Chapter 654: Nu Huang, Following Cause and Effect, Calls Him Husband Upon Speaking, Gifts the Eighth Ancient Symbol

Boom—

A terrifying snake tail pierced the void, as if crossing time and space, sweeping over; everything was shattering, the immense demonic aura seeming to tear apart the very origin.

Above the Netherworld Mouth, in an instant it was completely sealed; the enormous snake tail, like a true primordial dragon, lay across and lashed; the force of the tail's tip exploding seemed to blast the void into a primordial vacuum!

That was the ultimate explosion of power!

It was as if, in an instant, the force drawn from the snake tail was compressed and released a thousandfold!

Even the two sovereigns who had chased out of the Netherworld Mouth changed expression slightly, not daring to confront this move head-on.

As the snake tail swept past, the sky above the Netherworld Mouth seemed to be scored with an endless abyss.

Clearly within reach, yet utterly unattainable!

"Nu Huang!"

The Netherworld Sovereign and the Death Sovereign chased out, facing Nu Huang's lashing snake tail, they had no choice but to counter.

Although Nu Huang is an Imperial-rank Heavenly Immortal of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, she belongs to the oldest of such immortals; though she has never held the title of sovereign, her battle prowess is in no way inferior to that of the Netherworld Sovereign who has set foot in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

For the sovereigns within the Netherworld, in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths they inherently suffer power-level restrictions, suppressed by the Will of Heaven and Earth.

Thus, the power Nu Huang erupts can truly match the two sovereigns.

It is the same principle as the Heaven-Reaching God Emperor being able to block the Death Sovereign on the Boundless Sea.

Boom——!!!

The terrifying collision stirred up earth-shaking energy waves, as if a dreadful mushroom cloud rose, destroying heaven and earth, bursting forth with blinding light.

That was the collision of the purest energy!

The impact's force raged outward.

Li Che's figure, covered within the Hell Equal Heaven Armor, was somewhat uncontrollable, shot out.

However, Li Che quickly steadied his stance, feet planted on the ground, the As-you-will Golden Hoop Staff upright; on the surface it dragged out a huge trench, piling up a mountain behind him.

Having steadied, Li Che slowly rose to his feet and discovered he was in the Divine Craft Heaven of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths!

One after another, pyramid-like buildings towered into the clouds, immensely tall, as if carved by supernatural craftsmanship, standing upon the boundless land of the Divine Craft Heaven.

As far as the eye could see, heaven and earth were a smooth plain; upon this flat ground of the Divine Craft Heaven rose pyramid-like buildings shooting up from the earth.

Boom—

Li Che's figure hovered within the control space of the Hell Equal Heaven Armor.

Slowly straightening up, the Hell Equal Heaven Armor's monkey hairs came to life, fluttering in the wind as if clouds drifted from its midsection.

Gazing at those pyramids, Li Che felt a slight daze.

Atop one pyramid, a graceful figure sat in quiet meditation, her lower body a serpent's tail coiled together, supporting an upright, peerless upper form.

Beneath Nu Huang, that pyramid actually gave birth to a tremendous Netherworld vortex, from which an immense death-origin qi poured out of the swirling black vortex.

That black vortex was precisely the Netherworld Mouth!

Li Che gazed toward the Netherworld Mouth and could see the Death Sovereign and the Netherworld Sovereign standing side by side in the void.

Nu Huang's move successfully blocked them.

They no longer chose to break out, knowing it was pointless; Li Che had escaped back to the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, and any further attack would be difficult.

Especially with Nu Huang, such an ancient Imperial-rank Heavenly Immortal, blocking them, success would be even harder.

"Little thief!"

The Netherworld Sovereign's voice was icy and booming; even a being of this level could not help but speak through gritted teeth.

He actually managed to let him escape!

In the Netherworld, this is his home turf!

The Netherworld Sovereign is truly unwilling, even more resentful and unwilling than the Death Sovereign.

Because the Netherworld Sovereign somehow felt that this chance to deal with Li Che had been missed; next time… it might be hard to get such an opportunity again!

From Li Che repeatedly stealing souls from his hand, each time Li Che's strength grew, he became stronger.

And each time Li Che's strength increased, it caused the Netherworld Sovereign's lock on him to deviate, allowing Li Che to succeed in seizing the spirit!

Boom——!!!

The more he thought, the angrier he became.

The Netherworld Sovereign even tried to charge into the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths; the terrifying Netherworld axe in his hand began to vibrate, its Netherworld ancient symbols flashing with brilliant light!

In an instant.

Above the Divine Craft Heaven, countless ancient runes began to surface.

The Will of Heaven and Earth was stimulated, beginning to condense into Heaven-Earth ancient symbols……

To counterattack, to unleash supreme slaughter; if the Netherworld Sovereign dared step half a foot out of the Netherworld, thunderous slaughter would descend, attempting to slay and wipe out the opponent!

Nu Huang's eyes opened and closed, vast divinity and demonic aura emanating from her, as if merging with the whole of heaven and earth.

The Netherworld Sovereign's form, eager to charge out, was ultimately forced back into the Netherworld Mouth.

"Little thief——!"

The Netherworld Sovereign's roar echoed again from the Netherworld Mouth.

As the Netherworld Mouth was resealed and suppressed by Nu Huang, the sound gradually faded into the wind.

Feeling the Netherworld Sovereign and Death Sovereign sealed within the Netherworld Mouth, Li Che involuntarily exhaled a breath.

It must be said, Li Che's escape from the Netherworld through the Netherworld Mouth sealed by Nu Huang actually involved a gamble.

Of course, even if Nu Huang did not act, letting the Netherworld Sovereign and Death Sovereign pursue him out of the Netherworld, Li Che also believed that the Will of Heaven and Earth of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths would also descend to suppress power.

However, then, relying solely on the Will of Heaven and Earth of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths still carried some risk; Li Che still faced the danger of being forcibly dragged back into the Netherworld by the Netherworld Sovereign disregarding the Will of Heaven and Earth.

And now……

The Netherworld's threat has, for now, drifted away from Li Che.

A flicker of spirit, Li Che's form poured out from the brow of the Hell Qi Tian Armor.

The Hell Qi Tian Armor turned into a streak of light, which Li Che drew into Mo City Fengdu.

His ink‑black robe fluttered wildly; Li Che still wore the Ox Demon Mask, his jet‑black hair billowing and dancing like waterweed.

He hovered in the air, facing the Wang Emperor who sat atop a pyramid.

The Wang Emperor's visage was shrouded in a haze, obscuring his features; it was the manifestation of the Heavenly Will's power.

As one of the oldest imperial‑grade celestial immortals of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, she is the most proficient and powerful in controlling the Heavenly Will of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

Li Che looked at the Wang Emperor with a complicated expression.

He clasped his fists together, bowing respectfully.

"Li Che, I have seen the Wang Emperor."

The words echoed across this vast Divine Craft Heaven.

Upon each pyramid rose soaring demonic aura, great demons hidden within; at this moment they dared not speak, only watching covertly.

The Wang Emperor's hair cascaded onto his fair shoulders.

The misty eyes of the Heavenly Will gazed calmly at Li Che, also bearing a complex expression.

Originally, Li Che burst out from the Nether, and she should not have acted, because each strike at the Nether Gate was a huge burden for her.

After all, this Nether Gate has been open for countless ages, and the Nether Heavenly Will it contains has long reached an extremely terrifying level.

It is far beyond the Nether Gate that the Tongtian Divine Emperor suppressed over the Endless Sea.

Nevertheless, she still acted.

The reason is simple: merely because of the karmic link between Li Che and her.

Li Che is the husband of her reincarnated self…

In fact, the memories of the reincarnated self do not connect with hers; at first the Wang Emperor knew her reincarnated self but could not obtain Zhang Ya's memories.

As Zhang Ya learned she was the Wang Emperor's reincarnated self, the memories fully merged, establishing a link between them.

Zhang Ya's life seemed to merge into the Wang Emperor's mind, allowing the Wang Emperor to experience it firsthand.

Later, when the reincarnated self returns to its original body, no gap will appear.

However, this also indirectly affected the Wang Emperor.

For a powerhouse of the Wang Emperor's caliber, the impact should not be severe; in theory, one could observe the reincarnated life as a third‑person spectator.

Yet the Wang Emperor discovered that the karmic tie on Li Che was unimaginably massive.

This memory, belonging solely to Zhang Ya, affected her with unparalleled intensity.

Is it because of the Prison Lotus Daughter?

Because she gave birth to the Prison Lotus Daughter?

However, birthing the Prison Lotus Daughter was already part of the Wang Emperor's scheme; she was prepared to bear that karmic weight.

But Li Che's karmic tie was not in her plan.

Indeed, Li Che's karmic tie is even larger than that of the Prison Lotus Daughter.

It shouldn't…

In the Wang Emperor's plan, Li Che, the father of the Prison Lotus Daughter and the husband of the reincarnated self…

Is merely a breeding mortal, an insignificant being.

Thus, the Wang Emperor also realized her calculation was wrong.

She should not view her own husband with a mortal's gaze, but with a direct one.

This existence, beyond her plan, brings tremendous impact to the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

She surveyed him for a long while.

Li Che ended his clasped‑fist pose, slowly straightened his body, met the Wang Emperor's gaze; beneath the mask his face was as calm as an ancient well.

Wang Emperor…

In the end, she is not his wife.

Although Zhang Ya is the Wang Emperor's reincarnated self, as long as Zhang Ya has never died, she remains Zhang Ya!

That strand of soul will not return to the Wang Emperor.

Therefore, Li Che cannot halt his path to strength; he must hasten to Tai Su Heaven to rescue his wife.

"Husband."

Suddenly.

Between heaven and earth, the Wang Emperor spoke.

The moment she opened her mouth.

Li Che was instantly dumbfounded.

Not only Li Che, but throughout Divine Craft Heaven, the great demons hidden in each pyramid, the Divine Eagle Immortal Hands of the demon clans, were all utterly stunned, their eyes seeming ready to pop out in shock. This… this… this…

How could the Wang Emperor utter such words?

Boom—

Moreover, in several pyramids, the Divine Eagle Great Immortals of the Strange Demon Caves were shaken to the core, unable to restrain their emotions, unleashing a terrifying aura.

One should know that the Wang Emperor is a master of the Strange Demon Caves, or rather of the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, the supreme ancestor of the Divine Eagle arts.

The mother of life who creates life!

How could such a being call a man "husband"?!

This shattered the hearts of countless fantasy‑laden Divine Eagle Great Immortals of the Strange Demon Caves!

Li Che was also shocked for a long time, never expecting… the Wang Emperor to pull such a stunt, an old bull eating tender grass?

Compared with the Wang Emperor who has lived countless ages, Li Che truly is the tenderest of tender grass.

"Sir, what are you thinking?"

The Nüwa Emperor's eyes gazed softly, as if seeing through Li Che's heart and guessing what Li Che was thinking at that moment.

Li Che seemed to have touched the most unspeakable forbidden realm of a woman!

Li Che felt a chill in his heart, hurriedly smiled and waved his hand.

"Within the Nether Realm, it's extremely dangerous; next time, don't do such a perilous thing again…"

The Nüwa Emperor said.

Again, a chorus of shattered‑heart sounds filled the air.

The Nüwa Emperor was actually caring about this man!

The Divine Eagle Immortals in the Strange Demon Caves were wailing.

"The Lord of the Nether, the Lord of Death, and the Lord of Reincarnation, and also an indescribable mysterious presence deep within the Abyss of Hell…"

"These beings have, through the Will of Heaven and Earth, proven themselves as true masters of the Dao, only half a step away from transcendence…"

"Being in the Nether and targeted by such beings is tantamount to walking in death."

The Nüwa Emperor said gravely.

Li Che was somewhat startled by the favor and quickly clasped his fists in greeting.

"Go, you should have many things to do now; go, and when you have time, bring Xixi to meet me."

The Nüwa Emperor said.

He did not converse much with Li Che, merely uttered two simple sentences before sending Li Che away.

Although the Nüwa Emperor chose to follow fate and accept his true heart, there remained a slight sense of awkwardness.

Buzz—

The Nüwa Emperor raised his hand and snapped his finger.

In the next instant, a snake scale drifted out, floating toward Li Che.

"You might need this."

"Zhang Ya is waiting for you; remember your oath."

The Nüwa Emperor said lightly.

Li Che was startled; from that snake scale he sensed an intensely strong Will of Heaven and Earth, and atop the scale a hidden ancient talisman glimmered.

It was one of the Heaven‑Earth Ancient Talismans, but Li Che had not yet attained comprehension, so he could not picture it in his mind.

Now Li Che has successfully comprehended and engraved seven Heaven‑Earth Ancient Talismans, with two remaining.

Even though Li Che's cultivation has progressed, attaining comprehension remains very difficult.

But the snake scale gifted by the Nüwa Emperor contains his insight, solving Li Che's urgent problem!

"To advance the Divine Eagle technique to the Ancestor Immortal level, the first requirement is to comprehend the Nine Talismans of Heaven and Earth."

"You may have a great chance; now with the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths… you are likely the last chance to become an Ancestor Immortal standing beside me."

The Nüwa Emperor said.

These words caused many Divine Eagle Immortals from the Strange Demon Caves in Divine Craft Heaven to fall silent.

Those of their own kind know their own affairs; they are well aware how difficult it is to challenge the Divine Eagle Ancestor Immortal.

Only upon truly reaching this level does one realize that before the Nüwa Emperor, one's own Divine Eagle technique is as tiny as a mayfly gazing at the blue sky!

"Thank you, Nüwa Emperor!"

Li Che felt no embarrassment or politeness; a snake scale given by his own wife—what is there to refuse?

Soft rice?

Being able to have soft rice is a talent!

Li Che felt at ease with his heart.

"Nüwa Emperor… I have another unseemly request."

Li Che wasn't shy, licking his face, as if striking a snake with a stick.

The Nüwa Emperor's eyelid twitched as he looked at Li Che's overwhelmingly powerful qi, instantly understanding something.

"As you wish, take care of yourself."

After the Nüwa Emperor finished speaking, a thick fog settled; the pyramid that suppressed the Nethermouth underwent a massive transformation, turning into a stone statue of the Nüwa Emperor, towering over the boundless land of Divine Craft Heaven.

The Divine Eagle Immortal masters and Great Immortals who emerged from many pyramids bowed and performed rites before the Nüwa Emperor stone statue.

Li Che also clasped his fists; beneath his Ox Demon mask his face was almost twisted into a grin.

He agreed…

I didn't expect the Nüwa Emperor would actually agree!

The Nüwa Emperor understands him!

Although Li Che wasn't explicit, the Nüwa Emperor clearly grasped his meaning.

Li Che's martial path seeks further refinement, so he must open the heavens!

He opened the Primordial Thunder Heaven and the Prison Lotus Land.

But that's still not enough!

And the Nüwa Emperor clearly agreed, permitting him to open the heavens in Divine Craft Heaven!

With the Nüwa Emperor stationed here, he is willing to act to block the Lord of the Nether and the Lord of Death, offering him protection, which shouldn't be an issue.

Therefore, Li Che felt extremely pleased.

Li Che was not in a hurry to depart; he simply floated down, amidst the many Divine Eagle Immortals of the Strange Demon Caves whose eyes were about to burst, he found a pyramid, climbed onto it, and floated down.

Not every pyramid has a demon clan stationed on it.

These pyramids are, in fact, the demon clan's ancestral lands, the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.

Every great mountain is actually a pyramid.

But, not every demon can ascend the pyramid and preside over it; it requires the divine eagle techniques of the Divine Eagle Immortal Hand and Divine Eagle Great Immortal level.

Li Che's Myriad Demon Emperor Dao Fruit directly transformed demonic aura, ascended a pyramid, and easily solved the divine eagle problem atop it.

Directly became the master of the pyramid.

Nüwa presided within the largest pyramid; though she had turned into a statue, her gaze could still clearly see Li Che's actions.

"Just what immense karmic ties lie behind this child..."

Nüwa murmured.

After she accepted this karma, the long-held oppression dissipated like smoke, leaving her much more at ease.

"Who exactly is he?"

"A mortal?"

"It's absolutely impossible for him to be a mortal!"

At this moment, Nüwa's mind flashed with one title after another, yet none matched the present Li Che.

However, Nüwa did not overly dwell in a dead end; if she couldn't figure it out, she simply stopped thinking about it.

Gazing at Li Che, seated upright atop the pyramid.

His eyes were deep and profound.

"Martial Immortal opens heaven... opened two days, still need to open?"

"Then I permit it."

Nüwa also knew that Li Che wanted to become strong, strong enough to go rescue Zhang Ya, which was actually difficult.

Time is too short.

But, Martial Immortal... always possesses the possibility of creating miracles.

She instead wanted to see whether Li Che could succeed.

Seated upright atop the pyramid.

Li Che was not in a hurry to return to the Prison Lotus Realm.

He intended to, in one breath, comprehend the eighth Heaven-Earth Ancient Symbol and condense the Heaven-Earth Eight Symbol Blade!

Perfect and upgrade the Hell Equal Heaven Armor!

Also, complete the carving and crafting of the close-fitting armor needed by the Third Prince Nezha!

Afterward, he took out the snake scale gifted by Nüwa that contained the eighth Heaven-Earth Ancient Symbol, and besides that, the leftover Hellfire Divine Wood after carving the Hell Equal Heaven Armor.

When the Hellfire Divine Wood appeared.

The Hundred Thousand Great Mountains immediately trembled.

Each Divine Eagle Great Immortal stared wide-eyed.

As Divine Eagle Great Immortals, they are highly sensitive to the aura of divine wood; merely the appearance of the Hellfire Divine Wood made them sense it.

Even Nüwa was slightly stunned.

She suddenly somewhat understood why Li Che was being chased by the Sovereign of the Netherworld and the Sovereign of Death...

This fellow actually went to the Netherworld and chopped off a segment of the divine wood of the Upper Two Saints?

Isn't he deserving of being hunted?!

(End of chapter)