Jing Qiu’s expression grew heavier the more he listened; could it be that the woman Heavenly Emperor, who seemed to be Doumu Yuanjun, truly possessed the Divine Dao Ancestor’s Fruit Position?

That would cause too much trouble; the Saint King he originally counted on was directly nullified.

Even among All Saints willing to take action, their combat power would need to be reduced.

Moreover, the Heavenly Court had already restored many Divine Generals and Star Monarchs... 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Now, even if all the saints in the hall joined forces, they probably wouldn’t be able to take down this [Old Heavenly Court].

This battle would be extremely difficult.

Jing Qiu suddenly asked Cangqing, "Divine Lord, back when you five crafted Daluo Heaven, who proposed the initial concept?"

Cangqing’s gaze sharpened as he replied solemnly, "You’ve noticed it too? The concept of the Thirty-Six Heavens was first proposed together by Ming and Taiyou. Recently, I asked Ming about it, and he said that he proposed the idea of the Thirty-Six Layers of Heaven because he once saw similar ’remnants’ in the Netherworld Soil."

"So, the issue might lie with Taiyou Divine Lord?" Jing Qiu whispered, "Where is the Netherworld Lord now?"

Hearing this, Cangqing fell silent for a moment, then sighed:

"He was severely injured by that Heavenly Emperor. Afterwards, to cover our escape into the Netherworld Soil, he was captured by that Heavenly Emperor. Before he left, he handed all authority to Ksitigarbha, our Taoist Friend."

"The Netherworld Soil is vast, and the Heavenly Court has only digested a third of it over these years. We rely on the attributes of the Netherworld Soil to hide in the remaining areas. Besides ensuring our safety, we also obstruct the Heavenly Court’s actions. With Ksitigarbha’s help, we’ve seen some success."

The Netherworld Lord was captured...

Jing Qiu’s eyes were deep; this is not good news.

The information from Cangqing and Ksitigarbha indicates the true strength of the Heavenly Court far exceeds expectations.

Of course, there are many issues within the Heavenly Court as well, and the final response of that Heavenly Emperor is worth pondering.

Jing Qiu suddenly looked at Ksitigarbha, feeling the current realm of this Protecting God, and his expression was shaken.

Unknowingly, this Protecting God had reached the True Saint Realm!

Jing Qiu clearly felt a "connection" between Ksitigarbha and this Heaven and Earth.

Is he walking the path of Harmonization?

It’s uncertain whether it is harmonizing with the Heaven and Earth or the "Human Heart," and the Netherworld Lord’s authority should be involved.

Jing Qiu just wanted to inquire further.

At this moment.

Ksitigarbha looked solemnly upwards.

Unknowingly.

A figure dressed in a Star Robe appeared above this Pure Land.

She approached slowly, the robe floating, starry light forming a Divine Platform, surrounded by a hazy clear light, making her look godly and immortal.

Surprisingly, it was the woman Heavenly Emperor who was sitting across from Jing Qiu in the palace not long ago.

After approaching the Pure Land, her steps halted.

She reached out with her fingertips to draw, entwining endless stars, Innate Virtue condensing like white lotuses, causing the three of them to be wary. Even Cangqing had never seen such Innate Merit Qi before.

Cangqing said solemnly, "That is not merit, but lingering Yin Virtue white aura, Yin Virtue always accompanies life. This is not the Heavenly Court, but clearly another form of the Underworld. It is what that Netherworld Lord yearned for in his later life yet went to another extreme."

His words were full of regret.

No wonder the Heavenly Court has been devouring the Netherworld Soil, even using it as nourishment to strengthen itself...

At this time, the boundless, surging Yin Virtue white aura formed a white banner that swept forward, engulfing everything in its path mixed with the vast starlight!

The Pure Land they stood on quaked violently in an instant, trembling as if it would be breached at any moment!

Ksitigarbha reached out and pressed on Jing Qiu and Cangqing, sighing with the intention to shift and leave this realm.

In the past years, facing this Heavenly Emperor, they have always been on the defensive, only able to shift their positions passively.

Unexpectedly, in the next moment, this woman Heavenly Emperor withdrew her hand, elegantly walked forward, approached the Pure Land, and dispelled the hazy clear light that enveloped her, revealing a majestic face.

She lowered her gaze as if looking down on all subjects, her eyes flowing between Jing Qiu and Ksitigarbha, finally said with a half-smile:

"Jing Qiu? Or should I call you... World Venerable? This Protecting God seems to be your subject, an affiliate of your Divine System? It appears I really underestimated you—"

"There is no one else here, just you and me, you don’t need to continue pretending, perhaps we can be honest with each other on certain matters."

"For instance..."

"When did Emperor Yi approach you?"

Emperor Yi?

Jing Qiu’s expression remained unchanged, though he didn’t know what the other party was referring to, staying calm in this moment was the right approach, thinking that the other party would continue their self-conjecture...

And to Dou Mu, if this "World Venerable" wasn’t around centuries ago but still knew about that person, there naturally is only one possibility—Emperor Yi informed him.

After all, it was from Emperor Yi that she learned this secret news back then.

Seeing Ji Jingqiu unmoved, Dou Mu didn’t mind and said lightly:

"Emperor Yi has completely lost his divine position. If you conspire with him, you will gain nothing."

A possibility suddenly surged in Ji Jingqiu’s mind.

Could the Emperor Yi in her words be the one who guided the Five Divine Lords, or the one hidden within the Burial Sea?

"If you can cooperate with Emperor Yi, perhaps..." Dou Mu stared at Ji Jingqiu, suddenly smiling, "Why not cooperate with me? Whatever Emperor Yi can give you, I can give you in full."

"Cooperate?" Ji Jingqiu asked in return, "Is there any basis for cooperation between you and me?"

"That depends on what you can offer me." Dou Mu said with sudden interest, "By the way, your World Venerable status seems highly regarded by various sects. Why don’t we join forces? Are you not eager to restore the Returning to Truth Fruit Position before the Ancestors of the Later Ages return?"

"If you are a step too late, the primary and secondary positions will be swapped. Do you truly think those Returning to Truth will allow you to regain the Returning to Truth Position?"

Dou Mu shook her head and said lightly:

"Initiative should be in one’s own hands."

"Join the Heavenly Court, help me reestablish it, and once it’s restored in the human world, I can even grant you the Divine Position of the Five Emperors. Since you know my real name, you should know the significance of the Five Emperors’ position."

Facing Dou Mu’s seemingly smiling gaze, Ji Jingqiu remained expressionless.

The Five Emperors of the Heavenly Court, except for the Central Heavenly Emperor occupied by this one, have four positions remaining, all main positions of the Heavenly Court.

Is the current Heavenly Court really missing four of the Five Emperors?

Collaborating with the Heavenly Court...

Ji Jingqiu momentarily fell silent, conducting discussions with Hel and others, including Cangqing and Ksitigarbha.

"You indeed understand the specific structure of the Heavenly Court." Dou Mu suddenly said, observing Ji Jingqiu’s slight mental fluctuation, her interest growing, "Does Emperor Yi value you this much? Whoever he values, I can also make use of."

Suddenly.

Ji Jingqiu abruptly lifted his head, sensing a fatal threat from his true essence.

"World Venerate Ji, why not honestly disclose some, killing you is as easy as turning over my hand!"

"Truthfully, in this world now, no one can stop me."

Dou Mu spoke calmly, and that arrogance, domineeringly keeping everything in her grasp, was unmistakably revealed!

"I had initially planned on using you, ’World Venerable,’ to establish might, but then found you seemed to know a lot, especially that past affair. Killing you indeed feels wasteful. However, since you have a deep relationship with this divine, I can’t easily let you go—"

Dou Mu’s gaze fell on Ksitigarbha.

Ji Jingqiu’s heart sank, the threat was almost blatant, completely unhidden.

Dou Mu deeply glanced at Ksitigarbha, suddenly had a stroke of genius:

"Heavenly Gods and Earthly Spirits, if you follow Ji Jingqiu and submit to my Heavenly Court, the Netherworld Soil can be managed by you, and you will be my appointed Lord of the Underworld!"

"So, Ji Jingqiu, are you satisfied? As a token of sincerity, you only need to tell me Emperor Yi’s whereabouts, and consider it your pledge."

At this moment.

Ji Jingqiu’s mind was fiercely conflicted.

Wuzhou calmly advised him to agree to the cooperation for now, breaking off relations now would likely lead to misfortune.

The advice Hel gave him could be summed up in one word: endure.

"Ji Jingqiu, what you need is just time. Before you reach the peak, you might need to bow temporarily."

Compared to the support from Wuzhou and Hel, the Moon-cutting Sword Light was somewhat impatient.

"If you join the Heavenly Court now, how will the All Saints of the Sea of Realms view you?"

But if you don’t join?

Facing this question, Moon-cutting Sword Light also fell into silence.

The might just exhibited by this Heavenly Emperor, only it understood the true representation.

This person truly is... Great Dao Ancestor!

And facing this dilemma, after Dou Mu promised that once Ji Jingqiu led Ksitigarbha into joining the Heavenly Court, she could return the captive Netherworld Lord back to them, assisting them in ruling the vast Netherworld Soil, Cangqing God also chose silence.

And Ksitigarbha, merely lowered his eyes, seemingly unwilling to interfere in any of Ji Jingqiu’s decisions.

In a short time.

Ji Jingqiu already replayed countless times over the advantages and disadvantages of cooperation in his mind, finally slowly uttered two words:

"Burial Sea."