I am submissive in Journey to the West, I strike hard at the gods

The Desolate Emperor could no longer contain himself and asked, "May I ask, Fellow Daoist Jiang, who is this Lady Pingxin?"

Jiang Wang slowly said, "Pingxin Niangniang is the incarnation of Houtu Niangniang after she severed her three corpses. Although it is the same person, there are slight differences. Therefore, we still need to go and pay our respects to the Niangniang. However, in your world, you can only sever yourself and cannot sever the three corpses. Perhaps after you return, you can ask the Niangniang if you can sever the three corpses and become a saint after the world is restored?"

The Desolate Emperor somewhat understood that when the Goddess Houtu made a vow in front of the world, it was actually mutually beneficial for both the Shrouding the Heavens Universe and the Goddess herself. The Goddess was able to become a saint and enter the realm of the Great Dao because of this. She was only one step away from achieving it. He didn't need to do anything; he could simply follow the Goddess's example and directly reach the Great Dao. However, there were still two long steps to take.

This time, the golden shackles and silver chains transformed into professional greeters, welcoming the group after they toured the Ten Courts of Yama. Surprisingly, nine of the Yama Kings were busy with their duties and didn't even have time to get up and greet the group.

To outsiders, this might not seem like anything amiss, but to Jiang Wang, a realization dawned on him. He understood that these nine Yama Kings weren't busy with official duties, but rather with clearing up old debts and preparing to welcome a new master. This meant that Lady Pingxin was going to relinquish power.

To whom should it be given?
Empress Pingxin only had three choices: Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, the Emperor of Fengdu, and Huang Feihu, the Emperor of the Eastern Peak. Such a strange thing did not appear in Journey to the West.

Jiang Wang realized that this black pot had suddenly been thrown at his head. If he relinquished power properly, he would have done a great deed. However, if he gave power to the wrong person, he would still be punished by Heaven.

Because he was the rat dropping that stirred up the whole pot of soup, after all that trouble, even the Goddess Houtu was about to leave.

Okay, even if the Six Paths of Reincarnation can't move her, Houtu Niangniang will also disappear from sight, and Pingxin Niangniang will slowly vanish from everyone's sight in the underworld, becoming the hidden BOSS of the Six Paths of Reincarnation.

In the blink of an eye, the two Yin generals led the group into the eighteen levels of hell, explaining in detail the function of each level.

The wailing and howling from all around made the Desolate Emperor somewhat irritable, wishing he could draw his sword and cut off these annoying sounds. But he quickly realized that this was Houtu Niangniang deliberately letting him witness the cruelty of the underworld so that she could take control of the Heavenly Dao.

It must be admitted that the words "turning death into life and reincarnation in the six realms" alone are enough to make Houtu Niangniang a saint among the heavens. No one in the world of Shrouding the Heavens has the same magnanimity and breadth of mind as Niangniang. As for the monk at the door, he is just a clumsy imitator of Niangniang.

In the blink of an eye, the Desolate Emperor calmed down. He saw a wisp of black energy enter the endless hell, disappearing in a flash. Following closely behind, the black energy of those around him also entered the hell and vanished into the endless void.

A faint voice came from the depths of the eighteenth level of hell, "Fellow Daoist Shi and the others have been able to comprehend the profound principle of life hidden in death and dissolve the trace of death energy from the original world into nothingness. This trip has not been in vain. Please come to the hall for a meeting."

As soon as he finished speaking, a faint and ethereal power surged forth, involuntarily leading everyone to another location.

In the instant this power surged forth, Jiang Wang vaguely felt that he could resolve some of it with his Primordial Golden Immortal power. At the same time, he had a sudden realization: the Six Paths of Reincarnation was actually an open little world created by Houtu Niangniang, who took herself as the source and merged with heaven and earth. Therefore, in the underworld, Niangniang was heaven.

It was the same grand hall as last time, but sitting in the hall was a kind woman wearing a phoenix crown and a wedding dress, who looked completely different from the young Houtu Niangniang.

The Desolate Emperor quickly bowed and thanked him, then asked a question.

"May I ask Your Majesty, if the trace of death energy on your bodies cannot be dispelled in your own world, then wouldn't the entire universe also possess this trace of death energy?"

Lady Pingxin smiled slightly, “Fellow Daoist Shi is indeed brilliant, hitting the nail on the head. The death aura from the Bronze Coffin Master of the Sacred Ruins Plateau has polluted the entire world. Even the Six Paths of Reincarnation cannot completely eliminate it. Only when you all come here can I remove the trace of primordial death aura from your bodies. Therefore, the solution to the problem of the entire world is the same.”

The Desolate Emperor paused for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "Could it be that a whole world can be brought here?"

Empress Pingxin nodded. "If nine saints were to join forces, it wouldn't be impossible, but this is the last resort. The solution to eradicate that world has already found the destined ones, so naturally they should shoulder this responsibility. As for this little girl, she had nothing to do with this matter, but she contributed greatly and almost died. What reward do you want? Just say the word."

When Ao Yuwei saw the Empress speaking to her, she knelt down again before she could even get up, and said sincerely, "Your Majesty, this is what I should do. I never expect any reward."

A satisfied smile bloomed on Consort Pingxin's face. She stood up, walked to her, and said softly, "How about this? You kowtow to me nine times. Are you willing?"

Without a second thought, Ao Yuwei sincerely kowtowed nine times. The last kowtow was clearly audible throughout the entire hall and could be heard as far as the eighteenth level of hell and the ten courts of Yama.

Jiang Wang was startled when he saw this. He never dreamed that his only disciple who was not in the chat group would have such a great opportunity. He quickly stepped forward and bowed deeply.

"Your Majesty, you are granting my request, but this opportunity is far too great, and I fear I am not fortunate enough to receive it!"

Lady Pingxin retorted, "Haotian betrothed the Seven Fairies to you, do you need to worry about that? I have a goddaughter who often comes to this Netherworld to keep me company, do you expect my daughter to worry about that you, as her master, want to object?"

Upon hearing this, Ao Yuwei felt her whole body tremble. A surge of heat rushed into her dantian, and she fainted immediately, revealing her true form as a small white dragon, which lay down in the main hall.

Lady Pingxin took out a small, golden-orange bead from her hand and said to Jiang Wang, "A few days ago, the soul of the Ancestral Dragon traveled to the Underworld and entrusted me to give you the inner core he had when he transformed into a dragon, as an apology to settle the score for his scheme to trap you in a love tribulation. I think you are not a dragon, so this inner core won't be of much use to you. It just so happens that you have a disciple with true dragon blood, so it would be perfect for her. What do you think?"

Heavens above, earth below, what can I say? You're willing to be my apprentice's bodyguard, so of course it's your decision!

Jiang Wang shouted in his heart, never dreaming that he would actually take Long Aotian as his disciple. He sincerely bowed to Consort Pingxin again, "Your Majesty's granting of my disciple's wish is her blessing. I am grateful enough, how dare I presume to make such a decision?" The Desolate Emperor, standing to the side, widened his eyes again. He could feel a power from this inconspicuous little bead that was in no way inferior to his own cultivation level. However, if Ao Yuwei were to take it, there would only be two consequences: this little dragon with decent cultivation would either explode and die, or it would be possessed by the inner core, giving birth to a giant dragon with the inner core as its main body.

Empress Pingxin unceremoniously stretched out her hand in front of Jiang Wang, "Give me nine of your Nine-Turn Golden Pills!"

As soon as Jiang Wang took out the gourd, he was stunned. There were only nine pills left in the gourd that his master had given him. It was clear that Laozi had foreseen all of this when he gave him the Nine-Turn Golden Pill.

At this point, the Desolate Emperor had completely given up on the various elixirs, rare treasures, and magical ingredients in Jiang Wang's hands. These nine golden elixirs were the real elixirs; his own nine-colored elixirs were nothing but dog shit.

With a wave of her hand, Lady Pingxin transformed the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir into nine golden stars, which, according to the positions of the seven constellations of the Azure Dragon in the East, penetrated into the seven positions of the White Dragon's horn, chin, root, room, heart, tail, and winnowing basket, as well as its pair of green eyes. Only then did she hand the inconspicuous yellow-orange inner elixir in her hand to Jiang Wang, presenting him with a major challenge.

"The next step is up to you as the master, Fellow Daoist Jiang. Do you know why the Ancestral Dragon gave you this inner core that even he himself couldn't use?"

As soon as Jiang Wang grasped the unremarkable inner core in his hand, he felt a chaotic aura penetrate straight into his heart. This thing was less like an inner core and more like a magic weapon comparable to the Heaven-Turning Seal. It was the natal inner core that the Ancestral Dragon had refined with his life's cultivation. After being tempered by heaven and earth through countless cycles of time, it was already indestructible.

It can be said that apart from a few saints, no one in the Three Realms can gain any benefit from this inner core that is not an inner core. Even if a Great Luo Golden Immortal swallows it, it will just be a stone. There is no way to refine it and inherit the life's work and legacy of the Ancestral Dragon.

He could only manage a wry smile. “Your Majesty, this Ancestral Dragon Core has long since transformed into Vajra. I’m afraid only my master has a way to refine it. I truly have no power to do anything about it.”

Upon hearing what the two were saying, the Desolate Emperor could no longer contain himself and quickly interjected, "Fellow Daoist Jiang, could you please let me examine the Ancestral Dragon Inner Core in your possession, and see if I have any way to assist your disciple?"

Another case of curiosity killing the cat.

Jiang Wang knew very well that if he and the Desolate Emperor were in each other's shoes, they would also be interested in this stone, which was in no way inferior to himself and even surpassed it.

Even the Earth Goddess Houtu, the ruler of the earth, is powerless to do anything about this. You are only at the Sacrifice Dao Realm, which is the peak of the Taiyi Golden Immortal Realm. If you have a way, then I will eat this inner core!
Jiang Wang casually tossed the Ancestral Dragon's natal core over without a second thought.

The Desolate Emperor flipped his hand and caught the bright orange bead in his palm. He couldn't help but tremble, and the bead slipped from his palm. Before it even hit the ground, a yellow lotus flower appeared in the air and gently lifted it up.

Shi Hao looked incredulous and asked the two, "May I ask Your Majesty, why does this inner core contain the power of heaven and earth? I just got my hands on it, and I already feel like I'm going to be crushed to pieces by this inner core and never recover? Also, who exactly is the Ancestral Dragon that you two mentioned? Please enlighten me!"

As Consort Pingxin slowly walked around Ao Yuwei, she raised her hand and sent out wisps of Xuanhuang Qi, turning the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir in Ao Yuwei's body into a cloud of golden mist, while answering the questions of the first Heavenly Emperor she had chosen.

"These two questions are actually one. The Ancestral Dragon was the first dragon at the beginning of the world, hence the name Ancestral Dragon. Later, during the first great calamity of the world, it fought with the Phoenix Clan. Both sides were severely injured, the world collapsed, and countless lives were lost. In order to redeem itself for its mistakes, the Ancestral Dragon voluntarily transformed into the earth's dragon veins to repair the broken world, and the world was restored to life."

"From the moment the Ancestral Dragon transformed into the Dragon Vein, his natal inner core became a thing of the Three Realms, merging with heaven and earth. Even the Ancestral Dragon himself could no longer possess it. After being sacrificed by the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and all living beings, this thing transformed into a treasure of the harmonious union of the three powers."

“Apart from a few fellow Daoists who are detached from worldly affairs, only the Great Heavenly Venerable who holds the Heavenly Dao, the humble Daoist who holds the Earth, and the lineage of the Human Sect are qualified to handle this. All others must be approved by Heaven, Earth, and Man before they can pick it up. Fellow Daoist, don’t say that you are not from this world and have no karmic connection. Even the many Heavenly Emperors, Heavenly Venerables, Buddhas, and Bodhisattvas here cannot lift this small, stubborn stone.”

After a moment of silence, the Desolate Emperor slowly asked, "May I ask Your Majesty, is everything here governed by the Heavenly Dao, which punishes evil and promotes good? Even those as powerful as the Ancestral Dragon can only atone for their sins if they violate the Heavenly Dao, or is this merely the will of the beings and cultivators here, and has nothing to do with the will of Heaven?"

Empress Pingxin knew that this was the very problem that was troubling him. If every world had a Heavenly Dao that upheld justice, how could their world be so lifeless?
"The Way of Heaven is ruthless yet compassionate. The reason why the Way of Heaven, which punishes evil and promotes good, exists in the prehistoric world is the result of the joint efforts of all living beings in the Three Realms. Since the beginning of the world, when the ancestral god Pangu transformed his body into the world and blessed all living beings, he laid the foundation for the everlasting Way of Heaven. Later, Hongjun became a Primordial Golden Immortal with the Primordial Purple Qi, and his body merged with the Dao, thus taking control of the Way of Heaven, which created the prehistoric world we know today."

The Desolate Emperor's words went straight to the heart of the matter: "Does Your Majesty mean that if the Ancestral Dragon does not submit to the Heavenly Dao, the Dao Ancestor will personally take action to enforce the Heavenly Dao, and the Dao Ancestor is the Heavenly Dao, and the Heavenly Dao is the Dao Ancestor?"

Empress Pingxin shook her head. “That’s half right. The words of the Dao Ancestor are often the will of the Heavenly Dao. But the Heavenly Dao is not the Dao Ancestor. We cultivators are still the most insignificant part of the Three Powers. It is only by gradually merging with Heaven and Earth that we have gained the authority of Heaven and Earth. Now that we are about to come into contact with the origin of the Great Dao, you and your fellow Daoists must also put down these external things in order to compete for the Great Dao.”

The Desolate Heavenly Emperor sighed bitterly, “It turns out that our world has never had a true Heavenly Emperor from beginning to end. My title of Heavenly Emperor is merely self-proclaimed and has not been fully recognized by Heaven and Earth. At most, it is recognized that we have the ability to serve as Heavenly Emperors. If I had not come here and witnessed everything with my own eyes, I would probably have found it difficult to understand this subtle difference. But now I am even more curious about how Fellow Daoist Jiang will deal with this Ancestral Dragon Inner Core.”

Jiang Wang overheard everything clearly and secretly gave Zu Long the middle finger. Zu Long wasn't trying to settle a score or apologize; rather, it seemed more like a test of his cultivation. That's why he sent this inner core, which few in the world could obtain, to Zu Long's door, asking Lady Pingxin to pass it on. Naturally, he couldn't bear to lose face, so he asked the lady to act as a peacemaker.

The First Emperor could submit to the Primordial Heavenly Lord, and no one in the Three Realms would consider this an admission of weakness; they would all consider it a matter of course. But it was absolutely impossible for the First Emperor to apologize to Jiang Wang. After all, the First Emperor was the dragon vein of the world and also had some authority over the earth. He belonged to the earth among the three powers. If heaven and earth were to admit defeat to man, it would mean the reversal of the Heavenly Gang and the instability of heaven and earth.

Before he could even speak, the will of the earth would stop him.

Having reached the level of the Ancestral Dragon, he had become a seasoned and experienced dragon, having witnessed countless storms. However, circumstances proved stronger than human power, and the forces of humanity were pushing against the will of Heaven. Consequently, the portion of the land's authority he held was forced to bow to humanity, leading to this convoluted act of apology.

The First Emperor knew that he had taken a true dragon as his disciple in the outer realms, most likely because Lady Pingxin revealed it to him. As the greatest deity on earth, Lady Houtu was naturally unwilling to let the First Emperor be dealt with by her. This was not just about saving face, but also about maintaining the balance of heaven, earth, and humanity, which is why she was willing to step forward as a peacemaker.

It's even quite possible that the idea originated from the Empress herself, and the First Emperor had no choice but to accept it. (End of Chapter)