Not long after,

the clan leaders of the five great families, headed by Zhao Chong, stepped into the Nether King Palace.

Apart from Zhao Chong, the other four clan leaders first looked around the Nether King Palace, searching for any traces of the Ghost King. Although there had been no news from the Polar Ice Land, no one could be certain that the Ghost King was definitely in closed-door cultivation there.

The only certainty was that King Wanfa had entered the Polar Ice Land.

"Esteemed clan leaders!" The shadow incarnation of the Dark Law King greeted the five clan leaders with a bow.

"Dark Law King!" The clan leaders returned the gesture and nodded towards the three Dharma Kings standing behind him.

At this moment, Zhao Chong frowned; he was the first to notice that the Dark Law King in front of them was merely a shadow incarnation. He thought that the earlier speculation seemed correct: the Ghost King was cultivating within the Demon-Sealing Scroll, the true body of the Dark Law King had gone into the scroll to find the Ghost King, and King Wanfa's trip to the Polar Ice Land was nothing but a smokescreen.

He couldn't help but feel melancholic for King Wanfa; the trip to the Polar Ice Land had been in vain. He didn't know whether it was King Wanfa himself or just the remnants of his corpse that were present in the Polar Ice Land at that moment, or if even the soul had not been left behind.

"Dark Law King, we are here at the Nether King Palace today to welcome the Ghost King out of his seclusion," said Zhao Chong, his tone and expression as calm as ever, in stark contrast to the four clan leaders beside him who seemed to be preoccupied with their own thoughts.

"Clan Leader Zhao, the sun has barely risen; you have come a bit early," the shadow incarnation of the Dark Law King said, trying to control the nervousness within, but still not able to prevent a slight tremble in his voice.

"Early?" Zhao Chong retorted. He was puzzled, not understanding why the shadow incarnation of the Dark Law King would tremble when speaking—was it because there was no confidence due to the possibility that the Ghost King might not return.

"No, it's not early," Zhao Chong continued after a pause, "everyone has been waiting for this day for a very long time."

Having said that, Zhao Chong turned and exchanged glances with the clan leaders of the Zhou, Wu, Zheng, and Wang families.

They had already begun to speculate on their next move should the Ghost King fail to return. With several hundred thousand soldiers of the Ghost King Battalion surrounding Netherworld City, it was impossible to leave with the hundreds of members of their families. Unless battle broke out in Wind Shelter Valley to the east, creating a rift in the tight encirclement.

In their view, Qian Feng and Li Zuole would be very pleased to do so. After all, if the other great families also defected and left Netherworld City, even if the Ghost King did emerge from seclusion, he would not dare to attack Wind Shelter Valley with all his might.

"Then I must ask the clan leaders to be patient and wait," the shadow incarnation of the Dark Law King spoke, "the day has just begun, and it will be a long one."

He was right; this day would indeed be a long one.

By noon, there was still no news from either the Polar Ice Land to the northeast or Wind Shelter Valley to the east.

The entire Netherworld was enveloped in a strange and fearful tranquility.

After sitting in the Nether King Palace for more than an hour, the clan leaders of the Zhou, Wu, Zheng, and Wang families grew restless, with two of them breaking into a sweat.

One must know that in the Nether King Palace, where gloomy woods grow all around, it is almost insulated from words like 'hot' or even 'warm,' and the air was filled with the faint fragrance of Yinyin flowers.

..

..

Near the Hong River region.

Waves surged violently, crashing relentlessly, and their roars were like those of beasts.

On the eastern bank, Qian Feng and Li Zuole stood, gazing across to the opposite shore.

"Clan Leader Qian, do you think the Ghost King will show up?" Li Zuole asked.

Qian Feng shook his head and said honestly, "I don't know."

Li Zuole turned to look at Qian Feng with surprise and confusion. As always, Qian Feng's gaze was hazy, revealing none of his true thoughts, leaving Li Zuole wondering why he had chosen to ally with such a person in the first place.

Perhaps it is such a person who would ultimately emerge victorious.

"I hope that by sunset, the Ghost King has not returned yet," Qian Feng said.

"Why specifically after sunset? Why not after today?" Li Zuole asked.

"The Ghost King will come back sooner or later. For me, it makes no difference which day he returns," Qian Feng answered. "However, if he hasn't come back before sunset today, those clan leaders within Netherworld City will become restless. Once our side sends troops across the river, they might just start a rebellion."

A gleam of understanding flashed in Li Zuole's eyes.

"You mean…"

Qian Feng raised his right hand to interrupt Li Zuole, saying coldly, "Exactly. We need someone to draw away some fire for us."

Having said that, Qian Feng turned around with his hands behind his back and looked ahead.

Ahead were tens of thousands of soldiers from the Qian and Li families. At his command, these soldiers would at any moment fly across the region of the Hong River.

..

..

Night fell.

Evening often brings the bustle of activity in Netherworld City, with the night market opening, the setting sun painting the scenery beautifully, and people making their way to twilight rendezvous.

Yet, everyone knew that today was not a day to go out, indeed, they should not, or even could not go out. Thus, Netherworld City under the lingering twilight looked more like the quiet before the dawn, desolate and empty.

The Ghost King was yet to make an appearance;

There was still no news from Polar Ice Land;

But, in Wind Shelter Valley, all the soldiers of the Qian and Li families had come out in full force, crossing the Hong River to press directly upon the Ghost King Battalion's camp located thousands of miles to the east of Netherworld City in Dark Wind Hills.

Although there were nearly forty thousand soldiers inside the camp, they paled in comparison to the overwhelming march of more than seventy thousand troops from the combined forces of the Qian and Li families.

Quickly, this news reached the Nether King Palace.

Even though the Dharma Kings did not wish to let the clan leaders, who were still seated inside the Nether King Palace, know about this, soon after, the clan leaders of the major families were informed as well.

After learning of this, King Wumeng hurriedly left Netherworld City, ready to dispatch twenty thousand warriors from the Crow Tribe stationed north of Netherworld City to support the Ghost King Battalion in Dark Wind Hills;

Whereas Zhao Chong fell into hesitation, he was well aware that Qian Feng was signaling to him. To be exact, he was offering the several major families that had not left Netherworld City a chance.

A final chance to start a rebellion before the Ghost King's return.

The clan leaders of the Zhou, Wu, Zheng, and Wang families were already restless. If they did not leave Netherworld City now, there would likely be no better time than the present.

"Clan Leader Zhao, it's getting late, let's go," the Clan Leader of Zhou Family urged Zhao Chong in a hushed voice.

His notion of leaving was not merely exiting the Nether King Palace, but Netherworld City itself.

Zhao Chong's brows were deeply furrowed, and his expression was no longer indifferent.

Zhao Chong's hesitation grew; he did not wish to be led by the nose by that old fox Qian Feng from the very start, knowing that one false step now could leave him at the other's mercy henceforth.

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