From the Ming Dynasty, we will conquer the world

Upon hearing this, Protector Shi's gaze also turned solemn.

He understood perfectly what Judge Di meant. These words indicated that there was no room for maneuver between the two sides, and they had reached the point where they had to resort to arms.

Although Protector Shi had never trusted these so-called outsiders from the beginning, he couldn't help but feel uneasy when it came to actually taking action.

After all, these immortals and gods all came from the upper realm, and their cultivation and realm surpassed those of the true immortals on the ancestral star. Even though Sima Chengzhen and others had changed their paths, it would still be difficult for them to contend with each other if a real fight broke out.

Not to mention, there are also two powerful officials, Master Zhu and Young Master Zhao, in charge.

Di Huaiying knew exactly what Protector Shi was thinking. He narrowed his eyes, stroked his long beard, and slowly said:

"We need to confirm first how many people they can provide. As long as they can hold off the two Lords, we can handle the rest ourselves."

In fact, after the celestial beings descended from the upper realm, a group of outsiders also appeared in the Netherworld where Fahai was stationed.

This group of people resembled Asuras, with an exceptionally turbid aura, yet they claimed to be celestial officials belonging to the Heavenly Court, who had been cast into the cycle of reincarnation, thus ending up in this predicament.

They came to the ancestral star to search for the legacy of those ancient immortals and great saints, but they were unexpectedly discovered by that group of rebels, and even their leader was captured.

Fahai immediately felt that it was utterly absurd.

As we all know, the six realms of reincarnation are the foundation of the ten realms of Buddhism. How could a celestial official be reduced to one of them?

Moreover, there wasn't a trace of immortal aura about this group of people; they were clearly pure Asuras.

However, he also knew that the situation in the upper realm was complex and beyond the comprehension of ordinary cultivators like them, so he reported the situation to Di Huaiying, the de facto leader of the righteous path.

Di Huaiying did not rush to make a decision. Instead, he had Fahai stage a scene of demonic possession and a desire to dominate the underworld, in order to conceal the existence of these "Asuras".

Due to the unique nature of the Netherworld, even powerful figures like Master Zhu and Young Master Zhao would have to expend tremendous magical power to subdue Fahai.

Di Huaiying also took this opportunity to test the waters. Although the two had come together, they could not work together and seemed to be from different factions, each serving their own master.

With a formidable enemy at hand, Master Zhu, wielding a sword that could sweep away the demonic aura of a thousand miles, came to Pingtian Peak with the intention of pressuring Di Huaiying to organize the True Immortals of the Ancestral Star to venture into the Netherworld and annihilate Fahai.

Finally revealing that "truth" is also a way to shake one's mind.

However, Master Zhu underestimated Di Huaiying's intelligence. This action not only failed to frighten the great spirit official, but also allowed him to discover more of the truth.

At the very least, after receiving joint confirmation from both sides, the Heavenly Court should have collapsed, and Di Huaiying had already made up his mind who was the traitor and who was the rightful heir.

-

Just as Di Huaiying was plotting, Master Zhu also arrived at the current headquarters of the Ancestral Star Righteous Path—Tiantai Mountain of the Shangqing Sect.

In the battle of yesteryear, with the help of the Grand Celestial Master and Li Linfu, all the cultivators on Longhu Mountain were turned into followers of the Heavenly Demon. This once sacred Taoist land was now filthy and beyond repair.

Gezao Mountain, also one of the three mountains, was destroyed in the great battle fifteen years ago.

The patriarch of the Gezao Sect, Du Guangting, had already been seriously injured. He couldn't even protect his natal magic treasure, his Dao foundation was shaken, and he almost fell from the True Immortal realm and became a mortal.

Therefore, despite his and the disciples of the Gezao Sect's valiant fight, they were still unable to protect the sect's territory and had to retreat.

On the contrary, the Shangqing Sect's Tiantai Mountain, thanks to the presence of the sword immortal Sima Chengzhen and the assistance of the Qingcheng Sword Sect, barely managed to preserve its sect and become the new holy ancestral home of the Daoist sect.

Just as Master Zhu entered the area within a hundred miles of Tiantai Mountain, a sudden storm arose in the sky, and a long howl pierced through the clouds and swept in from a hundred miles away.

As the whistling sound arose, a scorching heat wave rushed from the top of the sky, sweeping across thousands of miles of clouds in an instant.

Wherever the fire wave passed, the demonic aura and dark clouds were like tattered rags that had been burned, riddled with holes, and hundreds of thousands of restless demons were reduced to ashes, leaving not even a trace.

The disciples of the Shangqing Sect all looked up in surprise, only to see the sky filled with bright red, with only a single point of white light, like crystal jade, standing there, motionless and unshakable.

Master Zhu froze, flicked his long sleeves, and grasped a long staff in his hand, preventing the opponent from advancing an inch. He calmly said:

"With a formidable enemy at hand, Young Master Zhao is resorting to such unscrupulous means to test me. Could it be that you are truly involved with those rebels?"

Amidst the scorching flames, a young man in white stood suspended in mid-air, his handsome features and refined demeanor captivating all who beheld him.

But in his hand, which should have been that of a refined scholar holding a brush and painting, he was instead holding a long stick as thick as a goose egg. The stick was trembling and humming, clearly under immense pressure.

Faced with this rather sharp question, Young Master Zhao remained completely unfazed. With a flick of his wrist, he retracted the long staff and smiled:

"Although Master Zhu is a junior, his achievements are so profound that I am ashamed. I was just impatient to try my hand at it after seeing Master Zhu's great prowess. Please forgive me."

After saying this, Young Master Zhao, without waiting for Master Zhu's reply, changed the subject, adding a playful tone:
"How did you fare in your open and honest conversation with Judge Di this time?"

Mentioning Di Huaiying, Master Zhu's expression turned solemn. After a long silence, he sighed and said:

"It seems that Judge Di was already on guard against the two of us. He truly lives up to his reputation as 'the only one south of the Big Dipper.'"

South of the Big Dipper, there is only one person.

The weight of these eight characters can perhaps only be understood by Master Zhu and Young Master Zhao.

In fact, those true immortals who followed Zhao and Zhu to this world did not understand why the two lords would value Di Huaiying so much.
Even if this person was once a candidate for celestial official, so what?

Unbeknownst to them, in the eyes of Master Zhu and Young Master Zhao, Di Huaiying was neither a lowly immortal nor a junior with shallow cultivation, but an "ancient person" whose name would be remembered for generations and whose glory would last for ten thousand generations.

After hearing this, Young Master Zhao also sighed:
"Since you say so, Master, it seems that Lord Di will not cooperate with us. What a pity, what a pity..."

In the end, Young Master Zhao couldn't help but shake his head, showing a hint of reluctance.

Master Zhu then mocked:
"If you hadn't told everyone not to hide too much and deliberately given themselves away, I'm afraid Judge Di wouldn't have become suspicious so quickly."

Master Zhu also knew that since their arrival, this group of people had put on too much airs and pretenses. Even if Di Huaiying was really intimidated by them, he would definitely come to his senses in a short time.

This was also a plan that Young Master Zhao specially devised to lure out that group of rebels.

Young Master Zhao said solemnly:

"Thank you for your praise, Master. However, if we really have to fight, we should be careful."

"Although these rebels are not very skilled, their methods are somewhat mysterious, and there may be people from Mount Ling involved behind the scenes."

Master Zhu nodded to show that he understood.

After all, the cycle of reincarnation is a unique method of Buddhism. The fact that these rebels were able to be reborn as Asuras to survive already speaks volumes.

Both of them understood that since the collapse of the old Heavenly Court and the extinction of the Buddhas of Mount Ling, the Supreme Emperor of the Xuanqiong and the Demon Lord of Wutian were bound to fight. Today's events were merely a small clash between two behemoths.

Master Zhu suddenly said:

"In that case, let's start with that person."

The person that Master Zhu mentioned was the rebel leader who had fallen into their hands. This person was of the Li Tang bloodline and had also inherited the legacy of the ancient Emperor Baosheng. His magical power and realm were quite extraordinary.

Neither Master Zhu nor Young Master Zhao could subdue him. In the past battle, they relied on numerous deployments to form a great formation in order to capture him.

Young Master Zhao frowned:
"This man is as firm as iron and is also skilled in medicine. With our abilities, I'm afraid we won't be able to pry open his soul."

“You also know about the feud between His Majesty and Emperor Baosheng. If we can’t find that thing this time, handing it over to His Majesty will spare us some of our punishment.”

Master Zhu said calmly, “Young master, you’ve misunderstood. Although neither of us is an expert in this field, we can leave it to these demons. There are already at least a hundred demon lords gathered outside the ancestral star. No matter how high his cultivation or how skilled his medicine is, how many can he possibly hold off?”

"Once he is corrupted by the demon, it will be easier for you and me to take action. As for the danger of being corrupted by the demon, it is nothing to His Majesty."

Young Master Zhao pondered for a moment before nodding and saying:
"Although this move is risky, it is necessary. When I just wiped out that group of demons, I carefully examined the demonic patterns they had set up. The demonic thoughts within were as vast as a galaxy, constantly flowing. It must be that the one who is going to take action personally."

Upon hearing the name Xinghai, Master Zhu knew who the visitor was, and even with his composure, he couldn't help but be shaken.

Even in the time when Master Zhu lived, Devanati's fame was widespread.

It is no exaggeration to say that, apart from the Primordial Demon Ancestor, he is truly "invincible" in the material universe.

In the "history" he knew, the Primordial Demon Ancestor seemed to have made a new breakthrough a thousand years later. The power of the Heavenly Demon Clan continued to grow, and they not only dominated the universe, but even touched the "mysterious and boundless world".

There was once an emperor who went down to the mortal realm in person, but he was still defeated by Devadatta, who destroyed his incarnation and refined his spiritual consciousness. The injury was so severe that even the fundamental energy that allowed him to return to the Great Ease and his Qi to return to the Primordial Beginning was polluted, causing his foundation to be shaken. He had no choice but to go into seclusion to cultivate in seclusion.

Before such a powerful figure, whether they were powerful prefects or seasoned true lords, they were no different from ordinary people, just like dust and ants.

Seeing the expression on Master Zhu's face that he had expected, Young Master Zhao smiled slightly and said considerately:
"In that case, I will go and take Li Xiuyuan out now, and then Master can activate the arrangements in the Netherworld."

Master Zhu did not speak, but simply nodded, and then his figure disappeared from the spot.

Young Master Zhao also turned back to Tiantai Mountain, his escape light never stopping as he broke through the earth's layers and arrived at a prison formed by earth fire.

A young man with disheveled hair was lying there.

He wore only a single garment, his chest and breasts exposed, holding a wine pot in one hand and waving a palm-leaf fan in the other. Although he was in prison, he still had a sense of peace.

Upon seeing Young Master Zhao arrive, his eyes lit up, and he sat up abruptly, smiling:
"Young master, your brows are furrowed with anger, your liver qi is stagnant, and you seem restless? I have a good remedy here that can help you."

As he spoke, the young man reached under his armpit and began to rub it. After a while, he took out a shiny black pill and held it between his two fingers.

Young Master Zhao didn't seem to care and said calmly:
“For immortals like you and me, our physical bodies are nothing but stinking bags. What can we possibly see? Li Xiuyuan, stop your fuss. Don’t think that we really can’t deal with you.”

Li Xiuyuan laughed heartily:
"How can immortals not be human? I am healthy and have no illness or disaster, so why do I need your treatment? As for the matter of the physical body..."

Li Xiuyuan gave him a deep look and shook his head, saying:
"It may not matter to other immortals, but it is probably not the case for beings like you."

Young Master Zhao was somewhat surprised, then delighted, and laughed:

"Brother Li truly has keen insight. Excellent, very good."

Li Xiuyuan sensed the malice in his eyes, but he also smiled, a smile that was quite kind and even somewhat benevolent.

"It's a pity that Brother Zhao's eyesight seems to be not very good..."

Before he finished speaking, Li Xiuyuan's body suddenly changed, from his clothes to his flesh and bones. As soon as he finished speaking, he became a completely different person.

A young man with a refined and scholarly demeanor, dressed in a moon-white robe.

He completely lacked Li Xiuyuan's carefree and unrestrained temperament; his smile was shy, even somewhat naive. He clasped his hands in a fist and said earnestly:
"Xu Xian, Xu Hanwen, a disciple of the Pingtian Sect, greets you, young master."

The Pingtian Sect?
Xu Xian, Xu Hanwen?!
As soon as Young Master Zhao was stunned, the surrounding ground fire blazed even more fiercely, like waves of flame crashing down and engulfing him and Xu Xian.

A fist covered in scales and clenched into fists, and a hand as white as jade and radiating a glassy luster, struck out from behind Young Master Zhao, heavily hitting him in the back of the heart!
With a deafening roar, the fire cloud generated by the explosion surged and expanded in all directions, completely overturning this sea of ​​molten earth. Mount Tiantai emitted an unprecedentedly loud noise, its body cracked, and the earth collapsed.

After the explosion, a handsome man clad in crimson armor grabbed Xu Xian by the collar and flew backward, his skin cracking like a fine net, constantly spurting out hot blood, clearly indicating that he was severely injured.

Another handsome monk, dressed in a moon-white robe, stopped in his tracks, raised his arm to wipe the crimson from the corner of his mouth, clasped his hands together, and smiled:

"Young Master Zhao, it's been a long time."

The newcomers were none other than Lord Qiantang and Fahai!
However, although the two True Immortals launched a sneak attack, they did not achieve any substantial results.

Young Master Zhao, his white robes fluttering, his hands resting on the jade belt at his waist, showed no sign of anything amiss. He simply looked at the two men with a composed expression, speaking leisurely in a tone of appraising their figures.

"Openly repairing the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang pass, Judge Di is indeed a master strategist. The supernatural power used by this Lord of Qiantang must be the martial arts created by that cult leader. He is indeed skilled in combat and quite extraordinary."

"Master Fahai's escape techniques are unparalleled in the world. It seems we all underestimated your talent and your mastery of the Netherworld."

Young Master Zhao asked curiously:

"But do you really think Master Zhu has already left?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Master Zhu appeared behind Young Master Zhao, his expression calm and exuding an air of complete control.

Ever since they understood Di Huaiying's attitude, they had always been wary of this "Lord Di," and the solution they came up with was very simple—to never separate.

No matter what arrangements Di Huaiying makes, with the current strength of Zuxing, it is absolutely impossible for them to defeat these two prefects at the same time.

Indeed, the two had their own conflicts, but they were even more aware that when facing Di Huaiying, the "one man in the south," they could not afford to be careless in the slightest, nor could they fight amongst themselves and give the other any opportunity.

The moment Fahai saw Master Zhu, his expression changed.

He had known all along that Master Zhu had sent people to infiltrate the Netherworld to undermine Zhao Gongzi's power, which was why he left this crucial Daoist temple to cooperate with the other True Immortals in killing him.

Unexpectedly, the other party did not leave at all.

Master Zhu said calmly:

"You two can't kill Young Master Zhao, so where is Li Xiu?"

Fahai glanced at the two of them, his divine sense penetrating everywhere, trying to discern their true nature.

Young Master Zhao noticed his actions and chuckled:

"Don't waste your energy. We are all here in our true forms now. Do I have any reason to deceive you?"

Although Young Master Zhao's expression remained unchanged, his last words naturally carried an air of arrogance and disdain for everything.

Fahai also calmed down and only said one sentence:
"That's good."

"Um?!"

Master Zhu keenly sensed something amiss in those words. He abruptly looked up, his gaze piercing through the earth to the boundless sky, and roared in fury:

"You, you actually dared to let the Heavenly Demon enter the realm?!"

Upon hearing this, the sky changed color once again. The crack that stretched across the sky seemed to have been hit by an unbearable impact and shattered with a crash, revealing the dark starry sky behind it!
Outside the protective aura layer, the torrent of thousands of demons suddenly merged into one, but instead of rushing to attack the ancestral star, they arranged themselves like stars, as if waiting to welcome something.

Amidst the overwhelming tide of demonic energy, a sliver of starlight suddenly rose up, growing brighter and more dazzling, as if it were rushing from beyond the infinite void, about to arrive!
Even though they were far apart, that oppressive aura had already reached far and wide, causing all demons to bow down and all the stars to tremble!
Both Young Master Zhao and Master Zhu sensed it very clearly; it was the aura of that Demon Ancestor's attendant, and it wasn't him personally, but rather an entire Star River Demon Kingdom!

Fahai was also stunned when he saw this scene. He seemed not to have expected the newcomer to be so powerful, but he still smiled and looked indifferent.

"Since you all intend to carry out this act of annihilation, do not blame us for destroying everything in the process."

As soon as he finished speaking, a beam of starlight descended from the sky and locked onto Fahai and Qiantang Jun. This starlight was as thin as a thread, but it had boundless power, causing the two men's aura to surge five, ten, or even twenty times!
Young Master Zhao could hardly believe his eyes. This was clearly the Demon Lord's blessing!
But when did these two join the demonic path, and how did they manage to hide it so well?!
Could it be that the ancestral star has already fallen into the hands of the Heavenly Demons, and this place is just a trap to lure these people into it?
Thinking of this, Young Master Zhao suddenly felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave. He thought of the man who always seemed to have everything under control and had all worldly affairs in his grasp.

Di Huaiying, Di Huaiying!
Without a doubt, this game was decided by this Di Gong!
Master Zhu, however, reacted quickly, slashing out with his sword and shouting angrily:
"You actually switched your allegiance to the demonic path!"

Before he could finish speaking, the scholar's longsword shattered before it even reached ten feet in front of the two, and he was sent flying out of the earth's core, soaring into the sky. (End of Chapter)