167: Is it a staged accident?

"Forget it. If I were still in that ghostly state, I definitely wouldn't miss this opportunity. After all, a King Rank advancement gives birth to a trace of life origin. But now, I don't lack this stuff.

Let those Nether Kings be dealt with by the Yao Race. Thinking about it now, Nether Spirits are actually not bad; at least they don't constantly attack cities and exterminate races."

Leng Hong waved his hand, leisurely sipping his tea.

It was hard to imagine that the Dean, who had fought the Netherworld his entire life, would have such a 'decadent' moment.

"Dean, is there really no room left to salvage the situation?"

"Yes, besides the Xia Family, the Xing Family, and military forces like the Xuanwu Guard, who are determined to defend to the death, other Families and organizations are ambivalent. The Feng Family, Su Family, and some large organizations have already explicitly stated they will abandon the city and retreat directly into Secret Realms."

"Damn it, how can they be so greedy and afraid of death! Retreating into Secret Realms, what's the difference from lingering on?"

Xia Yuan said furiously.

"Actually, retreating into Secret Realms is the safest method. With Elder Kong's assistance, and if preparations are made early, Secret Realms of all sizes can accommodate everyone."

"And then what? Wait for death? Within two generations, the new population will decline by 80%! What's the difference from extermination?"

"You're still young. To be honest, we've encountered crises like this before. Even before Xuanwu City was built, wasn't that how we got by?"

Leng Hong comforted him.

"I won't retreat!"

"Haha... as you wish. I know I can't persuade you anyway." Leng Hong smiled, then his smile faded, and he said solemnly, "Actually, the Feng Family and Su Family are relatively better. What I'm afraid of is..."

"Turning to the Yao? They wouldn't dare!"

"It's hard to say right now. Let's prepare for the worst! The reason the Yao Race hasn't attacked all this time is, frankly, because they're wary of the large Netherworld entrances within Xuanwu City. Once they find a solution, they will definitely not hesitate.

So, they will surely prepare for both possibilities: either deal with the Netherworld, or weaken Xuanwu City's resistance. As long as Xuanwu City doesn't kill too many Yao Beasts, the Netherworld will not be a concern."

The actions of the escape faction played right into the Yao Race's hands. They wished for most people to hide directly in Secret Realms, allowing them to peacefully take over Xuanwu City's Netherworld entrances.

Whether Human Race or Yao Beasts, too many sudden deaths would trigger a massive outbreak of Netherworld creatures.

"Damn it, I've killed Nether Spirits my whole life, and now the Netherworld has become a protective charm, damn it!"

Xia Yuan cursed incessantly.

"Calm down. How can you advance to King Rank like this? If you want to accomplish something, at least reach King Rank first! Stop running to my small building all the time. I won't die anytime soon, but I probably won't be able to pass on the Dean's position."

"Damn it, then I should come over more often to enjoy myself!"

Leng Hong: "..."

...In the Netherworld, half a day passed.

Lin Chuan was already over a thousand meters away from Nether One. Any closer, he would be sucked into the vortex in the sky.

The situation with Underworld Two was similar.

However, the distance was even greater.

"Roar..."

Both of them roared simultaneously, their bodies swelling to three or four hundred meters tall, Nether Qi radiating from them, faintly forming a thousand-meter-tall outline of a phantom.

Then, with a single stomp, they directly charged into the swirling cloud layer above their heads.

Wielding lightning, stirring wind and clouds, manifesting a Dharma Idol, this is King Rank... "My Lord, I sense the pressure of a King Rank, it seems to be approaching."

At this moment, a message suddenly came from a team member fifty kilometers away.

"Continue to scout ahead. If necessary, use your lives to intercept."

Lin Chuan gave the order.

"Yes, my Lord!"

Now was a critical moment for Nether One and Underworld Two's advancement, so interruptions were naturally not allowed.

Lin Chuan had used both soul orbs; even one failure would be a huge loss.

Even if he eventually used the [death fruit] to kill the opponent, it would still be a heavy loss.

In an instant, over ninety Monarch-rank Spirits all rushed towards the King Rank direction without hesitation...

Hundreds of kilometers away, a figure completely enveloped in gray mist was traveling at supersonic speed.

"How dare someone advance to King Rank right under my nose?"

This Nether King's eyes were bloodshot, on the verge of exploding.

Previously, Lin Chuan had repeatedly teased him with 'mosquito repellent,' causing him to not get a single good night's sleep for over half a month.

He had finally personally taken action, locked onto the target area, but still came up empty-handed, which made him incredibly frustrated.

At this critical juncture, someone dared to provoke him?

Perhaps the advancing King Rank had gained a glimmer of opportunity by obtaining the breath of life.

After all, as the King of this area, it made no sense that a subordinate would suddenly advance without his knowledge.

"Since that's the case, I'll just devour your newly formed soul orb; the effect will be the same..."

Thinking this, the Nether King unconsciously licked his grayish-white lips.

Unbeknownst to him, his speed increased by a few points.

Suddenly, with a "bang," the Nether King seemed to hit something, and his speed momentarily halted.

"What was that?"

His King Rank pressure was ineffective?

There was actually a Nether Spirit daring to block his path? Was it trying to stage an accident?

It was hit, but it was directly shattered.

The Nether King sensed its aura; it was actually a Nether Spirit close to the Monarch Rank Peak!

Losing such a 'subordinate' was a pity.

He sighed briefly, then continued on his way.

The Nether King had just accelerated to maximum speed, less than a minute later.

With a 'bang...', he was knocked out of his trajectory again.

"Damn it!... Roar!"

The Nether King roared in fury, and all the Nether Beasts within a several-thousand-kilometer radius fled outwards.

Then, he accelerated again...

"King Rank here, 190 kilometers away..."

"King Rank here, 180 kilometers away..."

...Lin Chuan's mind constantly received messages from his team members; a message arrived almost every two or three minutes.

Subsequently, he sensed that the team member had died.

At this rate, the Nether King would probably arrive in less than an hour.

If there were no team to block him, it might only take ten minutes.

Meanwhile, the Nether King was numb, completely numb.

"What the hell... what is this all about?"

This was the tenth Monarch Rank Peak Nether Spirit he had crashed through.

He didn't even know when his territory had gained so many unfamiliar Nether Spirits.

Some Nether Spirits, he felt, were almost at the threshold of King Rank; they could advance as long as they possessed King Rank Potential or a king-rank soul pearl.

Yet, such 'talents' were playing suicide bomber one after another right in front of him?

The Nether King was completely bewildered. He didn't know who was giving the orders, but it was definitely related to the King Rank currently advancing.

He had a premonition that he was about to face a great disaster if he didn't quickly stop the other party's advancement.

But, as the distance closed, why did he feel like he was getting closer to death? What was going on?

Wasn't it just a newly advanced King Rank?

The only possibility of survival was to turn back immediately, abandon this territory, hide, and never come out again.

This was his premonition as a King Rank.

However, his dignity as a King Rank would not allow him to do so.

At least, he had to see...