Netherworld, Dark Wind Hills.

The cold invasion from the north had enveloped the entire south, and even at noon, when the red sun was directly overhead, the seventy thousand soldiers of the Qian and Li families stationed in the hills couldn't help but shiver incessantly.

A thousand li eastward lay the Netherworld City.

Next to a pile of firewood burning vigorously, Qian Feng, Li Zuole, and several generals were sitting in a circle.

Because Qian Feng kept silent, those beside him didn't dare to speak much either.

Li Zuole looked into Qian Feng's eyes, hesitant to speak again. He feared interrupting Qian Feng's thoughts, although he didn't know whether Qian Feng was contemplating an issue or simply waiting in silence.

It was truly difficult to discern anything from the obscure look in Qian Feng's eyes.

"Winter is coming again!" Qian Feng suddenly exclaimed, his tone as piercingly cold as the air around them.

Li Zuole and the generals nearby echoed with a murmured "Hmm."

"The coldest time of the year will soon be upon us," Qian Feng continued, "I really miss those days at home in Netherworld City, warming myself beside the stove. Who knows when this battle will end?"

"Yes, who knows when it will end?" Li Zuole echoed again, then swallowed several times.

Qian Feng missed the warmth of Netherworld City, while he longed for the meals prepared by the head chef at his mansion.

Afterward, they all fell back into silence.

Li Zuole wanted to ask if Qian Feng planned to continue closing in on Netherworld City or to quickly retreat to Wind Shelter Valley, but seeing Qian Feng's face grow gloomy, he refrained.

Moments passed.

Finally, a Wujie bird appeared, bringing news from the north.

A soldier quickly unfastened the message tied to the Wujie bird's leg and hurriedly handed it to Qian Feng.

"Clan Leader Qian, what does the message say? Has the northern army of a hundred thousand retreated?" Li Zuole asked anxiously. He wasn't concerned about the welfare of the allied families; he just wanted to know if the north's Ghost King Battalion had retreated and was coming to support them, so they could retreat to Wind Shelter Valley sooner.

Being in the Dark Wind Hills, which seemed full of ambushes and vulnerable to attacks from all sides, always made him feel uneasy.

Qian Feng lifted his head, his brow creased with anxiety. After a pause, he shook his head slightly and said, "They have not retreated. By now, they should be attacking the Huiyin Mountain Range."

"Ah!" Li Zuole was somewhat surprised, "Then, what should our next move be?"

After a long thought, Qian Feng finally said, "For the time being, let's not make any moves. Just stay here in the hills. The cold invasion now covers the entire south; it's much warmer staying here than in Wind Shelter Valley!"

After speaking, without giving the others a chance to respond, Qian Feng turned and walked alone into the forest ahead, hands clasped behind his back.

"I wonder if they can hold out this time?"

"I wonder how Huashan is doing now? Whether she has seen Chen Hao."

"I wonder if that kid Chen Hao has found it?"

..

..

Atop the Huiyin Mountain range.

The one hundred thousand-strong Ghost King Battalion was divided into two groups, attacking the main peak of the Yin Mountain range from both the southern and northern flanks. Among them, the vanguard troops marched at the very bottom, like ants sticking to the uneven terrain; their cavalry followed slightly behind the vanguard, riding on flying horses in midair; and the archers at the very back flew above the clouds.

This was a formation devised by the three Dharma Kings to prevent and limit a surprise attack by the Firebird. In the eyes of the three Dharma Kings, the rumored Fourth Generation Underworld King, who had inherited the blood of the Netherworld Azure Bird and could transform into the fiery Firebird, was the only obstacle to conquering the Huiyin Mountains.

If the Firebird were to launch a surprise attack, the cavalry in midair would rush forward, gathering everyone's Spiritual Power to bring down the Firebird; then the vanguard below would capture the Firebird with a net woven from everyone's Spiritual Power.

As long as they captured the Firebird, taking over the Huiyin Mountains would be a piece of cake.

However, what the three Dharma Kings did not know was that today, the Firebird would not appear. Instead, it would be Chen Hao, who had previously disappeared after being ambushed by King Nanlin and Ning's forces.

Midway through their march, both groups of fifty thousand from the Ghost King Battalion halted.

It was time for the Stone Serpent Monster to make its entrance.

On one hand, the Stone Serpent Monster was an excellent tool for mountain assaults, capable of shaking mountains and tigers alike, toppling a range of mountains instantly, and throwing the enemy's center into disarray; on the other hand, the last time they had clashed in the Dayang Mountains with the allied forces of the five major families, only the woman who had inherited the blood of the Netherworld Azure Bird, the enigmatic Fourth Generation Underworld King, was able to handle the Stone Serpent Monster. The deployment of the Stone Serpent Monster aimed to draw out the mysterious woman to reveal herself.

Upon seeing the Dark Law King's signal, stone serpents were unleashed from both sides of the encampments. After the last battle, only nine of these creatures were left, not many but certainly enough to attack the Huiyin Mountains, which were defended by just over ten thousand soldiers.

Once released, the Stone Serpent Monsters burrowed into the mountainside with ease, like iron drills, and a series of thunderous rumbles followed. The central and eastern parts of the mountains began to shake violently.

With the Stone Serpent Monster's iron-hard bodies advancing towards the center, the twenty thousand Ghost King Battalion cavalry soldiers in the sky could clearly see the trembling spreading to the central mountains, one after another peak collapsing and tilting, with dust spreading out like blood pouring from the collapsed mountains, gradually enveloping the central and eastern parts of the range.

Looking out, the Huiyin Mountains, which were garbed in a gray-green coat due to the arrival of winter, seemed to have turned into a tumultuous flood. The Stone Serpent Monsters rampaging between the mountains were like dragons frolicking recklessly in the flood, brutal and unstoppable.

Just as the flood-like dust was about to reach the main peak of the Huiyin Mountains, two scarlet points of light appeared within that rolling dust.

"It's Zhao Chong!" The Dark Law King immediately recognized Zhao Chong. Aside from the woman who had inherited the blood of the Netherworld Azure Bird, only Zhao Chong would dare to come out alone to stop these Stone Serpent Monsters.

Suddenly, the scarlet light flashed. A Stone Serpent Monster was pulverized by the Spiritual Power emanating from Zhao Chong.

Then, three more Stone Serpent Monsters burst forth from the mountain, charging at Zhao Chong with furious roars; the remaining five continued forward, aiming for the main peak of the Huiyin Mountains.

At that moment, numerous black-purple glows appeared amidst the dust, instantly driving back the dust surging towards the main peak of the Huiyin Mountains, as well as the five Stone Serpent Monsters charging at it.

"Ah!" The Dark Law King paused, "Chen Hao! Wasn't that kid missing?"

Even though Chen Hao was almost a speck in his vision, he could feel the Yang Energy radiating from him.

The Dark Law King looked toward King Wumeng and King Qingyu across the mountain, just as they too looked his way, both with expressions of shock.

For the three Dharma Kings, Chen Hao was their nemesis, a bad omen.

"Awoooo!" A sky-shattering wail came from up ahead.

The three Dharma Kings immediately focused their attention forward, seeing Chen Hao standing atop the head of a Stone Serpent Monster..

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