Netherworld, the northern plains.

After returning from the mortal world, Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body immediately ordered a seventy-thousand-strong army to advance towards Sunset Pass.

Having not seen Chen Hao for several days, all clan leaders apart from Zhao Chong felt puzzled but did not dare to ask more. Although they opposed Chen Hao and Ye Yuqiao being together, the clan leaders all hoped Chen Hao would be present in the battle formation, as his presence would greatly enhance their strength and morale.

"Your Majesty, did you see them in the mortal world?" Zhao Chong finally spoke up about Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body's trip to the mortal world after they had covered half the distance.

Ye Yuqiao nodded slightly, her head bowed as she looked ahead at the patchy green and yellow grassland, "I saw them. Chen Hao wasn't too welcoming of me!"

Zhao Chong's eyes suddenly narrowed, Chen Hao's reaction was entirely within his expectations.

"Did you tell them?"

"I have already informed them that we plan to attack Netherworld City in the next two days, and I estimate that she and Chen Hao will soon return to the Netherworld." Ye Yuqiao lifted her head to look forward as she spoke, and from her eyes, Zhao Chong saw an unusual glint.

It was clear to Zhao Chong that Ye Yuqiao's haste to breach Netherworld City and defeat the Ghost King was not just about restoring order to the Netherworld; there was an additional purpose.

The question Ye Yuqiao had asked that day still lingered heavily in his heart—"If I no longer had my Yang Soul, would Chen Hao then belong to me alone?"

After half a day's march, the allied army from the five great families arrived at Sunset Pass before evening.

Ye Yuqiao dismounted her horse and turned back to Zhao Chong, "Let's stop and rest at Sunset Pass for the night, and wait for news from Qian Feng's side. Chen Hao doesn't trust Qian Feng; he always suspects deceit."

"His concerns are justified," Zhao Chong replied, dismounting gracefully from his horse, "Traveling from here to Netherworld City is much faster than from Dark Wind Hills to Netherworld City. If there is no movement from him tonight, we need to seriously consider whether to attack Netherworld City."

"Is it possible he has already secretly allied with the Ghost King, deliberately luring us here?"

"It's unlikely! Given Qian Feng's nature, he wouldn't look favorably upon a traitorous cur like the Ghost King."

"But isn't he currently engaged in the acts of such a traitor?" Ye Yuqiao retorted.

Zhao Chong shook his head and said, "But Your Majesty, if you think about it, has Qian Feng to date committed any acts of egregious treason that everyone knows about? His rebellion is against the Ghost King, not your royal family. Despite his numerous clandestine activities, he always appears spotless in public. I actually believe he might form an alliance with us, provided we agree to his harsh conditions."

"Then I shall refuse just to spite him!" Ye Yuqiao said darkly, her face displeased.

"I expect that the time for us to compromise with him will come when he seeks you out to negotiate an alliance," Zhao Chong said.

At that moment, the five clan leaders along with Niu Tou and Ma Mian, leading the seventy-thousand soldiers, caught up to them. Zhao Chong turned back and loudly announced to everyone, "We shall spend tonight at Sunset Pass, and tomorrow we head towards Netherworld City."

Ye Yuqiao looked towards the south, where Netherworld City was but a four-hour journey from Sunset Pass.

..

..

The Infinity Bird flew from the north towards the Dark Wind Hills in the east, bringing news that the allied forces of the five great families were resting and stationing troops at Sunset Pass.

Upon hearing this news, Qian Feng immediately realized that the allied forces choosing to rest at this time indicated they were waiting for his response.

So, he immediately summoned all his troops and began advancing towards Netherworld City.

Qian Feng estimated that by noon the next day, they would reach the Hundred Mile Slope. There, a hundred thousand strong army of the Ghost King's forces was stationed.

"Clan Leader Qian, are we about to start attacking Netherworld City?" Lin Huashan asked Qian Feng while they were passing through a redwood forest.

For a long time, Qian Feng did not respond. Seeing his hazy eyes and calm face, Lin Huashan guessed that he was deep in thought, and thus she turned to look in the direction he was gazing.

"We are about to start the attack on Netherworld City," said Qian Feng, suddenly breaking the silence.

Lin Huashan startled, said in a flustered tone, "Clan Leader Qian, you did hear what I said after all. I thought you were deep in thought and didn't hear me."

"I indeed was deep in thought just now, but that has nothing to do with whether I could hear you or not," Qian Feng said with a touch of melancholy. Deep within the redwood forest moments ago, he thought he had caught a glimpse of a woman's figure.

Thousands of years ago, it was in this same redwood forest that he had seen the figure of a woman. She looked back at him then, and to this very day, he had not forgotten that tender and smiling look in her eyes.

But now, nobody looked back. The silhouette he had seen in a daze was actually just a few red leaves blown off by the wind.

"Clan Leader Qian!" Qian Feng's words made Lin Huashan feel solemn.

Qian Feng looked at Lin Huashan and with a slight smile, after a pause, he said, "Tell me something about the Fourth Generation Underworld King."

"The Fourth Generation Underworld King?" Lin Huashan was very surprised, "Do you want to hear about her and Chen Hao's story?"

"No! Just about her alone." No sooner had Qian Feng spoken than he quickly shook his head ruefully, "No, let's talk about the two of them instead."

..

..

The mortal world.

At Chen Hao's home.

In the bed filled with a unique fragrance, Chen Hao held Ye Yuqiao, as the two discussed their future plans.

"Chen Hao, start unraveling the seal over your left eye from tomorrow and absorb all of King Nanlin's spiritual power as soon as possible," Ye Yuqiao said.

Chen Hao agreed somewhat reluctantly, the thought of another person, besides Ye Yuqiao, always watching his every move made him uncomfortable.

"Do we have to go back to the Netherworld?"

"When they start the war, that's when we'll go back."

"Yuqiao, why do you always suspect trickery? It feels like Qian Feng is up to no good," Chen Hao said, worried.

Ye Yuqiao responded with a faint "Hmm," as she suddenly remembered something uncomfortable:

Over ten thousand years ago, when the Ghost King Battalion was about to break through Netherworld City, her father, the Third Generation Underworld King, had ordered Qian Feng to take her to Wind Shelter Valley for refuge. While passing through the redwood forest on the east side of Netherworld City, she got thirsty and went to the riverbank to take a drink. When she turned back after quenching her thirst, she was taken aback to find Qian Feng staring at her with a strange, obsessed look.

It was from that moment that she began to feel an aversion toward Qian Feng, always suspecting that this man, who had never married, might have some quirks beyond normal comprehension.

"Yuqiao, what are you thinking about?" Chen Hao asked.

"Just now when you mentioned Qian Feng, I suddenly remembered some past incidents related to him," she said.

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