As the Blood Corpse God incident unfolded in the Demon Capital, elsewhere lay the Eternal True World, in the Netherworld Territory.
In the Shadow Capital, directly above the Reincarnation Transmigration Pool.
Netherworld sat cross-legged in midair, his eyes slightly closed and his expression unreadable.
Then a voice from below suddenly interrupted Netherworld's meditation.
"Great Venerable!"
Netherworld slowly opened his eyes and asked softly,
"What is it?"
Below him, a figure that was half soul and half solid substance spoke in a low voice.
"Reporting to the Great Venerable: there have been some unusual disturbances in the Reincarnation Transmigration Pool recently. This subordinate is too foolish to unravel their mysteries, so I have come to seek your guidance."
Netherworld frowned slightly, then gently raised one hand.
At his movement, the water in the Reincarnation Transmigration Pool surged upward. Rather than spilling over its banks, it rose like a pillar toward Netherworld.
At last, Netherworld sat cross-legged atop the pool's water.
"Hmm?"
Netherworld could not help rubbing his chin as he murmured,
"What is this thing? Like a demon, yet not a ghost; like a ghost, yet not human. Neither demon nor ghost nor human nor spirit nor devil nor monster? And it's in the Demon Capital? Is this that Old Peacock's handiwork?"
Netherworld shook his head.
"No. Rather than that Old Peacock's handiwork, it seems more like... the Heavenly Dao's?"
For a moment, through the pool's water, Netherworld seemed to meet the gaze of Cheng Yu, far away in another world.
A cool, clear voice rang out throughout the Land of Reincarnation.
"Is the Ghost Venerable interested in this Blood Corpse God as well?"
Netherworld chuckled.
"This creature resembles a ghost. Perhaps it has a destined connection with me."
"If the Ghost Venerable likes it, I would naturally be willing to