Bexia fulfilled the bet with Huixi and Liuyan Xu of Qingyan, and emerged victorious as agreed. However, advancing to the remaining realms of cultivation is not an overnight task, so there was no need to rush. After all, Huixi had promised to help and was ready to seek guidance from Bexia at any time!
The banquet at Tianwang Mountain lasted for a month, with Bexia spending over twenty days on Mount Kang. After the banquet concluded, Bexia immediately prepared to return to the Underworld to meet with the Earth Mother, as he had already found the Asphodel Flower and only needed to acquire the Soul-nurturing Wood.
Midway through the banquet, Lulumon had visited the Mistress of the Underworld, a move that seemed deliberate. With the inheritance of the Huaxu clan in her hands and being a relative of the Underworld Mistress, negotiations were most likely smoother due to this connection.
After Huixi's "training," Bexia's growth was truly remarkable. The corrupt nature of the Blood Dragon had seeped into his flesh, soul, and accumulated a vast amount of vital energy. However, the purging punishment of the Extinction Thunder and the dual baptism of the Yellow Spring water had completely eliminated the hidden dangers within Bexia's body, paving the way for his advancement.
Having mastered the forbidden power of Reckless Strength, Bexia could now fully unleash his own power, enabling him to battle even against immortal gods despite not being one himself.
The Palace of Samsara.
"Earth Mother, both the King of Strength and the King of Wisdom have agreed to your terms!" Liuyan Xu relayed the responses of the two Ghost Clan Kings to the Earth Mother.
"I see." The Earth Mother's ethereal voice remained calm and unaffected, as if such responses were expected.
"Forgive me for being presumptuous, Earth Mother, but is this an early implementation of that plan?" Liuyan Xu, although unaware of the specifics, being a high-ranking deity in the Underworld, had some understanding of certain matters.
"Silence!" The Earth Mother did not provide a direct answer, but those two words implicitly addressed Liuyan Xu's query, prompting her to cease speaking, understanding the Earth Mother's caution.
At the level of a powerful figure like the Earth Mother, mere thoughts would immediately invoke a corresponding response, allowing them to trace origins and deduce much from minimal information. Hence, in the vast universe, many things were better left unsaid.
"Don't act recklessly, Asphodel Flower!" As the Earth Mother conversed with Liuyan Xu, the Asphodel Flower, originally seated on Bexia's shoulder, suddenly flew towards the central pool in the hall, ignoring Bexia's calls, seemingly drawn by something within.
"Earth Mother, forgive her impertinence, but the Asphodel Flower..." Bexia felt the Earth Mother's gaze and was about to explain when the Earth Mother preemptively interjected, "It's fine."
Acknowledging the host's indifference, Bexia refrained from further comments. The attention of everyone present, including Yan Luowang and Han Xue, shifted to the Asphodel Flower.
The delicate Asphodel Flower furrowed her brows in confusion as she danced above the pool, seemingly observing something within. After scratching her head thoughtfully, she suddenly dove into the water.
"The Asphodel Flower!"
"It's fine, that's the Pool of Creation, only benefits, no harm!" Liuyan Xu hastily explained to Bexia.
"The Pool of Creation?!" Bexia was abruptly awakened to the situation. The Asphodel Flower was not only an ancient god of the Underworld but also one of its guardians, bearing the Essence Mirror and the cycle of reincarnation. These guardians relied on their strength to protect their respective areas, with the Asphodel Flower overseeing the Naihe Bridge, showcasing her remarkable power.
"Gurgle~!" The Pool of Creation bubbled vigorously, and a beam of light emerged from it, revealing the Essence Mirror from the Asphodel Flower's body. The radiant mirror absorbed the pool's energy, sealing the visible cracks, prompting profound changes throughout the Underworld.
As the earth trembled, the Underworld's boundaries expanded, shrinking nearly one-third of its territory and continuing to diminish slowly. Simultaneously, a formidable dimensional crack within the old Underworld gradually contracted, causing several guardians to escape in panic, eyeing the diminishing crack with dread.
"This is...!!"
"The Underworld's origin is being restored. There must be a significant event looming!"
"How could this be happening? Could it be...!"
"Exactly! The return of the Underworld artifact, the Essence Mirror!"
"We must hurry back to inform our superiors!"
"No time to waste, let's go back now!" With that, several figures swiftly vanished.
"As the Asphodel Flower is a god of the Underworld, she can restore her power swiftly here. Bexia, I entrust you with the Soul-nurturing Wood; you may leave her temporarily with me," the Earth Mother suggested. With the blood contract between him and the Asphodel Flower, Bexia had no choice but to agree, as the Earth Mother had no means to interfere with the Asphodel Flower.
"W-well, okay..." Bexia nodded, then approached the Pool of Creation for a brief glance. However, his expression turned peculiar as he gazed upon a stark-naked young maiden lying within the pool — a larger incarnation of the Asphodel Flower!
