"I want to know if you had any regrets at the last moment. Although you did have regrets, you moved me. Throughout, you never once thought of exchanging my tribespeople for your life. Your regret was solely because you couldn't bear to part with the girl you liked." Dust explained with an approving and appreciative expression on his dark undead face.

"Besides, the Yin Souls absorbed by the Dust King Ring intended to merge their powers with your Yin Soul. Alas, your flesh had long since died, and the powers couldn't be fully transferred to you."

"That's right! My lifespan had already ended a year ago, but thanks to the enchantment on my left eye, I've been able to stay alive until today," Chen Hao said calmly, his gaze inadvertently shifting to Ye Yuqiao's flawless profile. He couldn't help but marvel at the whims of fate; if Ye Yuqiao had not placed the Nether King's Heart in his left eye eighteen years ago, everything would have been very different.

Then, the corners of Chen Hao's mouth lifted slightly as he looked at the spirit of the Dust King and asked with a smile, "So, have I passed your test?"

The Dust King nodded, gave Chen Hao a thumbs up, and laughed loudly, "Of course! Your performance was quite perfect! Rest assured, the Dust King Ring and the Sword of Dust will no longer pose any threat to you. On the contrary, they now belong to you and will use their powers to protect you, just like the enchantment in your left eye."

Hearing what the Dust King said, both Lin Huashan and Yi Ning showed joy on their faces.

Chen Hao was fine, Chen Hao was still alive, and he would live even better than before.

"I'm truly sorry," Chen Hao said, his expression turning somber, "I cannot inherit the position of the Dust King. I don't belong here."

"We, the Dust Tribe, don't belong here either!" The Dust King said with a solemn face, "Our tribe has always wished to return to our homeland one day. Our homeland is in the Huiyin Mountains! A few months ago, the flames on the Huiyin Mountains were drawn away, bringing back the life that once thrived there. So I implore you, please lead these wandering people of the Dust Tribe home."

"The Dust King could barely be deemed a match for the Nether King," Ye Yuqiao suddenly murmured under her breath. Although it sounded like a playful remark, the implication was that she wanted Chen Hao to accept the Dust King's request.

After seriously considering for a while, Chen Hao nodded and said, "I promise you, I will lead your people back to the Netherworld homeland. However, you should know that the Netherworld is in chaos right now, we need to wait for a while."

"I know!" The Dust King nodded.

"By the way!" Chen Hao's eyes suddenly flashed with an unusual light, "You just mentioned that the flames of the Huiyin Mountains were taken away a few months ago, right?"

"Yes!" The Dust King confirmed, "It was a woman. She transformed into a fire phoenix and soared into the sky, absorbing all the flames of the Huiyin Mountains into her being!"

Upon hearing this, both Chen Hao and Lin Huashan were greatly shocked, and an odd expression appeared on Ye Yuqiao's face.

"It's again that woman who transformed into a fire phoenix!" Chen Hao exclaimed.

"What, you know that woman?" The Dust King questioned.

Chen Hao shook his head, his eyes narrowing sharply as he said, "I don't know her, but she once saved my life. Although I have never seen her, I have a feeling that she has always been near me, hiding somewhere secretly watching me."

Lin Huashan leaned forward earnestly and then looked at Ye Yuqiao, who was nestled in Chen Hao's arms, with skeptical eyes.

Ye Yuqiao glanced at Lin Huashan, frowned slightly after giving Huashan a stare, and thought to herself whether Huashan had noticed something. Although she wished Chen Hao would learn the truth sooner, it would be best if it happened after he returned to her Nether Soul Body.

"You can let us go back now, right?" Ye Yuqiao suddenly asked the Dust King.

"Sure!" The Dust King nodded, "But before you leave, I have one more modest request."

"Another modest request!" Ye Yuqiao was somewhat displeased.

The Dust King approached Chen Hao and said, "May I have a word with you?"

"This..." Chen Hao was somewhat stunned.

"Go on!" Ye Yuqiao left Chen Hao's embrace, and pushed him forward two steps.

Before long, Chen Hao followed the Dust King deeper into the woods, while Ye Yuqiao approached Lin Huashan with an oppressive look in her eyes and asked, "Huashan, have you discovered something?"

Lin Huashan's face showed surprise, and his body trembled slightly as he stammered, "Why do you ask that? Could it be you really are..."

"I'm not!" Ye Yuqiao replied coldly, "Things are not as simple as you think, so I hope you'll refrain from inquiring further. All you need to know is that no one will harm Chen Hao!"

"But Chen Hao would not want to be kept in the dark forever!"

"He will realize it soon enough, and I'm willing to wait until that day. Do you understand?"

The confusion on Lin Huashan's face deepened as he asked, "Yuqiao, what do you mean by this? What exactly is going on?"

"You will know soon enough."

..

..

Deep in the woods.

The Dust King stopped in his tracks, his back turned to Chen Hao, and said, "Now that my great vengeance is avenged, my mind is at peace, and the time has come for me to leave."

Chen Hao was taken aback, and after a moment, he said, "Are you saying you're about to dissipate into nothingness?"

The Dust King hummed affirmatively, his tone somewhat heavy, "For any member of the Dust Tribe, becoming dust is the most fulfilling end. I must thank you, for it was you who helped me achieve this fulfillment."

"Shouldn't there be something more?"

"Something more?"

"Don't you still have an unspoken request?" Chen Hao explained with a smile.

The Dust King let out a bitter chuckle, then looking at the dust in the clouds above, he said, "You killed my brother, and now there should be chaos within our clan. So, I hope you can go back first and take charge of the Dust Realm to restore order in the tribe."

Chen Hao's face showed difficulty. After thinking it over carefully, he said, "Then may I ask for someone from you?"

"Who?"

"Yingji!" Chen Hao answered, "Although I have the Sword of Dust and the Dust King Ring, the members of your tribe might not obey me. Yingji is different, though, she's the queen. After the chaos in the Netherworld is settled, I will come back to lead your people back to the Netherworld."

The Dust King huffed, feeling displeased with the idea Chen Hao had suggested.

"But Yingji is a woman after all, and unlike you, she lacks strong power and may find it difficult to command respect," the Dust King argued.

"Isn't there still some power left in the Dust King Ring?" Chen Hao lifted his right hand, wearing the Dust King Ring, and continued, "Then give the Dust King Ring to her. I believe with this ring, no one will dare to raise any objection against her."

The Dust King...

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