Volume Two: The Bandit's Life Chapter Sixteen: The Hall of the Underworld King

Before them stood several majestic mountains, and at the center of these peaks floated a resplendent palace. Around the palace, mist curled like a sacred realm.

“So this is the Underworld King’s Hall? Those two Divine Kings sure know how to live in luxury,” Qin Si remarked, his eyes fixed on the palace with a hint of mockery curling at the corner of his mouth.

“Yes, this is indeed the Underworld King’s Hall,” Ping Tian said enviously. “This great hall is a single complete artifact, a mid-grade divine treasure forged by Divine King Jiang Zheng using some excellent materials. You must understand, even just forging this palace took Jiang Zheng a million years back then.”

“Mid-grade divine treasure?” Qin Shuang smiled faintly. “A palace that’s only a mid-grade divine treasure isn’t much to speak of. The entire Purple Profound Mansion is a low-grade heavenly divine treasure.”

“Not much?” Ping Tian was taken aback, his estimation of Qin Si and Qin Shuang’s status rising considerably. “Even among the Eight Great Divine Clans, palaces of this artifact level are rare. Yet to the Vice Alliance Leader, it’s nothing. Clearly, your clans must possess even finer palaces.” His guess was accurate, though he dared not voice it.

“Divine King Jiang Zheng, Divine King Cui De, old friends have come to see you,” Ping Tian’s voice echoed through the valley. Cui De and Jiang Zheng were drinking; with a sweep of their divine senses, they spotted Ping Tian, Qin Si, and Qin Shuang.

“Oh? When did the Demon Refining Cave get a new Divine King?” Cui De asked in surprise. “And that Upper Heavenly Divine, seems like a new face too.”

“Go out and see for yourself,” Jiang Zheng laughed. “A new Divine King wanting to show off here, huh?”

A ripple in space, and two figures appeared opposite Qin Si and the others—a trait of Divine Kings’ teleportation.

“So it’s Divine King Ping Tian. First, congratulations on gaining such a powerful aide,” Cui De smiled, his eyes occasionally glancing at Qin Shuang.

“Haha, not at all. Compared to the Underworld King’s Hall, the Demon Refining Cave is far inferior,” Ping Tian said with a smile. “Two hall lords, won’t you invite us in for a drink?”

Jiang Zheng’s eyes swept over Qin Si and Qin Shuang. “Divine King Ping Tian, are you here to request weapons for these two subordinates?”

“Request weapons?” Ping Tian smiled faintly. “You could say that. I have two purposes this time. First, as Jiang Zheng guessed; second, to ask the two Divine Kings for two subordinates. You know well, I have far too few experts and barely enough to hold the fort.”

“Oh? Divine King Ping Tian, you’re not here just to poach, are you?” Cui De narrowed his eyes, displeased.

“Yes, indeed to poach,” Ping Tian crossed his arms, his smile growing wider. “And I’m aiming for two big pillars.”

Jiang Zheng’s face darkened. “You mean Wang Meng and Di Long?” Both had reached the peak of Upper Heavenly Divine and might soon break through to Divine King.

“Forget it, impossible. Divine King Ping Tian, you’re wasting your trip,” Cui De said decisively.

Ping Tian was unfazed, raising a finger and shaking it lightly. “No, no. I mean... you two!”

“What... Ping Tian, you’re bold today. Is it because you have a newly minted Divine King subordinate?” Cui De sneered disdainfully.

“Alright then, how about a wager? You find another Upper Heavenly Divine and split into three pairs. If the Demon Refining Cave loses two matches, I, Ping Tian, will lead all our forces to submit to the Underworld King’s Hall. But if you lose two...” Ping Tian laid down the terms confidently. With his superior-grade heavenly divine armor and dagger, defeating even one of their men was no great feat.

Cui De glanced at Qin Shuang, easily sensing she was indeed a newly risen Divine King. He snorted, “Hmph... if we lose two matches, we’ll willingly submit to your Demon Refining Cave.”

Ping Tian considered and proposed, “Let’s swear an oath, so no one backs out later.” With that, he made the first oath.

Cui De and Jiang Zheng exchanged glances and quickly swore as well. From their perspective, one-on-one, Cui De and Ping Tian were evenly matched. Jiang Zheng, though not especially powerful in combat, would easily handle a new Divine King. As for Upper Heavenly Divine? Wang Meng and Di Long, both at the peak, wielding low-grade heavenly divine armor and superior-grade heavenly divine weapons—there was no way they’d lose to Ping Tian’s subordinates.

“Good, straightforward,” Ping Tian said, pleased his plan had worked. Qin Si also discreetly praised Ping Tian via divine transmission and promised a handsome reward if successful.

“I’ll go first,” Ping Tian shook his head, stepping forward and pointing at Cui De and Jiang Zheng. “Which of you will fight me?”

“Heh, it’s me, of course,” Cui De flickered and appeared before Ping Tian.

“This guy really loves to show off,” Qin Shuang thought. As a Divine King, he could have teleported instantly before Ping Tian, but Cui De chose to move step by step, purely for style.

Ping Tian smiled at Cui De. “Billions of years have passed, can’t you change your entrance move?”

Cui De’s face darkened. “Enough talk.”

No sooner had he spoken did he vanish, and simultaneously, a pitch-black blade sliced downward vertically from behind Ping Tian.

“Hmph, since the hall lords want it fierce, I’ll show you what that means,” Ping Tian sneered. He turned and met the black blade head-on with his bare hand, neither dodging nor parrying.

Cui De was shocked. “Catching a blade with bare hands? That’s suicide.”

Ping Tian didn’t move his body, and Cui De was confident this strike would not only sever Ping Tian’s arm but also wound him severely.

“Crack.” Just as expected, Ping Tian’s arm was instantly cut off by the black blade, offering no resistance. The blade continued toward Ping Tian’s head.

The head was the soul’s seat; a hit there would cause grievous injury.

At the last moment, Ping Tian tilted his head slightly, letting the blade strike his body instead.

“Clang!” The harsh clash of metal rang out. Cui De’s blade failed to pierce Ping Tian’s armor.

“This... at least superior-grade heavenly divine armor,” Cui De was stunned. In the divine realm, resources were scarce, but for a Divine King, obtaining a superior-grade heavenly divine treasure was not difficult. However, superior-grade heavenly divine armor was rare, accessible only to direct members of the Eight Great Divine Clans.

The reason was simple: forging armor consumed far more materials than weapons. The materials needed for one superior-grade heavenly divine armor could make several superior-grade heavenly divine weapons—and the process was far more challenging.

As Cui De was stunned, a sharp dagger seemed to pierce through space and stopped just an inch from Cui De’s head.

“Cui De, you’ve lost,” Ping Tian’s smile deepened. Though he lost an arm, it could regrow easily. Using his superior-grade divine armor, he absorbed Cui De’s strike. Though the armor was slightly damaged, a simple repair would restore it.

Taking advantage of Cui De’s momentary shock and time acceleration, Ping Tian easily stabbed the dagger near Cui De’s head, deliberately avoiding harm to his soul to spare a future comrade.

Cui De understood Ping Tian’s mercy, his expression darkening. With a flicker, he retreated.

Jiang Zheng seemed to forget the contest momentarily, his eyes glowing gold as he fixed on Ping Tian. “Ping Tian, if you give me that superior-grade heavenly divine armor you’re wearing, I can forge three superior-grade heavenly divine treasures for you.”

“Pah.” Qin Shuang stepped forward. “Are you out of your mind? You’re still fighting, and you might soon have to make weapons for my cave lord unconditionally.”

Jiang Zheng was taken aback and annoyed. “You’re a newly minted Divine King, and you dare be so arrogant? I’ll show you my power soon.”

Qin Shuang smirked disdainfully. “Better hurry then—my cave lord’s time is precious.”

“Youngster, I’ll teach you a lesson,” Jiang Zheng said. Though still far from Qin Shuang, before he finished, a giant hand appeared above her. With thousands of times time acceleration, the hand seemed to pierce space. Just as it was about to grasp her head, Jiang Zheng’s figure appeared in midair. Using time acceleration in one-on-one combat was even more difficult.

No one could control such power better than a master craftsman of the same rank.

“Hmph, teleportation? Anyone can do that,” Qin Shuang thought as her figure vanished. The next moment, a jade-green staff flicked, and the entire sky was instantly enveloped in a swirl of green staff shadows.

“Seventy-two Heavenly Strikes!” Qin Shuang smiled. “Not strong in attack, but enough to destabilize this space.”

As she said, where the green staff shadows passed, space rippled, completely enveloping Jiang Zheng.

(To be continued)