A figure draped in a plain cyan robe, Gu Xiechen, stood upon the central head of the restored Demon Flood Dragon, his presence emanating a calm aura, his eyes devoid of sharp light, much like an ordinary scholar observing the empty void before him.

The Great Luo Heaven, a sacred, transcendent realm established by the Three Pure Ones. The void held no sun or moon, only immeasurable golden radiance spilling down from the zenith, illuminating the emptiness. It lacked the air required by ordinary beings, filled instead with boundless, swirling purple qi—a vapor condensed only from the highest concentration of worldly spiritual energy. Were any immortal other than a Great Luo Golden Immortal to inhale even a single breath of it, their body would instantly explode.

The vast, utterly empty expanse of the Great Luo Heaven appeared profoundly mysterious and unfathomable.

Gu Xiechen smiled coldly and unleashed a bolt of Primordial Chaos Sky-Splitting Divine Thunder.

This thunderbolt was condensed with pure Primordial Chaos Saintly Power at its core, further infused with a single drop of Pangu’s true blood, resulting in astonishing power. When the lightning struck, the entire Great Luo Heaven shuddered violently. The pervasive purple qi howled, scattering in swift, strong gusts, even tearing sharp, glaring fissures across the void itself.

With the thunderclap, the surroundings shattered; the fundamental elements of Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind surged and boiled. In the blink of an eye, amidst this elemental tempest, three distinct, luminous grotto-heavens manifested.

The core structure of one grotto-heaven was a simple thatched hut, surrounded by green mountains and clear waters, brimming with an air of carefree naturalness. Dotted around the hut, following the contours of the landscape, were several hundred ancient, naturally formed palaces. This was evidently the Tushita Palace of the Grand Pure Saint, Laozi—a dwelling that reflected its owner: profound cultivation revealed through unpretentious simplicity, utterly lacking in ostentation.

The second dwelling was a vast, sprawling mountain range, shimmering with gold and splendor, housing a magnificent and solemn palace complex stretching for tens of thousands of miles. Nine layers of purple qi enveloped this palace, exuding an aura of inviolable majesty—naturally, this was the Jade Void Palace of the Jade Pure Saint, the Primordial Heavenly Venerable.

The third dwelling was a small island. Built into the mountain formations on the island was a cave-system dwelling, its winding interior paths harmonizing with the external pavilions and halls, a place of endless variation and wonder. It too was veiled in purple qi and golden light—this was undoubtedly the Jinao Island, the Dao field of the Supreme Pure Saint, the Master of the Heavenly Sect, Tongtian Jiaozhu.

However, the Saints had long since departed this void, leaving their three domains empty. Only endless layers of restrictive formations maintained the autonomous operation of the halls. Though spotless, just as they were when the three Saints presided over their sermons, the dwellings were utterly devoid of even a single attendant; all had been taken to that strange, new universe.

The formations guarding the three grotto-heavens mainly consisted of minor enchantments: those for repelling wind, waterproofing, extinguishing fire, and dust removal, along with enchantments to water the flora with spiritual springs and clear away withered leaves. There were no overwhelmingly powerful defensive wards.

It was easy to understand why. Who in the Three Realms did not know of the three Saints’ residences in the Great Luo Heaven? And who would dare cause trouble within a Saint’s domain? Not only would damaging a single tile be a capital offense, but even accidentally brushing against a blade of grass could invite doom. Truly, no one in the Three Realms dared to cause disruption here; why bother with petty defensive enchantments?

His divine sense swept over the three grotto-heavens, instantly perceiving every hidden mystery within.

Gu Xiechen smiled faintly. A torrent of chaos energy surged from his crown, and his Three Corpse Primordial Spirits shot out, filled with surging wrath.

The Yuanyin Primordial Spirit offered up the Yuanyin Profound Pearl and slammed it violently toward the Jade Void Palace of the Primordial Heavenly Venerable. A thousand billion layers of restrictions shattered instantly. The Profound Pearl, trailing a chilling coldness, swept toward the surrounding mountains of the Jade Void Palace, instantly freezing the numerous great peaks solid. The once bright scenery of green mountains and clear waters was instantaneously transformed into a realm of icebergs, snowfields, and frozen hell.

The Chaos Primordial Spirit swung the Chaos Bell, smashing it down upon the Tushita Palace.

With a deafening roar, a mushroom cloud ascended. The countless external restrictions of the Tushita Palace were blown to shreds, and half of the palace itself was pulverized by the chaotic tide generated by the Chaos Bell.

When the Yuanyang Primordial Spirit moved against Jinao Island, it hesitated for a moment. Gu Xiechen’s true body pondered briefly, then suddenly ascended, landing outside the mountain gate of Jinao Island. He executed three deeply respectful kowtows toward the gate. With a cold tone, he declared, “If the Heavenly Master Tongtian has an awareness, know that this is not my act of aggression, but rather your arrogance that has pushed matters too far!”

After a few chilling laughs, Gu Xiechen roared, “You are Saints, and my current status is no less than yours. Why may you scheme against me, yet I may not scheme against you? Out of respect for the Nine Nether Dao being a remnant of the Intercept Sect, I offer these three initial rites as apology before destroying your dwelling!”

With a sweep of his hand, the Yuanyang Primordial Spirit laughed wildly. The surrounding divine flames blazed forth. The Yuanyang Profound Pearl, burning a hundred million times hotter and brighter than ten thousand suns combined, descended amidst a fierce roar of wind and fire. A strange light shot toward the heavens; the countless restrictions on Jinao Island dissolved into green smoke under the intense heat. The highest peaks of Jinao Island instantly melted into rolling magma under the extreme temperature.

Having breached the restrictions of the three Saints’ grotto-heavens, the Three Corpse Primordial Spirits charged inside respectively.

In the main halls of the three Saints’ Dao fields, Gu Xiechen discovered a wisp of Primordial Spirit clone left by each Saint. These three clones served no other function than to adhere to three magnificent statues, much like the idols Gu Xiechen encountered in the lower realms. Their purpose was to absorb the power of faith, condense it, and transmit it outward.

Simply put, these three Primordial Spirit clones were mere waystations for energy storage, conversion, and transmission.

The Three Pure Ones had left countless doctrinal legacies throughout this universe, akin to the Kunlun and Zhongnan lineages on Earth. During festivals, countless disciples of both factions would offer sacrifices to their respective ancestors, and this influx of faith power was reliably secured.

Furthermore, in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, there were subordinate Dao sects established by the Three Pure Ones. Even if these branches had forgotten their connection to the Three Pure Ones, they still paid homage to their founders daily, ensuring some faith power remained. If the Immortals and disciples of these sects performed good deeds externally, a portion of their accrued merit would be sent by the Heavenly Dao into these three clones, destined for the three Saints.

With these three clone-statues present, the three Saints could continue to draw immense faith power and merit from this universe even after leaving it.

A colossal sound echoed. Gu Xiechen’s Three Corpse Primordial Spirits violently destroyed the three clones.

The Great Luo Heaven, now churning like thin porridge, was suddenly beset by rolling thunder. Innumerable bolts of lightning materialized from thin air, and three masses of celestial tribulation clouds—green, white, and red—suddenly materialized above Gu Xiechen’s head. The three Saints had imbued their clone-statues with exceptionally powerful protective formations; anyone who triggered these wards would instantly face endless attacks.

But now, Gu Xiechen was the sole Saint in the Three Realms.

The three tribulation clouds above his head had barely formed before Gu Xiechen casually waved his hand, and the three masses of clouds vanished into thin air. The space of the Great Luo Heaven, which had been roaring with thunder and flashing with lightning, instantly calmed into perfect stillness, all extraordinary phenomena disappearing without a trace.

Having destroyed the primary contingency the three Saints left in this universe, Gu Xiechen smiled coldly, and his eyes shot out a beam of light that illuminated the two realms. He instantly spotted the Black Cloud Immortal, who was hiding in a "Small River of Fortune" he had carved out, currently lecturing myriad subjugated immortals on the Great Dao of the Intercept Sect.

Gazing coldly at the Black Cloud Immortal, sensing the vast faith power accumulating from his constant preaching, Gu Xiechen suddenly sneered, “Black Cloud Immortal, your sermons are finished!”

The minor cosmos opened by the Black Cloud Immortal shattered instantly. Gu Xiechen’s divine sense drew upon boundless worldly spiritual energy, condensing it into a massive, dazzling golden hand spanning several hundred million li, which swept down to seize the Black Cloud Immortal and the countless immortals he had gathered from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.

As the sole Saint of the Three Realms, Gu Xiechen commanded more comprehensive and refined Heavenly Dao laws than the multitude of former Saints. His grasp was as if the entire universe itself had suddenly moved, the heaven and earth conspiring against the Black Cloud Immortal and his followers.

The golden, shimmering hand descended from above, seamless and perfectly round, revealing no flaw. One grasp sealed off every possible movement for the Black Cloud Immortal and the gathered immortals. Even assembling hundreds of Great Luo Golden Immortals could not escape this massive hand.

The Black Cloud Immortal sighed toward the sky, shaking his head with a bitter, helpless smile. “To meet a thieving monk, all plans are lost! What were those bald donkeys thinking?”

After a few helpless chuckles, the Black Cloud Immortal casually tossed the Six Soul Banner, gifted by his Master, into the void. He shouted sternly, “Saint Evil Dragon, this is the Six Soul Banner gifted by my Master! As a descendant of my Intercept Sect lineage, this banner, after being re-refined by my Master, possesses infinite power. Let this serve as a favorable bond with you, Saint!”

As the Six Soul Banner manifested, six streams of black light, accompanied by boundless black clouds and winds, soared skyward, firmly supporting the colossal golden hand conjured by Gu Xiechen.

A tremendous repulsive force radiated outward. Gu Xiechen, situated in the Great Luo Heaven, felt his body jolt, a faint metallic taste rising in his throat—he had nearly been forced to spit blood. The power contained within the Six Soul Banner was immense and overwhelmingly potent, even three parts stronger than the power held within that jade-colored hand that had attacked him previously!

The black light and dark clouds blocked the capture attempt of Gu Xiechen’s hand. The minor cosmos established by the Black Cloud Immortal instantly collapsed, and a massive teleportation array spontaneously erupted beneath him. Judging by the scale of the array and the intensity of the magical power surging forth, this array had been laid down long ago.

Gu Xiechen’s thoughts stirred. As his Three Corpse Primordial Spirits were about to tear through the void to seize the Black Cloud Immortal’s minor cosmos and capture him and his followers using their primal power, four-colored sword qi suddenly flashed through the void, and a massive spatial rift abruptly appeared. The Black Cloud Immortal and the countless immortals vanished in an instant, whisked away by the teleportation array into the spatial tear.

The four-colored sword qi flickered briefly, and the spatial rift slowly healed. By the time Gu Xiechen’s Three Corpse Primordial Spirits arrived, the Black Cloud Immortal was nowhere to be seen.

In the void, only a clear strand of the Black Cloud Immortal’s divine message remained.

Having captured the departing message, Gu Xiechen laughed strangely, casually snatching the Six Soul Banner. He lightly traced the banner’s long handle with his finger. After a moment of contemplation, Gu Xiechen tucked the Six Soul Banner into his possession and then drifted away from the Great Luo Heaven.

The next instant, Gu Xiechen arrived at the entrance to the Western Paradise of Ultimate Bliss.

Although the two Buddhist Saints had used immense power and divine ability to shield the Western Paradise, Gu Xiechen was now a Saint—the only Saint in heaven and earth, destined to succeed Hongjun as the master of the Heavenly Dao. Such a minor restriction could not possibly conceal itself from him.

With a casual bolt of Primordial Chaos Sky-Splitting Divine Thunder, he blasted away the restriction left by the two Buddhist Saints, and Gu Xiechen strode into this sanctified Buddhist ground. Unlike the Three Pure Ones’ Dao fields, which lacked strong defensive formations because they trusted no one would dare touch a single blade of grass, the Western Paradise was guarded by countless materialized beings formed from accumulated thought power: Heavenly Kings, Vajras, Arhats, Yakshas, Asuras, and Rakshasas.

Upon seeing this outsider, Gu Xiechen, the densely packed, seemingly endless horde of Buddhist guardians—numbering at least trillions—surged forward. They raised their divine weapons and sharp implements, also condensed from thought power, and hurled them at Gu Xiechen.

These thought-power guardians formed a grand Buddhist formation, surrounding and trapping Gu Xiechen. The air was filled with rolling chants, flashing golden light, and falling heavenly blossoms. Countless heavenly maidens flew past, carrying baskets of flowers, presenting an illusion of infinite, marvelous beauty. Any person with less resolute willpower upon witnessing such a spectacle might fall to their knees in submission to Buddhism.

The strength of these guardians was considerable. The weakest possessed the cultivation of a High-Grade Golden Immortal, while the strongest were subtly close to breaking through to the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm. Since the two Buddhist Saints had departed for that foreign cosmos with most of their followers, the thought power accumulated in the Blissful World had built up year after year without ever being deployed, resulting in an immense concentration of strength—no wonder the guardians’ cultivation was so high.

Had anyone else, even a top-tier Primordial Grandmist existence, blundered into the Blissful World at this time, they would surely have been exhausted to death by the endless guardians. But when the intruder was Gu Xiechen, this Blissful World was destined to change its master.

Glancing coldly around, Gu Xiechen quietly commanded, “All of you are illusions; why do you not achieve liberation, and wait for what?”

He did not expend a single iota of his own magical power. Instead, he used his divine sense to invoke the Wheel of Pious Faith Law, releasing a circle of golden light that illuminated the surroundings. Instantly, the infinite, countless Buddhist guardians began chanting Buddhist names, knelt in homage to Gu Xiechen, and then dissolved into streams of pure thought-power golden light that soared into the void.

With a single utterance, drawing upon the power of the Law, he annihilated the innumerable thought-power guardians of the Blissful World, destroying the sliver of shallow divine thought that their Buddhist restrictions had conferred upon them. This wisp of divine thought was the core of these thought-power constructs; once destroyed, their physical forms naturally ceased to exist, reverting to their origin as soaring streams of thought power.

But how could Gu Xiechen let go of this pure, potent thought power condensed from the faith of countless believers?

With a casual summons, the surging streams of pure thought power instantly halted. Then, with a subtle shift of his hand seals, the streams of thought power converged above his head. In a flash, a colossal sphere of thought power, exceeding ten billion li in diameter and possessing a density comparable to a neutron star, condensed above him. Such immense thought power—it was hard to imagine the years of toil the Buddhist sect had spent accumulating such a quantity.

After a few cold chuckles, Gu Xiechen narrowed his eyes in thought. He first took out the Life Manifestation Seal he had condensed using the secret art of the Indestructible Yellow Progenitor Body technique.

Weighing the infinitely powerful Life Manifestation Seal, Gu Xiechen sighed, “A pity, a pity.”

A sharp gleam flashed in his eyes. Gu Xiechen slammed his palm onto the Life Manifestation Seal. Instantly, the seal let out a miserable howl, like the cry of a child. Infinite Yellow and Black Qi rushed out from within the seal, coalescing before Gu Xiechen into a large mass of dual black and yellow light.

In an instant, every last drop of Yellow and Black Qi within the Life Manifestation Seal was drawn out, and the seal itself dimmed, becoming as dull as a piece of scrap metal.

Gently stroking the Life Manifestation Seal, Gu Xiechen whispered, “No hurry. No hurry. You are still the treasured artifact refined by my own hands. In the future, my supreme treasure, no one will compare to you, no one can surpass you!”

With Gu Xiechen’s current status, his words resonated throughout the cosmos. Streams of spiritual light descended from the heavens overhead, and gradually, countless phantoms began to materialize in the void. Some of these phantoms spanned tens of thousands of li, while others were no larger than a fist, yet each was wheel-shaped—undoubtedly the true forms of the Wheels of Law, manifestations of the myriad Heavenly Dao laws throughout the cosmos.

Holding the Life Manifestation Seal, Gu Xiechen performed a ceremonial bow toward the four cardinal directions. Following this, the shadowy projections of countless Wheels of Law descended, all merging into the Life Manifestation Seal. The colossal sphere of thought power above his head—over ten billion li in diameter and compressed to an unimaginable density—also rushed downward, transforming into a golden torrent that flowed into the Life Manifestation Seal.

“Gathering the faith of hundreds of millions, uniting with the Heavenly Dao Laws, you shall henceforth be my tool for Dao Attainment, Gu Xiechen—the Heavenly Dao Seal!”

He pointed a finger at the Heavenly Dao Seal. Not only the Heavenly Dao Laws of this universe, but also the supreme Chaos Law of the other universe, obtained from the Chaos Bell, were imprinted into the Heavenly Dao Seal by Gu Xiechen’s own divine sense.

Seven-colored radiance shot up from the Heavenly Dao Seal, and a joyous laugh resonated, shaking the entire Three Realms.

Since ancient times, no artifact had been able to inscribe so many Heavenly Dao Laws. In the cosmos, nothing other than the Wheel of the Heavenly Dao could gather all the forces of the universe’s laws. But now that Gu Xiechen himself united all the laws of the cosmos, he could naturally refine an artifact to contain them all.

Once infused with these laws, the Heavenly Dao Seal truly became the foremost innate supreme treasure of this universe. Were it not for the sheer resilience of Patriarch Ironstone’s true body, capable of enduring such a terrifying influx of thought power, and were it not for Gu Xiechen’s transcendent strength enabling such a heaven-defying feat, how could a heaven-defying item like the Heavenly Dao Seal ever exist?

He brushed his hand across the Heavenly Dao Seal. The seven-colored radiance it emitted immediately retracted, transforming into a square seal, merely the size of a fist, with a round, wheel-like knob—a black, great seal. Divine objects conceal themselves; at first glance, the Heavenly Dao Seal looked like an ordinary iron seal. Only those whose cultivation reached at least the Primordial Grandmist realm, focusing their spiritual sight, could perceive a trace of its extraordinary nature.

Satisfied, he weighed the light and seemingly weightless Heavenly Dao Seal. Gu Xiechen casually plucked forty-nine long strands of his hair, rubbed them between his palms, and wove them into a smooth, jade-like thin cord, which he casually hung the Heavenly Dao Seal from his belt.

He lightly tapped the Heavenly Dao Seal, and a faint shadow of a Wheel of Law instantly appeared upon it—precisely the Wheel of Pious Faith.

Gu Xiechen established the rule: henceforth, of the faith power offered to him by the countless living beings in the Three Realms, the core disciples of the Nine Nether Dao would share forty percent, he himself would enjoy fifty percent, and the Heavenly Dao Seal would receive the remaining ten percent, constantly augmenting its strength. Over time, the Heavenly Dao Seal would become indistinguishable from a limb of Gu Xiechen himself, his true Dao Attainment artifact.

Having arranged the Heavenly Dao Seal, Gu Xiechen’s gaze fell upon the mass of Yellow and Black Qi before him.

He looked coldly at the mass of Yellow and Black Qi, then suddenly raised his right hand and struck himself fiercely upon the chest.

The blow was like a sharp blade or a heavy axe. Black and yellow blood spurted from Gu Xiechen’s seven orifices, and vast amounts of Yellow and Black Qi erupted from every pore. The bones within his body cracked and reformed like popping beans. His muscles, organs, meridians, and nerves were instantly pulverized, only to be immediately healed by the power of the Heavenly Dao.

With a single strike, Gu Xiechen reduced the cultivation of his Indestructible Yellow Progenitor Body technique—developed over more than ten thousand years—into a mass of Yellow and Black Qi. From this day forward, not a trace of the Indestructible Yellow Progenitor Body divine ability remained within him; it was entirely transformed into the purest Pangu True Body.

An aura of primordial desolation immediately burst forth from Gu Xiechen’s body. The Pangu True Blood within his heart surged violently, and within moments, ninety-nine point nine percent of it was absorbed completely by his suddenly depleted body. Billows of chaotic energy continuously spewed from his pores, tempering and refining his physical form to be ever more pure and refined.

“A pity, a pity!”

Looking at the light mass before him, composed of vast Yellow and Black Qi and black-and-yellow blood, Gu Xiechen shook his head. Ten thousand years of arduous practice, ten thousand years of dedication, all shattered by his own palm today.

However, he would no longer suffer to be schemed against by anyone. From this day forward, only he would scheme against others; no one else would ever calculate against him.

Smiling menacingly, Gu Xiechen casually pointed a finger at the mass of yellow light. Six streams of six-colored light descended from the void. The Law of the Six Paths of Reincarnation of this universe instantly activated, sweeping the light mass into the depths of the Six Paths.

With a casual flick of his hand, he drew a wisp of power of faith from the void and injected it into the mass of Xuanhuang light. Gu Xichen murmured a command: "You are a disciple of Buddhism, the future First Buddha of the Buddhist Sect. Those figures like Daoist Zhunti, Daoist Jieyin, and Amitabha Buddha—they will all serve beneath you! You are the savior of all sentient beings, the benevolent lord of compassion, whom I now enthrone as the 'Xuanhuang Immortal Buddha of Buddhism'!"

With Gu Xichen personally manipulating the power of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, that sphere of light instantly cycled through ten thousand lifetimes within the cycle.

Through ten thousand cycles of rebirth, the light cluster remained dedicated to Buddhism, transforming completely into a disciple whose faith was pious, steadfast, and fanatical! The sliver of power of faith Gu Xichen infused into him became the core of his three souls and six spirits, leaving his entire existence under Gu Xichen's remote control.

With three loud laughs, a pagoda and a mirror floated up above Gu Xichen's head, the Haotian Pagoda and the Haotian Mirror appearing in the void with a deep rumbling sound.

Gu Xichen gazed upon the Haotian Mirror and Pagoda, exclaiming in admiration, "Marvelous, truly marvelous. From this day forward, you are no longer artifacts of Taoism, but supreme treasures of Buddhism. One shall be the 'Immaculate, Pure, and Immortal Buddha Pagoda,' and the other the 'Flawless, Unobstructed, All-Illuminating Buddha Crystal.' From this day forth, you are the personal supreme treasures of the Xuanhuang Immortal Buddha; you must serve him well and remain ever by his side!"

Gu Xichen was now the sole Saint in the Three Realms; his decree was equivalent to a decision made by the Heavenly Dao itself.

With a single sweep, he erased the Taoist artifact identities of the Haotian Pagoda and Mirror. Instantly, Buddhist light cascaded down across the entirety of the heavens, and the pagoda and mirror immediately transformed their appearance.

The Haotian Pagoda became a twenty-four-tiered pagoda of a seven-colored, translucent glaze. The Haotian Mirror transformed into a multifaceted crystal, the size of a thumb, also of a seven-colored glaze, yet faintly emanating a bronze brilliance.

Both treasures were subtly shrouded in Buddhist radiance, illuminating the Nine Heavens—truly unparalleled supreme artifacts, rare and wondrous treasures.

With a casual grasp towards the Six Paths of Reincarnation, he plucked out a young monk with a thin face, ordinary looks, and a resolute expression, enveloped in swirling Buddhist light. Upon seeing Gu Xichen, the young monk immediately prostrated himself, crying out, "This humble monk pays respects to the Saint, the Saint is merciful!"

Gu Xichen nodded, "Merciful. Of course I am merciful; there is no one in this world more compassionate than I!"

With a serene smile, Gu Xichen tossed the Buddhist pagoda onto the monk's head, instantly refining it for him. He then threw the Buddha Crystal, which drifted with strands of Taoist celestial mist, to hover before the monk before settling into the center of his brow, appearing precisely as if he had grown a third eye.

The monk pointed a finger at the pagoda, and immediately, the surrounding heavens blazed with brilliant light, enveloping him in immeasurable Buddhist radiance, with golden lotuses spontaneously blossoming everywhere. The defensive power was utterly immense. He abruptly raised his head, and the Buddha Crystal in his brow shot out a faint greenish spiritual beam that illuminated the Three Realms, instantly allowing him to perceive every movement within them.

Gu Xichen watched the monk with satisfaction, chuckling softly, "You possess boundless Buddhist Dharma and possess the Xuanhuang Immortal Body. You have endured ten thousand lifetimes without wavering in your grand vow to save all sentient beings through Buddhism; this is truly commendable and astonishing. From this day forward, you are the future First Buddha of Buddhism, commanding billions of Buddhist cultivators. Remember to strive diligently and never belittle yourself!"

The young monk responded with utmost reverence, obediently kneeling on the ground and kowtowing three times to Gu Xichen.

Gu Xichen burst into hearty laughter, snatching up the young monk and striding out of the Western Pure Land, swiftly flying towards the other four Buddhist realms.

Eastern Buddha Kingdom, Northern Buddha Earth, Southern Buddha Realm, Central Buddha Domain.

Gu Xichen traversed the Five Directions of Buddhist Lands in a single day, gathering immeasurable amounts of the power of faith from each, all of which he poured into the Heavenly Dao Seal. While the power of the Heavenly Dao Seal immediately surged a hundredfold, the power of faith accumulated over countless years in the Five Directions of Buddhist Lands was pitifully devoured entirely by Gu Xichen.

Stealing the power of faith was one matter, but Gu Xichen was even more egregious; he seized control of the five most vital lands of Buddhism and, using the divine abilities of the Heavenly Dao, forged them into a single exotic treasure—a begging bowl shining with five-colored Buddhist light!

This bowl, refined from the Five Directions of Buddhist Lands, was inherently heavy and also possessed the power to shrink the universe to the size of a mustard seed, along with the Buddhist ability to break obstacles and dispel evil. It truly possessed boundless divine might, profoundly esoteric. It could guard the body and attack the enemy, making it an incomparably divine Buddhist ultimate treasure, capable in both offense and defense. Only by currently wielding the infinite power of the Wheel of the Heavenly Dao could he achieve this feat; no other Saint could have done this.

He casually handed the Five Directions Buddha Land Bowl to the Xuanhuang Immortal Buddha, sending him off to a desolate small planet in the mortal realm for secluded cultivation, forbidding him to leave without permission. Afterward, Gu Xichen ascended to the Thirty-Three Heavens, settling onto his throne in the Hall of Miraculous Splendor.

Just as he was seating himself in the Hall of Miraculous Splendor, before he could even sound the Bell to Summon Immortals, the great doors of the hall were violently kicked open. Emperor Corpse, wreathed in swirling flames with every hair standing on end, strode in.

Staring at Gu Xichen seated high upon the throne, Emperor Corpse became enraged, puffing his cheeks and glaring, barking fiercely, "Brat, your wife, who is also my disciple, has been abducted, and you aren't the least bit worried? It's been two days! What have you been doing for these two days?"

Indeed, Fúyǎ?Míng had been gone for two days.

Gu Xichen smiled faintly, his voice gentle, "Master. These past two days, I merely smashed the dojos of five Saints."

Emperor Corpse, who had stormed in ready to vent his anger on Gu Xichen, was suddenly stunned, staring at him with utter horror and shrieking, "You smashed their dojos?"

Gu Xichen crossed his legs casually, chuckling faintly, "Surely they weren't expecting me to let all those years of scheming go without consequence? This time, they schemed against my wife and child. Heh heh, if I don't show them a bit of color, who will they scheme against next?"

Emperor Corpse fell silent. An attending Star Official in the Hall of Miraculous Splendor brought a soft couch, and Emperor Corpse sat down. Master and disciple looked at each other for a moment. Emperor Corpse frowned, "What are your plans? Fúyǎ being abducted is an insult to our Nine Nether Path. You just smashed their dojos—that's too much restraint."

Gu Xichen pondered for a moment, saying softly, "Yes, Fúyǎ was taken; this insult must be repaid. But how to repay it cannot follow their rhythm. They want me to fly into a rage and charge over there to confront them immediately; if I did that, I would truly have miscalculated."

Taking a deep breath, Gu Xichen stated calmly, "I will not rush over there to settle accounts now. Even if I wanted to, I might not find them. No one knows the exact situation over there; if I rush over, I might just be cannon fodder for them, and many people would die."

He tapped his fingers on the table a few times, squinting at Emperor Corpse with a smile, "At the very least, I must wait until the Nine Nether Path has completely controlled this Three Realms before I can leave. Only when my rear is secure can I safely go to save Fúyǎ. I cannot possibly endanger so many friends and relatives just to save my wife and child. I cannot do that!"

Emperor Corpse nodded in agreement with Gu Xichen's view, saying gravely, "The backyard cannot catch fire. Your approach is correct."

Master and disciple gazed at each other again for a moment. Emperor Corpse suddenly asked, "Did you want to say something?"

Gu Xichen looked at Emperor Corpse and asked softly, "I just want to ask, is the Nine Nether Path a remnant line of the Grandmaster of Heaven?"

Emperor Corpse frowned, scrutinizing for a moment before shaking his head, "In ancient times, several generations of the Nine Nether Path's leaders and elders died violently in disputes. Unlike Kunlun or Zhongnan, the inheritance of the Nine Nether Path is not entirely intact. I can guarantee that the Nine Nether Path will not cause you trouble."

Where Emperor Corpse could not see, Gu Xichen was rapidly performing divinations with his other hand hidden in his sleeve. The power of the Heavenly Dao churned within him, and every word and action of Emperor Corpse was clearly visible to Gu Xichen.

What Emperor Corpse said was not false; at least he, the Grand Elder of the Nine Nether Path and the legitimate successor of the Interception Sect, had no connection to the true descendants of the Interception Sect. Emperor Corpse was the Emperor Corpse of the Nine Nether Path, not the Emperor Corpse of the Interception Sect remnants.

Exhaling a breath of relief, Gu Xichen stated gravely, "Then, within the Nine Nether Path, Master, you must be the first to attain Sainthood."

Emperor Corpse nodded solemnly.

Gu Xichen looked at Emperor Corpse and suddenly declared, "Master, do you know that I never use the Heavenly Dao's divination techniques on my own people? But just now, your disciple used the Wheel of the Heavenly Dao to survey all the causes and effects of your past and present lives. Even if other Saints were tampering with the celestial mysteries behind the scenes, under the Wheel of the Heavenly Dao, all your secrets are laid bare."

Emperor Corpse was astonished, then nodded happily, "Excellent! With this, there are no more barriers between us master and disciple—this is a great fortune for the Nine Nether Path!"

Gu Xichen felt a sudden easing in his heart; this was the true Emperor Corpse. Such open-mindedness—this was Gu Xichen's Master.

With a relaxed smile, Gu Xichen suddenly looked maliciously at Emperor Corpse and asked, "Master, would you like to know who you were thirty-eight lifetimes ago? It's quite interesting."

"Uh..." Emperor Corpse hesitated for a long time, blinking his eyes desperately at Gu Xichen. After a long pause, he cautiously inquired, "In that life, Master, were you male or female? If you were a man, then speak; if you were a woman, then this interesting matter holds no appeal for me!"

After pondering for a long time, Gu Xichen softly said, "Neither male nor female, but rather—"

Emperor Corpse's face turned ashen; he suddenly shuddered and roared, "Silence! If anyone finds out what you just said, I will surely—"

The door to the Hall of Miraculous Splendor was kicked open violently again. Peng Hua and Sirens rushed in, their faces pale, covered in bruises and contusions. Mohe clutched a razor-sharp Golden Net Thorn.

The moment he saw Gu Xichen, Peng Hua shouted, "That bald donkey has gone mad, stop him!"

Before the words fully left his mouth, Mohe had already knelt before Gu Xichen's throne, raising the Golden Net Thorn to stab himself.

"Thwack, thwack"—nine crisp sounds of piercing flesh echoed through the Hall of Miraculous Splendor. Mohe, with a grim expression, drove nine transparent holes through nine vital points on his upper body, blood spraying onto the floor. He held up the Golden Net Thorn, staring at Gu Xichen, and roared fiercely, "Little Gu, I have failed you, and I have failed so many brothers. Give me a chance to shatter the skulls of Prajñā and that old bald one, and then I will end my life before you!"

Gu Xichen and Emperor Corpse remained motionless on their seats.

Staring at the blood-soaked Mohe, Gu Xichen narrowed his eyes. In the profound obscurity, the colorless light of the Wheel of the Heavenly Dao shone upon Mohe's body, instantly revealing everything about him to Gu Xichen.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Gu Xichen finally sighed deeply, casually flicking out a golden light to illuminate Mohe, healing his wounds. He said faintly, "Get up and speak. This matter doesn't truly concern you. Shengsha Buddha is too ruthless, but Prajñā is too sentimental—it's no wonder for you."

Mohe did not rise. He knelt on the ground, his forehead pressed tightly against the floor. His body trembled, his face flushed as if smeared with blood. He murmured, "Whether it's my fault or not, I cannot show my face to anyone. Give me one chance to shatter their bald heads, and then—"

Gu Xichen interrupted him, saying lightly, "And then what? Will you truly commit suicide? What about that little nun Qingyin? You pestered her for so many years, and now that her purity is lost, you want to abandon her?"

Mohe's face instantly turned purple, and he roared upwards, "Nonsense! When the hell did I interfere with her?"

Gu Xichen laughed loudly, pointing a finger, and a great force lifted Mohe from the ground. He flew to Mohe's side and gripped his shoulders tightly. "Even if you didn't interfere, Little Nun Qingyin—surely you haven't wronged her..."

Looking up, Gu Xichen said faintly, "When everything is prepared, I will select a few people to accompany me to find Fúyǎ. Prajñā is your elder brother; how you deal with him is your decision. As for Shengsha Buddha, I will cripple his cultivation and demote him to reincarnation."

Smiling coldly, Gu Xichen said with disgust, "Anyone who can use the bonds of father and son as leverage—such a person is unworthy of being human."

Peng Hua and Sirens both nodded in agreement.

Indeed, those who could treat the affection between father and son as a tool—were they even human? Let him undergo ten thousand cycles of reincarnation, moving through the animal path for generations. Regardless of how many justifications or schemes he possessed, this was the only fate for those who disregarded kinship.

Peng Hua reached out and wrapped an arm around Mohe's shoulder, saying softly, "Mohe, this has nothing to do with you. You did your best!"

Sirens reached out and put an arm around Mohe's shoulder, shaking his head and sighing, "You are unfortunate to have such a father. As for Prajñā's actions, he made his own choices. In the end, your choice will matter."

Emperor Corpse stood up and walked over to Mohe's side. He slapped Mohe's bald head hard, proclaiming loudly, "Man, a true hero, when born into this world, should pursue justice with hearty abandon. You must bear the responsibilities that are yours, and the responsibilities that are not yours—who cares about them?"

Rubbing Mohe's head vigorously, Emperor Corpse roared with laughter, "Little Nun Qingyin is your responsibility; you must bear it diligently. You should marry her soon. As for this current matter, it has nothing to do with you. Just grab your weapon and smash the bald heads you want to smash. Why carry the burden of it in your heart?"

Mohe's body trembled violently. He clasped his hands together, chanted a Buddha's name long and loud, and suddenly, thick black hair sprouted from his scalp.

A sound of bones exploding echoed from within Mohe's body. In an instant, he had completely abolished all his Zen cultivation, retaining only the innate divine abilities and methods inherited from that exotic Great Sage Body.

His long hair automatically coiled into a topknot on his head. Mohe whispered softly, "From today on, I will no longer be a monk. Hmm, does anyone here have a superior Taoist cultivation method? Toss me one!"

Gu Xichen smiled strangely and roared with laughter, "I have them, I have them! Innumerable wonderful methods for dual cultivation, everything you could want! Ha, just have Qingyin renounce the secular life! Ha, ha, ha! Hahahaha!"

Gu Xichen burst into laughter, and Peng Hua, Sirens, and the others followed suit with unrestrained roars of mirth.

Amidst the laughter, Gu Xichen used his divine sense to propel the Wheel of the Heavenly Dao to sweep across the heavens, instantly scanning the bodies of all the disciples of the Nine Nether Path and countless Heavenly Soldiers and Generals.

Under this single scan, Gu Xichen’s expression drastically changed, and he suddenly bellowed, "Hear my decree! All Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, except those who already have offspring, are to enter the Source Yin Profound Pearl and the Source Yang Profound Pearl for cultivation. Anyone who dares to resist shall be executed without mercy!"

With a massive grab, countless Heavenly Soldiers and Generals in the Thirty-Three Heavens suddenly flew up. They had no choice but to submit as Gu Xichen forcibly transformed them into streams of spiritual light and sent them into the minor cosmos within the two Profound Pearls. A scan by the Wheel of the Heavenly Dao revealed that, apart from Xin Jia and those Heavenly Soldiers and Generals who had already fathered children with mortals, the primordial spirits of the other Heavenly Soldiers and Generals contained various hidden restrictions that sent a chill down Gu Xichen's spine. These accounted for a staggering eighty-five percent or more of the total Heavenly Soldiers and Generals!

Schemes upon schemes, dangers at every turn. The calculations of those powerful beings who had already departed this universe were truly intricate and pervasive, like mercury pouring across a plane. If Gu Xichen were not the embodiment of billions of Demon Gods, inheriting the complete laws of the Heavenly Dao, how could he possibly escape their nets?

But now, everything was different.

With a cold smile, Gu Xichen said softly, "Let us recuperate and strengthen ourselves properly. Once a few Saints emerge among you, that will be the time for me to go find Fúyǎ."

As Gu Xichen spoke, spiritual light flickered in his eyes, carrying boundless coldness and killing intent that no one dared to meet directly.

No one asked why he would delay for so long, because everyone knew the kind of beings they faced. Charging in recklessly to rescue Fúyǎ? The only outcome for Míng would be that Fúyǎ?Míng remained imprisoned, and all of them would fall into someone else's trap, never to be reborn.

If anyone was anxious, who could be more anxious than Gu Xichen? What had been abducted was not just Fúyǎ?Míng, but also the child in her womb!

Peng Hua remained silent, Sirens remained silent, and Mohe was silent as well. But a sliver of absolute madness now flickered in their eyes. Since they had designed this trap for them, then even if it meant facing mountains of knives and seas of fire, even if it meant making enemies of the Saints, they would advance without hesitation.

On the third day since Fúyǎ?Míng was forcibly abducted, the entire Nine Nether Path descended into madness.

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