Early in the morning, the hospital.

The world outside the ward window was shrouded in fog, just as chilling to the bone as the atmosphere of the ward.

Ye Yuqiao opened her eyes, and the first thing she did upon awakening was to turn her head and look at Chen Hao, who lay with his head on the bed, still in deep sleep, his body shivering from the cold. Seeing this, Ye Yuqiao shifted her body to the side, sharing the warm cotton quilt on her with Chen Hao.

She silently observed Chen Hao's weary face, her mind replaying the words he had spoken to her last night, and couldn't help feeling a heartbreaking sadness.

According to her plan from eighteen years ago, in a few years she would sacrifice her Yang Spirit to assist Chen Hao in mastering the Nether King's Power. She worried that on the day of her departure, Chen Hao would truly fall into despair as he had promised. Imagining Chen Hao's pained expression that might appear when that time came, she couldn't help but cry silently.

An hour later, Chen Hao awoke. He slowly opened his eyes and, startled to see Ye Yuqiao staring at him absently, immediately perked up.

"Have you been stunned by my handsomeness?" Chen Hao asked with a smile.

"Don't be so frivolous!" Ye Yuqiao said sternly, her face cold. To her, the Chen Hao before her eyes was no longer the self-conscious, irritable person she had first met two months ago, now having more composure, confidence, and humor.

Seeing that Ye Yuqiao was somewhat displeased, Chen Hao promptly suppressed his smile. He leaned his face close to Ye Yuqiao's and, seeing the tear stains all over her face, his eyebrows immediately furrowed. He gently touched Ye Yuqiao's icy cheek and asked, "Have you been crying? Who has made you so upset? Tell me, and I'll teach him a lesson for you!"

Ye Yuqiao glared at Chen Hao with a face that seemed both angry and not, then lifted her hand and pointed at Chen Hao, muttering softly, "Who else could it be but you."

"Ah!" Chen Hao's mouth gaped wide open, his expression exaggerated, "Although I don't know what exactly I did wrong, I still want to sincerely apologize to you, I was wrong, and it won't happen again!"

"Naughty!" Ye Yuqiao softly scolded, reaching out to pinch Chen Hao's pale cheek. Then, shifting to the side on the hospital bed, she said coldly, "Come and lie down!"

"Really?" Chen Hao felt flattered and suddenly got up from the hard, cold chair to lie down in the bed's covers.

In an instant, Ye Yuqiao's heart began to pound wildly, her face flushed. She turned her head away from Chen Hao, not wanting him to see her bashful expression, and deliberately spoke in a cold tone, "Tell me what happened at the Yin Yang Master Association last night. You didn't end up killing the Shadow Demon, did you?"

"How do you know we didn't?" Chen Hao asked. Thinking back to last night's incident, he felt somewhat guilty because Xie Xiaofeng had asked him over the phone to arrive at the Yin Yang Master Association by one in the morning, but he was late by nearly forty minutes due to being caught up talking of love with Ye Yuqiao.

Ye Yuqiao glanced around the room, then turned to face Chen Hao and whispered, "The Shadow Demon is the illegitimate son of my grandfather and a civilian woman; by seniority, he is my uncle, so how could he be so easily killed by you!"

"Your uncle!" Chen Hao was first startled, then couldn't help but laugh, "In that case, it seems I should call him 'Uncle' as well. Why didn't you tell me earlier? I almost killed my own relative!"

Ye Yuqiao gave Chen Hao a stern look, saying coldly, "Be serious, no more fooling around!"

"Oh!" Chen Hao responded, his enthusiasm dampened, and then proceeded to recount to Ye Yuqiao what had happened after he rushed to the Yin Yang Master Association the previous night.

After listening, Ye Yuqiao chuckled softly, then tauntingly said in a scornful tone, "It seems you really are more trouble than you're worth."

Chen Hao frowned and hummed, then asked, "I guess the Shadow Demon will be back to seek revenge on us soon, is there any way we can capture him?"

"The Shadow Demon was cursed before he was even born, born as a shadow with only a Nether Soul," Ye Yuqiao explained, "Do you remember that impostor Pagoda Heavenly King? Didn't he use the Soul Locking Pagoda to trap you in it?"

Chen Hao nodded.

"This Soul Locking Pagoda is a prison in the Netherworld for detaining important criminals," Ye Yuqiao continued, "It can trap not only Yin Souls but also Nether Souls, and it can be used against the Shadow Demon."

"But where can we get the Soul Locking Pagoda from?"

Ye Yuqiao shook her head helplessly.

Just then, suddenly, a powerful and fearsome aura of Yin Qi approached.

Chen Hao was startled and abruptly sat up, looking around in all directions. He moved closer to Ye Yuqiao and, opening his arms, shielded her behind his body, protecting her.

"Zi— Zi—!"

The lights in the ward flickered and the air became tense. Then, ripples suddenly surged in the air and solidified into a person—King Ning, dressed in a golden dragon robe, appeared once again!

"Humph!" King Ning looked back and gave Chen Hao and Ye Yuqiao a cold glance, his eyes still full of intimidation.

Chen Hao took a deep breath and then shook himself, adopting a defiant stance as he asked, "What are you here for?"

"I've heard you've been making quite a stir with some earth-shattering deeds!" King Ning said with a light laugh, his majestic face revealing an incongruous smile. "The Snake King was killed by you, the Corpse Driver Master was captured by you, and you also smashed the ghost market in Dao County!"

"Did you come especially to praise me?" Chen Hao said with a forced smile, "If so, I'll gladly accept your praise."

King Ning's eyebrows furrowed and a terrifying glint shot out from his eyes like a cold light sword launched from his chilly gaze. He said expressionlessly, "I'm here not only to praise you, but also to help you. I've heard the Shadow Demon has come, and I can give you a Soul Locking Pagoda!"

Chen Hao's breathing grew hurried as he once again felt the overwhelming gap between himself and King Ning. He was afraid, trembling, and distressed. It wasn't until Ye Yuqiao's warm hand held the back of his that he regained some calm, and he asked with a slight pant, "Why would you want to help me?"

King Ning smiled again and then slowly walked towards Chen Hao. With each step he took, Chen Hao felt his heart pounding violently.

The Yin Qi Spiritual Power emanating from King Ning was profoundly deep; Chen Hao could hear the strong Yin Qi whistling around King Ning, like a bitter cold wind in a world of ice and snow, piercing to the bone and suffocating.

Finally, King Ning stopped half a meter in front of Chen Hao. With a chuckle, he said, "Because the enemy of my enemy is my friend, and you should be very clear about who sent the Shadow Demon to deal with you!"

"It was Qian Feng, the Clan Leader of the Qian Family from one of the Eight Great Clans of the Netherworld!" Chen Hao said with a trembling voice.

King Ning scoffed, his eyes filled with scorn.

Ye Yuqiao held Chen Hao's hand even tighter, conveying her encouragement through the warmth and strength of her palm.

Chen Hao closed his eyes and readjusted his ragged breathing. When he reopened his eyes, they were filled with resolve. He reminded himself: This is the last hurdle to exchange with Niu Tou and Ma Mian for my grandfather's safe return, and even if he is powerful and formidable, I mustn't be afraid, because sooner or later, I will defeat him. Moreover, my goal is not just him, but also the more powerful Ghost King behind him!

Chen Hao let go of Ye Yuqiao's hand, got out of bed, and stood in front of King Ning. He straightened his frail frame, looked King Ning directly in his murderous eyes, extended his hand towards King Ning with a slight smile, and said, "Well then, I would be deeply grateful, please lend me the Soul Locking Pagoda."

King Ning's face of contempt stiffened; he did not know what kind of power had enabled the boy, who moments before was filled with fear, to now face him with such calm composure.

After a long stare, King Ning finally took out the Soul Locking Pagoda from his sleeve and handed it to Chen Hao. Then he turned into countless ripples and disappeared into the air, and the oppressive Yin Qi he brought with him also gradually weakened in the air until it vanished.

A long while later.

"Are you all right?" Ye Yuqiao asked, looking at Chen Hao's rigid back; she was worried whether Chen Hao had been daunted by King Ning.

"Hmph!" Chen Hao suddenly turned around, his gaze shining with determination. "I have a feeling that it won't be long before I defeat him personally!"

Ye Yuqiao first showed surprise, then smiled with a bend in her eyes. That was the Chen Hao she knew!

Two days later.

Deep into the night.

In the hospital corridor, a gray shadow crawled up the wall...

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