Despite Luoshan County City being an important stepping stone for the 10th Hall Yama to intervene in the Yang World, Shen Yuan’s destination on this journey was not this county city with a population of over ten million.
In this turmoil of the Netherworld, there was always only one true core from the beginning to the end, which was the Netherworld Judicial Domain, Fengdu City!
When Shen Yuan headed for Fengdu City, within Luoshan County City, Marquis Zhennan, an old acquaintance of Shen Yuan, sat in the Luoshan Army Camp with a worried expression on his face.
In front of him stood a youth clad in armor and draped in a white tiger skin and a beautiful young girl dressed in a vermillion long dress.
These two were none other than the White Tiger and Vermilion Bird Envoys of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.
“His Majesty and the superintendent only sent the two of you here?”
Marquis Zhennan spoke with a hint of uneasiness.
The White Tiger Envoy crossed his arms and spoke with a touch of dissatisfaction:
“It seems that Marquis Zhennan is underestimating us.”
The Vermilion Bird Envoy, on the other hand, spoke calmly:
“Please rest assured, Marquis Zhennan. His Majesty and the superintendent have bestowed upon us two treasures specifically targeted at the Netherworld gods and deities, powerful enough to deter those from the Netherworld.
Moreover, our purpose in coming here is not to wage war against the Netherworld, but to use the treasures to deter those Netherworld gods and deities whose hearts are wavering.
As long as we can stabilize the situation and dispel their thoughts of co-governance with humans, we can make some appropriate concessions.”
Deterrence and negotiation, that was the decision made by Emperor Xia.
The Emperor was well aware of the open scheme of the grotto heavens sacred ground to sit back and watch the tigers fight, but he also thought of countermeasures right away.
Great Xia had inherited a portion of the heritage from past dynasties, passing down many treasures related to the Netherworld. By using these treasures to first deter a portion of the Netherworld Commanders, and then offering some concessions to win over others, the turmoil could be quelled with the smallest price paid.
This choice also received the support of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau’s Superintendent who was far away in the Imperial Capital, hence the dispatch of two Envoys of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to Luoshan County City.
Seeing the confidence emanating from the two Envoys, Marquis Zhennan did not show any joy, but was instead filled with worry.
Months ago, since he was stationed in the Southern Territories, Marquis Zhennan had successively quelled the water disaster at Lake Dongting, the Yunfu demon horde’s rebellion, and eventually even subdued River Ji Dragon Palace in Cang Province through the Dao Discussion Conference.
Because of these outstanding merits, Marquis Zhennan was transferred away from the remote Southern Territories, heading to Tai Province to take charge of Fengdu City.
Everywhere from the Imperial Court, praises were sung that Marquis Zhennan was a rare talent of the imperial family, seen only once in a hundred years, and that he was bound to become a king in the future.
Regarding these praises, Marquis Zhennan felt rather apprehensive in his heart.
Only one’s own family truly knows their own affairs. Apart from the war against the Yunfu demon horde, the other so-called merits had little to do with him; at most, he had merely helped tie up loose ends.
Even the battle just outside the Yunfu Mountain Range was just a tentative attempt, where the real Mountain God Demons had not yet gotten involved before being drawn away by the internal strife within the Yunfu Mountains.
Knowing he was not some imperial prodigy, Marquis Zhennan remained careful and cautious while presiding over Fengdu City.
In fact, several months earlier, taking charge of Fengdu City was indeed considered a covetable position.
As the Spirit Energy Tidal Surge gradually recovered, signs of the Netherworld’s return appeared, and Fengdu City, being the city of the Netherworld, represented the unrivaled authority of the Netherworld’s City God system.
For countless years in the past, the Netherworld governed the Yin World, while the Human Emperor Dynasty ruled over the Yang World – this was an ironclad law.
As the Netherworld was constrained by the faith and offerings, the Human Emperor Dynasty maintained a significant advantage when dealing with the Netherworld.
Marquis Zhennan taking charge of Fengdu City was thus representing Great Xia’s Imperial Court’s will in matters of the Netherworld.
If the Netherworld’s City God system was activated, Marquis Zhennan would even have the authority to determine the appointments of All City Gods, his influence being second only to the Minister of Ceremonies, who oversaw matters of the Netherworld.
Initially, everything was developing in a favorable direction, but two months ago, discordant voices began emerging from within the resurging Netherworld.
Firstly, two of the 10 Commanders of the Netherworld, the Day Wandering God and the Night Wandering God, started refusing the intervention of Great Xia’s Imperial Court, forcibly using the power of the Netherworld Commanders to lock down Fengdu City, expelling Marquis Zhennan along with the newly appointed Minister of Ceremonies Xu YanKuan from the city.
As a result, the balance between Yin and Yang within the entire territory of Tai Province began to falter, and evil spirits rose up across Tai Province territory.
Although Marquis Zhennan quickly evacuated residents from the remote villages and towns, there were still a large number of civilian casualties and injuries.
While Marquis Zhennan and Minister Xu tried to question the Netherworld authorities, they were consistently denied entry, unable even to step foot in Fengdu City.
In the days that followed, the environment in Luoshan County became increasingly bizarre. Even with cultivators from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau guarding, they still could not stabilize the situation.
If it weren’t for the protection of humanity’s fate by Great Xia’s Imperial Court, the evil spirits rampant outside would have already attacked the County City.
Finally, several days ago, Luoshan County began to gradually fall into the Yin World, a development that sent shock waves throughout the entire Great Xia Imperial Court.
Inside Fengdu City, a response eventually came from the 10 Netherworld Commanders: they wished to revive the Ancient Era’s co-governance of humans and gods.
If the Great Xia Imperial Court refused, the entire Luoshan County would completely descend into the Yin World, and the tens of millions of people within the county would become part of the Netherworld water monsters.
Marquis Zhennan reported the matter, hoping to get assistance from the Imperial Court and the grotto heavens sacred ground.
However, Ghost Objects could ignore modern firepower, virtually nullifying the most crucial means of Great Xia Imperial Court.
Ghost Objects rampaged across the land of Tai Province, and most of Great Xia’s cultivators were already stationed throughout Tai Province, leaving hardly any to spare for supporting Luoshan County.
At this moment, the White Tiger and Vermilion Bird Envoys from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau brought treasures capable of suppressing the Netherworld, seemingly offering a chance to save Luoshan County. However, Marquis Zhennan’s intuition told him that this matter was not so simple.
The Great Xia Imperial Court possessed treasures to suppress the Netherworld; would those 10 Netherworld Commanders, who’ve lived for tens of thousands of years, be unaware?
Yet they still decided to instigate chaos, meaning they had ample confidence and assurance.
Moreover, having been stationed in Luoshan County for so long and personally witnessing the entire county being gradually dragged into the Yin World, Marquis Zhennan always felt that the 10 Netherworld Commanders must have other means at their disposal.
His mouth slightly open, Marquis Zhennan was ready to explain the situation in detail to the two Envoys before him, asking them to contact the Imperial Astronomical Bureau’s Superintendent to renegotiate.
But just as he was about to speak, a barely perceptible grey mist flickered across Marquis Zhennan’s eyes.
His expression faltered slightly, and the words he intended to say were suddenly forgotten completely.
Seeing Marquis Zhennan’s demeanor, the Vermilion Bird Envoy couldn’t help but urge him to speak:
“I beseech His Excellency Marquis Zhennan to make arrangements for our entry into Fengdu City as soon as possible, to discuss important matters with the Netherworld gods and deities.”
Marquis Zhennan immediately snapped out of his earlier daze, completely disregarding that small anomaly from before.
A wry smile appeared on his face, and Marquis Zhennan said helplessly to the Vermilion Bird Envoy:
“The Envoy is unaware, but I and Minister of Ceremonies Xu Yankuan have tried to enter Fengdu City numerous times, only to be turned away by the ghosts and deities of the Netherworld. There’s truly nothing we can do about this matter.”
The White Tiger Envoy beside him frowned, his voice taking on a hint of coldness:
“Then please have Marquis Zhennan arrange for the army to escort us to the outskirts of Fengdu City. We have our own ways to enter the city.”
Upon hearing this, Marquis Zhennan nodded and began to summon the soldiers of the Luoshan Army.
Meanwhile, at the center of Fengdu City, within a heavily guarded and majestic temple,
the 10 Commanders of the Netherworld kneeled in the center of the temple, while more than a dozen statues were enshrined at the front of the temple.
The statues stood on three levels of steps, with the administrators of the kingdom of Hell who govern billions of supernatural beings, the 10th Hall Yama, at the lowest level.
On the second tier stood five emperors in imperial robes with peculiar appearances, who were the joint rulers over the evil spirits of the kingdom of Hell, the 5 Regions Ghost Emperors, holding a rank far above the 10th Hall Yama.
And at the very top, there was only one grey statue, whose silhouette would be clear upon sight but then completely forgotten the next second.
At this moment, from within the statues of the 10th Hall Yama on the bottom tier, light flickered sporadically, and a voice filled with the ravages of time slowly emerged,
“I have sensed the approach of the Lord of Mount Tai’s presence.”
“Those fools from the Great Xia Dynasty have actually brought out the edict of the Lord of Mount Tai to suppress the Netherworld!”
“It is nearing, all is nearing! Once we get that thing from the Master of North Mang Mountain, we can descend further into the Primal Chaos Realm.”
Several Netherworld Commanders immediately showed delight and spoke out loud:
“Congratulations to Yama, the Great Way is hopeful!”
Unnoticed by all, amidst the sounds of congratulations, a hint of mockery flashed deep in the eyes of Netherworld Commander Bull Head.

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