Chapter 1373

June 1st, the Underworld.

The entrance of the Underworld is filled with thick yin energy, ghostly shadows flickering.

"Is this the legendary Underworld?"

Most ghosts walk slowly, taking three steps back for every step forward, as if they haven't realized they are already dead; the line behind them stretches endlessly out of sight, with some from the Cultivation Realm and others from other civilizations.

In the periphery, one can still see distant black mountains surging like a massive living entity, full of the unknown and terror.

"Hurry up ahead, so many people are waiting." A ghost behind shouts impatiently.

"There still aren't enough ghost officials." Two high-ranking Underworld officials see the ghosts forming a long line and shake their heads helplessly.

Both of them were powerful Tribulation Transcendence cultivators in life, and after death remained in the Underworld to maintain order.

One of them said casually: "The Underworld was just established not long ago; manpower will gradually increase."

"By the way, have you seen Ying Tian Xian? He asked me to gather the materials for refining the Three Lives Stone, and they're already collected."

"He returned to the Yang realm today; he's not in the Underworld."

"Returned to the Yang realm? Could it be to congratulate Meng Jingzhou on becoming an immortal?"

The other shook his head: "I heard today is the birthday of some important figure, and he went to celebrate that figure's birthday."

……

Tianmen Peak.

The Immortal of Ages and Immortal Jiu Chong sit opposite each other playing chess, immortal aura and Daoist bones, black and white pieces clashing, enacting myriad worlds, the sound of the Grand Dao murmuring.

"Does the Eternal Immortal still remember today is her birthday?"

"Of course she remembers; she's always had a good memory for such things, she just doesn't care much about it, whether it's celebrated or not."

"Then do you think she'll come back today?" Immortal Jiu Chong asked, as everyone wanted to give the Eternal Immortal a surprise, celebrate her birthday, and had made many preparations on Tianmen Peak, just waiting for her to appear.

"It depends on Brother Lu's ability." Immortal of Ages smiled, all preparations are complete, the only problem being that the Eternal Immortal is not in the Cultivation Realm.

She and Brother Lu have been traveling the universe, with no known return date, so Brother Lu needs to trick the Eternal Immortal back, without letting her realize it's for her birthday, otherwise there would be no surprise.

"Brother Lu is eloquent; surely it's no problem." Immortal Jiu Chong said, upon hearing which Immortal of Ages merely smiled and said nothing more.

"It's delightful and congratulatory that Brother Meng has become an immortal through the position of karma." Li Haoran laughed and congratulated Meng Jingzhou, for the Dao of karma is extremely difficult to cultivate, and many had guessed Meng Jingzhou could not become an immortal via the karma Dao fruit, yet Meng Jingzhou advanced triumphantly, suddenly passing his immortal tribulation in the universe, startling everyone.

Meng Jingzhou waved his hand lightly: "Effortless, not worth making a fuss over."

He said it wasn't worth being surprised, yet his lips couldn't help but turn up, impossible to suppress, obviously extremely happy.

He had painstakingly cultivated until now, wasn't it just for today? Finally becoming an immortal, what he wanted was this feeling of everyone being unexpectedly surprised.

"It's a pity Brother Lu wasn't here these past few days; today, when Brother Lu returns, I will definitely compete with him!"

Since Brother Lu became an immortal, he often boasted in front of Meng Jingzhou, which made Meng Jingzhou quite angry; this time, no matter what, he wants to regain face!

"Brother Meng, are you interested in joining our Underworld?"

Meng Jingzhou looked warily at Li Haoran: "What are you talking about? You just became an immortal and now you want me to go die?"

"Brother Meng, I don't mean it that way; I discovered that after reincarnation, karma is hard to eliminate, and there's a probability of connection with past lives, and your karma Dao fruit can solve this problem."

Meng Jingzhou stroked his chin: "If that's the case, then I really can."

"However, my yang energy is so strong, can your Underworld ghosts withstand it?"

Not that Meng Jingzhou is boasting; as the highest achiever of single spiritual roots, his yang energy is abundant to an extremely terrifying degree, a drop of his blood hotter than the sun, even Immortal Jiu Chong cannot compare.

"It's fine; I'm preparing to establish the Eighteen Levels of Hell, and your abundant yang energy is just right for building Hell."

Meng Jingzhou suspected this was the real reason Li Haoran sought him out.

Li Haoran, out of the corner of his eye, saw Ao Ling and Jiang Lianli walking past talking and laughing, went over to ask for advice.

"Two junior sisters, since you're free right now, could you teach me the art of deceiving heaven and defying fate?"

"Why is Elder Brother Ying Tian learning the art of feigning death?" The two women didn't understand; the Four Ancient Immortals, relying on their status, had never learned the art of feigning death, yet Elder Brother Ying Tian, after several reincarnations, is willing to learn it?

Li Haoran sighed: "Junior sisters, you don't know; the Underworld has just been established, ghost officials are insufficient, exactly when manpower is lacking, and living people cannot enter the Underworld."

"The art of feigning death can well solve this problem; I can hire some people in the Yang realm, teach them the art of feigning death to work in the Underworld, and after work ends, revive them back to the Yang realm."

……

Although it sounds a bit absurd, Jiang Lianli pondered carefully: "Actually, it really is a solution."

"Are the chief and deputy chief not back yet?" Yun Mengmeng yawned, rubbed her eyes half-open, half-squinting, wanting to sleep.

"I'll go find them." Yun Zhi stood up and said, here only she knows where Brother Lu and the Eternal Immortal are, as they used Dao fruit ability to prevent her from merging with the Dao, thus she has a vague sense of their positions.

……

Under the dark night sky, the vast stars like river sand, Brother Lu and the Eternal Immortal lie on an insignificant small asteroid, laughing and watching the universe change, contemplating natural principles.

"Little Yangzi, look at these stars here—connected, don't they look like a little tiger?"

"And over there, don't they look like half a building tree?"

"The stars beside, oh, nothing like them—want this immortal to move the stars around, arrange them into your likeness, Little Yangzi?" The Eternal Immortal pointed at the stars across the sky, giggling.

She rested her own palm and felt uncomfortable, forcibly pulled Brother Lu's left arm over to lie on, then adjusted her posture slightly.

"Mm, this way is comfortable."

Brother Lu showed a weary expression: "Immortal, how long have we been out playing? It's about time to go back."

Since the two began traveling the stars, the Eternal Immortal has brought Brother Lu to play openly, leaving immortal traces in various civilizations, or constructing blessed lands for inheritance, setting up trials, or hiding identities to live humbly, facing reclusive clans, interstellar conglomerates… events came one after another, with no time to rest in between.

In the end, the two lay in the river of stars across the sky, like lying in a small boat, drifting with the waves.

"No way, this immortal hasn't played enough." The Eternal Immortal is naturally lively; when has there ever been a time of having played enough?

"Immortal, I really have no strength left." Brother Lu said weakly, in fact he still has energy, but today his task is to trick the Eternal Immortal back for her birthday, so he can only say this.

The Eternal Immortal stopped looking at the stars, turned her head aside, and poked Brother Lu's face: "Then this won't do?"

"Wait, you wouldn't try to trick this immortal back to celebrate a birthday, would you?" The immortal fairy looked alertly at Lu Yang.

"Huh?!" Lu Yang widened his eyes in surprise. When did the fairy become this sharp? She saw through his intention in an instant.

Lu Yang turned his head to meet the immortal fairy's gaze; facing him were still those clear, see-through eyes.

"Birthday or not, this immortal has never cared about it." The immortal fairy revealed an innocent, radiant smile.

"If we're talking about a day truly worth commemorating, it's the day you, Xiao Yangzi, shouted this immortal's name and resurrected me."

The immortal fairy lay on her side beside Lu Yang, blinking her eyes; the countless dazzling stars scattered across the sky made her appear even more enchanting.

Lu Yang gazed at the fairy's eyes, like autumn waters of deep blue, and his heartbeat involuntarily skipped a beat; time seemed to halt at this moment.

"Fairy, I..."

"What's wrong?"

At this moment, Lu Yang's thoughts raced; he recalled all the experiences along this path, and fragments of his time with the immortal fairy flashed through his mind—the innocent, adorable immortal fairy stood right before him.

He took a deep breath, resolved to no longer hide his feelings, and spoke sincerely: "Fairy, I like you."

"Ah... ah?! This this this this..."

The immortal fairy was flustered by Lu Yang's words, having never been in such a flustered state before.

"I I I, this immortal this immortal this immortal..." The usually sharp-witted immortal fairy had her thoughts in a tangle, so nervous she no longer knew what she was saying.

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Since it's come to this, Lu Yang had nothing left to fear; he grabbed the immortal fairy's small hand and asked: "Fairy, what about you?"

The immortal fairy blushed, lowered her head, unable to meet Lu Yang's gaze, and murmured softly: "This immortal, this immortal should also like you...... right."

"Junior apprentice brother, fairy senior, it turns out you two are here."

Yun Zhi suddenly appeared beside the two, looking down at them lying on the ground; her voice was as usual, calm, though now mixed with a hint of indeterminate meaning.

The two were startled and hastily separated, standing up and patting non-existent dust from their bodies.

"Yun girl, are you here to ask this immortal to return for the birthday? Go back; this immortal will celebrate together with Xiao Yangzi."

"Since the fairy senior isn't returning, then why not accept my gift?"

"What gift?"

"Fairy senior hasn't you always wanted to defeat me? Today, senior can give it a try."

"Oh?" The immortal fairy laughed; if memory serves, this is Yun girl's first time proactively challenging to a duel, and if so, why would there be any reason not to accept?

"Then let's come!"

After so long, Lu Yang could already, by his own power, stop Yun Zhi from merging with the Dao, giving the immortal fairy the chance to let go and fight freely.

The two instantly erupted with an unprecedented aura, rushing toward the clouds, the Milky Way also collapsing under this momentum, the universe trembling!

Although the immortal fairy had not yet returned to her ancient peak condition, her mental state was unprecedentedly exalted and excited, like a true dragon soaring through the heavens, fiercely vigorous.

"Yun girl, what's wrong with you? Not like you; your attack style has changed."

The immortal fairy drew out her voice with an "ah," then suddenly understood.

"I understand, are you jealous of this immortal?" The immortal fairy tilted her head, barely dodging Yun Zhi's palm, then lifted her foot to kick.

"Nonsense." Yun Zhi grabbed the immortal fairy's ankle and threw her out; a string of stars collided and turned to dust.

The immortal fairy flew out from the stellar dust, still vigorous and lively.

"Did I say it wrong? This immortal's premonition has never missed."

The past and present two strongest cultivators faced off, perilous beyond measure; both believed themselves the strongest, neither would yield; had any immortal joined the battle, they couldn't withstand three moves—watching this, Lu Yang felt his heart leap with fear.

"Fairy's fist technique!" Behind the immortal fairy appeared myriad illusions of spiritual plants, all her imitations, even the Jianmu immortal tree among them.

The myriad illusions of spiritual plants resembled myriad great worlds, intersecting and overlapping, converging upon the fist, its power terrifying and incalculable!

"Yun Luo Palm."

Starlight as the palm, all things annihilated.

Boom—

The unprecedented great collision erupted in the deepest reaches of the cosmos, nearly overturning all the great Dao's rules!

Dust settled, yet it was discovered the two women had not truly collided; Lu Yang appeared at the battle's center, raising his hand to steadily receive these two techniques.

"With such a fine day, let's not fight." Lu Yang said helplessly.

"Eh, Xiao Yangzi, how come you're completely unharmed?" The immortal fairy exclaimed; when she threw the punch, she hadn't held back—it was full-force eruption, yet Xiao Yangzi steadily received it?

Yun Zhi was also astonished; even Fu Xu couldn't achieve such ease.

"Junior apprentice brother, have you achieved transcendence?"

Under the gaze of the two women, Lu Yang awkwardly nodded in admission; he had originally intended to give the two a surprise, but didn't expect to reveal his realm under these circumstances.

"Yes, just a few days ago."

"Eh, this shouldn't be." The immortal fairy acted as if meeting Lu Yang for the first time, pinching his face and moving it left and right.

"Achieving transcendence shouldn't sever karma, causing everyone to forget you, yet we still remember you, right?"

What the immortal fairy said was also what Yun Zhi wanted to ask.

"So strictly speaking, it's not 'I' who achieved transcendence, but 'Lu Yin' who achieved transcendence." Lu Yang laughed as he explained.

"Do you remember? The effect of inverting yin and yang is to alter karma; I achieved transcendence as 'Lu Yin,' then changed back to 'Lu Yang,' thus avoiding the situation where everyone forgets me."

"Can inverting yin and yang be used this way?"

"After comprehending the Source Dao Fruit to the utmost, I can then know the origin of the divine abilities I have learned."

"This divine ability of inverting yin and yang originated from one of the nine ancient sages; that sage's condensation was precisely the karma Dao Fruit; he sought transcendence but unwilling to erase himself, thus researched this divine ability; unfortunately, he never achieved results in experimentation, and Fu Xu then took action."

Lu Yang sighed; perhaps this is the correct way to achieve transcendence; if Fu Xu weren't so anxious, perhaps history would have developed differently.

The immortal fairy once said the karma Dao Fruit would ultimately be bound by karma, unable to achieve transcendence; Fu Xu likewise, for the same reason, did not devour the karma Dao Fruit.

"Xiao Yangzi is amazing!" The immortal fairy embraced Lu Yang's neck, suddenly planting a kiss, unexpected and unprevented.

"How improper." Yun Zhi saw this scene, her brow slightly furrowed.

"Just kiss, just kiss." The Immortal Maiden of Eternity kissed him a few more times, provocatively looking at Yun Zhi, making Lu Yang's face flush red.

"What's there to blush about, there's no one else here."

The Immortal Maiden of Eternity observed Lu Yang and Yun Zhi's reactions with interest, hehe smirking: "Little Yangzi, actually you also like Yun Stinkyhead, don't you?"

"Ah? I..."

"Senior, senior, don't talk nonsense, Yun Luo Palm!"

"Yun Stinkyhead, you're unscrupulous for sneaking attacks, you disrespect your elders, you're utterly rebellious!"

(End of Chapter)