This is so dishonest!

Chapter 462 Hongjun tastes the Supreme Elixir again; Nuwa sighs at her love-struck mind.

The moment the Great Dao Contract, symbolizing an alliance of offense and defense, was completely solidified in the dark void of the Demon King's Palace.

The secret talks between Haotian and the new Demon Lord, filled with probing and strategic maneuvering, finally came to a perfect end.

Without the slightest hesitation, he nodded slightly to the equally satisfied Demon Lord.

Then, his figure transformed into an inconspicuous purple streak of light, silently tearing through the incredibly sturdy world barrier of the Nine Netherworld, leaving this demonic land filled with depravity and destruction, and returning to the pure and orderly Nine Heavens.

Upon his return, the faint, sinister demonic aura that had been lingering around him was completely swept away by this vast, sacred energy.

Looking out, the nine heavens are shimmering with golden light, layer upon layer, creating a magnificent and imposing sight.

Auspicious clouds, as vast as the gentlest of beasts, slowly lifted up those exquisitely crafted jade palaces and towers.

Outside the South Heavenly Gate, celestial generals clad in dazzling golden armor, wielding incomparably sharp heavenly halberds, stood solemnly on the edge of the sea of ​​clouds like unchanging ancient sculptures. The supreme majesty emanating from them was enough to deter any unscrupulous individuals from daring to approach.

Amidst the clouds and mist, graceful cranes occasionally flutter by, carrying the rare Ganoderma lucidum (a type of medicinal herb) that ripens only once every ten thousand years in their beaks, leaving behind a string of clear and melodious calls.

In the distance, the magnificent roof tiles of the celestial palaces and temples, cast from seven precious glazed tiles, simultaneously reflect the eternal radiance of the sun and moon in the sky, their interplay creating a sacred and extraordinary spectacle.

From the eaves and brackets of the palace, an even richer aura of auspiciousness naturally condensed into strings of jewels and beads, slowly dangling down. With each gentle sway, it seemed as if the voice of the Great Dao was singing in harmony.

Haotian walked step by step on this sacred land that he was once very familiar with, but now felt very strange.

His face, which always wore a cold mask, showed no emotion whatsoever.

He walked straight through the layers of palaces.

Finally, they arrived at the Three Lives Hall, the core temple symbolizing the supreme authority of the Heavenly Emperor to predict the past, present, and future.

He straightened his purple robe, which symbolized his identity as the "God of Thunder," before stepping into the hall and respectfully bowing to the current Heavenly Emperor, who was sitting upright on a cloud bed, contemplating something with his eyes closed.

"Your Majesty, I was ordered to infiltrate the Nine Netherworld to gather information, and I have now made a preliminary discovery of the general situation within the Nine Netherworld Demon Realm."

"Oh?"

At this moment, the Heavenly Emperor was using his powerful divine sense to observe the future direction of the entire Heavenly Realm and the Human Realm, trying to find the optimal solution from the intricate lines of cause and effect that would allow him to safely weather the impending calamity.

Upon hearing Haotian's words, he slowly withdrew from that deep deduction, a smile appearing on his face.

"My dear minister, tell me quickly."

"Yes!"

Haotian then reported to the Heavenly Emperor in detail what he had seen and heard in the Nine Netherworlds.

Of course, the most crucial part of his secret pact with the Demon Lord was omitted.

The emphasis was simply on the fact that a power shift had just occurred within the Nine Netherworlds.

"In the Nine Netherworlds, a powerful demon king known as the Lord of Demons has successfully emerged to become the new Lord of the Nine Netherworlds."

"Now, this Demon Lord has initially mastered the Demon Emperor's Claw, and his strength has been enhanced like never before."

"Demon Emperor's Claw?"

Upon hearing this name, the Heavenly Emperor frowned and a deep look of contemplation appeared on his face.

He was naturally well aware of the origin and terror of this divine artifact.

That was a natal relic of a top-tier expert from the Other Shore, which even the Dao Ancestor couldn't completely destroy in the previous era and could only choose to seal away.

Now, this new Demon Lord has actually refined this item and become the sole ruler of the Nine Netherworld in this era.

Therefore, it is foreseeable that when the time is ripe, the other side will inevitably inherit the will of that [Demon Ancestor] and launch a large-scale invasion of the human realm and the heavenly realm, bringing war and destruction back to this world that has finally regained some peace.

"Sigh, this is yet another huge variable!"

The Heavenly Emperor couldn't help but let out a sigh filled with exhaustion.

The current global situation is already extremely tense, like a string stretched to its limit, which could snap at any moment.

Those powerful beings on the other side, who are high above others, have long had huge differences in interests due to their incompatible ideas of so-called "transcendence," and inevitably ended up in complete opposition.

The Celestial Venerable of Morality and the Celestial Venerable of Primordial Beginning chose to support their celestial realm and maintain the existing order.

Nuwa, the Demon Queen who holds the destiny of the demon race, and Lingbao Tianzun, who commands all immortals, chose to support the human world in an attempt to break the old order.

Just a few days ago, the seemingly serene and inactive Celestial Venerable Morality came to him personally and told him a shocking secret that terrified him.

In order to attain the Dao Fruit of the Final Tribulation, Lingbao Tianzun personally crafted the Investiture of the Gods, intending to use all living beings in the Three Realms as pawns and all things in heaven and earth as fuel to launch a massive war that would sweep across the Three Realms.

This has brought an era that should have had a long future to come to an end prematurely!

The Heavenly Emperor is deeply worried about the impending war between the two realms.

Now, the Nine Netherworld Demon Realm, which has been silent for countless years, has suddenly seen the emergence of a powerful demon lord whose strength is unfathomable and who wields a great weapon.

This undoubtedly added to his already anxious state of mind.

"You continue to lie in wait in the Netherworld, keeping an eye on their every move."

A barely perceptible glint of murderous intent flashed in the Heavenly Emperor's eyes.

"If there are any other unusual developments or information, be sure to report them to me."

"As ordered!"

Upon hearing this, Haotian immediately and respectfully accepted the order.

Although he held this Heavenly Emperor in utter contempt.

But from beginning to end, he presented himself as a loyal and respectful perfect subject.

"correct."

Just as Haotian was about to leave the Palace of Three Lives, the Heavenly Emperor suddenly called out to him again.

He looked at Haotian's usually stern face, which showed a rare hint of concern, and said:
"Your mission to infiltrate the Netherworld is fraught with danger; a single misstep could lead to your death."

"Alright then, take this imperial edict with you and go to the Tushita Palace beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens to meet the Celestial Venerable of Morality."

"Just say that I sent you to ask him for a life-saving pill."

Upon hearing these words, Haotian's face immediately showed an expression of deep emotion. He bowed deeply to the Heavenly Emperor once again.

"Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty! Even if I were to be shattered to pieces, I could never repay Your Majesty's kindness in recognizing and supporting me!"

The Heavenly Emperor smiled with satisfaction upon seeing this.

He waved his hand.

"Go ahead, the Celestial Master is quite easy to talk to."

Thus, Haotian received the Heavenly Emperor's decree and, with a heart full of "extreme excitement and gratitude," left the Three Lives Palace and flew towards the Great Crimson Heaven beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens.

~~~
Upon arriving at the Great Crimson Heaven, Haotian immediately felt a profound aura, completely different from the majestic and sacred aura of the Nine Heavens Palace, filled with "tranquility and inaction" and "following the natural way," rushing towards him.

Looking around, one can see that the endless innate purple energy here is so dense that it is almost condensed into a solid form, transforming into a vast and boundless purple ocean.

Amidst the purple sea of ​​clouds, palaces appeared and disappeared.

During this time, cranes flew about, unicorns strolled, golden dragons coiled, and phoenixes sang... everything seemed so peaceful and natural.

It was as if this was the very place where the "Great Way" itself resided.

Haotian withdrew all his divine power and walked step by step up the white jade steps formed by purple energy, finally arriving at the gate of the Tushita Palace.

The gates of the Taoist temple were tightly closed.

At the entrance were two exquisitely carved little Taoist boys, with red lips and white teeth, and their hair styled in two cute topknots.

They were sitting on the bluestone steps, dozing off.

Seeing this, Haotian coughed lightly and said, "The Thunder God of the Nine Heavens, by order of His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor, has come to pay homage to the Moral Celestial Venerable. I hope that the two celestial children can convey my message."

Upon hearing the sound, the two young Taoist disciples rubbed their sleepy eyes and slowly raised their heads.

Golden Horned Boy yawned and said lazily:

"It's Thor. The master instructed that you would be coming today. You may go in directly."

After he finished speaking, the tightly closed gate of the Taoist palace creaked open.

Haotian then entered the Tushita Palace.

Inside the palace, there were no luxurious decorations, only an enormous Bagua alchemy furnace, which stood quietly in the center of the hall.

Before the alchemy furnace, an old man dressed in a simple Taoist robe with Bagua symbols sat cross-legged.

His hair and beard were all white, and his face was simple and unadorned, yet he exuded a kind of charm that was perfectly integrated with the whole world, a charm of returning to simplicity.

The Celestial Venerable of Morality held a banana leaf fan in his hand, idly fanning the Samadhi True Fire beneath the alchemical furnace.

Haotian bowed deeply in respect.

"This junior pays respects to the Celestial Venerable Morality, may the Celestial Venerable live forever!"

The Supreme Lord symbolically examined the Heavenly Emperor's edict handed over by Haotian, then asked with a smile, "What kind of life-saving pill do you want?"

Haotian cupped his hands and said, "This junior is not knowledgeable in alchemy, so I will trouble the Heavenly Venerable to give this matter much consideration."

"No trouble, no trouble!"

The Supreme Lord waved his hand, "It was just a small matter!"

He casually tossed aside the banana leaf fan in his hand, then pondered for a moment, seemingly considering what kind of elixir would be most suitable for this "undercover hero."

After a moment, as if he had thought of something, he said:

"I've got it! Since you want a life-saving pill, everything else seems a bit impractical. I'll personally refine a [Golden Body Indestructible Pill] for you!"

"Once you consume this pill, you will possess unparalleled defensive power comparable to that of a primordial spiritual treasure!"

"【The Indestructible Golden Body Pill】?"

Upon hearing the name, Haotian immediately felt that this elixir was reliable!
After all, it's impossible for him to break through to the true other shore realm in a short period of time.

Therefore, having a sufficiently strong defensive capability is crucial for him.

"Then this junior will choose this pill!"

"it is good!"

The Supreme Being nodded in satisfaction and said, "Come back and collect the elixir in seven days."

Upon hearing this, Haotian felt even more at ease.

He thought to himself, even with the unfathomable power of this Moral Celestial Venerable, it still takes seven days to refine the product before it can be shipped out.

Wouldn't the efficacy of this [Indestructible Golden Body Pill] be even more reliable than I imagined?!
"A product made by the Celestial Venerable is guaranteed to be of the highest quality!" "This junior awaits your good news!"

~~~
After leaving the Heavenly Realm, Haotian went to find the Demon Saint Feng Xi.

"You came."

Her voice was like heavenly music, clear and melodious, carrying a hint of joy and anticipation that she herself was unaware of.

"Well, I'm here."

Haotian slowly walked forward.

His face, which was always as cold as an iceberg, melted like a spring breeze, revealing a smile that could make any woman in the world fall in love.

What followed was a series of textbook-perfect "sweet talk".

He didn't talk about the bloody and scheming Investiture of the Gods, nor did he mention the oppressive battle for the other side.

He simply used his magnetic, deep voice to paint a series of poetic and picturesque future scenes for Feng Xi.

He said that once all the conflicts in the world have completely subsided, he would relinquish his position as the Heavenly Emperor and, together with her, find a secluded paradise where they could spend their days together, watching the sunrise and sunset.

He said he would personally plant a vast forest full of phoenix trees for her, so that she could freely soar and dwell in that most comfortable environment.

He also said that he would travel throughout the myriad realms to find the sweetest nectar and the most delicious innate fruits for her, just to win a smile from her.

……

This speech, filled with tenderness and affection, contained not a single word of genuine feeling. It quickly left the demon saint Feng Xi, who, despite having lived for countless years, remained as innocent as a blank sheet of paper when it came to emotions, completely bewildered and disoriented.

Her phoenix eyes, which were always filled with arrogance and coldness, were now shimmering with tears and sparkling with wonder.

She was almost completely melted into the gentle net woven by Haotian, a net called "love".

After thoroughly pleasing this first phoenix since the beginning of time...

Haotian's gentle smile suddenly faded slightly.

A hint of worry and solemnity inadvertently flashed in his deep eyes.

Then, he quickly covered it up again.

Although he did it so discreetly.

But how could Feng Xi, whose heart was already completely tied to him, not realize it?
"Have you encountered any difficulties lately?"

Feng Xi's voice was full of concern.

She reached out her slender hand and gently touched Haotian's slightly furrowed brows, asking softly.

"Ugh……"

Haotian first let out a sigh filled with helplessness and exhaustion.

Then, in a hesitant tone, he slowly said:
"Indeed... there is one rather tricky matter."

Seeing this, Feng Xi's sweet smile faded slightly, replaced by a look of firmness and encouragement. He pressed on, asking:
"What exactly happened? Why don't you tell me? Maybe I can help you out!"

Upon hearing this, Haotian's tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed.

A smile full of emotion appeared on his face as he gently grasped Feng Xi's soft hand.

"Very well, you're no stranger here, so I'll have a proper talk with you."

After hearing Haotian say that she was "not an outsider", Feng Xi's heart, which was already pounding wildly, beat even more violently.

My heart felt completely filled with endless sweetness.

Her phoenix eyes, gazing at Haotian, revealed an undisguised deep affection and love that could melt anything.

"Feng Xi, as you know, if we want to truly be unrestrained and carefree in this upcoming chaotic new era, we ultimately need a strong force as a guarantee."

At this point, Haotian sighed again, just as perfectly timed.

"But... as you know, because of my innate divine status as the 'Nine Heavens Thunder God,' my path of cultivation is naturally restricted by the Heavenly Dao."

"No matter how hard I try, my cultivation in this life can only reach the Creation Realm at most, and I will find it difficult to take the next step to reach the true other shore."

Upon hearing this, Feng Xi immediately spoke up to comfort him, saying:
"So that's what's troubling you."

"This great barrier is not entirely unbreakable; we can work together to find a way to break it."

"If all else fails, I will personally go to the Demon Emperor's palace and beg the Demon Emperor. With her supreme power as a great being from the other shore, she will surely be able to help you solve this problem."

"No! No! No! This matter must never be known to the Demon Emperor!"

Upon hearing this, Haotian's expression suddenly changed.

He quickly shook his head and said in an extremely serious tone:
"Feng Xi, you must promise me that you must never tell the Demon Emperor about this!"

"If the Demon Emperor knew my true identity, not only would he not help me, but he might also bring down a devastating calamity upon me immediately!"

"how come."

Feng Xi was about to subconsciously refute.

But she swallowed her words halfway through.

Her once loving phoenix eyes gradually dimmed.

yes……

The struggle for the ultimate truth in this world is inherently cruel.

Which of those powerful figures who have long been high above the other shore would want to see more competitors come to vie for the already scarce "Dao Fruits"?

Once they sensed that someone had shown even the slightest sign of hope of breaking through to the other shore realm.

Then, what awaits that person will inevitably be the perfect alliance of all the powerful beings on the other side to block their path!

Thinking of this, Feng Xi couldn't help but feel a deep sense of powerlessness.

"Then... is there anything I can do to help you?"

She raised her head again, looking at Haotian with hopeful eyes, and asked once more.

It seemed that Haotian had been waiting for her to say those words.

He said almost without thinking:

"I do have a way to break the deadlock, but this matter is of great importance and involves a secret about Donghuang Taiyi."

He then recounted how, in the previous era, Donghuang Taiyi's undying obsession after his fall merged with that "Heavenly Dao Monster."

Ultimately, it turned into a problematic "weak other shore" filled with destructive and chaotic wills, and Feng Xi was told everything in detail.

Finally, looking at Feng Xi's already shocked face, he slowly concluded in a seductive and alluring tone:
"If we can find a way to completely control this 'Heavenly Dao Monster' that has lost its mind."

"Then we have essentially gained a powerful ally at the 'Other Shore' level!"

"At that time, we will have the real resources to protect ourselves and even make a living in this coming, chaotic new era!"

So, under Haotian's influence, Fengxi decided to help him control the Heavenly Dao monster.

~~~
Right there on the shore of the East Sea, beneath the Fusang Divine Tree, Haotian, the Thunder God of the Nine Heavens, was using his already masterful "pie-in-the-sky" technique to coax the incomparably noble Demon Saint Feng Xi, leaving her heart swaying and her mind in a daze.

And he even managed to pull her onto his chariot, which was about to plunge into the unknown abyss.

Inside the Demon Emperor's Palace, a woman dressed in simple palace attire, yet possessing an extremely elegant and noble air, seemed to be the embodiment of all "beauty" in the entire universe. She sat quietly before a precious mirror that could reflect all the heavens and myriad realms and see through all causes and effects.

The mirror clearly shows the tender moment between Haotian and Fengxi under the Fusang tree.

[Demon Queen] Nuwa looked in the mirror at Feng Xi, who was already completely immersed in the love lies woven by Haotian, and even dared to touch the forbidden existence of "Donghuang Taiyi".

She couldn't help but reach out her delicate, white hand to touch her forehead, letting out a sigh filled with helplessness and disappointment.

"Sigh... this love-struck mentality is really no good!"

She shook her head and waved her hand casually.

The image in that precious mirror then vanished.

Clearly, she had a clear understanding of what was about to happen, but she had no intention of interfering in any further.

Some hardships must be experienced firsthand in order to truly grow.

She slowly stood up, and a faint trace of solemnity flashed in her phoenix eyes, which seemed to see through all illusions.

"Well, I should go and see my 'ally' who's not exactly a peace of mind either."

After saying that, her figure disappeared silently from the peaceful and tranquil Demon Emperor's Palace.

When she reappeared, she had already arrived on the bustling, worldly land of the human realm, filled with endless smoke and fire.

She went straight to a Taoist temple that looked unremarkable.

The Taoist temple was located on an unnamed green mountain. The temple gate was tightly closed, and there wasn't even a plaque hanging on it.

But this is the most important place of practice for the leader of the Jie Sect, Lingbao Tianzun, in this era.

She didn't knock or announce her arrival.

They simply stood quietly in front of the Taoist temple, waiting.

Soon, the tightly closed temple gate creaked open from the inside out.

A Taoist priest dressed in a blue robe, with an ancient face and eyes that seemed to contain an unparalleled sharpness that could "cut off everything," appeared at the door.

It was Lingbao Tianzun, one of the Three Pure Ones.

"Fellow Daoist, how have you been?"

Lingbao Tianzun looked at Nuwa before him without showing any surprise. He simply nodded slightly as a greeting.

"Fellow Daoist, how are your preparations going?"

Nuwa didn't stand on ceremony with him, but went straight to the point and asked him the question.

"This is the first time we've joined forces, and the situation ahead is not optimistic."

"I don't know much about your two older brothers, and to be honest, I have no idea how much chance they have of winning the upcoming battle."

Lingbao Tianzun confidently stated:
"If only my two elder brothers were to take action, they would surely never return!"

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

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(End of this chapter)