"Brother Yaoxi!"

Zhu Yougui is the head of the Xuanming Cult, known as the Underworld Emperor. While the title sounds imposing, he is in reality a dwarf less than a meter tall, possessing the appearance of a child and lacking even a shred of masculine vigor.

His complexion is deathly pale, and his eye sockets are embedded with two pitch-black orbs. There are no whites to his eyes, making them look like two black opals; his terrifying and grotesque visage is enough to stop a child from crying.

Of course, there is a reason Zhu Yougui has become this freakish sight.

The Xuanming Cult's supreme martial art is the Nine Nether Profound Heaven Divine Skill. It is extremely yin and evil, a peerless technique of the age with power so great it is invincible.

However, to cultivate this art, one must practice both the upper and lower volumes simultaneously. If one only practices a single volume, not only will they fail to reach the highest realm, but they will also suffer a qi deviation, becoming a creature that is neither human nor ghost.

It was because Zhu Yougui skipped the "Nine Nether" upper volume of the Nine Nether Profound Heaven Divine Skill and forcibly practiced the "Profound Heaven" lower volume that he suffered a qi deviation and was reduced to the form of a dwarf.

Thinking of this, Zhu Youning felt a twinge of regret.

Although the Nine Nether Profound Heaven Divine Skill is a peerless martial art of this age, no one has been able to cultivate the complete version.

The upper volume, "Nine Nether," is held by the Ghost King Zhu Youwen, while the lower volume, "Profound Heaven," is held by the Underworld Emperor Zhu Yougui. Unfortunately, there has long been a rift between the two brothers, and neither is willing to share the technique they possess, causing both to be unable to advance their martial arts even an inch or master the complete Nine Nether Profound Heaven Divine Skill.

Internal strife among kin—it is a laughingstock to outsiders!

"My good brother, I have finally seen you."

At this moment, seeing Zhu Youning arrive at the great hall, Zhu Yougui's figure flickered, and he was already standing before Zhu Youning.

Such speed! I couldn't even see how he moved!

Zhu Youning witnessed Zhu Yougui's displacement with his own eyes and was secretly startled, though he did not let his emotions show on his face.

Since Zhu Yougui was playing the part of the affectionate brother, he could not fall behind, so he smiled and said, "Brother Yaoxi, it has been a long time. I thought you had forgotten me."

Yaoxi is Zhu Yougui's courtesy name, as well as his childhood nickname.

When they were young, the sons of Zhu Wen and Zhu Cun often played together. Back then, the relationship between the cousins was not so rigid, and most of them addressed Zhu Yougui as Yaoxi.

This form of address caught Zhu Yougui off guard, and he could not help but take a closer look at Zhu Youning.

He had spent decades in the dark, gloomy Xuanming Cult. The cousins and brothers of his youth had long since become strangers, some even turning into bitter enemies. When was the last time he had heard such an affectionate "Brother Yaoxi"?

Regardless of whether Zhu Youning used this title intentionally or with some ulterior motive, Zhu Yougui felt a touch of sentiment in his heart.

It was just a pity that ever since he began cultivating the Nine Nether Profound Heaven Divine Skill, those days could never return!

"How nostalgic. I still remember that back then, Brother Ning did not like war and loved reading most of all. You would often pester Jing Xiang to teach you the Four Books and Five Classics. Who would have thought you would become a general leading troops into battle today?"

Zhu Youning was stunned; he had not expected Zhu Yougui to remember things from their childhood. But in an instant, he wore a smile again and said, "In this chaotic world, the Four Books and Five Classics are of little use, so becoming a general was a helpless choice. If there is a day of peace in the future, I will surely pick up my books again and seek out the talents of the world."

Zhu Yougui chuckled with a sharp, childlike voice and asked, "Is that really what Brother Ning thinks?"

Zhu Youning laughed, "My pursuit is very simple: to lie down when I have leisure, to read books when I am in the mood, and ideally, to have endless wealth, an inexhaustible supply of delicacies, and all the fine wine I could ever drink."

When saying this, Zhu Youning tried his best to avoid the topic of women.

Because Zhu Yougui's body had been reduced to this freakish state by cultivating the Nine Nether Profound Heaven Divine Skill, he was powerful, but he had long since lost the capacity to be a man; even if he had the desire, he lacked the ability.

Perhaps this was one of the reasons Zhu Wen did not like his eldest son.

Even if Zhu Yougui were to become emperor, he would have no heirs.

At this time, Zhu Yougui stood with his short arms behind his back, trying his best to act like an adult, and said, "Now that Brother Ning has taken the post of Pinglu Jiedushi, and the territory of Pinglu is so vast, I imagine you cannot afford to be idle."

"Brother Yaoxi is right, which is why I have come to Luoyang."

"Oh?" Zhu Yougui glanced at Zhu Youning from the corner of his eye.

Zhu Youning maintained a lazy demeanor and said, "I came to Luoyang to save Wang Shifan's life. After all, Wang Shifan is quite familiar with the affairs of Pinglu. If I let him handle the administration, I can be a carefree prince and enjoy a life of ease."

"Does Brother Ning truly have no other intentions?"

Zhu Youning knew Zhu Yougui was testing him, so he smiled, "My good brother, look at how you speak in such riddles. Let me be blunt: I have no desire, nor the qualifications, to compete with you. In my eyes, Brother Yaoxi is the eldest son of His Majesty and has rendered great service to our Great Liang. The position of crown prince belongs to you alone. If Prince Bo and Prince Jun were to fight for the succession, it would only gladden our enemies and pain our kin—a laughingstock to outsiders."

Zhu Yougui felt a surge of joy upon hearing this; no one dislikes flattery, not even the high and mighty Underworld Emperor of the Xuanming Cult.

In truth, he did not believe Zhu Youning would compete with him for the throne. Even if Zhu Youning was favored by Zhu Wen and held a high rank, he was, after all, only a nephew.

If he truly wanted to ascend the throne, he would need all three of Zhu Wen's biological sons to die!

Because a son's right of inheritance always takes precedence over a nephew's, no matter how favored the nephew might be.

But for all three of Zhu Wen's sons to die was clearly impossible!

At the very least, Zhu Yougui believed that no one in this world could kill him!

As long as he did not die, as long as the second brother Zhu Youwen did not die, and the third brother Zhu Youzhen did not die, Zhu Youning would never sit on the throne.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yougui's guard against Zhu Youning lowered slightly. "Brother Ning is right. To be of the same house but not of one heart only invites the ridicule of outsiders. Why be so eager to harm one another? If Yuan Tan and Yuan Shang had united back then, it is uncertain whether Cao Cao could have unified Hebei! It is just that some people do not think that way."

This was clearly an allusion, and Zhu Youning knew without thinking that Zhu Yougui was taking a jab at Zhu Youwen.

The Underworld Emperor Zhu Yougui and the Ghost King Zhu Youwen were the first and second in command of the Xuanming Cult, and they were biological brothers, yet their relationship was far from friendly.

Zhu Yougui then complained as if venting his grievances, "Furthermore, I am stationed at the Xuanming Cult headquarters in Luoyang and am rarely in Bian Prefecture. I can hardly grasp the affairs of the court. If there are treacherous ministers whispering slanders, I am helpless."

This was clearly nonsense.

Zhu Youning was certain that the moment there was any movement in the Bian Prefecture court, Zhu Yougui would be the first to know.

His source of information was none other than Zhang Zhenniang, who served by Zhu Wen's side.

Zhang Zhenniang was Zhu Yougui's wife. Although she had been sent by Zhu Yougui to serve Zhu Wen, she secretly continued to feed information back to him.

After all, if Zhu Yougui became emperor, would she not become the empress?

However, since Zhu Yougui was putting on an act, he could not expose him. Instead, he played along, patted his chest, and said, "Brother Yaoxi, rest assured. If there are any treacherous officials or villains spouting nonsense in the court, I, as your brother, will certainly seek justice for you!"

"Then I thank you, Brother Ning."

And so, in an atmosphere of brotherly affection, the two talked for a full half-hour. In the end, Zhu Youning cited military duties as an excuse and took his leave of Zhu Yougui.