Chapter 345: The Wu Clan Heads to the Underworld, Houyi and Kuafu Reappear!

In the Wu Clan.

Several ancestral witches such as Zhurong, Xingtian, and Rushou gathered together.

At this moment, all of them wore expressions of indignation and deep resentment.

"Hmph, we finally managed to corner Yinglong and the others, leaving them with no way to retreat."

"As long as we unleash the Doutian Shen Sha Great Formation, even Zhunti could not protect those dragon clans."

"But... Emperor Jiang and Zhujiuyin, my two elder brothers, actually decided to retreat."

"I cannot just let this go unpunished!"

Zhurong said this in a deep voice.

Clearly, he had reservations about Emperor Jiang and Zhujiuyin choosing to retreat.

Putting it nicely, they were overly cautious and conservative.

Putting it bluntly, isn't the Wu Clan afraid of Western Buddhism?!

After all, the fallen Xiangliu belonged to Zhurong's fire tribe, which was under Zhurong's command.

Therefore, he still refused to abandon the thought of revenge.

As his words fell, Xingtian also spoke up with an agitated expression, echoing in agreement.

"Exactly!"

"We must make Western Buddhism give an account for the death of our brother Xiangliu!"

Having once been great witches together, it can be said that Xingtian and Xiangliu shared a deeper bond.

Thus, Xingtian hardly needed to say more before immediately choosing to stand with Zhurong without hesitation.

On the side, Rushou showed a contemplative expression, murmuring as he spoke:

"This time, our actions must be kept secret from Emperor Jiang and Zhujiuyin."

"But... without their help, we lack the strength to directly confront Buddhist might."

Rushou's considerations were more thorough.

If we seek revenge, then this time we must not let Emperor Jiang and Zhujiuyin know.

But with just us few, going to stir up trouble with Buddhism?!

Wouldn't that be like sending sheep into a tiger's mouth, courting death?!

At this moment, Shebishi suddenly said:

"Forcibly storming the Buddhist stronghold is naturally impossible."

"But does Buddhism have disciples outside?!"

Upon hearing this, Xingtian's eyes instantly lit up.

Yes!

What they fear are nothing more than Jieyin, Zhunti, Hongyun, and Chen Ku—those four saint-level existences.

But if there are Buddhist disciples outside, not in Mount Sumeru.

Having lost the saints' protection, aren't they then at our mercy?!

Moreover, after just a brief thought, Xingtian had an idea.

"Brothers, is not the Western Dizang precisely in the underworld?!"

"And the Asura clan created by the River of the Underworld also greatly venerates Chen Ku."

"If we can enter the underworld and seize them all, we can use them as bargaining chips to exchange for Yinglong, Panlong, and others with Buddhism."

Xingtian proposed this.

Hearing this, Zhurong and the others all had their eyes light up.

Using hostages to pressure Buddhism into an exchange?!

This idea is simply brilliant.

Dizang's original vow—"If hell is not empty, I will not become a Buddha"—is truly earth-shaking.

Needless to say, his significance to Western Buddhism is also not to be ignored.

Using him to exchange for Yinglong and others would certainly work.

More importantly, if an ordinary cultivator tried to storm the underworld by force, it would be no different than seeking death.

But Zhurong and the others are different!

No matter what, Pingxin Niangniang in the underworld was originally transformed from their ancestral witch Houtu.

Surely, if they went there, they would not face any obstruction.

This favor, we still have!

"Good, good, Xingtian brother, this plan is excellent!"

"Hmph, as long as Zhunti and the others agree to hand over Yinglong and the others, it will also be a major blow to Buddhism's prestige."

"This time, we will not only avenge Xiangliu, but also weaken Western Buddhism's prestige."

"In the future, if we wish to again control humanity, it will be all the easier."

Without exception, Zhurong and the others immediately nodded, agreeing to Xingtian's proposal.

Thereafter, no more words were needed.

Zhurong and the others each dispersed, leaving in batches under the pretense of hunting for food, leaving no trace.

This was naturally to avoid Emperor Jiang and the others noticing anything unusual.

Only after traveling ten thousand li outside the Wu Clan did they regroup and head toward the underworld.

On another side, in Mount Sumeru!

Outsiders do not know.

At this moment, Chen Ku sat cross-legged in the midst of the Chaos world.

No other reason!

This is precisely the world inside the Chaos Pearl.

And precisely for this reason, the Chaos Pearl conceals all heavenly secrets, so Chen Ku remained unaware of what was happening in the outside world.

The Tower of Time hung high, dropping down various profound and obscure, meaninglessly significant time-law rhythms, altering the flow of time in this Chaos world.

And before Chen Ku, at this moment, vast stretches of law and order stretched across the sky, surging without end, magnificent beyond compare.

A single glance made it seem like an endless heavenly canopy.

Chen Ku used this to trace cause and effect, attempting to perceive more heavenly secrets.

Obviously, regarding the black hand behind the scenes driving the Demon Race to slaughter humans, Chen Ku remained extremely concerned.

But after long deduction, the result was still exactly the same as at the beginning.

Everything within the heavenly canopy left Chen Ku somewhat unable to see through.

He couldn't help but slightly furrow his brow.

"Could it be that my guess was wrong?!"

Chen Ku couldn't help but have such a thought arise.

There was fundamentally no black hand behind the scenes at all?!

But in an instant, he shook his head, denying this speculation.

Everything that had happened before proved beyond doubt that it was absolutely not a coincidence.

It was not that there was no black hand behind the scenes.

But rather.... its concealment was too deep!

In a short time, even if he continued deduction and traced cause and effect, it would be useless.

Chen Ku's thoughts turned.

If so, then it would be better to cultivate himself instead.

Perhaps, when his own strength becomes greater and his realm more profound and unfathomable, he will also be able to discover the hidden truth.

Moreover, the Tower of Time also needs to be further refined, in order to unleash even more astonishing effects.

Thinking of this, he immediately gathered his scattered thoughts.

Dignified and solemn appearance, calm mind and focused spirit!

Chen Ku began to wholeheartedly enhance his own strength.

Regarding the outside world, he still paid no attention.

This came from immense confidence.

Nowadays, the Western Buddhist Sect is already sufficiently flourishing.

No matter what happens, it is not enough to shake its foundation.

Therefore, even if something happens, it can perfectly wait until he leaves seclusion to speak of it, and it would not be too late.

While Chen Ku continued his secluded cultivation.

In the outside world.

Zhurong and the others moved with extreme speed, their approach mighty, and had already gradually approached the location of the Underworld.

And at this moment, in the Underworld.

Gloomy!

Sinister!

The Six Paths of Reincarnation stood firm, releasing an overwhelming aura that suppressed the nine heavens and ten earths.

Within it, strands of souls intertwined, fell into it, and underwent reincarnation.

In the Eighteen Levels of Hell, there was never a moment without the wails of evil spirits echoing, heard to make one's scalp tingle and liver and gall feel like bursting.

Eight hundred li of the Yellow Spring stretched on, misty and dim, emitting an aura of deathly stillness.

And on both sides, there were also flowers of the other shore blooming, strangely beautiful beyond measure, revealing the subtle mechanism of reincarnation.

In short, the current Underworld can be said to have already developed into a complete form.

Every scene is something that makes living beings in the world feel dread upon seeing it.

In the deepest part of the Underworld, Pingxin Niangniang sat cross-legged.

Her eyes slightly closed, her face exquisite and absolutely beautiful.

Wearing a single set of immortal robes, upon them were traced the divine patterns of the Lord of Reincarnation, graceful and unparalleled, suppressing all ages.

If one speaks of awe-inspiring presence and aura, Pingxin surpasses other sages of the mystic gates in the world, being even more magnificent and soul-gripping.

At a certain moment, Pingxin's face twitched slightly, as she felt something in her heart.

"Mmm......"

"Have Zhurong and the others finally found the Underworld?!"

"This action.... is perhaps a bit too radical."

Her beautiful eyes slowly opened, and she softly murmured to herself.

Obviously, Pingxin had already sensed the arrival of Zhurong and the others.

And in a single thought, she also understood the intentions of the others.

Intending to act against Dizang and the others?

Regarding this, Pingxin naturally did not agree.

The Underworld only governs reincarnation affairs; she also had no intention of getting involved in other disputes.

However, this was also exactly what Zhurong and the others had previously thought.

Although Pingxin did not agree, she was not prepared to forcibly expel Zhurong and the others.

Although she had already undergone a transformation, Hou Tu became Pingxin.

But perhaps, in the dark, Hou Tu's thoughts still influenced her.

This time, Pingxin decided to still consider the sibling affection of the past, to a slight extent.

As long as Zhurong and the others did not go too far, and could maintain the overall situation of the Wu Clan, it would be acceptable.

And just as Pingxin was pondering in her heart.

On the other side, Zhurong and the others had already entered the underworld.

"Hou Tu little sister... no... Lady Pingxin!"

"This seat is Zhurong, leading all the ancestral witches, specially come to request an audience!"

Zhurong spoke, but before he could finish, he was suddenly startled awake.

Now, he could no longer call her "Hou Tu little sister."

Moreover, in speaking, Zhurong also appeared quite courteous.

After all, since the establishment of reincarnation, there has been no further contact between him and Pingxin.

Unconsciously, a sense of unfamiliarity had already arisen.

However, when Zhurong's words fell.

Pingxin did not appear.

After a moment, only two figures manifested.

"Hehe, it is the ancestral witch elders, and Brother Xingtian!"

"Houyi, Kuafu, paying respects to all of you!"

The newcomers spoke in this manner.

Houyi?!

Kuafu?!

Upon hearing these two names, Zhurong and the others were stunned, greatly surprised.

Gazing intently, they became even more shocked and incredulous.

Only then did they see that the two figures before them were indeed Houyi and Kuafu, the two great witches.

Their appearance and aura could not be feigned.

For a moment, Zhurong and the others were completely dumbfounded.

What situation is this?!

Were not Houyi and Kuafu long since fallen at the hands of the Yao Court's powerhouses?!

This had long been the consensus among all beings of the Wu Clan.

How could they now appear in the underworld?!

After a long while, it was Xingtian who first reacted.

"This... this..."

"Houyi, Kuafu? Two brothers, how are you here?!"

"We thought you had died at the hands of the Yao Court?!"

"We, the beings of the Wu Clan, had even grieved over this."

Xingtian directly voiced the doubt in his heart.

Zhurong and the others also turned their gazes to the two, awaiting their explanation.

Upon hearing this, Houyi and Kuafu exchanged glances, both showing a hint of a bitter smile.

Afterwards, Houyi looked toward Zhurong and the others, responding respectfully:

"I report to all the ancestral witch elders!"

"In the past, we were indeed besieged by the Yao Court, severely wounded, and nearly had both body and spirit destroyed."

"However... at the critical moment, we were saved by Senior Chen Ku, who rescued our lives."

"Later, he brought us to this underworld, where we healed for ten thousand years, before recovering."

Houyi's gaze was distant, as if recalling everything that had happened then.

And when mentioning Chen Ku, his eyes were full of gratitude.

It is not hard to imagine that, in such a near-death situation, suddenly receiving Chen Ku's aid, they survived against the odds.

Their gratitude toward Chen Ku for saving their lives is thus understandable.

And upon hearing Houyi's account, Zhurong and the others were also stunned.

Chen Ku?!

Could it really be him?!

Previously, no one had ever associated this matter with him.

Who would have thought that this most unlikely existence would instead have saved the two great witches Houyi and Kuafu?!

Immediately, the expressions of Zhurong and the others became somewhat strange.

They felt both surprise and some doubt, not understanding why Chen Ku would do this.

And immediately afterward, Kuafu beside him also spoke up.

"Exactly!"

"After our injuries healed, we originally wished to return to the Wu Clan."

"However, Lady Pingxin said that the underworld currently lacks personnel to hold divine offices, and asked us two to remain."

"Therefore, we have stayed here to assist Lady Pingxin in managing the various affairs of the underworld!"

By this point, Zhurong and the others finally realized.

That explains it!

No wonder Houyi and Kuafu have had no news all this time.

In the Underworld, that is something ordinary cultivators simply cannot investigate.

Moreover, more importantly, during the era of Hou Tu, Houyi and Kuafu both belonged to the Earth Tribe under Hou Tu.

It is only natural that they would wish to follow their ancestral witch.

No matter what, everyone thought Houyi and Kuafu had long since perished, but now they are "back from the dead," which ultimately is also an unexpected piece of good news.

"Haha, good, excellent!"

"The two brothers are unharmed—truly a great blessing!"

Xing Tian could not conceal his joy, laughing as he said this.

Meanwhile, Zhurong and the others also nodded repeatedly.

Everyone exchanged greetings once more.

After a while, they gradually calmed down.

Houyi then remembered the matter at hand and asked Zhurong and the others:

"Esteemed Ancestral Witches, what brings you here?!"

Houyi knew that if there were no matter at hand, Zhurong and the others would certainly not have come specially to the Underworld.

Moreover, they have remained in the Underworld all this time, without any primordial spirit perception.

As for everything happening in the outside world, they know nothing at all.

Upon hearing Houyi's question, Zhurong also came to his senses.

His expression darkened, and he responded in a loud voice:

"We have come this time to avenge our brother Xiangliu."

"Previously, Yinglong and the others..."

Zhurong began to speak, recounting everything that had happened in detail, informing Houyi and Kuafu.

Upon hearing the news of Xiangliu's death, Houyi and Kuafu also showed sorrowful expressions, deeply grieved.

They never imagined that, during their years in the Underworld, the outside world had undergone so many changes.

Even a Great Witch like Xiangliu no longer exists.

After a long while, Zhurong finished his account and finally said:

"Therefore, this time we have come..."

"We are precisely here to capture Dizhu and the Asuras and others."

Zhurong finally revealed the purpose of his party.

But who would have thought, upon hearing his words,

Houyi and Kuafu before them fell into deep thought.

After a moment, Houyi finally spoke:

"This... Esteemed Ancestral Witches, please forgive us!"

"This matter, we two cannot agree to!"