"So-called power is merely the extension of one strong individual's influence. The Transcendence Gates in the Sea of Realms are merely the dependencies of those Transcenders; there's no need to pay much attention to them, and you don't need to ponder over the affairs of the Nether Mansion."

He Donghuang's tone was flat,

"Back then, the seven of us knew more or less some truths, but no one bothered about the Nether Mansion. We believed that with our abilities, turning the Federation into a new Nether Mansion was no big deal."

"We never thought of ourselves as the reincarnation of that Netherworld Lord. The three souls lead, and one spirit, let alone all seven, doesn't change that."

"The remnants of that Netherworld Lord's memories among the seven spirits can't consume me, so I am still He Donghuang."

Ji Jingqiu sighed in his heart, indeed Master He.

Suddenly, he recalled his experiences on the Returning to Truth Road: "I remember that after death and reincarnation, the two souls of Heaven and Earth return to Heaven and Earth, leaving only the Human Soul and seven spirits. Does that Netherworld Lord fall into this category?" 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Yes."

He Donghuang nodded, raised his hand, pointing to a faint outline of a river in the Void,

"The one in the Heavenly Destiny River carries that Netherworld Lord's Human Soul, which is the Life Soul, and that's why he's always aiming to devour us seven."

Ji Jingqiu frowned and asked, "He targets me to threaten Master He?"

He Donghuang replied indifferently, "He won't threaten me that way. He's been my enemy for years and knows this well. His targeting of you has other motives, which I'm not aware of."

Upon hearing the first half, Ji Jingqiu was unsure whether to be glad or to sigh.

"The Netherworld is a prison." He Donghuang repeated, "He trapped us, waiting for one of us to win and lose, while the one in the Burial Sea serves as the supervisor; that is the truth of the Netherworld."

"The one in the Burial Sea... a supervisor?" Ji Jingqiu murmured.

He Donghuang suddenly smirked, "That's what the latter says, but who knows the truth?"

Ji Jingqiu remained silent; on the day the Heavenly King attained the Great Dao Ancestor, the one in the Burial Sea made a move on him, risking exposure, with an unknown true intent.

And this person is suspected of being related to the Great Dao Ancestor Qian Wanqiu.

He did not meet him on the Returning to Truth Road but met his two "disciples."

"After going outside the Realm, people are generally friendly wherever I go." Ji Jingqiu spoke softly, "I didn't expect the Netherworld, my homeland, to seem not so friendly towards me."

He Donghuang chuckled, "It's said, 'When you become strong, you're surrounded by good people; if there are bad people, it only proves you're not strong enough yet.'

Ji Jingqiu agreed deeply and said, "I've been trying to manifest the Other Shore recently but still can't find the way. Does Master He have any guidance?"

"Aren't you already on this path?"

He Donghuang glanced at Ji Jingqiu, a rare fluctuation in his eyes,

"Jing Qiu, you've long been on this path, just unaware. So just keep going."

"The Other Shore is your own Other Shore, as well as the Other Shore for all beings. As Mu Shitian would say, 'Do not seek Lingshan elsewhere.' My only advice is to look at this world more."

"'Do not seek Lingshan elsewhere...' Ji Jingqiu softly repeated, had he long started the journey to the Other Shore?

From when and where?

"Mu Shitian didn't tell you this? Well, it didn't, because it couldn't see it. A Heart Monkey, no matter how similar, is ultimately not the original body. Without having seen the true Other Shore, how could it guide you?"

"Using the Method of the World Venerable Lineage might help you see the Other Shore, but you'll never truly reach there."

Ji Jingqiu frowned, what did Master He mean in the first sentence? Was the Mu Master he saw in the Bitter Sea not the real body but a Heart Monkey?

"The Mu Master in the Bitter Sea..."

He Donghuang interrupted him, "Mu Shitian died long ago, sealing the Bitter Sea for ten thousand years with the body of a True Saint. How could there be any chance of survival?"

Ji Jingqiu's heart sank, so it was only... a Heart Monkey?!

He looked towards a part of the Netherworld, his tone calm:

"No matter what purpose the one in the Burial Sea has, he absolutely doesn't want the Bitter Sea to emerge now, so after someone takes the stance of burning jade stones, he won't make a move on you."

"But at the same time, be prepared for anything happening with the Four Guardian Stars. Whatever happens, there's no need to be surprised; this was Mu Shitian's last move in the Human World ten thousand years ago."

"As for the one in the Heavenly Destiny River, I'm temporarily holding him at bay. You can do whatever you want during this time; this is also our last path protecting for you."

"Ji Jingqiu, you've become a Heavenly Venerable, you should gradually become a high mountain for others."

Ji Jingqiu slowly exhaled.

"I understand, thank you, Master He."

Understood? He Donghuang was noncommittal but also unconcerned.

Some paths, once traveled, regardless of initial understanding or not, everything becomes clear in the end.

Then.

Ji Jingqiu took the initiative to discuss Wuwang Mountain with Master He.

He Donghuang revealed that in the remnants of the Netherworld Lord's memory, the true origin of Wuwang Mountain is the Returning to Truth Land!

The Wuwang Mountain in the Netherworld is just a reflection that the Netherworld Lord once brought back from the Returning to Truth Land.

The Bitter Sea is similar, yet it's not something brought back by the Netherworld Lord. Instead, after returning from the Returning to Truth Land, the Netherworld Lord tried in every way to seal it completely, even attempting the path of Harmonization.

Although the Nether Sea is not a reflection, it also does not belong to this realm. It, too, originates from the Returning to Truth Land.

Back then, combining the Nether Sea was how the Netherworld Lord found a way to the Returning to Truth Road.

As for the truth of the Returning to Truth Land... perhaps the Netherworld Lord knew, but He Donghuang did not. The remnants of memory only offered fragmented words, making it impossible to infer.

Regarding the Returning to Truth Land, Master He's attitude remained consistent: it matters not how strong the enemy is, one should always walk their own path first.

Afterward, as a phantom-like river emerged within the heaven and earth, surrounding Ji Jingqiu, He Donghuang took the moment to fulfill some of his duties as a teacher, expounding on Time and the Destiny Dao in his view.

In his view, the Time River represents a fixed trajectory with beginning and end, while the River of Destiny symbolizes mystery and change.

Together, they create the trajectory of all things operating.

Generally speaking, upon reaching the level of a Heavenly Venerable, one can access the power of the River of Destiny, and upon reaching the Dao Ancestor, one can begin to explore the power of the Time River.

However, this sequence does not imply the Time's position is higher than Destiny; the two are equal and complementary.

The reason True Saints don't die is that they found an eternal anchoring point within the Time River.

Unless one can locate and erase another's anchoring point within the Time River, a True Saint will never truly perish, merely experience tribulation, with eventual return.

Finding a tiny anchoring point in a Time River is a Herculean task, akin to finding a needle in a haystack for a normal person, even for a True Saint.

Even for He Donghuang, who has harmonized with the Time River, seeking its anchoring point would be impossible when being restrained.

Even if time were found, it is not something accomplished overnight, requiring a lengthy process of elimination.

The best way to locate a True Saint's anchoring point in the Time River within the current Sea of Realms is by utilizing Destiny and Karma for calculations.

If Destiny is like a river with no visible source and unknown future direction, then Karma is a network, a web that envelops all...

At the end,

He Donghuang suddenly asked, "Jing Qiu, you should know by now the whereabouts of your parents, right?"

Ji Jingqiu simply uttered two words:

"Taiyi."

In common logic, even a True Saint would hesitate to invoke the real name of this foremost of the Four Demons.

This figure, although still a True Saint, already possesses some characteristics of a Transcender, even alarming Hel and others.

Yet today, with He Donghuang by his side, having stepped into the Heavenly Venerable realm and being in the Netherworld, what does he have to fear?

Not to mention, nowadays, would Taiyi dare to tread into the Netherworld?

"Not necessarily." He Donghuang's eyes were deep, "Why not Ji Tianxing?"

Ji Jingqiu remained silent.

He posed a question, "When exactly did they set their sights on me?"

The Time River in the Netherworld is of a Transcendence level, where an ordinary True Saint does not have the qualification to meddle in time-related matters, but with the Ancient and Supreme Rank, reversing time to save two ordinary people wouldn't usually trigger a significant Karma tribulation.

Previously, after learning that Master He had harmonized with the Time River, Ji Jingqiu requested assistance and had tried consulting the Cangqing Lineage, yet ultimately all came to nothing.

It was as if there was no trace of his parents' existence in the world.

He Donghuang revealed with a deeper meaning, "They initially targeted not you, but Ji Linyuan."