Chapter 428: The Infernal Realm Opens, Netherworld Malefactors Welcome the Ghost Emperor, the Nation

Chapter 428: The Infernal Realm Opens, Netherworld Malefactors Welcome the Ghost Emperor, the National Tutor is Loyal to the Court and Believes in the Dragon Deity【Seeking Monthly Votes】

Purple flames burned, scorching mountains and boiling seas, silently yet fiercely.

In the study, Li Che stood quietly, but his entire demeanor underwent a dramatic transformation. His entire head was engulfed in purple flames, melting away skin, flesh, and hair, leaving only a golden skeleton.

The Martial Immortal Corpse's golden bones twisted and burned beneath the purple flames, taking on the form of a new mask, covering his face. The flames obscured his features, making him look like an evil spirit emerging from the Infernal Realm.

A terrifying, domineering, and annihilating aura slowly emanated from Li Che.

The Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame emitted an extremely frightening tribulation aura, a power that surpassed the Three Disasters and Nine Tribulations.

Even the White Void Fire, a tribulation fire controlled by Zhao Beidou, a Divine Tribulation Cultivator, seemed insignificant in comparison to the Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame.

"The Netherworld Ghost Emperor..."

Li Che's golden skull, shrouded in purple fire, had empty eye sockets that seemed to shimmer with boundless darkness. Despite being a golden skeleton, the eye sockets were infinitely deep, like two swirling vortices of darkness.

"The power of the Dao Tribulation..."

Spreading his five fingers, Li Che removed the flames from his head. In an instant, his flesh and hair regenerated, and his eyes shone brightly.

Li Che's entire body returned to its original form.

It was like a mask that changed his appearance, but in a simpler and more violent manner. The flames had burned away his flesh and hair, leaving only the skeleton.

Boom—

The Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame, which had been swirling around his fingers, was once again slapped onto his head. Instantly, flames erupted, engulfing his entire skull, and his aura surged as the surrounding space distorted, as if a heart-stirring power was constantly surging.

The purple flames intertwined, forming the shape of a terrifying and vague demonic elephant, with a dragon coiled around its body, merging with the elephant—a Dragon Elephant Fusion!

Li Che stood up, his black robe fluttering in the wind, and the purple flames danced around him. He seemed to have turned into a black hole, collapsing and devouring countless auras like a tornado.

Under the flames, the golden skull's eyes revealed a cold and desolate world, leaving only a murky and evil realm.

"The Netherworld Ghost Emperor! The Ghost Emperor of the Netherworld!"

"Drawing upon the power of the Dao Tribulation is the way of the Ghost Emperor!"

Li Che's skull opened and closed its mouth, as if breathing.

The long breath surged without end, causing Li Che's heart to surge as well. In an instant, the Heavenly Earth Chessboard enveloped and expanded, sealing off the entire study and isolating the aura.

The next moment, Li Che's body moved slightly, and countless blood and energy exploded within him!

The dormant spinal dragon in his body seemed to be awakened, opening its mouth and letting out a deafening roar. The explosive power within him revived.

At the eight meridian nodes, the blood and energy surged, increasing with each wave, making the blood and energy grow stronger and stronger.

The Eight Extraordinary Meridians were simultaneously activated!

The surging golden blood and energy burst forth, overflowing and surging, as all 36,000 pores on his body opened wide, spewing out an extremely dense blood aura.

A ten-thousand-foot-tall Qi Sea appeared, along with a ten-thousand-foot-tall Martial Mountain, as if all his understanding of martial arts up to this point was completely revealed in this moment!

The Dragon Elephant Flame, which had covered his head and burned it down to the golden bones, suddenly ignited.

In an instant, the golden Qi Sea seemed to be dyed purple, transforming into a boiling purple Qi Sea.

The golden blood and energy on Li Che's body also turned into purple blood and energy!

Strange, cold, and destructive, it seemed like the gates of the underworld had opened, and a sinister ghost emperor, controlling countless lost souls in the Infernal Realm, slowly stepped out.

"Unfortunately... I have only mastered the Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame initially and not much more. Otherwise, if the Dao Tribulation Fire were to merge with the blood and energy of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, it would enhance my blood and energy..."

Li Che's eyes flashed.

After all, he had only mastered a strand of the Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame.

The power of the Three Disasters and Nine Tribulations was something only a Divine Tribulation or Martial God could control. At this moment, Li Che's cultivation had not yet reached this level, but with the tribulation aura of the Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame, he could still emit a similar aura and pressure to a Divine Tribulation.

"I still need to work hard to refine the Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame."

Only by mastering more of the Primordial Dragon Elephant Flame could Li Che's Ghost Emperor strength continue to rise!

Even, it could rival the true tribulation fire, and even surpass it!

Li Che's heart moved, and he once again entered the Dao Tribulation space, and then...

There was nothing more. After a single breath, Li Che was slapped out of the space by the Primordial Demonic Elephant formed by the Dao Tribulation Fire.

Shaking his head, Li Che realized that...

To make the Ghost Emperor's might reach its peak, it seemed...

A heavy responsibility and a long journey.

...

...

The frozen clouds covered the peaks, and the pure snow condensed into a morning frost.

The outline of the mountains at the edge of the world was shrouded in mist, and the night was so deep and dense that it seemed unbreakable.

Divine Capital, the First City.

The Imperial Palace Temple.

Snowflakes danced, covering the grand temple with a layer of snow, giving it a frosty and ethereal feel.

The entire First City was covered by the Imperial Palace Temple, with buildings lining up like a palace within the city.

Cloud Soaring Hall.

The Emperor sat on the main hall, his face shrouded in divine essence and blood, reading through the memorials.

After reading for a while, he put down the documents.

The purple-robed Lian Gonggong, the Grand Secretary, respectfully approached.

"These days, the National Tutor has led the army to Heavenly Origin Dao City for a punitive expedition. What are the results? So many experts have gone, even the Ancient Dragon God from the Dragon Deity lineage, yet there has been no news. What's happening?"

The Emperor stood up and shook the yellow casual clothes he was wearing.

Accompanied by Lian Gonggong, he walked out of the Cloud Soaring Hall and strolled along the corridor. The cold wind blew through the corridor, carrying with it snowflakes as big as rice grains, which quickly rushed in from outside.

"Your Majesty, there has been no news from the National Tutor. It is said that they are preparing the army and waiting for the right opportunity."

Lian Gonggong bowed and spoke respectfully.

"Waiting for the right opportunity?"

The Emperor let out a cold laugh.

"What is Xie Yunsen up to? It's been so long, and they still can't take it down. The longer it drags on, the more it will damage the reputation of the Great Jing Dynasty."

"Ji Maoli, the leaders of various divine sects, and even the Three Tribulation Deities working together... With such a lineup, they still can't take down a divine sect. This will make the Great Jing Court a laughingstock in the eyes of the world.

"What's Going On? Do We Need to Prepare Ten Divine Tribulations, Ten Times the Opponent's Power, Just to Defeat a Single Divine Sect?"

The Emperor, though unable to see the face, could sense the anger in the voice.

Lian Gonggong, with his head bowed, dared not breathe a word.

He didn't dare to make excuses or find reasons for Xie Yunsen, the National Tutor.

After all, Xie Yunsen's army, in terms of combat power, was indeed several times stronger than the Heavenly Origin Divine Sect. Except for attacking the enigmatic Purple Mansion Divine Sect, the first Divine Sect, they were confident in defeating the others.

"Why, despite having the Dragon Deity Prince and Zhao Beidou, the Ancestor Master of the Dragon Tiger Divine Sect, along with the Ancestor Master of the Bashu Sword Pavilion, Gu Qianchi... essentially, the combined forces of the imperial court and two major Divine Sects... can't we swiftly capture the Heavenly Origin Divine Sect?"

The Emperor spoke coldly.

"Before the alliance, Ji Maoli's coordinated attack on the transmitted clone's news being beheaded, I have reason to suspect, Xie Yunsen, are you colluding with Ji Maoli to scheme something?"

Lian Gonggong's forehead suddenly sweated.

"Your Majesty, the Rebellion Quelling King... wouldn't joke around with his own clone, would he?"

"His clone is quite important."

The Emperor stood in the long corridor, gazing at the snow-filled city, and sneered: "Important? To Ji Maoli... it's just another city to slaughter, is it really that important to him?"

"Do the lives of the city's civilians... truly matter to him?"

The Emperor's voice was eerily calm.

"Don't think that his alliance with those self-proclaimed Confucian and Daoist families in the Jiangnan Dao, and the Vast Profound Academy, has gone unnoticed by me."

"I ordered him to suppress the Corpse God Sect, not merge with them..."

Lian Gonggong hastily lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Gazing at the snow-filled sky, the Emperor's eyes flashed with a hint of ruthlessness and urgency: "Li Che... did he really retrieve the Gathering Immortal Flag from the Ten Thousand Year Peach Garden?"

"If so... I can no longer wait."

"I'm not doubting the National Tutor; his achievements are plain to see. He's an ambitious man seeking self-actualization, my trusted left and right hand, just like Lian Gonggong."

"I could even entrust the fate of the Great Jing Empire to the National Tutor... why would I not trust him?"

"Yet, this time, the National Tutor's performance... has truly disappointed me."

The Emperor shook his head, sighing softly.

"With the Heaven-Attaining City about to open, the Heavenly Observation Bureau has been bustling with activity, eagerly awaiting the Grand Astrologer's announcement of the specific opening date for the Heaven-Attaining Temple."

"I hope... the National Tutor can defeat the Heavenly Origin Divine Sect before the Grand Astrologer announces the opening of the Heaven-Attaining City!"

The Emperor narrowed his eyes.

"Lian Gonggong, draft an imperial edict; deliver it personally!"

Lian Gonggong, upon hearing this, felt a slight tremble throughout his body.

He genuinely sensed the Emperor's urgency.

What could be causing it...?

Is it the impending resurrection of the gods in the mysterious array camps?

"I obey, Your Majesty."

Lian Gonggong didn't ask further, as the Emperor's most loyal subject, he would only follow the Emperor's decree.

...

...

Rumble, Rumble!!

Even in the icy snow, the Grand Canal's surface, never frozen, churned with massive waves, creating a misty veil.

The Ancient Dragon God sat on the river's surface, his majestic body radiating an overwhelming aura. Two dragon horns, like divine spears, pierced the sky.

Seated in a cross-legged position, the Grand Canal's concentrated divine energy rapidly converged toward him, making his aged yet robust body seem as if it might shatter the void and transcend into nothingness.

Within a ten-zhang radius around the Ancient Dragon God, the Dragon Deity Prince and three other Dragon Sons also sat in meditation, guided by the Ancient Dragon God's aura, as they absorbed the Grand Canal's divine energy.

This was why Li Che hadn't summoned the Dragon Deity Prince, for the Ancient Dragon God constantly watched over and supervised the Prince's cultivation.

After all, the Dragon Deity Prince was now the hope of the Dragon Deity lineage. The Ancient Dragon God couldn't guarantee finding a solution to break the deadlock during this Heaven-Attaining City expedition or if he could prolong his life further.

If the Dragon Deity Prince could overcome his limitations and reach the Dragon Deity realm, the Dragon Deity lineage would have a foundation on land in the future.

Whoosh, Whoosh, Whoosh, Whoosh

Unaware of the passing time, the Ancient Dragon God slowly opened his eyes, his aura trembling as if returning from the void.

"So much time has passed... and yet, the National Tutor still hasn't made a move? If we wait longer, the mysterious temple in the Heaven-Attaining City will reopen."

The Ancient Dragon God furrowed his brow, his two white eyebrows twisting like intertwined blades.

Rumble, Rumble

Suddenly standing, the entire river trembled.

The Ancient Dragon God gazed toward the military camp, covered in snow.

With one step, his terrifying and scorching aura instantly evaporated the snow, transforming it into relentless, pouring rain.

In a few strides, he arrived at National Tutor Xie Yunsen's camp.

Inside, Xie Yunsen was playing chess with a purple-robed, fox-like figure. Upon seeing this figure, the Ancient Dragon God's brow furrowed.

Noticing the Ancient Dragon God's arrival, Xie Yunsen's pale face lit up with excitement.

"Dragon Deity, you've arrived. Let's engage in a game of chess together."

Xie Yunsen spoke warmly.

However, the Ancient Dragon God merely cast a cold glance: "National Tutor, I didn't come to play chess. I've been here for a month, and I'm unaware of when you plan to act?"

"Will we continue this standoff? When will it end... I, the Ancient Dragon, have no more time to wait."

The Ancient Dragon God was direct, getting straight to the point.

Xie Yunsen sighed: "Dragon Deity, I understand your urgency, but after the first defeat, I dare not act rashly without understanding the Netherworld's forces."

"The death of the Heavenly Essence Divine Sect's Gu Changqing, the Vast Profound Academy's Bai Buyi, and the Dragon Tiger Divine Sect's Zhao Chunspring... and the Rebellion Quelling King's beheaded clone, I still can't forgive myself."

"I'm filled with regret, regret for my earlier carelessness!"

Xie Yunsen's expression was exhausted: "I must prioritize the safety of my troops and the remaining powerful warriors..."

"In fact, not just the Dragon Deity, but even the Emperor in the Divine Capital is growing impatient."

"And so, Lian Gonggong is here with an imperial decree."

Xie Yunsen spread his hands, expressing his helplessness.

He was trying to tell Lao Longshen that it wasn't the court preventing him from going to war, but that he genuinely needed to understand the situation first.

Lao Longshen turned to look at Lian Gonggong, the purple-clad eunuch, and naturally recognized the Grand Tutor of the Great Jing Emperor.

Lian Gonggong had a fair complexion and a white beard, and he nodded with a smile.

Lao Longshen's eyes softened a little, but his brows were still furrowed. "Whether we can fight or not, we'll know after one battle..."

Xie Yunsen sighed with a bitter smile. "Dragon God Senior, you've just arrived, and you don't know how terrifying and unfathomable the Netherworld is..."

"Although Ancestor Master Zhao said that the Netherworld King is heavily injured... But does the Netherworld really only have the King? This power has never shown any strong cultivators in the Divine Tribulation or Martial God realm. Can such a mysterious power not have such experts?"

"This official... is afraid."

Xie Yunsen sighed.

Lao Longshen listened to Xie Yunsen's words, and his anger rose at this excuse. "Afraid of this, afraid of that, what's the point of attacking the sect?"

Xie Yunsen, however, remained calm despite Lao Longshen's tone. He gently shook his feather fan, and a cool breeze brushed his face.

He walked out of the tent, looking at the snow that had melted into rainwater under the influence of Lao Longshen's energy.

His eyes deepened.

"Dragon God Senior, I have a plan, and in a few more days... just a little more time, not too long, and we can take down the Heavenly Origin Dao City. Do you believe me?"

"Senior, do you believe in me?"

Xie Yunsen's voice was low, and his entire being seemed to exude an incredibly strong confidence.

This confidence even surprised Lao Longshen, a cultivator in the Divine Tribulation realm.

Where did this confidence come from? The purple-clad eunuch Lian Gonggong's eyes flickered, looking at Xie Yunsen, and he couldn't help but smile. Indeed, the Grand Tutor was the same as he remembered—confident, strategic, and holding all the right cards.

Xie Yunsen turned around, his long coat fluttering in the wind, and said, "Dragon God Senior, I am trusted by the Emperor. With a mere mortal body, I restrain the eleven divine sects of the Great Jing, and I am deeply trusted by the Emperor, receiving the cultivation of the Grand Jing's fortune lotus..."

"Even the Emperor trusts me."

"Senior, why don't you trust me?"

Xie Yunsen's voice was low, and his entire being seemed to exude an incredibly strong confidence.

This confidence even surprised Lao Longshen, a cultivator in the Divine Tribulation realm.

Where did this confidence come from? The purple-clad eunuch Lian Gonggong's eyes flickered, looking at Xie Yunsen, and he couldn't help but smile. Indeed, the Grand Tutor was the same as he remembered—confident, strategic, and holding all the right cards.

Xie Yunsen turned around, his long coat fluttering in the wind, and said, "Dragon God Senior, I am trusted by the Emperor. With a mere mortal body, I restrain the eleven divine sects of the Great Jing, and I am deeply trusted by the Emperor, receiving the cultivation of the Grand Jing's fortune lotus..."

"Even the Emperor trusts me."

"Senior, why don't you trust me?"

Xie Yunsen's voice was low, and his entire being seemed to exude an incredibly strong confidence.

This confidence even surprised Lao Longshen, a cultivator in the Divine Tribulation realm.

Where did this confidence come from? The purple-clad eunuch Lian Gonggong's eyes flickered, looking at Xie Yunsen, and he couldn't help but smile. Indeed, the Grand Tutor was the same as he remembered—confident, strategic, and holding all the right cards.

Xie Yunsen turned around, his long coat fluttering in the wind, and said, "Dragon God Senior, I am trusted by the Emperor. With a mere mortal body, I restrain the eleven divine sects of the Great Jing, and I am deeply trusted by the Emperor, receiving the cultivation of the Grand Jing's fortune lotus..."

"Even the Emperor trusts me."

"Senior, why don't you trust me?"

Xie Yunsen's voice was low, and his entire being seemed to exude an incredibly strong confidence.

This confidence even surprised Lao Longshen, a cultivator in the Divine Tribulation realm.

The purple-clad eunuch Lian Gonggong's eyes flickered, looking at Xie Yunsen, and he couldn't help but smile. Indeed, the Grand Tutor was the same as he remembered—confident, strategic, and holding all the right cards.

Xie Yunsen turned around, his long coat fluttering in the wind, and said, "Dragon God Senior, I am trusted by the Emperor. With a mere mortal body, I restrain the eleven divine sects of the Great Jing, and I am deeply trusted by the Emperor, receiving the cultivation of the Grand Jing's fortune lotus..."

"Even the Emperor trusts me."

"Senior, why don't you trust me?"

Xie Yunsen's voice was low, and his entire being seemed to exude an incredibly strong confidence.

This confidence even surprised Lao Longshen, a cultivator in the Divine Tribulation realm.

The purple-clad eunuch Lian Gonggong's eyes flickered, looking at Xie Yunsen, and he couldn't help but smile. Indeed, the Grand Tutor was the same as he remembered—confident, strategic, and holding all the right cards.

(The correct version is available at 69+Book_Bar! 6=9+Book_Bar is the first to release this novel.)

However, Li Cheshun felt that this matter was indeed quite important...

"It's just that this eunuch is afraid of not submitting to me."

Li Cheshun narrowed his eyes.

However, if one doesn't submit, then one doesn't submit...

At worst, it's just death.

Although Lian Gonggong's death might cause Xie Yunsen to arouse the Emperor's suspicions, the problem isn't too big.

Li Cheshun nodded slightly.

Xie Yunsen's eyes shone brightly, and he bowed with clasped fists before turning into black smoke and retreating, returning to the imperial camp.

Apparently, the lord had agreed with his suggestion and consented to take action.

Being able to strategize for the lord, Xie Yunsen was naturally delighted.

...

...

Back in the tent, Xie Yunsen waved his feather fan lightly, his mood quite good.

The Emperor sent Lian Gonggong with an imperial edict, not only urging but also implying a warning.

Apparently, the Emperor was dissatisfied with this expedition.

Even the most trusted Lian Gonggong was personally sent, not only delivering the edict but also conveying the Emperor's verbal message.

The Emperor was dissatisfied with him, and Xie Yunsen was also dissatisfied with the Emperor.

When the Emperor's orders are not followed outside the palace, there's no blame.

The Emperor even pointed and gestured...

Xie Yunsen recalled the pressures he faced in the first battle, his heart filled with displeasure. If the Emperor had the ability, why not come and lead the troops personally? Let's see how formidable and troublesome the Netherworld is.

Xie Yunsen, in the first battle of the Mountain-Breaking Sect, could be said to have exhausted all his calculations.

But in the end, he still failed?"

Now, his entire body had transformed into the shape of the Netherworld! The Emperor even sent someone to urge him to reincarnate quickly!

Just right, this Lian Gonggong came, naturally it's like hitting a dog with a meat bun, there's no return!

Xie Yunsen shook his head, holding the feather fan, his face turning pale from anti-devouring energy.

As soon as he exited the tent, Huangmei Dafashi's expression was gentle, and the two looked at each other, instantly understanding each other's thoughts.

The two arrived at Lian Gonggong's tent.

Xie Yunsen still held the imperial edict, and Lian Gonggong, hearing the noise, quickly opened the tent and invited Xie Yunsen in, who held the edict.

"National Tutor... do you have any questions about His Majesty's edict?"

Lian Gonggong asked with a smile.

He glanced at Xie Yunsen and then at Huangmei Dafashi, who stood quietly behind Xie Yunsen.

"This Dafashi was born in the world, and I don't know why, but my heart, which has never belonged to me, suddenly started beating violently."

A feeling of impending doom filled this old eunuch's face, changing his expression on the spot.

Something's not right!

What exactly is wrong?!

Lian Gonggong's eyes narrowed, and his expression changed drastically.

His brow twitched, and his soul surged into the sky, but as soon as it reached the tent, he felt a crisscrossed chessboard and a terrifying force gushing out, suppressing his soul and forcing it back, unable to release even a bit.

Lian Gonggong's heart trembled incessantly, sinking into the abyss.

But then, Huangmei Dafashi took a step and appeared by his side, his Buddha palm landing on Lian Gonggong's shoulder.

Lian Gonggong's cultivation was quite good, but compared to Huangmei, who was listed in the Divine Realm and the top of the Divine Canon, it was naturally not enough...

"National Tutor! Are you planning to rebel?!"

Lian Gonggong's voice turned sharp, and he roared.

However...

The next moment, Lian Gonggong felt his throat being blocked, unable to shout even a bit.

Because...

As Xie Yunsen gently waved his feather fan, a pitch-black door appeared beside him, seemingly out of thin air.

On the plaque above the door was written 'Netherworld Capital'.

Creak...

The door slowly opened.

A scorching heat instantly filled the tent.

Creak—

Distant, ancient, lifeless, and scorching...

In the pitch-black door, a figure slowly stepped out, their footsteps echoing plainly yet striking Lian Gonggong's heart.

A terrifying and extreme force! The scorching will of the world pressed down, like a severed sky, overwhelming and crushing.

Lian Gonggong was completely suffocated.

"The... the Netherworld..."

At this moment, Lian Gonggong's mind seemed to short-circuit.

His entire body seemed frozen in an icy lake, chilling him to the bone, his mind frozen into a lump, unable to function.

He was completely stunned...

Why is the Netherworld appearing by the National Tutor's side?

And why is Huangmei Dafashi doing the Netherworld's work?

Could it be...

The National Tutor and Huangmei Dafashi... are both members of the Netherworld?

But there was no time for further thought, as the oppressive force in the air became increasingly terrifying! His eyes widened in shock, and under Huangmei Dafashi's suppression, he couldn't move.

Despairingly, he stared at the figure walking out of the Netherworld Capital in the pitch-black door, his gaze filled with horror.

That was... that was a person?!

Their robe fluttered, sleeves swirling, as if slashing at the void.

But their head was engulfed in purple flames, twisting the void, burning to eradicate all evil in this world.

Yet...

Under the purple flames was a golden skull!

What kind of flame is this? Just a glance made him feel like his soul would be extinguished and his spirit exhausted...

Even the Divine Tribulation cultivator Lian Gonggong had never seen such a flame! It seemed to hide a great terror, beyond comparison with the White Void Fire that the Netherworld King Yanwang had shown Zhao Beidou, the Grand Master of the Dragon-Tiger Divine Sect, on his visits to the palace temple.

But at this moment, this purple flame seemed to contain a greater terror! Who is this person?! The Netherworld... does the Netherworld have such an existence?

The purple flames flickered, the figure's aura terrifying and vast, and behind the pitch-black door, it seemed countless spirits were wailing, the ghost gate opening, countless ghostly auras pouring out.

There were the Netherworld King Yanwang, the Bull Demon, Horse Face, and the Divine Monkey... one after another Netherworld Malefactor appearing, the world became evil and turbid.

Lian Gonggong's body trembled, and he also saw the National Tutor Xie Yunsen and Huangmei Dafashi, who bowed fervently and respectfully.

Their bodies twisted, their flesh shattered, their appearances hideous, as if transformed into Infernal Hell's demons!

"Netherworld National Tutor Xie Yunsen!"

"Greetings, Ghost Emperor!"

Lian Gonggong collapsed to the ground.

He had actually seen someone above the Netherworld King Yanwang in the Netherworld...

Ah, ah, ah—

Me... what virtue or ability do I have?

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end