Even if it truly can’t be undone, at worst, he will personally conduct the largest funeral ceremony for the Goddess since the Funeral Shop was established, or since funerary rites have existed.

In any case, it’s impossible to disgrace the Goddess.

The Victorious Fighting Buddha, along with his fellow disciples, acts as priests chanting blessings for the Goddess; while True Monarch Xiansheng, Sea-Realm Deity, Xuantan True Monarch, and other celestial deities escort her coffin. Such a spectacle, even the Celestial Emperor and the Buddha would envy, but can’t replicate!

"We agreed on a dual culmination, yet in the end, you’re the first to break the promise."

Xu Qing dug three feet into the ground, searching along the way, and finally, relying on the Corpse-Seeking Compass, he found the female Drought Fiend’s body, petrified like jade, deep underground a thousand feet.

And the phoenix crown and wedding robe he once gave her were already in tatters, clearly unable to withstand the destructive force when the female Drought Fiend fully exploded.

Xu Qing looked at the female Drought Fiend’s body, once charred and now completely petrified; it’s hard to imagine the determination she must have had to become like this.

"In the Battle of Zhuolu those years ago, you didn’t hesitate to destroy your divine persona, falling into becoming a Fiend, just to end the military disaster and bring peace to the human world sooner."

"Now, using yourself to trigger a deadly disaster, it can’t be just to buy more time, wanting to end the disaster sooner..."

As Xu Qing fed the female Drought Fiend the dew from the Three Lives Stone, he continued to speak, filling the silence.

Recalling the female Drought Fiend’s past deeds in Zhuolu, Xu Qing suddenly paused.

Indeed, maybe that madwoman never had any special plan from the start, just as when she perished with the General back then; today, the Goddess reactivates the deadly disaster, sending Dizang to oblivion, merely trying to replicate past strategies for handling disasters.

But unlike before, the former Goddess could transform into a Drought Fiend, continuing to exist with a corpse-like body.

Now, the female Drought Fiend prematurely unleashes the deadly disaster but without follow-up support, leaving her body fully petrified, becoming a cold statue.

The more Xu Qing thought, the clearer his heart became. Once he unraveled all his thoughts, his gaze toward the female Drought Fiend’s jade body changed.

How could this Goddess be so foolish?

She wouldn’t truly think that after her departure, a successor named Xu Xuan would carry on her ambition to be a self-sacrificing savior?

Would Xu Qing be such a selfless person?

Xu Qing’s expression fluctuated.

Saving the world or ending the disaster, these were always side effects on his path towards developing the three teachings and proving the Corpse-Drought Fiend Way.

If ending disaster can’t grant him righteous results, can’t give his disciples any respite, he definitely wouldn’t follow the Goddess’s thoughts to become the sacrificial so-called guardian deity.

A god who can’t protect himself, including his disciples within his sect, can be called a guardian deity?

Xu Qing squinted slightly, just as he was about to completely deny the Goddess’s expectations for him, he suddenly recalled the process of developing the three teachings invisibly, constantly rescuing people, and attempting to reach enlightenment had directly or indirectly alleviated the impact of the Five Filthy Evil Worlds on the mortal realm.

Moreover, the process of his acquaintance with the female Drought Fiend and gaining her recognition unknowingly hastened the arrival of the deadly disaster, which meant the disaster was accelerating towards either its peak or decline.

According to the current trajectory, he, Xu Qing, and the Xu Xuan in the eyes of the female Drought Fiend would inevitably choose to exert all effort to end the disaster.

Only by doing so could the three teachings be preserved, and only then could he glimpse the Dao Fruit realm above the Kui Ba and the Drought Fiend.

"Damn it! This madwoman hit the nail on the head!"

Xu Qing’s thoughts became tangled. In theory, this Goddess was just a Valkyrie with high stats but no tactics, as could be seen from her physique.

Yet such a simple-minded individual could always precisely find the key to break the situation.

Even when she lost the capability to solve the situation, she found Xu Qing as a successor to follow her path.

Who could he complain to?

Xu Qing didn’t believe in fate, but he had to admit, the female Drought Fiend had a keen eye for people.

"Wait, if I follow the Goddess’s old path, am I not also to suffer unforeseen calamity and be banished to the Red Water prison when the Celestial Emperor settles accounts in the autumn?"

Xu Qing finally realized, so after the female Drought Fiend heads to oblivion, the necessary price remains unpaid.

"Nice try, even if imprisoned, it should be together!"

After sorting out all these points, Xu Qing grew more determined to heal the Goddess.

Even if he had to snatch her from the hands of King Yan, he must breathe life back into this irresponsible woman!

Whether she remains a Drought Fiend or becomes a mere Zombie, as long as she can move around and a trace of her true spirit can recall today’s events, and accompany him in prison, it would suffice!

Of course, the latter is most crucial.

It’s Xu Qing’s first time wanting to save someone, even if the other was previously a Corpse Fiend.

The Three Lives Stone dew that can awaken memories of three lifetimes, the Cultivation Golden Light from the Goddess’s golden gourd, and even a drop of Three Lights Divine Water that can heal all physical and spiritual wounds were all used by Xu Qing.

This time Xu Qing truly spared no effort or expense.

This rescue was not about repaying kindness or romance, it was entirely personal vengeance!

"Want me to be imprisoned in your stead, dream on!"

Xu Qing showed a grin more ferocious than the Flying Yaksha’s, while the Goddess’s jade body lay exposed, left to the whims of the successor.

Once applying all internal and external remedies and exhausting all Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, Xu Qing then covered the Goddess with bedding and left the immortal abode.

Inside the immortal abode, multicolored immortal lights emitted faint ripples, and a strand of crimson light pierced through its roof, passing through the bronze coffin, disappearing into the Nether River realm.

Xu Qing felt a momentary daze, as that crimson light didn’t appear at this moment, but traversed time, emerging when he first encountered the Goddess’s coffin, escaping from beneath the Yin Corpse Sect.

Now, while healing the Goddess, he suddenly remembered a memory buried in the past.

Xu Qing lifted his head abruptly, his face revealing not only astonishment but joy from disrupting the Goddess’s obliteration plan.

"Time... indeed! The Drought Fiend is immortal, transcending time; these treasures might not resurrect the current Goddess, but they can preserve a trace of her true spirit from the past."

"When the Goddess revives, she may not remember meeting me beneath the Yin Corpse Sect but will recall everything before."

Xu Qing’s eyes grew brighter, yet simultaneously, he pondered a more severe dilemma.

To kill a Drought Fiend, one must touch upon the laws of time, so how could destroying the Nine Netherworlds Dharma Master be an easy task?

Xu Qing stepped out of the bronze coffin, while it, like an obedient pet, circled him jovially.

When Xu Qing emerged from underground, the bronze coffin closely trailed behind.

Meanwhile, a mischievous Great Sage caught a wild Di-ting from who knows where, while the Sea-Realm Deity, armed with a spiked fiery spear, occasionally tapped on it.

"Brother, you’re just in time! This beast has some mysticism; why don’t we interrogate it properly, maybe we’ll find out the whereabouts of the Goddess."

As soon as Xu Qing saw the Di-ting, his instinct compelled him to wield his gan-qi axe.

"Elder brother, I’ve already found some clues about the Goddess, but this creature cannot be allowed to remain!"

Xu Qing still remembered the Di-ting’s betrayal of the Goddess’s plan, leading Dizang to ambush him and the Goddess at Taodu Mountain.

Now, with both new and old grievances, it was the perfect time for settling scores.

At Xu Qing’s words, the Di-ting was shocked and repeatedly begged for mercy.

"Have mercy, Sect Leader Xu! I was merely following orders; please spare my life, Sect Leader Xu!"

"Spare you? Let me ask, how much do you know about the underworld’s legal corpses?"

"This..." The Di-ting blinked its eyes, unwilling to answer, but upon seeing the monkey raise its iron stick, the beast - which could hear eight hundred when seated and three thousand when lying down, able to discern truth from lies, and explore the essence of all things - instantly displayed clear eyes.

"Great knowledge! I have extensive knowledge about the legal corpses, ask away, elder masters. Whatever I know, I will say without reserve!"

Xu Qing and the Great Sage exchanged glances, and the group instantly shared knowing smiles.