"Am, they are smarter than we imagined."

At the same time, Hu Ma and others entered the underworld, arriving before the Bloodstain Pond. When Miss Red Wine began casting magic on Burning Blade, in the depths of a beautiful mansion, someone else spoke lowly:

"They are smarter than we imagined, not falling for the trap we set at Menghu Pass, not launching a frontal attack in daylight, but instead striking directly at the heart."

In this voice, there seemed to be a hint of lament, yet Old Madam Li, listening to this conversation through a copper mirror, remained unfazed.

The old lady was the highest-ranking member of the Impermanence Li Family, but given her age, she could no longer freely enter and leave the underworld. As such, it was the Great Master of the Impermanence Li Family who presided below, though the elderly woman clearly had a keen interest:

"If they truly fell for it and fiercely clashed at Menghu Pass, I would have underestimated those celestial beings and underestimated this descendant of the Zhen Sui Hu Family, whom generations have placed high hopes upon."

Upon hearing that the strong enemies had reached the Bloodstain Pond, the Elder Mrs. Li showed neither surprise nor doubt, instead murmuring: "The State Preceptor wants to become immortal, desiring the Lifebound Spirit Temple of those celestial beings, believing it to be the treasure that can oppose Tai Sui."

"But I believe that it is precisely the principles those celestial beings revere, the knowledge and wisdom in their minds, that matter most to those of us on this path..."

"The Hu Family's descendants have achieved such success because they were the first to collaborate with those celestial beings, receiving gifts that allowed them to surpass others, acquiring skills even the State Preceptor couldn't contest."

"Since the Hu Family can, why should the Li Family fall short?"

"Who says we can't steal the knowledge from the minds of those celestial beings to break the constraints currently binding the Li Family, and ultimately become... living immortals after the change of heaven?"

"..."

Listening to the elder's instructions, the Li Family's Housekeeper felt a surge of emotions, suddenly saying softly: "Am, if our duel with them truly ends in defeat..."

"Then the entire Li Family must bow their heads!"

The face within the copper mirror of Elder Mrs. Li suddenly seemed exceptionally grim, speaking in a deep voice: "Even if we win, everything of the Li Family must be handed over to them."

"You must remember, in this gamble, win or lose, the Li Family must stand on their side."

"The difference is, if the Li Family wins, he won't be able to prevent us from gaining complete control over the Bloodstain Pond, allowing the Li Family to endure as long as the world exists, never to decline as long as existence persists."

"And if we lose..."

"Twenty years of accumulation will have been for others, and while the Li Family will still survive, it will be no different than being just like commoners..."

"..."

"..."

"When General Ren Tu descends upon this world, a Blood Sea of monstrous sin will arise."

Meanwhile, outside the Bloodstain Pond, Miss Red Wine delicately held silver needles between her fingers, silently chanting an incantation before thrusting both needles into Burning Blade's eyes.

Witnessing this, even Hu Ma and Er Guotou's expressions changed dramatically.

In this world, there is no Bai Qi; if there were a similar figure, they have long been lost to history, not from this realm. But Miss Red Wine's magic deceives the heavens, as if truly bringing a figure like Bai Qi into this realm.

In this underworld of slaughter and sin, once her magic succeeds, the Bloodstain Pond will respond, turning illusion into reality.

"Tszz!"

At this moment, the two needles pierce through.

The yang needle points inward, directly piercing into Burning Blade's mind, deceiving his own senses, making him believe he is Bai Qi, the General Ren Tu who left a bloody mark in history.

The other needle points outward, deceiving this world's unseen forces, making this world believe the killing god Bai Qi, with a murderous aura, has truly descended.

Silver needles in eyes, murderous intent springs forth.

Upon seeing these two silver needles pierce through, Hu Ma felt an incredible killing aura rise abruptly, surging and rolling as if made tangible, seemingly like immense illusory mountains pressing down upon him.

He instinctively wanted to look up, to see what form Burning Blade had taken, but Miss Red Wine's reminder echoed in his ear: "Do not look into his eyes."

Receiving the reminder, Hu Ma immediately averted his gaze.

The killing god Bai Qi was a figure in history from another world, the subsequent generations only piecing together his story through fragmented historical texts. No one can truly speak to his appearance or the monstrous deeds he committed, as there were no living witnesses. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Burning Blade is much the same; he knows of Bai Qi the killer god, but only holds a vague impression.

Miss Red Wine deceived him, making him believe himself to be Bai Qi, effectively pulling that shadowy image into his body.

This Bai Qi is unlike the historical Bai Qi, possessing an added layer of historical ambiguity and weight. The killing aura now emanating from Burning Blade carries a sense of detached barbarity and unreasonable strength.

"Today, I understand who I am..."

No one dared to visibly regard Burning Blade in that moment; thus, no one knew his expression then. They only heard his long, silent whisper, followed by a low sigh, before he turned his gaze towards the grand mansion of the Li Family's underground estate.

As slaughter touched the world, the Bloodstain Pond sensed him, and he naturally sensed the Bloodstain Pond in return.

At this moment within the grand, intricate mansion of the Li Family, along the corridors, within the courtyards, beside the lotus ponds, all maids, attendants, and cleaning servants raised their heads, their eyes vacant and icy, turning their gazes towards their faces.