable turned and vanished, turning into a phantom image, awaiting the response from the Nether River Imperial Clan.