On the Dragon-Slaying Platform, I was executed and became Yang Jian's brother-in-law.

The Netherworld, the Hall of Peace.

Under the gloomy sky, the River of Oblivion flowed ceaselessly, emitting a low, mournful murmur. Inside the palace, although the atmosphere was no longer as tense and suffocating as before, it still exuded a sense of busyness and solemnity.

Su Bai (Zhu Jiuyin) sat cross-legged beside the Soul Nourishing Pool. Although his translucent body was slowly returning to solidity, he could feel the emptiness in his lungs from the loss of his primordial essence with each breath. He gazed tenderly at the slumbering, dark blue ball of light in the pool, which was the remnant soul of Xuanming.

"Brother, the Underworld's stock of 'Nine Nether Soul Nourishing Grass' and 'Three Lives Stone Marrow' is not enough."

Empress Pingxin hurried in, carrying a pile of rare and precious herbs. Her brows were furrowed. "My sister's essence was greatly depleted in the Frost Realm. Now that she has returned to the Primordial World, she is like a dried-up sponge, which can never be fully replenished. I need to go to the Netherworld Blood Sea again to borrow some 'Blood Lotus Seeds' from the Styx Ancestor."

"Thank you for your hard work, sister." Su Bai felt a little guilty.

"Why are we speaking like family?" Pingxin waved his hand, turned around, and disappeared into a streak of light outside the palace gate.

Su Bai sighed and continued to guard Xuan Ming. Although his life was saved, the subsequent recovery was incredibly expensive. Without sufficient top-tier resources to nurture him, it would be a very long time before Xuan Ming could rebuild his physical body.

……

Meanwhile, undercurrents were surging in all directions of the primordial world.

Above the East China Sea, auspicious clouds roll in.

Three stunningly beautiful figures were riding on clouds, speeding towards the Netherworld.

"Faster! Faster!"

Fairy Bixiao held the Golden Dragon Scissors in her hand, her face filled with anxiety. "Just now, Senior Sister's talisman was so hot it was almost smoking! Senior Brother must be in serious trouble! Is that Lady Pingxin any good? If not, let us take him back to the Three Immortal Islands!"

"Third Sister, calm down." Although Yunxiao advised her verbally, she did not slow down her pace at all, and even secretly urged the Hunyuan Golden Cauldron to accelerate.

And in the void layer behind them.

A domineering figure, clad in a star-patterned robe and wielding a dragon-tiger scepter, was concealed, hanging at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

It was none other than the Holy Mother of Golden Spirit.

"Hmph, that woman Pingxin..." A cold glint flashed in the eyes of the Golden Spirit Mother. "If Su Bai were to lose even a single hair in your underworld, I would never let you get away with this! The Jie Sect cannot be insulted, and my disciple... even less can he be bullied!"

……

Western Land, Two Realms Mountain.

This is the border between the mortal world and the cultivation world, and also the only way to the Eastern Land.

A stunningly beautiful woman dressed in white and barefoot stood bewildered atop the mountain. She looked exactly like the goddess Nuwa, but her eyes lacked the compassion and detachment of a sage; instead, they were filled with a heartbreaking urgency and confusion.

"Brother Jiuyin...where are you?"

That was Nuwa's love form.

She had just escaped from Nuwa's Palace and was somewhat unfamiliar with this primordial world after the vicissitudes of time. But she could sense that the aura that haunted her dreams was somewhere far away, and... it was very faint, and very painful.

"I'm not afraid... I will definitely find you."

She gritted her teeth, identified a direction (though it was a bit off, the general direction was right), and stumbled onward.

……

The most significant event was at Mount Hua.

Since returning from Yaochi last time, the long-sealed secret chamber of the Holy Mother Palace has finally been opened with a roar today.

"boom--!!"

A chilling, deep blue divine light shot into the sky from the secret chamber, even causing a momentary vacuum in the spiritual energy within a hundred miles of Mount Hua.

Yang Chan has emerged from seclusion.

At this moment, although her face was as pale as paper due to the long-term overdraft of her magical power, her eyes were frighteningly bright, revealing a morbid excitement and ecstasy.

In her palm, the once sacred Lotus Lamp had turned a deep, dark blue. Within the wick, a miniature world, no bigger than a palm yet complete with all its internal organs, was slowly rotating.

"It's done..."

Yang Chan held the Lotus Lantern, smiling dreamily, her fingers gently stroking the barrier:

"I've succeeded!"

"Ninety-nine percent... This 'Paradise of Bliss' is ninety-nine percent complete! As long as I put you inside and seal the last gap with my own essence, no one in this world will be able to take you away from me!"

Just as she was immersed in the beautiful dream of "keeping her husband in a golden house".

Sudden.

"Buzz—"

The sensory restriction she left on Su Bai (though not as advanced as that of the Golden Spirit Mother, it was superior because it was a bond of love between husband and wife) trembled violently.

A faint, life-giving aura, like a candle flickering in the wind, wafted through the barrier.

"My husband?!"

Yang Chan's smile froze instantly, and then her already shaky rationality completely crumbled.

"How could he be so weak?! How could he be injured like this?!"

"Didn't Pingxin take him to the underworld to heal his wounds? Is this the result of that healing?!"

A surge of overwhelming rage instantly extinguished Yang Chan's reason. In her eyes, this was not an accident at all; it was clearly those women who had failed to take good care of him! They had even conspired to harm him!

"really……"

Yang Chan gripped the Lotus Lantern tightly, her nails digging deep into her palms, her voice as cold as a vengeful ghost from the deepest hell:

"As expected, my husband, you just shouldn't be with those women!"

"They will only harm you! They will only hurt you! They will only cause you pain!"

"The Queen Mother of the West is like this, and so is Pingxin... They all say they love you, but what happened? They've left you in this half-dead state!"

"Am I being naughty?"

Yang Chan's eyes were red-rimmed, and tears of grievance welled up in them, but were instantly replaced by madness:

"When we got married at the foot of Mount Hua, we clearly promised to stay together for all eternity and never be separated again."

"And what about you? You messed with this guy, and then you messed with that guy!"

"Su Bai! You've disappointed me so much! You're so disobedient!"

boom!

Yang Chan suddenly stood up, unleashing her full power as a Quasi-Saint at the early stage without reservation. The dark blue Lotus Lantern shone even brighter, as if responding to its master's killing intent.

"Since you won't listen, and since it's so dangerous outside..."

"Then I'll go and bring you back myself!"

"This time, whether you live or die, no matter who tries to stop me, I will lock you in my world! Forever!!"

Whoosh!

Yang Chan transformed into a streak of dark blue light, carrying an aura that seemed capable of overturning the underworld, and headed straight for the netherworld.

……

The Netherworld, the Hall of Peace.

Su Bai was currently unaware of the impending "battlefield army" from the outside world. He was currently facing a "trouble" that was giving him a headache.

"Your Majesty, how have you been?"

Guanyin Bodhisattva, holding a vase and wearing a compassionate smile, stood in the center of the hall. The halo around her body illuminated the gloomy hall, making Su Bai's eyes sting.

"unlucky."

Su Bai cursed inwardly.

What annoyed him most were these Westerners, all spouting benevolence and morality while their minds were full of cunning schemes. Especially this Guanyin, who was notoriously difficult to deal with.

"Why is the Bodhisattva not enjoying a peaceful life in the South China Sea, but instead coming to my underworld?"

Su Bai leaned against the cloud bed, feigning extreme weakness and the impending death (though he was indeed weak, his acting skills only enhanced his appearance), and weakly waved his hand:

"I am unwell and need to rest. I am not receiving guests. Please leave, Bodhisattva."

This is a very direct order to leave.

But who is Guanyin? She is the top public relations manager of Mount Ling, with a skin as thick as a city wall.

"Amitabha."

Guanyin did not leave; instead, she stepped forward, her expression of compassion deepening: "It is precisely because the Emperor is unwell that this humble monk has come here."

"I heard that the Emperor was troubled by a love tribulation at the Peach Banquet in Yaochi, which caused his mind to be in great turmoil. Now, his very essence has been damaged and his foundation is unstable."

Guanyin sighed, wearing an expression that said, "I'm doing this all for your own good."

"The Emperor is a pillar of the Three Realms. If he were to ruin his path of cultivation because of such sentimental matters, wouldn't that be a great loss to all living beings?"

"This humble monk has brought with him the precious treasures of Mount Ling—the water of the Eight Treasures Merit Pool and the sacred Bodhi fruit that ripens only once every three thousand years, by the decree of the Buddha."

At this point, Guanyin opened the jade bottle and brocade box in her hands.

Instantly, a rich life force and a serene Zen atmosphere permeated the air.

"This Eight Treasures Merit Water gathers the vows and merits of hundreds of millions of believers in the Western Paradise. It is most effective in nourishing the soul and repairing the source. Even injuries to the Dao can be alleviated."

"This Bodhi fruit is formed from the very essence of the Sage Cundi, and it has the miraculous effects of purifying the mind and brightening the eyes, as well as suppressing inner demons."

Seeing the slight change in Su Bai's expression, Guanyin was secretly delighted and threw out the final bait:

"If Your Majesty is willing to accompany me to Mount Ling and recuperate by the Eight Treasures Merit Pool for a hundred years, I guarantee that I can not only heal Your Majesty's injuries, but also help you sever your worldly troubles and attain great purity and freedom."

"To Lingshan?"

Su Bai sneered inwardly.

It's truly a case of a weasel paying respects to a chicken. If this were to go to Mount Ling, would it be considered peaceful recuperation? It would be house arrest! It would be brainwashing!

A hundred years from now, what will emerge will probably not be Su Bai, but "Venerable Su Bai".

"I'm not going."

Su Bai rolled his eyes, refusing decisively, "I was born an Easterner, and I'll die an Easterner. Do you want me to go to that godforsaken place in the West and starve? No way, get out of here!"

Guanyin's smile froze.

This script is wrong!

Didn't the Buddha say that he was currently in a state of great mental turmoil, at a low point in his life, and in dire need of spiritual comfort? Why is his mouth still so venomous?

"Your Majesty, you are refusing to seek medical help for your own sake."

Guanyin was getting anxious. If she couldn't meet the KPI, how would she explain it to Buddha?

"Look at your current state. Your vital essence is depleted, and your soul is unstable. If you don't receive a top-grade soul-nourishing medicine, you may suffer permanent harm."

Guanyin pushed the jade bottle forward again, persistently trying to sell it:

"This Eight Treasures Merit Water is a universally recognized holy remedy for healing in the Three Realms, especially for the soul..."

"etc?"

Su Bai, who was originally impatient and about to call on Ox-Head and Horse-Face to drive people away, suddenly perked up when he heard the word "soul".

For the first time, his gaze fell seriously on the jade bottle in Guanyin's hand.

The golden liquid swirling within emanated an extremely pure and gentle ripple. Su Bai was very familiar with that ripple; it was a combination of pure merit and the power of will.

What did Pingxin just say?

"My sister's essence was greatly depleted in the Frost Realm and needs the purest Yin Qi from the Underworld to nourish her... Without enough top-tier resources, it might take forever."

Although the yin energy in the underworld is good, it is still predominantly cold and yin.

If one could have this supremely pure and gentle Eight Treasures Merit Water to neutralize it, and combine it with the Bodhi Fruit that can suppress inner demons and stabilize the true spirit...

Wouldn't Xuanming's recovery speed be ten times faster?!

It could even directly repair the foundation she damaged in the Frost Realm!

"hiss--"

Su Bai inwardly gasped.

This isn't Guanyin at all! This is clearly a money-giving boy!

This isn't the Eight Treasures Merit Water at all! It's clearly "Resurrection Divine Water" tailor-made for Xuanming!

Su Bai's originally dull eyes instantly lit up, flashing with a light called "greed".

Going to Lingshan is impossible.

But this thing...

Don't be in vain!

These are top-quality materials delivered right to my door. If I miss them, I will not only be letting Xuanming down, but also myself down from my title of "the number one freeloader in the prehistoric world" (crossed out)!

"Cough cough."

Su Bai suddenly sat up straight, his impatience vanishing instantly, replaced by a weak expression tinged with hesitation.

He looked at Guanyin, his tone softening slightly, even showing a hint of attraction:

"That... Bodhisattva."

"You just said that this water... can really nourish the soul? And even heal injuries to the Dao?"

Guanyin was overjoyed upon seeing this!

There is a play!

Sure enough, no one can resist the top-notch benefits of Lingshan!

"A monk does not lie," Guanyin quickly assured her. "The miraculous effects of this water are known throughout the Three Realms. It was this water that reshaped Nezha's soul when he was incarnated from a lotus. If Your Majesty does not believe me, you may try it first..."

"No need for a trial."

Su Bai interrupted her, stroking his chin with a troubled expression:

"Actually, I know I'm badly injured. Although Pingxin did her best, the conditions in the underworld... are indeed a bit harsh."

"I also wish to recover soon and regain my former glory."

Su Bai raised his head, looked at Guanyin, and revealed a smile that seemed sincere but was actually cunning:

"Since the Bodhisattva is so sincere, he has come from afar to deliver medicine."

"If I were to refuse again, wouldn't I appear ungrateful?"

"How about this?"

Su Bai stretched out his hand, pointed to the jade bottle and the brocade box, and said matter-of-factly:

"I'll keep the things."

"As for going to Lingshan to recuperate... let's discuss it at length. We can talk about it after I've drunk this water and my injuries have almost healed."

What's this called?

This is called "eating the sugar coating and throwing the cannonball back!"

This is called—getting something for free!