I am Guhuoniao, not an umbrella demon, please do not disturb me.

If the red spider lily exists, can we say that the underworld also exists?

The words "Road to the Underworld," "Bridge of Helplessness," "Meng Po" (the goddess of forgetfulness), "Judges," and "Ox-Head and Horse-Face" appeared in Bai Qingyu's mind, and she couldn't help but feel terrified.

"As far as I know, it does exist."

Tamamo-no-Mae nodded, leaned on Bai Qingyu's shoulder, and spoke.

"How strong is the underworld?"

"I don't know. Under normal circumstances, the underworld does not interfere with the living world."

Bai Qingyu fell silent, his expression grave. He hadn't expected that reincarnation truly existed in this world. However, it wasn't entirely unexpected, considering that even the Four Fiends existed in this world.

Actually, there's no need to worry about anything. The power of the underworld is unknown, but the living and the dead are ultimately separated and cannot interfere with each other. It's just that this spider lily, I don't know where it escaped from.

In silence, even with Bai Qingyu's speed and strength, it took him a full hour and a half to reach the skies above Shangchuan Prefecture.

Shangchuan Prefecture is no different from other prefectures and counties in the surrounding area. It is similar to Tong Prefecture, surrounded by mountains on three sides and is relatively close to the Shiwan Mountains.

Before even landing, Bai Qingyu could sense the chaotic spiritual energy below.

Just like the information given by Shuten-dōji, two major sects, one righteous and one evil, are locked in a deadly battle here, though the reason for this is unknown.

Bai Qingyu already knew the names and approximate strengths of the two major sects. Neither of them had reached the Great Ascension stage; their strongest members were only at the Integration stage.

That's normal. Mahayana sects aren't like cabbages growing on the roadside, readily available everywhere. Sects with Mahayana sects in towns are no smaller than the Ming Sect, and are even stronger.

Neither of the two major sects is as powerful as the Fate Sect, yet their struggle for a prefecture is a fatal blow to the people there.

Let alone attacking the leaders, even if they didn't attack the leaders, these cultivators wouldn't care about the common people below. The protests of the Great Spirit Dynasty would be useless; they weren't afraid at all, unless the Heavenly Sun Palace spoke up.

Fortunately, Shangchuan Prefecture is large enough that even if the two major sects go all out, it won't affect all the people in the prefecture.

"This proves the saying true: when gods fight, mortals suffer."

The two sides did not fight again at this time, but Bai Qingyu sensed that both sides were gathering their strength.

She searched for the spider lily and the oni-kiri at her own pace, not intending to get involved in the matter.

"The information Shuten-dōji provided is that the two sides are suspected of fighting over a certain treasure, and it is unknown whether it has anything to do with the underworld."

With the appearance of the red spider lily and the recent battle, Bai Qingyu couldn't help but think of this possibility.

As they were searching, two figures were seen flying rapidly from afar.

Bai Qingyu's reluctance to get involved in this matter did not mean that others thought so. The moment Bai Qingyu appeared in Shangchuan Prefecture, she was sensed by the powerful figures from both sides. Upon discovering that it was her, they hurriedly sent people over.

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Volume 1: Chapter 156 The Skeleton Clad in Armor

Bai Qingyu's identity as the "Divine Phoenix" has spread throughout the world. Anyone with some strength would know her. Her fame began to rise after the incident with the Fate Sect, and after the incident in the capital, her fame reached its peak, which continues to this day.

Not just anyone can be treated so politely by the peak master of Lingxu Peak in Tianyang Palace, let alone Bai Qingyu, who, as a demon, dares to come and cause trouble in the capital.

Two figures appeared in front of Bai Qingyu, their auras were not weak, both being Nascent Soul stage experts.

The strength of a Nascent Soul cultivator is among the strongest in the world. In many sects, a Nascent Soul cultivator can become an elder. For example, in the Heavenly Sun Palace, the elders are only at the Nascent Soul stage.

"Your Majesty the Divine Phoenix is ​​honored to grace us with your presence. If you do not mind, you may visit our Human Extinction Sect."

The elder of the Demonic Sect flew out first and spoke respectfully to Bai Qingyu.

Bai Qingyu was an honored guest of the Heavenly Sect, and among all the demonic sects, he was someone who could speak with authority.

"Our leader of the Human Extinction Sect and the leader of the Heavenly Sect are old friends. The leader has mentioned the name of the Divine Phoenix Lady many times and has long wanted to meet her in person. Upon learning that the Lady has traveled a long way to come, we have prepared wine and food in the sect and are just waiting for her to arrive."

After he finished speaking, the white-bearded old man not far away gave a cold laugh, showing no respect.

"The filthy things done by the Human Destruction Sect are known to all. With Your Majesty's auspicious beast body, how could you possibly go to your filthy place? In my humble opinion, Your Majesty would be better off coming with me to Fenglei Mountain. I have long heard that Your Majesty likes children. Coincidentally, there are also children in my sect who want to see Your Majesty."

The white-bearded old Taoist's words were far superior to those of the elders of the Extinction Sect. He criticized the Extinction Sect and praised Bai Qingyu, and his words even carried a hint of coercion. In the end, he took advantage of Bai Qingyu's love for children to directly win the battle.

The old Taoist priest of the Human Extinction Sect glared and puffed out his beard, as if he were angrily cursing the other party for being shameless.

The so-called children of Fenglei Mountain are probably all in their twenties. Besides, they have never even seen the Divine Phoenix, so why would they want to meet it?

"What can this hypocritical religion, which talks about justice and benevolence all day long, do besides spouting high-sounding words? Does it even deserve to invite Your Majesty to come?"

"My Fenglei Mountain is all high and mighty? What a joke! Everything my Fenglei Mountain does is for the sake of the world and all living beings. On this basis, what's wrong with gaining some benefits for ourselves?"

The two men talked back and forth, and Bai Qingyu believed that if he hadn't been there, the two old men would definitely have started fighting to the death.

However, to be honest, the two white-haired old Taoist priests calling her "Your Majesty" this and "Your Majesty" that was really speechless, making her sound like she was so old. Bai Qingyu couldn't help but roll her eyes, getting goosebumps from the two old men calling her that.

It's one thing for Xu Yuanqing to shout, but for an old man with half his body buried in the ground to still shout like that.

I don't know how this name got out.

It's one thing that the name "Divine Phoenix" came from the Fate Sect, but what about the Empress?

"Ahem." Bai Qingyu coughed, and the two who had been arguing incessantly turned their heads immediately.

"I'm just here to visit you. I'm not here to interfere in the affairs of your two sects. Fight as you please, make as much noise as you want, it's up to you. I'm not a member of Tianyang Palace, and I have no say in your affairs."

"I'm here to find two people, or more accurately, two demons. Once I find them, I'll leave. Don't worry."

Bai Qingyu chose to confront the situation directly.

"Believe it or not, I must find these two demons. I have no interest in the rest."

After that, the old Taoist priest who had destroyed the sect spoke first, "May I ask what the general characteristics of the demon that Your Majesty is looking for are? Perhaps our sect can give Your Majesty some clues."

"One demon is a flower spirit, and the other is in human form; their true nature is unknown."

"This...Does Your Highness need any assistance?"

"I don't need your help, and stop trying to find out more. You know whether you know about these two demons or not, just leave me alone."

After Bai Qingyu finished speaking, she changed direction and flew around the two of them.

It wasn't that she was trying to act tough; she just really didn't want to continue talking to these two old men. Who could stand them calling her "Your Majesty" all the time?

Watching Bai Qingyu's departing figure, the two old Taoists stopped arguing and each relayed the information they had just obtained, as well as the direction Bai Qingyu had left in.

They weren't just being polite when they tried to persuade Bai Qingyu to come to the sect for tea; they genuinely thought so. They understood Bai Qingyu's personality, and if they could gain her support, their chances of winning this battle would be much higher. Even if they couldn't get Bai Qingyu's support, they at least wanted to make it impossible for the other side to do so.

After the message was sent out, both sides responded by saying they would wait and see.

Since Bai Qingyu did not join the other side, why not first see why this Divine Phoenix Lady has come here?

If we're really looking for demons, then we need to see who these two demons are that would make the Divine Phoenix come in person.

"Did you sense anything?"

Once out of the surveillance range, Bai Qingyu asked Tamamo-no-Mae on his shoulder.

Tamamo-no-Mae tilted her fox head back and carefully sensed it. "It seems to be demonic power."

“No, it’s not demonic power. To be precise, it should be ghostly energy.” Bai Qingyu frowned. She remembered where she had seen the faint aura coming from Shangchuan Prefecture before.

It was deep within Nanshan Mountain, the very place where Shuten-dōji absorbed the demon gate.

The power of the Ghost Gate was very special; she had never encountered it before. After arriving in Shangchuan Prefecture, she felt quite calm, but as the altitude decreased, the feeling became clearer and clearer.

Bai Qingyu was certain that this was definitely the Ghost Gate.

Bai Qingyu knew nothing about what the Ghost Gate was, how it came into being, or what lay behind it. Even Shuten-dōji, who had entered the Ghost Gate, could not explain the world beyond it.

"If I'm not mistaken, these two sects are vying for the Ghost Gate."

Nanshan already had control of a Ghost Gate. Although Bai Qingyu was interested in this Ghost Gate in Shangchuan Prefecture, she never thought of seizing it by force. In comparison, she was more interested in whether the Other Shore Flower had any connection with this Ghost Gate.

The term "Ghost Gate" easily evokes images of the underworld, and the Red Spider Lily is also a demon from the underworld, appearing in this world for unknown reasons.

Could it be that she crawled out from behind the gate of hell?

"Gate of Hell?"

"Yes, but I can't explain exactly what the Ghost Gate is for now. Let's keep observing and see."

Bai Qingyu landed, and she chose the center of Shangchuan Prefecture.

This place was unaffected by the war, but we could sense the presence of Onikiri and Higanbana.

She really couldn't understand why the spider lily was related to Onikiri, since the two demons were completely unrelated.

Following a faint feeling in her heart, Bai Qingyu walked in one direction. She bypassed the human city and headed towards a small town in the distance. She couldn't quite put her finger on what the vague feeling in her heart was, just like when she was searching for Yuzhanjin. It was as if a voice appeared in her mind, constantly telling her to hurry up and go there.

Bai Qingyu wasn't in a hurry. Walking in the fields, she looked around at everything in Shangchuan Prefecture. Apart from the feeling brought to her by the red spider lily, she also felt a bit awkward about this prefecture. It wasn't until she left the city and looked back from afar that she realized what was going on.

"This place isn't even within the scope of the nation's destiny?"

After pondering for a long time, Bai Qingyu finally figured out the key to the problem.

As Bai Qingyu habitually stroked her smooth chin, lost in thought, she couldn't quite figure out why.

No wonder she felt uncomfortable after entering this place; the reason was right here. Normally, all landmasses in the world belong to the Great Spirit's domain. Since they are Great Spirits, they are under the influence of national fortune, and this applies even if the national fortune is weak today.

Shangchuan Prefecture became this exception; to achieve this, it had to have the power to resist the national destiny of the Great Spirit.

Therefore, someone must rise up in rebellion, and this person must be the chosen one of heaven, for this to happen.

And this person is very likely to be the next founding emperor.

The Great Ling Dynasty will also change dynasties under his influence.

That's what they say, but upon closer examination, the problem is quite obvious. Assuming this chosen one is truly here and will change everything in the future, then why was Xu Yuanqing able to stabilize the fate of the capital?

The Chosen One is ordained by Heaven, as evidenced by the decline of the Great Spirit Dynasty.

His appearance will definitely have some impact.

How should Xu Yuanqing explain this?

Once the tide of fortune turns and falls upon a new chosen one, the fate of the Great Spirit Dynasty can never be saved. Its inevitable outcome is decline and eventual collapse.

Soon, Bai Qingyu met this chosen one.

She hadn't even reached the town she was heading to yet; there was still some distance between them. In the distance, she could see a well-trained army taking over the area.

Of course, what is called a large army is only a few hundred people, with only a mere eighty-odd cavalrymen.

The town had little ability to resist and was quickly captured by the army.

Bai Qingyu looked up and saw a phantom of a divine dragon appear in the sky above the town. This phantom was about 80% similar to the Great Spirit Kingdom's fortune, but completely different in the details.