"Rules can be changed, and now I am the rules!"

Ye Yuqiao spoke these words with utter determination and conviction.

Facing such a defiant Ye Yuqiao, the expressions of Zhou, Wu, Zheng, and Wang were all one of astonishment, their complexions turning somewhat pale, with eyes bulging in anger.

Ever since the Ancestor of the Nether King ascended to the throne, the words of the Clan Leaders of the Eight Great Clans always had a certain weight in the presence of any Nether King and could more or less influence the King's decisions. Ye Yuqiao's statement was like a heavy slap to their faces, leaving them completely discredited.

Although he did not show the same expressions as the four Clan Leaders, neither anger nor astonishment, Zhao Chong's look was the most unpleasant among the Dharma Kings. He had just been reminiscing about the tenderness with which Ye Yuqiao had supported him moments ago.

In an instant, the atmosphere inside the tent became exceptionally tense and serious.

A moment later, Wu Kun, his hands shaking, pointed at Ye Yuqiao and said, "No, Nether King, we strongly object!"

"Then you'd better take your Wu Family down the mountain immediately!" Ye Yuqiao said bluntly, her eyes indifferent.

"You!" Wu Kun's face turned livid with rage, "Nether King, you are truly burning bridges. We led our armies through the night to come to your aid, and this is how you repay us?"

"You came to aid us?" Ye Yuqiao said with a cold laugh. She stood up, walked around the table, and approached Wu Kun with utter disdain, "Clan Leader Wu, how can you have the gall to say such things? Tell me, of the sixty thousand soldiers in this great army, how many belong to the four great clans?"

"Nether King, please don't drag me into this. I, Zhou Ke, am not on the same side as these three old geezers!" Zhou Ke quickly disassociated himself.

Ye Yuqiao gave Zhou Ke a cold glance, then shifted her look of contempt back onto Wu Kun before continuing sarcastically, "If it wasn't for Zhao Chong and me leading fifty thousand soldiers to the Dayang Mountains to support you a few days ago, could you still be standing here talking about rules with me?"

Wu Kun was left speechless, seething with shame and anger.

"Family Leader Zhao, what do you think about this? Surely you don't agree that the Nether King should marry that boy Chen Hao?" Zheng Yang asked, turning to Zhao Chong at this moment.

Among the more than seventy thousand soldiers on the Huiyin Mountains, the majority were from the Zhao Family, which meant Zhao Chong's opinion carried considerable weight.

"In my opinion, you're the most suitable candidate to marry the Nether King," Zheng Yang added, trying to sway Zhao Chong to their side.

"My personal affairs are none of your business!" Ye Yuqiao looked at Zheng Yang with disgust, irritated by his words.

Zheng Yang fell silent, instead fixing a coercive gaze on Zhao Chong, who kept his wine cup at his lips.

Zhao Chong's frown deepened and after a while, he looked up at Zheng Yang, then turned his gaze to the indifferent Ye Yuqiao, and said, "The Nether King's wish is my wish."

With those words from Zhao Chong, Zheng Yang, Wu Kun, and Wang Yun were deeply disappointed. Zheng Yang huffed angrily at Zhao Chong and then, with a dark face, said to Ye Yuqiao, "Nether King, you made us swear the Oath of Blazing Flames on Falling Shade Mountain days ago. If we leave now, won't you...?"

"Rest assured, you may leave as you wish. As long as you do not betray me, naturally, you will not suffer the curse!"

After exchanging glances, Wang Yun spoke up, "Since the Nether King is determined to go it alone, the three of us Clan Leaders will leave the mountain now."

"Then go!" Ye Yuqiao remained unmoved and showed no intention of asking them to stay, "But let me remind you, if you descend the mountain tonight, you will be stripped of your positions as Clan Leaders of the Great Clans and demoted to commoners. Should I take charge of the Netherworld again, you will not have the right to even step half-way into Netherworld City."

Having said this, Zheng Yang, Wang Yun, and Wu Kun were left in shock.

Zhao Chong closed his eyes in resignation, thinking about how the Nether Soul Body of Ye Yuqiao was tough and extreme in her handling of people, completely different from the Ye Yuqiao who used to be the Nether King within the Nether King Palace.

After some thought, Zheng Yang, Wang Yun, and Wu Kun all turned their heads back. They were short on soldiers and leadership and had little chance of prevailing on their own; their only hope lay in following Ye Yuqiao. If they left the mountain in a huff tonight, they would never have another chance to turn their fortunes around.

"To lose my position as Clan Leader over the Nether King's lifetime commitment, that really shouldn't be!" Zheng Yang thought to himself after calming down.

Wu Kun and Wang Yun had the same idea in their minds.

"Do the three Clan Leaders still wish to leave the mountain tonight?" Ye Yuqiao pressed, "or have you changed your minds about my marriage?"

By asking this, Ye Yuqiao was giving the three Clan Leaders a way out.

Zheng Yang, Wu Kun, and Wang Yun said nothing, but bowed their heads to Ye Yuqiao, a sign of their submission. To retain the last vestiges of their dignity as clan heads, they did not vocalize their willingness to compromise.

"Then, does anyone else have objections? Speak now if you do, and never bring it up again after tonight." Ye Yuqiao declared.

For a long stretch of time afterward, the tent was as silent as a tomb.

"Since there are none, I shall go see Chen Hao. It is getting late. Everyone should rest early."

With that, Ye Yuqiao left, carrying the natural pride and cool detachment of a queen.

..

..

In the eastern part of the Netherworld, atop the Dark Wind Hills.

After an anxious wait, Qian Feng finally received the latest news from the Huiyin Mountains, brought by an Infinity Bird that had hurried over from the north.

After reading the message, Qian Feng was quite surprised.

He had not expected that the Ghost King Battalion of a hundred thousand soldiers not only failed to penetrate the Huiyin Mountains but had also retreated after losing more than ten thousand troops; and what's more, Chen Hao had actually shown up with miraculous feats, having grown stronger after disappearing for a few days.

Although this outcome pleased him, one concern troubled him: Since Chen Hao was unharmed, Lin Huashan should still be alive as well. Yet, he had received no news from Lin Huashan.

Could this mean that Lin Huashan had been exposed and discovered? Qian Feng wondered. At the same time, he thought that with Chen Hao present, Lin Huashan shouldn't be subjected to harsh interrogations.

"Clan Leader Qian, what's the situation over there?" Just then, Li Zuole approached Qian Feng from behind.

Qian Feng turned around and handed the letter to Li Zuole.

After reading the message, Li Zuole's face brightened with joy, "That's great, since they held them off, should we also fall back to Wind Shelter Valley?"

The strange and intermittent noises of the Dark Wind Hills made him edgy—afraid that the Ghost King Battalion might suddenly attack.

Qian Feng gave Li Zuole a disdainful look and declared, "Fall back? It's time to launch an attack on Netherworld City!"

Li Zuole was taken aback by the surprise, and after pausing, he asked, "Clan Leader Qian, what do you mean?"

"Attack Netherworld City! Kill the Ghost King and restore order to the Netherworld!" Qian Feng pronounced, gazing at the northeastern night sky.

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