"This realm has nothing left for me!"
"It's time for me to leave!"
Xuanwu spoke, his voice somewhat weak.
He looked towards the sky, his gaze solemn, "Remember, you must not ascend to the Divine Realm!"
"Not unless all the gods have returned to their rightful places!"
"They can afford to wait!"
"Even a hundred years!"
"A thousand years!"
"Ten thousand years!"
Chen Nan was the last hope for the three realms.
He was like a beacon in the darkness.
Guiding the gods forward.
So they could find them and fight back.
He alone was not enough to contend against the aberrant demons of the Divine Realm.
Nor the Western Buddhas.
"I will wait for you in the Divine Realm!" Xuanwu soared into the sky and instantly vanished into the depths of the night.
Watching Xuanwu disappear into the vast expanse of the heavens.
Chen Nan finally snapped back to reality.
He glanced at the Yin Messenger Token in his hand.
His blood surged with excitement.
By his count, he had been in the underworld for a full year.
During this time.
All his efforts were dedicated to becoming a Level Nine Yin Messenger.
Now, his wish had come true.
He would soon be able to travel to the eighteenth level of hell and meet Empress Houtu.
Perhaps ten years had passed in the mortal realm.
Perhaps he had endured many hardships and obstacles in the underworld.
But to him, it was all worth it.
Because once the Animal Realm and the Human Realm were returned to Empress Houtu.
The three realms would be prevented from annihilation and reverting to their primordial chaotic state.
The lives of countless beings in the three realms would be saved from a gruesome end.
This was undoubtedly the most fulfilling deed he had ever accomplished.
"Let's go, first we'll release the great demons imprisoned here."
Chen Nan, accompanied by Di Ting and Guo Yu, arrived at the Grand Hall.
Lifting the floorboards, they descended the stone steps to the dungeon located beneath the hall.
The divine talisman on the stone door still emanated a terrifying aura.
However, Chen Nan was present in his true form this time.
He could still withstand the aura of the talisman.
"Young Master Chen, is that you?"
As Chen Nan approached the entrance, Su Daji's enchanting voice emanated from behind the stone door, "Please remove this talisman. If we are allowed to leave this place, we will surely remember your kindness!"
They all yearned to escape this confinement.
"I'll try my best!"
Chen Nan's expression was grave.
Although his physical body could endure the power of the talisman.
He could still feel a powerful force.
To put it plainly.
He was not very confident.
He formed a hand seal.
And attempted to remove the talisman using spatial laws.
But the moment his spatial laws touched the talisman.
A terrifying energy erupted from it instantly.
Like a surging torrent.
Catching him completely off guard.
In the next moment.
He was sent flying back.
His bones creaked within him.
"Brother, you're injured?"
Seeing a trickle of blood seep from Chen Nan's lips.
Guo Yu's scalp tingled.
He knew Chen Nan's strength.
He was at the peak of the Ghost King realm.
And possessed several laws of power.
He never would have imagined.
That Chen Nan, with such formidable strength, could still be injured by a divine talisman.
"It's nothing serious!"
A verdant light emanated from within Chen Nan.
The wood law instantly healed his injuries.
He then formed another hand seal, attempting to remove the talisman from the stone door.
But it was still futile.
No matter how he tried.
The talisman remained immovably affixed.
Furthermore, it emitted a dazzling Buddhist light.
Like a blazing sun hanging in the sky.
Making it impossible to open one's eyes.
Di Ting spoke, "The six-syllable mantra of Buddhism can remove this talisman!"
Chen Nan: "I am sworn to be an enemy of Buddhism, how could I possibly use a Buddhist mantra?"
Di Ting rolled his eyes at him, "Do you think the six-syllable mantra is just six notes? Don't assume. The Buddhist six-syllable mantra holds different profound mysteries!"
"As the saying goes, sincerity moves the heavens. Don't mention you."
"Even this old dog like me cannot recite the six-syllable mantra and achieve resonance to remove this talisman."
Chen Nan: "Then why are you saying all this?"
Di Ting's gaze was resentful, like a wronged young bride, "I've already given you plenty of hints!"
"There's no need for that!" Chen Nan said, "Given our relationship, you can just say it directly, no need for hints!"
Di Ting: "This talisman is called the Five Elements Talisman."
"It's like the mountain that suppressed that monkey."
"It appears to be a single mountain."
"But it's formed by the manifestation of the five elements."
"Except that it bears runes personally drawn by that old man, Tathagata."
"To remove it, besides reciting the six-syllable mantra."
"You must also control the power of the five elements."
"Only then can you remove this Five Elements Talisman."
Hearing this.
Chen Nan frowned involuntarily.
He currently controlled the laws of space, fire, water, wood, and a sliver of earth.
He was still a long way from controlling the five elements.
Removing this Five Elements Talisman would indeed be difficult.
Moreover, he did not know the whereabouts of the remaining earth and metal element laws.
"Forget it, let's go to the Imperial Palace and ask the Great Emperor about the whereabouts of the other two elemental laws!" Chen Nan sighed inwardly. He then addressed the great demons behind the stone door, "With my current strength, I am not yet capable of removing this divine talisman."
"However."
"Since I promised you that I would let you leave, I will not go back on my word."
"Please be patient and wait a little longer!"
The great demons behind the door said nothing more.
They had been suppressed here for ten thousand years.
Waiting a little longer was of no consequence.
"Let's go, to the Imperial Palace."
Chen Nan turned, leading Di Ting and Guo Yu away from the Great Ascension Temple.
At this moment.
Outside, the sky had already brightened.
A fiery sun appeared in the east.
Falling on the body, it brought a hint of warmth.
Numerous former Buddhist followers came to curse the Buddhas they once held dear.
The reason was simple.
They all knew that the Imperial Tutor, Zheng Yu, was a traitor to the Anti-Heaven Sect.
And the reason Zheng Yu had held such a high status in the hearts of the common people.
Ultimately stemmed from his past efforts in spreading and propagating Buddhist teachings.
Therefore.
Once Zheng Yu's crimes were made public.
He instantly became the target of public outrage.
This even affected the Buddhas in the hearts of the common people.
In the minds of the people, if the Imperial Tutor was not a good person, how could the Buddhism he propagated be any good?
Chen Nan had seen it clearly.
Whether in the underworld or the mortal realm.
It was a case of everyone kicking a man when he's down.
But this was for the best.
At least it would sever Buddhism's roots in the underworld.
------
"Imperial Palace restricted area, no entry!"
When Chen Nan arrived at the gates of the Imperial Palace, he was stopped by the guards.
Chen Nan produced his Yin Messenger Token.
Upon seeing it, the guards immediately bowed and respectfully asked, "Are you Chen Nan, Lord Chen?"
Chen Nan gave a noncommittal hum.
The guard respectfully said, "Lord Chen, please come in. The Great Emperor is waiting for you in the palace!"
Chen Nan strode inside.
He eventually arrived before a magnificent palace.
"You must be Lord Chen?" an old eunuch with a fawning smile hurried forward, "The Great Emperor has spoken highly of you, Young Master Chen, calling you a dragon among men. Seeing you today, you truly are a distinguished figure."
"Well, the Great Emperor is waiting for you."
"Please hurry inside!"
Chen Nan took a deep breath and strode into the main hall.
Although his strength was considerable now.
The thought of meeting the Emperor of Fengdu soon made him feel a touch of nervousness.
After all, this was a being with a divine title in the Pantheon!
As he entered the hall.
He saw the familiar figure on the imperial throne and exclaimed, "It's you?"