Dawn.

Netherworld City.

The marketplace in the city center was already bustling with noise, while the Zhao Residence, situated in the eastern woods of the city, remained a haven of tranquility.

Inside a guest room.

After a slight cough, Tang Jing slowly opened her eyes.

"Tang Jing, you're awake!" Lin Huashan's youthful face immediately came into view, "How are you feeling now?"

Tang Jing's brow furrowed slightly, and after a moment of thought, she remembered that she had been in front of the Gate of the Nether King the day before, and then fainted due to the shock from the surge of Yin Qi Spiritual Power emitting from the gate.

A glint of light flashed in her eyes as she grasped Lin Huashan's hand tightly and urgently asked, "What's the situation at the Gate of the Nether King?"

"Don't worry, all is quiet for now." Lin Huashan replied with a slight smile, "It's all thanks to you. Otherwise, those three Primordial Demons of the Underworld might have indeed broken through the seal that Chen Hao set before he left and escaped the Gate of the Nether King."

Hearing Lin Huashan say this, Tang Jing exhaled a long breath, and her brows relaxed.

"The Seven-Star Sealing Array I set on the Gate of the Nether King won't hold for much longer," Tang Jing said with a sigh.

Lin Huashan was taken aback and then asked, "What should we do?"

"I hope Chen Hao and the others can return before the Seven-Star Sealing Array is breached. With them here, we won't fear those three Primordial Demons escaping the Gate of the Nether King." Tang Jing mused thoughtfully.

Feeling helpless at that moment, she found herself missing Chen Hao, Xie Xiaofeng, and Ye Yuqiao dearly.

"Chen Hao and the others will be back soon," Lin Huashan said, "By then, with him and a complete Nether King, not only can we seal the Gate of the Nether King, but eliminating those three Primordial Demons inside should also be no problem."

"Oh, right!"

Tang Jing's tone shifted abruptly, as she suddenly remembered something extremely important and asked, "I spoke to Zhao Chong yesterday about gathering Turtle Spirit Stones. Do you know how that's going?"

"We found more than twenty," Lin Huashan replied with a smile, "Those people brought them back to the residence last night, and then went back to the mortal world to continue searching for Turtle Spirit Stones."

"Where are those Turtle Spirit Stones now?" Tang Jing asked as she got up.

"They're with Brother Zhao Chong," Lin Huashan answered, "Tang Jing, you're not planning to use those Turtle Spirit Stones right now, are you? You've just woken up from unconsciousness, and you're very weak."

Tang Jing steadied herself on Lin Huashan's arm and slowly got out of bed, saying, "I'm fine, I just need to absorb some Yang Energy. The seal Chen Hao left on the Gate of the Nether King is quite fragile. We need to continue injecting a large amount of Yang Energy into it as quickly as possible."

Some time later, Lin Huashan assisted Tang Jing to the front of Zhao Chong's room.

At that moment, Zhao Chong had just finished dressing and was preparing to handle the affairs of the Netherworld in the eastern courtyard. Seeing Tang Jing awake, he was quite surprised and hurriedly came out to greet her.

"Miss Tang, are you alright?"

Tang Jing shook her head and looked up at Zhao Chong to ask, "Zhao Chong, where are those Turtle Spirit Stones?"

"They're in my room. Do you need to use those Turtle Spirit Stones now?" Zhao Chong asked, frowning. In his view, Tang Jing's complexion was very poor, pale enough to cause great concern.

Tang Jing hummed affirmatively and said softly, "Zhao Chong, I need you to take me to the Gate of the Nether King straight away. The seal Chen Hao left needs a large amount of Yang Energy immediately, otherwise, it will be broken."

Zhao Chong nodded slightly and agreed to Tang Jing's request.

"In the meantime, you'll need to have people continue searching for Turtle Spirit Stones or any other items containing a large amount of Yang Energy. The more, the better, until Chen Hao and Yuqiao return!"

Zhao Chong nodded again, then looked toward the north, thinking to himself that by now, Chen Hao and Ye Yuqiao, in her Nether Soul Body, must be nearing the ancient city.

...

...

Five days later.

The heavy snow outside the ancient city had finally stopped, and the sunlight was now able to shine unobstructed upon this city of perpetual spring.

As with any sunny day, geniuses and elites from all domains sat on the benches in the streets or in front of the large windows in restaurants, enjoying this pleasant and comfortable period.

However, atop the ice-sculpture building, the deity revered by the elites—the Second Generation Nether King—felt somewhat uneasy. Because Chen Hao and his group were already very close, less than a day's journey from the ancient city.

He went out to the terrace and looked down upon the world he had built with his own hands, as well as this unimaginable city, thinking to himself that he had to protect everything he had created at all costs.

Most importantly, he had to protect his own divinity and the worship of the most outstanding elites in human history.

He relished the feeling of being worshipped and liked hearing everyone call him the respected god. Of course, what he liked most was his own outstanding self!

Looking at his own statues present everywhere in the city, he felt a sense of achievement as if he alone was the master of all.

"Huh," there was a sound.

Suddenly, a sense of urgency echoed in the Second Generation Nether King's mind.

It was Chen Hao, sensing and assaulting the Nether King's Heart within him. As the distance between the two shortened, these sensations of assault grew ever more intense.

Even though they had frozen the Nether King's Heart, it couldn't stop them from sensing each other.

"You're finally here!" the Second Generation Nether King was the first to speak.

"Yes," Chen Hao replied, "I just wanted to say hello to you in advance, so you wouldn't accuse me of being impolite!"

The Second Generation Nether King let out a cold laugh, "Then I must welcome you. Otherwise, I'd be the impolite one."

"Thank you," Chen Hao said with a smile, "Your granddaughter told me to relay a message; she has prepared a big present for you."

The Second Generation Nether King frowned deeply. He had already guessed that the great present Ye Yuqiao's Nether Soul Body referred to was probably her using her fierce flames to destroy everything here.

"Perhaps we can talk," the Second Generation Nether King suddenly showed weakness, "I know the purpose of your visit, and I can agree to give you half of the Nether King's Heart in my possession, to allow my dear granddaughter to merge with her three souls and have a new life. However, after the deed is done, you will have to return it to me and leave without destroying a single brick or grass blade here."

"Does that mean we also have to swear in front of you, to forever keep the secret about you and the ancient city?" Chen Hao asked.

"Of course!"

Chen Hao let out a derisive laugh, "How could we ever agree to your terms! Granting Yuqiao a new life is only one of the reasons we came here; we have other goals, such as taking you and the ancient city out of the picture."

"Why do you have to do this?" the Second Generation Nether King asked.

"Because this world doesn't need gods at all! You're too narcissistic, to an extent that is quite displeasing. Besides, this world doesn't need a world where only geniuses and elites exist; what the world needs is equality, inclusion, and respect."

The Second Generation Nether King's complexion turned livid as he replied, "If that's the way it is, then I'll just have to let you die at the hands of this god."

With that, the Second Generation Nether King disconnected the sensing between the two Nether King's Hearts.

Then, he summoned the elite guardians of the ancient city.

All members of this guard were chosen by him from both the mortal world and the Netherworld for their exceptionally strong powers, including demon-beasts and half-human creatures.

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