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

The underworld, outside the gates of hell.

A chilling wind howled, and the Yellow Springs murky. Countless souls, driven by the ghost messengers, drifted aimlessly toward the Bridge of Helplessness.

In this long river of souls, a faint, almost transparent wandering spirit is carefully moving against the current, avoiding the sight of all the ghost messengers, and even avoiding the underworld generals guarding the passes, silently drifting towards the core of the underworld—the Hall of Reincarnation.

This was a wisp of soul that Yang Chan had extracted using the power of creation from the Lotus Lantern. In order to avoid attracting attention, she not only erased all magical fluctuations, but also completely concealed the trace of a living being, making her look no different from an ordinary wandering soul.

"Empress Pingxin is a true saint. If she doesn't make a move, then I'm truly safe."

Yang Chan's divided soul pondered to herself, yet her actions became increasingly cautious. She knew this was a risky move, but in that extreme state of anxiety and uncertainty, she had to confirm it herself.

The Hall of Reincarnation is the sacred site of Lady Pingxin, and no one dares to trespass except for the Ten Kings of Hell.

However, today, a fierce argument broke out inside that hall.

"I don't believe it! I don't believe my brother is dead!"

A cold yet manic voice, carrying the unique vibrations of the soul, pierced through the restrictions of the main hall and reached Yang Chan's ears as she touched the entrance.

Yang Chan's heart skipped a beat. That voice... was it Xuan Ming?

She immediately composed herself, clinging to a corner of the palace door like a gecko, holding her breath, and even completely stilling the fluctuations of her soul.

Inside the hall, the atmosphere was tense and ready to fight.

Empress Pingxin sat high on the cloud platform, her face ashen, her body surging with the Dao of Reincarnation, suppressing the restless, icy blue soul below.

"Xuanming! How long are you going to keep causing trouble?!"

Pingxin roared, his voice filled with deep weariness and helplessness, "You saw the battle at Mount Ling. My brother's true spirit dissipated in the rain of blood, the Great Dao wept, and heaven and earth grieved. Those are phenomena that even sages cannot fake! Why can't you accept reality?"

"It's fake! It's all fake!"

That icy blue soul—the remnant soul of Xuanming—was frantically struggling in mid-air, trying to break free of the constraints of the Samsara Palace. "My brother is the Ancestral Witch of Time! He controls the past and future, how could he die so easily? It must be that bald monk Tathagata using some kind of sorcery! I'm going to Mount Ling! I'm going to turn that Great Thunderclap Temple upside down, I'm going to find my brother's true spirit!"

"That's enough!"

Pingxin slammed his hand on the cloud platform, and the phantom of the Six Paths of Reincarnation descended with a roar, like a mountain, suppressing Xuanming firmly in place.

"You're going? You're just a wisp of a soul now, without even a physical body. Are you going to Mount Ling to die?"

Pingxin pointed at Xuanming, her eyes slightly red, but her tone was as cold and hard as iron, "The Western Sect has already sealed off its mountain, with two saints overseeing it. Going now would be pointless, only leading to your soul being scattered! Your brother risked his life to save you, just to send you to your death?"

"I don't care! Even if my soul is scattered to the winds, I'm going to find him!"

Xuanming's voice was extremely shrill, "You're afraid of death, but I'm not! You're a Saint of the Earthly Path, you must consider the bigger picture, I'm just a wandering ghost! Let me go! Houtu, let me go!"

"presumptuous!"

Pingxin was clearly enraged. With a flick of his finger, countless chains of reincarnation appeared out of thin air, binding Xuanming tightly and dragging him directly into the Netherworld Abyss deep within the main hall.

"Since you've gone mad, then go and sober up in the Abyss! Come out only when you've figured things out!"

"Houtu! You have no heart! Your brother has spoiled you for nothing! Let me go..."

Xuanming's curses faded into the distance, eventually disappearing completely within the seal of the Cold Abyss.

A deathly silence returned to the main hall.

Empress Pingxin slumped down on the cloud platform, covering her face with her hands, her shoulders trembling slightly, as if she were crying, or as if she was trying her best to suppress the pain in her heart.

"Brother... I really did my best..."

Outside.

Yang Chan's divided soul clung tightly to the corner of the wall, and seeing this scene, the weight in her heart finally lifted.

"I see."

Yang Chan sneered inwardly, "It seems that crazy woman Xuanming has a pretty good intuition. It's a pity... she has a good sister who 'considers the big picture'."

In Yang Chan's view, this scene was absolutely flawless.

Xuanming's madness and resentment align with her feelings for Su Bai; Pingxin's suppression and helplessness also reflect the stance of a Daoist Saint. Most importantly, Pingxin personally suppressed Xuanming, which means that the only variable on the Underworld's side has been eliminated.

"Even his own sister believed he was dead, and went so far as to suppress Xuanming, who was seeking revenge..."

A sense of security she had never felt before welled up in Yang Chan's heart. "It seems my plan was truly flawless. Pingxin didn't notice anything amiss; she was simply enduring the pain of losing her brother."

"In that case, I can rest assured."

Yang Chan's divided soul did not linger. Taking advantage of Pingxin's "overwhelmed grief," it quietly withdrew from the Hall of Reincarnation and left the Underworld along the Yellow Springs Road.

Until Yang Chan's breath completely disappeared outside the Gates of Hell.

Inside the Hall of Reincarnation.

Empress Pingxin, who was still covering her face and crying, slowly lowered her hand.

Where were the last traces of tears on that stunningly beautiful face? In their place was a meaningful, cold smile.

"They're out."

With a casual wave of his hand, Pingxin instantly broke the seal of the Cold Abyss deep within the main hall.

"Whoosh—"

Xuanming's remnant soul instantly flew out and landed beside Pingxin, its icy blue light flickering. Its tone was full of mockery: "How was it? Did I act well? Did that madwoman's split soul believe me?"

I believe it.

Pingxin nodded, her gaze lingering on the palace gate. "She left decisively, with a smug air of 'I am the only one who is sober while everyone else is drunk.'"

"Hmph, they're just feeling guilty."

Xuanming snorted coldly, "If my brother weren't still alive, and if it weren't for Yang Chan's machinations, why would she bother to send a wisp of her soul to the underworld to test us? This is tantamount to admitting guilt without being asked!"

"Her cleverness backfired."

Pingxin stood up, her aura instantly becoming sharp. "She thought that seeing us sisters turn against each other and accept our fate would put her mind at ease. Little did she know, it was her arrival that completely confirmed my suspicions."

"My brother is in her hands."

Upon hearing this, Xuanming's soul fluctuated violently, his killing intent chilling: "Now that it's confirmed, what are we waiting for? Let's storm Mount Hua... no, Mount Hua is just a decoy. Since she hid her brother, he's definitely not in the Primordial World."

"No rush."

Pingxin waved his hand, "Although Yang Chan's cultivation is average, the Lotus Lantern is, after all, a primordial spiritual treasure. If it is hidden in the chaos, it will indeed be difficult to find. Moreover, she is extremely vigilant now. If we act rashly and alert her, she might take her brother to move or do something drastic, which would be undesirable."

"What should we do then?"

"wait."

Pingxin looked towards the Heavenly Court, a playful smile curving his lips. "That woman, the Queen Mother of the West, is no pushover. She's gone to find that good-natured man. With his methods, given time, there's no place in the Three Realms and Six Paths he can't find."

……

Longevity Hill, Wuzhuang Temple.

This is the Daoist temple of Zhen Yuanzi, the ancestor of the Earth Immortals, and also a famously tranquil place in the primordial world.

But today, this tranquility has been broken.

"Oh dear, Your Majesty, are you trying to kill me?"

Inside the main hall, Zhen Yuanzi held his treasured Earth Book in his hands, cold sweat pouring down his forehead, his face filled with bitterness and resentment.

Opposite him, the Queen Mother of the West sat in the guest seat. Although she was dressed in plain white, her aura of a quasi-saint at the peak of her power was not diminished in the slightest.

"Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi, we've known each other for countless eons, and you won't even help with this little thing?"

The Queen Mother of the West picked up her teacup, took a small sip, and spoke in a calm tone, but to Zhen Yuanzi it sounded like a death knell.

"It's not that I'm unwilling to help, it's just that this matter... is far too big!"

Zhen Yuanzi wiped his sweat with his sleeve, his face contorted with worry, and said, "Now the entire prehistoric world knows that Emperor Su Bai has perished; that's a matter of Heaven's final judgment. You want me to deduce that he's still alive, and even find his hiding place... If word gets out, how can my Wuzhuang Temple ever have a peaceful day?"

"Besides, this is your family matter! Yang Chan is the Jade Emperor's niece and a disciple of the Goddess Nuwa, and she also possesses the Lotus Lantern. You want me to use the Book of Earth to investigate her... isn't that asking me to jump into a fire pit?"

Zhen Yuanzi is known as a kind-hearted person, and also known as someone who hates trouble.

He couldn't even stay away from such a shocking scandal involving saints, the Heavenly Court, the Jie Sect, and a bunch of quasi-saintly immortals. How could he dare to get involved?

"If you find this difficult, then forget it."

The Queen Mother of the West put down her teacup and sighed softly. "I know that the ginseng fruit tree is delicate and cannot withstand much damage. If one day the wind and snow from Kunlun Mountain accidentally blow onto Longevity Mountain and freeze the fruit, that would be terrible."

Zhen Yuanzi's hand trembled, and he almost dropped the Earth Book.

This is a blatant threat!

The Queen Mother of the West is notoriously protective and vengeful, and she's incredibly powerful. If she really lost her temper and blocked the entrance to Wuzhuang Temple every day, how could he possibly live his life?

"No, no, no! Your Majesty, let's talk this out!"

Zhen Yuanzi gritted his teeth, looking like he was ready to risk everything, "I'll help! I'll help, okay? But this has to be kept secret, you absolutely can't say that I did it!"

"Of course." A smile finally appeared on the Queen Mother of the West's face. "Rest assured, fellow Daoist, this matter is known only to Heaven, Earth, you, and me."

"well……"

Zhen Yuanzi sighed, resigned himself to his fate, sat down cross-legged, and spread the Earth Book on his lap.

"The Earth Book is formed from the membrane of the earth. As long as that small world is still attached to the primordial plane, even if it is hidden on the edge of chaos, it cannot escape the influence of the earth veins."

"However, that Lotus Lantern has the ability to conceal heavenly secrets, so I need time to pinpoint its location accurately."

The Queen Mother of the West asked, "How long?"

Zhen Yuanzi calculated for a moment and said in a deep voice, "Three months. Not a single day less."

"Okay, I'll wait here for three months."

For the next three months, Wuzhuang Temple was completely locked down.

Zhen Yuanzi worked tirelessly day and night, even burning many ancient spiritual herbs as fuel, to fully activate the Earth Book.

On that map, countless phantom images of mountains and rivers constantly shifted and transformed, eventually forming a massive primordial geomantic map. And at the very edge of that map, where chaotic energy surged, an extremely tiny point of light began to appear and disappear.

Although Yang Chan possessed the Lotus Lantern, she was not a saint and could not completely sever her connection with the primordial world.

As long as she continues to draw spiritual energy from the primordial world to maintain the operation of her small world, the Earth Book can follow the clues to find the source!

Finally, one day three months later.

"Found it!"

Zhen Yuanzi suddenly opened his eyes, which were bloodshot, and pointed to a spot on the book.

"Right here!"

"Near the 'Return to Nothingness' node, at the edge of the Chaos Sea, where the spacetime turbulence is most violent! She hid her small world within the turbulence, using it as cover; no wonder it was so difficult to find her before!"

The Queen Mother of the West suddenly stood up, looked at the coordinates, and her eyes revealed murderous intent.

"Yang Chan, you've really kept it well hidden."

She bowed deeply to Zhen Yuanzi: "Thank you for your kindness, fellow Daoist. Kunlun will remember this favor."

"Don't bother remembering, please don't bother remembering, you should leave now." Zhen Yuanzi waved his hand, looking like he was sending away a plague god, "This humble Taoist is going into seclusion, don't come looking for me."

Without wasting any words, the Queen Mother of the West took the coordinates, transformed into a streak of light, and rushed directly out of Wuzhuang Temple.

High above, several figures who had been waiting for a long time gathered together in an instant.

The Holy Mother of Golden Spirit held a flying golden sword, exuding a murderous aura.

The Three Immortal Maidens raised their Golden Dragon Scissors (a metaphorical term for a magical artifact), their faces as cold as frost.

Princess Iron Fan also arrived. Although her cultivation was slightly weaker, the hatred in her eyes was no less than anyone else's.

"Coordinates determined: the edge of the Chaos Sea."

The Queen Mother of the West looked at the women, her voice as cold as a knife, "Sisters, it's time to go and bring our husbands home..."

"Walk!"

Several streaks of light tore through the sky, carrying an aura powerful enough to overturn chaos, heading straight for the idyllic paradise hidden in the turbulent flow of time and space.