Chapter 711: Saint Disciple

In the Netherworld's Nether Sea, the Son of Hades stood firm within the gateway of the Celestial Gate of the Nether City. Even with Goddess of Heavenly Yin attacking from across realms, the Divine Blade of the Imperial Palace in Tian Shu's hand, and King Yama wielding the power of Fengdu, they could not gravely injure him or inflict much harm. An Imperial Seat cultivator is simply too powerful.

After her resurrection, Goddess of Heavenly Yin learned the 324 runes of the Heavenly Yin Realm from the Woodcutter and others. The divine abilities system of the Heavenly Yin Realm had been established, and the power of Goddess of Heavenly Yin's divine abilities had increased dramatically. Furthermore, as a born deity, her combat strength surpassed that of Tian Shu and King Yama. However, because she could not enter the Nether City and could only attack from across realms, she was unable to inflict a fatal wound on the Son of Hades.

Tian Shu's strength was also extremely formidable, and the Divine Blade of the Imperial Palace was a divine blade specifically designed to counter the Youdu divine abilities system. That's why it could sever the horn of Earth Count, but unfortunately, a slight flaw appeared during its forging.

The Son of Hades, being incredibly intelligent, had already used his own divine abilities to exploit this flaw, neutralizing the divine blade's soul-devouring effect. Tian Shu could only injure the Son of Hades with the blade's raw power, but could not take his life.

King Yama, gathering the power of Fengdu and its gods, could also fight, but the difference in cultivation realms meant he could only injure the Son of Hades.

With the Celestial Gate of the Nether City, the Son of Hades could recover from any injury, as long as his life wasn't directly taken.

His Celestial Gate of the Nether City possessed the miraculous effect of enduring tribulations and reincarnation. As an Imperial Seat expert, although his cultivation techniques and divine abilities originated from Youdu, he had built upon them, creating something entirely new and achieving transcendence!

The three fought hard, but Tian Shu and King Yama accumulated more and more injuries. The advantage they had reversed into a disadvantage, and if they continued, they would all find it difficult to escape.

Suddenly, chaos erupted in the Nether City. Countless soul criminals imprisoned in the Nether Prison broke free, going on a rampage. The Son of Hades was startled, thinking, "Oh no! Many of the prisoners held deep within the Nether Prison are individuals of great importance..." As he thought this, his mind was thrown into disarray.

"Ashamed to face the sun, she hides her silken sleeves; saddened by spring, too listless to adorn herself. Priceless treasures are easily found, but a devoted lover is hard to obtain." A woman's clear voice came from the direction of the Nether Prison in the Nether City, echoing so clearly even over the Nether Sea. The woman's recitation carried a poignant resentment, lamenting the lack of loving and righteous men in the world, which left her with no one to please, making her too languid and unmotivated to adorn herself.

The Son of Hades's mind was in turmoil, and he took several hits, his skin ripped open and flesh exposed. Fortunately, with the Celestial Gate of the Nether City, his injuries quickly healed.

Suddenly, a purple and red bridal veil flew over, descending above the Celestial Gate of the Nether City. The veil was large, covering the gate.

The Son of Hades saw the embroidered phoenixes with intertwined necks on the veil, their pattern woven with golden thread, and his mind grew even more chaotic. Under the veil, within the gate, King Yama and Tian Shu's attacks intensified, finally gaining the upper hand, and the Son of Hades was repeatedly wounded.

The Son of Hades stabilized his mind and was about to counterattack when suddenly, a phoenix crown flew over and landed on his head.

The Son of Hades felt a tingling in his scalp and was at a loss. Then, a hapi (ceremonial robe) flew to him, draping over his shoulders.

The Son of Hades cried out, covering his face, as Tian Shu's blade severed his legs. King Yama seized the opportunity and thrust his sword into the Son of Hades's chest.

The Son of Hades's two legs rushed into the Celestial Gate of the Nether City, and his upper body also flew into the gate. Bursting out from behind the gate were three Son of Hades, fleeing for their lives.

Goddess of Heavenly Yin's attacks followed one after another. The three Son of Hades vomited blood, falling into the Nether Sea and vanishing.

The Celestial Gate of the Nether City flew up, about to sink into the Nether Sea with him, when suddenly, Di Yiyue, dressed in black, arrived with the Woodcutter Sage and the First Ancestor Human Emperor, placing her hand on the Celestial Gate of the Nether City.

The gate rumbled and trembled, repeatedly trying to escape, but it could not.

The Celestial Gate of the Nether City grew smaller and smaller, finally becoming about one *zhang* tall (approximately 3.3 meters), and no longer trembled.

On the other side, Goddess of Heavenly Yin turned her Celestial Dipper, causing the Nether Sea to float, attempting to force out the Son of Hades. The Woodcutter Sage bowed and said, "Your Ladyship, there's no need. He has been gravely wounded and cannot remain in the Nether Sea; he has already fled. It is not advisable to stay here long. With such a commotion, the Outer Heaven Court will surely send people to investigate. If we don't leave now, we won't be able to."

Tian Shu rose into the air, splitting open the world barrier of the Nether City with a slash of his Divine Blade of the Imperial Palace, and vanished into the void.

The Woodcutter Sage said to Goddess of Heavenly Yin, "If the Outer Heaven Court pursues this matter, Yan Kang might also be implicated. Therefore, Your Ladyship will need to take responsibility for this."

Goddess of Heavenly Yin smiled and said, "I raided the Nether City to avenge myself; I have a just cause. Of course, I can take responsibility. I can also ask Heavenly Duke and Earth Count to intercede, and I assume the Heaven Court won't pursue it. The Son of Hades will simply have to swallow this loss. However, your asking for my assistance already consumed one Heavenly Yin Pearl, and for me to bear this responsibility, you will need to give me another Heavenly Yin Pearl."

The First Ancestor Human Emperor took out a divine pearl. Goddess of Heavenly Yin nodded, and the divine pearl floated up, flying into the Heavenly Yin Realm.

Goddess of Heavenly Yin vanished.

Di Yiyue lifted the Celestial Gate of the Nether City and said, "I helped him forge this treasure. I know all its functions inside and out, but sadly, things have changed and people are no longer the same. Grand Heavenly Master, how do we return to the mortal realm now?"

The Woodcutter said, "The Heavenly King's body is dead, but her physical form still exists, making it difficult to return to Yan Kang directly through the world barrier. However, we can return to the Great Ruins via King Yama's Fengdu, and then from the Great Ruins back to Yan Kang."

King Yama bowed and said, "Greetings, Imperial Master Aunt."

Di Yiyue's gaze fell upon him, and she said in surprise, "You are His Majesty's adopted son? Back then, you were just an honest little child. I can't believe that after all these years, you've become the ruler of a realm!"

King Yama lowered his head.

Di Yiyue entered Fengdu, examining this realm of the living dead, and smiled, "Fengdu is a horn of Earth Count. It's a pity your understanding of Youdu's dao arts and divine abilities isn't as profound as that heartless man's. This Fengdu is still some distance from the Nether City. Northern Heavenly King and I can help you. Why did Northern Heavenly King run so fast just now?"

The First Ancestor Human Emperor said, "He probably sobered up. After sobering, he realized he actually fought all the way to the Nether City and battled the Son of Hades, so he's probably hiding somewhere, trembling with excitement."

Di Yiyue thought for a moment, then smiled, "That's his personality. But he's not trembling with excitement, he's trembling with fear of what he did. When I'm fully revived and find him, I'll help you rebuild Fengdu with him."

Fengdu moved into the darkness and disappeared.

Fengdu and the Nether City were both forged from Earth Count's horns and were part of Youdu, so there was no world barrier between them.

"Grand Heavenly Master, I just heard you say that a second catastrophe is approaching. Was the Kaihuang Era not destroyed?" Di Yiyue sat down in Fengdu's second divine city, accompanied by King Yama, the First Ancestor, the Woodcutter, and others. The legendary woman from the Kaihuang Era inquired, "Does the Outer Heaven Court intend to destroy the Kaihuang Era a second time?"

The Woodcutter's expression darkened, and he shook his head, "The Kaihuang Era has already been annihilated. The current era is the Yan Kang Era, built upon the ruins of our own. This coming calamity is aimed at Yan Kang. Didn't you, Heavenly King, cultivate under the Four Deities of the Four Directions back then precisely to deal with such disasters? That's why, with this impending disaster in Yan Kang, I had the idea to ask for your intervention. No one is better suited than you to face this catastrophe."

Di Yiyue's expression turned cold. She said indifferently, "Why should I help Yan Kang deal with a heavenly disaster? I failed Kaihuang, having been consumed by love and unable to help Kaihuang's Heaven Court ward off the disaster. But what does Yan Kang have to do with me?"

The Woodcutter Sage was silent for a moment, then said, "The mainstays of Yan Kang's current reforms are two of my disciples. My third disciple, Jiang Ling Jiang Baigui, is the Imperial Tutor of Yan Kang."

Di Yiyue shook her head, "Your reputation isn't that great, and your disciples' reputations are even less so."

The Woodcutter Sage said, "My second disciple's surname is Qin. He is the 107th-generation descendant of Kaihuang, and also a pillar of these Yan Kang reforms."

Di Yiyue's beautiful face softened, and she slowly nodded, "He is a descendant of Kaihuang. Then fending off this calamity for him would be repaying a favor to Kaihuang. Is he the Emperor of Yan Kang?"

The Woodcutter Sage hesitated, then shook his head, "No, he isn't. He is the Chamberlain for Attendants to the Yan Kang Emperor, and also the Grand Libationer of the Heavenly Saint Academy."

Di Yiyue's expression turned cold again, and she said mockingly, "How can a descendant of Kaihuang be a subordinate to someone else? It's fine if your second disciple isn't the Emperor, but what about Kaihuang's other descendants? Where are they? Where is Kaihuang? We are Kaihuang's subjects; it is absolutely impossible for us to serve others and simply make wedding clothes for them!"

"Kaihuang..." The Woodcutter Sage's expression was grim. He shook his head and said, "Kaihuang has been hiding in Wuyouxiang (Carefree Village) and hasn't appeared for twenty thousand years."

Di Yiyue became angry, slapping the table. "I've said it before: if that bad man surnamed Qin can't be Kaihuang, then he should vacate the position and I'll do it! That fellow, running off to Wuyouxiang to enjoy himself, dumping his mess on others, letting others fight for him—how shameless! Even so, I still cannot help the Yan Kang Emperor ward off this disaster!"

"The one who becomes Emperor is not necessarily the strongest in ability or power, but the one with the greatest and broadest spirit and vision." The Woodcutter said, "The Emperor of Yan Kang is precisely such a person. He possesses a breadth of vision and magnanimity that even Kaihuang did not have. In terms of strength, your power is not inferior to Kaihuang's, but do you think you would have done better than Kaihuang if you were to become Emperor?"

Di Yiyue was silent for a moment, then shook her head, "At the most critical moment of Kaihuang's Heaven Court, I was consumed by love, running off to marry an enemy, only to be ambushed. I am not suited to be Kaihuang. Very well, I owe you much, so I will make an exception this once. I need to meet your disciple and the Yan Kang Emperor before I make a decision. If they impress me, I will help; if not, I will turn and leave, preferring to hide in Fengdu as a female ghost. At worst, I can mingle among Earth Count's subordinates."

The Woodcutter Sage smiled, very pleased. "If you meet my second disciple, you will certainly be deeply comforted and happy that Kaihuang has such an outstanding descendant!"

Fengdu returned to the Great Ruins, overlapping with it.

The sky was bright.

The Woodcutter Sage, Bhadragora, the First Ancestor, and others bid farewell to King Yama of Fengdu, immediately returned, and re-entered their physical bodies.

Di Yiyue also followed their spirits to the Yongjiang Academy in Lizhou, Yan Kang. The Woodcutter Sage's physical body awakened from death, sat up, then stood, smiling, "My disciple from the Qin family is nearby. I'll take you to see him! You'll definitely like him when you see him!"

The First Ancestor, Chi Xi, Bhadragora, and others also woke up one after another. As they were speaking, tremendous thunderous roars came from the direction of Yongjiang, with continuous lightning strikes.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound, and saw five great cloud-thunders forming thick thunderclouds, continuously and furiously striking down at a single spot around Yongjiang.

Di Yiyue looked closely and saw a calamity god frantically attacking in all directions under the thunderclouds, while a young boy was clinging to its back, gnawing at its hind head with his mouth wide open. No matter how furiously the five great cloud-thunders struck, they couldn't dislodge him.

Di Yiyue looked at the Woodcutter with suspicion and asked, "Is that the descendant of Kaihuang, your second disciple?"

The Woodcutter Sage's expression remained unchanged. He shook his head and said, "No, I don't recognize this young talent. Heavenly King, let's still go to the Yan Kang capital and meet Emperor Yanfeng first."

Happy Birthday to Yuanye Huakai!