The Demon Emperor’s Hall appeared to be just a single structure, but upon entering, one would find countless chambers and layers of doors, where a moment’s inattention could lead to getting lost. Under the guidance of the demon on duty, the Mystic Fairy of the Nine Heavens, Liuliu, walked slowly toward the depths.
As she neared the inner hall, Liuliu suddenly saw a man and a woman walking out side by side, brushing past her. The woman’s face bore a shy expression, breathtakingly beautiful, her gaze brimming with unconcealed joy, clearly bearing the bloodline of the Phoenix Clan. The man, dressed in an elegant green robe, was less restrained than the woman, grinning like a fool.
Hmm? Isn’t that the disciple of the one from the Jade Void Palace? Liuliu remained expressionless, maintaining her ethereal and refined demeanor as she stepped into the inner hall, where she saw layers upon layers of curtains and the faintly discernible, graceful figure behind them.
“Liuliu pays her respects to Your Majesty.” Having visited the Demon Emperor’s Hall many times in ancient times, her tone carried a sense of familiarity. “That person just now… seems to be a disciple of the Heavenly Venerable Su from the Jade Void Palace?”
The Demon Emperor smiled gently. “Sect Master Su sent him to propose a marriage alliance on behalf of my demon race, to show impartiality between humans and demons.”
For such a trivial matter, he formally sent a disciple to pay respects to the Demon Emperor? Liuliu found it hard to believe. Would a Heavenly Venerable of the Other Shore really be so idle?
However, as an Ancient, the Demon Emperor would never lie to her—though omitting half the truth could still be misleading. Perhaps there was more to this than just a marriage proposal?
Thoughts racing, Liuliu did not press further. Instead, she spoke solemnly and respectfully, “The Celestial Emperor has entrusted me to deliver a message to Your Majesty.”
“What message?” The Demon Emperor’s tone remained unchanged.
“Whatever Your Majesty sought in the past by allying with the Heavenly Venerable Lingbao, supporting King Tang in establishing the Shang Dynasty and unifying the Three Realms—He can give it to you.” The Mystic Fairy’s gaze was serene, like the clearest yet deepest lake.
Within the inner hall, the layers of curtains swayed slightly, as if brushed by a gentle breeze. After a moment of silence, the Demon Emperor said, “I understand. You may leave.”
Liuliu composed herself, bowed once more, and turned to depart.
……
Deep within the Netherworld, the Demon Lord and Yang Jian sat facing each other amid the ruins of the Nether Sea. The Seven-Killer Daoist stood at the entrance, his sword drawn, while the Dark Ghost Emperor stood atop the sixth peak of Mount Luofeng, gazing down at the layers of Yin Earth below. The Nine Chaos Heavenly Venerable and the Black Celestial Emperor remained in their respective domains, maintaining a relatively peaceful stalemate among the pseudo-Other Shore figures.
Suddenly, the black mist across the Nine Netherworlds churned and boiled, the eerie light in the sky intensifying. The Yellow Springs surged violently, while poisonous flames and miasma erupted from every fissure, as if in praise, welcome, and adulation of something.
A figure stepped into the Nine Netherworlds from beyond, draped in a black monk’s robe that left one shoulder bare. His handsome face bore a faint smile, as though everything in existence was within his grasp.
“Demon Buddha!” The Seven-Killer Daoist’s eyes narrowed, his murderous aura flaring, yet laced with unconcealed fear.
*Clang!*
The Nether Sea Sword trembled in place, unleashing ripples of tangible death that shredded space and time, its killing intent locking onto the black-robed newcomer.
Demon Buddha Ananda had descended into the Nine Netherworlds openly, rather than scheming from the shadows, waiting for the critical moment to secure victory and overcome obstacles to refining the Netherworld.
What was his goal?
From atop Mount Luofeng, within the demonic pool, amid the ruins of the Nether Sea, and atop the crimson mountains, the Dark Ghost Emperor, the Peerless Demon Lord, the Nine Chaos Heavenly Venerable, the Black Celestial Emperor, as well as Yang Jian and Qi Zhengyan, all turned their gazes toward this foremost fiend of the present age.
Unlike other Other Shore beings, who would be constantly tainted by the corruption of the Nine Netherworlds, he thrived here as if returning home, “welcomed” by the will of the Netherworld.
Though this granted him no additional power, it made the pseudo-Other Shore fiends and demonic gods, who relied on the Netherworld for their strength, deeply wary.
The Dark Ghost Emperor’s cold eyes shifted toward the Nine Chaos Heavenly Venerable and the Seven-Killer Daoist, as if inviting them to join forces and expel the Demon Buddha.
*Clang!*
The Nether Sea Sword let out a long, resonant hum, responding to the Dark Ghost Emperor’s proposal. Yet the Demon Lord, the Black Celestial Emperor, and the Nine Chaos Heavenly Venerable remained unmoved—the first two harboring their own schemes, while the latter, influenced by the will of the Netherworld, temporarily suppressed his destructive madness.
Yang Jian watched thoughtfully, equally motionless.
Seeing this, the Dark Ghost Emperor roared in fury, freezing layers of Yin Earth, yet ultimately refrained from attacking the Demon Buddha.
Even with the Nether Sea Sword, the Seven-Killer Daoist would be at a clear disadvantage against the Demon Buddha. Only with his aid could they gain an upper hand—but the Demon Buddha still wielded the Samsara Seal and the Heavenly Dao Monster. With just two pseudo-Other Shore beings, they stood no chance of shaking him, and might even be annihilated if given the opportunity!
Demon Buddha Ananda reveled in the gazes filled with hatred, fear, and vigilance. His figure suddenly flickered, appearing above the Black Celestial Emperor’s domain, manifesting a terrifying, demonic inverse-Buddha form—an embodiment of all corruption, filth, destruction, and slaughter in existence.
Seeing him target the Black Celestial Emperor, the Seven-Killer Daoist and the Dark Ghost Emperor secretly sighed in relief, yet also felt a glimmer of anticipation. If the two sides clashed, they could seize the opportunity to join the fray and drive out the Demon Buddha!
More importantly, if the Demon Buddha proved too aggressive, the remaining pseudo-Other Shore beings might intervene out of shared peril, ensuring success.
“What is the meaning of this, fellow Daoist?” The Black Celestial Emperor’s ethereal voice echoed from within his domain.
The Demon Buddha sat in the lotus position, multiple arms holding treasures or forming seals. Without answering, he opened his mouth and began chanting a scripture.
He had simply stationed himself at the Black Celestial Emperor’s “doorstep” and begun chanting!
The scripture was sinister, as if woven from all the desires and negative emotions in the world, transforming into a droning hum that made the fiends and demonic gods clutch their heads in agony, descending into madness and slaughtering one another.
All the blood they shed flowed backward, converging outside the Black Celestial Emperor’s domain into a red-and-black inverted swastika!
After finishing the chant, the Demon Buddha rose and departed without a fight or a word, leaving the Dark Ghost Emperor and the Seven-Killer Daoist utterly baffled.
What was he trying to do?
This was utterly incomprehensible!
The Demon Buddha ascended step by step to the pitch-black peak where Meng Qi had once meditated, sitting down in the same posture, closing his eyes as if in slumber.
Meanwhile, within his domain, the Black Celestial Emperor’s eyes flickered with unreadable thoughts.
*Boom!*
With the Demon Buddha’s return, the Nine Netherworlds flourished once more. Far to the southeast of the Eastern Sea, the boundless azure waves suddenly collapsed, as if draining into an unfillable void, leaving behind a gaping abyss that would terrify even immortals.
The abyss split open, the seabed crumbling layer by layer as black mist and demonic energy surged forth, tainting everything around it, transforming space, time, and all living beings into extensions of the Nine Netherworlds. In the distance, yet untouched by the corruption, sea creatures perished one after another, swiftly turning to dust.
It was as if doomsday had arrived.
At that moment, a golden bridge descended from the heavens, spanning the Bitter Sea and the Other Shore, anchoring itself over the collapsing seabed and stabilizing all changes.
Simultaneously, a jade ruyi wreathed in golden flowers, purple mist, and water ripples descended from the sky, pressing into the seabed, purging the corruption and sealing the boundary between the Nine Netherworlds and the real world.
Witnessing this, the Demon Buddha, eyes still closed, neither startled nor angered, curled his lips slightly—as if smiling.
The end of the epoch was nigh. This was the tide of destiny, the inevitable course of heaven’s will!
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage