Chapter 382: Chapter 40: The Taiji Diagram Appears, the Profound Yellow Pagoda Manifests

As Lu Xuan strolled along, he discreetly sent a mental transmission.

"Senior Brother, this one isn’t even a Daluo. There shouldn’t be a problem, right?"

Xuandu’s face was as placid as ever. He calmly replied via transmission:

"There is a problem."

???

Lu Xuan’s expression froze, and the corner of his eye twitched. He continued his transmission with just one word:

"Ah??"

Xuandu transmitted back an explanation:

"His body has merged with a part of the Nine Nether. Outside the Nine Nether, I would only need a single sword strike to kill him. But inside the Nine Nether, the outcome is uncertain. I have never been here before."

Lu Xuan’s brow furrowed. ’Looks like I was a bit too arrogant this time...’

But he wasn’t anxious. If worst came to worst, he would just summon the Profound Yellow Pagoda above his head, wield the Qing Ping Sword in his hand, and raise the Glazed Lamp high...

As he pondered, they had unknowingly walked into the deepest part of the Nine Nether. The further they went, the more familiar it felt to Lu Xuan.

’Why does this place feel a bit like the Origin?’

Before he could think further, he saw Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva stop and look over at them, speaking coolly:

"This place is near the Origin. Nothing here can be perceived by the outside world. Emperor, you had best explain everything to me. Otherwise, I’m afraid I will have to let you slumber here for all eternity."

"So confident, Bodhisattva?" Lu Xuan asked with a smirk.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva didn’t answer, merely stating calmly:

"The matter of Medicine King Buddha, the matter of those two dead souls, and your conversation with the Northern Emperor. Emperor, please explain it all."

He paused, then added:

"This Daoist here seems similar to me, having merged with a part of heaven and earth and grasped a portion of its authority, yes? But this is the Nine Nether. You are no match for me here."

Xuandu narrowed his eyes, a rare sight. Beneath his mask, Lu Xuan’s expression also grew heavy. He took several steps back and declared:

"Senior Brother, he’s all yours!"

Xuandu didn’t reply. He erupted in a sudden movement, manifesting a Creation Illusory Pill Furnace that sought to envelop and refine Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva.

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva put his palms together, his face filled with compassion as he sighed:

"My body is in Hell, but my heart is filled with light, pure and untainted. Here in the Nine Nether, even shouldering the monstrous sins of all souls and ghosts, I can still move unhindered among the Daluo."

As he sighed, no Buddhist light emanated from him. He simply plucked lightly with his fingers, and this region of the Nine Nether suddenly inverted, then came crashing down entirely!

Xuandu’s expression remained unchanged. He looked directly at the collapsing Nine Nether, formed a Dharma Seal, and executed a Killing Skill. A Daoist Sword materialized in his right hand, and with a single turn, it unleashed a power akin to the Creation of Heaven and Earth!

The sword light surged, colliding with the inverting, collapsing Nine Nether and locking it in a stalemate.

A look of admiration appeared on Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s face.

"The subtlety of this sword surpasses that of all beings at the level of the Celestial Realms."

He paused, then smiled again.

"But it is useless."

As his voice fell, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva used no Great Dharma Skill. He merely plucked at the authority he held once more. His form suddenly expanded, merging with this deep section of the Nine Nether and dissolving into nothingness!

"This is trouble."

Xuandu said calmly:

"Ksitigarbha King was holding back. He’s merged with more of the Nine Nether than I imagined. Junior Brother, you should leave first. I’ll hold him off."

The words had barely left his mouth when, before Lu Xuan could reply, this region of the Nine Nether began to resonate with a humming sound:

"Mercy, mercy!"

Immediately, a vast expanse of Chaos appeared and abruptly contracted, like a pair of Buddha’s Palms clapping together, pressing in on Xuandu. Rules and principles manifested as physical chains, seeking to bind him!

Unalarmed and unworried, Xuandu pushed his palms outward. A wondrous light emerged from the lines on his palms, each and every strand evolving into the profound Dao of heaven and earth.

Although this brilliant, profound Dao of heaven and earth had only just appeared, it dimmed under the suppression of the Nine Nether. Yet, it still managed to block the contracting Chaos!

"Not bad." The voice of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, now one with this region of the Nine Nether, spoke in praise again. The sound was generated by the resonance of the Nine Nether itself—magnificent, vast, and so powerful it made Lu Xuan dizzy.

Ksitigarbha King, or rather, this region of the Nine Nether, praised:

"You are even more remarkable than I imagined. But why have I never seen or heard of you before? May I ask your Daoist title?"

"My name is Luo Hou," Xuandu stated calmly. He once again unleashed a profound light, attempting to pierce through this region of the Nine Nether, but it was a futile effort.

Ksitigarbha-Nine Nether chuckled lightly.

"Luo Hou? I will remember that name... Give up your resistance. It’s futile. I have been blessed by Lady Houtu and command one-third of the Nine Nether’s domain. You are no match for me."

Xuandu’s expression was unchanged.

"Oh? Aren’t you a Great Bodhisattva of Spirit Mountain? What, now you have dealings with that Lady as well?"

"You wouldn’t understand."

Ksitigarbha-Nine Nether seemed to lose patience. The vast space roiled and shattered, and countless fragments of the Nine Nether swirled and solidified, forming a colossal humanoid figure.

"Submit!"

The colossal Nine Nether humanoid pressed down with a great palm, first sealing the space, then bringing down its immense power. It laughed and said:

"No matter where you two come from, this place is near the Origin. Even Dao Fruits would find it hard to peer in. You two can stay here for a while."

As it spoke, the great palm formed from Nine Nether fragments closed. The figures of Xuandu and Lu Xuan instantly turned illusory, then were enveloped by layer upon layer of Nine Nether space, buried on the other side of the real Nine Nether, their traces vanishing from reality.

"A guest has arrived. You two can stay suppressed here for a moment."

The immense power of the Nine Nether suppressed Lu Xuan and Xuandu together. They could hardly move or make a sound, and even the flow of their thoughts slowed.

They were squeezed into a state of falsehood, and their very beings began to turn illusory. With great difficulty, Xuandu managed to speak:

"Ksitigarbha King has hidden himself well. He seems to be a hidden gambit of that Lady. This I did not expect."

"N-no... problem." Lu Xuan found it difficult to speak, but he wasn’t panicked. "Senior Brother, can we get out?"

"Not empty-handed."

In this absolute void, Xuandu spoke calmly:

"Or rather, I can, but I would have to concentrate fully. It would also create a huge disturbance, and with no spare attention to protect you, Junior Brother, you would be annihilated... So for now, we can’t get out."

"Is that so?" Lu Xuan said suddenly, feeling the absolute silence that was so similar to the Origin. "What if I can protect myself?"

"Then we can get out," Xuandu said with certainty.

「Meanwhile, in the real Nine Nether.」

After burying the two on the other side of the Nine Nether, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva peeled himself away from this region of the Nine Nether, solidifying back into his physical form as the compassionate Bodhisattva.

At the same time, a brilliant Buddhist light shone from the distance, and an ancient Buddha strolled over.

"Greetings, Lamp Buddha," Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva said, bowing respectfully.

Lamp Buddha frowned, glanced around, and then asked:

"Ksitigarbha, have you seen a being wearing a mask?"

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva replied, his expression unchanged:

"Is Buddha asking about the Profound Yellow Emperor? I was just fighting the Profound Yellow Emperor and another Daoist here a moment ago. The two of them escaped into the Origin. They cannot be found."

"The Origin??" Lamp Buddha had a sudden realization. "No wonder their auras vanished so abruptly... What were they doing going to the Origin?"

"I do not know." Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva shook his head, his expression still unchanged. "It seemed they were heading for the Origin from the start. There is no Time in the Origin, so it is impossible to predict when they will emerge."

"Is that so?" Lamp Buddha frowned but did not grow suspicious. He said, "Then I will take my leave. If the Profound Yellow Emperor emerges, please inform me."

"Yes, Buddha..." Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva had barely finished speaking when, suddenly.

Ripples appeared in the void.

「The next instant.」

BUZZ!!!

A world-shaking brilliance erupted. The Ancient Daoist, holding a Taiji Diagram, shattered the boundary between the real and the false, stepping from illusion into reality with a masked youth by his side.

Above the youth’s head hovered a Small Pagoda, from which strands of Profound Yellow Qi descended, suffusing every inch of his skin!

"The Taiji Diagram??"

"The Heaven and Earth Profound Yellow Exquisite Pagoda??"

Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva and Lamp Buddha cried out in astonished shock at the same time.