Yin Qi abruptly rises, and in the distance, one can faintly hear ghostly cries and wolf howls sweeping rapidly toward Ling Tai Mountain.

Summer is about to arrive, and the surroundings of Ling Tai Mountain also start to heat up, yet at this moment, the temperature sharply drops, a chilling cold quietly emerges.

If anyone at Ling Tai Mountain with Heavenly Vision can use their Dharma Eye to observe the land, they would discover innumerable ghost shadows converging towards Ling Tai Mountain along the earth veins.

As a sacred ground of the Buddha Country, Ling Tai Mountain is located at the intersection of earth veins, a true earthly paradise. But now, precisely because of this trait, ghost shadows from all directions are gathering towards Ling Tai Mountain.

A man wearing an Asura Ghost Mask stands on a peak a hundred miles from Ling Tai Mountain, his eyes clearly see layers of ghost shadows entering the nether soil beneath Ling Tai Mountain, and his ancient eyes hold a chilling indifference.

The sky trembles, as if an invisible giant entity is moving, light ripples arise, slowly forming a solid human figure.

Heaven and earth, sun and moon, mountains and rivers, golden wind and water fire, various anomalies merge into one, ultimately condensing into an entity akin to the incarnation of heaven and earth—Heavenly Monarch.

With the irreconcilable incarnations of the Great Venerable and the Heavenly Monarch appearing simultaneously, neither has any intention to engage in combat.

Only to see the Heavenly Monarch also looking toward Ling Tai Mountain, then speaking meaningfully: "Our plan is close to completion."

"Our plan… huh."

The Great Venerable chuckled lightly, and said, "Why don't you enlighten me, what exactly is our plan?"

"Your plan, my plan, different motives, but the same outcome," the Heavenly Monarch's voice lingered, "Preventing Jiang Li from assimilating Emperor Yan's Dao Fruit is our plan."

He turned around, his gaze fell upon the masked man, saying: "Half a month ago, a great battle raged four thousand miles west of Kunxu Mountain, but when I arrived, the battle had ended, yet I still discovered traces of an old adversary. At that moment, I realized Jiang Li may have already gone to Buddha Country."

"Jiang Li killed Manjusri, unable to present himself in Buddha Country with his true identity, he could only remain hidden, concealed in a place not easily discovered. That place couldn't be the No Buddha Temple, since Karma Tathagata might again seek the Awakened One, exposing Jiang Li, so where would Jiang Li hide?"

"I guess you discovered him in the nether world beneath Buddha Country." The Great Venerable still gazed at Ling Tai Mountain, looking at the place where ghost shadows gathered, speaking lightly.

"Indeed, he's in the nether world," the Heavenly Monarch said, "Ancient texts of Buddha Country record the names of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas before the End of Dharma, except one, deliberately erased. Today, even those within Buddha Country don't know of this Bodhisattva's existence. But I happened to know, even aware it was the Awakened One who erased the name. This Bodhisattva is Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, a Great Bodhisattva who vowed to liberate hell, equal in fame with Guanyin, and Manjusri."

And in Buddha Country, the only one who requires the Great Bodhisattva's Dao Fruit would be the Wheel-Turning King.

The relationship between Wheel-Turning King and the Awakened One is deeply hidden, even Manjusri thought they had parted ways, yet the Heavenly Monarch revealed the truth.

"It seems the Heavenly Monarch's time within Buddha Country far exceeded my expectations." The Great Venerable remarked with a meaningful expression.

Without ample time, one couldn't possibly know the Awakened One erased a Great Bodhisattva's existence.

Texts were destroyed, but human memory persisted, it would take at least one generation's turnover for Buddha Country today to be unaware of Ksitigarbha's name.

"Huh, would the Great Venerable be unaware of Ksitigarbha?" The Heavenly Monarch laughed softly, "You collaborated with Karma Tathagata for a century, would you not know the Awakened One's deeds?"

After all, Karma Tathagata and the Awakened One were one and the same.

What the Awakened One knew, Karma Tathagata should have known, at least it was so a hundred years ago.

The Heavenly Monarch absolutely refused to believe the Great Venerable didn't understand Karma Tathagata's true identity.

If collaborating with Karma Tathagata for a century didn't reveal he and the Awakened One shared the same face, it severely underestimated the Great Venerable.

And Karma Tathagata intending to counter the Awakened One would surely involve sharing relevant information about the Awakened One. Among them, the Wheel-Turning King, once recognized as the Awakened One's successor and still deeply trusted by them, remained a significant focus.

The Great Venerable ignored the Heavenly Monarch's probing, merely saying lightly: "Then what?"

"Then, I discovered Earth Uncle's controlled netherworld previously had contact with Buddha Country's netherworld, thus deducing Earth Uncle attempted to make breakthroughs from another netherworld."

The Heavenly Monarch, indifferent to the Great Venerable's silence, continued: "Earth Uncle didn't gain any advantage, otherwise Ling Tai Mountain wouldn't be peaceful. Therefore, I'm more convinced Jiang Li is in the netherworld. Even considering my understanding of the Awakened One, he'd definitely assist Jiang Li's ascension, employing Emperor Yan's Dao Fruit to counter the Daoist Lord."

Hence, the Heavenly Monarch was assured Jiang Li was preparing for ascension, determined to obstruct him.

"Indeed, he's certainly preparing for ascension, even linking his own power to the Heavenly Extreme." The Great Venerable interjected.

The Great Venerable spoke with unwavering confidence, seemingly having the certainty that Jiang Li was about to succeed.

Thus, the Great Venerable intervened.

As the Nine Curves Yellow River Formation prepared to be set, with the Awakened One probing the other's situation using the Star Constellation Tribulation Method of the future, the Great Venerable intercepted the Awakened One.

The Nine Curves Yellow River Formation was undoubtedly laid by the Heavenly Monarch, the Upper Pure Sect was affiliated with the Heavenly Monarch, and blocking the Black Water River, opening the waterway was King Shu. However, those providing concealment were the Great Venerable.

Two adversaries collaborated to prevent Jiang Li's ascension to Emperor Yan.

There was no prior communication, yet this coordination was perfectly timed.

The emergence of the Nine Curves Yellow River Formation prompted Sun Wukong to intervene, the Great Venerable halted the Awakened One's grasp of external information, and then...

"The Black Water River was diverted, floods raging, devouring the living creatures along the path, I took action, sending residual souls to Buddha Country's netherworld. In doing so, Earth Uncle would also act."

The Heavenly Monarch seemingly anticipating the finale, said: "Earth Uncle has always been a self-conceited and greedy person, he won't let this opportunity slip."

The Heavenly Monarch didn't mention, when sending residual souls to the netherworld himself, deliberately leaving a trace of Qi. When Earth Uncle perceived this trace, he knew this chaos was orchestrated by the Heavenly Monarch.

The Heavenly Monarch would not say that he had already grasped Earth Uncle's nature, and Earth Uncle's behavioral patterns held no secrets for the Heavenly Monarch.

Thus, the Heavenly Monarch could conclude that Earth Uncle would take action.

And since Earth Uncle acted, Jiang Li would find it difficult to advance.

Earth Uncle might not be able to take Jiang Li's life, but he could certainly cause trouble.

If everything went as expected, both the Heavenly Monarch's and the Great Venerable's plans could be realized.

However—

"I will let Jiang Li incorporate the Emperor Dao Fruit," said the Great Venerable.

"I can make the Emperor fall once, and I can make the Emperor fall a second time," the Heavenly Monarch calmly replied, "After killing the Emperor, I have no fear of Heaven's threat."

Killing the Heavenly Incarnation was a great gain for the Heavenly Monarch. If he could kill Jiang Li who held the Emperor Dao Fruit, he would surely advance further.

The Emperor Dao Fruit once allowed one to become supreme, but now... it may not be the case.

Though the divine powers of the Emperor Dao Fruit are strong, its main source of power comes from the divine ability 'I Am the State.' The Emperor was called supreme because his power was indisputably the foremost.

If he loses this preeminence, the Emperor may no longer be deemed supreme.

The Heavenly Monarch seemed full of confidence, and no longer feared Jiang Li as before.

Previously, when the Emperor passed, the Heavenly Monarch felt it was difficult to acquire the Emperor Dao Fruit.

Now, the situation seemed to have changed.

The Heavenly Monarch's confidence also led the Great Venerable to turn his gaze and lock onto the Heavenly Monarch.

Being sworn enemies, even though they had cooperated once, they would never stand on the same side.

The two locked eyes, and for a moment, it seemed as if the sun and sky dimmed, veiled by a murderous aura.

"Ha,"

In the end, the Great Venerable sneered and said, "You talk too much, which makes you appear lacking in confidence."

"To kill his brother in front of the Great Venerable, who dares claim confidence?" The Heavenly Monarch replied with a smile.

Neither side showed any flaws, and their earlier words seemed to have stirred no waves in their hearts.

······

······

Under the dim sky, a high platform stood, with a massive copper mirror erected on it, its surface flickering with shadows and emitting an intermittent wailing.

Earth Uncle stood before the copper mirror, watching the shadows within, as a molten color gradually emerged in his eyes.

At the center of his forehead, a fire eye was slowly opening.

"Opportunity!"

Earth Uncle's eye sockets turned deep black, as if scorched by flames, "My Netherworld Heaven is finally coming to fruition."

The mirror depicted a hazy scene of another part of the netherworld. The shadows carried strong resentment, and were far more complete than typical residual souls. It was as if someone had extracted living souls from creatures and thrust them into the netherworld.

Absorbing these souls and seizing another part of the netherworld would ensure the formation of the Netherworld Heaven.

Earth Uncle saw a path to ascend to heaven before him.

An intense ambition surged in his heart, but he couldn't help but wonder if there was a trick and a trap involved.

This scene certainly involved the Heavenly Monarch's participation.

However, this slight hesitation was quickly overshadowed by ambition. Compared to the consummation of the cultivation technique, a little risk was entirely worthwhile.

Having lived so long, Earth Uncle knew better than anyone that there's no guarantee in this world. To accomplish great things, one must not be overly cautious.

With this thought, Earth Uncle hesitated no more. He let out a wild roar and revealed the Netherworld God's Body, towering hundreds of feet tall. A fierce three-eyed tiger head bore horns piercing the sky dome, with hooves trampling the earth, and blood-stained hands constantly dripping fresh blood.

"All spirits of the Nether Capital, heed my command."

Earth Uncle issued a thunderous roar, summoning countless Yin Spirits, which transformed into Yin Soldiers outside the Yin Law Department city, forming a formation.

For years, the Yin Law Department collected residual souls, both for Earth Uncle's cultivation and for crafting Yin Soldiers. Now, to conquer another part of the netherworld, Earth Uncle unveiled one of his trump cards, summoning as many as a hundred thousand Yin Soldiers for the conquest.

Then, Earth Uncle raised his hands toward the sky, and like tearing cloth, ripped the sky dome apart.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.