The long blade descended like a thunderbolt, its purple lightning fierce and wild, illuminating the entire Wheel-Turning Hall. It seemed ready to cleave everything in two. The Wheel-Turning King, too stunned and bewildered to react at first, finally slammed both hands downward. The black-and-white book on the table suddenly soared into the air, its pages flipping rapidly, emitting radiant light that coalesced into two intertwined black-and-white yin-yang fish, their heads and tails entwined.
Bang!
The ultimate blade struck the yin-yang fish, shattering them into pieces. The purple lightning, like silver snakes, writhed wildly within the hall. The supremely yang, mighty, and fierce energy dispelled the sinister aura of death from the underworld. The Ox-Head and Horse-Face guards vanished without even a cry. Cui, the Judge, wielded his brush desperately to resist, his body emitting waves of dark mist that flickered unstably.
They had always relied on the unique properties of this dream realm, typically unafraid of any Dharma Body that bridged reality and illusion. Yet none could have anticipated encountering Meng Qi—a man capable of grasping causal connections, formidable in both reality and illusion, who instantly exposed their fatal weakness.
Bang!
The yin-yang fish shattered, and the black-and-white book flew backward into the Wheel-Turning King’s arms. Seizing this fleeting moment, he thrust both hands forward. They gleamed silver-white, as if covered in metallic gauntlets, exuding coldness and despair, like the embodiment of death itself.
With a clang, the Wheel-Turning King staggered back three steps, barely managing to block the strike at the last moment, despite being caught off guard.
Then, his divine consciousness quivered, and he shouted from within the hall:
“Su Meng, do you wish to find the reincarnation of your companion?”
The ultimate blade, gathering purple lightning like a storm ready to sweep away autumn leaves, abruptly halted mid-strike at his words, suspended in midair. Meng Qi’s deep voice echoed:
“What do you mean?”
The Wheel-Turning King spoke solemnly: “This is the true underworld, capable of overseeing the reincarnation of mortals. If your former companions died early, without ascending to the Fengshen Bang or being claimed by other great beings, they must have passed through here for rebirth. For example, Zhang Yuanshan and Fu Zhenzhen. Don’t you wish to find their reincarnations?”
At the mention of Senior Brother Zhang and Fu Zhenzhen, the ultimate blade quivered slightly. Meng Qi seemed to drift into memory, never expecting that the underworld within this dream could have evolved to such an extent, capable of overseeing reincarnations across all realms.
In ancient times, seizing the Ghost-God True Spirit Chart must have already involved such matters. That mysterious “Emperor,” in the background of the hidden schemes of the great beings beyond the shore, had quietly developed for one or two hundred thousand years, remaining unnoticed, perhaps achieving tremendous accomplishments.
Moreover, judging from his familiarity with the affairs of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, could he himself be one of the “Masters of the Six Paths of Rebirth”?
Seeing Meng Qi’s silence and the unmoving blade, the Wheel-Turning King continued: “Moreover, Luo Shengyi was sent by you into reincarnation and is still awaiting rebirth. Would you not prefer to take advantage of our system here? Simply refrain from interfering in the Jiangdong Wang Clan’s affairs, and you will be a distinguished guest of our underworld, a promising newcomer valued by the Emperor, with boundless benefits in the future!”
Failing in his previous warning, the Wheel-Turning King changed tactics, attempting to entice Meng Qi with benefits.
He knew Meng Qi cultivated the “Yuan-Shi Golden Treatise” and the “Eight-Nine Mystical Art,” and recognized him as the new embodiment of all causes and effects. Thus, when drawing Meng Qi into the dream with the Emperor’s power, he carefully concealed the causal links and later erased all traces. He never expected that in just two short years, Meng Qi would grow so terrifyingly powerful—not only rivaling himself, a celestial immortal-level ghost deity, but also deepening the mystery of his role as the embodiment of all causes and effects. Wherever there is existence, there must be causality, connection, and trace. Realizing this, he regretted his earlier warning.
“May I ask which great adept your Emperor is?” Meng Qi’s voice finally emerged after a brief silence.
The Wheel-Turning King smiled: “The past cannot be spoken of, but you may now address Him as the King of Fengdu.”
It seemed Su Meng’s attitude had softened.
Meng Qi replied calmly: “Tell the King of Fengdu that I, Su Meng, always keep my word. There is no need for your underworld to trouble yourselves over Senior Brother Zhang and the others. I shall handle it myself.”
Boom!
As Meng Qi’s words fell, a deep thunderous roar erupted from the supreme saber. Purple lightning pierced through the Wheel-Turning Hall, illuminating the entire underworld. The black mist dissipated, yin energy scattered, and ghostly wails echoed endlessly. The display of might was as if he were the sovereign ruler of heaven and earth.
Such overwhelming might… Su Meng’s true combat strength likely surpasses even mine! The Wheel-Turning King’s expression subtly changed, his body trembling from the pure yang lightning—not from a lack of cultivation, but due to innate elemental opposition.
Su Meng had refused so decisively?
Truly impervious to both force and persuasion?
“Su Meng, think carefully about the consequences,” the Wheel-Turning King warned gravely.
“Consequences?” Meng Qi chuckled. Suddenly, the ultimate blade retracted its lightning, leapt into the void, and vanished from the dream underworld.
Only now did the other halls recover from the shock of the lightning. Torrents of terrifying, mountainous and oceanic auras swept toward the Wheel-Turning Hall.
Among them, a vast and primordial energy surged from the Yama King’s Hall. As soon as it appeared, it seemed countless black suns rose into the sky, forming a celestial map, a magnificent sight far surpassing the Wheel-Turning King.
He was so terrifying, like a legendary great adept!
“Su Meng…” a chorus of sinister voices echoed through the underworld.
…
Clang!
The ultimate blade returned to its sheath. Meng Qi had gained a preliminary understanding of this underworld. It had integrated most related myths and legends concerning the underworld from Daoist, Buddhist, and celestial traditions, forming a system with Ten Halls of Ghost Kings, Eighteen Levels of Hell, and features like the Yellow Spring River and the flowers of the other shore.
Most of these Ten Ghost Kings were celestial immortals, but the one in the Yama King’s Hall was unfathomably deep and terrifying, likely a legendary figure within the underworld itself.
Had it not been for the ultimate blade’s unique nature and its elemental advantage, Meng Qi’s lightning would have had no effect on him. Perhaps he would have faced resistance, but since he was merely striking from afar, sacrificing a bit of divine consciousness would have sufficed, requiring only a period of recovery afterward.
The Ghost Kings’ power stemmed from their divine roles and ranks, which in turn originated from the Ghost-God True Spirit Chart. That mysterious “King of Fengdu” had thrown the Ghost-God True Spirit Chart directly before the Wang Clan, showing immense confidence without fear of their controlling the underworld. Observing the Wang Clan’s cautious use of an obviously extraordinary golden rope to bind it, it was clear that nothing good would come of it…
Unlike the “Fengshen Bang” (Investiture of the Gods), the underworld had inherent limitations, governing only matters of the afterlife. Therefore, beyond this scope, the ghosts’ powers would not receive full support and would weaken, especially at the legendary level. If Yama truly descended, Meng Qi might not be able to defeat him, but he could still escape.
With so many Ghost Kings and the “Heavenly Dao Monster,” what strategy did Wang Siyuan truly possess? What confidence did he have to oppose them?
As these thoughts swirled, dawn gradually approached. Meng Qi’s eyes half-closed, he ceased further contemplation and resumed pondering the “Unity Manifesting the Three Pure Ones.”
As the sunlight streamed in, filling the room with warmth, Meng Qi suddenly opened his eyes, sensing an approaching Dharma Body.
Dharma Body? Meng Qi slightly furrowed his brow and waited patiently. Then, Hexiang knocked on the door:
“Master Su, the hidden-lineage elder of the Wang Clan, Wang Huai’en, wishes to meet you.”
“Please him in,” Meng Qi nodded slightly.
A hidden-lineage elder? One who cultivates within the Wang Clan’s other realms and guards them?
Footsteps echoed deliberately, and a middle-aged man with clear features and flowing black beard entered with a smile: “Even from within the realms, I have long heard of Master Su’s reputation as if thunder in my ears.”
A human immortal, but certainly not the Wang Clan’s strongest… Meng Qi smiled: “Such humble fame, hardly worth mentioning. What brings Elder Wang here?”
Wang Huai’en signaled Hexiang to withdraw, then knelt before Meng Qi, his expression turning serious: “As Master Su can see, our clan possesses several self-contained realms, with abundant resources and population. As long as one doesn’t cultivate the《Suanjing》, other cultivation techniques bear no curse, avoiding early death at fifty and transformation into a ‘Heavenly Dao Monster’ after death. Moreover, our Grand Elder is on the verge of becoming a celestial immortal, ready to breakthrough at any moment.”
“So, you are quite satisfied with this situation?” Meng Qi understood between the lines.
Wang Huai’en nodded: “Though selfish, this is the view of the vast majority of the Wang Clan.”
“Your eldest son is exceptionally talented, calculating without error, and the Luo Shu acknowledges him as its master. We all loyally followed him as the head of the clan. But he is too reckless. Why couldn’t he peacefully cultivate to the Dharma Body? Why must he reopen old wounds and insist on a fight to mutual destruction? Has he ever considered us elders of the hidden lineage? Has he ever considered that this could lead to the complete annihilation of the Wang Clan?”
His expression turned solemn: “Therefore, all branches have reached a consensus—we cannot allow the eldest son to continue recklessly. We beg Master Su to leave the Wang Clan and cease interference. This is the collective will of our clan.”
“Wang Daigong’s schemes are deep and far-reaching, calculating without error. If you could control the situation, you wouldn’t have come to persuade me, an outsider,” Meng Qi listened silently, then suddenly smiled. “Are most of you now sealed within the realms, unable to emerge? And the few who aren’t are no match for Wang Daigong and his loyal followers?”
Wang Huai’en hesitated, then nodded: “Indeed. Therefore, we humbly request Master Su to show mercy. This favor shall be eternally remembered by our Wang Clan.”
His tone had grown quite humble.
“No wonder the Wang Clan appears so quiet, with few other family members seen,” Meng Qi sighed. “Unfortunately, it is not the Wang Clan, but Wang Daigong himself, with whom I share a bond.”
Sensing Meng Qi’s firmness, Wang Huai’en closed his eyes briefly, then sighed deeply: “So be it. May everyone act wisely.”
With that, he turned and left the Tianji Pavilion.
It seemed this faction of the Wang Clan would resort to drastic measures… Meng Qi gazed at Hexiang outside the door and smiled slightly: “What instructions did Wang Daigong leave?”
“Master Su may reside here peacefully, without worry. When the time comes, simply storm the ancestral hall and deliver a single slash before departing freely. Regardless of success or failure, the Wang Clan will bear no grudge against you.” Hexiang’s lips curved into a faint smile, her dimples showing as she added, “Of course, do be cautious when entering the ancestral hall. Wang Huai’en and his faction likely have drastic measures prepared.”
Meng Qi nodded slightly, closed his eyes, and placed his long blade beside him.
…
Seven days later, deep into the night, with heavy clouds overhead.
Meng Qi opened his eyes and grasped the hilt of his blade with his right hand.
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