Dantai Xuan’s soul trembled. A majestic feeling crashed over him like a tidal wave.

  Compared to the first two choices, this third one… was simply earth-shattering!

  His head nodded almost on its own.

  Overseeing the netherworld, establishing reincarnation—it felt immensely important.

  Yet at the same time, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Young Master Lu had dug a massive pit and was waiting for him to jump in.

  But his head had already nodded. That meant he had chosen the third path.

  In truth, Dantai Xuan did not resist the third option. The second—reincarnation with memories intact—was tempting, but after decades as Human Emperor striving to give the people peaceful lives, the idea of entering the Nine Prisons after death to protect the souls of the departed… felt right.

  At the very least, with him in the netherworld, the souls of the common folk would not be bullied too harshly.

  With that thought, Dantai Xuan made his decision.

  Lu Fan nodded.

  “This path may be difficult at first, but I believe you can handle it.”

  He smiled lightly.

  “Young Master Lu…”

  Dantai Xuan hesitated.

  “Is this… really immortal fate?”

  Lu Fan burst into laughter.

  “Of course it is.”

  A heaven-defying immortal fate.

  If not for Dantai Xuan’s satisfactory performance as Human Emperor, dreaming of becoming Nether Emperor of the Nine Prisons? Keep dreaming.

  “Go.”

  Lu Fan said.

  Dantai Xuan stood and bowed deeply.

  Lu Fan smiled. The spiritual pressure chessboard appeared. He lifted a piece.

  Plink. The black piece fell.

  Stars shifted. Mountains crumbled.

  The scene before Dantai Xuan changed instantly—he crossed thousands of li in a blink.

  From the Vast Sea, he arrived at the Wolong Ridge secret realm.

  Rumble!

  The earth cracked. The nine prison gates hanging in the Nine Hells Secret Realm erupted with heaven-shaking fluctuations.

  Above the nine gates, the faint outlines of nine ghost cities appeared—ancient, cold city walls lined with yin soldiers in rusted armor clutching corroded spears. Their deathly eyes stared at Dantai Xuan, sending chills down his spine.

  “Go.”

  Lu Fan’s voice echoed, both ethereal and majestic.

  Lake Heart Island vanished completely from Dantai Xuan’s sight.

  Mountains split. The earth floated and sank. A path leading straight into the ghost cities appeared before him.

  The path divided into yin and yang.

  Dantai Xuan stood at the entrance of the Yin-Yang Path, took a deep breath, swept his sleeve, clasped his hands behind his back, and stepped forward with head held high.

  From this day on, he was no longer the emperor of the mortal realm.

  Buzz…

  Nine massive thrones materialized—fierce, cold, grand, majestic…

  Nine ghost kings of the cities appeared, looking at Dantai Xuan. Feeling the terrifying pressure from Lu Fan across the eastern sea, all nine ghost kings cupped their fists in salute.

  Dantai Xuan narrowed his eyes. These nine ghost kings… did not seem welcoming.

  Of course. He had come to seize control of the netherworld from them.

  As expected—this would not be as simple as Young Master Lu made it sound.

  Yet Dantai Xuan only smiled. No fear—only excitement for the unknown challenge.

  His mortal life had already been rich enough.

  His afterlife as a ghost… would be even more spectacular!

  Enter the Nine Prisons. Judge good and evil. Establish reincarnation…

  The pressure was immense.

  Facing the nine ghost kings, Dantai Xuan stood with hands behind his back. The natural majesty of a Human Emperor radiated from him—equal to the nine kings, not the least bit inferior.

  On the Yin-Yang Path torn open by Lu Fan, a figure stood smiling, waiting.

  “This one is Beigong. By the Saint’s command, I have long awaited to assist you.”

  Dantai Xuan froze, then laughed heartily.

  The two figures vanished at the end of the path.

  Faintly, a tenth ghost city began to coalesce…

  …

  Having sent Dantai Xuan off, Lu Fan felt one matter settled.

  He leaned back in the Thousand-Bladed Chair, eyes glimmering.

  Establishing reincarnation and judging good and evil was no simple task. If Lu Fan had to do it himself, he would have a headache.

  But professionals should handle professional work. As Human Emperor, Dantai Xuan possessed a sense of justice far beyond ordinary men.

  And with Beigong’s assistance, it would be much easier.

  With Dantai Xuan scattering his dragon qi, the cultivation and mortal realms were somewhat separated. Reincarnation would better connect the netherworld and mortal realm, stabilizing the Five Phoenixes’ development.

  Moreover, the sooner reincarnation was established and ghost cultivation arose, the sooner Lu Fan could collect “royalties” from ghost qi—another form of spiritual energy. Why not?

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

  Ni Yu’s nine pots failed simultaneously again. She wiped her tears, unbowed, and began another attempt.

  Only diligence was rewarded by the heavens—and filled her stomach.

  After Lu Fan’s second enhancement, her black pot could now split into nine. Over the past century, she had practiced refining with all nine.

  One additional pot every decade. Now she perfectly controlled all nine.

  Nine pots meant nine times the pills—enough to sate her appetite.

  Moreover, Qi Liujia had informed her that in a hundred years, she would represent the Five Phoenixes in the alchemy side-competition.

  At first she didn’t care—she just wanted to eat, sleep, and pop pills.

  But when Qi Liujia said it was important to Young Master Lu, Ni Yu became serious.

  Though only a maid, to her, Young Master Lu was family—her closest family.

  “For Young Master! I’ll do it!”

  Her alchemy skill skyrocketed. Even Lu Fan’s repeatedly upgraded Alchemy Manual was beginning to fall short.

  With Gluttony Dao Intent, her talent in alchemy had become terrifying.

  Lu Fan strolled leisurely across the island.

  Suddenly he looked toward the Vast Sea.

  Qi Liujia arrived, parting the waves, Li Sansui at his side.

  Li Sansui—Qi Liujia’s most cherished disciple—had received his complete teachings.

  Especially after foreseeing that his former disciples might appear in the upcoming array competition, Qi Liujia placed all hope on Li Sansui to win honor for him.

  The daoist nun Li Sansui had grown ever more composed. She still preferred being called Li Mochou.

  She knew Master’s wish—that she suppress those senior brothers in the array competition and restore his pride.

  Stepping onto Lake Heart Island, Li Sansui’s heart trembled. Nearly a century since she had last been here.

  Seeing the white-robed Young Master Lu, unchanged as ever, immense pressure bore down on her.

  “Young Master.”

  Qi Liujia, in plain robes, approached.

  Li Sansui followed and bowed slightly.

  “What is it?”

  Lu Fan asked curiously.

  “Ninety-five years have passed in the Five Phoenixes. The ten-year deadline outside is almost here. We must begin selecting participants for the Heavenly Grand Tournament—both main events and profession side-competitions.”

  Qi Liujia said gravely.

  “Young Master, these contests cannot be taken lightly. Dao Intent is wagered. With our current reserves, the Five Phoenixes cannot afford many losses. Too many defeats would gravely wound our foundation!”

  Li Sansui and Ni Yu (mouth stuffed with pills) both grew solemn.

  It was that serious?

  “Selection? Fine by me.”

  Lu Fan smiled, curious.

  “You handle everything.”

  Qi Liujia felt the weight on his shoulders grow heavier.

  He wanted the Five Phoenixes to flourish—it was the only High Martial in the Nihility.

  He could not let the tournament cripple it.

  “By the way, Old Qi.”

  Lu Fan suddenly recalled something, tapping his armrest.

  “Put Zhulong’s name on the list, but she doesn’t need to fight. Girls should be gentle and reserved. All that killing isn’t good.”

  Qi Liujia froze. His aged face twitched.

  Young Master… are you serious?

  “Alright.”

  Since Lu Fan said it, he would not refuse.

  Besides, Qi Liujia intended to keep Zhulong as the Five Phoenixes’ trump card.

  With divine abilities, bathed in ancient tomb dragon blood, enhanced by ancestral dragon qi, and nearly a century of growth—who knew how strong she was now?

  Perhaps only Young Master Lu knew.

  “Young Master, Sansui has learned all I can teach. To perform well in the array competition, I hope you might personally guide her.”

  Qi Liujia bowed.

  Lu Fan nodded and did not refuse.

  “Then let her stay on the island these next few years.”

  Qi Liujia was overjoyed.

  Li Sansui beamed and thanked him.

  Ni Yu, cheeks bulging with pill-coated candy, looked thrilled—finally someone to keep her company!

  But Lu Fan glanced sideways.

  His eyes seemed to speak:

  Play?

  Have you mastered alchemy yet?!

  Ni Yu’s heart jolted. The pills in her mouth… suddenly lost their flavor.

  Qi Liujia left Li Sansui and departed.

  He had to begin selection.

  He knew the rules well and already had candidates in mind.

  Alchemy competition: unquestionably Ni Yu.

  Array competition: Li Sansui.

  Artifact forging competition: still needed careful selection.

  …

  After the Human Emperor’s funeral, the Great Xuan Divine Dynasty returned to normal operation.

  Yet because of Dantai Xuan’s final laws, the dynasty experienced more turbulence than in previous years.

  Mo Ju had planned to retire and wander, but at the new emperor’s repeated requests, he stayed to assist.

  With Mo Ju’s help, everything ran smoothly.

  The new emperor consolidated power.

  Half a year later, Mo Ju finally retired.

  The new emperor was not Dantai Xuan.

  Mo Ju had served Dantai Xuan for a century—his heart had room for no other emperor.

  Despite repeated pleas, Mo Ju left.

  On a snowy day, atop the city wall, the new emperor bowed deeply as Mo Ju walked away in his crane-feather cloak, feather fan swaying, disappearing into the blizzard.

  Mo Ju’s departure lit the fuse.

  The divine dynasty began to shake.

  Aristocratic clans grew restless.

  While Mo Ju was prime minister, they dared not act. Now that he wandered the world, they bared their fangs.

  Yet the new emperor Dantai He did not disappoint. With iron and blood, he crushed the brewing rebellions and awed all sides.

  Though Mo Ju was gone, many aged Confucian ministers remained to share the burden.

  But as the second half of the year approached,

  A pressure that kept Dantai He awake at night finally surfaced.

  Great Xuan Calendar, Year Ninety-Six, Winter.

  The sect world reignited.

  Nascent Soul cultivators founded sects without imperial permission, openly recruiting disciples.

  Thousands of sects sprang up like bamboo after rain in a single month.

  The new emperor was furious and prepared to dispatch the Black Tortoise Guards.

  Yet at the same time—rumors from the west.

  The cult and Madden Kingdom remnants, hidden for a century, began to stir.

  Worse still—the Demon Continent.

  With the three Demon Kings in seclusion,

  The cult hunted demons and framed Great Xuan cultivators. Even more horrifying—students at Great Xuan Academies were discovered cultivating with demon crystals.

  A demon delegation was sent to the capital.

  But they were ambushed by the cult and Madden remnants. Black Tortoise armor and corpses were left behind.

  The Silver Wolf King emerged from seclusion.

  He was no fool—he sensed something amiss.

  So he personally entered the capital.

  A century of peace between demons and the dynasty—he did not wish to break it lightly.

  Dantai He spoke with the Silver Wolf King for a long time.

  The Wolf King left the capital.

  Yet on his return—sandstorms blotted the sky.

  Several Yang God experts ambushed him.

  Among them—the century-hidden Liu Yuanhao appeared, his cultivation unfathomably deep.

  The Silver Wolf King was slain.

  In the endless sandstorm, his mountain-like corpse lay across the desert, surrounded by Black Tortoise corpses.

  Xue Tao’s sword pierced the wolf’s skull, shattering its demon crystal.

  The Wolf King’s subordinates discovered the scene—and raged.

  This time, the demons were truly enraged.

  When Dantai He received the news, he trembled, face ashen.

  He understood—the century of peace was cracking. Terrible conflict loomed.

  The cult and Madden remnants had planned for a hundred years. Now they revealed their claws.

  Internal aristocratic clans were nothing.

  But the proliferating sects were trouble.

  Beset by internal and external threats, Dantai He felt exhausted.

  Only now did he understand why his father had been so reluctant to abdicate.

  The divine dynasty was not as stable as it appeared.

  Dantai Xuan had tried to draw out the cult—only for his eldest son to rebel.

  Now Dantai He could only curse his elder brother—pitiful schemer.

  Had their father eliminated the cult, even with troubles, the dynasty would not be so overwhelmed.

  Silver Wolf King dead.

  The demons furious.

  Tiger Demon King emerged, his roar shaking the desert. His friend murdered so gruesomely—how could he accept it?

  A Yang God demon crossed Tianhan Pass and charged the capital.

  Xue Tao met him. They battled. The Tiger Demon King left unsatisfied.

  The rift between demons and dynasty appeared.

  Under Liu Yuanhao’s leadership, the cult fully surfaced.

  “This seat will reclaim everything that belongs to this seat…”

  Liu Yuanhao’s black-robed figure spoke coldly.

  The western lands were quickly overrun. Murder, arson, plunder—the Madden Kingdom was reborn, raising armies against the dynasty.

  Yet just when the world believed the divine dynasty was crumbling…

  The sect crisis dissolved rapidly.

  Because one imperial official, unafraid of death, led troops with official writs to destroy a sect.

  The sect’s Nascent Soul founder slew the official in rage.

  As the official died, he laughed.

  Dragon qi descended from the heavens. Karmic fire burned…

  The Nascent Soul cultivator was reduced to ash!

  The world was stunned. They remembered the Human Emperor’s final decree.

  Countless officials marched out of cities to purge sects. Many dyed the land with their blood.

  Karmic fire consumed countless cultivators—even one Infant Transformation expert turned to ash.

  The sect crisis collapsed like melting ice before these upright officials.

  Dantai He rejoiced at the resolution, yet felt complex emotions.

  So his father had foreseen everything.

  Even more moving—

  Jiang Li emerged from the ancient tomb with a hundred Black Tortoise Guards.

  That invincible iron-blooded army charged west and crushed the cult’s lair in one fell swoop.

  Liu Yuanhao was shocked and furious—he had been tricked again!

  In the Demon Continent,

  The same day Jiang Li emerged, the Demon Monkey King dragged his iron staff, leading countless demons to slaughter into the Madden Kingdom.

  One swing—tens of thousands fell.

  The Madden Kingdom’s demon-crystal God Legion was no match for the demons who had developed for nearly a century.

  The Monkey King, demonic aura soaring, battled the Madden King who had transformed into a twelve-winged celestial god across the desert.

  Sand seas overturned. Sand waterfalls raged.

  The Madden King’s twelve demon-crystal wings were shattered one by one.

  Finally,

  The Monkey King raised both arms, demonic qi piercing the heavens.

  With a roar, he tore the Madden King’s body apart.

  Blood dyed the boundless desert red.

  Cause of yesterday—fruit of today.