Chapter 631

Pingxin Niangniang's saintly might, like a tangible tide, collided fiercely with the Yao Clan Heavenly Court's radiant imperial aura above the Youming Di Fu.

The entire Youming trembled slightly.

Bai Ze held the decree in his hands, feeling that the thin scroll of gold brocade weighed as much as a divine mountain, pressing down on him, this peak Golden Immortal Yao Saint, until he could barely breathe.

A Saint, after all, is a Saint.

Even if merely a newly ascended Earthly Dao Saint, she is absolutely not someone these Quasi-Sages' mortal beings can offend.

But he cannot retreat.

Behind him lies the Heavenly Emperor's will, and more importantly, that Eastern Prince's supreme Yang Scheme.

Pingxin Niangniang's cold gaze swept over Bai Ze, then over his neatly ranked, golden-armored millions of Yao Bing, finally settling on the scroll of flashing golden light—the decree.

She fell silent.

Refuse?

She looked down at this chaotic Youming Dadi, filled with endless Yuan Hun, and knew she had no capital to refuse.

The cycle of reincarnation had just been established; order had not yet arisen.

These countless Yuan Hun Ye Gui were like silt blocking a river channel; if not promptly dredged, the surging Lunhui Changhe would not only fail to flow but would instead be overwhelmed by this vast resentment, bursting the dams and backfiring upon herself, reducing this Earthly Dao Saint to a laughingstock.

Accept?

How could she possibly resign herself!

This is the Great Dao she obtained by sacrificing her ancestral witch true form and forsaking her brothers and kin.

It is the last retreat she found for the Wuzu amidst the Honghuang's myriad beings.

How could she allow others, especially the death-enemy Yao Clan, to so easily lay their hands upon it?

Just as Pingxin Niangniang was caught in a dilemma and the entire Youming Di Fu's atmosphere froze to an icy point.

"Shi la——"

A piercing sound of space being forcibly torn apart rang out.

Eleven towering figures, radiating endless ominous killing qi, stumbled out from the spatial rift—none other than the Eleven Ancestral Witches, including Di Jiang, whom Pingxin Niangniang had just sent out of the Di Fu.

They have returned!

"Xiao Mei!"

Di Jiang looked at Pingxin, who stood opposed to the Yao Clan, saw the struggle she could barely conceal in her eyes, and instantly understood.

His heart, which had sunk to the valley's depths, suddenly ignited a faint yet fiercely hot spark.

Opportunity!

"Yao Clan brat, how dare you act so recklessly!"

Zhu Rong's furious roar echoed through the Youming: "The Di Fu is my younger sister's incarnation—how dare you fur-clad, horned beasts defile it!"

He made to charge forward, but Di Jiang grabbed him and held him back.

Di Jiang gave Bai Ze a deep glance, then glanced at the glaring Heavenly Emperor's decree, finally fixing his gaze on Pingxin Niangniang, his voice hoarse yet carrying an undeniable resolve.

"Xiao Mei, no, Pingxin Niangniang."

He changed his form of address.

"You said the Di Fu could be our Wuzu's final retreat."

Pingxin Niangniang's delicate body trembled slightly; she said nothing, merely gazing at him in silence.

"Good!" Di Jiang gritted his teeth fiercely, as if making the most difficult decision of his life: "Our Wuzu wishes to abandon the Honghuang Dadi, the entire clan retreating into the Youming!"

"Brother!"

"Older Brother!"

Zhu Rong, Gonggong, and others were shocked and dismayed.

"Our Wuzu, Primordial Orthodoxy, born of the Dadi, raised upon the Dadi. We may not understand heavenly timing, but organizing the earthly veins, suppressing wandering souls—this is our innate duty!"

Di Jiang ignored his brothers' exclamations, his gaze locked dead-center on Pingxin Niangniang, and said word by word: "The Yao Clan wishes to establish the Ten Halls of Yama—good! Our Wuzu's sons shall go forth as soul-hunting ghost officials and gate-guarding warriors!"

"The Yao Clan wishes to define the Youming order—good! We ancestral witches shall guard the entrance of these Six Paths of Reincarnation for you, sorting the path of soul return for these myriad earthly veins!"

"The Yao Clan seeks name and aura! Our Wuzu seeks actual power—for our sons, to secure a path to survival!"

These words rang like metal striking stone!

Bai Ze's pupils suddenly contracted.

What a Di Jiang!

What a one who advances by retreating!

He instantly grasped Di Jiang's scheme. The Yao Clan descended from heaven, their name unjust, their words disordered.

But the Wuzu are different—Hou Tu transformed the cycle of reincarnation; they are inherently their own people.

Letting them serve as the Di Fu's grassroots staff—who could utter even half a "no"?

By then, the Yao Clan would loom high above, holding the title of Yanluo Ghost Emperor, yet unable to command a single ghost soldier below. The entire Di Fu would still be the Wuzu's domain!

In Pingxin Niangniang's ancient-well-still Saint's eyes, finally a ripple appeared.

She looked at the deep fatigue and resolve in Di Jiang's eyes, at his brothers behind him—though filled with reluctance, yet still choosing to follow.

She slowly nodded her head.

"Yes."

One word, and heaven and earth were settled.

Bai Ze silently thought "Not good," but his face remained unchanged.

He knew he had no room left for negotiation.

To plant the Yao Clan's banner in the Di Fu without bloodshed, to seize the moral high ground—this was already the best outcome.

As for the subsequent wrangling and power struggles… that would depend on what other tricks the Eastern Prince still had up his sleeve.

"Since it is so, I, your servant, shall return to report to His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor." Bai Ze bowed deeply to Pingxin Niangniang, then immediately led the million Yao Bing in an orderly retreat from the Youming Di Fu.

In the Youming, only the Eleven Ancestor Wu and that newly ascended Earthly Dao Saint remained.

"Little sister..." Di Jiang gazed at Ping Xin, wanting to speak but hesitating.

"Brother." Pingxin Niangniang sighed, the Saint's dignity fading, revealing a touch of Hou Tu's tenderness and compassion, "I know you bear resentment in your hearts. But, this is the Wu Clan's sole path to survival."

"I understand." Di Jiang nodded, turning his head to look at the six great Reincarnation Vortices, a glint of sharp light flashing in his eyes, "The Yao Clan wishes to be masters of the Di Fu, but they must see if they possess the fate for it!"

……

Thirty-Three Heavens, Lingxiao Baodian.

After hearing Bai Ze's report, all the Yao Shen were filled with righteous indignation.

"Your Majesty! The Wu Clan's actions are clearly outward compliance but inward defiance! We nominally are the Yánluó Guǐ Dì, yet in truth we have not a single soldier under our command—all are the Wu Clan's people! How is this different from handing over the Di Fu?"

"I implore Your Majesty to issue an edict, allowing me to lead troops and drive all those Wu Clan barbarians completely out of the Di Fu!"

Di Jun's face was as still as water, he said nothing, merely turning his gaze toward the Soft Couch in the corner.

Gu Yuan remained in that half-dead, half-alive state; after hearing this, he merely gave a light chuckle.

"What is there to fear?"

"Let them be ghost officials if they wish to be."

"Brother." Gu Yuan looked toward Di Jun, speaking slowly and leisurely, "Official positions are those we bestowed. Emoluments, naturally, should also be issued by us."

"Convey my order, draft another decree, and proclaim it throughout the Great Wasteland."

"All who enter our Heavenly Court Di Fu system, whether Wu or Yao, must inscribe their names on the 【Heavenly Ranking】 outside the Southern Heavenly Gate."

"Each month, they may, according to their merits, receive on the 【Heavenly Ranking】 the 【Hell Coin】 minted by our Heavenly Court."

"This coin is forged from Nine Netherworld Qi and our Heavenly Court's Mandate Qi; it can not only be exchanged for 【Heavenly Coin】 in the mortal realm, but also cleanse souls and nourish true spirits, being the sole hard currency of the netherworld."

"Brother, you say—will those Wu Clan choose to work for you free for life, or will they honestly come to claim our emoluments?"