Who would have known that as soon as his words fell, a slight trembling began to emerge from the snowy ground.

"What's going on?" Chen Hao looked utterly baffled, "Could it be an earthquake?"

Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body didn't speak but instead clung tightly to Chen Hao's hand.

She seemed quite happy.

With water opposing fire, inheriting the bloodline of the Netherworld Azure Bird, she harbored not the slightest worry about encountering any danger. Moreover, before embarking on this journey, she had immersed herself in the Purgatory Fire Pool for two days and two nights, absorbing a considerable amount of blood and Purgatory Fire.

Soon after, the ground's trembling intensified, and the sensation of unevenness grew stronger, as countless cracks began to appear in the snowy ground around them.

Subsequently, the ground started to undulate wildly, and waves of ancient, cold Spiritual Power surged out from those cracks.

"Boom, boom, boom!" The unceasing sounds rang out as the ground beneath their feet suddenly began to rise sharply.

Chen Hao looked down and realized that he might be standing on the back of a giant beast. The thick ice and snow obscured the creature's body and the Spiritual Power it contained.

Immediately afterward, Chen Hao used the Nether Vision Technique. As his gaze penetrated the thick ice and snow below, he saw a crawling giant beast resembling a turtle—except this one had six legs, each without any toes.

He turned back to glance behind him and was surprised to find that a towering peak was actually the tail of the giant beast.

"No!" The giant beast let out a roar. The snow covering its tail then collapsed, hurtling towards Chen Hao and Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body like an immensely large stone pillar.

Just as Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body was preparing to act, suddenly, Chen Hao wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her into the Nether Acupoint.

At this, Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body became furious and turned to Chen Hao, asking, "Bastard, why did you bring me into the Nether Acupoint?"

Chen Hao smiled and said, "We've walked all day, it's time to rest, and we'll continue on our way tomorrow."

"No! I want to go and kill that giant beast." Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body's face was filled with fighting spirit.

Chen Hao ignored her and sat down on the ground, leaning against the barrier wall of the Nether Acupoint.

"Chen Hao!" Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body yelled at Chen Hao, "If you don't want to deal with that giant beast, fine, but at least let me out."

Chen Hao closed his eyes.

"Hmph!" In anger, Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body kicked Chen Hao hard on the leg, "I hate you!"

Chen Hao opened his eyes, his expression somewhat ugly.

"I can let you out, but then you won't come back in tonight, you'll spend the night outside by yourself, how about that?" Chen Hao said coldly.

Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body pouted and said, "You surely wouldn't have the heart to treat me like that."

"If you dare to go out, I'll dare to do it," Chen Hao became very serious.

Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body widened her eyes, staring fiercely at Chen Hao. After a while, her stubborn face suddenly turned sorrowful, and she complained while stomping her feet, "Bastard, you're so annoying, always bullying me. If I were my Yang Soul self, you would surely never do this."

After speaking, she sat next to Chen Hao, resting her head on his shoulder, and asked, "When will you ever stop bullying me?"

"There'll never be such a day!" Chen Hao replied coldly.

Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body sighed softly, and then whispered in Chen Hao's ear, "Bastard, I'm hungry!"

Prior to this departure, Chen Hao had already stored a pile of food, beverages, and fruit inside the Nether Acupoint.

"If you're hungry, just snack on something," Chen Hao said, looking at the pile of snacks not far away.

"Sigh, the weather is getting cold, and I suddenly feel like having hotpot."

Chen Hao couldn't help but snort with laughter, "You actually feel cold one day?"

"Can't my heart feel cold? Whose fault is it for always bullying me? Why didn't you prepare some hotpot ingredients and a pot in the Nether Acupoint earlier?"

"Well, you would need fire for that."

"Idiot! Aren't I fire!"

"Oh, right!"

...

...

Barely opening his eyes, Xie Xiaofeng coughed twice, feeling extremely thirsty and parched.

"You're awake!" At that moment, a strange voice drifted into his ears.

Xie Xiaofeng was startled, then his eyes widened. Gradually, his vision cleared and he saw a kind-eyed middle-aged woman sitting beside him.

"Who are you? And where is this?" Xie Xiaofeng asked, looking around. He was lying in a tidy room, with decorations and furnishings that were very stylish.

Among them, the room's light was a peculiar gem shining brightly.

"This is the Ancient City," the middle-aged woman said with a smile to Xie Xiaofeng, "I am the doctor here."

"The Ancient City!" Xie Xiaofeng found it hard to believe.

In his understanding, the Ancient City should be a place even more ancient and primitive than Netherworld City. Yet, here he was in such a modern room, completely overturning his imagination.

He shook his head and said, "No, it can't be. How could this be the Ancient City?"

The woman doctor smiled and said, "Why would I lie to you?"

After that, the woman doctor reached out to Xie Xiaofeng's right wrist and began to take his pulse. After a while, she spoke, "Your pulse is very stable, you have no problems. Alright, I must go now. You lie down for a while; someone will come to see you later."

Withdrawing her hand, the woman doctor got up and left. When she reached the door, she stopped, turned back to look at Xie Xiaofeng, and said, "You are the only living patient I have seen in two thousand years."

"What do you mean?" Xie Xiaofeng asked blankly as he watched the woman doctor.

"You will understand soon," the woman doctor said, "Only extremely intelligent people are qualified to come to the Ancient City."

After the woman doctor left, Xie Xiaofeng began to recall the events that day in the Eighteen Levels of Hell:

He had been using the Yin Yang Five Elements Magic to beat the three brothers from the Netherworld into a state of helplessness when suddenly, he felt an immensely terrifying Spiritual Power appearing in front of the Gate of the Nether King.

Just as he realized Chen Hao might be in danger and was about to go back to aid him, a hand suddenly slapped on his shoulder. He felt his Yin Soul violently shaking, and then he passed out.

"Ah!" Xie Xiaofeng shuddered, "Could that have been the Hand of Death!"

He had been struck by the Hand of Death before when he was traveling in the mortal world, exorcising ghosts with Chen Hao and others.

"It seems this might really be the Ancient City!" Xie Xiaofeng panicked, "The bastard once told me that the Hand of Death was passed to those seventeen people by the Second Generation Nether King. The powerful Spiritual Power that appeared in front of the Gate of the Nether King that day might have been the Second Generation Nether King himself! No good, I wonder if the bastard managed to release Yuqiao's Yin Soul afterward!"

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