The Legend of the Netherworld

Lin Xiao gripped the hilt of his sword, his heart calm. The Xiaoyao Sect patriarch before him, though imposing and imposing, was no longer the young man hiding in the shadows. Having experienced countless battles and life-or-death experiences, his will had become as tough as steel, and the flame of revenge burned in his heart. Any force that stood in his way would be ruthlessly crushed.

The Xiaoyao Sect's elder's eyes flickered coldly as he slowly emerged from the hall. His aura grew increasingly powerful, seemingly ripping through the air. "You think you can defeat me with this broken sword?" he sneered, his tone filled with disdain. "My Xiaoyao Sect has been passed down for millennia. How can a junior like you possibly be able to shake it?"

Lin Xiao didn't answer. He only smiled faintly, then suddenly leaped up. The sword light pierced the sky, carrying the power to tear apart the heavens and earth, and struck the old ancestor's chest. The sword energy was like a dragon, swift and fierce, with irresistible power.

The Xiaoyao Sect's ancestor snorted coldly, clasping his hands together. Layers of sword energy barriers instantly emerged from the air, forming a defense as strong as a mountain. The sword energy barriers shattered one after another, but Lin Xiao's sword energy continued unabated, piercing the ancestor's vital points directly.

"What a pity." The old ancestor suddenly roared, his figure instantly turned into a stream of light, and he quickly retreated, avoiding the fatal blow and launching a counterattack at the same time.

A massive sword energy shot out from behind him, piercing through the air and aiming directly at Lin Xiao. Wherever the sword energy passed, the air seemed to be cut apart, with a tearing sound.

A sharp glint flashed in Lin Xiao's eyes, and he quickly swung his sword to block. A burst of sword energy intersected with the old ancestor's, exploding with a bang. The ground around him instantly cracked and dust flew up. Lin Xiao's body was knocked back like an arrow, but he did not stop. Instead, he used the force to quickly recover and rushed towards the old ancestor again.

The old ancestor's expression changed slightly. He obviously hadn't expected Lin Xiao's strength to be so great. He swung his sword, and the sword energy roared like a dragon, quickly transforming into thousands of sword shadows, surrounding Lin Xiao.

"You can't escape!" The old ancestor sneered, and the sword shadows intertwined into a net, trying to trap Lin Xiao in it.

But Lin Xiao was extremely calm. As soon as his mind moved, the spiritual energy in his body surged instantly. A powerful force burst out from his body, and his figure instantly disappeared from the spot.

The next moment, Lin Xiao appeared behind the ancestor, his sword flashing like a rainbow as he slashed down fiercely. The ancestor had no time to react. A flash of sword light slashed through his clothes, revealing a deep sword wound. Blood gushed out instantly.

"You--" The old ancestor's eyes widened with anger, and he turned around and swung his sword to fight back, but at this time Lin Xiao had turned into a flash of lightning, and the sword light was like a rainbow, stabbing at the old ancestor's heart again.

The old ancestor's expression became increasingly ferocious, his eyes filled with disbelief. "You actually managed to break through my sword formation!"

Lin Xiao sneered and swung his sword fiercely. This sword, with the power to destroy the world, hit the old ancestor's chest directly. The old ancestor's sword energy barrier was unable to withstand this attack. With a scream, Lin Xiao's sword finally tore the old ancestor's body apart.

Blood gushed out like a fountain, and the old man fell to the ground, letting out a low whine. His eyes gradually lost their luster. His eyes were filled with astonishment and unwillingness. He had never expected that he would eventually be defeated by such a young man.

Lin Xiao stood beside the corpse, silent for a moment, then sheathed his sword. The Xiaoyao Sect disciples around him were stunned, staring at the scene in horror, retreating repeatedly, as if afraid of being contaminated by this bloody disaster.

"You can go now." Lin Xiao said calmly, without a trace of fluctuation in his voice.

The Xiaoyao Sect disciples hesitated for a moment, but ultimately chose to disperse. It was a matter of life and death. Their ancestor was already dead, and if they didn't retreat, they might even lose their lives.

Lin Xiao turned and left, his eyes remained calm, as if everything was under his control.

News of Lin Xiao's annihilation of the Xiaoyao Sect spread like wildfire throughout the world, shaking all factions. The feat of a single-handed individual destroying a top-tier sect was enough to strike fear into everyone's hearts. Major clans and sects were buzzing with discussion, some marveling at his prowess, others beginning to fear this maniacal young man. The imperial court, in particular, treated this matter with paramount importance.

Three days later, Tian Yu, the imperial envoy from the Ministry of Rites, rode at full speed to the area where Lin Xiao was, carrying the emperor's order.

Tian Yu was a third-rank official of the current dynasty, skilled in strategy and renowned for his eloquence. He had repeatedly recruited powerful individuals for the emperor, earning him deep trust. This time, following his imperial decree, he traveled light, traveling with only two personal retainers as a gesture of sincerity, rather than a large army.

At this moment, Lin Xiao sat on a cliff, overlooking the land below with a cold expression. Shangguan Qingqing's death and the blood debt owed to the Xiaoyao Sect still lingered in his mind. He slaughtered all his enemies, but felt no satisfaction. Instead, he felt even more lonely.

"Mr. Lin, Tian Yu, the imperial envoy from the Ministry of Rites, has come to pay a special visit."

Tian Yu stood at the foot of the mountain path, bowed and spoke loudly, his tone calm and without any fear.

Lin Xiao glanced at him calmly, his tone devoid of emotion: "The court actually sent an envoy to see me? Shouldn't you send people to encircle and suppress me?"

Tian Yu smiled slightly and looked up at Lin Xiao: "Mr. Lin, you misunderstood. The court has no intention of encircling and suppressing you. On the contrary, it admires your ability. The emperor has specially ordered me to come here and is willing to grant you a title and grant you a fiefdom. He will make you a Marquis of the State and give you the power to rule over this area."

Lin Xiao sneered, his eyes sharp: "The emperor actually wants to recruit me?"

Tian Yu nodded slightly. "Indeed, the Emperor is wise and cherishes talented people. Master Lin's abilities are rare in the world. Why continue to wander? If you can assist the Emperor and build a career, wouldn't that be more valuable than wandering around the world?"

Lin Xiao did not answer immediately, but stared at Tian Yu with deep eyes.

"The court wants to recruit me, but they're afraid I'll stir up even more trouble." Lin Xiao said coldly, "What if I don't agree?"

Tian Yu's smile remained unchanged. "If Master Lin refuses, the court will not force him. However, the world is already shaken. Powerful individuals from all sides are watching you. Sooner or later, countless powerful individuals will come to trouble you. Rather than becoming a public enemy, it would be better to use the imperial power to gain a higher position. Have you ever considered this?"

Lin Xiao was silent for a moment, his eyes deep.

He certainly knew that he had become the target of public criticism. The imperial court, the sects, and the noble families would all be targeting him, and sooner or later he would be in even bigger trouble. Tian Yu's words were not without reason.

After a moment, Lin Xiao chuckled: "Let me think about it."

Tian Yu bowed and said, "This is a serious matter. Master Lin, please give it some thought. I will be waiting for your reply in Tiandu City in three days."

After saying this, he turned and left with steady steps.

Late at night, dark clouds covered the moon and Tianyuan City was silent. Only the palace was brightly lit. The patrolling royal guards held long spears and looked around vigilantly.

Lin Xiao stood on a tall building, his eyes like an eagle, looking down at the towering imperial palace in the distance.

"Instead of being recruited as a subject, it is better to be the emperor myself!"

Once this thought appeared in his mind, it never disappeared.

Since embarking on the path of cultivation, he's experienced countless battles, from being a lone cultivator without a sect to single-handedly annihilating the Xiaoyao Sect, becoming a peerless killer who shocked the world. Now the imperial court is trying to appease him with a title? How could he willingly accept being controlled?

The emperor holds the supreme power, commanding the empire. But would the world's powerful truly willingly submit to a mortal emperor? If he could seize the throne, rule the country, and subjugate the world with his supreme martial arts, who would resist?

"Since you want to recruit me, then first see who is the real ruler!"

A sharp light flashed in Lin Xiao's eyes, and his figure instantly disappeared into the night.

-

The Dragon Shadow Hall was the heart of the Imperial City, accessible only to the Emperor and his personal guards. Within, the hall housed the spirit tablets of successive emperors and concealed many of the Imperial family's secrets. At this moment, a dark figure silently swooped in. It was Lin Xiao.

"Ok?"

As soon as he stepped into the hall, he frowned slightly and felt an extremely obscure aura.

This palace is indeed not simple!

He held his breath, concentrated his thoughts, and slowly walked towards the depths of the Dragon Shadow Hall. There, a huge dragon throne stood quietly, and the surrounding walls were inlaid with night pearls, illuminating the hall as brightly as day.

Lin Xiao's eyes focused, and he suddenly discovered that behind the dragon throne, a secret door was slightly opened, revealing a faint golden light.

"Secret door?"

Lin Xiao no longer hesitated, and slipped in, going deeper along the long and narrow passage.

However, the moment he stepped into a secret room, a cold voice suddenly rang out.

"How dare you enter the forbidden area!"

Lin Xiao's eyes suddenly turned cold and he became alert instantly!

A figure slowly walked out of the darkness. He was wearing a dark golden robe, with his hands behind his back and a stern look in his eyes. It was the current emperor - Emperor Daqian!

But what surprised Lin Xiao was that the emperor's aura was unfathomable, far beyond the reach of ordinary mortals!

"How could a mortal emperor possess such powerful strength?"

Lin Xiao's heart was shocked, and he vaguely felt that this trip might be more difficult than he had imagined!

Lin Xiao stared at the emperor in front of him, his heart slightly shaken.

The current emperor wore a dark golden dragon robe, his face majestic, his aura restrained and deep, like an insurmountable mountain. His eyes were as deep as the abyss, revealing the aura of a king who looked down upon the world.

"Who are you?" The emperor spoke lightly, his voice calm, but carrying an invisible pressure.

Lin Xiao didn't answer, instead surveying his surroundings with a sharp gaze. This secret room was simple and solemn, its walls carved with mysterious array patterns. Behind the emperor, a massive golden stone tablet stood silently, inscribed with dense ancient script, exuding an air of immemorial antiquity.

"What exactly is this place?" Lin Xiao thought to himself. He originally thought that the palace was just an ordinary place, but he never imagined that it hid such secrets.

The emperor seemed to see Lin Xiao's confusion, and the corners of his mouth rose slightly, saying: "It seems that you stumbled in by accident."

He stepped forward, and with every step, his aura grew stronger, as if the heaven and earth were resonating with him.

"I have been waiting for you for a long time." The emperor suddenly spoke, his voice low but with a strange penetrating power.

Lin Xiao narrowed his eyes slightly and said in a deep voice, "Are you waiting for me?"

The emperor stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly, "The general trend of the world has remained the same for hundreds of years—the Jianghu and the imperial court compete with each other, and the practitioners compete with the imperial power."

"Every generation of emperors wants to completely control the world, and those who stand at the pinnacle of martial arts have never been willing to be inferior to others."

Lin Xiao sneered: "So you plan to become my enemy?"

The emperor shook his head and said calmly: "No, I don't want to kill you. Instead, I want to appoint you as the Imperial Master."

Lin Xiao's eyes turned cold. He had rushed to the palace with no intention of being inferior to others. Now the emperor's proposal made him feel a sense of strange danger.

"National Master?" Lin Xiao sneered, "Let me become your puppet and serve you?"

The emperor smiled slightly and said, "No, you are wrong. The reason I recruited you is not to make you serve me, but..."

He paused for a moment, looked at Lin Xiao with deep eyes, and said slowly:

"I will pass the throne to you."

When these words came out, Lin Xiao's heart was shocked!

"What did you say?" Lin Xiao narrowed his eyes and stared at the emperor, trying to see something from his expression.

The emperor slowly turned and looked towards the golden stone tablet. He spoke in a low voice, "This world is not as simple as it appears. I have held imperial power for twenty years, yet I still cannot truly control the fate of the world's cultivators."

"The world of cultivators is far more terrifying than that of ordinary dynasties."

"Did you know? This imperial palace is actually the ruins of an ancient immortal palace. The bloodline of the royal family of all generations originates from a powerful force from the ancient times, and this force..."

The emperor slowly raised his hand and gently pressed it on the golden stone tablet.

In an instant, the entire secret room shook violently, countless ancient runes emerged from the stone tablet, and a golden beam of light shot up into the sky, enveloping Lin Xiao and the emperor.

Lin Xiao's blood and energy were boiling. Even someone as strong as him could feel an irresistible force!

"Is this... the power of immortality?"

A golden beam of light shot up into the sky, and runes flickered within the secret chamber, as if some forbidden power had been awakened. Lin Xiao's blood seemed to boil at this moment, and the spiritual energy in his dantian began to surge uncontrollably, as if guided by some ancient law!

The emperor stood with his hands behind his back, looking at Lin Xiao quietly with a deep gaze, as if he had already anticipated this scene.

"You have felt it, right?" the emperor spoke slowly, his voice as low as thunder.

Lin Xiao forcibly suppressed the abnormal movement in his body and gritted his teeth, "What kind of power is this?"

The emperor raised his hand and gently stroked the ancient inscription on the golden stone tablet. He sighed, "This tablet is called the 'Tianyan Conferred God Tablet'. It is a relic left by the ancient immortal palace. It contains the laws of immortality and is the secret of the entire royal family for thousands of years."

Lin Xiao frowned slightly and said in a deep voice: "The law of immortality?"

The emperor smiled slightly and said slowly, "Yes. Have you ever wondered why there are so many powerful practitioners in this world, but why they are still unable to achieve immortality?"

Lin Xiao's heart trembled slightly.

He had heard countless legends about the way to immortality. Throughout the ages, countless geniuses had emerged with extraordinary talent and brilliance. Some even claimed to have set foot in the fairyland, but in the end, there was no news of them, as if they had been swallowed up by the world.

"Could it be..." Lin Xiao's pupils shrank slightly, as if he realized something.

The emperor nodded slowly: "Yes, this world is sealed."

Lin Xiao clenched his fists slightly and asked in a deep voice, "Who sealed it?"

The emperor slowly uttered four words: "Ancient Fairy Palace."