Simulation becomes reality, have I ever looked down upon the eternity?

Chapter 543 Winning Over the Emperor of the Three Corpses Reincarnation and Longevity!

The eight-armed monster's face was filled with terror, his eyes wide open in disbelief.

[The Emperor casually picked up a fallen talisman, held it between two fingers, and blew on it lightly; the talisman spontaneously combusted without fire.]

"Where in this world is the White Dragon Cave? And where has the 'Yellow Springs Corpse Control Scripture' ever existed?"

"The technique you've learned, which claims to resurrect the ancients and make them work for you, is in reality nothing more than a sacrificial art that exchanges your own spirit for their soul."

A smile appeared on his flawless face. "I should thank you."

The Emperor greedily inhaled a breath, "bringing me back to the mortal realm."

[Within the mysterious gate, chains suddenly shot out and tightly bound the eight-armed monster.]

The eight-armed monster roared repeatedly, "What...what did you do? What have you done?!"

He tried to break free of the unbreakable chains, crying out in panic, "I was the sacrifice you offered to me! Why are you arresting me?"

A voice drifted from behind the door: "I already warned you once."

"Furthermore, Lord Dixiang is a distinguished guest of our Gui Kingdom."

The eight-armed monster, in utter terror, was dragged through the crimson, eerie door. His eyes were filled with panic as he saw a series of sinister figures staring intently at him from behind it.

The middle-aged man bowed respectfully to the vermilion-colored, mysterious gate: "Many thanks for your help, Great Lord."

"Lord Dixiang, do not forget the pact with the Ghost Kingdom."

The middle-aged man smiled slightly: "That's natural."

The vermilion gate closed once again.

Only the Emperor's Hometown, the Demon Lord of the Common People, and the three of you remain present.

From beginning to end, the Demon Lord of All Living Beings showed no reaction whatsoever to his disciple being pulled into the Demonic Sect, acting as if he were merely a spectator.

[The Emperor turned around, looked at you, and then his gaze fell on the Demon Lord of All Living Beings.]

"You are indeed the Lord of the Demonic Path in this world. You are extraordinary, far more powerful than the Netherworld."

The Demon Lord of All Living Beings twitched his brow slightly, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes: "You actually know the Netherworld Sect Master?"

"We've only met a few times, and you're his disciple?"

"No, it was my master who killed Youming, and then I... killed my master."

Emperor Xiang chuckled softly, "The Demonic Sect lineage, indeed, remains the same generation after generation."

"Aren't you surprised that I've been resurrected?"

"Unexpected, yet not unexpected."

"Oh, I'd like to hear more about it."

"What's unexpected is the return of the dead to life; what's not unexpected is that this life is destined to be extraordinary, a time of great struggle. Nothing is surprising."

[The Emperor's expression showed appreciation, yet he couldn't help but sigh softly, "Indeed, waiting for this lifetime has been incredibly difficult."]

"In my time, ascension to immortality was hopeless, so I severed my own life, finally achieving this day. Though there were unexpected changes, my wish has finally come true."

[The Emperor bowed respectfully to you both, saying, "I also want to thank you both today."]

The Demon Lord of the Common People accepted it readily, but you avoided it.

The Emperor's gaze fell upon you, a faint golden light flashing in his eyes: "Born with a pure-blooded true spirit, favored by heaven and earth."

Suddenly, the tone shifted, "But... I wonder, how did you come to know my name?"

You find it rather strange that the ancestral master of Xiao Qingfeng's Imperial Hometown is standing before you in such a "fresh and beautiful" manner.

I don't know how the old man will react if you tell him. The person the old man reveres most is this Imperial Ancestor.

This middle-aged man, though his eyes were gentle and calm, exuded a mountain-like pressure.

[It seems that the Emperor's Hometown awakened just now, but thanks to this Eight-Armed Taoist, he also heard you reveal his identity.]

You could only reply, "I heard about it from an elder in my family."

This senior is none other than the Ant Immortal who has been suppressed on Little Green Peak for thousands of years.

"That's quite a coincidence."

[Teisho chuckled softly, then fell silent.]

The Demon Lord of All Living Beings stood with his hands behind his back, waiting silently.

The red-haired demon still had its gaping, ferocious maw, and the crimson gate at its throat glowed eerily, as if connecting to another world.

Thick, inky black mist swirled around them, enveloping the three in an eerie silence.

Although you don't know what will happen next, Lord of All Living Beings, what do you need your help with?

But you did not choose to leave.

Firstly, this place is, after all, a forbidden area. It seems that only after the Ghost-Eating Child has completely disappeared can everyone escape safely.

Secondly, the Demon Lord of All Living Beings has personally come here today; it is certainly not merely to purge his own sect.

Thirdly, you've taken this opportunity to clearly see the current cultivation levels of the Demon Lord of the Common People and Emperor Xiang. Both seem to be only capable of displaying the strength of the early stage of the Great Dao Golden Core realm. Aside from the fact that Emperor Xiang's ancestor has just awakened and his cultivation hasn't recovered, there's another possibility: this place only allows those at the "Great Dao Golden Core" realm who have only passed the first Nine Heavenly Tribulations.

Otherwise, that eight-armed monster, as the personal disciple of the Demon Lord of All Living Beings, was a formidable figure who had survived the Second Nine Heavenly Tribulation, which is why he was recruited into the Mortal Immortal Sect. Yet, upon arriving here, he could only unleash the power of the First Nine Heavenly Tribulation.

If that's the case, it would likely take them quite a bit of effort to capture you here. That's why they haven't acted rashly against you.

[If you don't possess considerable strength and a pure, flawless spiritual bloodline, your fate will likely be no better than that of the Eight-Armed Taoist.]

In the cultivation world, strength is the only unshakeable and fundamental principle.

[The Demon Lord of the Common People is by no means a benevolent being, and this Ancestor of the Imperial Capital is the number one "villain" of Fangcun Mountain. You should proceed with extreme caution and vigilance.]

At this moment, you stand shoulder to shoulder with the Demon Lord of All Living Beings, while Emperor Xiang stands alone to the side. All three of you are suspended in mid-air, facing the red-haired demon head-on.

[Just in time!]

[The Emperor's gaze turned to you, and he slowly said, "Just now you mentioned that an elder once spoke of my name."]

"I recall that I had a sworn brotherhood with a Purple-Gold Heavenly Horned Ant Daoist, a true confidant and close friend, practically a beloved relative."

He smiled slightly, revealing a warm expression, and said, "Judging from your young age, I might as well address you as my nephew, what do you say?"

Looking at the warm, spring-like smile on Di Xiang's face, you couldn't help but wonder if you had misheard.

[The Emperor's Hometown actually has a sworn brotherhood with the Ant Immortal? If the Ant Immortal heard this, he would probably be furious and shout, "You damned Emperor's Hometown, die!"] [The Ant Immortal has been suppressed for a thousand years and harbors deep hatred for the Emperor's Hometown, yet this hatred is mixed with a profound fear.]

Now, his greatest fear of curses is nothing more than lifting the covers at night to find an imperial capital sitting there.

You then smoothly replied, "I never imagined that you, senior, had such a deep connection with my clan."

Di Xiang smiled slightly, his smile becoming even more amiable. Coupled with his flawless, sculpted face, if he were on Fangcun Mountain, countless senior and junior sisters would be captivated and mesmerized by him.

"Since you are a descendant of an old friend, I will bestow upon you an extraordinary fortune today."

Upon hearing this, you couldn't help but glance at the Demon Lord of All Living Beings, thinking to yourself, "Why do these words sound so familiar? It's as if I've heard them before."

The Demon Lord of All Living Beings did not interrupt, but simply said, "Young friend, why not listen?"

[The Emperor's gaze shifted to the red-haired demon, and he slowly said, "This is the Demon-Swallowing Child, one of the vessels of the Demon Kingdom. You can also understand it as one of the gateways to the Ghost Kingdom."]

[As the Buddhist saying goes, "Lay down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot; you will then be able to see the true form of the Tathagata." This means that everyone has a Tathagata within their heart.]

"You can also understand this demon-devouring child in this way: it exists in everyone's heart, but it doesn't mean laying down the butcher's knife."

[Di Xiang's lips curled into a meaningful smile as he said, "Instead, he'll take up the butcher's knife."]

You murmured in agreement, "Pick up the butcher's knife?"

[I didn't have many insights or reflections in my heart; it was just like the ancestral master of the Imperial Capital was speaking in riddles.]

The Demon Lord of All Living Beings stated bluntly, "Aside from the atrocities of sacrificing hundreds of thousands of souls, this place is also the site of the Qi Kingdom's Ascension Platform from seven thousand years ago."

"It was precisely at the most yin time of the thousand-year cycle that this Ghost Devouring Child was born, due to the intertwining of three causes and effects."

[Upon hearing this, your heart stirred slightly—if this is the case, isn't the appearance of the Ghost Gate in the world a perfect coincidence of opportune timing, favorable location, and harmonious human relations? It is an extremely rare event.]

"The Emperor's Township also said, 'The appearance of the Strange Gate is nothing unusual; it often appears on battlefields where corpses pile up and countless lives are lost.'"

"However, the appearance of this Ghost Devouring Child is an extremely rare occurrence."

"This is truly a once-in-a-millennium event."

You might wonder, but what does this have to do with the two of them?

A perfectly timed look of surprise appeared on Di Xiang's face. He turned to look at the Demon Lord of All Beings and said, "Could it be that Fellow Daoist Cang Sheng did not inform my nephew of the key to this matter?"

"Didn't you two come together?"

Seeing your still bewildered expression, Dixiang slowly spoke, "It seems my dear nephew truly knows nothing about this matter."

He then looked at the Demon Lord of All Living Beings and said, "This is where you're wrong, fellow Daoist."

"Although this matter is of great importance, I will absolutely not hide anything from my nephew."

[You see, the way Di Xiang phrases these times sounds a bit like the opening lines of a play, "That's where my sister is wrong."]

Taking advantage of the situation, you respectfully said, "Please, Senior Emperor, do not hesitate to enlighten me."

The Demon Lord of All Living Beings also spoke up, saying, "Young friend, there's no need to worry. We hit it off immediately, so why would I hide anything from you? The situation was just urgent, and I was planning to tell you later."

You could only say, "Fellow Daoist Cang Sheng will naturally not hide anything from you; I hope you can tell me a thing or two."

Emperor Xiang laughed heartily, "It's my fault for talking too much; I've made my nephew anxious."

The Demon Lord of All Beings gazed at the enormous red-haired demon and slowly said, "This Ghost Kingdom exists alongside this world, yet it stands independently. It is the place where the souls of the undead return, and in legends, it is also a place of reincarnation."

"However, cultivators know that there is no such thing as reincarnation in this world. After death, the soul is scattered and leaves no trace."

You nodded slightly. In this world, once one dies, one's soul dissipates, with absolutely no possibility of reincarnation. Therefore, there is no need to seek an afterlife.

The Demon Lord continued, "This strange kingdom now exists in name only, having degenerated into a purely malevolent world."

He turned to look at Dixiang and said, "Fellow Daoist Dixiang has lingered in that strange kingdom for a long time, so you must be more familiar with its situation than I am."

[Di Xiang nodded slightly and said, "That is indeed the case. In this strange kingdom, there are hundreds of millions of evil beings, but most of them are mindless, constantly attacking each other, and there is never a day of peace."]

"Of course, one in ten thousand ghosts is fortunate enough to develop sentience, receive good fortune, and be able to cultivate. My safety in the Ghost Kingdom is entirely due to a good friend, Lord Qin, one of the six Ghost Emperors in the Ghost Kingdom, who, according to our classification, is a cultivator who has survived the Forty-Nine Heavenly Tribulation."

Upon hearing this, you were slightly taken aback, a surge of surprise welling up within you. You found this encounter truly novel and interesting, as such content was not recorded in the hundreds of thousands of books stored on Fangcun Mountain.

[The mysterious kingdom even has a ruler, revered as the Deceptive Emperor.]

[Could that Lord Qin, the Grand Prefect, be the "Master" mentioned by the voice from within the gate? This person actually possesses the Supreme Grandmaster realm, and there are six such beings within the Ghost Kingdom.]

However, after talking for a long time, the two still hadn't gotten to the point.

[As you pondered, the voice from the Imperial Capital suddenly became distant and ethereal, "Legend has it that in the beginning of time, a Daoist attained the Primordial Realm and became friends with the creation of heaven and earth. Seeing the suffering of all living beings, he felt compassion and resolutely severed his Three Corpses."]

"He severed his benevolent corpse, established the thirty-three heavenly courts, founded the divine path, proclaimed himself the Jade Emperor, and became the supreme ruler of the heavenly courts."

"He severed his original self, remained in the mortal realm, proclaimed himself the Human Emperor, established the Xuanzong sect, and protected all living beings."

"He severed the evil corpses, opened up the underworld, so that all people could have a place to reincarnate after death, and restored peace to the world. He controlled the six paths of reincarnation, called himself the Earth Emperor, and was revered as the Emperor of Longevity and the Lord of Luo Feng."

"The Three Realms should have been at peace forever, but something happened in the last great eon, and these three supreme beings all disappeared."

"This is just a legend," said one by one. "It shouldn't be taken as fact."

Emperor Xiang replied, "But it cannot be faked."

The two gazed at each other silently, then slowly looked away.

[The emperor's face was full of smiles.]

The Demon Lord of All Living Beings remained expressionless.

[The Emperor continued, "And this strange kingdom is actually a part of the Netherworld that was built by the Eternal Emperor and then shattered. This Ghost-Swallowing Child is also a pathfinder under the Eternal Emperor."]

"In other words, our encounter with this Ghost-Swallowing Child today also means we might meet the Lord of the Netherworld, the Eternal Emperor."

You were suddenly jolted, noticing that the two people were serious and there was no hint of joking in their expressions.

[They actually want to meet the Lord of Fengdu, the Eternal Emperor?]

Isn't this a bit too unrealistic?

[The Emperor spoke slowly again, "It was not the real Emperor of Immortality who came in person, but merely an avatar of his will."]

"This is the opportunity I was referring to."

"By paying homage to the Eternal Emperor, such a supreme being, you may be bestowed with a treasure, or perhaps allowed to ask him a question."

~

(End of this chapter)