Chapter 21
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Chapter 21: The Patriarch Bows Down!
This is a story hidden in a secret place.
A few seconds earlier.
In the cold, biting atmosphere,
Suddenly, a drop of blood, red as fire, fell.
The center of the Black Stone Ghost Face was struck once again, accompanied by a faint, sharp cracking sound.
Can Jian, who had been hiding within the Black Stone Ghost Face, woke up.
The Record of the Netherworld states that when a person dies, they become a ghost. And when a ghost dies, they turn into a “Jian.”
The ancestor of the Hades Hall had placed Can Jian within the Black Stone Ghost Face.
With each occasional drop of blood from the nether bloodline, the Black Stone Ghost Face was kept alive despite the ruin of its surroundings, offering a faint glimmer of hope that it might one day become a ghost again.
Unfortunately, Can Jian couldn’t always rely on the blood of the nether bloodline.
Most of the time, it found that the blood it tasted was just an ordinary drop,
Salty.
Very salty.
Pooh.
The bitter taste caused the Black Stone Ghost Face to shudder slightly, disturbing Can Jian’s rest.
As usual, it tried to focus on the person who had shed the blood.
But this time, something horrifying happened.
The “being” before it wasn’t human.
It was a grotesque humanoid creature formed from countless black symbols of death!
It moved.
The deathly symbols shifted as if they had a life of their own.
A smell, indescribable and oppressive, surged toward Can Jian.
Die. Die. Die…
And then… darkness.
Like the flipping of a special switch,
Surrounded by countless “Death” symbols, Can Jian trembled violently.
It didn’t want to die.
Not yet.
“Move away! Move away!”
Shaking, Can Jian flew up with the ghost face,
Trembling, it vanished into nothingness.
After Can Jian’s death, the ghost face fell into the abyss of destruction.
Poof, poof, poof!
The air, saturated with Nether Spirit Qi, erupted like boiling magma, losing control.
The delicate ghost face couldn’t withstand the violent shock.
In an instant, it shattered into stone fragments.
Finally, the Nether Spirit Qi found an outlet and spread in all directions, casting a dreadful, blood-red hue over the previously pristine Ice Palace.
—
Bai Lian stood speechless, gazing at the shattered remnants of the ghost face.
What in the world was this?
Hadn’t it been said that only those with the Nether Bloodline could activate this ghost face?
She quickly processed the situation in her mind.
At first, she believed it was a misunderstanding. But now, it was clear that things were far more complicated.
If it weren’t for her involvement, the ghost face wouldn’t have been activated.
Could the Lord of the Hades be playing her?
Deceiving her with a counterfeit?
“Look, the ghost face has been activated. Regardless of whether you’re my daughter or not, you are now my daughter!”
Bai Lian’s expression subtly shifted.
The “old fox” was likely going to try manipulating her emotionally, possibly using magical tools to control her.
This man was truly despicable!
Had she not known her true origins and the fact that Tong Yao was his biological daughter, she might have been deceived.
Bai Lian longed to return to Qiongming Peak,
For the world outside was harsh, filled with deceit and competition.
Only her Shifu and younger Martial Sisters had shown her kindness,
Where there were no tricks or lies, just simple, honest living.
At that moment, the Lord of the Hades, now composed, turned his gaze upon Bai Lian with renewed intensity.
The Black Stone Ghost Face was crushed instantly.
What did that mean?
Bai Lian’s Nether Bloodline was so potent that even the ghost face couldn’t bear it!
The Lord of the Netherworld Hall saw this as an extraordinary opportunity.
Within ten years, he was confident Bai Lian, under his guidance, would overpower the haughty Snow Spirit Lord and tame her.
Within seven to eight years, even if the “Four Disasters of the Snow Sea” joined forces, they would stand no chance against her.
It was the perfect chance for Hades Hall to reign over the Snow Sea.
But upon further thought, the Lord of the Hades Hall was puzzled.
As a rule, the Nether Bloodline typically weakens over time.
Even if someone’s bloodline strengthened for some reason, it shouldn’t cause such extreme reactions.
Three possibilities flashed in his mind.
One: Bai Lian might be the reincarnation of an ancestor, but that was a slim chance.
Two: She was the reincarnation of a Star Lord, though it remained unclear if her ancestor had ever mastered the Great Tao of Stars.
Three: Her mastery of the Great Tao of the Netherworld resulted in an extraordinarily pure Nether Bloodline.
Was that truly possible?
Something felt off about the ghost face.
It wasn’t her power that caused the malfunction, but rather, the ghost face broke by chance.
It seemed absurd.
Impossible.
How could the ghost face break on its own?
But now was not the time to dwell on such things.
The Lord of the Hades Hall wanted Bai Lian as his daughter.
He could adopt her as his daughter, even if she wasn’t biologically his.
So he shouted,
“Will you be my daughter?”
“Unfortunately, I pride myself on being a capable Lord of the Hades Hall, but in other areas of my life, I have failed.”
“I’m unsure whether Qian Xue is still alive…”
The Lord of the Hades Hall revealed a painting.
A woman with flowing light purple hair graced the canvas.
This must be Tong Yao’s mother!
Bai Lian examined it but shook her head.
Tong Yao’s mother appeared mature, yet Tong Yao herself seemed so… innocent.
Perhaps it was because Tong Yao had left behind a “source of illness” after years spent in the Bailing Spirit Stone.
The Lord of the Hades Hall elaborated further on his Empress Cultivation Plan.
“Bai Lian, your Nether Bloodline is so pure. Only in the Hades Hall can your potential be fully realized!”
“Our ancestor’s Great Tao of the Netherworld is no ordinary thing; it comes from the path of death. As a reincarnated Star Lord who has mastered the Great Tao of the Stars, if you also master the Great Tao of the Netherworld, you may even become an Immortal Emperor!”
“Bai Lian, don’t you like women? If you join the Hades Hall, all the women in the hall will be at your disposal.”
“Besides, didn’t you say you came for Immortal Spirit Qi? I know where there’s an Immortal Spirit Stone, in the Wuheng Snow Valley’s Spiritual Prayer Array…”
Bai Lian understood.
The Lord of the Hades Hall was trying to deceive her, just as she suspected.
But she had to admit, the lure was tempting.
If she pretended to play along, perhaps she could manipulate him.
Even if he uncovered her intentions, she could use the Great Tao of SAVE/LOAD.
But this was not a game—every decision had real consequences.
The Great Tao of the Underworld?
Immortal Emperor?
They sounded glorious, but for Bai Lian, they weren’t as rare as they seemed.
An Lan, once an Immortal Heavenly Lord, had mastered at least seven or eight paths of the Great Tao.
As long as she won An Lan’s favor, she could explore any path she desired.
As for the Immortal Spirit Qi…
What did the Lord of the Hades Hall truly have to offer?
If he had the power to claim the Wuheng Snow Valley’s Immortal Spirit Stone, he would have already exacted vengeance on the Snow Spirit Lord.
Bai Lian couldn’t be fooled.
She rejected the Lord of the Hades Hall’s offer.
“It was merely an accident. I am confident that I don’t possess the Nether Bloodline.”
The Lord of the Hades Hall responded,
“Bai Lian, I understand that you aren’t ready to accept this yet.”
Bai Lian shook her head.
She didn’t want to reveal to the Lord of the Hades that Tong Yao was his daughter.
After all, he had failed as a father once before.
His kindness was only a façade.
He laughed out of necessity—if he stopped, someone else would start crying.
But now, she had no choice.
If she didn’t clarify things now, she wasn’t sure what trouble might arise later.
Those who opposed the Hades Hall would undoubtedly target her.
For example, the Snow Spirit Lord, who had once beaten the Lord of the Hades Hall to death.
Bai Lian didn’t want to become the target of powerful forces for no reason,
So she had to help her Shifu find the Immortal Spirit Qi.
“Yes, you mentioned your daughter was in the Duxian sect? Actually, I believe there is a disciple from the Duxian sect who…”
But she was cut off.
Suddenly, the hall shook violently, causing the ice lamp hanging above to crash and shatter into countless pieces.
“What’s going on?”
The Lord of the Hades Hall roared, his voice echoing through the space.
Moments later, a shadow appeared.
“Lord, the woman from Wuheng Snow Valley is on her way!”
“What?”
The Lord of the Hades Hall’s expression shifted in an instant, his face draining of color.
The gravity of the situation hit him hard. He could no longer afford to focus on Bai Lian.
“I’m going to confront the Snow Spirit Lord. Stay here and don’t wander around!”
Without another word, the Lord of the Hades Hall shot into the air, his figure disappearing in a blur.