Ye Yuqiao stood alone at the edge of the mountain's cliff, gazing steadily in the direction of the Huiyin Mountains. The moon, hidden behind dark clouds and quite hazy, nonetheless illuminated the loneliness and fear in her heart.

Not long ago, she had just spoken with Chen Hao through the Nether King's Heart. But as soon as their conversation ended, her heart began to grow restless and a feeling of missing Chen Hao overwhelmed her.

At this moment, she only thought of being with Chen Hao every minute and second until she vanished into dust in a few years.

After seeing her Yang Soul today, her heart had been restless. The seemingly resolute look in her Yang Soul's eyes made her feel that losing Chen Hao was not far away.

"Why! Why was it her who went to find Chen Hao eighteen years ago, and not me!" After looking up at the night sky for a long time, Ye Yuqiao finally spoke to herself, her voice filled with jealousy and dissatisfaction.

"Perhaps you shouldn't differentiate yourself from her; after all, you are the same person." At this moment, a voice came from behind her.

It was Zhao Chong.

She turned around and glared at Zhao Chong with complicated eyes, retorting, "If you didn't distinguish me from my Yang Soul, then why would you help me against her?"

Zhao Chong shook his head, furrowed his brows, and after thinking for a long time, said, "I don't know, maybe it's because I met you first."

"Chen Hao also met her first."

Zhao Chong had no reply. He realized that when someone truly wants to be sorrowful, no amount of consolation is useful—it might even infect you with their sorrow instead.

After a long silence, Ye Yuqiao turned her back again to look towards the Huiyin Mountains. In the far distance, she seemed to see the familiar figure of Chen Hao.

"Zhao Chong, thank you," Ye Yuqiao said with a hoarse voice, feeling exceedingly awkward as she spoke, "I should have thanked you earlier; it was just too difficult to bring up. Thank you for all the help you've given me."

Zhao Chong's frown deepened, and he said sternly, "Then why are you able to say it now?"

Ye Yuqiao shook her head, and changing the subject, said, "Zhao Chong, if we defeat the Ghost King, I want to go with Chen Hao to a place where no one will ever find us, and then the Netherworld will be yours."

"No!" Zhao Chong replied firmly and passionately, "I'm tired, please don't throw all your burdens on me and then just walk away."

"But who else can I entrust it to, if not you?"

"You and Chen Hao should both stay!" Zhao Chong said after seriously considering it for a while.

Ye Yuqiao turned back, looked up into Zhao Chong's eyes, and said, "If Chen Hao becomes the Nether King in the future, will you loyally assist him?"

Suddenly, Ye Yuqiao's eyes narrowed and dimmed. She realized what Ye Yuqiao had said in preparing for this question; perhaps deep down, Ye Yuqiao had never intended to hand over the position of Nether King to him—she simply wanted him to make a promise in her presence, to be loyal to Chen Hao, the future Nether King.

"It seems you have already decided to pass the title of Nether King to Chen Hao," Zhao Chong said in a low voice, "and then you can be the woman behind him."

"Tell me, will you or will you not loyally assist him!" Ye Yuqiao emphasized again, her tone sharp.

Zhao Chong nodded.

Ye Yuqiao suddenly lowered her head, avoiding Zhao Chong's eyes, and with a suddenly hoarse voice, said, "Thank you, Zhao Chong!"

The reason she had decided to pass the title of Nether King to Chen Hao was that neither she nor her Yang Soul would survive till the end. This decision was agreed upon today after discussing with her Yang Soul; and her demand for Zhao Chong to promise to loyally assist Chen Hao in the future was also the wish of her Yang Soul.

Although she and her Yang Spirit could hardly coexist, they were unified in matters concerning Chen Hao. Yet, they both felt somewhat guilty towards Zhao Chong.

"Stop thanking me," Zhao Chong suddenly placed his left hand gently on Ye Yuqiao's shoulder, "all I hope is that you'll remember, whenever you need help, I, Zhao Chong, will be standing behind you."

At this moment, as his hand rested on Ye Yuqiao's shoulder, Zhao Chong was suddenly reminded of their childhood memories from a time long, long ago. Before Ye Yuqiao became the Nether King, he often placed his hand on her shoulder.

Ye Yuqiao looked up at Zhao Chong, her eyes brimming with tears. She was moved by his words. At this point, other than saying thank you, she did not know what else would be appropriate.

However, Zhao Chong had just told her not to thank him. To do so again would truly be treating him as an outsider, and it would actually hurt his feelings.

Just then, a hurried set of footsteps came from behind them. Both turned towards the sound, only to see Wu Kun and Wang Yun approaching.

"Nether King, Family Leader Zhao, there's new movement from the Ghost King Battalion!" Wu Kun stated urgently.

"What's happened?" Ye Yuqiao asked.

"They've suddenly split their forces into two. One group continues heading west, while the other has turned south," Wang Yun interjected before Wu Kun could respond.

"Oh?" Ye Yuqiao's brows furrowed, showing a hint of suspicion. "Zhao Chong, what do you think?"

A sharp glint flashed in Zhao Chong's eyes as he said, "That's not good. They must have detected the two ten-thousand strong armies from the Wu Family lying in ambush in the great river wetlands, and they intend to circle around and launch a surprise attack; the troops continuing west are probably a diversion, and I suspect they won't engage with the forces we have hastening from the Huiyin Mountain Range."

Hearing this, Wang Yun and Wu Kun became panicked.

"Then what should we do?"

Zhao Chong looked towards Ye Yuqiao, meaning it was her decision to make.

Ye Yuqiao hesitated, facing several choices: one was to notify the two ten-thousand strong armies in ambush at the great river wetlands to quickly regroup at the base of Falling Shade Mountain; another was for the allied forces of the three houses atop Falling Shade Mountain to strike, either against the troops advancing to the west from the Ghost King Battalion, or head towards the great river wetlands to flank the other group from the Ghost King Battalion.

However, whichever route they chose, none promised absolute certainty of victory.

After a long pause, Ye Yuqiao finally said, "Send out the signal to engage. Let those two ten-thousand strong armies come for support and regroup."

"Yes!"

A quarter of an hour later, more than a dozen stone-throwing birds carrying explosive firestones left the summit of Falling Shade Mountain, speeding towards the west.

It wasn't long before...

In the western Dayang Mountains, upon seeing a dozen dazzling firelights rapidly approaching from the east, King Shuanglin's eyes flashed with radiance, and he shouted loudly, "To arms!"

Then, as the firelights drew closer and it became clear they were from a dozen stone-throwing birds, King Shuanglin scoffed, "So, it's just a bunch of big birds!"

Having said that, he leaped into the air, positioning himself in the high skies to the east, before the stone-throwing birds could drop their explosive firestones.

Soon, the stone-throwing birds arrived in front of King Shuanglin. At that moment, King Shuanglin's body burst forth with a massive amount of Yin Qi Spiritual Power, freezing the air in front of him...

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