Houtu, Sovereign Earth Goddess Who Upholds Heaven and Follows Its Laws

"Where did this hothead come from..."

This was the first reaction of Guiling and Jinling upon seeing Yang Jian.

Then...

"This Law Power..."

"It seems to be the Chan Sect..."

"Looks like the hothead from my second uncle's family?"

Guiling and Jinling once again simultaneously recognized the source of Yang Jian's Law Power Divine Ability.

And so, doubts arose in my heart once again...

The Chan Sect... Has the Sage Yuanshi accepted new disciples again?

I've never heard of that!

Then...

"Could it be a third-generation disciple of the Chan Sect?"

In just a few breaths, thanks to Yang Jian's Law Power Divine Ability and some subtle intelligence...

Guiling and Jinling had already guessed Yang Jian's background and origins with great accuracy.

Then...

"Is that hothead your junior apprentice?" Guiling gave Jinling a look.

"I know," Jinling replied with a glance.

"Should we take action to capture him, lest your hotheaded junior nephew continue to offend the Underworld?" The information in the Guiling's eyes grew increasingly complex.

After receiving Guiling's look, Jinling hesitated for a moment before preparing to return the look in rejection.

If those people there were her disciples from the Jie Sect, she would definitely attack them without hesitation.

But the Chan Sect...

Let's forget about it!

Although the Jie Sect and the Chan Sect both belong to the Mysterious Gate Daoist school), their relationship is not very good.

She'd be overjoyed if the people of the Chan Sect were suffering! Why would she risk her own life to help them?

However... before she could even reply with her eyes.

Another pair of eyes appeared before them. How to describe these eyes? Sacred, compassionate, and perfectly beautiful, they seemed to be filled with all the beauty of the Primordial World.

Besides these, the moment they saw those eyes, both Jinling and Guiling simultaneously saw a meaning reflected in them.

Although... they didn't share the same unspoken understanding with the owner of those eyes, they instantly grasped the meaning behind those gazes.

"No need to intervene... A Daluo Golden Immortal is manageable for my Underworld."

"???"

Even Guiling, with his wildly imaginative mind, was momentarily stunned.

What's going on... When did they join the Underworld faction?

However, before they could even think of rebutting,

The owner of those eyes tore through the void and stepped out.

Guiling and Jinling stood there dumbfounded, staring at the void rift before them.

What did they see beyond the void rift?

A holy being!

They saw a compassionate goddess watching over them.

From the other side of the void, they watched over them.

The starry river swirled, and that enormous body hovered in the void. Whether it was tens of thousands of miles or hundreds of thousands of miles... without a point of reference, they couldn't tell.

However, just by gazing at the figure opposite them, they could feel an indescribable aura, a terrifying divine power that seemed capable of supporting the entire world.

They simply watched silently, as if the Guiling and the Jinling were no longer able to think, until the void rift slowly disappeared.

They finally came to their senses.

"Sage..."

"It is the Sage Pingxin..."

The two women, regaining their senses, changed their expressions slightly. Without the slightest doubt, they immediately confirmed the identity of the compassionate goddess.

Then...

Only then did they see the figure emerge from the void rift.

She was also the owner of those sacred eyes they had seen before.

Just like the eyes they saw, this holy being exuded an aura of boundless compassion and holiness.

As soon as the deity appeared, he immediately bowed and greeted the person, bowing slightly and speaking softly.

"Fellow Daoists, I am the administrator of the Heavenly Court Underworld the Underworld during this era, acting in accordance with the rites of the Houtu Sovereign Houtu!"

The voice, like the sacred aura, was gentle and refined, filled with endless beauty.

Only...

Upon hearing the name uttered by this compassionate and holy being, both the Guiling and the Jinling were stunned.

Following the example of Heaven Houtu Goddess?

Houtu?

Isn't that the Sage Pingxin?

It was as if they could see through what the Guiling and the Jinling were thinking.

Following the example of Heaven, the Houtu Goddess Houtu continued in a gentle voice, "Fellow Daoists, Houtu is just Houtu, not the Sage Pingxin."

"Understood! Understood..."

The Heaven-Supporting Black Tortoise and the Dipper Mother of the Kan Palace nodded in agreement, without a trace of ulterior motive.

"This humble Guiling."

"This humble Daoist Jinling."

Greetings, Fellow Houtu!

Guiling and Jinling bowed slightly and said...

"Greetings, Fellow Guiling; greetings, Fellow Jinling."

Houtu returned the greeting with a bow.

"Houtu... Fellow Daoist, I don't know what's wrong with them..."

Jinling then changed the subject, pointing to the Three Xiaos of Sanxiao and the Big Ghost who were no longer moving, and asked.

"They're fine," Houtu explained Houtu. "The problem lies with us, with our current state..."

"I presume you two fellow cultivators also saw Lady Pingxin on the other side of the void rift just now!"

Guiling and Jinling nodded, their expressions calm, showing no sign of being disturbed by Houtu's mention of Pingxin mind.

"When the Lady Pingxin from the Underworld sent me here, she opened that void rift a little too quickly, exceeding the observation speed of Daluo Golden Immortal."

"As Quasi-Sage, you two are naturally able to see clearly, but only by pushing your Primordial Spirit to its limit can you see clearly, so..."

Houtu explained gently.

Both the Guiling and the Jinling nodded in understanding.

Simply put... when they saw the void rift, they were drawn to the Sage Pingxin on the other side and unconsciously pushed their primordial Primordial Spirit to their limits.

Although they appear perfectly normal at this moment, their own time is moving much faster than that of the outside world.

Even ordinary Daluo Golden Immortal couldn't keep up with their pace at this moment.

This is the difference between Quasi-Sage and Daluo Golden Immortal under normal circumstances.

But...

At this moment, Guiling and Jinling were reflecting on another kind of gap—the gap between them and the Sage.

Compared to the gap between Quasi-Sage and Daluo, the gap between Sage and Quasi-Sage is truly an insurmountable chasm.

The Sage Pingxin only made a brief appearance, yet they were unconsciously captivated by him, and even now, though they seem to have regained their senses...

But in reality, not even realizing that one's own Primordial Spirit has reached its limit—what kind of clarity is that...?

"This is the power of Sage!"

Guiling and Jinling uttered their sighs simultaneously.

"Fellow Daoists, there's no need to be discouraged... It's normal for Sage to be inferior to us, and it is precisely because of this difference that we need to strive to catch up."

"I observe that both of you fellow Daoists possess the potential to attain enlightenment, and in the near future you will surely stand on equal footing, discussing Dao and becoming friends with Lady Pingxin."

Even when Houtu was encouraging and cheering on Guiling and Jinling, she maintained a gentle demeanor.

"Houtu Daoist Houtu is too kind."

The Guiling and the Jinling waved their hands repeatedly, as if they dared not accept Houtu's words.

In this Netherworld Underworld, right under the nose of Lady Pingxin, he declared that he was destined to become a saint and would stand on equal footing with her.

Even if you're confident in yourself, you obviously shouldn't be so high-profile about this.

Then Houtu did not insist, but simply smiled as she looked at Jinling and Guiling. She was not joking when she said that.

It was a genuine compliment.

The two before her were truly seeds of enlightenment.

"Houtu Daoist Houtu, may I ask what instructions Lady Pingxin has given you in sending me here?" Guiling changed the subject and asked.

"It's not really an order. I've come here to convey the decree of Lady Pingxin to Fellow Guiling," Houtu said, shaking her head slightly before turning to Guiling.

"Houtu Daoist Houtu, please speak," the Guiling said softly.

"Lady Pingxin said that Fellow Guiling's master, Changsheng, has prepared a fortuitous opportunity for you deep within the Underworld."

"According to her agreement with Changsheng, Guiling was supposed to undergo numerous trials before obtaining that fortuitous opportunity."

"But now... as long as Guiling is willing to take action and capture the person behind that Daluo Immortal."

"The Lady Pingxin has promised to send you directly to the place of fortuitous opportunity to take it. Are you willing to lend a fortuitous opportunity, fellow Daoist?" Houtu said to Guiling with a gentle expression.

Upon hearing Houtu's words, Guiling shook his head without hesitation.

"Houtu Daoist Houtu, I refuse."

"Oh! Why did you refuse, fellow Daoist?"

Houtu looked at Guiling with slight surprise.

Not only Houtu, but Jinling, who was standing to the side, also looked at Guiling with some confusion.

Although she didn't know who the person behind Yang Jian was that Houtu, she figured there were only a few people in the Chan Sect.

Even if they were all here, they probably wouldn't be a match for the Guiling.

In this way, one can skip some seemingly troublesome tests and also incidentally form a good relationship with the Sage Pingxin.

Guiling shouldn't be unable to understand such a good thing.

"Although I do not know what trials await me along the way, since these trials were left by my master, they must have been designed with his consideration in mind."

Guiling said in a deep voice.

"Of course, if you don't mind, I can also take action and capture the person behind that Daluo Immortal, but I will absolutely not skip those trials."

Upon hearing this,

Jinling, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but feel a stirring in her heart.

Although she had known for a long time that her younger sister held her master in high esteem.

But she never expected that the respect would reach such an extent.

Putting himself in the shoes of the Guiling and his master, Jinling felt that if he and the Cult Master Tongtian were placed in their positions...

She... will probably make a different choice.

Jinling fell silent for a moment.

Of course, this does not mean that she did not respect her teacher, nor does it suggest that one choice was more correct.

Only...

Deep down, Jinling couldn't help but yearn for and envy this kind of relationship based on mutual trust.

"Guiling Daoist Guiling, won't you reconsider?" Houtu asked softly.

Guiling firmly shook his head. "No need."

After a brief silence, Houtu spoke softly, "I see! I understand! The relationship between Guiling and Changsheng is truly enviable."

"I'm sorry, I've failed to Lady Pingxin's good intentions," Guiling said apologetically.

"Guiling Daoist Guiling, there's no need to apologize. This was originally your choice, but..." Houtu paused slightly before continuing.

"Fellow Daoist, you have misunderstood something."

"The fortuitous opportunity that Changsheng left for Guiling Daoist Guiling didn't leave any trials."

"The trials I spoke of along the way are merely trials you face on your journey to the depths of the Underworld!"

The moment Houtu finished speaking.

The Guiling's originally majestic and righteous expression suddenly froze, and his gaze toward Houtu stiffened, followed by a brief silence.

"Houtu Daoist Houtu... can I choose again?" the Guiling asked softly.

"No way!" A bright smile immediately appeared on Houtu's face, and then she raised her hand and made a gesture in the air in front of her.

It directly tore open a rift in the void, and on the other side of the rift were several hidden Daoists.

Judging from its environment, it is clearly still in the Netherworld Underworld.

Moreover, this suddenly appearing void rift has also been discovered.

"Guiling Daoist Guiling, Jinling Daoist Jinling, I must take my leave now to attend to matters Underworld."

Having said that, without waiting for Guiling and Jinling to react, he took a step and passed directly through the void rift, appearing in front of the several Daoists over there.

The void rift also quietly and swiftly returned to its original state.

Seeing the somewhat dazed Guiling, Jinling couldn't help but sigh, but didn't pay too much attention to it.

Given Guiling's temperament, this level of blow is nothing to him.

The reason things are like this now is simply because the Primordial Spirit is operating at its limit, not because it is truly unacceptable.

Once the effects of the Sage Pingxin have subsided, the Guiling will be back to being the same Guiling.

Now, Jinling activated his Divine Ability, looking at the other end of the void rift that Houtu had torn open earlier.

Although she had only glanced at them, she recognized all the Daoist priests on the other side of the void rift.

True Person Taiyi, Yuding True Person, and Huanglong True Person.

They are all followers of the Chan Sect.