Chapter 77: Deception, and More Deception

"So, it's the Emperor himself."
Yang Kai hurriedly bowed in respect.
The man in brocade smiled and said, "No need for ceremony. At this moment, I am merely a shadow, nothing more. The title of Emperor means little now."
Yang Kai, of course, did not take this at face value.
Even a shadow of such a being was far above him. If he showed disrespect, life would quickly become unbearable.
"Di Jia, what is your relationship with Huang Quan?" the brocade-clad man asked again, curiosity lighting his face.
Yang Kai chuckled awkwardly. "You flatter me, Emperor. In truth, Huang Quan and I..."
"No relation," a cold voice interrupted—it was Huang Quan.
Yang Kai shrugged, helpless. "Indeed, no relation."
The man in brocade smiled wryly. "Huang Quan, if you wish to enter, do so. If not, stay away. But lurking outside and spying hardly suits your status."
"I am observing openly and honestly, not spying. This brat used my name for no reason. That is a matter of cause and effect. I have already shown him mercy by not troubling him. Should I let him continue to tarnish my reputation with my name?" Huang Quan replied irritably.
"In that case, I believe you," said the brocade-clad man.
Huang Quan: "..."
That tone hardly sounded like belief.
If anything, suspicion had deepened.
Why even speak—doesn't that just worsen the misunderstanding?
"Brother Di Jia, you don't seem to belong to the Underworld. How did you come here?" The brocade-clad man turned to Zhang Kai.
Zhang Kai replied with resignation, "Because of the Taboo."
"Oh?" The brocade-clad man looked at Zhang Kai with keen interest.
Even Huang Quan focused intently.
The Taboo was the greatest pain of the Three Realms.
Because of it, all deities had been cast down to the mortal world, and foreign invaders had descended.
Yet the Taboo was an unsolvable riddle.
No god could resist it; even the Heavenly Dao was manipulated by the Taboo.
Thus, deities and Buddhas could only resign themselves.
"I was originally a ray of light born at the dawn of the universe," Zhang Kai said, his tone wistful. "In the ancient times, I lacked the foundation to manifest. I accumulated strength for ages before finally emerging, but encountered the Taboo. My birth was interrupted. Helpless, I fused with an object, then with humanity, borrowing a mortal form to be reborn as I am now."
The brocade-clad man's expression turned solemn.
A ray of primordial light from the birth of heaven and earth—such origins far surpassed even his own.

Though now at a low ebb, to have withstood the Taboo's suppression meant this fellow's future was boundless.
"I sense the power of the Buddhist sect in you. What is your connection to them?" Huang Quan could not help but inquire.
Zhang Kai replied, "That was a stroke of fate. When I was suppressed and on the verge of destruction, a master of the Buddhist sect helped me survive. Later, curiosity led me to join the sect and learn some of their arts."
"But you also claim to be linked to the Tathagata," Huang Quan pressed.
Zhang Kai laughed dryly. "That matter is somewhat private and not easily explained. You could ask the Tathagata himself, though he would surely deny it."
Huang Quan: ...
Why did that sound so familiar?
Meanwhile, in a mysterious Buddhist sanctuary, the Tathagata wore a troubled expression.
Where had this scoundrel appeared from?
His words were vague and ambiguous—
and blocked off any retreat for the Tathagata.
Even if he denied it, who would believe him?
"Haha, it seems our friend here has truly had many extraordinary adventures. Admirable! Come, if you don't mind, try my Ethereal Dao Tea—a rare treasure, worthy of your appreciation," the brocade-clad man invited with a smile.
Zhang Kai spun tales, mixing truth and falsehood, based on his own circumstances.
Yet in the brocade-clad man's eyes, Zhang Kai's situation was clear as day.
He truly was a ray of light—pure, unmistakable, perceptible.
The Buddhist power was evident too, marked by traces of the Tathagata's own teachings.
Who could doubt his connection to the Buddha?
Such a companion was worth befriending.
Zhang Kai smiled. "Then I gratefully accept."
He strode over confidently, sat opposite the brocade-clad man, picked up a cup of tea, and took a sip.
The tea was indeed divine.
Sweet upon entry, rich in spiritual energy and Dao resonance.
After drinking, Zhang Kai felt his cultivation advance—it was as though he had gained nearly a decade's progress.
His mind expanded, his body nourished, growing steadily stronger.
Eyes brightening, Zhang Kai finished the tea in one gulp and smiled contentedly.
After a while, Zhang Kai turned to the brocade-clad man. "Thank you, Emperor. This tea is truly a treasure and has benefited me greatly."
"Haha, it's just a beverage. I seldom receive guests here, so sharing a drink is a rare pleasure," the brocade-clad man replied, beaming with satisfaction at his successful display.
"By the way, Emperor, since coming to the Underworld, I've heard that foreign races have invaded here as well. How is the situation now?" Zhang Kai asked.

The brocade-clad man shook his head. "It's nothing serious. Were it not for the Taboo, I could suppress them with a flip of my hand. As it stands, they huddle in a corner."
Zhang Kai sighed. "When I was among mortals, the suppression was at its worst. Not only foreign races—even humanity struggled to cultivate and follow the Dao. Had I not sealed my power, I would have been unable to move at all in the mortal world."
"Naturally. The mortal realm is quite different from the Underworld—it is the sacred land of the Three Realms," the brocade-clad man smiled.
Zhang Kai's heart leaped, though his face showed confusion. "Sacred land of the Three Realms? How is it I never knew?"
"Perhaps you have been dormant too long and missed those changes. After the ancient calamity of the gods, the Three Realms were divided. The mortal realm, formed from the heart of Pangu, became the center. Beyond it, the ancient world was split into several realms: the Underworld, the Immortal Realm, the Buddhist Realm, the Demon Realm, the Monster Realm, the Shaman Realm, the Asura Realm, and others—plus smaller worlds occupied by mighty beings, scattered like stars, forming the Three Realms," the brocade-clad man explained.
Zhang Kai feigned enlightenment, inwardly astonished.
So many worlds beyond the mortal realm!
No wonder the records described the ancient world as vast beyond measure, while the present mortal realm is but a small sphere.
So that was the truth.
Yet this raised another question.
If the mortal realm was formed from Pangu's heart, what connection did the Taboo have with it?
"Thank you for your guidance, Emperor. No wonder, upon awakening, the mortal realm seemed diminished—I thought I had missed the collapse of the ancient world, but it was all predestined," Zhang Kai sighed.
"Alas, though each has become its own realm, none escape the name of the Three Realms. Under the Taboo's shadow, nowhere can hide. The mighty ones of every realm are suffering," the brocade-clad man smiled.
"Then, Emperor, do the great beings have any way to break free?" Zhang Kai asked.
The brocade-clad man shook his head. "It's difficult. The Taboo is unknown, its origin and location a mystery. Its suppression of the Three Realms is direct and tyrannical. Nearly a thousand years have passed, with no change."
Zhang Kai said, "So all must simply submit?"
"Not quite. Recently, something happened that may be the key to breaking the calamity," the brocade-clad man said suddenly.
Zhang Kai asked, "What is it?"
"The reawakening of the Investiture of the Gods," the brocade-clad man answered solemnly.
Huh?
Zhang Kai was stunned.
"The Investiture of the Gods, hidden in the unseen, suddenly vanished. Yet Heaven and Earth sensed it, and the mortal realm saw the Investiture reappear. If new gods take their places, perhaps the calamity can be resolved."
Zhang Kai fell silent.
Was he being forced to continue the Investiture?
He refused.