Dawn was breaking.

After being unconscious for a night, Chen Hao had finally awakened.

By then, the ice that had covered his body had melted without a trace.

As he opened his eyes, he immediately saw Ye Yuqiao's flawless face. A wave of warmth surged through his heart, and he couldn't help but stretch out his hand towards her cheek.

But just as his hand was about to touch Ye Yuqiao's face, he startled and quickly withdrew it.

Only then did he realize that what he was seeing was Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body. For a moment, he had mistaken her for his Yuqiao.

"Xiao Ming!" Chen Hao called softly to the Nether Soul Body of Ye Yuqiao that lay with its head down before him.

Ye Yuqiao opened her eyes slightly, her drowsy state accompanied by a bit of sleepiness, much like that of the Yang Soul.

"Chen Hao, you're awake," she said in a lazy voice.

Chen Hao uttered a "Hmm," and then asked, "Why are you here?"

"You have the nerve to ask. If I hadn't arrived in time last night, you would probably be a desiccated corpse by now. You were frozen by the icy Spiritual Power from the Heart of the Nether King; only I could have melted the ice off your body."

Reminded by the Nether Soul Body of Ye Yuqiao, Chen Hao immediately remembered what had happened before he fell unconscious last night.

"Right," Chen Hao said with a tone of surprise, "last night when I was trying to sense the other half of the Nether King's Heart, I made a significant discovery. I saw someone, though I don't know if that person is the Second Generation Nether King."

"What!" Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body suddenly became fully alert. "Fool, you tried to sense the other half of the Nether King's Heart, isn't that just startling the snake by hitting the grass?"

Chen Hao's face darkened as he realized that what he had done was indeed inappropriate.

"Quickly recall what happened last night, while I check to see if that person is the Second Generation Nether King," urged the Nether Soul Body of Ye Yuqiao.

Chen Hao nodded several times and began to recall the process of sensing the other half of the Nether King's Heart from the previous night.

After the sensing was over, when he opened his eyes, all he saw was confusion on the face of Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body.

"That's strange. Your control over the Heart of the Nether King and your sensing abilities are not that strong. You were almost at your limit at the time. If that Heart of the Nether King had been dormant, you should not have been able to sense it at all. But the fact that you could sense it can only mean..."

"Mean what?" Chen Hao was anxious.

"It means that at that time, he was also sensing the Nether King's Heart within you. However, he didn't expect that you were also sensing his. So, when you were approaching him, he panicked, fearing you would discover something secretive, so he immediately charged towards you," said the Nether Soul Body of Ye Yuqiao.

Chen Hao blinked, his eyes shining with intensity.

"According to what you're saying, he must have been aware that I was sensing the Heart of the Nether King within me all along?"

"It must have started recently," Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body shook its head, "As I have said before, with the presence of the Yang Spirit, he would definitely have been discovered if he had tried to sense it earlier. It must be that he heard something recently, which is why he started paying attention to you."

"Heard something!" Chen Hao frowned slightly, "The only one who could leak information to him is Qian Feng."

"It's quite possible it was Qian Feng. But with so many things happening in the Netherworld lately and your own fame being so great, it wouldn't be surprising if he found out through other channels."

"So, is he the Second Generation Nether King or not?"

"I've never seen my imperial great grandfather, so how would I know what he looks like!" Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body stood up, "I'm going back to the Netherworld, to the Gate of the Nether King to check and verify if that person is indeed my imperial great grandfather."

"What would you do if it were true?"

"If it is, then so be it!" Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body was utterly dismissive, "I'm just trying to save myself, not kill him, so it doesn't violate filial piety. Plus, I am his granddaughter, if he tries to stop me from saving myself, then he's not much of a grandfather. Even a tiger is known not to eat its young. If he turns out to be disrespectful, then he has no right to blame me for being unfilial."

Chen Hao chuckled, thinking to himself that her ability to self-soothe with internal monologues was exceptionally strong.

A quarter of an hour later.

Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body returned to the Netherworld and stood before the Gate of the Nether King, sending a secret message to Chen Hao, "Chen Hao, it's true, that man must be my imperial grandfather."

Chen Hao was shocked and replied, "If he really is the Second Generation Nether King, then what is his purpose for possessing the Nether King's Heart in the ancient city?"

"That I'm not sure about, but when we find the ancient city we can just ask him in person. However, I have a feeling that my imperial grandfather is definitely not a good person."

Chen Hao hummed in agreement, showing his approval, yet it was inappropriate to comment further.

"Chen Hao, he must already know of our intent to search for the ancient city, and he will surely send people to hinder us further. So, we must hurry," explained Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body.

She had not yet told Chen Hao that in three months' time, the deadline for her oath with the Netherworld Azure Bird would come.

..

..

At nine in the morning.

Xie Xiaofeng and Tang Jing had arrived at the Yin Yang Master Association to work, leaving Chen Hao alone at his home.

Taking advantage of this moment, he closed his eyes and began to summon the shadowy figure within his mind.

"I am here!"

"I already have the seventh map fragment leading to the ancient city. The last piece has been destroyed."

"I know," the shadowy figure said, "It's fortunate that it's only missing one piece. Set aside the matter of the map for now, the most pressing issue is to train in the Forbidden Sealing Technique."

"Forbidden Sealing Technique?"

"Yes, once we release Yuqiao's Yin Soul, we must rely on the Forbidden Sealing Technique to temporarily seal the Gate of the Nether King. Then, we absolutely have to return from the ancient city before the Great Seal is broken," explained the shadowy figure.

"What should I do next?"

"Train in the 'Return to Yang Spell.' Only by mastering the final chapter of the 'Return to Yang Spell' will your Yang Energy Power be sufficient to perform this Forbidden Sealing Technique."

"The final chapter of the 'Return to Yang Spell'!" Chen Hao was immensely shocked. The 'Return to Yang Spell' consisted of fifty chapters, and he had only practiced up to the forties. The difficulty increased exponentially with each advancement. By his estimation, starting from now, it would take at least nine months to reach the final chapter.

Such a long time was certainly not feasible, and he did not have the patience to wait that long.

"Training to the final chapter of the 'Return to Yang Spell' would take too long, I can't wait that long!"

"Who said it would take a long time?" The shadowy figure spoke coldly, "I want you to reach the final chapter within half a month."

"Half a month!" Chen Hao was terrified, "I'm afraid..."

"Afraid of what!" the shadowy figure interrupted Chen Hao, "With me here, just focus on training. If the Yang Energy in your body runs wild, I will help you suppress it. Remember, you only have half a month!"

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