Under the gaze of the crowd, Chen Hao slowly took a seat on the chair behind him. Although it was just an ordinary wooden chair, having witnessed the intense debate between Ye Yuqiao and the three clan leaders Wu, Zheng, and Wang, Chen Hao was clear in his heart that this position was of great significance.

So, when he sat down on the chair, he felt its weight.

He noticed that, apart from Zhao Chong and Qian Feng, the other five clan leaders looked at him with eyes full of disapproval.

"Chen Hao, don't mind their opinions," the voice of Ye Yuqiao's Yang Soul suddenly echoed in Chen Hao's mind, "Your achievements now fully justify you sitting in this position."

With those words from Ye Yuqiao's Yang Soul, Chen Hao's somewhat anxious and nervous heart immediately calmed down.

"Yes!" Chen Hao showed a light smile, then whispered secretly, "I'm just not quite used to sitting with such important figures."

"Don't forget that you are one of the important figures now!" Ye Yuqiao's Yang Soul reminded him.

Next, Ye Yuqiao with the Nether Soul Body began to talk about the Ghost King Battalion's withdrawal, as well as the future plans to enlist soldiers, amass provisions and craft weapons in preparation for the upcoming battles.

As the meeting progressed, Chen Hao increasingly felt like an outsider, detached from the proceedings, listening to others speak.

From his observations, the gaze of Ye Yuqiao with the Nether Soul Body mostly lingered between Qian Feng and Zhao Chong, consulting their opinions on every matter. Although the other clan leaders occasionally joined the conversation, they were not given much importance.

The weight of each clan leader in the heart of Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body was evident at a glance.

Watching Wu Kun, Zheng Yang, and Wang Yun speak eloquently, and recalling the discussion between Qian Feng and Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body about abolishing these three clan leaders on their way here, Chen Hao couldn't help feeling that these three were both pitiful and laughable.

After an hour had passed, the meeting finally came to an end.

After discussions, it was decided that Qian Feng would lead his army of more than eighty thousand to Sunset Pass, while the remaining forces would stay garrisoned in Wushuang City; Zhao Chong would be responsible for future recruitment, accumulation of provisions, and other matters; the remaining trivial duties were entrusted to the other clan leaders.

Throughout the meeting, Chen Hao, who remained silent, although not assigned any task, was named "Yang King" by Ye Yuqiao with the Nether Soul Body under the Nether King's authority just before the meeting was adjourned. His status was made equivalent to the clan leaders of the other Seven Great Clans, and he was granted a mansion within Netherworld City, thousands of warhorses, and countless gold and jewels.

However, Chen Hao had no interest in these rewards and titles. But for the two Ye Yuqiaos, this act of granting Chen Hao a title and estate was an extremely important strategic move.

After the meeting, Chen Hao and Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body walked along the corridor.

"Why did you grant me the title of Yang King?" Chen Hao inquired.

"Because your military merits are illustrious and deserve commendation!"

"But you should know that I have no interest in fame or fortune."

"I know, what you want is eternity with her," Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body turned to look at the snow in the courtyard, his eyes also becoming misty and lost, "I have my reasons for doing this. At the very least, I need to show all the soldiers that as long as they earn military merit, anyone has the chance to be elevated to kingship, not just those from the Eight Great Clans."

"Then have it your way," Chen Hao said, expressionless.

"By the way," Chen Hao shifted the topic abruptly, "since the Ghost King Battalion has already withdrawn, I should be on my way as well."

Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body frowned, a dark look in his eyes as he asked Chen Hao, "Where are you going, Chen Hao?"

"I need to go cultivate!" Chen Hao answered, his entire being suddenly filled with fighting spirit, "This heavy snow has driven many ancient beasts from the Polar Ice Land to move south. I will go and defeat them, absorbing the ancient forces within their bodies to enhance the Yin Qi Spiritual Power inside me. I wish to master the Nether King's Power before the next Ghost King Battalion attacks, to defeat the Ghost King!"

Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body shook her head slightly, her eyes filled with heartache as she said, "Chen Hao, you're so silly!"

The same words also arose in the heart of Ye Yuqiao's Yang Spirit.

"What did you say!" Chen Hao was somewhat displeased.

"I'm saying you're silly," Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body's eyebrows were tightly furrowed, "You're such a big fool! Truly a big fool!"

She was not scolding Chen Hao but feeling heartache for him.

Chen Hao's face darkened as he huffed, "Fine, fine, fine, I am a big fool! I'm not going to talk to you anymore, I take my leave. I will keep in contact with you through the Nether King's Heart, don't worry."

Having said this, Chen Hao jumped into the Nether Acupoint that suddenly appeared above him, seeking his true Ye Yuqiao.

Watching the vortex disappear before her, a hint of a smile suddenly appeared on the face of Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body. She walked to the side of the corridor, looking at the fallen snow and muttered to herself, "Chen Hao, you will soon belong to me and me alone!"

...

...

A day later, night fell.

Dragging their exhausted bodies, the Ghost King's great army finally returned to Netherworld City, braving the cold wind and snow.

In the past few days, rumors that the Fourth Generation Underworld King, leading the allied forces of the Seven Great Clans, had occupied Wushuang City had spread throughout Netherworld City, and many of the city's residents, undeterred by the snow and hardship, had gone to Wushuang City to seek refuge.

In the eyes of most, the Fourth Generation Underworld King was the legitimate ruler, while the Ghost King Battalion was seen as the rebels. Just in a few days, Netherworld City had lost tens of thousands of residents.

When the news that the Ghost King, leading an army of over a hundred thousand, had entered the city spread throughout the city, the inns and taverns that had been bustling over the past few days were instantly deserted, becoming eerily quiet.

Upon returning to the East Courtyard, the first decree the Ghost King issued was to lock down the entire Netherworld City;

Then, after drinking a few sips of hot tea, he issued a second, resolute order: seal the gates of the Netherworld.

As long as the gates of the Netherworld were closed, the Yin Souls of the dead from the mortal world would not be able to enter Hell through normal means, and this would inevitably cause great turmoil in the Netherworld of the mortal realm.

The reason the Ghost King made this decision was all based on King Wumeng's advice. King Wumeng told him that Chen Hao was an Onmyoji in the mortal world, and moreover, the most famous Onmyoji at present. By sealing the gates of the Netherworld, stirring up chaos in the Netherworld of the mortal realm, it would certainly throw him, as an Onmyoji, into disarray and might even draw him to Netherworld City.

Besides, with the gates of the Netherworld closed, King Wumeng also wanted the Ghost King to seal off the entrances to Hell and the Samsara Path. From the first level of Hell to the Eighteenth Level of Hell, there were hundreds of Nether Souls locked away, which could be conveniently employed to forge blades and weapons within Hell.

The Ghost King's third decree was to search for men of the right age in Netherworld City to be conscripted, expanding the military strength of the Ghost King Battalion.

After the three decrees were issued, King Wumeng and King Qingyu immediately set out to execute them. Not long thereafter, wails arose throughout Netherworld City as family men were forcibly conscripted, echoing through the merciless snowy night.

The order that had revolved between the realms of Yin and Yang for tens of thousands of years was thus disrupted and plunged into chaos.

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