Chapter 1421: Want an Explanation

"My young friend, although the Underworld Dragon is an incomplete Innate Dao Lord, its realm is still formidable..."

The Nine Heavens Demon Eradication Patriarch's heart jolted when he heard Chen Mobai's words, and he immediately began to dissuade him. Demand an explanation from the Underworld Dragon? It wouldn't even listen; it would just swat you away! Even he could only contend with these Children of the Ghost Mother by relying on the unique environment of this anchor point. Though Chen Mobai held a noble status, his cultivation was merely at the Void Refining stage. Engaging with beings of their seventh-tier essence, the sheer power disparity of the Grand Dao would instantly crush him under the Underworld Dragon.

However, after Chen Mobai finished speaking, he already stepped through the void and landed on the chain that had emerged from the Underworld Dragon's Grand Dao manifestation. With a creaking sound, the chain swayed up and down under his foot, drawing the gaze of all the Children of the Ghost Mother behind the Gate of the Underworld.

"Insolent junior! You seek death!" The Underworld Dragon snorted coldly, and a blast of yellow-purple breath surged forth, carrying a terrifying power capable of corrupting even Void Refining cultivators. It sealed and covered a thousand miles of void around Chen Mobai. In the past, a cultivator in the Heavenly River Realm, upon reaching the Void Refining stage, had a sudden whim to infiltrate the Netherworld, retrieve the Ascension Platform, and open another path to ascension. However, during this endeavor, he encountered the Underworld Dragon and was instantly turned to ash by a single breath.

Chen Mobai, however, simply flicked his sleeve. Infinite layers of void began to overlap before him, blocking the Underworld Dragon's breath. It was as if an insurmountable chasm had opened between him and the Underworld Dragon. This was Chen Mobai's first time attempting to use the power of the Turtle Treasure, and it was far more potent than he had anticipated. Thousands upon thousands of voids were entirely at his command. He felt he could manipulate the void into any form he desired.

With this thought, Chen Mobai's divine consciousness stirred. In an instant, the void inverted, and the yellow-purple breath unexpectedly reversed direction, blasting back into the Gate of the Underworld. Facing this attack, the Underworld Dragon was somewhat surprised, its nose slightly singed, and boundless rage immediately followed.

With an angry roar, the Waters of the Yellow Springs surged out from the Gate of the Underworld, transforming into an enormous Underworld Dragon head. It opened its savage fangs and, with a terrifying power capable of tearing everything apart, lunged fiercely at Chen Mobai. The overlapping void that had previously blocked the Underworld Dragon's breath shattered before this dragon head formed from the Yellow Springs, like glass struck by a stone. In an instant, Chen Mobai was swallowed whole.

Upon witnessing this scene, the Nine Heavens Demon Eradication Patriarch felt he might as well have Dao-transformed himself. He knew Chen Mobai's identity; now that he was swallowed by the Underworld Dragon, if True King Taixu became enraged, even if the Patriarch ascended to an Innate Dao Lord, he would likely suffer greatly. As the Nine Heavens Demon Eradication Patriarch lamented, he suddenly saw a streak of brilliant silver light emanate from the Underworld Dragon's mouth. The silver light was like a thread severing the sky, splitting the Underworld Dragon's head, which had flown out from the Gate of the Underworld, into two. Immediately afterward, Chen Mobai's unblemished figure reappeared in his original spot.

"As expected of True King Taixu's junior brother! His mastery of the Grand Dao of Void is almost like attaining Dao Integration!" As a seventh-tier existence, the Nine Heavens Demon Eradication Patriarch understood what had happened with a single glance. It was Chen Mobai's ultimate application of the Heavenly River Realm's Grand Dao of Void; the power of the Yellow Springs Grand Dao, brought by the Underworld Dragon from the Netherworld, was shattered by the void. If the initial breath reversal could be attributed to the Underworld Dragon's underestimation, then this current scene proved that Chen Mobai possessed the power to contend with the Underworld Dragon here.

What the Nine Heavens Demon Eradication Patriarch could discern, the Underworld Dragon naturally could as well. Its deep eyes were filled with coldness. However, at this moment, it was willing to hear Chen Mobai speak further. "Who are you?"

Chen Mobai's face was equally cold. He asked in an icy tone, "My disciple was taken by the Underworld Umbrella. As her elder brother, shouldn't you give me an explanation?"

"Your disciple?" The Underworld Dragon was first startled by Chen Mobai's words. Then, recalling something about the Underworld Umbrella, its pupils narrowed, and it meticulously scrutinized the handsome young man before it.

"Junior, you are very fortunate to have such an outstanding disciple. However, her talent lies not in the Heavenly River Realm, but in the Netherworld. Once the Underworld Umbrella brings her back to the Yellow Springs, she will quickly be able to transform into a Spirit God, refine the void, and even attain Dao Integration is not impossible. When she reigns over the Netherworld, or even the Three Realms, you will feel honored to have had her as your disciple."

The Underworld Dragon's words confirmed Chen Mobai's suspicions. However, no matter what, Luo Yixuan was still his disciple.

"If you wished to invite her, you should at least have asked for her willingness. If she herself were willing, as her master, I would not object. But to take her by force like this shows a lack of respect for me," Chen Mobai said with a calm expression.

"Respect?" Upon hearing this, the Underworld Dragon showed a bewildered expression. "In the Netherworld, only the strong earn respect. The fact that I'm even speaking to you like this is already a great show of respect."

After listening, Chen Mobai's entire body lit up with void spirit patterns. He responded coldly, "Then show a little more respect, and hand over my disciple!"

Angry roars erupted. Before the Underworld Dragon could speak, the Grand Dao manifestations of Ghost Birds and others in the other Gates of the Underworld lit up, unleashing the primordial power of the Netherworld. They blasted directly towards Chen Mobai on the chain. In an instant, the void began to decay. Yet, in that same instant, Chen Mobai took control of the entire Grand Dao of Void in the Heavenly River Realm. No matter how much Netherworld essence surged from behind the Gates of the Underworld, an equal amount of void power would counteract it, causing the signs of decay to halt halfway along the chain, unable to advance even an inch.

"Junior, you're only bold because you're here!" A cold snort sounded. At this moment, the Underworld Dragon had also discovered Chen Mobai's true strength. His peak sixth-tier Vacuous Dharma Body transformed the Heavenly River Realm's Grand Dao of Void into spirit patterns, manifesting upon his person. In some respects, he was similar to True Monarch Yiyuan before his Dao Integration. Without deploying seventh-tier power, they could at most suppress him, but not kill him. However, the cosmic void anchored by the Wheel of Life and Death was akin to the Heavenly River Realm in ancient times, only capable of sustaining the extreme power of the sixth tier. Once they revealed seventh-tier power, the mighty beings who established the cosmic rules in the Spirit Void Immortal Realm would be able to strike at them by following the Grand Dao rules.

It was well known that long ago, the Heavenly Emperor had sought to shatter the Netherworld's Three Thousand Grand Daos to replenish the Spirit Void Immortal Realm. Another purpose of the Three Realms Returning to Source was to bring the Netherworld, which had always been outside the Immortal Realm's control, into submission. Yet, the Underworld Dragon, despite being unable to defy the greater trend, also had to contend for a future Lord of Samsara for the Three Realms on behalf of its siblings.

"I'll say it again: hand over my disciple immediately, or don't blame me for breaking into the Netherworld myself to find her." As Chen Mobai spoke, golden and silver lights flickered in his hands, which were clasped behind his back. These were the powers of the Purple Heavens Palace and the Grand Void Sky-Measuring Ruler. The former represented the Innate Holy Virtue power from the Purple Heavens Cosmos, while the latter was the Grand Dao of Void from the Spirit Void Immortal Realm. With either of these powers, Chen Mobai was confident he could suppress these incomplete Dao Lords, including the Underworld Dragon.

"Hahahaha, you'll come to the Netherworld? Very well, I'll be waiting for you!" Upon hearing Chen Mobai's words, the Underworld Dragon burst into laughter, its tone filled with mockery. It was well known that even True Immortal Dao Lords from the Spirit Void Immortal Realm, or even the Heavenly Emperor himself, dared not step into the Netherworld because its Three Thousand Grand Daos did not belong to them. Even if they were to enter, it would take some time for them to gain control over their respective Grand Daos. That time would be sufficient for the Underworld Dragon and other Netherworld deities to act and suppress them. It was precisely this reliance that allowed the Underworld Dragon and its kin to survive in the Netherworld, to the point where the Heavenly Emperor even dispatched immortal officials to negotiate, offering the position of a Netherworld Heavenly King to pacify them. However, the Underworld Dragon felt that the title of Heavenly King was insufficient. It desired to be on equal footing with the Heavenly Emperor, to control reincarnation, and become the Sovereign of the Underworld.

"Stubborn and unyielding!" Seeing the Underworld Dragon's utter lack of deference, Chen Mobai's expression grew even colder. With a sword keen, the Primordial Sun Sword flew out from his Dharma Realm. His right hand, imbued with the power of the Purple Heavens Palace, gripped it. As brilliant golden light blossomed, the Gate of the Underworld in the sky began to tremble incessantly.

"What kind of power is this?" The Underworld Dragon sensed it and was somewhat surprised, as this was clearly no longer the Grand Dao of Void. It was at this moment that the Primal Chaos Bell suddenly vibrated. All the spirits present looked over. "The Grand Daos of the Netherworld are different. You don't need to come with me for this fight." Chen Mobai, thinking the Primal Chaos Bell was signaling its desire to join the battle, couldn't help but dissuade it with a mental message. "Master, it's not me!" However, the spirit of the Primal Chaos Bell anxiously explained, "There's another power, remotely controlling me to ring."

As it explained, the white jade-like bell body vibrated incessantly, its chimes growing increasingly deep, resonant, and weighty. Under Chen Mobai's astonished gaze, a chaotic gleam had appeared at the bell's top loop, its origin unknown. Previously, this spot had been empty, only becoming complete when Chen Mobai manifested his primordial spirit, transformed from the Primal Chaos Pearl, to rest there. "When did this appear?"