Xiao Mu unconsciously stepped back, his heart pounding in fear.

Even though he guessed that the person imprisoned in the painting was a friend and not a foe, his emotions were still uncontrollably tense.

"Which friend has come to rescue me? Please, come forward!" a calm yet commanding voice called from within the yellow light. As the yellow light dispersed, the figure of a distinguished man, who appeared no older than thirty, gradually emerged.

His clothes were ragged, and he looked somewhat haggard, but he was lively, radiating a rejuvenated aura.

"Miaoyi!"

The voice of Wu De, the Divine Monarch, rang out, filled with surprise.

He did not use a voice transmission but instead shouted out loud.

Miaoyi? Was this man Miaoyi, the Emperor?

Xiao Mu was shocked. Wu De's statement was completely unexpected; this haggard yet spirited man was actually Miaoyi, the Emperor?

"Wu De, I remember you. You are Wu De, the Divine Monarch."

The distinguished man shook his head, glanced at Xiao Mu, and quickly fixed his gaze on the Black Jade Plate where Wu De was located.

However, he soon sighed, "But I am not really Miaoyi, the Emperor, just a lingering thought of his. The real Miaoyi, the Emperor, has already perished."

"Also, Wu De, you don't seem to be in a good situation. Who has sealed you?"

"Damn it, it's that dog, Bai Jing! You… Miaoyi has perished?"

Wu De's words were chaotic, and the distinguished man's revelation surprised him.

"No one can avoid death!"

The distinguished man lamented, appearing very open-minded and unfazed by life and death, "You are an anomaly, belonging to no side. When the Heavenly Court was facing a crisis, Bai Jing's decision to imprison you might have just been to avoid any unexpected issues."

"Nonsense, I and Bai Jing are sworn enemies!"

Wu De was indignant and did not accept the distinguished man's explanation.

The distinguished man just smiled, refraining from further defending Bai Jing to Wu De. He then turned to Xiao Mu and sincerely thanked him, "Thank you, young friend, for aiding my escape. There will be a substantial reward for you! May I know your esteemed name?"

"I am Xiao Mu. You're too kind, senior Miaoyi. I was just at the right place at the right time," Xiao Mu replied politely, secretly relieved.

Indeed, this Emperor Miaoyi was of the human faction; he had not rescued the wrong person.

"Wu De, and young friend Xiao Mu, you have come from the outside, do you know how the Heavenly Court is faring now?" Miaoyi, the Emperor, asked modestly, suddenly bringing up the Heavenly Court.

Wu De huffed, resentfully replied, "I've been imprisoned for many years. I don't know more about the situation in the Heavenly Court than you do. By the way, Miaoyi, what has happened in the Heavenly Court that you don't know about? Who imprisoned you? Was it the Heavenly Emperor?"

Miaoyi, the Emperor, shook his head and sighed, "I am merely a remnant thought of Miaoyi, the Emperor, with limited memory, so I do not know much. As for who imprisoned me, it was indeed the Heavenly Emperor."

"Why would the Heavenly Emperor imprison you?" Wu De was surprised, puzzled, "Among the four great emperors, you were the most loyal to the Heavenly Emperor. I might believe he imprisoned someone else, but you, never; the one who imprisoned you couldn't possibly be the Heavenly Emperor."

Wu De shook his head, utterly disbelieving that the Heavenly Emperor was the one who had imprisoned Miaoyi, the Emperor.

Miaoyi, the Emperor, shook his head again, explaining, "I also find it inconceivable, but the person who imprisoned me was indeed the Heavenly Emperor. Moreover, the reason Miaoyi perished was because of a sneak attack by the Heavenly Emperor."

The Heavenly Emperor had sneak-attacked Miaoyi, the Emperor?

Xiao Mu was astonished. How could this be?

Wu De exclaimed, "The Heavenly Emperor sneak-attacked Miaoyi, leading to his demise? What a joke!"

"Indeed, I couldn't believe it either, but it's the truth."

Miaoyi, the Emperor, looked solemn, showing no signs of jest.

"How could this happen?"

Wu De was stunned, overwhelmed with shock.

"Senior Miaoyi, I don't know much about the situation in the Heavenly Court..."

Xiao Mu contemplated and relayed what he knew about the situation in the Heavenly Court to Miaoyi Emperor, who inquired about some details, including the disappearance of Lord of Bai's Mansion, and the dispatch of powerful Divine Spirits to the Human World—actually one of the eight realms under Heavenly Court managed by Lord of Bai's Mansion.

"Bai Jing has actually disappeared, alive or dead unknown! The Heavenly Emperor is suspected to have fallen, and the current Heavenly Court has been occupied by the rebels..."

Miaoyi Emperor's expression changed unpredictably.

The sound of a Crane's cry came, and the three of them looked up simultaneously. A Yellow Paper Crane flew overhead carrying a bundle of Weeds, landing not far from Miaoyi Emperor.

Only then did Xiao Mu notice that not far to the left of Miaoyi Emperor was a Pool, in which Weeds were soaked.

The Yellow Paper Crane that had just flown in from outside was now dropping the Weeds it held in its mouth into the Pool.

As the Weeds soaked in the Pool and softened, Miaoyi Emperor used the Weeds to make Yellow Paper.

To the right of Miaoyi, one could see the rudimentary tools for making Yellow Paper, including a large pot for cooking pulp and a wooden board for pressing paper.

Miaoyi Emperor, realizing Xiao Mu's attention was on the Pool, the Weeds, and the paper-making tools, smiled lightly and casually explained, "I am trapped in a painted prison, lacking the Yellow Paper needed to repair the Reincarnation Path. I had no choice but to make it myself."

Xiao Mu, speechless, now understood why the paper cranes carrying Weeds had been flying in. It was all for Miaoyi Emperor's paper-making needs.

Though they conversed, Miaoyi Emperor never ceased his work. He casually picked up a coarse sheet of Yellow Paper, tore it into a neat square, and proceeded to fold it into a Yellow Paper Crane.

Miaoyi Emperor breathed on the Yellow Paper Crane and instantly, the crane came to life, flapping its wings and flying off to repair the Reincarnation Path.

Whoosh-Whoosh-Whoosh!

The sound of the Escape Art suddenly arrived, and a Yellow Escape Light streaked from afar.

Xiao Mu and Miaoyi Emperor simultaneously turned their heads towards the Yellow Escape Light.

The speed of the Escape Light was very fast, and the figure of the Netherlord from beyond gradually appeared. Seeing Xiao Mu, he slowed down instead, retracting the Escape Light and moving slowly.

The Netherlord's voice came forth, taunting Xiao Mu with a tone filled with the pride of a victor, "Xiao Mu, not running away anymore? Have you given up, knowing you can't escape? Haha! None under my command could let you flee."

"I am not running anymore, Netherlord from beyond. Do you dare to come over?"

As he spoke, Xiao Mu glanced at Miaoyi Emperor.

Miaoyi Emperor smiled and nodded at Xiao Mu.

"What would I not dare to do? I will definitely kill you this time. Xiao Mu, don't think you can escape!"

The Netherlord from beyond yelled as he charged forward, looking directly at Xiao Mu, his face revealing a Sneer, filled with murderous intent.

Miaoyi Emperor wore a contemplative look. It was true that the Netherlord was his subordinate, but he was only a remnant soul after all. He didn't recognize the Netherlord initially, merely finding him familiar.

After a moment, Miaoyi Emperor realized something and asked in an even tone, "You are Wang Rui, right? I remember you; your name is Wang Rui."

"How dare you! Who dares to address this Sire by name?"

Enraged, the Netherlord from beyond roared, turning his head. But upon seeing Miaoyi Emperor, his complexion completely turned the color of liver, his body trembling uncontrollably, "Emperor... Emperor!"

Miaoyi Emperor was his direct superior. Although tens of thousands of years had passed, the awe he instilled still existed in his heart.

"I remember you; your name is Wang Rui. Originally merely a Yin God. It's been many years, and your strength has improved a lot, having even become a Netherlord!"

Miaoyi Emperor was surprised that Wang Rui had become a Netherlord.

Xiao Mu watched everything with great interest, saying nothing.

"Emperor... not right, you are not the Emperor. The Emperor has long perished!" Wang Rui, the Netherlord from beyond, exclaimed in shock, but he quickly thought of something and began yelling at Miaoyi Emperor.

"You are right, I am not Miaoyi Emperor, just a wisp of his lingering thought," Miaoyi Emperor nodded slightly.

If you are just a remnant thought, why should I fear you?

His eyes flashing fiercely, Wang Rui, the Netherlord from beyond, yelled at Miaoyi Emperor, "I am here under the order of the Heavenly Court to capture Xiao Mu! Miaoyi Emperor, will you not step aside? Do you want to betray the Heavenly Court?"

"Wang Rui, you've got quite the nerve! Even if I'm just a lingering thought, I'm not someone you can command. Let alone, you are still under my control," Miaoyi Emperor's face showed his displeasure. He suddenly stretched out his right hand, pointed it gently at the Netherlord from beyond, and shouted softly, "Dismissed!"

It seemed a decree was issued through Miaoyi Emperor's fingertip to the body of the Netherlord from beyond. Instantly, the Divine Power on him disappeared, and his official uniform, official cap, official boots, as well as the symbols of a Netherlord's authority, the Nether Order, Soul Summoning Banner, and Yin Soul Book, fell from his body.

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