Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Meng Po frowned. She looked helpless and sad. “d.a.m.n!”

Everyone else looked shocked with wide eyes and opened mouths. They could not snap out of it.

They felt like they had just heard something incredible.

They still had not figured out what happened in between the stories yet but… He split the realms apart, created a new world, and got knocked off by others. The phrase 'secret villian' described Hongjun the best. They truly felt the harsh and cruel reality of the world.

'Too scary!'

'The fights between big shots are too scary!'

The Fire Phoenix had a complex look. She thought the Dragons, Phoenixes, and Kirins were the natural-born species of the realm. She did not expect that in the end, they were all chess pieces. Even her ancestors were tricked.

Her ancestors were one with Heaven. Did he rule Heaven at that time?

Li Nianfan continued, “Hongjun was against every species made by Pangu. However, the world was transformed from Pangu and it isn't perfect. Therefore, regardless of the Three Qings, or your Reincarnation, it maintains the world. It's the foundation that keeps the world running. He can't kill you all to extinction.”

Moreover, Heaven was not perfect either. Hongjun had no choice but to go along with it because he did not want to be limited. He did not want to lose his freedom.

Everyone nodded simultaneously. They looked like they gained some knowledge. “I see.”

“Alright, that's the end of the story,” said Li Nianfan. He looked at Meng Po.

That was a hint… It was her turn to tell her story.

Li Nianfan was curious as to how the catastrophe happened.

Meng Po took the hint. She said, “Thanks, Mr. Li, for telling the story. You helped me understand a lot. Otherwise, I'm afraid I still would've been fooled until the day I die. Let me finish my story from earlier…

“After Buddhism was wiped out. Hongjun gathered everyone and had a meeting at the Zixiao Palace. The future was discussed. Six words summarized their discussion, 'Heaven is failing, the Absolute Era'!”

'Heaven is failing' meant that Heaven had limited resources or abilities. There would be more limits and troubles.

The meaning of 'the Absolute Era' spoke for itself.

Li Nianfan frowned and thought about the six words. In other words, it probably meant that the world was about to go downhill, informing everyone to be prepared.

He mumbled, “Incoming chaos…”

Meng Po sighed and said, “Yeah, once the news got out, it caused chaos indeed.”

Dragin was puzzled. “Brother, what's the meaning of those six words? Why would it cause chaos?”

Li Nianfan explained, “The actual scheme…was to affect the minds. Once the minds of the people were messed up, everything else would be messed up, too. Hence, chaos ensued.”

He was used to the modern world so he knew that words in themselves had power!

It was very scary!

Naturally, any ordinary person had no power in saying that. However, it was said by a bigshot so it was impactful.

It was like hearing a super billionaire say the economy was failing in a very formal and public event. Naturally, it would cause chaos in the stock market.

How badly could words affect the results?

Everyone would quote the super billionaire and follow him. Everyone would do something about it, especially the other bigshots. They would want to protect themselves. Thus, chaos would ensue.

Meng Po nodded. “His words made everyone anxious, especially the Heavenly Palace and the Underworld. Every species and sect were scared.”

'No wonder.

'No wonder it was named the Absolute Era. Anyone could publically harm the Underworld and the Heavenly Palace. We even had internal problems.

'A lot of bigshots had that mentality where they'd rather sacrifice other cultivators than their own. They wiped out the other sects to ensure the safety of their own sects.

'Hongjun! Truly Hongjun!

'It wasn't even a conspiracy. He just sat there and watched it all unfold. He tricked everyone with his words.

'Of course, maybe he meant it when he said that it was going to be the Absolute Era. However, he was most probably trying to instigate things.

'The rest is history. There must be all sorts of scheming, fighting, and tribulations after that.

'However…'

Li Nianfan frowned and started to think.

'Hongjun would be the biggest winner if nothing unexpected happened. What's in it for him?

'More straightforwardly, is it beneficial for him to rule the world?

'The plans of a bigshot aren't that shallow.

'What was Luohou's role in the story then? There's no way he wasn't connected to Hongjun.

'There's a second possibility but it's a stretch. Perhaps Hongjun was never scheming. Perhaps he was just sitting there, chilling and not partic.i.p.ating.

'Whatever. I won't think about it anymore, what does it have to do with me anyway?

'I have the golden touch and I'm a Deluxe Merit Saint. Who would try to hurt me? As for my capabilities, I'm just an ordinary man. I can't do anything and I'm not a threat to the big shots.

'I'll just be a nice guest. Live life leisurely in a simple way.'

Dragin and Nanan were kind of confused. The others were shocked. They gasped.

Meng Po sighed softly. She said, “Thankfully, after the catastrophe, our Underworld managed to get back on track again. However, it's a shame that we lack workers. It's a troubling concern!”

She glanced at Li Nianfan. She was trying to find out if the expert had anyone to recommend. They would hire them for sure. After all, the expert single-handedly brought back the Underworld. They wished the expert could recommend someone.

In that case, the Underworld would have a closer bond with the expert.

Li Nianfan did not say anything.

He could not interfere with those kinds of matters, especially the hiring of workers. It was the privacy of the expert. He could not intervene unless it was necessary.

It was a pity that their friends were not dead yet. Otherwise, they could have told them, “Go ahead and die. Our Underworld's hiring. Say hi and we'll get you a position.”

1

Everyone finally figured out what started the catastrophe. They felt emotional.

Ziye looked down. She felt like it was now harder to revive the Heavenly Palace. She was in a daze and she did not know what to do.

White Impermanence said invitingly, “Mr. Li, it's getting late. How about you stay at the Underworld for a few days? We'll provide you with the best service and the most comfortable place of stay.”

'Yeah right, service and nice environment in the Underworld?

'I can accept the female ghosts. They might be ghosts and they're beautiful. But a comfortable place to stay…? How can it be comfortable?

'I don't have weird likings like staying in the Underworld.'

Li Nianfan shook his head and smiled without hesitation. He said, “Ha, thanks for the consideration, but I'm not used to sleeping in the Underworld.”

“Too bad.” Black and White Impermanence shook their heads.

Li Nianfan stood up. He saluted and said, “Thanks for everything today, everyone. I shall leave now.”

He visited the Underworld and gained a lot of knowledge. He also perfectly helped Yuecha and the others. It was all thanks to his cultivator friends.

The General of the b.l.o.o.d.y Sea laughed and said, “You're welcome, Mr. Li. Our Underworld isn't much, but one of our best qualities is our hospitality for our guests.”

Meng Po said pa.s.sionately, “Mr. Li, you're welcome to swing by next time!”

After a while of chatting, Black and White Impermanence opened the Underworld Gates and they returned to the Immortal Realm.

It was much easier to return from the Underworld because they could use any one of the City G.o.d Temples as a location. They were directly brought back to the City G.o.d Temple of the Fallen Town.

It was fast and convenient. Li Nianfan had a new idea.

That was a Teleportation Spell. If he was ever in a hurry to go somewhere, he could just use the Underworld as a transit. It would be far more convenient.

Of course, it was just a thought. He would never do that.

Soon, it was nighttime.

The Fallen Town's City G.o.d received a message. He was waiting at the City G.o.d Temple.

He was an elder named Zhou. He said with respect, “Greetings to the Impermanence Sires, greetings to Mr. Li.”

Li Nianfan had heard of the elder before. He smiled and said, “h.e.l.lo, Elder Zhou.”

Black and White Impermanence nodded. They hinted at the elder with a polite warning, “Fallen Town's a beautiful place. You were able to become a City G.o.d here. Your future's bright, so keep up the good work! Don't relax! Otherwise, we'll make your life a living h.e.l.l!”

They sent a clear message for the elder. The expert stayed nearby, and he personally created the Fallen Town's City G.o.d Temple. It was a place of Luck. If they could, Black and White Impermanence would have pushed the elder out and become the City G.o.ds themselves.

“Yes, I got it.” The Fallen Town's City G.o.d kept nodding with seriousness.

White Impermanence was taken aback by something. He said, “Yo, it's late at night but it's still so crowded here.”

The Fallen Town's City G.o.d smiled awkwardly. He shook his head and said, “No, Impermanence Sires. We ran into a big problem around here.”

Li Nianfan frowned. He asked, “What happened?”

“Sigh, we can't fish at the nearby lakes!”

The Fallen Town's City G.o.d was troubled. “Not sure what happened but there are always Demons fighting in the ocean and the lakes. Every time we go out to fish, we'd see crabs and lobsters as tall as half a human fighting each other. They'd turn the tides and cause a lot of water-related disasters for us. The people are helpless so they've been coming to beg for my help. However, I'm not that great of a cultivator. I can't do anything about it either.”