CHAPTER 1388: CHAPTER 496: HOUTU’S GIFT (PART 2)

"Your Majesty, are you planning to seek out that Transcender?"

"Yes, although I know that my teacher has many schemes, I can only rely on him to help me power up quickly."

"Power up?"

"It means to become stronger."

Houtu nodded slightly and took out a jade bottle from her sleeve, gently pushing it toward Li Ping’an.

"Your Majesty, please don’t mind, this is the essence blood of my Ancestral Witch body. The Six Paths of Reincarnation Disc need not be used. It contains all my understanding of the Earth Dao.

"If Your Majesty doesn’t mind, please take these."

Li Ping’an was about to politely refuse.

But Houtu continued:

"In the future, the backing of both me and the Witch Clan will be you, Your Majesty... so please do not refuse.

"Although the Transcender wishes to take you away to transcend, he surely doesn’t want you to hinder his future plans, so he won’t allow your power to exceed his control.

"At this point, you’ll need more chips to break through the limits he set for you.

"This is all I can do for Your Majesty."

"Your Majesty’s body must have received the essence blood and cultivation method of Brother Gonggong, right? Water and earth do not conflict but rather complement and enhance each other."

Li Ping’an sighed lightly, took the jade bottle, and bowed his head to Houtu: "Thank you, Fellow Daoist... If I take this out next, doesn’t it seem like making a transaction?"

Houtu blinked, not quite understanding.

Li Ping’an handed a thick scroll of Divine Cloth to Houtu.

"Please look, Fellow Daoist. This is the future plan for the Underworld and the titles for you and the Witch Clan’s great witches."

"The Ten Yama Halls? Fengdu, City of Innocent Deaths, River of Forgetfulness, Bridge of Helplessness..."

Houtu looked carefully, a bit of joy appearing in her eyes.

Li Ping’an handed over a pen and reminded:

"In the middle, there is a form I am not familiar with regarding the Witch Clan combative witches. The Four Royals are just half a rank below the Heavenly Emperor. Henceforth, Fellow Daoist will represent the Heavenly Court in guarding the Sea of Blood in the Underworld.

"The Ten Yama Halls are high-ranking divine positions. Fellow Daoist can fill in the remaining thirty-six middle-ranking divine positions as you see fit. I trust you, Fellow Daoist.

"The Witch Clan will not be restricted on where they can go in the future. The Northern Continent offers a new homeland for the Witch Clan. I’ve had the Heavenly Dao dispel the toxic mist along the coast of the Northern Continent. In two to three hundred years, the Witch Clan tribes in the Misty Realm can return there, and it will be filled with boundless fertile land.

"I have fulfilled everything I promised you back then."

Houtu looked up at Li Ping’an and suddenly blinked, quietly saying: "Your Majesty, you wouldn’t have any designs on me, would you? I am an Ancestral Witch, sometimes called Lady Great Power, but as for the matters of romance among the Human Race... I have no need at all."

Li Ping’an opened his mouth.

Wasn’t it right to fulfill promises made to others?

The Witch Clan has contributed greatly to the development of the Heavenly Court. The Six Paths of Reincarnation Disc is a cornerstone of the Heavenly Dao, should it not be drawn in?

He couldn’t help but fall into thought.

How did his reputation fall to such a state?

Houtu’s eyes showed a slightly mischievous smile, clearly teasing him on purpose.

...

Houtu filled in the names of the Witch Clan masters, and Li Ping’an affixed the Heaven Emperor’s Seal. The entire Underworld instantly bloomed with thousands of radiant splendors.

Heavenly Dao, moved by gratitude, willingly bestowed vast merit, eighty percent to Houtu, and twenty percent to the Witch Clan’s many masters.

Houtu infused these merits into the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disc, not taking any for herself.

Houtu’s current state is somewhat special.

In the secret realm of the Reincarnation Disc, she has a physical form, but upon leaving the Disc, she becomes a spiritual body; her body is the Reincarnation Disc.

Houtu will not easily leave this place in the future, as she needs to oversee the matters of reincarnation constantly.

Li Ping’an drank two cups of tea, left the Book of Life and Death and the Judge’s Pen, concluded the matters here, and then took the initiative to leave.

He never thought he would be teased by Houtu one day.

But it’s not hard to see that since Houtu transformed into the Six Paths of Reincarnation Disc, the entire Clan of Witches has become much more joyful and open. The lingering sadness in her brow has quietly dissipated.

Ultimately, it’s because the Witch Clan found a place in the world and gained the protection of the Heavenly Dao, she need not worry about the future of her clan anymore.

Li Ping’an left the Underworld in stealth as the Underworld began to undergo many changes. The foundations for the Ten Yama Halls were already laid, Qin Da and other great witches received ’official robes’, ’official seals’, and a ’Manual of Underworld Rules and Regulations’ formed by the Heavenly Dao.

This Heavenly Dao has indeed been influenced considerably by Li Dazhi.

Li Ping’an did not leave directly but quietly went to the northern part of the Sea of Blood.

There are still quite a few Human Race Qi Cultivator experts lingering here... fishing for treasures.

Li Ping’an just took a stroll in the air above the Sea of Blood, and a flash of red light plunged into his arms, then he vanished directly, without drawing anyone’s attention.

Take it and run, to avoid inspiring jealousy and hatred.

Two hours later.

In the East Continent, on the top floor of the newly-risen Heaven-reaching Building in Dong’an City, surrounded by luxurious decorations, Li Ping’an and Li Dazhi leaned their heads together, carefully staring at the fist-sized Twelve-Petaled Red Lotus that looked like glass.

"Whoa, hey, whoa."

Li Dazhi was dumbfounded: "Did you really get this treasure?"

"Mhm," Li Ping’an raised his eyebrow slightly, "After all, we are the Heavenly Emperor, some measure of face must be given for such a treasure."

Li Dazhi’s eyes gleamed: "Doesn’t that mean we can infinitely quantify merits?"

Li Ping’an pondered for a moment or two: "It’s not that we can be so reckless, but it can certainly be a backup at critical moments. Although this Red Lotus isn’t good for attack or defense, it’s many times more useful than ordinary Innate Spiritual Treasures... Dad, you want to take it?"

"Why would I take it?"

"For the Dao Immortal Tribulation," Li Ping’an sighed, "Hongjun’s defeat is just the beginning, soon we’ll enter the rhythm of the Dao Immortal Tribulation."

Li Dazhi mused slightly: "Then I don’t need to take these treasures, I’ll just do what the Heavenly Dao wants me to do, don’t worry, just go with the flow."

"Dad, remember to remove the Hongjun statue from the Incense Hall."

"It’s been removed a while ago, now it’s replaced with your Transcender Teacher’s," Li Dazhi praised, "Your teacher surprisingly still has a sense of loyalty, a reliable mentor."

"Loyalty..."

Li Ping’an sighed lightly: "I’m just afraid that loyalty is also calculated, my mindset is somewhat different now."

"Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, how the world is, how beings are, are never things that one person can solve."

Li Dazhi said sternly:

"Comrade Xiao Li, I know you have feelings about this time, but individual heroism is unacceptable, you still have to believe in the strength of the collective.

"You’re already excellent now, don’t add to your own troubles."

"It’s not adding to the troubles."

Li Ping’an got up and paced, pondering slightly:

"Dad, think about it, now we have momentum, we have organization, I’ve already prepared the future development plan for the Heavenly Court, the Supreme Elder Lord’s residence in the Heavenly Court means we no longer need to worry about petty thieves attacking us next."

"So, what’s our direction for self-improvement next?"

"Self-strengthening."

Li Dazhi said: "After becoming a Golden Immortal, each rank requires a lot of time to polish, rushing won’t work."

"I’ve decided to go into seclusion in Xuan Capital City."

"Huh?" Li Dazhi was taken aback, "Xuan Capital City? You need to go that far?"

"Mhm," Li Ping’an said, "I will leave a strand of Primordial Spirit in the Heavenly Court, so if there’s an emergency, they can find me directly. Xuan Capital City is closest to the Chaos Sea, and it’s a gateway between worlds, convenient for me to attend classes with my Transcender Teacher."

Li Dazhi said worriedly: "Who knows what ulterior motives the Transcender might have, you must..."

"I’m going into seclusion in Xuan Capital City also to cover this up."

Li Ping’an sighed:

"Now, most experts know, my third teacher is a Transcender.

"Next, I must find a way to avoid suspicion."

Li Dazhi clicked his tongue: "Still feels like learning skills from the Transcender isn’t very reliable, he’s not simple."

"The manipulators of this world are all untrustworthy."

Li Ping’an smiled:

"I’ve made up my mind, Dad, you don’t need to worry, I’ll take Ningning with me to Xuan Capital City, definitely won’t miss any major Li family events."

"Take the Jade Pool with you too."

"This... she needs to oversee the situation, I’ll talk with her later."

"Ah, the Jade Pool is actually quite nice, without her teacher to rely on now, this eldest daughter-in-law will definitely be more gentle and obedient to you."

Li Ping’an smiled without saying a word.

He said: "Dad, let’s go pay respects at Senior Brother Xuanyuan’s grave."

"Oh right, speaking of this matter," Li Dazhi frowned, "What about Lady Ba?"

Li Ping’an sighed, sat back on the soft couch, and his gaze gradually took on a distant look.