Inside the Dao Palace, Han Xuanji slowly rose from the chaos green lotus; the lotus petals closed gently, and the surrounding flowing Chaos dao-rhythm calmed down accordingly.
His gaze seemed to pierce through the palace walls, crossing endless time and space to land on the twelve towering figures stirring up the clouds above the Sea of Nether, especially Dijiang, the leader whose vast Aura had already reached the Limitless Primordial level.
At this moment, the atmosphere above the Sea of Nether was incredibly heavy.
The true forms of the Twelve Ancestral Witches manifested, their massive bodies seemingly propping up the sky; their boundless blood-qi and the power of Law merged, forming a suffocating invisible force field.
Dijiang was at the head, with a human Face and a bird's body, four wings and six legs; the pressure belonging to the Limitless Primordial Realm spread out without concealment, suppressing all directions.
Finally, the figure of the Heavenly Emperor rose from his throne, taking a step that brought him outside the South Heaven Gate, appearing above the Sea of Nether in an instant.
A vast imperial majesty surrounded him; though his expression was calm, thunder was brewing deep within his eyes.
"Haotian, so you are the current Heavenly Emperor?"
Seeing the Heavenly Emperor appear, Dijiang's voice was like eternal thunder, soaring straight into the highest heavens:
"We have returned from our slumber since the primordial era, and we have not come for destruction.
My Wu Clan are spirits born of Heaven and Earth; we manage the earth's meridians and command all spirits. It is only right that we retake authority over the earth!
The Heavenly Court may continue to govern the stars in the sky, the wind, clouds, rain, and dew. Why should we not rule this realm together, dividing the Heavens and the Earth?"
His words spread throughout the Immortal Realm, and the hearts and minds of countless living beings were shaken.
Ruling together? Dividing the Heavens and the Earth?
It sounded nice, but this was a complete subversion of the Heavenly Court!
Countless Immortals and gods in the Immortal Realm were in an uproar.
Some veteran Immortals showed anger, denouncing the arrogance, while others had flickering gazes, seemingly weighing the options.
To be honest, the combat power displayed by the Wu Clan was astonishing; they had the capital to negotiate terms with the Heavenly Court.
"Dijiang."
The Heavenly Emperor spoke, his voice carrying unquestionable majesty as it resounded through the universe,
"Heaven and Earth have order, and Yin and Yang have their Dao. Since the Dao Ancestor established the principles, the Heavenly Court has accepted the Mandate of Heaven to govern the myriad worlds, maintaining the rotation of the universe and the balance of all living beings.
If the Wu Clan is willing to return to order and stay peacefully in one place, the Heavenly Court can naturally grant you a fiefdom and allow you to recuperate.
However, this matter of 'ruling together' disturbs the fundamental Laws of Heaven and Earth and would trigger endless tribulations and conflicts. This proposal is absolutely impossible."
"Absolutely impossible?"
Dijiang's four wings vibrated slightly, causing violent ripples in space, his laughter filled with mockery and defiance,
"Haotian, you are merely a junior Puppet supported by the Dao Ancestor. How are you worthy to discuss the Laws of Heaven and Earth with me?
In the primordial era, my clan roamed the earth and all spirits bowed their heads. Where was the Heavenly Court then?
Where was this Heavenly Emperor? Now that I have attained the Limitless Primordial Dao and returned to the world, the Wu Clan is determined to have the authority over the earth!
If you are sensible, the sky belongs to you and the earth belongs to me, and we shall live in peace.
If you are not sensible..."
His Aura rose once more, and the eleven Ancestral Witches behind him roared in unison. Evil Qi soared to the heavens, and the entire Sea of Nether and even several surrounding domains began to tremble violently; the Laws became chaotic, as if the world would collapse in the next second.
"Then let us have a battle and see if your Heavenly Court can still sit firmly in this position of governance!"
The intent of the threat was completely undisguised.
A flicker of rage finally passed through the Heavenly Emperor's eyes. The phantom of the Chart of the Universal Stars loomed behind him, and the vast power of the Heavenly Dao began to gather.
Just as the situation became tense and a great war was about to break out—
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Why get angry? Why get so angry?"
A feminine and treacherous voice, which seemed capable of evoking the deepest secrets in a living being's heart, abruptly broke into the tense atmosphere.
The Void Realm of the Sea of Nether was torn open as if by an invisible hand, and thick Devilish Qi flowed out.
The Demon Ancestor appeared, manifesting only as a blurry black-robed figure.
"Fellow Daoist Dijiang has returned with great ambition; it is truly worth celebrating.
His Majesty the Heavenly Emperor governs with great skill, which also earns this ancestor's admiration."
The Demon Ancestor's voice carried a hint of a smile, yet it was bone-chillingly cold,
"Both of you are pillars of the Immortal Realm. Why bother hurting each other's feelings over a momentary impulse and wasting the Immortal Realm's Origin Qi for nothing?"
"In my view, what Fellow Daoist Dijiang seeks is not entirely unreasonable.
The Wu Clan is born of nature and is close to the earth. If they are allowed to manage the mountains and rivers and nourish the earth's meridians, it might be of great benefit to the reproduction of living beings in the Immortal Realm.
Meanwhile, the Heavenly Court's management of celestial order and its rewarding of good and punishing of evil are also indispensable.
Why don't the two of you each take a step back? Find a middle ground?
For example, the Wu Clan could enjoy partial autonomy over the earth while nominally still respecting the rule of the Heavenly Court. This would fulfill the Wu Clan's desire to return without damaging the dignity of the Heavenly Court. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"
The Demon Ancestor's words seemed fair, but they were actually filled with malicious intent.
The so-called right to autonomy had vague boundaries and endless future troubles; it was actually planting the seeds of division.
"Ruling the Immortal Realm together? Governing the earth?"
Han Xuanji chuckled.
"This Dijiang certainly has a large appetite and plenty of courage. Having just escaped from purgatory, he already wants to re-divide the authority of Heaven and Earth."
At this moment, above the Sea of Nether, Dijiang saw the Demon Ancestor coming to assist and couldn't help but feel that this fellow was quite reliable. He had thought the other party would just watch from the sidelines, but he hadn't expected him to actually show up and put pressure on the Heavenly Emperor.
Seeming to sense the Demon Ancestor's sincerity, Dijiang stopped pretending:
"Haotian! And that Xuantian Dao Venerable who hides his head and shows his tail! This Venerable's patience is limited! Today, the Wu Clan is determined to have the authority over the earth! If you don't agree..."
"Then I shall use you, the Heavenly Emperor, as the sacrifice for the Wu Clan's first battle upon our return!"
The great war seemed about to erupt.
Behind the Heavenly Emperor, the phantom of the Chart of the Universal Stars suddenly became brilliant. At the same time, an ancient seal slowly emerged in his hand, radiating supreme majesty that governed the heavens and commanded all paths—it was the Heavenly Dao Imperial Seal!
At this critical moment.
"Everyone, how about giving this Heavenly Venerable some Face?"
Han Xuanji's calm voice rang out, without any thunderous momentum.
However, it clearly resounded in the heart of every living being above the Sea of Nether. Whether they were Grand Unity Golden Immortals or Hunyuan Immortal Emperors, they all heard it clearly, like the voice of the Great Dao, reaching deep into their Divine Souls.
Then, under the shocked gazes of all beings, in the Void Realm above the Sea of Nether, without any earth-shattering momentum, a figure stepped out from the void as naturally as could be.
Still in his green robe, he stood with his hands behind his back. His stature was not particularly tall, and his long hair was not crowned, only tied behind his back with a simple black hair ribbon. His hair was like spilled ink, and his flawless appearance was unforgettable. Most importantly, his ethereal temperament was an absolute height that transcended mortal levels of life.
By now, there was no need to hide his appearance, as he was no longer afraid of trouble.
The newcomer was none other than Han Xuanji.
His appearance was without ten thousand rays of rosy light or world-shaking phenomena, yet it caused the entire Sea of Nether battlefield to fall into a strange silence.