"Senior Sister, don't worry too much."

In a relatively quiet corner of Fengdu City, Mu Wanxuan stood silently before the window.

She was in a plain white dress with a thin gauzy robe draped over it. Her long hair had been tied into an elegant cloud bun, framing her face. She was so beautiful that she almost seemed unreal. However, beneath her beauty lingered traces of longing and unease.

The fairy behind her sighed softly. She glanced at the jade talisman in her hand before quietly turning and leaving the pavilion.

Naturally, Mu Wanxuan was worried about Wang Sheng.

Ever since she learned that he had infiltrated the Nether Realm as an "undercover agent," her heart hadn't known a moment of peace.

That place was a tiger's den filled with hidden dangers. Worse still, the enemy forces had already deeply infiltrated the Nether Realm.

Mu Wanxuan sighed softly, faint light flickering within her eyes. "Aiyh..."

Alone by the railing, her heart left without a trace. Only the autumn wind accompanied her drifting thoughts.

"Junior Brother..."

She had long since grown used to cultivation sessions that lasted decades or even centuries. During these ten thousand years spent receiving the Great Dao of Life, she had relied on cultivation to soothe the longing buried in her heart.

Who wouldn't wish to remain beside the one they loved forever? Who would truly endure ten thousand years of separation?

Mu Wanxuan understood better than anyone how much pressure Wang Sheng carried on his shoulders. She also knew he needed her support.

At one point, she had even worried that after being separated from her husband for so long, her Dao Heart would gradually dull her emotions and longing.

But over time, she only realized that love had already become one with her heart.

Wang Sheng had never faded from her mind. Instead, his image became clearer with every passing day, making her longing grow even stronger.

In recent years, more and more news regarding Wang Sheng had begun circulating through Fengdu City. The alias Xu Xian was already an obvious enough hint.

The Sword Immortal of Slaughter had risen step by step through countless battles. Now, he had already become one of the Nether Realm's leading figures, advancing at a speed far beyond what anyone imagined possible. Alongside those rumors came stories of brutal fights and powerful Asura experts dying to his sword.

At times, Mu Wanxuan truly wished she could trade places with Ling Sheng and become nothing more than a maidservant by his side. Even if her grasp of the Great Dao of Creation remained shallow, she could still heal his wounds when necessary and support him through hardship.

Qinghua suddenly appeared by the doorway in black robes. Faint ripples of space shimmered around him. "Disciple, are you thinking about Fei Yu again?"

Mu Wanxuan turned and bowed. "Master."

Qinghua smiled. "There's no need to worry. Fei Yu only dared venture into the Nether Realm because he's confident he can leave safely whenever he wishes. I've already told you this many times.

"The Great Dao of Creation is no ordinary Dao. It is a primordial Dao that's capable of turning the impossible into reality. It came into existence at the very beginning of heaven and earth."

Though her spirit remained low, Mu Wanxuan forced a smile. "Mm."

Qinghua shook his head. He did a quick calculation with his fingers, then added, "I only came to check on you briefly before continuing my relocation. Quite a few people are still trying to track me. If I stay here too long, they'll discover me.

"You can rest assured. Although a great battle is about to erupt in Fengdu City, our chances of victory have already surpassed fifty percent. As long as Fei Yu reaches an agreement with the Nether Realm, Fengdu City will become the starting point of our counterattack."

"Yes, Master," Mu Wanxuan muttered, though she still looked absent-minded.

Qinghua could not help but laugh. He seemed to be in an unusually good mood. With a single step, he vanished without a trace.

Oh, that disciple of mine, only caring about her Little Sheng. She barely even cares about other important matters.

***

Meanwhile, at the very core of Fengdu City...

So this is the Six-Path Wheel of Reincarnation?

Following behind King Qin Guang, the nominal ruler of the Nether Realm, Wang Sheng had finally entered the inner city he had long desired to enter. Currently, he stood atop a towering structure, staring at the massive cloud formation in the distance.

To describe it more accurately, the black cloud resembled an enormous donut floating above a bottomless abyss.

Deep beneath the abyss seemingly stood an upside-down pagoda, which was likely the location of the Eighteen Levels of Hell. Above the abyss floated ten great palaces, rising and falling slowly.

Specks of light resembling fireflies drifted in from every direction before disappearing into the dark cloud.

Wang Sheng could clearly sense true spirits traversing the place. Within the depths of the cloud, the aura of living beings continuously appeared and vanished, though he could not tell where they ultimately went.

Near the Ten Yanluo Halls, faint phantasms drifted downward in endless streams, forming eight enormous lines in the distance. Batch after batch of souls entered the Six-Path Wheel of Reincarnation before vanishing completely. The entire Six-Path Wheel of Reincarnation operated with astonishing order and efficiency.

The moment Wang Sheng laid eyes upon it, he immediately understood many truths about reincarnation.

This place represented the physical manifestation of the Six-Path Wheel of Reincarnation.

The Great Dao of Reincarnation gathered here, but it did not exist solely in this place. It was not meant to force every living thing into the reincarnation cycle. After all, the reincarnation of all living beings across the four great sky regions would be enough to completely crush the Six-Path Wheel of Reincarnation.

The Great Dao of Reincarnation existed everywhere. What it represented was the process through which true spirits transformed into life.

A true spirit was that single spark of spirituality and spiritual light. It crossed the Sea of Dao Laws from primordial Chaos itself. It could be born, destroyed, or endlessly reincarnated, repeatedly passing through the Great Dao of Reincarnation to become living beings capable of experiencing the world.

True spirits and Dao Laws formed the very foundation of existence itself.

The two constantly influenced one another, changed one another, and completed one another. Yet they could also exist independently; there was no absolute dependence between them.

Countless insights flashed through Wang Sheng's mind. It felt as though a great door had slowly opened before him, revealing an endless Sea of Chaos beyond it.

The answers to everything regarding the Dao, the origin of every true spirit... All of it lay there.

For a brief instant, he suddenly got the urge to "return" there. His Primordial Spirit unconsciously sank into that feeling, but he quickly snapped awake again and let out a faint sigh inwardly.

It still was not time.

The Great Dao of Creation had clearly influenced his state of mind. That urge to "return to the Dao" was nothing more than the attraction the Great Dao projected into his heart.

Wang Sheng even felt that at his current cultivation realm, he could already follow the example of the Saints and merge into the Sea of Dao Laws. Of course, if he did that, he would lose himself completely and become little more than the Sea of Dao Laws' caretaker.

First, I should deal with meeting Empress Houtu.

Earlier, Qin Guang had brought him here to give him a chance to comprehend the Great Dao of Reincarnation. He had not actually intended for Wang Sheng to approach the Six-Path Wheel of Reincarnation directly. Yet right now, Wang Sheng could touch it if he just rushed forward another dozen li or so.

The only thing holding him back was the fact that he had no idea what would happen once he got there.

He had already come this far. Taking this final gamble truly was not an easy choice.

Still, chaos was about to erupt throughout Fengdu City. At this point, the Nether Realm had already completely abandoned order outside the inner city.

The worst part was that the Nether Realm had already been infiltrated from top to bottom. Several traitorous generals even controlled entire entry routes and could send forces straight to Wang Sheng's location at any moment.

If he continued following his original "worst-case-scenario" plan and waited for the city to descend into disorder before finding a way to approach the Six-Path Wheel of Reincarnation, countless complications would likely arise.

After thinking it over, Wang Sheng finally decided to risk it now.

With his current divine abilities, he should be capable of slipping through unnoticed.

He took a slow breath and sent a voice transmission to Ling Sheng, telling her to hide for the time being. However, just as he was about to move, he heard a voice in his mind.

"General Xu."

Wang Sheng mentally tensed.

That Dao Rhythm unmistakably belonged to Qin Guang.

Have I been discovered? Could my voice transmission to Ling Sheng have been intercepted? This makes no sense. How can the Great Dao of Creation suddenly fail me at a time like this?

Wang Sheng subconsciously gripped the longsword at his waist and frowned tightly.

Qin Guang asked, "General Xu, did you just come into contact with the Great Dao of Reincarnation?"

Wang Sheng nodded. He had already confirmed Qin Guang's true position and quietly sent a telepathic message toward one of the Yanluo Halls. "Yes."

"Her Imperial Majesty sensed it just now and sent me instructions. She wishes for me to guide you into the Six-Path Wheel of Reincarnation. General, proceed toward the northwest corner for now. I've already made all the arrangements there."

Qin Guang paused briefly.

He then added, "I'll conceal your movements shortly. Many eyes are watching this place right now. If any disturbance occurs, the consequences will be impossible to predict."

Wang Sheng nodded again. This time, he did not hesitate at all. He leaped directly from the high tower and landed at the northwest corner below.

A cloud of mist immediately rose around him, concealing him completely. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

A short while later, the Black and White Impermanence officials emerged from the mist and headed toward the Yanluo Hall.

Some time after that, Wang Sheng flew out from within, carrying a jade talisman. Smiling calmly, he returned to the high tower and sat cross-legged in meditation while the Dao of Slaughter circled him.

Yuan Tu rested quietly across his knees.

However, the one who returned to the tower was only a clone.

Leaving Yuan Tu with it was admittedly a bold move, but it also demonstrated Wang Sheng's trust toward the Nether Realm and Qin Guang. In a way, it increased the stakes of this gamble.

Besides, the sword was not Spiritless. There was no real issue.

Right now, Wang Sheng had already used a transformation technique to conceal himself inside the sleeve of the Black Impermanence official while following the pair toward Qin Guang's great palace.

The Black and White Impermanence officials were escorting a batch of souls toward the Six Paths Wheel of Reincarnation for reincarnation.

Wang Sheng hid among them, quietly waiting in line with patience.

The reincarnation process for these souls still required several procedures. The Terrace of Longing[1], the Three-Life Stone[2], and Lady Meng's Soup[3] all had to be completed without exception.

After enduring nearly two shichen of waiting, they finally arrived above the massive black cloud.

The Black and White Impermanence officials moved swiftly to remove the shackles. The two ghost wardens simultaneously unleashed their immortal power, sending the black chains carrying the souls directly into the Six-Path Wheel of Reincarnation. At that exact moment, Wang Sheng slipped into the cloud-covered region like a speck of dust.

In an instant, he felt as though he had entered an entirely new world. Lightning flashed everywhere, and thunder roared endlessly. From time to time, brilliantly colored whirlpools appeared throughout the surrounding space.

One soul after another drifted toward those whirlpools on their own before vanishing in the blink of an eye.

Maintaining the form of a beetle, Wang Sheng rapidly flew downward. The whirlpools had no effect on him whatsoever.

Soon, he seemingly entered a realm belonging entirely to true spirits. Below him flowed a vast river formed from countless true spirits gathered together. A slender hand suddenly pierced through golden light and reached for the beetle.

Wang Sheng instinctively tried to evade it, but he quickly sensed the pure and familiar Dao Rhythm emanating from it. With the urge to dodge immediately vanishing, he allowed the slender hand to seize him.

The hand pulled him into the golden light. His immortal perception immediately lost all sense of direction, and the scenery before him abruptly changed.

Just moments ago, he had been falling downward toward the river of true spirits. Now, he felt as though someone had grabbed him and lifted him out of a clear river.

The same comprehension surfaced within his heart once more, but Wang Sheng immediately broke free from the slender hand, deactivated his transformation technique, and returned to his Xu Xian disguise before landing among a field of pure-white flowers.

1. The place where souls take one last look back at their former homes and loved ones before moving on. ☜

2. A stone that records all of a soul's past, present, and future lives. ☜

3. The drink that erases all memories of one's past life so the soul can be reborn with a clean slate. ☜