The [Nascent Soul Pill] was complete.
In truth, this outcome had always been taken for granted. Neither the World Honored One nor the First-generation Master of Beast Taming Peak had ever doubted that the pill could be successfully refined.
For this was the magnum opus of the First-generation Master of Pill Cauldron Peak.
Out of their trust in the former foremost alchemist of the Light Sea, there had never been room for uncertainty. And yet, Lu Yang—who had personally carried out the refinement—felt an inexplicable unease stirring within him.
…Something isn't right.
Just like Overlord-tier Dao Soldiers, the essence of the [Nascent Soul Pill] is, in truth, a fragment of Forbidden Knowledge—knowledge tied to the myth of [Dragon Tiger Mountain].
From that perspective, the First-generation Master of Pill Cauldron Peak's requirement of [Dragon Tiger Mountain] is not only reasonable—it is indispensable. Without the corresponding Concept, it would be impossible to grasp that Forbidden Knowledge.
But the problem lies elsewhere…
The key to my comprehension of that knowledge was the Ancestral Dragon.
It was the Ancestral Dragon's intervention that had triggered his insight.
That, in itself, was not strange. As an existence that had directly participated in the origin of [Dragon Tiger Mountain], it was naturally the most direct key to unlocking that long-buried myth.
But precisely because of that—
It felt too coincidental.
What if the Ancestral Dragon had not acted?
Without it, could a mere imitation of [Dragon Tiger Mountain]—constructed through Dao Arts alone—truly enable someone to comprehend such Forbidden Knowledge?
The deeper Lu Yang considered this, the more unsettling the implication became.
It suggested that the First-generation Master of Pill Cauldron Peak had anticipated from the very beginning that the Ancestral Dragon would intervene.
But how could such a thing be foreseen?
Had he deduced that the Primordial Saint would release the Ancestral Dragon to target the Netherworld? If so, that could still be rationalized.
What Lu Yang truly feared… was another possibility.
It wasn't that the First-generation Master of Pill Cauldron Peak predicted the Ancestral Dragon's move—
But that the Ancestral Dragon itself was deliberately cooperating.
Cooperating… with my refinement of the [Nascent Soul Pill].
A shadow passed over Lu Yang's expression.
Objectively speaking, this line of thought bordered on paranoia. And yet, the unnerving smoothness of the entire refinement process left him unable to dispel the doubt.
It should not have been this easy.
Unfortunately, there was no turning back. The arrow had already been loosed from the bow. After only a brief hesitation, Lu Yang forcibly suppressed his misgivings.
He raised his gaze—looking beyond the Netherworld.
The sky split open.
Blazing white light tore through the murky firmament, revealing the Mortal World above. Reality itself fractured in layers, exposing the higher planes beyond:
The Foundation Establishment Realm.
The [Sea of Bitterness].
His line of sight continued to ascend, until at last—a towering, seven-tiered divine mountain parted the fog and revealed itself before all beings.
The [Paramita] had descended once more into the Mortal World.
"Thud!"
A single step resounded—heavy, overwhelming.
From the summit, the tiny figure took a casual step downward, its slender silhouette becoming visible.
In that instant, boundless radiance poured forth from the apex like a collapsing dam. It surged into the Mortal World, flooding heaven and earth, shattering the defensive boundary established by the World Honored One, and forcing its way into the Netherworld.
Like a blazing sun suspended in the sky—
Golden words, issued from a jade-like voice, descended as an absolute decree:
[Pill Cauldron dies in the Netherworld!]
"!!!"
With lightning speed, Lu Yang severed his karma, performing a sacred severance from the [Pill Cauldron] as his true body fled into the distance.
A moment later, [Inevitable Fate] descended.
It was irresistible and inescapable. The [Pill Cauldron] scroll remaining in his wake shattered instantly. Its profound wonders collapsed, dissolving into drifting green smoke.
But it wasn't over.
How could [Inevitable Fate] be evaded so easily?
Even though Lu Yang had severed his ties to the [Pill Cauldron], a layer of gloom suddenly clouded his vision—the shadow of death.
[Inevitable Fate] was closing in.
This was a destined death trap, unblockable and inescapable. At the critical juncture, Lu Yang shouted with every fiber of his being—
"Di Muni!"
The World Honored One answered.
Lu Yang tightened his grip on the [Nascent Soul Pill]. If the World Honored One chose theft over rescue, Lu Yang would destroy the pill instantly. Though the chance of destroying it before a Dao Lord was slim, the World Honored One refused to gamble.
Blazing white karmic light pierced the gloom, forcing the shadow of death to recede. The advance of [Inevitable Fate] ground to a halt.
[Pill Cauldron is dead]
Above the Netherworld, the manifest [Inevitable Fate] dimmed, only for a surge of power from the [Paramita] to reignite it.
[Nascent Soul Pill destroyed in the Nether...]
The writing abruptly ceased.
This time, the fate failed to truly manifest. An indescribable color washed over it, draining its profound hues.
...
[Netherworld Lord's Palace]
In the deepest reaches of the Netherworld, beyond endless rows of palaces, a youth opened his eyes. He held an ink-colored precious wheel carved from stone.
This was the true Dao Tianqi.
The youth who had encountered Lu Yang and suppressed the Ancestral Dragon was merely a fleeting thought—an insignificant incarnation.
The First-generation Master of Beast Taming Peak, Dao Tianqi, had never left the [Netherworld Lord's Palace]. He had spent eons refining the ink-colored wheel, hiding the bulk of his power until this moment of revelation.
The youth raised his hands.
"Rumble!"
Between his palms, the ink-colored wheel began to turn, stirring profound wonders. A formless power surged from the Netherworld toward the Mortal World. This was the concept he had envisioned during the Netherworld's creation, finalized only after his awakening— the eighth component of the Netherworld, the [Wheel of Reincarnation].
I am different from Senior Brother Pill Cauldron, Senior Brother Heaven-Mending, and Senior Brother Myriad Treasures.
Sweat beaded on Dao Tianqi's brow as he poured endless power into the wheel, forcing it to turn against immense resistance.
I lack the talent for schemes and calculations. Even my combat methods are lacking.
I can only rely on my superior comprehension to act beyond expectation and strike where least expected.
"Crack."
Under his desperate urging, the [Wheel of Reincarnation] finally inverted, completing a 180-degree rotation.
Heaven and earth revolved.
The sudden shift drew a cry of surprise from the tiny figure atop the Light Sea, who had been looking down on all living beings. "This is..."
In an instant, the [Yellow Springs Road], the [Home-Viewing Terrace], and the [Three Lives Stone]—the components held by the Dao Lords—detached from the Netherworld and manifested upon the [Paramita].
Conversely, the figure originally on the [Paramita] vanished, plummeting into the Netherworld like a stone cast into a lake.
The figure fell silent, staring at the [Netherworld Lord's Palace] in astonishment. As the palace gates swung wide, the familiar youth stepped out with a smile.
"Long time no see. I've invited Master for a tour of the Netherworld."