Chapter 42

“In short, this pearl is indeed a fine artifact, forged from the dragon pearl of a primordial true dragon.”

“But the hidden traps behind it are substantial, waiting for you to jump right in.”

Xiang Xuanqing informed Huang Quan of the hidden secrets of this special chaotic pearl.

Huang Quan held the pearl in his hand; the joy brought by his advancement on the Dao was significantly dimmed.

He looked deeply troubled.

After a moment, Huang Quan’s expression softened into a relieved smile.

“That’s more like it.”

“I thought that after this cultivation break, once I shed my shackles, some old things might change.”

“But then again, if things suddenly turned around, I’d suspect someone was scheming against me.”

Half-joking, Huang Quan calmly tucked the chaotic pearl into his sleeve, his mind at peace.

He had long grown accustomed to his own terrible luck.

Fortunately, after this breakthrough, his first instinct was to come to Xiang Xuanqing and share his inner joy.

Not to immediately study the dragon pearl the moment he found it.

“Huh? From this perspective, haven’t I indirectly turned my luck around?” Huang Quan glanced at Xiang Xuanqing beside him, thinking happily.

“If you ever feel uncertain about something in the future, you’d better stay cautious.”

Xiang Xuanqing had long since given up hope on Huang Quan’s personal fortune.

He could only seek solutions from other angles.

For instance, now that Huang Quan has fully mastered the primordial karmic fire lotus, the situation should improve considerably.

After all, this supreme primordial spiritual treasure possesses the power to suppress fate.

【With the karmic fire lotus, can Huang Quan’s fortune be stabilized?】 To be honest, Xiang Xuanqing wasn’t entirely sure.

Given Huang Quan’s peculiar condition, the more his fortune grows and stabilizes, the more dangerous it might become.

In the short term, it might be fine—helping him avoid some dire perils.

But in the long run, it could turn into a case of accumulating earth into a mountain, gathering small into great.

When calamity strikes, it won’t come in dribs and drabs—it will come all at once.

Who could bear that?

【We still need to consider other solutions.】

Xiang Xuanqing thought thusly; it wasn’t right for Huang Quan, one of the Three Great Leaders of the Underworld, to remain so unlucky.

Actually, Xiang Xuanqing did have one idea regarding this matter—founding a great sect.

That is, have Huang Quan first complete his creative duty by birthing the Asura race, then attempt to establish the Xiuluo Sect.

This method would, on one hand, harness the accumulated fortune from creation and founding a great sect, and on the other, transform and disperse his own calamitous fortune among the Asura multitude.

Based on the nature of the Blood Sea and Huang Quan’s 【Blood God Child】 great divine art, the Asura race naturally possesses a certain “immortality” trait, making them extremely resilient.

Coupled with the protection of clan fortune and the great sect’s spiritual fortune, this balance of ebb and flow might truly resolve Huang Quan’s calamity.

If this still isn’t enough, there’s still the Six Realms of Rebirth ahead!

One of the Six Realms is the Asura Realm.

The “immortal” Asuras, combined with automatic replenishment through the Six Realms of Rebirth, solve the problem of the Asura race’s continuity.

Moreover, the Xiuluo Sect accepts only Asuras, never other races.

This effectively completes a self-contained loop of the Blood Sea’s power.

Xiang Xuanqing thought this plan had great potential.

But now was not the right time to establish a sect.

The Underworld was incomplete; the Rebirth Cycle had not yet emerged; discussing the Six Realms was premature.

But at least the direction was clear—layout could proceed gradually in the future.

Suppressing his inner thoughts for now, Xiang Xuanqing looked at Huang Quan: “Keep this dragon pearl for now—don’t use it.”

“What idea do you have?” Huang Quan instantly guessed Xiang Xuanqing had a plan.

Xiang Xuanqing nodded: “You can take this true dragon’s treasure pearl and trade it with Luohou.”

“With Chenxing’s knack for trouble, he offended Luohou once—there’s no telling when he’ll do it again.”

“You mean…”

A strange smile appeared on Huang Quan’s face.

He understood Xiang Xuanqing’s meaning.

Since this chaotic pearl can directly reach the First Divine Palace guarded by Zu Long.

Then, the next time Zu Long offends Luohou, Huang Quan need only produce this pearl at the right moment.

Luohou would surely be eager to make the trade.

“Of course, you can also trade it with Chenxing.”

Xiang Xuanqing offered Huang Quan another “kill two birds with one stone” strategy:

“When this situation arises, show the pearl to Chenxing and casually mention Luohou.”

“I believe Chenxing would be even more eager to reclaim this chaotic pearl.”

Huang Quan blinked: “You can do that?”

“Why not?”

Xiang Xuanqing smiled and said: “In fact, you can let both of them know the pearl exists, then let them bid.”

Huang Quan smiled too.

He said: “Then I decide who to trade with based on who offers the better deal?”

“No.”

Xiang Xuanqing shook his head.

“Not right?” Huang Quan frowned.

“Before that, you still need to do one thing.”

Xiang Xuanqing gave Huang Quan earnest advice: “After they bid, reveal each side’s offer to the other.”

“That way, you’ll gain maximum benefit.”

Huang Quan’s eyes lit up—he looked like he’d just learned something profound.

“Of course, if you choose this final trading method, remember one thing.”

Xiang Xuanqing warned: “After revealing the two bids once, immediately stop and complete the deal.”

“Never do it a second time.”

“Why not?”

Huang Quan, puzzled by Xiang Xuanqing’s words, was exactly as Xiang Xuanqing had predicted—he planned to repeatedly flip between the two to extract maximum gain.

He was indeed, as Xiang Xuanqing had predicted, planning to exploit this newly learned tactic to swing back and forth between the two, maximizing his bargaining outcome.

“Because you’ll get beaten.”

“...Huh. That’s true.”

Huang Quan scratched his head.

As they spoke, Meng Wuyou stepped out from the void.

“Huh? Huang Quan, you’ve come out of seclusion?”

Meng Wuyou looked half-asleep, elegantly yawning as if just waking up.

“What were you two just talking about?”

“Nothing.”

Xiang Xuanqing and Huang Quan both shook their heads.

They couldn’t say they were scheming against Taiwei’s “friend,” could they?

“Fine, don’t tell me then.”

Meng Wuyou didn’t care much; she said: “Let me tell you about my dream just now.”

Meng Wuyou wasn’t particularly concerned; she said, “Let me tell you about the dream I just had.”

“A nightmare.”

“A nightmare?”

Xiang Xuanqing and Huang Quan exchanged glances.

“Yes.”

Meng Wuyou’s slender brows furrowed slightly: “I dreamed of a chaotic demon god.”

Both instantly changed expression, turning sharply toward Taisha Tian Gong.

“Was it 【Darkness】 or 【Divine Treasury】?”

“Neither.”

Meng Wuyou shook her head. “A chaotic demon god I’ve never seen before.”

“Formless chaos, name unknown, yet I felt His presence with absolute certainty.”

“A mysterious voice whispered beside me, intermittent, seeming distant yet near, leaving me utterly confused.”

Huang Quan’s expression turned grave: “Wuyou has been targeted!”

He had stepped into too many pits; he had seen too many inexplicable tricks.

He has stepped into too many traps and seen too many mysterious techniques.

Therefore, he has considerable experience in this regard.

“Perhaps.”

Meng Wuyou added: “But I felt no danger; as soon as I became aware of this presence, it withdrew on its own.”

“In the following few dreams, I never saw it again.”

Xiang Xuanqing paused in thought, then immediately sent a mental message to Luo Hou.

“Among the three thousand demonic gods, is there a Dream Demon God?”

“Yes!”

Luo Hou replied succinctly—he was locked in fierce combat with two old rivals.

“Luo Hou, who do you think you’re looking down on? How dare you distract yourself while fighting us!”

Yang Mei was deeply displeased; in this single opening, he raised a finger and directly shattered the barrier of the Black Lotus of Destruction.

Luo Hou retreated with the flow, and boundless demonic shadows scattered into countless dimensions.

Xiang Xuanqing seized the opportunity to ask.

“I’ve encountered something unusual here—possibly related to the Dream Demon God.”

“That guy is definitely dead. Whether he’s dead enough, you’ll have to ask Pangu.”

“Understood. I won’t disturb you further. Carry on.”

“You know I’m busy, yet you still come asking?!”

“I’m just acknowledging my ally’s strength.”

“Hmph!”

“It seems Shen Ni has stirred up some trouble again.” Xiang Xuanqing recounted the previous exchange and offered a hypothesis.

This kind of mischief is ninety-nine percent linked to Shen Ni.

Ming He found it reasonable: “That guy needs to be eliminated soon!”

The party involved, Meng Wuyou, reacted indifferently.

“Actually, you don’t need to worry too much.”

Meng Wuyou smiled: “You should have faith in me.”

“I can’t say about other methods, but if anyone thinks they can take me down in a dream, they’ve come to the wrong place.”

Even knowing his opponent might be the so-called Dream Demon God, Meng Wuyou remained utterly calm.

Xiang Xuanqing and Ming He both smiled at this.

“That’s true.”

“If Meng Wuyou gets overthrown in a dream, we might as well hand over the Underworld.”

They held such confidence in Meng Wuyou.

The reason was simple.

Long ago, Xiang Xuanqing had asked Meng Wuyou a question.

Does Pangu dream?

Meng Wuyou replied with a smile: If Pangu does not dream, how could the Honghuang exist?

“Still, Shen Ni must be dealt with!”

Ming He walks the Path of Killing; he tolerates no mercy toward enemies.

“True.”

Xiang Xuanqing nodded lightly: “If we can’t kill him outright, we must give him trouble—can’t let this guy get too comfortable.”

“Coincidentally, I know where we might find him.”

“The Main Divine Hall?” Ming He instantly thought of the Chaos Pearl.

“Exactly!”

Xiang Xuanqing smiled: “I truly don’t believe Shen Ni, who thrives on stirring chaos, would refuse such a spectacle!”

“What are you talking about? What’s the Main Divine Hall?”

Meng Wuyou was puzzled—she’d just slept, and had the world changed so drastically?

Xiang Xuanqing gave her a brief explanation.

Meng Wuyou suddenly understood, her beautiful eyes sparkling.

“Then we’d better send plenty of divine avatars—otherwise we might not catch Shen Ni.”

“Precisely!”

Ming He patted his chest: “I’m the expert at this!”

He had already perfected his Blood God Sons, effortlessly dividing into four hundred eighty million incarnations—now was the perfect time to use them!

“Why don’t we form our own team and go check out the Main Divine Hall?”

Meng Wuyou found the Main Divine Hall fascinating and intended to go in person.

“That could work.”

Xiang Xuanqing agreed to the proposal.

(Zu Long: Don’t come over here!)

“Seal the Underworld—let’s bring Wang Chuan along too!”

Ming He thought of his little brother.

Soon, Wang Chuan, who normally lay idle, was dragged out from beneath Naiheqiao by Ming He.

“I’m taking you out for fun!” Ming He patted Wang Chuan on the shoulder.

“Great!”

Wang Chuan was overjoyed.

Xiang Xuanqing greeted the Divine Peach Tree.

“Friend, I’m sealing the Underworld—we’re going out for a while.”

“Alright!”

Shen Shu and Yu Lei sealed the Underworld.

——

The Ninth Main Divine Hall.

The primary deity of this hall is the Third Primordial Ancestor of the Dragon Clan—Ying Long.

On this day, as usual, she used the [Cang Xuan Pearl] to screen the beings of the myriad worlds who were destined.

“Hmm, it seems the teams sent to the Yin-Yang Universe were wiped out?”

Behind the large luminous sphere, in the void realm, Ying Long held a star map and carefully studied the point representing the [Yin-Yang Universe].

“Something’s wrong!”

“Send a few more teams to investigate!”

Ying Long expanded her screening range and slightly raised the cultivation ceiling for the destined.

“We need more experienced teams to guide the newcomers.”

After careful selection, Ying Long chose two promising teams.

Soon, the vast hall shimmered with mysterious light.

First appeared a young lifeform—browed with sharp eyes, aura piercing, a divine sword strapped to his back.

“Back already?”

The youth glanced around; the sides were empty—his teammates had not returned.

After a moment of silence, he walked toward the center of the hall.

“Main Deity, I’m here to claim my reward.”

As the youth claimed his reward, two more beams of light flashed into existence.

“Main Divine Hall… mission… do not disclose information… violators…”

Two figures—one black, one white—appeared, murmuring to themselves.

The youth raised an eyebrow—newcomers?

He turned to his side.

One wore white robes and a white hat, tall and slender, smiling broadly.

The other wore black robes and a black hat, broad and muscular, face fierce.

This starkly contrasting pair had one peculiar feature—their hats bore inscriptions.

On the white hat: “First Glimpse, Fortune Follows”;

On the black hat: “Peace Throughout Heaven and Earth.”

These characters were primordial Dao script, yet the youth recognized them effortlessly.

The youth’s expression subtly changed; after claiming his reward, he stepped forward: “Biyou Heaven, Li Ming, greetings to you both.”

“Dafuli Earth, Bai Wuchang, greetings, friend.”

Bai Wuchang bowed with a smile.

“Dafuli Earth, Hei Wuchang!”

Hei Wuchang’s face was cold, radiating an air of “do not disturb.”

These two were none other than Xiang Xuanqing and Ming He.

【Where are Wuyou and Wang Chuan?】

[They’ve changed locations; the main deity of this shrine knows her—she’s worried she’ll be recognized.]

[That Wangchuan…]

[Wangchuan might be afraid of you, so it followed Wuyou.]

[Why would it be afraid of me?]

[Who told you to keep scaring him all the time?]

The two of them exchanged whispers while exchanging pleasantries with Li Ming of Biyou Heaven.

“Oh, where are we?”

A tall, elegantly proportioned woman patted her chest, still shaken.

Her eyes scanned the surroundings with curiosity.

“The Main Divine Shrine…”

A burst of information appeared in her mind.

Moments later.

Several more figures of light and shadow materialized beside the girl.

“Who are you?”

The girl jumped again, shrinking back like a startled white rabbit.

“Jiuge, Da Siming.”

【Da Siming】 is the Green Robe Dragon God; His demeanor is aloof, responding with detached indifference.

“We come from the Jiuge World—you may call me Yunzhongjun.”

【Yunzhongjun】 is the Crimson Cloud; He wears a feathered robe, radiating endless brilliant light.

His bearing is refined and approachable.

Beside them stood a man with a calm, steady aura.

“Jiuge World, Xiangjun.” 【Xiangjun】 Zhenyuan nodded slightly to the girl.

The Crimson Cloud, watching the startled girl, asked gently: “You’re new, aren’t you?”

“Would you consider joining us?”

“Our squad ranks sixth in the Main Divine Shrine’s 【Xu Kong Huan Jie】—we’re very reliable!”

The girl, charmed by the Crimson Cloud’s affable appearance, hesitated.

“Thank you.”

“You’re a good person!”

With that, the girl dashed off to Xiang Xuanqing’s side.

“Hello, I’m Ruoxi of Yao Ming Great World—may I join your team?”

The Crimson Cloud’s smile froze on his face.

Da Siming’s cold lips twitched into a faint smile.

【Xiangjun】 Zhenyuan shook his head and patted the Crimson Cloud on the shoulder: “No good deed goes unasked for—it’s either deceit or a trap.”

—

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(End of Chapter)