The Netherworld, sometimes called Underworld due to its cavernous nature, was a world of ghosts. Spires of mountains rose into the sky with frigid clouds. Foliage of black and blue littered the ground enonating only a spiritual presence.

Water that resembled blood flowed through the nigh infinite landmass leading towards enormous buildings resembling imperial palaces. They were in turn guarded by massive hideous figures, Earthly Divinities.

The land of the dead was inhabited primarily by two species, Bloodfiends and ghostly spirits. Both a result of the archaic anti-devil war and emerged from the aftermath of the Reincarnation Disc's existence.

As for the few divinities, they came about in search of the missing Earth Ancestral Divnity Houtu. Some ended up staying, leaving their race and becoming guardian gods of the Netherworld

"Sense that brother?" A gargantuan divinity with a head resembling a horse asked.

"Yeah, something big is coming out way," replied second one with a head resembling an ox.

They had once been middling experts of the divinities with a combat strength around the level of a Golden Immortal. With teamwork, they could have fought groups of them too. In the Nerherworld, they drank from its blood waters and trained in its frigid environment. Ultimately their bloodline evolved and they were genuine threats to peak Great Unity Golden Immortals.

As the two discussed, a hooded figure walked through the immense gate they guarded. This gate had the name "Ghost City" carved on.

"Ghost city," the hooded figure, Haotian said. "These ghost spirits are not quite the deceased souls of mortals and second order celestial lifeforms. Rather, they were deceased spirits who were denied reincarnation and stayed in the Netherworld. Thus they entered the 5th path of reincarnation, the Ghostly path and became denizens of the Netherworld.

Haotian walked through unnoticed by Ox head and Horse face. Through there, the city of ghosts was revealed to him. His divine sense could not penetrate the city beyond its surface, that along spoke volumes of how powerful it was.

Here, the standard of living was below human civilisation. Slums was not quite right either. Either way, it's not like ghost spirits were bothered. All of them cultivated in some way to become Ghost Immortals, a yin energy exclusive version of True Immortals.

"Well aren't you a sight for sore eye." Upon hearing Yanluo's familiar voice, Haotian took off his hood. It was an incarnation of the red skinned innate god, dressed completely like a government official that would fit right in with Xuanyuan's court.

"Busy?"

"Bah, these millions of years go by and that's the first thing you say? Of course I'm busy have you seen the streams of souls constantly flowing? Must be bloodbaths every couple decades up there.

"Well, not as bad as how it was ten thousand years back. But there's still several yuanhui worth of back catalogue to sit through."

Haotian was stunned by the speed. "How…forgive me old friend but that's hilariously inefficient."

They both laughed about it before Yanluo guided him to a park bench to sit by. Neither could be perceived by passing ghosts, not even the occasional bloodfiend.

"So…how have been Emperor Fengdu?" Haotian jokingly asked using the grand title Yanluo came up with.

"Oh please don't remind me," Yanluo groaned. A look of embarrassment mixed with resentment caused him to throw a cup into blue grass. "The god damned wheel took it.

"Thought itself more deserving considering who was actually in charge of this place. Styles itself an emperor like Eastern Emperor Taiyi up in the stars." Yanluo pointed a rude gesture up in the sky, towards where the edge of a wheel hovered.

The same thing that prevented Haitian from using his divine sense had been the Reincarnation Disc itself. Streams of souls rose towards it after passing through the majesty palace complexes. That was one of the courts in the Netherworld.

"Ten courts right."

"Yes, I'm old now and youngsters more talented than me has popped up. Overtime more worthy judges started up their own commission that the wheel absorbed into its governance. Ghost City is the capital, and the wheel uses an avatar to rule it as the real Emperor Fengdu."

Haotian has heard legends in the living world, particularly from cults that worshipped the dead. Just like religions his human predecessor knew about, the ten courts were led by a king who decided where the deceased would go based on their karma.

Karma has always been a complicated thing. Cultivators used karmic lines to tell relationships between individuals when they weren't obscured. They gained karmic luck when performing deeds with great merit for the universe. They gained karmic sin when the sinful acts were conduct. All systems dependent on a mixture of perspectives.

How the Daos of the Chaos Godfiends defined morality, how the Heavenly Dao defined it, how the six saints defined it, and how the reincarnstion disc defined it.

After awhile of talking, Haotian asked Yanluo about the real reason he was here. "l have a…well plan is too formulated, let's call it an idea. And for that, I need to speak with Minghe, you and the other kings and…"

Shimmering into existence and startling them both somewhat, a handsome man dressed in imperial regalia that mimicked what Xuanyuan wore in the living world appeared. The avatar of the Reincarnation Disc, Emperor Fengdu wore an expecting look.

"Celestial White Jade," the treasure spirit greeted. Haotian raised an eyebrow at being addressed by thing he was born from. "Buried Coffin," the spirit said to Yanluo.

Seeing as how his small talk ended, Haotian met with Fengdu and expressed his intentions, adding on top his deeds in the living world. The latter of which Fengdu was very aware of having processed countless dead souls.

The two and Yanluo walked together, listening to what Haotian wanted. The treasure spirit kept a calm yet urgent look the whole time, which only grew as Haotian explained himself.

Ultimately, the trio strolled past an old woman feeding a line of people soup and into the edges of the Reincarnation Disc itself.

"I'd like Minghe to know and consider it as well," Haotian said. "And I would also like to see 'her'."

"You do not have the means yet," Fengdu finally said. "Your ideas are sound, your offer to me solid. But until you get the Heavenly Dao's backing and obtain that book, it's all worthless drivel.

"Partially my creator or not. I'll only consider when you have the book," Emperor Fengdu said resolutely. As he turned to leave, he glanced at a presence listening in from atop the wheel.

"What does she think?" Haotian asked.

Fengdu shook his head. "She's incapable but I know mother creator. She'll do what she feels best for us and her kind. It depends on how well you can make your desire a reality."

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"Honestly Haotian, I did not take you to be so ambitious," Yanluo groaned. "Minghe would be shocked when I tell him."

Haotian sighed closing his eyes. "Life does that to you."

…

"The island of Penglei was a celestial mountain and one of theee unique stones that fell into the Pangu's creation before it came into existence. All three were legendary locations housing great powers.

"In the past, Yingzhou was the most sacred to the people of the Four Seas. In the primordial era, legends hinted at it being the birthplace of the ancestral dragon."

"Teacher, wasn't the first dragons born directly from seawater?" A celestial child asked the cultivator explaining.

"Hush, let me finish first," the teaching youth chided. "Now, while Yingzhou was a legendary location, it has since disappeared from the world. The dragons may know something, but Yingzhou's natural formation was said to produce intense illusions capable of fooling extremely powerful great immortals. It likely became too much to bear it hence disappeared in silence.

"But enough about Yingzhou, in the current world, Fangzhang is currently restricted by the Demon Heavenly court and we don't know much there. But the greatest of the three celestial mountains is and always will be Penglei, the land of immortals."

Watching the lesson from far away, Haotian stood beside a middle aged man leaning on a dragon staff. He side eyed the man and chuckled.

"They're young, they naturally think their home is the best," Dong Wanggong said.

The two walked off through a vast land of immeasurable beauty. Penglei was prime grounds for cultivation. It one of the few places producing primordial qi instead of the watered down true qi most cultivators used.

It was also the foundation of the Immortal Mansion, a refuge of sorts for Dong Wanggong and Xi Wangmu and any disciples they took in. Those cultivators who wanted out the political tension between the Daoism lineages, the demons, and the divinities.

"Seriously, this is a humongous insane idea," Dong Wanggong said to Haotian. "I welcome you into my home because of our relationship. I was not expecting something this heavy. My wife isn't ganna like this."

"I'll explain more when Xi Wangmu returns. But please hear me out. It is important for the future of all existence."

Dong Wanggong shook his head. "I can't tell if you suddenly gained immense greed or what. Do you think the saints will let you?"

"I have a feeling about them," Haotian shrugged. "And you're definitely wrong, I'm just pessimistic these days. I'm not the smartest person around, so I can't think of much else to try."

Dong Wanggong felt sympathetic after learning of what Haotian has been through since, even if he lambasted him initially. He gazed out at Penglei's scenery in thought. "There is also Eastern Emperor Taiyi to consider.

"That guy, if only he'd just peacefully cultivate like he wants to. But he's too loyal to a deadman's dream. Do you have any idea what he's capable of?

"Don't let his hesitation to directly fight the Divine Ancestors fool you. He's not afraid nor is he weary of Di Jiang joining back with those four. This war is as much of a chance to clean house as it is about obtaining territory.

"Only some warnings from the saints are holding him off fully. Taiyi is an utter monster. Haotian, you were not there to see how high he's soared in cultivation. Thinking back to the seniors in the anti-devil war, well I can't exactly say who will win."

"You certainly won't." Xi Wangmu's presence finally entered Penglei and she quickly made her appearance known. She carried with her a straw basket filled with immortal peaches which she offered to the two.

The three war buddies caught up with each other. At the end of the day, even Xi Wangmu glanced at Haotian with an unsure look.

"So many malefactors," she said in agreement with Dong Wanggong. "Though unlike my husband, I wander the Heavenly realm and the trichiliocosm often so I am inclined to agree with you brother Haotian. But Eastern Emperor Taiyi, the saints. Have you considered Yaochi?"

"She guards my master does she not?" Haotian took a bite of the peach and narrowed his gaze at its essence being familiar.

"We are contemporary goddesses. In your absence, we confided and got along. She helped me refine the growth of these fruits. I know how she feels for you and what your place was in Zixiao Palace. And I also know what you talked about after the latest saints meeting," she said.

"You're her informant?"

"Friendly gossip," Xi Wangmu clarified. "She takes her position as a saint extremely seriously. That Yellow Emperor isn't just some ruler. He's actively favoured by the Heavenly Dao."

'Yet the putpose of a saint is actually antithetical to her and my master's journey. I wonder if she even realizes," Haotian contemplated and said aloud. "I'll figure something out."

"Confronting a saint is impossible even for Limitless Supreme Chaos Immortals," Dong Wanggong scoffed. "I'll always be on your side. What's more the benefits are enormous. So if you…"

"Hahahaha! It's just an offer at the end. It won't pan out if I fail on the first action." Haotian stood up gazing at the Starry Skies.

"We will take the job if everything pans out," the couple said. "Good luck Haotian."

In his heart, Haotian sighed in relief. It was good he didn't need to threaten them.

…

In vast sky of the Heavenly realm, Yi Fei'e in her guise as Jiutian Xuannu and Haotian walked side by said without saying a thing.

All that would be offered had already been said, and the listening party was contemplative. Clutching her pearl, Yi Fei'e glanced at Haotian feeling complicated.

"Master would not have fathomed this. How does this serve to avenge him," she wondered aloud.

"It does, it doesn't, does it matter in the end? What I want is at least aligned with what he wanted," Haotian said scoffing.

"Only in one small detail that may not even pan out."

Yi Fei'e stopped her footsteps. The azure flames beneath her fizzled out as her movement technique ended.

Before her, the enormous body of water that was the East Sea sat just as it did when its greater counterpart bordered the Primitive World's East Continent. Many of its old sights were still as it was, including a deep pit perpetually leaking doom, pinned by a gargantuan pillar.

Waves crashed against its barnacle covered exterior, showcasing how unkept it has become to be so encrusted. Yet the environment was seemingly calm.

"When the world was restructured, the Sea Eye did not change form it s apocalyptic nature. But it also gained a new function. Karmic sin attracts karmic sin. So the Abyss is linked there now," Yi Fei'e mused. "Another curse by the purple fucker and his abominable pet."

'Great way of describing Hongjun and Heavenly Dao.' Haotian almost laughed at how inaccurate it was. Looking last, he saw a palace complex sitting beside the pillar.

East Sea Dragon Palace, Ao Guang's seat. Moved here after all the turmoil in the primordial era. Shrimp, crab, fish soldiers guarded the place while turtle ministers assisted dragons.

"I…I don't… I'll talk to my nephews. They've mostly kept to themselves, but they'll come if I call. But the convincing the actual dragon race is your burden."

Haotian let out a relieved sound. "Thank you for…"

"Don't…truthfully I am just as lost as what master must've felt back then. I don't have much else in this age." Yi Fei'e suddenly seemed a lot more melancholy. "Gives me something at least."

In the distance, dragon experts had already felt Haotian's entrance. So even as Yi Fei'e departed, they rose out to see what the infamous 'Zhang Youre,' could possibly want with their kind.

…

"Hahahahahahahahaha."

"Hahahahahahahahaha."

"…"

"Hahahahahahahahhaha you are serious."

A giant foot stomped through the earth, uprooting half of the lower realm. The next second, time froze and the apocalyptic event transformed into what it once was as if the destruction was an illusion.

Haotian lowered his hand in irritation. This was why he hated dealing with the vast majority of divinities, always so loud and reckless. Nevertheless, he'd need Xingtian's strength.

The headless divinity glared at Haotian with all the rage he could muster. After the disastrous human divinity war which they should've won were it not for Haotian interfering. Xingtian was humiliated and exiled himself in disgrace. He's even refused to grow back his head in shame.

"How dare you stand there selling me this farce when you are the one at fault," Xingtian spat at Haotian using his new mouth. His chest had become his new face, nipples into eyes and the belly button the mouth.

Xingtian clasped the hilt of the freshly sharpened war axe beside him. "My forefathers always told of how brave and heroic Haotian was in the beginning. Who knew he'd fall so far as to become Zhang Youren."

Haotian sighed, "It would do us all a favour if you're on board. The sheer chaos the Three Realms is in, the many innocent lives caught up in the power struggles of beings like us have no one to defend them."

The innate god ducked to the side and narrowly avoided an axe swing whose aftershock broke most of the lower realm leaving them both standing in space. "See what I mean?"

Haotian quickly appeared in front of Xingtian's and stabbed him through his chest, it would've corresponded to his forehead. Pinning the divinity, he gazed coldly at him.

"The Three Realms need an auhh th practice figure that isn't sitting lofty far away. I genuinely wanted to believe in Xuanyuan, and to a lesser extend you all as well."

An oppressive aura fell on Xingtian. Not the heavening feeling of a Saint to be. It was the murderous intent of a Chaos Immortal.

"It doesn't matter if it's you, Zhurrong, or Di Jiang. You're going to obey."

…

When Tongtian answered Yuanshi's summon for a private meeting in the caverns where the Three Pure Ones first emerged, she had not expected much more than a social call.

Her departure from Kunlun had originated from a philosophical disagreement in how a sect is run after all. Yuanshi's elitest recruitment method and hands off leadership stood in opposition to her own. All beings deserved the Dao and all can learn it should they come to her.

Taishang had left years before that, having frowned annoyed at Yuanshi hammering away at the crack of dawn building Yuxu palace. "Just manifest it with your power," she remembered the argument well.

Ultimately, Yuanshi drove both her and Taishang away from living on Kunlun. Their other obligations together are a separate matter entirely, but abandoning Kunlun will always remain a sore spot.

It could've been for anything, even sharing opinions he didn't voice to other saints. She didn't expect to meet Haotian there as well.

She and Taishang listened well, the latter of whom did not make any surprised gasps. He likely already guessed their fellow disciple's plans. She thought plans was too gracious of a phrase, more like an assumption.

"I refuse," she said outright. "You want me to put the lives of my disciples at risk. You force them into a set of chain just to enact your will? What part of that sounds like something I'd agree with?"

She didn't create an outburst nor destroy anything. But the eerie calmness of it made her more frightening to anything other then Haotian who simply didn't care anymore.

"Yes, the three Daoism lineages boasts the highest quality of immortal cultivators in existence. I'd need that," Haotian flatly said. "The Jade Pure One has already agreed to lend his elites. I hope you Supreme Pure One would be willing as well."

Enraged, she turned to Yuanshi who only carried a smirk. "You permit this? You would agree to let your disciples be enslaved to him? I know you considers them baggage but not to this extent."

Yuanshi chuckled. "What about an imperishable godly body sounds like that to you?"

"Sister, let's hear the rest of the deal first," Taishang said. "How do you expect to benefit us?"

"Daoism would have the image being my backer would it not? Faith born incense merit, Heavenly Dao off your back, the highest authority. In another spacetime, an catastrophic war resulted from this discussion."

Haotian waved his hand to project an image of a classical novel from what he'd described. "You all know it from the memories Pangu, and by extension this Chaos World inherited. You all know the Heavenly Dao, with its personality would just enact a similar conflict because of how uncreative it is. You also know one day you'll have to leave them. Why not let your disciples thrive on their own? Is motherly instincts affecting you that much?"

It was no secret Tongtian let members of her sect get away with much. She welcomed all individuals of all backgrounds no matter what. Unlike Yuxu Palace, Biyiu Palace's punishment division was lax.

"Do you want Xuandu too?" Taishang asked about his sole disciple. "He's not adverse to fighting, but he hates being bogged down in bureaucracy."

"I want everyone," Haotian told him. "For carefree immortals to stand lofty as the world turns. That is no longer an option."

Tongtian felt tempted to kill Haotian then and there, halting only from the heat of Yuanshi's palm on her shoulder. "To rule the heavens and the earth. To bring order to chaos. To restrain ten thousand immortals, spirits, and demons. To purge all evil you see. Have you found yourself yet?"

"Found?" Haotian chuckled at his words. "I think I lost myself. I won't stop anymore. Not until everything goes as I believe."

"Using 'I,' huh," Yuanshi mused.

"Supreme Pure One, I apologize for my lack of respect. But to correct the world, I will deploy all methods. I will create my court."

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