293-295

Chapter 293: The Mo River Upgrades

"Worm Two?!"

Wang Yongzhi's voice was almost a shout, echoing through the silent mountain interior.

The numerous Wang family dignitaries who had followed them in were startled, and then they felt as if a string in their hearts had been plucked, causing their hearts to race.

Worm Two?

This name was even more renowned within the Wang family than the illustrious title of General Haotian!

Everyone looked at Li Hao in astonishment, their gazes fixated on the golden slip.

Although the golden slip was only palm-sized, everyone present was a cultivator of great power. They could count the legs of a fly a thousand meters away, let alone a golden slip right in front of them.

Name: Worm Two

Merit: 100100...

Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief. It was true!

Worm Two, Li Hao was actually Worm Two?!

Everyone's mouths slightly gaped as they stared at Li Hao in shock.

They never imagined that the incredibly mysterious Worm Two, the individual who didn't even bother to accept the Emperor's bestowed title of General, was actually Li Hao, the one who had caused so much upheaval!

But soon, like a flash of lightning illuminating their minds, everyone experienced a sudden enlightenment.

Oh... so that's how it is, no wonder!

When the Battle of Liangzhou erupted, Li Hao had single-handedly drawn the attention of three Great Demon Kings, being forced into the Mo River on the borderlands.

The Mo River was also recorded in the Wang family's archives: Dragon City Mo River, Youdu-level, Difficulty: Top-tier.

Clearly, Li Hao's ability to emerge unscathed wasn't because he was a member of the Li family, protected by the lingering will of a heroic soul. It was because he had cleared the Mo River!

The timelines aligned.

"It really is you..."

Wang Yongzhi regained his composure and looked at Li Hao with a mixture of surprise and wonder.

When the Merit Treasure Vault opened and the name 'Worm Two' echoed throughout Dayu, they hadn't been without suspicion regarding Li Hao. But not only had Li Hao not appeared or shown himself, the difficulty of the Dragon City Mo River was also too high.

After the Wang family sacrificed many soldiers in the Dragon City Mo River and failed to conquer it, they had reported to the Emperor, who, unable to do anything else, had abandoned the territory where the Mo River extended, ceding it to the borderlands. They had stopped paying attention to that Mo River after that.

But in their recorded archives, that Mo River was among the top five most difficult out of the dozens of Youdu-level Mo Rivers the Wang family had explored.

The fact that they had been forced to cede territory spoke volumes about its insurmountable nature.

The legendary Blade Saint, Li Xiaoran, had tried to clear it for many years without success. Although they had suspected Li Hao, they eventually dismissed the idea.

After all, at that time, Li Hao had been hunted by a Tai Xu Realm Overlord, and they had all entered the Mo River, which would only have increased in difficulty, making it even more impossible to clear.

Yet, this impossible feat had become a reality.

And the evidence was irrefutable. The information on the golden slip about the Mo River couldn't lie. Currently, they didn't know of any force that could influence the Mo River, unless it was something like the Earth Store Buddha, a strange item brought out from the Mo River that could have some impact on it.

"I knew it was him. When we were discussing it, I said it was him. Who denied it? Stand up!"

Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouted, a middle-aged man, his face filled with excitement.

But someone beside him nudged him with his elbow and pointed with his mouth, saying: "It's the Patriarch and Uncle Zhenfeng."

"..."

Two pairs of cold gazes swept over, and the middle-aged man immediately fell silent. In the scorching summer heat, he suddenly felt a chill, his back breaking out in a cold sweat.

"Uh, there are too many people here, it's a bit crowded. I'll go outside to cool off for a bit."

The middle-aged man said sheepishly.

His words were quite unconvincing in the empty mountain hall, but no one spoke up.

He bowed to Li Hao: "Congratulations, General Haotian, oh no, I should say, Divine General Haotian, congratulations..."

And he actually went outside to cool off.

The expressions of the others, besides shock, were also tinged with complexity.

Yes, Divine General... the young man before them was no longer a simple general, but a Divine General comparable to the ancestors of their five Divine General's Mansions!

With his own strength, he had ushered in the era of the Merit Treasure Vault and had saved three provinces from disaster!

Two earth-shattering achievements, both residing in one person. It was unimaginable what kind of commotion would erupt in the outside world once Li Hao's identity as Worm Two was revealed!

Among the crowd, Wang Zhenping's aged face also showed a hint of astonishment.

He looked at the golden slip, his eyes narrowed as he examined it again and again, confirming that he hadn't made a mistake.

Suddenly, he remembered what he had said in the main hall just now, and a burning sensation of shame flooded his face.

Experience and intellect? The Wang family's experience with the Mo River was indeed rich, possessing many secrets unknown to outsiders, such as the Earth Store Buddha.

But these things were fine for showing off to others, but discussing them in front of the current number one on the Merit List was a bit ridiculous and self-deprecating.

"Divine General?"

Li Hao was a little confused by the middle-aged man's words. The other party was the same generation as Wang Yongzhi, so he shouldn't be talking nonsense.

"You don't know?"

Wang Yongzhi looked at Li Hao in surprise, then suddenly realized:

"No wonder you didn't go to court to receive it. The Emperor said he wanted to reward you with the title of Divine General. The impact of the Merit Treasure Vault's opening is too profound. It has an incredibly terrifying impact on the future of Dayu. It not only helps us solve the problem of clearing the Mo River but also increases the limits of martial artists. It's truly a boon for all generations."

Li Hao blinked. Bestowing him with the title of Divine General?

If this was a good thing, why didn't he know about it?

However, he had just returned, and this matter should be old news by now, especially since no one knew his identity.

"Besides the Divine General title, are there any other rewards?" Li Hao curiously asked.

Wang Yongzhi was stunned and said: "I think so... uh, the specific rewards, you might have to see the Emperor to find out."

Okay... Li Hao nodded, then looked at the illusory map floating above the Earth Store Buddha's head, which was dotted with golden lights.

"Uh, which one do we choose?"

Wang Yongzhi also regained his composure and looked at the map. Suddenly, he thought of something and said with a chuckle:

"I suddenly remembered, I'm free, I'll accompany you on this trip."

"Uh, Patriarch, I'm free too, I'll go help out."

"I miss Uncle Zhen Dong, I haven't seen him in a long time, I want to go see him."

The others were also quick-witted and spoke up one after another. Only the two elders, Wang Zhenfeng and Wang Zhenping, remained silent.

But Wang Zhenfeng was smiling, his face beaming. Seeing these usually composed individuals acting so playfully, it was quite amusing.

Wang Zhenping, however, remained silent, seemingly quite disheartened.

"You guys..."

Wang Yongzhi glared at them, then turned to Li Hao: "Divine General Haotian, do you mind?"

"No."

Li Hao shook his head slightly.

Wang Yongzhi breathed a sigh of relief, then a golden slip also appeared in his palm, filled with dense information, a record of his battles entering and destroying various Mo Rivers.

Li Hao glanced at it. Although the amount of Merit was only a little over five thousand, far less than his own, the number of events he participated in was quite high. This Merit was accumulated bit by bit.

The others also took out their golden slips, and Wang Yongzhi pointed to a golden light on the map for Li Hao:

"Here, use your divine sense to perceive it."

Li Hao did as he was told, and soon, his consciousness felt as if it was being sucked into the golden light.

He subconsciously activated his Dao Domain to cover his body, and immediately felt his body float up, following the golden light to another world.

After a brief sensation of shaking and traversing, Li Hao saw clearly that he was in a dilapidated town.

The town was eerily silent, with fluttering banners, but the buildings on either side of the street were in ruins.

There were charred corpses lying on the roadside, motionless, their backs to Li Hao. A mournful wind blew, and the entire town seemed deathly still and eerie.

Soon, golden lights appeared around Li Hao, and Wang Yongzhi and the others successively entered the Mo River.

"Is this the place?"

Li Hao asked.

Wang Yongzhi glanced around and nodded: "That's right, this is the Mo River. Let me see where Uncle Zhen Dong is."

As he spoke, his soul suddenly emerged from the soles of his feet and burrowed into the ground. But soon, his soul burst out of the ground again. His face showed a hint of surprise, and he said:

"What's going on? It feels like the power of the rules in this Mo River has increased?"

In a Nether Realm Mo River, there were already simple rules.

Before entering, Wang Yongzhi had already told Li Hao about this Mo River.

Rule: Hands and feet reversed.

Simply put, if you wanted to use your feet, you had to think of using your hands, using your hands as feet and your feet as hands to maintain normal walking.

But since it was only a Nether Realm Mo River, the binding force of the rules wasn't that strong, limited to the body. However, now, Wang Yongzhi discovered that even his soul was being affected.

He had intended to make his soul soar, but instead, it burrowed underground.

"Hmm?"

Li Hao frowned slightly. Feng Lao's remnant soul was here, and he didn't want anything unexpected to happen.

"Be careful, something seems to have changed here."

Wang Yongzhi's face was tense, his eyes filled with gravity. Based on past experience, changes in the Mo River were rarely good.

Soon, his soul soared, and he found a figure on the edge of the town. He immediately said: "I've found Uncle Zhen Dong. Follow me."

As he spoke, his body seemed to pause for a moment, then he took a step backward before reacting, and then slowly walked forward, but his limbs were a little uncoordinated.

Although the others were prepared, many of them still took a step back in unison at the beginning.

"It's not just the hands and feet being reversed, it seems like everything is reversed. To move forward, you have to move backward!"

Wang Yongzhi immediately reminded them.

The others had already reacted, their faces turning grave. The strengthening of the Mo River's rules likely indicated a change, an upgrade of the Mo River!

Could it be that this Nether Realm Mo River was about to mutate into a Youdu-level one?

After a brief moment of stiffness, everyone gradually adapted, but they could only walk with difficulty. In a fierce battle, they would quickly become flustered, interfered with by their original normal thinking.

Seeing that they were having trouble even walking, Li Hao directly expanded his Dao Domain to envelop them.

Soon, everyone was constantly retreating, taking several steps before reacting.

"I'll take you there."

Li Hao said.

His expression was serious. His divine sense had already covered the entire town. He had seen the Wang Zhen Dong that Wang Yongzhi mentioned, but what concerned him more was a dark, jagged darkness outside the town, slowly advancing towards the town.

His divine sense couldn't penetrate that darkness, and when he got close, he felt a bone-chilling coldness, instinctively sensing danger.

"Dao Domain..."

Feeling Li Hao's casually extended Dao Domain, the Wang family members were somewhat envious. This was the power of a Tai Ping Dao Realm cultivator, simply unreasonable.

Any rules were blocked.

Soon, Li Hao led everyone to the edge of the town.

Four figures were sitting here: an elderly man with a strong physique, his face like carved stone, his eyes resolute. Beside him sat three others: a young man and woman, and a middle-aged man.

"Uncle Zhen Dong."

When Wang Yongzhi saw the old man, his attitude became extremely respectful. He was the current pillar of their Wang family.

The old man's face was sharp as a knife, and he said: "Why are there so many people here!"

"Uncle Zhen Dong, what's going on here?"

Wang Yongzhi quickly asked, not daring to joke around in the Mo River.

"This Mo River is about to be merged!"

Elder Wang Zhen Dong's face was gloomy as he stared at them. He had noticed them as soon as they arrived in the town. His voice was stern:

"Who told you all to come in? Don't you know the rules?"

Wang Yongzhi and the others' faces changed. It was rare to see Uncle Zhen Dong so serious.

"Merged? Did it collide with a Youdu-level Mo River?" Wang Yongzhi couldn't help but ask: "But there are no other Mo Rivers near this one?"

"It's a newly extended one, not a Mo River visible in the mortal realm..."

Wang Zhen Dong's eyes slowly swept over them: "It's a Hell-level Mo River!"

Hell-level Mo River!

With the utterance of these five words, Wang Yongzhi and the others felt their hearts tremble violently, their faces turning pale with shock.

Hell-level Mo River? That was the most terrifying type of Mo River, where even Tai Ping Dao Realm cultivators could easily perish and fall, classified as the highest level, a taboo.

This Nether Realm Mo River had actually collided with a Hell-level Mo River and was about to be merged. No wonder the rules here had been strengthened so much!

Wang Yongzhi felt his hair stand on end. Including him, the others who had followed in were the same, trembling all over.

Being part of the Wang family, they knew too well how terrifying a Hell-level Mo River was. It was given that name because once you touched it, it was basically a one-way ticket to death, an eternal descent into hell!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 294: Suppression

"How could this be?"

"Quick, let's get out of here."

"The exit is gone. My Death River Roster can't be summoned."

The Wang family members who had followed Li Hao in quickly tried various methods, their faces filled with tension. It wasn't just fear of death, but many of them were influential figures in the Wang family. If they all perished here, it would be a devastating blow to the family.

The fusion of Death Rivers was an extremely rare event, yet they had stumbled upon it. It felt like a nightmare!

"Uncle Zhen Dong, why aren't you leaving?"

Wang Yongzhi had also tried summoning the Death River Roster, but to no avail. He couldn't help but look at Wang Zhen Dong.

This pillar of the Wang family still brought a sense of security to their hearts in this moment.

"Of course, I'm going to leave, but I want to observe the situation a little longer, see how these two Death Rivers are merging, and study that Hell Death River..."

Wang Zhen Dong frowned, saying, "This is a once-in-a-millennium opportunity. If we leave, by the time we come back, this place will likely be completely fused with the Hell Death River. Without the simple rules of this Netherworld-level Death River to protect us, we'll be directly plunged into Hell. Even I might die. This is a rare chance to study a Hell-level Death River up close."

"But you all, you had to barge in here in such a large group."

His voice held a hint of displeasure as he looked at Wang Yongzhi.

Wang Yongzhi instantly understood his uncle's thoughts. Currently, with the two Death Rivers merging, although they were suppressed by the rules of this Netherworld-level Death River, the river was also resisting the Hell Death River. Therefore, the rules were protecting them.

Otherwise, it would be the Hell-level rules suppressing them, which would be incredibly terrifying. Even Dao Domains might not be able to withstand it.

"Uncle Zhen Dong, do you know how to leave?"

Wang Yongzhi quickly asked.

He had originally planned to see how Li Hao would deal with the Netherworld Death River and build a relationship with him.

Bringing all these people into a Netherworld-level Death River was supposed to be a leisurely excursion. Now, it felt like they had stepped out the door and been caught in a torrential downpour, complete with hailstones.

Seeing their anxious expressions, Wang Zhen Dong coldly snorted. He knew that now wasn't the time for reprimands. He said, "The rules here are now reversed, the original exit path has disappeared. You all have the talismans on you, right? I'll take you to the deepest part."

Hearing that there was still a way out, Wang Yongzhi breathed a sigh of relief and regained his composure, at least on the surface.

"Yes."

Wang Yongzhi nodded. He had previously learned about this Netherworld Death River and had brought talismans to ensure they could leave at any time.

He turned to Li Hao and said, "General Haotian, you've heard the situation. It will become extremely dangerous here soon, and we need to leave as quickly as possible."

Before Li Hao could respond, Wang Zhen Dong suddenly raised an eyebrow, "What did you call him?"

He hadn't paid much attention to Li Hao before, but he had noticed the young man's identity. So young, yet controlling a Dao Domain. Currently, there was only one such youth in the Great Yu, the Haotian General of Liangzhou.

He had also received a secret order from the Emperor to personally assist the General in passing through this Netherworld Death River.

He understood why the Emperor valued this individual so much. After all, the General was a young prodigy. Which Divine General House wouldn't envy or regret not having such a talented son?

However, there was a significant difference between "General" and "Divine General." It was crucial not to make a mistake.

"Haotian..."

The two young juniors beside Wang Zhen Dong were stunned, then stared intently at Li Hao.

Wang Yongzhi realized that his uncle was extremely displeased with their reckless actions and worried that he would vent his anger on Li Hao. He quickly used voice transmission to explain the situation.

"What?"

Wang Zhen Dong, hearing Wang Yongzhi's voice transmission, was momentarily stunned, his originally gloomy expression turning into one of shock. Then, he looked at Li Hao.

Chong Er?

The Chong Er who was at the top of the Merit List?

The one who had established three states, surpassed all others, and opened the Merit Treasure Vault?

Wang Zhen Dong was slightly dazed, looking at the young face, unable to believe it.

But soon, he understood. No wonder Wang Yongzhi and the others had been so reckless. They must have wanted to see if this Chong Er had any special skills for passing through the Death River.

His anger towards Wang Yongzhi and the others dissipated somewhat. Putting himself in their shoes, he felt that he probably would have wanted to come and see as well.

"A young prodigy, truly a young prodigy..."

Wang Zhen Dong sighed softly, his mood seemingly improving. He didn't delay any further and stood up, saying, "Let's get you all out first. It's dangerous here."

While they were talking, Li Hao's divine sense had been monitoring the black crack outside the town, sensing its slow approach. It was incredibly slow, like an ant crawling, but it was steadily advancing. Based on the current rate, in a dozen or so hours, it would reach the town's buildings.

Considering the Death River's decreasing and increasing decay, the fusion speed might accelerate later.

Time was running out.

Li Hao looked at the Wang family members preparing to leave and said to Wang Zhen Dong, "Old Senior, do you have any clues or ideas about passing through this Death River?"

"You still want to pass through?"

Wang Zhen Dong's expression changed slightly as he stared at Li Hao. "It's impossible. There were ways before, but now that the Death River is fused, the Hell-level rules will interfere. It's very difficult to pass through!"

"I want to try."

Li Hao looked at him seriously, "But I'll send you all out first, and then I'll try myself."

He had come here and didn't want to give up easily. If he didn't try his best, he wouldn't be at peace.

Wang Yongzhi and the others also changed color, surprised by Li Hao's persistence. Was the Thief Saint perhaps a relative of Li Hao's?

"General Haotian, you're still young, with a bright future ahead of you. There's no need to take risks here." Wang Yongzhi earnestly advised.

Li Hao glanced at him and shook his head slightly.

"They're two different matters."

Wang Yongzhi opened his mouth, but then fell silent.

They were indeed two different things. Achieving personal success and helping others weren't mutually exclusive. It's just that those who have reached the shore rarely want to sacrifice themselves and return to the mud.

Wang Zhen Dong looked deeply at Li Hao, then glanced at the encroaching black mist outside the town, and said in a low voice, "Let's get them out first, then I'll take you to find a solution."

"Uncle Zhen Dong..."

"Go, stop dawdling!"

Wang Zhen Dong said, and his Dao Domain instantly enveloped everyone, covering them. However, when it touched Li Hao's Dao Domain, he immediately felt a strong resistance, unable to fully cover it.

His heart skipped a beat. This young man's Dao Domain was incredibly powerful.

He didn't know the details of Li Hao slaying the Buddhist Master, but Li Hao had publicly killed two Demon Kings in Qingzhou City, witnessed by all. Now, experiencing it firsthand, he understood that the young man's reputation was well-deserved.

Seeing that Li Hao was about to speak, Wang Zhen Dong quickly said, "Don't think you'll be putting me in danger. I also want to observe this Hell Death River's strangeness."

According to their estimations, even destroying a Region-level Death River would yield tens of thousands of merits.

If they could pass through, it might be millions!

Although this was just the Wang family's speculation, no one could confirm it, but there was a high probability it was true.

And the Hell Death River was incredibly terrifying. All the Hell Death Rivers that had appeared within their territory were forbidden zones, without exception.

It's worth noting that the Dragon City Death River was only a Netherworld-level Death River, yet it caused them to cede territory to avoid it. A Hell-level Death River had a forbidden zone extending for thousands of miles around it.

"Thank you."

Li Hao, seeing that the other party had said so much, didn't hesitate any further.

Under Wang Zhen Dong's guidance, they quickly flew towards the back edge of the town.

The black mist swirled here, nearing the edge of the town.

"Quickly, you all go out first."

Wang Zhen Dong immediately said.

Wang Yongzhi and the others also understood that they were now a burden and staying would only cause trouble.

They immediately took out the talismans for this Netherworld Death River, black wooden plaques. They had collected many of these plaques in the Death River's ancestral hall.

For ordinary people, simply collecting talismans from the ancestral hall would be extremely dangerous, as there were many mutated demon remnants that would attack.

But for the Wang family, experts had already cleared the dangers within, so they only needed to consider how to pass through.

Wang Yongzhi handed a talisman to Li Hao, then summoned his Death River Roster.

Sheets of golden paper appeared.

The golden light emanating from the paper seemed to pull them, enveloping their bodies and partially landing on the black wooden plaque.

But the next moment, the plaque shattered into dust under the golden light.

"What?!"

Wang Zhen Dong's face changed drastically.

Not only Wang Yongzhi, but the dozen or so other talismans also shattered upon contact with the golden light.

"This..."

Wang Yongzhi and the others' pupils constricted, their eyes filled with shock.

"The Death Rivers have merged, the rules have changed, and the talismans have changed too!"

Wang Zhen Dong's usually calm demeanor was shaken.

The once-reliable escape route had unknowingly undergone a transformation.

Li Hao was slightly stunned. The Netherworld Death River's talismans had failed. He quickly summoned his Death River Roster, and golden paper flew out.

Soon, Li Hao looked at the information on the paper and saw that the exit talisman was still listed as a "Clear Town Wooden Plaque."

But when he silently chanted the tracking command, the golden light emanating from the paper pulled him towards the darkness outside the town.

Li Hao froze. The talisman hadn't changed, but it seemed to have changed.

Wang Zhen Dong also saw this. When he saw the golden light pulling towards the black mist, his face turned ashen.

Wang Yongzhi and the others also understood what this meant. They had been composed, but now their bodies trembled.

The talisman was in the Hell Death River. Didn't this mean their escape route was blocked?!

"How could this be..."

Despair flashed in some people's eyes, though they tried to suppress it.

Wang Yongzhi's face was pale. He had thought it would be a pleasant trip, but they had all fallen into a desperate situation. It was a mistake on his part as the head of the family.

"Wait here, I'll go and try."

Wang Zhen Dong said in a low voice, no longer able to delay. He retracted his Dao Domain, covering only himself, his eyes becoming sharp:

"It doesn't seem like we've gone too deep yet. Hell-level Death River, I'll just try to see if my Dao Domain can withstand it!"

As he spoke, he rushed towards the black mist outside the town.

As he approached the boundary between the town and the mist, the mist seemed to sense something, and the black power extended like tentacles, trying to pull and wrap around Wang Zhen Dong's body.

Wang Zhen Dong's blood surged, his Dao Domain condensed on his body's surface, increasing its strength, using the Dao Domain's rules to counter the Hell Death River's rules.

Soon, he took a step forward, entering the edge of the black Hell Death River.

The surrounding black mist seemed to avoid him, pushed back by his presence.

But soon, more black power surged forward, wrapping around and engulfing his body, like countless claws tearing at his Dao Domain.

With a roar, Wang Zhen Dong unleashed all his strength. The rules within his Dao Domain fought fiercely against the Death River's rules, but his Dao Domain was compressed tighter and tighter.

Suddenly, black mist formed into sharp spears, piercing towards Wang Zhen Dong's back.

His Dao Domain was instantly torn open, and the black mist rushed in. Wang Zhen Dong twitched, his face turning purple as veins bulged.

His heart pounded. Was this the Hell-level rule? With his Dao Domain, he could only resist for a short moment, less than two breaths.

And this was just at the edge of the Hell Death River!

Whoosh!

He quickly retreated, trying to withdraw, but the surrounding black power seemed to sense his intentions and quickly surrounded him, wrapping around his limbs. Although his body was rapidly moving to retreat, it was propelled forward instead, without any resistance, plunging him several dozen meters deeper.

The Netherworld-level Death River's rules had been assimilated and were now present within the Hell Death River.

Wang Zhen Dong's pupils constricted. He instantly understood the Hell-level Death River's terror.

It didn't have just one rule, but... many!

He hadn't figured out the other unknown rules, but he knew the Netherworld-level Death River's rules. Now, he could only control his thoughts, clinging to the belief of "charging forward."

But then, his body actually charged forward, not retreating!

The rules had changed again!

Wang Zhen Dong's heart turned cold. Not only were there multiple rules, but they were also constantly changing? Didn't this mean that within the Hell Death River, it was impossible to discern the pattern of the rules and one could only resist blindly?

As he was shocked, the black power spread and permeated, and Wang Zhen Dong felt his strength and vitality rapidly draining.

He seemed to hear Wang Yongzhi and the others calling out anxiously.

He wanted to turn his head, but his neck wouldn't move. His body was constantly changing between reversal and non-reversal.

Wang Zhen Dong had a feeling that there was a life within this Hell Death River controlling these rules.

Just as he was in dire straits, about to unleash his trump card, a vast force suddenly surged from behind him.

The previous dark power instantly melted away like snow, rapidly pushed back.

The various forces pressing down on him instantly loosened.

A long, powerful hand grabbed his arm.

Wang Zhen Dong turned to see layers of Dao Domains covering his body.

One, two, three, four...

These Dao Domains overlapped, radiating a terrifying power!

But the rules within the Dao Domains didn't affect him, instead, they protected his body.

The surrounding black power slammed against the outermost Dao Domain, constantly trying to penetrate, but it was blocked.

Wang Zhen Dong counted them. There were ten!

"Go."

Li Hao pulled him behind him and threw him back towards the town, "I'll go find a way. Take care of them, and wait for me."

As he spoke, he took a step forward, stepping past Wang Zhen Dong and charging into the black mist.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 295: Supporting the Underworld (8K Two-in-One)

Wang Zhen Dong, sent flying, quickly broke free from the entangling power of the Hell-level Nether River and returned to the town. Feeling the reversed rules, he experienced a sudden sense of familiarity and comfort.

Just a moment ago, he had been teetering on the brink of life and death, almost unleashing his ultimate technique. He felt like he had narrowly escaped death, his heart still pounding.

Seeing the young man's back swallowed by the dark light, he snapped back to reality, his expression changing drastically as he took a step forward.

But reason stopped him. In his current state, going in wouldn't be helpful, it would only cause more trouble.

As the pillar of the Wang family, exploring Nether Rivers for over a hundred years, he had always been their backbone. Yet today, he was pulled back by a sixteen-year-old boy he had just met, who shielded him from all the dangers.

Wang Zhen Dong stared blankly at the dark light, a complex and indescribable feeling welling up in his heart.

Wang Yong Zhi and the others also saw what happened and quickly rushed to Wang Zhen Dong's side.

"Uncle Zhen Dong, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, but he..."

"The Hao Tian Divine General, he should be alright, right? I heard that he easily killed the Great Peace Dao Realm cultivators, Dragon Absolute God and Phoenix Soaring Sky."

Wang Yong Zhi quickly comforted him, but despite his words, his face showed a mixture of fear and worry.

Uncle Zhen Dong was an incredibly powerful individual, yet he was almost in danger. They couldn't be sure if the young man with the title of Divine General could withstand the ordeal.

Everyone looked towards the outside of the town, where the dark light had completely enveloped it, blocking even their divine sense and soul vision, unable to see anything inside.

They were all powerful individuals who could make others tremble with a stomp of their feet, yet now they were like helpless villagers, standing there helplessly waiting.

If the young man failed to retrieve the token, they would likely all die here.

Wang Zhen Dong's fists clenched slightly, his eyes fixed on the darkness.

Wang Yong Zhi held his breath, wishing he could pierce through the darkness with his gaze.

Outside the town, within the dark light, Li Hao's Dao Domain expanded, resisting the erosion of the Nether River's rules while following the guidance of the golden paper forward.

With ten layers of Dao Domain stacked, the rules were blocked from the outside, but they were still slowly seeping in, making it unsustainable.

Soon, Li Hao arrived at a place where a tattered flag fluttered. Looking up, he saw the words "Qing Zhen" on the flag.

Li Hao was slightly stunned. Behind the flag, there was another town!

Moreover, this town was very similar to the one he had just been in. He had previously enveloped the town with his divine sense and observed its general appearance, so he immediately recognized it. This Hell-level Nether River was like a replica of the town!

Such a bizarre sight made Li Hao hesitate slightly. Currently, information about the Hell-level Nether River was extremely scarce. Even the Wang family knew very little, relying on lives lost to gather intelligence.

Li Hao's expression became serious. He saw a string of wooden plaques hanging under the tattered flag, tied with red ropes, swaying in the wind.

These plaques were similar in appearance to the token Wang Yong Zhi had given him, but their color seemed slightly deeper. It could also be due to the dark light surrounding them causing a color difference.

The higher the level of the Nether River, the larger its range... Li Hao recalled some basic knowledge about Nether Rivers. While there were exceptions, they were extremely rare.

The Hell-level Nether River before him was obviously not limited to the scope of a single town. It was likely that only a part of it had transformed and merged, taking the form of a town.

No wonder the token was replaced. The two Nether Rivers had secretly merged, and the Hell-level Nether River had already affected the town, causing the town's token to become invalid. This place replicated the same token to replace it.

Fortunately, it was probably due to the initial stages of the merger. The token wasn't in the town's ancestral hall but hung outside the town.

Li Hao didn't hesitate and rushed towards the Qing Zhen wooden plaque token.

This Hell-level Nether River was too strange. Although the Wang family speculated that passing through it would grant a million merits, he didn't dare to think that he could pass through every one he encountered.

As soon as he grabbed the token, suddenly, the surrounding dark light surged. From the thick fog, dark figures roared out, like vengeful spirits and ghosts, but their movements were incredibly swift, rushing towards Li Hao at lightning speed.

Li Hao unleashed his Dao Domain to suppress them. These monsters exploded within the Dao Domain, turning into a pool of dark liquid. However, as the Dao Domain contracted, they slowly reformed.

Li Hao's eyes narrowed, sensing a trace of Dao True Energy within these monsters, indestructible.

They had already merged with the power of the Hell-level Nether River itself.

Roar!

As more and more monsters charged out of the fog, Li Hao's act of taking the token seemed to enrage them. They surged forward, roaring ferociously.

Li Hao didn't stop, nor did he engage in a deadly battle with these monsters. Using his Dao Domain to suppress them, he crushed them along the way and charged outwards.

The monsters that were squeezed out of the Dao Domain after being shattered quickly reformed, gathering from scattered liquid back into their original forms, chasing after Li Hao.

Surrounded from all sides, in the blink of an eye, Li Hao was surrounded by these ghost-like monsters.

They all charged into the Dao Domain fearlessly, attacking fiercely, comparable to the full-power attacks of Absolute Realm cultivators using their Explosive Pulse technique, and they were unafraid of death.

Moreover, as they squeezed into the Dao Domain, they extended the Nether River's rules into the Dao Domain, making Li Hao feel like his Dao Domain was being rapidly invaded.

Li Hao's face changed slightly, realizing that these monsters were likely a manifestation of the Hell-level Nether River's power.

"Scram!"

Li Hao quickly punched out, forcing all the monsters within his Dao Domain back. The Dao True Energy within them was indestructible, so he could only drive them away.

While Li Hao was trapped in the monster swarm, Wang Zhen Dong and the others outside were anxiously waiting with bated breath.

"The Hell-level Nether River. Our ancestors once asked that expert to intervene, but it is said that he was also injured in the Nether River and never entered it again."

Wang Zhen Dong's eyes were solemn. His Dao Domain was eroded within two breaths. Now, Li Hao had been inside for dozens of breaths.

"He wouldn't have..."

Someone's face turned pale, their nature being more pessimistic.

Wang Yong Zhi's heart was constricting and twitching. As the head of the family, if he led everyone to their deaths this time, he wouldn't be able to rest in peace even after death.

Moreover, this would also implicate the Hao Tian Divine General's demise here. That sixteen-year-old boy had the potential to become a Saint in the future. The responsibility was too heavy!

Just as their minds were filled with unease, suddenly, the dark light outside the town began to surge like waves.

Then, the dark light seemed to be pushed up, and in an instant, a dazzling silver light burst forth, then like a breaking dawn, illuminating a vast radiance!

Boom!!

It was an extremely sharp sword qi, tearing through the dark power, splitting a crack in the Hell-level Nether River!

A violent wave of air spread, making everyone in the town feel their hair stand on end.

Illuminated by the sword light, through the crack, they saw Li Hao holding a bunch of wooden plaques with red ropes, rushing out quickly.

But on the ground around him, dark liquid-like substances gathered, forming grotesque figures with twisted bodies, charging towards Li Hao frantically.

Those figures emanated a strange, evil, and ancient aura, like extremely ancient vengeful spirits.

But upon touching Li Hao's Dao Domain, they were all blocked.

"Ah, my eyes!"

Suddenly, someone covered their eyes and let out a scream of agony.

Blood spurted from their eye sockets, followed by black liquid crawling out from the corners of their eyes, rapidly solidifying into the grotesque figures they had seen earlier.

Wang Zhen Dong immediately reacted and quickly shouted, "Quickly, close your eyes!"

He quickly unleashed his Dao Domain, enveloping everyone. The Dao Domain rules attacked the black shadows, but he felt a strong resistance. The Dao Domain rules couldn't destroy them, only barely restricting their movements!

Wang Zhen Dong was shocked. What kind of ghost things were these?

At the same time, he felt an itching and tingling sensation in his own eyes, as if something was about to burst out of his eye sockets.

Following the first scream, others began to scream as well. Twisted figures formed from black liquid emerged from their eye sockets, quickly suppressed by Wang Zhen Dong within his Dao Domain.

His extensive experience in over a hundred Nether River explorations allowed Wang Zhen Dong to react quickly. He hurriedly shouted:

"Don't look at those things, they possess the 'Reflection' rule!"

"They can directly emerge from our eyes!"

Everyone quickly covered their eyes, but in the blink of an eye, four or five had already crawled out. Wang Zhen Dong's Dao Domain was struggling to suppress them. At that moment, a sword qi suddenly swept across, cutting through his Dao Domain without any obstruction, severing the four or five creatures within.

The severed monsters didn't disappear but twisted and gathered, still attempting to reform, indestructible.

It was Li Hao who had made the move. His body flickered like a teleportation, suddenly appearing before them.

This ability wasn't Dao rhyme pulling, but a crucial ability he had used when killing the Buddha, the ultimate state of the Fifteen-Mile Realm, the Return to the Void!

He could teleport within a five-kilometer radius!

Without warning, without pulling, it was a true teleportation, his mind controlling his movement!

The teleportation range would increase as his soul grew stronger. Don't underestimate a mere five kilometers. Without Dao rhyme pulling, it was impossible to predict, and a frontal surprise attack was impossible to defend against!

Currently, the Nether River rules were severely interfering here. Within his own Dao Domain, he could still isolate the rules, but outside, he couldn't sense Dao rhyme. Therefore, Fourth-Stage cultivators here, without Dao rhyme pulling for teleportation, would face many dangers.

But the Return to the Void extreme state was unrestricted.

Following the path created by his two sword fingers, Li Hao teleported in front of everyone, his energy quickly enveloping the area, imprisoning the few manifested Nether River rule creatures, then throwing them back into the Hell-level Nether River.

"Go!"

Li Hao threw the wooden plaques he was holding, distributing them to everyone based on their number.

But as he handed them out, he noticed that there was one extra person among the Wang family members.

"Seeking death!"

Li Hao's eyes burned with divine flames, his soul fused, his True Eyes like torches, instantly discerning that one of them was emitting black energy, a ghost from this Underworld disguised as a human.

With a thought, he suppressed and tore it apart.

The ghost screamed and vanished, and the others also came to their senses.

Some people's eyes were already bloody and mangled, but most of them were Third-Stage Immortals. They quickly swallowed pills, using their self-healing abilities to accelerate the recovery of their injuries.

Some were peak Third-Stage Immortals, or Undying Realm cultivators, who directly used their Undying power, healing their wounds in the blink of an eye.

At the same time, something was tearing and crawling out of Wang Zhen Dong's eye sockets. When he saw the monsters in the Underworld earlier, they had taken over his vision, turning his eyeballs completely black.

Now, the black liquid was slowly seeping out of his eye sockets. Although his Dao Domain was suppressing it with all its might, it couldn't stop it completely.

Li Hao saw that others were also trying to resist, covering their eyes. His Dao Domain quickly enveloped the area, not bothering to communicate with Wang Zhen Dong, directly suppressing his Dao Domain, forcing it back into his body. At the same time, he peeled off the black liquid crawling out of his eye sockets and confined it within his own Dao Domain.

The reflected Nether River power disappeared from Wang Zhen Dong's eye sockets. Li Hao used the same method to strip away the monsters reflected in the eyes of others, confining them within his Dao Domain and then throwing them back into the Nether River outside the town.

"Divine General Hao Tian..."

Wang Yong Zhi's face was filled with gratitude, but he saw that outside the town behind Li Hao, the dark light that had been slowly extending was now surging like a tidal wave, crossing the boundary of the town and rapidly crushing towards them.

Li Hao also noticed that the monsters that had been reflected in their eyes seemed to have pulled the rules of the Hell-level Nether River into this town's Nether River, causing its erosion speed to increase dramatically.

"Quickly, leave now!"

Li Hao hurriedly shouted.

Everyone quickly activated the Nether River golden paper. The light on the golden paper pulled towards the wooden plaques Li Hao had given them.

Soon, the plaques emitted light, merging with the golden light of the Nether River roster, triggering the Nether River rules. Brilliant golden light emerged from the plaques, opening an exit, but it was extremely slow.

Seeing this, Wang Zhen Dong's face changed again, feeling a chill in his heart:

"The exit rules are being affected!"

The other Wang family members also changed color, staring intently at the slowly condensing golden light exit.

The connection between the token and the exit had been established, but they didn't know if the exit would shift and cause the connection to break. This situation was unprecedented, and they had no experience to draw upon.

At the same time, the dark fog behind Li Hao surged like a breached dam, rushing towards them. Li Hao saw the golden light on their plaques flickering, the condensation speed slowing down, and his face darkened.

He knew that the Hell-level Nether River was rapidly replicating this town. If it replicated the entire town, it would be the moment of complete fusion.

At that time, all the rules within the town would become invalid, replaced by the Hell-level Nether River.

Li Hao gritted his teeth and suddenly turned around, charging towards the black fog that was sweeping towards him.

"Divine General Hao Tian!"

Wang Yong Zhi was stunned when he saw Li Hao's actions, then exclaimed.

The others also saw it and changed color.

Wang Zhen Dong instantly understood Li Hao's intentions, knowing what the young man was about to do. He felt a surge of warmth from his chest to his brain, his eyes widening, "Divine General Hao Tian, you..."

"You go, I'll hold them off!"

Li Hao's voice carried an undeniable authority. He charged into the surging dark fog, his Dao Domain surging layer upon layer.

Eleven layers, twelve layers, thirteen layers...

Each layer of the Dao Domain burst forth with brilliant light. This time, it wasn't just covering Li Hao himself, but expanding outwards, forming a wall!

As the Dao Domain's range expanded, its power was naturally dispersed and weakened slightly.

An invisible roar seemed to echo, and the surging black fog collided, but it was firmly blocked by Li Hao's Dao Domain.

Seeing this shocking scene, the Wang family members were all stunned, their expressions becoming complex.

Many clenched their fists, filled with grief. They wanted to help, but in the face of the Hell-level Nether River, without a Dao Domain, they would be killed just by looking at it.

"I'll help you!"

Wang Zhen Dong rushed towards Li Hao.

Li Hao glared angrily, "Don't come, you can't hold it back!"

Seeing the young man's anger and the sharp gaze that resembled divine might, Wang Zhen Dong's footsteps instinctively stopped.

Then, he saw that the wall formed by fifteen overlapping Dao Domains was being penetrated by the dark light of the Hell-level Nether River!

His pupils constricted, and his heart trembled.

Li Hao's strength was beyond his imagination, but even more terrifying was that even fifteen layers of Dao Domain were struggling to hold back?!

Li Hao also noticed this, his heart jolted. He could sense a ferocious consciousness within the Hell-level Nether River, roaring and unleashing various rule powers to attack him fiercely.

The number of rules it contained was vast, seven or eight kinds overlapping, like sharp knives piercing into his Dao Domain.

Although his Dao Domain was fifteen layers, these rules contained Dao True Energy, making them more condensed and sharper.

Li Hao's face darkened. At this rate, he might not be able to hold on for ten breaths.

Immortal Transformation!

Fifty Percent!

Without any hesitation, Li Hao unleashed his trump card.

Boom!

A vast wave of air erupted from the soles of his feet, a breath of immortal energy exhaled, drawing in the power of the surrounding world!

His eyes became dazzling, entering a divine power state, his body radiating divine might like red gold.

At the same time, the world's veins extended, drawing in the surrounding world's energy that had been quietly gathering, sending it into his body, then transforming it into immense energy, pouring into the fifteen layers of his Dao Domain.

The Dao Domain, which had been penetrated earlier, instantly vibrated with rules, becoming as condensed as divine iron, pushing out all the Nether River power that had seeped in, forming an indestructible wall!

"Go!"

Li Hao's golden hair fluttered as he roared at the Wang family members.

His Dao Domain expanded, blocking the Nether River, making the exit rules in front of him much more stable. The golden light condensing on the wooden plaques accelerated.

Wang Zhen Dong was stunned, looking at the young man whose might resembled a deity. He was also a Great Peace Dao Realm cultivator, and he could deeply sense the young man's terror. If they were to clash, he would likely be instantly killed!

At this moment, an exit quickly opened on the plaques, leading to the outside of the Nether River.

"The exit is open!"

Someone exclaimed in surprise and joy.

The other exits also opened one after another.

Seeing the passage finally appear, the hearts of Wang Yong Zhi and the others were relieved, but they immediately turned their attention to Li Hao.

"Divine General Hao Tian..."

"Go!"

Li Hao roared.

The joy in the eyes of Wang Yong Zhi and the others became complex. Looking at the young man who was single-handedly blocking the erosion of the Hell-level Nether River's power, their hearts were filled with sadness.

Two young juniors within the crowd, however, were overjoyed and scrambled towards the exit, teleporting out first.

Wang Zhen Dong could see that the Hell-level Nether River's power was being held back solely by Li Hao. If Li Hao left, it would instantly flood in. The longer they stayed, the more difficult it would be for Li Hao.

"Go, don't delay!"

He hurriedly roared.

Hearing his words, Wang Yong Zhi and the others knew that this wasn't the time for sentimentality. Gritting their teeth, they quickly stepped into the exit and teleported out.

"Divine General Hao Tian, you must come back alive!"

Wang Yong Zhi shouted loudly, quickly stepping into the teleportation as he spoke.

Wang Zhen Dong didn't hesitate. Staying here, like the other Wang family members, wouldn't help Li Hao.

Standing on the teleportation exit, he stared deeply at the young man, clenching his fists.

After experiencing so many Nether Rivers, he felt so powerless for the first time. One day, he would actually become a burden, needing others to help him.

Soon, his vision shifted, light and shadow alternated, and his body seemed to travel through a river of void. When he reappeared, he was in the empty hall on the mountain outside the Earth Store Buddha.

"Hmm, it's resolved so quickly?"

The Earth Store Buddha statue squinted, as if smiling. Beside the Earth Store Buddha, Wang Zhen Feng and Wang Zhen Ping, two older generation members, were waiting. They hadn't gone in earlier.

The younger generation liked to join the fun, but these old guys were more cautious.

Seeing the golden light flashing on top of the Earth Store Buddha, with people continuously teleporting out, everyone outside was surprised and unexpected.

Although that "Worm Two" could pass through the Youdu-level Nether River, the rules of each Nether River were different. Even if he could pass through, it shouldn't be this fast, right?

Could it be that he had some kind of ultimate technique for passing through, a one-size-fits-all solution?

Soon, they saw Wang Zhen Dong step out, and the golden light on the Earth Store Buddha retracted and disappeared.

"Hmm? Where's the Hao Tian Divine General?"

Wang Zhen Feng was startled and asked, a bad feeling creeping into his heart.

Wang Zhen Dong's face was solemn, and after coming out, his eyes were fixed on the Earth Store Buddha.

Wang Yong Zhi and the others were also tense and uneasy.

But one breath, two breaths... as time slowly passed, a stick of incense later, there was still no movement on top of the Earth Store Buddha, no new passage opening.

Wang Zhen Dong's heart trembled, his face becoming increasingly grim. He suddenly remembered the young man's earlier words.

In that situation, could he still be trying to pass through?

"What's going on? Why isn't anyone speaking? Has the Hao Tian Divine General encountered trouble?!"

Seeing that Li Hao hadn't returned after so long, the Wang family members outside changed color, realizing that something was seriously wrong.

Especially the faces of Wang Zhen Dong and the others were as dark as the bottom of a pot.

"Child, tell your grandpa what happened?"

Wang Zhen Ping turned to his granddaughter and grandson.

These two young juniors were Li Jiang Ying and Li Ru Meng. After Li Hao rebuilt his body, they hadn't recognized him.

But when they heard others calling Li Hao by his title, they immediately realized that the young man was the same peer they had been chasing after in their hearts.

In the Li family's Divine General's Mansion, they lacked talent and couldn't compete with him on the same stage as the True Dragons. But they were unconvinced, believing what their mother had said – life was long.

There were countless examples of prodigies who had fallen by the wayside, which gave them great comfort.

The true genius was the one who laughed to the very end.

"He hasn't come out yet, he must be dead." Li Ru Meng slightly pursed her lips and said.

Wang Zhen Ping was startled, dead?

The girl's clear voice also shocked Wang Zhen Dong and the others, who were still hoping and waiting.

Li Hao's delayed return meant that either he was entangled by the Hell-level Nether River and couldn't connect to the exit or he was trying to pass through. Regardless of which, it was almost a death sentence!

Wang Zhen Dong clenched his fists. The young man with the potential to become a Saint, whose future was so bright that it was awe-inspiring and intimidating, had protected them, giving them a way out while putting himself in extreme danger.

They hadn't really had any connection before.

Wang Yong Zhi and the others exchanged glances, seeing the complex and uncomfortable expressions on each other's faces.

It was as if a surge of anger was building up in their chests, unable to be vented.

They had come here happily to join the fun, but they ended up becoming a stumbling block, implicating the Divine General, a young Divine General!

If the Emperor knew about this, he would probably be so angry that he would spit blood. It was unimaginable how furious he would be.

Their hearts were filled with self-blame and guilt. They wished they could punch themselves. They were so old, how could they have been so carried away?

"How did he die?"

Wang Zhen Ping snapped out of his daze and couldn't help but ask his granddaughter and grandson.

Although he didn't like the young man, he didn't hate him to the point of wanting him dead. After all, he was a powerful warrior of the human race.

"He insisted on showing off when he could have left with us. Humph, he just likes to steal the spotlight."

Li Jiang Ying's eyes showed jealousy as he said in a low voice.

In the Divine General's Mansion, after the young man revealed his cultivation, he became the center of attention, and no one mentioned them anymore.

His brilliance overshadowed all his peers. Even Li Qian Feng, who had apprenticed to the Buddha, became a mere supporting character, and after being defeated, he became even more insignificant.

Although the young man's voice was low, the mountain was too quiet, and the Wang family members were not weak. His words were like a thunderclap in their ears.

Wang Zhen Dong suddenly turned his head, his eyes like fierce hawks, staring at Li Jiang Ying:

"What did you say? Say it again."

Li Jiang Ying was startled, not expecting this second uncle to react like this.

Before he could speak again, Wang Zhen Dong took a sudden step forward, and with a loud slap, he struck Li Jiang Ying across the face.

A dry old hand, a fierce slap. Li Jiang Ying's teeth were broken in two places, and his body rolled to the side, falling into a seated position.

"Brother!"

Li Ru Meng cried out, quickly rushing forward to help him up.

Wang Zhen Ping was also stunned and quickly stepped forward to block in front of him, angrily shouting:

"Second Brother, what are you doing!"

"Old Fourth, can't you hear what that child said?!"

Wang Zhen Dong roared, the sound echoing through the mountain. He was like an enraged lion, glaring at his fourth brother.

Wang Zhen Ping was stunned, "Although his words were a bit harsh, he's just a child after all. Besides, it was just talk..."

"Old Fourth!!"

Hearing his words, Wang Zhen Dong's anger flared up, "Are you really old or just stupid!"

Wang Zhen Ping's face changed slightly, not expecting his second brother to be so angry.

"Just talk? That's a Divine General, comparable to our ancestors. What is he, to dare to mock him like that?!"

"If it weren't for the Hao Tian Divine General, we would all be dead, including those two. They just escaped danger, and they treat their savior with such words?!"

Wang Zhen Dong was so angry that his face turned red, his eyes sharp with anger.

Wang Zhen Ping's face was grim, but he had no words to refute. Besides, he had always felt a subtle fear of his second brother.

"They lack discipline and are ill-mannered!"

Wang Zhen Dong looked at the crying Li Ru Meng on the ground, his face cold, his eyes filled with disgust:

"You asked me to take care of them earlier, to let them gain experience in the Nether River, and I agreed. The resources of two Divine General's Mansions were used on them, look at what they've become?!"

"Since your daughter is married, she's a member of the Li family. Their children should never appear in the Wang family again!"

As soon as he said this, it was like a decree, causing Wang Zhen Ping's face to change drastically. He didn't expect his second brother to be so decisive.

Li Ru Meng, who was crying on the ground, also turned pale with fright, no longer daring to cry. Instead, she looked at her grandfather with tearful eyes.

Li Jiang Ying, covering his face, got up, his eyes filled with fear. Looking up, he saw that many of his once-kind Wang family elders were looking at him coldly. His heart constricted, and he felt terrified.

"Take them out!"

Wang Zhen Dong waved his hand.

Wang Yong Zhi nodded slightly and gestured to someone.

Soon, someone grabbed the brother and sister and pulled them out of the mountain hall.

"Grandpa..."

The brother and sister's calls gradually faded away.

Wang Zhen Ping's face was grim, and he didn't say anything.

Wang Zhen Dong coldly glanced at him. He didn't have a good expression towards his fourth brother, and he had long known his nature, not bothering to look at him any further. He said to Wang Yong Zhi, "Dispatch two teams of death squads. Have them investigate the situation inside."

"Yes."

Wang Yong Zhi nodded and immediately gave the order.

"Zhen Dong, what exactly happened inside?"

Wang Zhen Feng, beside him, curiously asked. It was rare to see his second brother so enraged.

Wang Zhen Dong glanced at his fifth brother, his expression softening slightly. He said in a low voice, "The Nether River has undergone a change. A Hell-level Nether River was attracted and is trying to merge with this Underworld-level Nether River. It has already secretly merged the tokens. If it weren't for the Hao Tian Divine General, we probably wouldn't have returned."

He briefly summarized the situation.

Hearing the words "Hell-level Nether River," everyone's faces changed drastically, and some gasped in shock.

For the Wang family members, it was like a taboo, more shocking than mentioning the Emperor's name.

Wang Zhen Ping was also stunned, his face changing slightly. He finally understood why his second brother was so angry and suddenly realized that the two children did have a problem.

They had just been saved, yet they mocked their savior. This was utter ingratitude.

He fell silent, not saying a word.

Wang Zhen Dong didn't pay attention to him. After the death squads were dispatched, he had Wang Yong Zhi make arrangements.

However, along with the death squads, a scout delivered a military report.

The report was handed to Wang Yong Zhi, who frowned slightly. What kind of military report was so urgent? Could it be that the Hell-level Nether River had appeared and caused many casualties?

When he opened the report and looked at it, his tightly furrowed brows changed color.

"What is it?"

"It's a military report..."

Wang Yong Zhi looked up, his face filled with shock, "Demons are attacking the city. All the top demonic forces outside the border have appeared outside the Imperial City and are besieging the Imperial Palace!"

"What?"

Hearing his words, Wang Zhen Dong and the others were stunned.

Demons attacking the city, and the Imperial Capital?!

The Wang family had managed the Nether Rivers for many years, and their control over military intelligence and reports had weakened, but they knew that under normal circumstances, demons wouldn't dare to approach the Imperial City.

That's where the strongest cultivators of Great Yu resided!

The figure seated in the Qian Dao Palace, his deterrent power covered the Nineteen Prefectures. Even when border demon incidents occurred, they worried that the expert would draw his sword and kill them. Let alone attacking the Imperial Capital.

People who grew up in the Imperial Capital, if they didn't leave the city, wouldn't even know what a demon looked like.

"This is a request for reinforcements from the Imperial City."

Wang Yong Zhi couldn't help but look at Wang Zhen Dong.

(End of Chapter)