"Brother Kun, what's wrong?" Yuan reminded him.
At that moment, everyone's gaze was focused on Xu Kun, puzzled by his dazed expression.
Xu Kun shook his head, looking as though he wanted to laugh but was holding it in.
He remembered when he had sensed this familiar aura before.
It had been when he was refining the Netherworld Ghost Fire and facing Fire Fiend Ma Shan, who was comparable to an Emperor-realm powerhouse!
Back then, Ma Shan had used the Netherworld Ghost Fire's power to connect with the underworld, opening the gate to the netherworld. At first, he had summoned the Earthly Souls of the hundreds of millions of sea clans Xu Kun had slain in the Jiangnan war, combining them with the baleful aura on Xu Kun's body to form resentful spirits.
Yet unexpectedly, those resentful spirits had instead charged at Ma Shan. After Ma Shan had finally dealt with them, a terrifying palm had reached out from the still-open gate to the netherworld. With a light squeeze, Ma Shan had completely perished, reduced to sparks!
Xu Kun still vividly remembered the terror of that palm. It had been a power beyond his imagination.
And though he had only sensed that palm's aura for an instant back then, it was exactly the same as the aura emanating from the statue at the center of the temple!
Xu Kun could not help asking, "This statue is...?"
Chao Gai explained, "This statue depicts a deceased chief god of the underworld, a righteous god second only to Houtu Niangniang and Fengdu the Great, the founders of the underworld... Emperor of Mount Tai!"
"This Mount Tai was once his divine domain and sacred ground!"
So that was it...
A righteous god-level existence, yet he was an ancient god who had already perished. Then