After guarding the gates for a hundred years, I drove the Heavenly Saint to madness.

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Outside the Lingxiao Palace, the sea of ​​clouds churned.

The Jade Emperor, dressed in a robe with nine chapters and wearing a crown with twelve tassels, stood side by side with the Queen Mother of the West, who was dressed in a magnificent palace gown.

The two nominal rulers of the Three Realms were silently watching the tremendous changes in the primordial land below through the Haotian Mirror in front of them.

In the mirror, one half reflects the solemn ghost city that rises from the Netherworld Blood Peak, and the other half reflects the Xuanhuang merit and human fortune that have not yet completely dissipated above Jiepai Pass.

After a long while, the Queen Mother of the West withdrew her gaze, a hint of worry appearing on her exquisite face.

"His Majesty."

Yaochi parted her lips slightly, her tone revealing deep concern.

"Leaving aside the variables of Jiepai Pass for the time being, let's just talk about the Netherworld. Lady Pingxin suddenly established the Underworld and restored the order of the Six Paths of Reincarnation."

"Although this move is in accordance with the will of Heaven and fills the gap in the operation of the primordial world, it is by no means a good thing for my Heavenly Court."

Yaochi looked at Haotian and pointed out the crux of the matter: "The Heavenly Court rules over the Three Realms, and the Netherworld is also under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Court."

"Previously, the Netherworld was in chaos and disorder, so we could take the opportunity to plant some people and slowly take back the power of life and death and reincarnation to the Heavenly Court."

"But now, Pingxin has established the underworld's institutions, and the trend is set. If this continues, the Heavenly Court's control over the Netherworld will be nothing more than an empty shell."

"Should we take action secretly?"

Faced with Yaochi's concerns, the Jade Emperor did not respond immediately.

He stood with his hands behind his back in front of the railing, his deep gaze piercing through the sea of ​​clouds, looking down at the vast earth, and in the end, he could only let out a long sigh.

"I am naturally aware of the advantages and disadvantages involved."

Haotian shook his head, his voice revealing the helplessness of an emperor being controlled by others: "But how to deal with it? That Netherworld was personally established by Pingxin!"

"Pingxin transformed herself into the cycle of reincarnation. In the Netherworld, her strength was comparable to that of a saint, not to mention that she had the entire remnant of the Witch Clan standing behind her."

"Previously, Youming did not have a complete plan, and she could only support herself. We could still intervene a little by taking advantage of the power of the Heavenly Dao."

"But now look at how meticulously the underworld's organization is structured! Everyone has their own duties, and it's all perfectly legitimate! Heaven and Earth have even bestowed merit upon us as a sign of recognition!"

Haotian turned his head, looked at Yaochi, and said with a wry smile, "If we forcibly intervene now and place our own people, we will anger her. The current empty Heavenly Court cannot bear the consequences."

Upon hearing this, Yaochi felt resentful, but she also knew that what Haotian said was true.

Empress Pingxin held the absolute advantage of righteousness and location, leaving the Heavenly Court with no way to intervene and only able to sigh helplessly.

"but……"

A moment later, Haotian changed the subject, his gaze falling once again on the image of the boundary marker in the Haotian Mirror, his eyes becoming deep and unfathomable.

"The concept of the underworld was not something that Pingxin suddenly realized out of thin air."

Haotian astutely grasped the crux of the problem: "Why did 20% of the heavenly merit cross the void and fall on Xiao Wuji at Jiepai Pass?"

"This is enough to show that this child played an extremely crucial role in establishing order in the underworld, and may even have been the one who orchestrated it!"

"This boy not only forced back the Four Sages and caused heavy casualties among the Twelve Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect, but now he can even interfere in the Netherworld. This anomaly is too unpredictable."

Haotian frowned.

The Investiture of the Gods was originally a scheme devised by Dao Ancestor Hongjun to recruit members for his empty Heavenly Court and fill the ranks of the 365 righteous gods.

But now, Jiepai Pass is like a giant black hole.

One after another, the Golden Immortals of the Chan Sect died, and even the Great Luo Golden Immortals were listed on the Investiture of the Gods.

Although the list has been filled out, if the Jie Sect ultimately wins, given their current momentum of having ten thousand immortals paying homage, the Heavenly Court might not be able to contend with them. What kind of deification is this?

So from the very beginning, everyone's goal was the Jie Sect.

After all, the Jie Sect was too large. If the Jie Sect did not fall, all the forces in the prehistoric world would feel uneasy.

This is why the Investiture of the Gods originated from the Chan Sect, but ultimately had to end with the Jie Sect.

"No matter what, the emergence of this Netherworld has seriously threatened the future of the Heavenly Court."

Haotian flicked his bright yellow dragon robe and made a decision: "In the end, I still have to make contact and see if I can get involved."

"As for whether it will succeed or not, we'll have to make contact to find out. In any case, we still need to investigate the details."

Upon hearing this, the Queen Mother of the West's expression turned serious: "Whom does Your Majesty intend to send? Venus? Or Longji?"

"Neither is appropriate."

Haotian said in a deep voice, "This matter involves a sage. If an ordinary celestial official goes, it will only make the Heavenly Court lose face. I will go myself."

"Your Majesty, with your imperial status, how can you easily venture into the mortal realm?" Yaochi exclaimed in surprise.

"If Your Majesty insists on going, I am willing to go with you."

"No."

Haotian waved his hand in refusal, his attitude resolute: "We are currently in the midst of the Great Tribulation of the Gods, and the aura of this great calamity is pervasive. As the rulers of the Heavenly Court, if we were to both descend to the mortal realm, we would attract too much attention and easily arouse the vigilance and suspicion of the saints from all directions. It is not advisable to get too involved at this time."

"I will conceal my presence and secretly go to probe. The Heavenly Court cannot be without a leader for even a day. Yaochi, you will remain in Lingxiao and observe the situation."

Having said that, the Jade Emperor did not delay any longer.

With a thought, his dragon robe transformed into an ordinary blue Taoist robe, concealing the imperial aura that once ruled over the three realms, and he quietly descended to the mortal world.

……

at the same time.

In the human world, at the General's Mansion of Jiepai Pass.

After absorbing the merits of Heaven and the fortune of Humanity, Xiao Wuji did not rush into seclusion.

He was sitting in the main seat in the lobby, leisurely sipping a cup of freshly brewed tea.

The aroma of tea wafted through the air, and the twenty-four middle-thousand worlds within his body were slowly circulating, continuously strengthening his already abnormally powerful Great Luo Dao Foundation.

"General!"

Suddenly, Vice General Xu Gai rushed into the hall, his face showing an undisguised strangeness and entanglement.

"What's the matter?" Xiao Wuji put down his teacup and looked up to ask.

Xu Gai clasped his hands and reported, "A Taoist priest has just arrived from beyond the pass, requesting to see the commander-in-chief by name."

"A Taoist? From the Chan Sect or the Jie Sect?" Xiao Wuji asked, somewhat surprised.

At this time, who would come to Jiepai Pass to cause trouble?

"It is... Grand Preceptor Shen." Xu Gai swallowed, his tone becoming even more strange.

Upon hearing the words "National Preceptor Shen," Xiao Wuji's hand, which had just picked up the teacup, suddenly froze in mid-air.

"Shen Gongbao?"

Xiao Wuji was taken aback at first, and then a strong sense of absurdity welled up in his heart.

That was the biggest troublemaker in the Investiture of the Gods?

Didn't this guy disappear a while ago? How come he's reappeared?

As far as he knew, Shen Gongbao had disappeared after the battle with the Zhuxian Sword Formation, realizing that things had gotten out of hand.

I thought this guy had realized he'd caused too much trouble and was choosing to live in seclusion, but I never expected him to reappear today.

"That's interesting."

Xiao Wuji placed the teacup on the table, a strong sense of curiosity flashing in his eyes.

"Let him in," Xiao Wuji waved his hand and ordered.

"Yes." Xu Gai accepted the order and withdrew.

A short while later, accompanied by the sound of light footsteps.

A slender Taoist priest was led into the main hall by two guards.

Xiao Wuji sat in a high position, looking down at the newcomer.

This Taoist priest had two very distinctive mustaches, and his eyes darted around, revealing a shrewd and cunning nature.

Shen Gongbao walked into the hall, looked up at Xiao Wuji sitting in the main seat, and felt the oppressive aura emanating from him, which made him feel inwardly apprehensive.

His eyes darted around, and a warm smile immediately spread across his face.

However, before Shen Gongbao could even speak...

A cold, clear female voice suddenly came from behind the screen at the back of the lobby.

"Shen Gongbao, how dare you show your face?"