Chapter 505

"Tengen Toppa?"

Hecatia frowned slightly, a clear trace of confusion flashing in her eyes, "What is that?"

If one is to command Hell in this person's World...

Does one need to master this kind of thing?

"It's nothing."

The Qi Refining practitioner feigned a deep sigh, his tone carrying a few hints of regret—

"It's just that my side already has a Mistress presiding over the Underworld, I'm afraid I cannot entrust the entirety of Hell to your governance... truly a great pity."

"Mistress?"

Hecatia's eyelashes trembled lightly, gazing thoughtfully at the other party, the corner of her lips hooking a playful arc:

"Would it be an Underworld Goddess more qualified than me?"

"Perhaps... but that's not important." Xia Zhi laughed lightly, avoiding a direct answer: "The point is there must be a first come first served, so there's no way."

"Hey, this is clearly very important—"

Hecatia narrowed her eyes, dragging out her tone, complaining half-truthfully.

"What first come first served, I feel such an important post should still be competitive appointment, speaking by ability is better, what do you think?"

"..."

"..."

"Hmm, you putting it that way makes quite a bit of sense too."

The youth suddenly stroked his chin, actually nodding seriously, as if truly weighing pros and cons.

"... Eh?"

Hecatia instead instantly raised an eyebrow, clearly looking somewhat guilty, but immediately became righteous again.

She was just complaining, she hadn't thought she could really persuade the other party so easily.

What's more...

She actually didn't have any real intention, just talking nonsense casually with the other party.

After all, thinking about it one knows, this deity who can't even be bothered to manage her own Hell, how would she suddenly become diligent?

As the commander of the Moon, Earth, and Otherworld Three Realms Hell, she has always been willful and unrestrained, never taking so-called "duties" to heart.

—In this aspect it's hard to say how much sense of responsibility she has.

—Let alone traveling to another world to take charge of the Underworld, it sounds very unrealistic just hearing it.

Therefore...

Don't expect her to really have ideas, preparing to go to another platform and show her skills or something.

These are ultimately just jokes.

But... the current situation seems somewhat subtle, she also shook her eyebrows, blinked her eyes.

Hehe, could it be this person truly moved his heart? Seeing such a perfect Hell Goddess as myself, he wants to abandon his old master and choose a new worthy one?

"Oh? So what do you mean?"

Hecatia's eye corners lifted slightly, cunning light flowing in her eyes.

She also lightly tapped her chin with her fingertip, dragging her tone to ask:

"Could it be you plan to let me directly parachute over, replace that Underworld Mistress's position, and be a ready-made Underworld First-in-Command?"

"That won't do, that's just appointment by fiat isn't it? That completely can't convince the masses, Hecatia-sama." Xia Zhi shook his head, calmly vetoing this proposal.

"Hmm? Then what do you mean—?"

"What I mean..." The Qi Refining practitioner coughed lightly, cleared his throat, and spoke seriously: "Just like you said just now, competitive appointment, let's speak by ability."

"How to compete?" Hecatia asked with a grin, pursuing the question.

"..."

"..."

Xia Zhi did not answer immediately, only the corner of his lips lifting, revealing a faint yet unfathomable smile.

However, when Hecatia curiously wanted to pursue the question, looked over, the instant her gaze met his.

That instant...

Time froze.

The Hell Goddess's pupils suddenly contracted.

Her mind and spirit suddenly trembled violently, as if seized by some power transcending cognition.

She saw in the depths of Xia Zhi's eyes, no longer mortal pupils, but a certain indescribable "Existence" itself—

There was no light, no dark, no boundaries of Time and Space.

Only pure "Law" and "Principle" Burning, collapsing, reorganizing.

She saw...

—Star Rivers flowing like Dust in his eyes, billions of years of time compressed into an instant, the birth and death of the Universe merely insignificant Ripples in his eyes.

—Laws distorting, collapsing under his gaze, then reshaping into new order, as if he himself was the source of "Existence", the Supreme Will towering above all Concepts.

This moment.

Time was truly infinitely stretched in the mutual gaze, long like Dead Silent Despair.

Even more heart-palpitating, she glimpsed a figure at the end of that abyss.

Hecatia had never seen such an Existence.

—That Mistress towering above the Underworlds of all Worlds...

—Both like a deity presiding over the Underworld, and like the incarnation of the "Underworld" Concept itself...

Her thoughts froze at this moment; all movement and thought fell into stagnation, as if plunging into an endless fall.

Her very existence seemed to be dissolving, from matter to thought, gradually turning into light, as if about to merge into that Mistress's Crown and become part of the "Underworld"……

………………

"Lady Hecatia! Lady Hecatia!"

A familiar yet strange shout rang out.

It seemed to come from the distant horizon, yet also seemed to reverberate around her.

The Hell Goddess snapped back to awareness, discovering she still stood in place, as if everything just now was merely a momentary trance.

And the Yama Girl with green shoulder-length hair was shielding her front, trying to wake her while guarding against the person opposite.

This commander of Hell seemed to have just awakened from a dream; she stared blankly at the youth in her vision as he blinked at her.

Perception returned.

Time flowed again.

"……"

"……"

The next moment, Hecatia abruptly retreated half a step, breathing slightly disordered, fingertips unconsciously clutching her clothes corner.

"What's wrong? Are you alright, Lady Hecatia?" Shiki Eiki asked with a furrowed brow, concerned, as if she did not know what this commander had just experienced.

But Hecatia knew——

That was not an illusion.

It was……

Some "truth" she should not have peeked at.

Hecatia clenched her fist, took a deep breath, looking at the Qi Refining scholar ahead who was still smiling gently.

She finally realized——

The existence before her eyes was absolutely not something she could speculate on.

He was a more ancient, more vast, more unknowable existence, a "something" transcending the very concept of "god" she understood.

And right now, He, in human posture, with a tranquil smile, was gazing at her.

——Just like humans gaze at ants, stars gaze at dust.

"That is…… that is……"

She pursed her lips, trying hard to calm herself, but unable to express her calm well through words.

"Correct, that is it."

The youth readily admitted, "Just as you say——the capable shall occupy the post."

"As long as you beat her, you are the new Underworld boss, Hell's Decision Maker!"

"……"

"……"

What a joke!

I fight that kind of existence? For real?!

Although Hecatia tried hard to maintain her expression, her mouth corners still twitched slightly, her expression involuntarily showing a trace of flustered panic.

Yet that unknown bizarre existence opposite was even very kindly considerate in offering help——

"As the challenger, I think I can appropriately let you choose the battle venue……"

"If you have any ideas, you can tell me, I'll help you prepare……"

"……"

"……"

Hecatia took a deep breath, her chest rising and falling slightly.

She forced her mouth corners to move, attempting to squeeze out a composed smile, but the slight tremor at her eye corners and slightly stiff facial lines exposed her inner wavering.

"No, no need……"

Her voice was a few degrees lower than usual, the ending sound as if pressed down by something, drifting down lightly.

"I was just saying…… actually being a General Management Post is pretty good too, right?"

Speaking here, this Goddess's speech suddenly sped up, as if anxious to finish pouring out the words, "After all competitive appointment and all, sounds…… pretty troublesome."

"Are you sure?" the youth asked with a half-smile.

"Of course I'm sure! You agree, right, Ying Ji!"

Hecatia nodded firmly and forcefully; her gaze wandered for an instant, then swiftly glanced at Shiki Eiki, as if seeking some silent support.

"……"

"……"

The Yama Girl pulled her mouth corner.

She did not know what had happened, but faintly could also speculate a thing or two.

Probably during the eye contact with Xia Zhi, this commander of Hell likely saw something, so was impacted.

Illusion technique?

Should not be…… a deity commanding the Three Realms Hell, how could she be easily shaken by an illusion technique?

Just Shiki Eiki for a moment also could not think of other possibilities, moreover facing her direct superior's gaze, could not pretend not to see.

The Yama Girl softly sighed in her heart, still nodded: "N-no…… I also think so."

"Hao Le, I personally am very democratic, since this is your choice——"

Xia Zhi withdrew his gaze: "Then I'll arrange a General Management Post for you."

"Mhm..."

Hecatia nodded repeatedly in compliance. A management post, a management post — that was exactly what she liked...

Huh?

Wait!

Hecatia mechanically nodded along, yet in a certain instant she suddenly froze in place.

She blinked, her slender eyebrows gradually knitting together, feeling as if something wasn't quite right.

Why did I agree to a management post? By rights, shouldn't I have refused outright? I never had any intention of going to work at all!

— Clearly, that was the thought from the very start...

— Yet now, struck by the impact, my mind is in chaos, completely losing my composure...

— It's just that subconsciously I felt as long as I don't challenge the Lord of the Underworld's position, anything else is fine...

Finally realizing the truth, Hecatia was no longer calm at all.

Did I fall for a trick?

"And you, Miss Ying Ji?" At this moment, Xia Zhi looked at the Yama Girl with great patience.

"... I'll consider it."

Shiki Eiki fell silent for a moment, then sighed: "Although I don't know how you made Lady Hecatia decide so quickly."

"But since the highest commander of all Hell has made a decision, we must also treat this matter seriously."

— No! Yorihime!

— I, I fell for it aaaaaah...

The highest commander of Hell wore a lost, dazed look, yet could not voice her suffering.

Because that slender palm had already covered her mouth in an irresistible way, its warm touch sealing her protest completely.

She subconsciously grabbed the other's wrist, fingertips trembling, yet unable to exert force as if touching some formless barrier.

The Qi Refining practitioner, without turning his head, extended a hand and covered her mouth.

Using his figure as cover, he gently leaned down, gazing at the petite, cute Yanluo Wang before him, revealing an appreciative smile:

"Congratulations, you've made a wise choice."

(Chapter End)