Chapter 434: Infernal Furnace Opens, Underworld Fiends Bow to the Ghost Emperor; the Imperial Tutor, a Loyal Court Dragon God, Trusts

Purple fire burns, scorching mountains and boiling seas, silent yet scorching!

The quietly burning flames slowly warp space, as if the void itself turned into kindling.

Inside the study.

Li Che stood silently, yet his entire bearing underwent a cataclysmic change; his whole head was shrouded in purple flames, his skin, flesh, and hair all melted away, burned clean.

Only the golden skeleton of his martial immortal body remained, twisted and burning under the purple flames!

He took the Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame—a Dao Tribulation power—as a new mask, covering his face; the flames burned, completely obscuring his features, resembling a demon emperor emerging from a furnace.

A terrifying, domineering, annihilating aura slowly seeped from Li Che.

The purple Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame erupted with an extremely dreadful calamity aura, a disaster power beyond the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations.

Even Zhao Beidou's divine‑tribulation great cultivation‑induced White Nether Tribulation Fire, before such Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame, seemed like a child's trick, utterly incomparable.

"Underworld Ghost Emperor…"

Li Che's golden‑bone skull, cloaked in purple fire, had hollow, dim eyes that seemed to contain endless darkness, like two abyssal whirlpools.

"The power of the Dao Tribulation…"

He spread his five fingers wide.

He plucked the purple fire from his head, and instantly his flesh revived, hair flew up, and his eyes glittered.

Li Che returned to his original appearance.

It was more like a mask that changes appearance, but the alteration was simply brutal.

It directly burned away flesh and hair, leaving only the skeleton.

Boom—

The Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame swirling between his fingers struck his head again; flames surged, enveloping his skull, the aura rose step by step, the surrounding space twisted as a soul‑piercing force surged.

The intertwining purple flames formed an incomparably terrifying, vague demonic elephant shape!

A divine dragon coiled around the demonic elephant's body, dragon and elephant merged!

Li Che rose, his black robe fluttering, purple fire faint, his whole being seemed to become a black hole collapsing, swiftly devouring countless auras like a tornado.

Under the flames, within the golden‑bone skull's eyes, heaven and earth turned cold and ruined, leaving only a murky, vile world.

"Ghost Emperor… Underworld Ghost Emperor!"

"Summoning Dao Tribulation power onto oneself makes one a Ghost Emperor!"

Li Che's skull mouth opened and closed, as if breathing.

A long breath surged endlessly; Li Che's spirit roiled, the celestial board instantly shrouded and expanded, sealing the entire study, isolating its aura!

The next moment, Li Che's body twitched slightly, countless qi and blood erupted explosively!

The great dragon coiled in his spine, as if roused, opened its mouth with a deafening roar, and the dormant explosive power within his body revived!

Eight meridian nodes propelled qi and blood, as if riding eight successive surges, swelling them wave after wave!

The Eight Extraordinary Gates activated simultaneously!

Roaring, blazing golden qi burst forth, erupting, surging; all thirty‑six thousand pores on his body spurted out intensely thick blood‑qi!

A phenomenon of a ten‑thousand‑zhang golden qi sea pool manifested, along with a ten‑thousand‑zhang martial mountain, as if his entire understanding of the martial path fully unfolded at this moment!

The Tribulation Dragon Elephant Flame that covered his skull, burning it down to only golden bone, blazed fiercely.

In an instant, the golden qi sea pool was tinged purple, turning into a purple qi sea, churning and boiling.

Li Che's golden qi throughout his body also turned into purple qi!

Weird, chilling, incinerating everything, annihilating all things, as if the gate to the ghost realm opened and a malevolent ghost emperor, who commands countless souls fallen into the infernal abyss, stepped out.

"Regrettably… the Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame, I have only a preliminary grasp, not much; otherwise, the Dao Tribulation fire merged into the Eight Extraordinary Gates' qi would give my qi an extra Dao Tribulation trait!"

Li Che's eyes flickered.

He only mastered a single strand of the Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame.

The power of the Three Calamities and Nine Tribulations is a force only divine tribulation or martial deity can wield; yet Li Che's cultivation has not reached that level, but by the Dao Tribulation aura of the Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame he can barely exhibit a god‑tribulation‑like aura and pressure.

"I must still strive to refine the Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame."

The more Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame he masters, the higher Li Che's Ghost Emperor power can climb!

Perhaps even rivaling true divine‑tribulation fire, or surpassing it!

Li Che's spirit stirred, and he re‑entered the Dao Tribulation space, and then…

There was no after; with a single breath, Li Che was flung out by the primordial demonic elephant formed from Dao Tribulation fire.

He shook his head.

To push the Ghost Emperor's might to its extreme, it seems…

The task is heavy and the road long.

…

…

Frozen clouds blanket the peaks, pure snow at dawn crystallizes into brilliance.

The outline of the green mountains at the world's edge is shrouded in ethereal clouds, the night deep and dense as if it could not melt away.

Shendu, the First City.

The Imperial Palace Divine Temple.

Snowflakes flutter, cloaking the grand temple in a layer of snow, giving it an ethereal, ice‑god realm feel.

The entire Shendu First City is covered by the Imperial Palace Divine Temple, each city becoming a temple complex, its interior a dense array of structures, dotted with blooming palace pavilions.

Yunxiao Hall.

The emperor's face bore a vague divinity and qi as he sat at the main desk, perusing memorials.

After a while of reading, he finally set the documents aside.

Lian Gonggong of the Purple Robe Marten Temple walked over respectfully.

"These days, the State Master led troops to Qianyuan Dao City for a campaign. What are the results? So many elites went, even the Old Dragon God of the Dragon God lineage went, yet there has been no sign of movement?"

The Emperor stood up and shook off his bright yellow casual robe.

Together with Lian Gonggong, he stepped out of the Cloud Palace, strolling along the long corridor. The cold air drifted gently through the corridor, and rice‑sized snowflakes, carried by the wind, rushed in from outside.

"Your Majesty, no news has returned from the State Master's side; we hear they are preparing the army, awaiting the right moment."

Lian Gonggong lowered his brows and nodded.

"Awaiting the right moment?"

The Emperor sneered.

"What is Xie Yunshen up to? It's been so long; failing to capture it promptly only drags on, further tarnishing Dàjǐng's reputation."

"Ji Mo Li, the heads of all major Divine Sects, even the three Divine Calamities united… With such a lineup, a campaign against a Divine Sect still stalls; doesn't that make Dàjǐng's court a laughingstock?"

"What, we must give Xie Yunshen ten Divine Calamities, ten times the opponent's strength, to win a campaign against a Divine Sect?"

Although the Emperor could not see his face clearly, he could hear the anger in his words.

Lian Gonggong bowed his head, daring not to breathe loudly.

He also dared not offer Xie Yunshen any excuse or reason.

Because the army led by State Master Xie Yunshen possessed combat power several times that of the Qianyuan Divine Sect, aside from the campaign against the inscrutable First Divine Sect, the Zi Fu Divine Sect.

The other Divine Sects were basically certain to be broken, right?

"Even if we cannot breach the sect's gate, why is there no sign at all? The Dragon God has arrived, along with Zhao Beidou, the Patriarch of the Dragon‑Tiger Divine Sect, and Gu Qianchi, Patriarch of the Bashu Sword Pavilion… In other words, the entire court and the two great Divine Sects have gathered to encircle Qianyuan… Yet it still cannot be taken in a single stroke?"

The Emperor said coldly.

"Before the alliance, the news that Ji Mo Li's cooperating clone was beheaded gives me reason to suspect that Xie Yunshen has teamed up with Ji Mo Li for some scheme?"

Cold sweat broke out on Lian Gonggong's forehead.

"Your Majesty, the Prince of Pacifying Chaos… cannot be joking with his own clone, can he?"

"His clone is still quite important."

The Emperor stood in the corridor, gazing at the snow‑filled city, and sneered: "Important? To Ji Mo Li… it's merely an extra city to raze. Is it truly important to him?"

"The lives of the city's common folk… are they truly important to him?"

The Emperor's voice was low and lingering as he spoke.

"Do not think that his alliances in Jiangnan Dao with those self‑styled Confucian‑Daoist families and the affairs of Haoran Academy escape my notice."

"I ordered him to suppress the Corpse God Cult, not to merge with it…"

Lian Gonggong hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Gazing at the swirling snow, a flash of cold urgency crossed the Emperor's eyes: "Li Che… did you truly take the Gathering Immortal Banner from the Ten‑Thousand‑Year Peach Grove?"

"If that is so… I can no longer wait."

"It is not that I distrust the State Master; his performance is evident to all. He is an ambitious man seeking self‑realization, my right‑hand man, just like Lian Gonggong, both are the people I trust most."

"I could even entrust Dàjǐng's national destiny to the State Master… how could I not trust him?"

"But this time, the State Master's performance truly disappoints me."

The Emperor shook his head and let out a soft sigh.

"Qitian Cheng is about to be opened; the Imperial Astronomical Bureau has been busy these days, drums beating loudly. It seems the Grand Astronomer will soon announce the calculated exact opening date of Qitian Temple."

"I hope… the State Master can defeat the Qianyuan Divine Sect before the Grand Astronomer announces Qitian Cheng's opening!"

The Emperor narrowed his eyes.

"Lian Gonggong, I have drafted an edict; you shall go personally!"

Upon hearing this, Lian Gonggong trembled slightly.

He truly felt the Emperor's urgency.

What exactly is it…

that makes the Emperor so urgent?!

Is it those myriad gods of the Guiyi Miao camps that are about to revive?

"As you command, Your Majesty."

Lian Gonggong asked nothing; as the Emperor's most loyal servant, while feeling the Emperor's pain, he would only obey the Emperor's will.

……

……

Boom—!!!

Even in the icy snow, the surface of the Great Grand Canal, which has never frozen, surged with rolling waves; each crest struck, erupting countless misty sprays.

The Old Dragon God sat cross‑legged on the river's surface, his massive, imposing body, with two dragon horns like divine spears piercing the void.

He sat with his knees drawn up; the vast divinity of the Great Grand Canal rushed toward his form, making his aged yet towering flesh feel as if it were about to shatter the void and merge into nothingness.

Within a ten‑zhang radius around the Old Dragon God's body, the Dragon God Crown Prince and three other dragon heirs also sat cross‑legged, cultivating, absorbing the canal's divinity under the Old Dragon God's breath.

This is why Li Che never summoned the Dragon God Crown Prince; the Old Dragon God constantly watches the Crown Prince, guiding and supervising his cultivation.

After all, the Crown Prince is now the hope of the Dragon God lineage; the Old Dragon God cannot guarantee whether this journey to Qitian Cheng will find a way to break the deadlock or extend his lifespan.

If the Crown Prince can break the bottleneck and reach the Dragon God realm, the Dragon God lineage will have confidence on the mortal plane.

Hoohoohoo—

After an unknown amount of time, the Old Dragon God slowly opened his eyes, his entire aura trembling as if returning from the void.

"It's been so long… why does the State Master still show no sign? If we wait any longer, the Guiyi Miao of Qitian Cheng will revive and open." The Old Dragon God's brows furrowed, his two white hairs twisted together like long blades.

Boom—

He sprang up violently, causing the entire great river to tremble.

Old Dragon God looked toward the army's main camp covered by drifting snowflakes.

With a single step, terrifying and scorching blood‑qi instantly vaporized the snow, as if wrapped in wind and rain, causing the accumulated snow to melt into a relentless downpour!

After a few strides, he arrived inside the tent of National Teacher Xie Yunshen.

Inside the tent, Xie Yunshen was playing chess with a man named Ziyi Diao Si; seeing Ziyi Diao Si, Old Dragon God frowned.

Upon seeing Old Dragon God's arrival, Xie Yunshen's pallid face lit up instantly.

"Senior Dragon God has arrived, come, let's play a game together."

Xie Yunshen said warmly.

However, Old Dragon God merely glanced at him lightly: "National Teacher, my coming is not for a game; I have been here for months, yet I do not know when to act?"

"Continue this standoff? When will it end… Old Dragon, there is no time to keep confronting."

Old Dragon God was straightforward, pressing forward and getting straight to the point.

Hearing this, Xie Yunshen sighed lightly: "Senior Dragon God, I know you are anxious, but after the loss in the first battle, I dare not act rashly without first clarifying the Underworld's forces."

"Heavenly Pill Divine Sect's Gu Changqing, Hao Ran Academy's Bai Bu Yi, Dragon Tiger Divine Sect's Zhao Chunqiu… the deaths in battle of these sect leaders, and the severed avatar of the Pacifying Rebel King, I still cannot let go."

"I resent it, I resent my own carelessness in underestimating the enemy!"

Xie Yunshen looked extremely weary: "I must be responsible for the safety of my troops and the remaining strong ones…"

"In fact, not only Senior Dragon God is anxious; His Majesty in Shendu is also anxious."

"So, Lian Gonggong has come bearing the imperial decree."

Xie Yunshen spread his hands helplessly and said.

He meant to tell Old Dragon God that it is not that the court forbids him to wage war, but that he truly must first clarify the situation.

Old Dragon God looked at Ziyi Diao Si and Lian Gonggong, naturally recognizing the eunuch beside Emperor Dàjǐng.

Lian Gonggong's face was expressionless, and he smiled and nodded.

Old Dragon God's eyes softened a bit, but his brow remained furrowed: "National Teacher, whether we can fight, whether we should fight—once we fight once, we will know…"

Xie Yunshen forced a bitter smile: "Senior Dragon God has just arrived, unaware of the Underworld's terrifying and unfathomable nature…"

"Although Master Zhao said the Underworld's Yan Wang is gravely wounded… but is the Underworld truly only the Yan Wang? This force has never shown any practitioners of the Divine Tribulation or Martial God realm; would such a mysterious power have no such strong ones?"

"I… am afraid."

Xie Yunshen sighed.

Old Dragon God, hearing Xie Yunshen's evasive words, became somewhat angry: "Afraid of this and that, yet you speak of crushing mountains and breaking sects?"

Xie Yunshen, upon hearing that, did not become angry at Old Dragon God's tone; he gently shook his feather fan, a cool breeze brushing his face.

He stepped outside the tent and watched the accumulated snow melt into rain by Old Dragon God's scorching blood‑qi.

His gaze grew deep.

"Senior Dragon God, I have long had a plan; in a few more days… just a short while, not long at all, we will soon capture Qian Yuan Dao City, do you believe it?"

"Senior, do you trust me?"

Xie Yunshen's voice was low, and he seemed to radiate an overwhelming confidence. Such confidence even slightly startled Old Dragon God, who had endured great Divine Tribulation cultivations.

Where does his confidence come from?

Ziyi Diao Si and Lian Gonggong's eyes flickered slightly as they looked at Xie Yunshen, and they couldn't help but smile; indeed, the National Teacher is the one they know—confident, strategic, with wisdom at hand…

Xie Yunshen turned, his robe fluttering wildly: "Senior Dragon God, I have earned His Majesty's trust; with a mere mortal body I restrain the eleven Daoic Divine Sects of Dàjǐng, and I am deeply trusted by His Majesty, having been granted the cultivation of Dàjǐng's auspicious Golden Lotus…"

"His Majesty trusts me."

"Senior, why don't you trust me?!"

The intense confidence, like a surging tide, made Old Dragon God narrow his pupils slightly.

"Fine, Old Dragon will trust you."

"Senior, rest assured, if we are to crush mountains and break sects, Senior Dragon God's great strength is indispensable."

"It's almost ready, Senior, rest assured, it's truly near…"

Xie Yunshen's words made Old Dragon God's mind grow slightly heavy; although in recent days he had asked Xie Yunshen many times, each time Xie Yunshen had deflected.

But such a solemn, oath‑filled stance today was rather rare.

book bar

Inside the tent, watching Old Dragon God turn and leave.

The smile on Xie Yunshen's face remained, never fading.

It's almost ready.

You, Old Dragon God, wish to defeat the Qian Yuan Divine Sect before the inheritance in Qitian Cheng is activated…

Yet the Lord is no less anxious, is he?

The Lord is also near.

……

……

Qian Yuan Divine Sect.

A whirlwind of passion.

After Lü Taibai obtained the Wind‑Defying Tribulation Pill that Li Che had requested the Underworld's alchemy master to forge, he entered a seclusion state, venturing onto Mount Mei to the mysterious Guiyi Miao of the Three‑Eyed True Lord of the Brilliant Dao, where he attempted to break his realm.

Lü Qian Kun personally served as his protector.

The matter of Lü Taibai's attempt to break his realm was almost completely sealed; only a handful knew of it.

Therefore, the atmosphere in Qian Yuan Dao City improved considerably compared to before; the court and Qian Yuan Dao City were at a standoff, seemingly unable to clash in the short term, which allowed many people to relax their minds.

Inside the study.

For Li Che, the days ahead became extremely regular.

Besides cultivating the divinity crystal, they also added more of the Dao Tribulation space, training to withstand the burning of Dao Tribulation fire.

They wanted to bear more Dao Tribulation fire.

【Dao Tribulation: Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame (2%)】

However, raising the Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame is still far more difficult than imagined.

Since he last obtained a wisp of the Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame, with ghost fire above, after becoming the Netherworld Ghost Emperor, Li Che basically spent a lot more time each day on bearing the Dao Tribulation, and only then managed to raise his progress by 1%.

It's mainly due to bearing the Martial Immortal Golden Body, which some cannot withstand.

Li Che attempted to fuse the Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame into the Like Dragon Spine Eight Extraordinary Gates, but it remains an extremely difficult process.

Li Che's idea is simple: if the Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame could, like qi and blood, pass through the detonation of the Eight Extraordinary Gates and gain doubled growth, then it would likewise be a great help to his strength increase.

Hum—

He flicked his finger.

A black Binding God chess piece instantly blossomed in the study.

It slowly twisted into a humanoid form, Xie Yunshen's feather fan lightly swayed, and the Binding God, like one basking in a spring breeze, emerged.

He made a respectful and devout clasped-fist salute.

"Subordinate Xie Yunshen greets my lord."

Xie Yunshen said with a smile.

He briefly explained, simply stating the Old Dragon God's purpose in coming to him, and also relaying the words from Shendu that the Emperor had also become quite anxious.

"The Emperor is anxious, the Old Dragon God is also anxious……"

"The Old Dragon God's anxiety is understandable; he wants to settle all rear concerns before Qitian Cheng opens, but why is the Emperor anxious?"

"When Qitian Cheng opens, the Emperor won't go there…… then what is he anxious about?"

Li Che couldn't help but feel some doubt; perhaps the Emperor had learned some secret in the mysterious gate.

It's also possible that the Emperor is eager to obtain the Immortal Gathering Banner in his hand.

Speaking of the Immortal Gathering Banner, Li Che also looks forward to the Emperor's Immortal Gathering Banner; if… there are eight in total, Li Che only holds one, still far short; the effect of the Immortal Gathering Yellow Banner is also rather ordinary.

"Shendu, there are really too many good things, that Heaven-Earth Kunlun Mirror, and the Immortal Gathering Banner…… these Three Pure Ones Divine Weapons are all good things."

Li Che exhaled a breath.

Xie Yunshen's feather fan lightly swayed, yet he smiled: "My lord, you have a feud with the Emperor; isn't this a great opportunity?"

"Attendant Lian is a favorite beside the Emperor, deeply trusted by him; if you could turn Attendant Lian into your subordinate's colleague, my future work would also be easier."

Xie Yunshen said tactfully.

But Li Che instantly understood Xie Yunshen's meaning.

However, Li Che felt that this matter was indeed quite important……

"I'm just afraid this eunuch really has the guts…… to not obey me."

Li Che narrowed his eyes.

However, if he refuses to obey, then he refuses to obey……

At worst, it's just death.

Although, if Attendant Lian dies, it might cause Xie Yunshen to arouse the Emperor's suspicion, but the problem isn't big.

Li Che slightly nodded.

Xie Yunshen's eyes shone brightly, he made a clasped-fist salute, then turned into black smoke and withdrew, returning to the imperial court's great camp.

Obviously, the lord agreed with his suggestion and consented to act.

Being able to devise strategies for the lord, Xie Yunshen naturally was delighted.

……

……

Returning to the camp tent, Xie Yunshen, his feather fan lightly swayed, his mood was quite good.

The Emperor sent Attendant Lian bearing the imperial edict; besides urging, there was also a veiled threat.

Obviously, the Emperor was very dissatisfied with this campaign.

Even the most trusted Attendant Lian was personally dispatched; besides delivering the edict, there was also the meaning of expressing a verbal relay.

The Emperor was dissatisfied with him, and Xie Yunshen also became dissatisfied with the Emperor.

When deployed abroad, the sovereign's orders may not be obeyed.

The Emperor also pointed and gestured……

Xie Yunshen recalled the many pressures he faced in the first battle, his heart instantly felt displeased; if the Emperor had the ability, he should personally lead the troops to see how terrifying and troublesome the Netherworld really is.

In the first battle of Conquering Mountains and Breaking Sects, Xie Yunshen could be said to have exhausted all schemes.

But in the end, wasn't it still a failure?

Now, his whole person has taken the shape of the Netherworld!

The Emperor even sent people to urge, hurry, hurry, to reincarnate?!

Perfect, this Attendant Lian's coming is naturally like a meat-filled bun beating a dog—once he comes, he won't return!

Xie Yunshen shook his head, grasped his feather fan, donned a crane cloak; on his face, his complexion turned deathly pale from a backlash of fortune.

Just leaving the camp tent, the Yellow Eyebrow Grand Dharma Master's face was gentle; the two locked eyes, instantly understanding each other's thoughts.

The two came to the camp tent where Attendant Lian was lodged.

Xie Yunshen still held the imperial edict; Attendant Lian heard the commotion, quickly opened the camp tent, and invited the edict-holding Xie Yunshen inside.

"National Preceptor…… is there anything you don't understand about Your Majesty's imperial edict?"

Attendant Lian couldn't help but laughingly ask.

He glanced at Xie Yunshen, then glanced at the calmly standing Yellow Eyebrow Grand Dharma Master behind Xie Yunshen.

For some unknown reason, Lian Gonggong's heart suddenly began to beat with extreme intensity.

The sense of impending disaster made the old eunuch's complexion change instantly.

Something's wrong!

Where exactly is it wrong?!

Lian Gonggong's eyes narrowed, and his complexion shifted dramatically.

His forehead trembled, the Heaven-and-Earth Soul roared upward, but...

As soon as it rose above the camp tent, he sensed an interlaced chessboard, and a terrifying force poured out, forcibly suppressing his Heaven-and-Earth Soul back, unable to release even a fraction.

Lian Gonggong's heart trembled incessantly, sinking into a abyss.

Then Grand Master Huang Mei stepped forward, appearing beside him, a Buddha palm fell onto Lian Gonggong's shoulder.

Lian Gonggong's cultivation was decent, but compared with a top‑tier supreme deity like Huang Mei, who ranks among the foremost of the Tianmen Gate and Great Deity Register, he was clearly outmatched...

"National Preceptor! Are you rebelling?!"

Lian Gonggong's voice sharpened as he roared in anger.

However...

The next instant, Lian Gonggong felt his throat blocked, unable to utter even a hint of his sharp roar.

Because...

While Xie Yunshen's feather fan fluttered lightly, a jet‑black portal materialized beside him, its origin unknown.

Above the portal, a plaque read "Feng Du".

Creak…

The portal was slowly pushed open.

A surge of scorching heat instantly rolled within the tent.

Creak—

Remote, ancient, deathly silent, scorching…

Within the pitch‑black portal.

A figure slowly stepped out, its plain footsteps echoing as if striking Lian Gonggong's heart.

An extremely terrifying dead aura and ghostly flames surged!

The overwhelming will of Heaven and Earth pressed down like a mountain cleaved at the waist, toppling.

Leaving Lian Gonggong completely suffocated.

"Under… Underworld…"

At that moment, Lian Gonggong's mind short‑circuited.

He felt as if pressed into a January ice lake, his heart frozen, his mind a solid block, unable to function.

He was utterly bewildered…

Underworld… why does the Underworld appear beside the National Preceptor?

And why does Grand Master Huang Mei act on behalf of the Underworld?

Could it be…

National Preceptor and Grand Master Huang Mei… are both members of the Underworld?!

Yet there was no time for further thought; the oppressive pressure in the air grew ever more dreadful!

His eyes widened in sheer terror, immobilized under Huang Mei's suppression.

Despairingly and horrifically watching the figure emerging from the ink‑black Feng Du, it gradually solidified in his sight.

That is… that is a human?!

A black robe fluttered, sleeves whipping wildly, striking the void like a sword.

The head was engulfed in violet flames, the purple fire warping the void, scorching heaven and earth as if to incinerate all sins of this realm.

However…

Within the violet fire lay a golden skull!

What kind of flame is this, that a single glance makes his soul feel on the brink of extinction, his spirit withering…

Even Lian Gonggong has witnessed the great divine tribulation refinement!

Just as the founder Zhao Beidou of the Dragon and Tiger Divine Sect has entered the imperial palace's divine hall many times, Lian Gonggong, having been fortunate to see him, also witnessed his terrifyingly cold White Nether Calamity Fire…

But this violet flame now far surpasses the White Nether Calamity Fire, seeming to conceal a great terror!

Who is this?!

Underworld… does the Underworld have such a being?!

The violet fire flickered, the figure terrifying and massive; behind the pitch‑black portal, countless wailing souls cried, the Ghost Gate opened, endless specters raging forth.

The Underworld King Yan, Niu Mo, Ma Mian, Divine Monkey… each Underworld fiend twisted, like demons reborn, polluting the world!

Lian Gonggong trembled all over; he then saw National Preceptor Xie Yunshen and Grand Master Huang Mei.

Their bodies twisted, flesh shattered, visages feral, as if turned into infernal demons!

And National Preceptor Xie Yunshen and Grand Master Huang Mei fervently and respectfully clasped fists in salute.

"Underworld Xie Yunshen!"

"Underworld Huang Mei!"

"Welcome the Ghost Emperor!"

Lian Gonggong collapsed onto the ground.

He actually beheld within the Underworld…

…a being above the King Yan!

Ah—

Our family... what virtue and ability do we have?!

(End of chapter)