Netherworld Soul Jade

As he gazed at the three blood-red drops wreathed in smoke before him, even his normally impassive face broke into an expression of wild joy.

"The count of ninety-nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine is finally complete." With that, he impatiently beckoned, and the three blood-red drops flew into the space between his brows.

Then he pressed his palms together and activated his technique, a spectral glow beginning to radiate from his entire body.

The glow slowly spread, passing straight through the black rock as though it were nothing. It streamed out across heaven and earth, gathering into a majestic manifestation that towered between them.

Translucent Black Jade Lotuses formed from netherworld energy bloomed continuously around his manifestation, layer upon endless layer.

Rumble... The entire Netherworld Underworld began to tremble. Blood-red waves a thousand feet high suddenly surged along the River of the Underworld, and countless wronged souls struggled and wailed in the sea of blood.

Meanwhile, the summit of Nether Capital Mountain began to split apart. Huge boulders tumbled down into the Evil Ghost Abyss below, sending black waves soaring a hundred thousand feet high.

Countless wronged souls and evil ghosts fled in every direction, howling as though the end of the world had come.

With a whoosh, the young man suddenly appeared in midair, barefoot, his fathomless eyes seeming to hold endless cycles of reincarnation.

The disturbances vanished in an instant. Then an imperial aura began to spread throughout the underworld, and wherever it passed, countless ghosts involuntarily fell to their knees in worship.

With a series of sharp whooshes, ten figures arrived almost simultaneously.

"Congratulations on attaining the imperial rank, fellow Daoist." King Qin Guang laughed and was the first to cup his hands in greeting. "After hundreds of millions of years, our underworld has finally gained another emperor. This truly calls for celebration."

"Congratulations, fellow Daoist..." King Chujiang and the other emperors stepped forward one after another, cupping their hands in congratulations.

"I am Li Haoran, courtesy name Huaiyuan. Greetings, fellow Daoists." The young man smiled and returned their salutes.

"A noble spirit spanning heaven and earth, aspirations reaching to the four corners. A fine name indeed," King Qin Guang immediately praised.

King Yama went further, saying with a smile, "With Emperor Haoran sharing the administrative duties of the netherworld, our burdens will be much lighter."

Silence suddenly fell. King Qin Guang and the others all gave King Yama strange looks.

King Yama froze, thinking, Did I say something wrong? Shouldn't the emperors govern the netherworld together?

The others chose to ignore King Yama's words and resumed their praise.

Li Haoran smiled and thanked them one by one, then said, "Though I have attained the imperial rank, you may govern your netherworld while I pursue my Heavenly Dao. Whenever you have time, fellow Daoists, you are welcome to join me for tea and a discussion of the Dao. As for administrative affairs... please, whatever you do, don't come looking for me."

King Qin Guang and the others' eyes immediately brightened. They exchanged glances, their expressions relaxing at once.

Though they were supposed to pursue the Heavenly Dao, the netherworld had been governed jointly by the Ten Kings of Hell for hundreds of millions of years. The sudden appearance of another emperor really was something they found hard to adjust to.

Power was addictive once one held it. No one wanted to give away a share.

With a smile in his eyes, King Chujiang said, "How carefree you are, fellow Daoist Haoran. We truly envy you." He paused, then continued, "Why don't I host everyone at my palace for a drink today, to celebrate your attainment of the imperial rank? What do you say?"

"Indeed, indeed. King Chujiang said exactly what I was about to say. I never expected him to beat me to it," King Zhuanlun teased.

"With such gracious invitations, I really shouldn't decline. Unfortunately, I have some mortal affairs to attend to today. I will certainly visit another day. When that time comes, I hope you won't turn me away." Li Haoran smiled and cupped his hands.

"Oh... not at all... we understand." King Chujiang and the others were momentarily taken aback, then smiled and expressed their understanding.

Seeing that the atmosphere was about right, King Qin Guang extended a hand, and a small box appeared in his palm. He smiled and said, "This is a small token from all of us. Please accept it, Emperor Haoran."

"How could I accept such generosity?" Despite his words, he still reached out and took it.

He knew full well that refusing would imply he had no wish to be on friendly terms with them. Though they would not turn hostile immediately, they would certainly join forces against him in the future.

"This humble gift hardly expresses our respect. Please don't think it inadequate, Emperor Haoran. We came in haste; we will certainly make up for it with a greater gift later." Once King Qin Guang and the others saw Li Haoran accept the gift, their smiles indeed grew warmer.

"Not at all, not at all..." As Li Haoran spoke, he opened the box. Inside lay three white crystals, radiating boundless spectral light. A cool, crisp aura washed over him.

"This... could it be?" The sight of the contents startled Li Haoran.

"Indeed. This is Netherworld Soul Jade. The Netherworld Realm produces only one piece every ten thousand years," King Qin Guang explained with a smile, a trace of pride in his eyes.

This gift was far from ordinary. For Ghost Emperors like them, Netherworld Soul Jade offered only negligible assistance in advancing their cultivation.

However, it possessed a heaven-defying ability: it could grant an ordinary person a Netherworld Ghost Body, making their future achievements limitless.

"This gift is far too precious. I feel unworthy of accepting it," Li Haoran said solemnly.

"Though these soul crystals are precious, they are no longer of much use to those at our level." King Qin Guang waved a hand and casually added, "Besides, netherworld soul crystals have always been divided equally among the emperors. There is no need to decline, Imperial Lord Haoran."

"In that case, I will shamelessly accept them." Only then did Li Haoran put the box away.

At that moment, the Ghost King and the other ten underworld marshals, along with the four judges, finally arrived, leading the underworld deities of their various departments.

Seeing the Ten Kings of Hell chatting so pleasantly with a young man, they exchanged bewildered looks and stood rooted to the spot.

King Yama frowned slightly at the sight and barked coldly, "What are you all standing there for? Come and pay your respects to Emperor Haoran!"

"Greetings, Emperor Haoran." The Ghost King, Zhong Kui, and the others immediately bowed.

Li Haoran smiled and nodded without speaking. To these people, he was still merely an outsider.

Then King Qin Guang said solemnly, "From this day forward, Emperor Haoran's decrees shall carry the same authority as the laws of the ten courts. None of you may disobey..."

"Yes. We shall obey Emperor Haoran's decrees." The underworld deities of the various departments were briefly taken aback, but still bowed in assent.

"Thank you for your regard, fellow Daoists. I will remember it." Li Haoran naturally understood that this was a gesture of goodwill from the Ten Kings of Hell.

"No need to stand on ceremony, fellow Daoist Haoran," King Qin Guang said with a smile. "Since you have matters to attend to today, we will trouble you no further. Another day, we must drink until we are thoroughly drunk."

"Of course," Li Haoran answered with a smile.

With that, the Ten Kings of Hell took their leave one after another, and the Netherworld Underworld returned to normal.

"They've finally left. I need to hurry back to the mortal world and take a look. After a thousand years of cultivation, I wonder how my descendants are doing now?" The moment King Qin Guang and the others left, Li Haoran grew anxious.

Then, with a mere thought, he took on the appearance of a refined young scholar in white robes, holding a folding fan.

"Very good." Quite satisfied with his current appearance, he waved his folding fan, reached out to tear open space, and stepped into the spatial rift, disappearing within.