**Chapter 31: The Strange Underworld Emperor**
“Underworld Emperor, why are you here? I clearly used the light of Dao to conceal this place!” The Night Emperor narrowed his eyes into dangerous slits, his voice as cold as ice.
The Underworld Emperor wore a brown robe that seemed to be made of silk. The robe was embroidered with white bone-like cross patterns, bordered by black thorn vines.
He had a handsome face, with long black hair that naturally curled and fell to his chest.
What most drew attention were his eyes. The brown irises occupied almost the entire sockets. His vertical pupils, like those of a beast, constantly exuded a dangerous aura.
Xiao Yan sat on the ground, looking from the Night Emperor to the approaching Underworld Emperor, her expression blank.
She felt her head spinning, a complete blank.
The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, top experts of the Ghost Continent, legendary powerhouses, were appearing before her one after another.
Right before her eyes, within reach.
Heavens!
“Relax, relax, I am a friend, not an enemy. Chu Yun.” The Underworld Emperor smiled meaningfully.
Even though the Night Emperor was right in front of him, he knew that the only one truly in charge was Chu Yun, who was far away in Xingzhou.
A faint starlight flickered on the Star Ghost Spirit Ring, but Chu Yun’s voice did not come. He was clearly hesitating.
The Underworld Emperor’s appearance also caught Chu Yun by surprise.
What surprised Chu Yun even more was his attitude. He actually watched as Chu Yun recaptured the Night Emperor. If the Underworld Emperor had intervened just now, Chu Yun would have failed. But the Underworld Emperor chose to stand by.
Among the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors of the Ghost Continent, the Underworld Emperor was a native human of the Ghost Continent who cultivated to become a Great Emperor step by step.
However, his journey was also arduous. It was said that he disappeared for a time during the King level, then found a way to survive death. When he reappeared, he already possessed Emperor level cultivation.
In a way, his progression was somewhat similar to that of the Dragon Emperor of Xingzhou.
Notably, the Underworld Emperor’s Innate Divine Ability was known as “Stubborn Unyielding,” famous among emperors. Once unleashed, it would create a Netherworld domain, covering an area of tens of thousands of miles. Within this domain, all spiritual energy would be greatly weakened.
Seeing that Chu Yun remained silent, the Underworld Emperor laughed again, “Chu Yun, I know your doubts. So, let me express my sincerity first.”
He waved his sleeve, releasing a soul.
This soul was tall and slender, wearing a simple blue scholar’s robe. A spirit of unyielding integrity permeated him. Anyone who saw him would know he was an outstanding individual, a hero among men.
The Star Ghost Spirit Ring vibrated violently.
This soul was none other than the Old Dan King!
“Father!” Chu Yun was greatly shocked. The Star Ghost Spirit Ring immediately erupted with dazzling starlight, drawing the Old Dan King’s soul into it.
“My son? Is that really you!” Inside the ring, the Old Dan King was filled with surprise and joy upon seeing Chu Yun.
Although they had only met once and had not even exchanged a single word, the paternal-filial bond between them was indelible.
The last time they met, the Old Dan King was a Ghost Servant under the Netherworld Umbrella, controlled and with a stiff expression.
Now that he had regained his freedom and saw Chu Yun’s current state, he frowned, “My son, why are you dead too!”
“This is a long story. My main body is still in Xingzhou; this is just a wisp of my soul.”
“So it’s a soul clone technique.” The Old Dan King nodded, relieved. He then added, “You must be careful of this Underworld Emperor. He is powerful, already at the peak Emperor level. His actions are very mysterious. First, he refined me into a Ghost Servant, then released me, and even helped me absorb souls and funded me with Drunken Immortal Spirit Wine. Now, I am already a Ghost Emperor in cultivation.”
“Is that so?” Chu Yun pondered.
The Underworld Emperor’s actions were too strange, actually extending an olive branch to Chu Yun. What was his objective?
“Hahaha, Chu Yun, are you still doubting me? It’s alright; I have other tokens of sincerity.” The Underworld Emperor waved his sleeve again, and this time a group of souls appeared.
These were all acquaintances of Chu Yun.
The three in the lead were none other than the three elders of the Shu Family, who had died on the battlefield: the Old Red Spear, the Old Mermaid King, and Old Qiao Houzi. The rest were the ill-fated beauties of the Rouge Gate.
Originally, the chances of these souls passing the three trials and entering the Ghost Continent were slim, but the Underworld Emperor had acted in advance, selecting these souls before the Ghost Gate Pass and sending them into his Immortal Pouch.
“Chu Yun, I have protected and supported these souls since their deaths. Look at their cultivation, they are all Ghost Lords, even Ghost Marquises. I am returning all of them to you.” The Underworld Emperor said with a hearty laugh, his demeanor open and aboveboard.
“What?” Chu Yun was even more astonished. He had never imagined that he would one day see these people again!
Regardless of what schemes the Underworld Emperor had, Chu Yun was overjoyed to see these souls in good condition.
He immediately accepted all these souls and absorbed them into the Star Ghost Spirit Ring.
“Young Master, we never thought we three old bones would see you again!” The Three Old Generals were in tears.
The other women from the Rouge Gate did not speak, but they secretly looked at Chu Yun, their eyebrows showing either shyness or affection.
After settling these souls, Chu Yun turned his attention back to the Underworld Emperor, “Underworld Emperor, I have seen your sincerity. What transaction do you want to make with me? Rest assured, since you have released these people willingly, I, Chu Yun, am not a barbaric and bloodthirsty person.”
The Underworld Emperor slowly shook his head, “Chu Yun, it seems you don’t understand. I don’t want to make a transaction with you; I want to be friends with you. Come out, my dear granddaughter.”
The Underworld Emperor summoned someone.
To be precise, it was a soul.
She had black hair like a spring, styled into a simple bun. Her eyebrows were like faint willow mist, and her eyes were like bright moonlit clear waters. Her figure was delicate, elegant, and refined, exuding an aura of scholarly elegance, yet also carrying a hint of uncatchable, yet lingering sorrow.
It was none other than the Princess of the Mermaid Kingdom, Yuwen Wan’er.
After the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen and the Mermaid King clashed, and the Night Emperor’s clone wiped them out, Yuwen Wan’er, having inherited the legacy of the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen, had mysteriously disappeared.
Who would have thought she would be seen in the Ghost Continent.
“Wan’er, why are you here? Wait, are you the Underworld Emperor’s daughter? What is going on?” Chu Yun was utterly confused.
“Wushuang, are you Wushuang?” Upon hearing Chu Yun’s voice, Yuwen Wan’er’s expression changed drastically, revealing surprise. Her eyes sparkled as she stared at the Star Ghost Spirit Ring, her tone becoming complicated, “I already know. Wushuang is your alias, aren’t you Chu Yun of the Archipel? I committed suicide to come to the Ghost Continent to find answers.”
“Suicide?” Chu Yun had never expected this answer.
Yuwen Wan’er laughed, “But luckily, I have found the answer. The Underworld Emperor is my grandfather. Now, my Grandmother Ten Thousand Poisons Queen and Grandmother Mermaid King and I are living very happily in my grandfather’s Immortal Pouch World. How have you been all these years? Did you receive the letter I left? Are you here in the Ghost Continent to find me?”
Chu Yun fell silent, at a loss for words for a moment.
The light in Wan’er’s beautiful eyes dimmed.
She sighed softly, “I understand.” Her expression was filled with an indescribable melancholy.
She paused and then said, “Actually, I already knew about you and the Dunhuang Princess.”
“So, the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen and the Mermaid King, both seniors, are still alive?” Chu Yun changed the subject.
“It can’t be said they are alive; they are all souls like me. Fortunately, with Grandfather’s support, our cultivation is growing. We are just waiting for the Wine Pool Meat Forest to appear for our revival.” Wan’er pursed her lips, trying to force a smile, but ultimately tears welled up.
“I’m sorry, I have to go back.” The young girl’s ghost turned and drifted towards the Underworld Emperor.
At this moment, she felt her heart shatter.
She had waited for a long time in the Ghost Continent, yearning day and night, but in the end, she had not waited for Wushuang, only for Chu Yun.
Even though Wushuang and Chu Yun were the same person.
“What exactly happened back then?” Chu Yun urgently asked.
Wan’er did not reply, drifting into the Supreme grade Immortal Pouch on the Underworld Emperor’s waist.
“Alas, that was an event from hundreds of years ago,” the Underworld Emperor sighed softly. “Back then, I was known as the Nether King, stuck at the peak King level. I risked my life to break through the Ghost Continent Three Trials and came to Xingzhou for help. There, I used the alias Feng Hun and met the Ten Thousand Poisons Queen and the Mermaid King, who were sisters… Heh heh, the past cannot be chased; these grievances and entanglements are all over now.”
The Underworld Emperor did not explain in detail, his face etched with weariness.
Then, he changed the subject, his gaze towards Chu Yun filled with a meaningful smile, “From Xingzhou, I received help from someone. Upon returning to the Ghost Continent, I was successfully promoted to Great Emperor. Chu Yun, guess who it was that helped me?”
“Could it be…” Chu Yun’s heart trembled.
He thought of someone.
To guide a King to become a Great Emperor, only a being above the King level could do it.
However, the Three Sovereigns and Four Emperors of Xingzhou would clearly not help a King of the Ghost Continent.
Perhaps it was the Star Saint arranging a plan, with the Underworld Emperor as a chess piece. But this possibility was very small. Another person was highly likely.
That person was Bai Xiaosheng!
The Soldier Saint was harmed by an Ancient Saint and, after a series of escapes, eventually ended up in Xingzhou. His public identity there was the weapon-forging Grandmaster Bai Xiaosheng.
Chu Yun did not speak the name, but the Underworld Emperor laughed, “It seems you already know the answer. Indeed, that person was Bai Xiaosheng, the ancestor of the Xiao family, the Saint of Bingzhou!”
Xiao Yan was stunned. What was going on? How did this involve the ancestor of the Xiao family?
The Night Emperor was even more bewildered. The Saint of Bingzhou? Had he heard correctly?
In the entire Nine Provinces, perhaps only Chu Yun and the Underworld Emperor were privy to this knowledge.
“So, you are the Soldier Saint’s mole in the Ghost Continent?” Chu Yun suddenly understood. If that were the case, the Underworld Emperor’s strange behavior would all make sense.
The Underworld Emperor gave a wry smile, “Rather than a mole, I am more like a chess piece. My life and death have long been in the Soldier Saint’s hands. Chu Yun, you might not believe me, so this time, I request you to unleash your Innate Divine Ability upon me.”
“What do you mean?”
The Underworld Emperor was actually asking Chu Yun to attack him with Immeasurable Dao. Was he crazy?
Chu Yun almost thought he had misheard.
“Your Innate Divine Ability is known as Immeasurable Dao, truly profound and extraordinary, a supreme art of controlling people. Try using it on me. Facts speak louder than any argument. Once you use it, you will understand my plight.” The Underworld Emperor’s smile became even more bitter.
(To be continued)
