So it was him.

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Night fell like a cloak of ink, thick enough to smother all beneath its weight; even the occasional breeze that slipped through the darkness seemed unwilling to disturb the profound stillness of the hour.

Nuoluo and the King of the Underworld turned to look at each other, as if each sought to read the deepest threads of feeling hidden in the other's gaze.

After a long silence, it was Nuoluo who finally broke it. “Your Majesty, why are you here?” she asked. Given his unique status and power, the King of the Underworld had no place in the mortal realm at such a time. Should his presence be revealed, it could only lead to widespread panic.

The King of the Underworld was about to reply when, suddenly, the beast behind him—on the brink of death—summoned its last ounce of strength and lunged at him. Facing the creature, Nuoluo caught a glimpse of the wild despair in its savage eyes; with its final breath, it sought to drag down the man who had condemned it.

The King of the Underworld stood with his back to imminent danger.

“Watch out!”

The beast’s last attack was not to be underestimated; the slightest misstep could have dire consequences. Even as Nuoluo cried out, her fingers flickered, calling forth the power of ice. A snowflake flashed through the air and pierced the beast’s heart.

The King of the Underworld did not turn, appearing oblivious to the threat behind him. Yet Nuoluo saw clearly: as the snowflake struck true, a thread of black light—fine as silk, impossible for even the night to conceal—also shot through the same spot.

Assailed on two fronts, the beast fell with a resentful crash, its body frozen in the moment of death, as rigid as a sculpture of ice from the assault of Nuoluo’s spirit power.

From the instant Nuoluo moved, the King of the Underworld never took his eyes from her. His gaze was deep as a bottomless whirlpool, flickering with inscrutable light.

He seemed utterly unconcerned by the peril at his back, his attention fixed wholly on the figure who had intervened.

Nuoluo instinctively wanted to avoid his eyes, yet found herself drawn in despite herself.

Ming Die, meanwhile, ignored the strange tension between them, all its focus riveted on the beast. It fluttered about in excitement, circling its prey like a hunter delighted with its catch.

The King of the Underworld never looked away, as if silently asking why Nuoluo had aided him.

Nuoluo looked at her own fingers, withdrawing her power, and took a few steps forward. “Your Majesty, why are you here?” she asked again.

“Why am I here?” He turned to the now-lifeless beast at his feet. “This is the answer,” he said, half to himself, half in reply.

Nuoluo was puzzled. What was so special about this beast that the enigmatic King of the Underworld would come in person?

Only then did she study the creature closely. Its massive head stared with unblinking eyes, the last traces of ferocity still in its gaze. Most astonishing of all, though it no longer breathed, some unknown liquid seemed to flow within its bones, shimmering with an indescribable light in the night.

Its body, illuminated by this strange glow, seemed to be conveying a message.

“What is this?” Nuoluo reached out to touch the strange substance.

“Wait!” The King of the Underworld stopped her.

Nuoluo looked up at him; he motioned for her to be patient.

He extended his hands—pale, crystalline, radiant like ancient ice. Interlacing his fingers, threads of power wove a dense net that drifted toward the beast. As it touched the corpse, the net spun rapidly, slicing the frozen body into fragments as if by countless invisible blades.

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Nuoluo watched without blinking, unable to fathom his intentions.

Soon, the beast on the ground was reduced to ruin. Flesh and bone were severed, and as the wind stirred the shattered remains, they scattered like mist, vanishing into the air until only a ghastly frame remained.

The net wrought by the King of the Underworld continued to spin, reducing the skeleton to powder that glimmered faintly in the darkness.

He gathered the powder, hiding it away.

Ming Die danced in exhilaration, feasting on the shards of the beast’s spirit that drifted in the air.

“What is this?” Nuoluo still did not understand their actions.

The King of the Underworld faced her, a hint of a smile at his lips, clearly pleased with his handiwork. He had searched long for this beast—never expecting to find it here in the Bailei Mountains.

“Now that its existence is consigned to history, there’s no need for a name. Look closely at its bones—this is why I came.” The powder in his palm coalesced into a small, unremarkable stone, yet it was impossible to ignore.

He tossed the stone into the air, motioning for Nuoluo to strike it.

With a flick of her finger, a spear of icy power shot toward the stone. To her astonishment, there was a resounding clash, but the force rebounded, unable to penetrate.

Nuoluo was stunned by the turn of events—the stone possessed such formidable strength.

The King of the Underworld tossed the stone into her hands. “Keep it. When the City of Reincarnation is built, enshrine it within. It can repel any attack and ensure the city’s stability.”

“Why give it to me?” Nuoluo’s confusion deepened. If it was needed for the city’s construction, why not keep it himself?

“If I held on to such a powerful stone, would you truly be at ease? Don’t worry. I promised to help you build the City of Reincarnation, and that is my only reason for coming to the mortal realm.”

But could Nuoluo really be at ease? A great question mark lingered in her mind.

The King of the Underworld seemed not to notice her doubts. His gaze wandered to the deeper heart of the mountains.

All trace of the beast’s presence had been sealed until now; only now did its aura begin to spread, a foul stench of blood tainting the air.

The scent grew, and from far off in the mountains came a rustling, like the slithering of some creature.

The sound drew closer, and in the darkness, evil lights began to flicker—it was the glint of countless eyes watching them.

As the beasts approached, Nuoluo realized she had never imagined so many abominations might be lurking in the Bailei Mountains.

Creatures identical to the slain beast crowded together, advancing slowly.

Perhaps the dead beast had summoned them for vengeance, or perhaps it was the King of the Underworld who had lured them here.

Ming Die fluttered in wild excitement, seeing more prey—more souls to consume.

Nuoluo and the King of the Underworld exchanged a glance, reading the same resolve in each other’s eyes. For the first time, they would fight side by side.

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The beasts stared at them with blood-red eyes, closing in, probing their defenses.

Nuoluo summoned a protective barrier, power swirling at her fingertips. If these beasts’ bones would aid the City of Reincarnation, then she would claim them all. Even if they proved useless, the mere fact of their presence in the Bailei Mountains was reason enough—they could not be allowed to survive. Whatever misfortunes had spared them before, tonight would be their end.

She sensed that, if they remained, the city of Bailei would face catastrophe once she departed.

Though she had not personally slain the earlier beast, the aura she now felt told her this battle would be fierce.

Did the King of the Underworld sense their evil too—was he here to help her? The sudden thought startled her. Could that really be his reason?

If so, what was his true purpose? If the beasts’ bones were so wondrous, would it not serve him better to use them to his own advantage in the City of Reincarnation? Why give her the stone so freely?

Though questions swirled in her mind, Nuoluo betrayed nothing.

The King of the Underworld glanced at her, then turned away, exposing his back to her—a gesture of trust. He actually trusted her.

In this moment, they stood as comrades, not foes; this moment, they faced the danger together.

Nuoluo was briefly taken aback, then understood: with this gesture, he proved his intentions—he meant no harm.

She summoned her protective barrier anew, stronger than ever from all her trials. Countless snowflakes whirled around them, alive with the energy of mutual trust, their crystalline beauty sweeping away the shadows in their hearts.

The beasts shrieked in excitement at the barrier, oblivious to its power, not knowing it signaled their doom.

Flaming swords rose and danced, piercing every beast they touched. Each flash of fire brought a shriek of agony and the thud of falling bodies.

The King of the Underworld was wreathed in the most mysterious darkness, so dense the night itself could not conceal it.

With every subtle movement of his fingers, a beast fell.

What began as a confrontation became a one-sided massacre. Their combined power was unstoppable.

The mountain was soon drenched in blood, the beasts’ howls mingling with their death cries.

Had Nuoluo not sealed the region, the noise alone would have shaken the city of Bailei. Yet within the city, none heard a thing—the dense night shrouded all. The slaughter continued.