Countless cities and temples lay beneath a brilliant radiance. They looked nothing like the rest of the Netherworld, with its darkness, gloom, bitter winds, and miserable rain. This place was almost indistinguishable from the world of the living!
But just then, a column of black energy erupted like ash from a volcano, shooting straight into the sky and shaking the firmament.
The entire Netherworld trembled. Even the four Heavenly Pillars were no exception: they swayed violently, their light flickering.
One of those pillars, the Daoist Grounds of the Yin-Yang King, one of the Underworld's four great lords, suddenly exploded without warning.
Then it began to collapse!
Most terrifying of all, its Divine Light abruptly dimmed and went out, plunging the entire Daoist Grounds into darkness.
The countless dependents, Ghost Soldiers, and officials sheltered on that mountain were thrown into panic.
"The Divine Light has gone out! What happened to His Majesty?"
Then, with the Divine Light no longer protecting them, the ever-present Astral Wind of the Netherworld blew in.
Wherever it passed, Ghost Creatures that had enjoyed shelter and peace for countless years screamed as their Hun and Po scattered. Buildings rapidly crumbled and collapsed around them.
Cries and wails rang out without end. Countless Ghost Creatures prayed to the Yin-Yang King, begging for his protection.
The dark Astral Wind blew from that extinguished corner of the Heavenly Pillar into the heart of the Underworld...
But then, those watching the Underworld's four Heavenly Pillars saw that the others, too, had begun to flicker. Apart from the Yin-Yang King's Daoist Grounds, the remaining pillars looked like candles in the wind, ready to go out at any moment!
At that instant, a ray of light rose from each of the other three Heavenly Pillars and flew far away.
Almost as soon as