The Underworld.
The Nine Nether Prefecture was gone.
When the White Jade Capital fused with Yanmen, the Nine Nether Prefecture was swept into it as well, becoming the new Three Realms: Heaven (the White Jade Capital), Earth (the Nine Nether Prefecture), and the Mortal World (Yanmen).
Now.
Deep within the Ninefold Nether.
Apart from the many shattered hells, only the Abyssal Land that sealed the Nine Old Gods remained.
No.
Perhaps one person remained as well.
Xu Chengan.
He sat cross-legged atop the black Seal, holding a Jade Slip and reading quietly.
Then four figures descended without a sound.
"To think we'd find one of our own here."
The leader sighed.
"One of your own? Do you mean me, or the great beings inside this Seal?" Xu Chengan asked.
"You, of course. Come with us. Return to the Blood Lord Great World. With your cultivation, your mastery of the Netherworld Passage Art, and your Imago—you have mastered Imago, haven't you?"
The leader watched him.
Xu Chengan laughed as though he had heard something delightful.
"In the Ninefold Nether, if my Imago ranks second, no one would dare claim first!"
The four visitors looked pleased.
"Come back to the Blood Lord Great World with me, brother. A tremendous opportunity awaits you," the leader said.
"Sorry, your sudden visit has left me rather confused. There's something I need to ask first," Xu Chengan said.
"Ask."
"Why can I smell your blood? We share the same bloodline. Are we really brothers?" Xu Chengan spread his hands.
"Of course. It was your bloodline that let us find you," the leader said.
"I see... How many people share my bloodline? How many brothers and sisters do I have?" Xu Chengan asked with a smile.
The other three stood silent, contempt showing in their eyes.
Only