In an unremarkable courtyard on an ordinary planet near the Eastern Sky Region's ancient battlefield.

Xu Zhongliang, who was holding a jade talisman, sighed softly. He murmured, "These fellows seem rather fragile."

A meow sounded from nearby.

Wu Tianshou roughly complained, "You call that fragile? I've been stuck on this stage for three days and still can't clear it!"

He was holding a basin-shaped artifact, inside of which was a simple glass-like screen that displayed somewhat crude visuals.

Cheap impact sounds and background music echoed throughout the room.

Entertainment for Earth's cultivators on this planet was still underdeveloped. Only the one wave of single-player games had arrived so far, pioneering cultural spread. A local network for the planet was still being built.

Even so, it was enough to catch the attention of these immortals and give them a place to vent their obsession with cultivation, especially for those stuck at bottlenecks. If they could not grow stronger in the endless space, they could at least relive the feeling of their younger days here.

If Wang Sheng, the one who started this whole plan, learned that this invention had left his own side's top members completely absorbed, he would not know whether to laugh or cry.

Xu Zhongliang glanced at Wu Tianshou, then at the small white tiger perched on his shoulder, which was staring intently at the "game basin."

"You two are here to lie low, support Earth's cultivators, and guard Fei Yu. You are not here to play with these little gadgets from Fei Yu!"

"Star Deity Wenqu, just a moment. Let me finish this round."

"Meow!"

Xu Zhongliang was speechless.

Aside from lamenting the decline of morals, Hostess Su could only continue to organize intelligence.

Chun Yangzi and several experts from the Heavenly Court had originally established Hostess Su's Qiluo Celestial Realm in secret. Now, it had spread across the four great sky regions, with various agents gathering intelligence and gradually infiltrating the Immortal Saint Realm.

That was also thanks to the long-standing disorder within the Immortal Saint Realm.

Although Xu Zhongliang had not gone to Earth to see Wang Sheng himself, he trusted Qinghua and everything the emperor had told him.

At last, he had found answers to everything he had not understood before—explanations to Haotian's strange actions and the things that Ziwei had once suspected.

Even someone as clever as Xu Zhongliang had never considered the existence of an external devil.

Combined with his prior interactions with Wang Sheng, the once proud Star Deity made his decision without much hesitation. He chose to stand with Earth's cultivators and oppose Feng Jiu.

It could also be because Xu Zhongliang felt that joining Feng Jiu to destroy Earth's cultivators would be far too easy. Struggling against heaven was far more interesting.

Wu Tianshou finally set aside his game and turned to ask, "What's the situation in the Nether Realm?"

"Emperor Qinghua secretly eliminated two of their experts. Those disorganized forces scattered before they could even break through Fengdu's walls."

Xu Zhongliang answered, though there was still a trace of concern in his eyes.

Wu Tianshou put down the game basin. The little white tiger leaped forward and tapped at it with its small paws, and the noises resumed. Such distractions were especially tempting to youthful minds.

Wu Tianshou straightened his expression. "It's a good thing the Nether Realm has held again."

Xu Zhongliang replied softly, "They only sent two experts there. I fear this is a trick."

"Oh?" Wu Tianshou thought for a moment, then shook his head. "From my perspective, you may be overthinking it. Perhaps they only wanted to disturb the Nether Realm, not truly capture Fengdu City. Though Great Virtuous Houtu hasn't shown herself yet, several great experts from ancient times have already appeared to guard the Six-Path Wheel of Reincarnation."

"I have considered that, which is why I am uneasy."

Xu Zhongliang sighed. "What worries me is that Feng Jiu may not intend to attack the Nether Realm directly. She could be trying to control the Six-Path Wheel of Reincarnation through other means."

"What other means could there be? Would Houtu really hand over the Reincarnation Wheel?"

"Mm?"

Xu Zhongliang frowned. He turned toward the burly warrior beside him and then muttered, "It's not completely impossible. Senior Houtu is not without weaknesses. In fact, Fengdu City itself may be her weakness. Many of the ghost wardens there were once her clansmen.

"If Feng Jiu uses some method we have not anticipated and easily obtains control of the Six-Path Wheel of Reincarnation, we will find ourselves in a very passive position. Send word to Chun Yangzi and have him think of a countermeasure as well."

Wu Tianshou immediately nodded and prepared to carry out the errand. Before leaving, he glanced at his little "master" and saw it lying down, completely absorbed in the game. He sighed quietly and walked off.

By the time he returned, he would probably have to start over again.

***

Two messages reached Wang Sheng only a minute apart.

Mou Yue had just hung up the call with him when she picked up a secure line and contacted him again.

The first message came from Xu Zhongliang. He suspected that the enemy did not intend to seize the Six-Path Wheel of Reincarnation by force, but instead aimed to pressure the Nether Realm and gain control using a different method.

The second message provided the answer to the first message: in three thousand endless-space years, the Nether Realm would select a new Yanluo Hall King to fill a vacancy in the Ten Yanluo Halls. For the long-term stability of the realm, they would be chosen through a trial that Houtu personally arranged.

Any living being in all of heaven and earth who could reach the Nether Realm would be eligible to take part in this selection. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Whoever emerged as the final victor would receive Houtu's blessing, gain immeasurable merit, enter the Nether Realm, and leave behind a celebrated name.

This arrangement was essentially...

"Nether Realm, hiring?"

When Wang Sheng heard the news, he found it somewhat absurd. However, he quickly understood the helplessness behind it.

The Ten Yanluo Hall Kings, also known as the Kings of Hell, governed reincarnation.

This was a position of real authority, one that allowed direct access to the Six-Path Wheel of Reincarnation.

Within the Nether Realm, each of the Ten Yanluo Hall Kings had their own duties. How could one position suddenly be left vacant?

"Feng Jiu, or rather the Immortal Emperor, must have already applied enough pressure on the Nether Realm from the shadows. They have no choice but to use this method and give up part of their control over reincarnation."

Wang Sheng sighed, stood up, and paced back and forth, his eyes filled with thought. He was starting to grow used to thinking this way.

Three thousand years...

At least it was not three hundred. He still had time to prepare.

Or perhaps it was the Six-Path Wheel of Reincarnation itself, or rather Houtu, who had given him this opportunity.

In this world, the only force capable of disrupting Feng Jiu's plans was mine, though it's still not complete. How do I stop the enemy?

At present, their side had only a handful of great experts they could trust: Qinghua, Chun Yangzi, Zhi Bing, Xu Zhongliang, and Wu Tianshou. Every one of them was a precious asset.

The struggle for this new Yanluo Hall King position would surely be filled with hidden currents.

The Nether Realm had made its stance clear: they would remain neutral, maintain the operation of the Six-Path Wheel of Reincarnation, and not join any faction. They even used this method to openly relinquish part of their authority over the Six-Path Wheel of Reincarnation, easing the pressure on themselves.

There were likely perceptive figures within the Nether Realm who understood just how terrifying Feng Jiu truly was.

"Hiiiiss, Divine Guardian Wang would actually make a good Yanluo Hall King. He looks fierce enough."

Wang Sheng chuckled to himself and sat on the sofa, lost in thought.

These three thousand years would pass in what amounted to thirty years for him. By then, he should have fully accepted the Great Dao of Creation and head out into the world.

The affairs of the Nether Realm would likely be the first challenge he had to face.

With a casual gesture, Wang Sheng said, "Brush and paper."

Er Gou immediately stepped forward and presented the writing tools. Wang Sheng lifted the brush and wrote a few lines.

If Empress Houtu knows about Feng Jiu, how much does she truly understand about her? Is it possible that the Nether Realm has already allied with Feng Jiu and is setting a trap to lure me out? If this is a call for help from the Nether Realm—a way to buy time—how can the Six-Path Wheel of Reincarnation be protected from falling into Feng Jiu's hands?"

Wang Sheng fell silent, staring at the questions he had written as he pondered them.

After a while, he shook his head. "I give up. I'll let the smarter ones handle this."

He returned to seclusion and instructed the boy to keep watch for any incoming messages.

His mind sank back into his Primordial Spirit, which had grown incredibly resilient, as he continued immersing himself in the Great Dao of Creation. His own realm was indistinct, yet the Dao of Creation was already engraved within it.

One who had mastered the Dao was called a Grand Dao Immortal.

Wang Sheng and Mu Wanxuan could both be considered reserve experts for their side.

Even so, Wang Sheng had his own selfish thoughts. He did not want his senior sister to play too significant a role in this matter because that would place her in great danger.

***

Not even three years later, more news arrived from the Nether Realm.

Based on intelligence from multiple sources, Xu Zhongliang and the others had confirmed that the Nether Realm was seeking external assistance.

Feng Jiu's schemes within the Nether Realm had been unfolding for tens of thousands of years. Almost as soon as the Nether Realm stabilized, her forces began infiltrating it.

At present, a third of Fengdu's military power was in Feng Jiu's hands.

Among the Five Ghost Emperors, at least two had already submitted to her.

The only group confirmed to be free of problems was the Ten Yanluo Halls near the Six-Path Wheel of Reincarnation.

Under such circumstances, the core immortals and deities of the Nether Realm were all on edge. Giving up one Yanluo Hall King position was a desperate measure.

Even so, it was a rather clever strategy. It eased pressure, shifted them from passive to active, and temporarily stabilized the Nether Realm for at least three thousand years.

Such a duration could feel both long and short. Many uncertainties could still arise during that time. Moreover, Wang Sheng also received updates about the Immortal Saint Realm.

The force that bore the divine phoenix as its banner had quickly established itself there. It expanded outward, conquering territories and swiftly absorbing several major sects. With fierce momentum, it pressed toward an entire immortal nation.

Xu Zhongliang's advice was to stand by and not get involved for now. Based on their deductions, many forces within the Immortal Saint Realm were likely pieces on Feng Jiu's board.

"I do want to go take a look at the Immortal Saint Realm soon."

Wang Sheng yawned and devoted himself fully to the task of assimilating the Great Dao of Creation.

For now, it was not yet his turn to make a move.