However, despite the multitude of such powerful beings, more than half were slaughtered by the Underworld army in a single war.
Especially towards the end of the war, an enigmatic powerful being appeared beside the Underworld Envoy, whose Divine Techniques were so mighty they altered the Heaven and Earth Rules and distorted space, nearly akin to the legendary ghosts and gods.
On the demon side, it was rumored that a Demon God above the Divinity Transformation stage descended a wisp of consciousness, aiming to kill the Underworld Envoy.
No one could clearly remember what happened during that process. During the time the Demon God's consciousness descended, everyone's memories seemed to have been wiped clean out of thin air, and even within the world, there was no trace of related cause-and-effect.
In the end, it was known that after this war, all the Nascent Soul experts of both human and demon races were slaughtered, and even the wisp of the Demon God's consciousness was collected by the ultimate treasure of the Underworld Envoy.
And the Golden Core cultivators who were unwilling to align with the demon race managed to survive by chance, among them was the Golden Core cultivator from the Qinghe Sect.
Compared to this war, the subsequent disaster beast tide, although massive, was far inferior in terms of powerful beings.
Before this, although the Underworld's reputation was quite prominent, only some Golden Core elders and deacons of the top ten sects witnessed the war of ghosts and gods and the appearance of the Lord of the Underworld. It did not display the true strength of the Underworld, and there was even once a joke about the Underworld Envoy being chased by people.
Yet later, the Underworld army investigated this matter, slaughtering Nascent Souls as if they were mere dogs, achievements so fierce that they could not be forged, making the Qinghe Sect naturally interested in establishing a connection.
Because of understanding this matter, the Qinghe Sect dispatched their Golden Core Peak Dharma Transmission Elder to worship the Underworld Envoy, hoping to establish some good relations with the legendary Mythical Underworld.
Apart from the Qinghe Sect, the other major sects shared the same thoughts.
Unfortunately, after entering the Nine Nether Immortal City, the Underworld Envoy remained in seclusion, and the Golden Core cultivators were unable to meet him.
Upon hearing the words of the Qinghe Sect's Dharma Transmission Elder, the other sects' Golden Core cultivators all showed different expressions, and their eyes turned towards Li Hao.
Li Hao slightly frowned, glanced at the Qinghe Sect's Dharma Transmission Elder, and said with displeasure:
"Elder Gu is quite well-informed about our Nine Nether Immortal City's affairs, even knowing such details about the Envoy's emergence from seclusion."
The face of Elder Gu from the Qinghe Sect immediately stiffened.
As a Golden Core Peak expert, just a step away from Nascent Soul, his status within the Qinghe Sect was considered exceedingly high.
If any other mid-stage Golden Core cultivators dared speak to him in such a manner, Elder Gu would have already taught them a lesson.
But the person before him was Li Hao of the Nine Nether Immortal City, a recognized underling of the Underworld's ghosts and gods, and the Underworld Envoy once slew two Nascent Soul True Monarchs in a wrathful outburst because of him.
Before Li Hao, he, merely a Dharma Transmission Elder of Qinghe Sect, could hardly count as anything.
Just as Elder Gu was showing a hint of awkwardness, Li Hao suddenly changed his previously displeased expression, laughed aloud, and patted Elder Gu on the shoulder:
"Why so tense, Elder Gu? I'm just joking around.
The Envoy's emergence from seclusion is indeed a major event in our Nine Nether Immortal City, so it's normal for Elder Gu to have heard about it."
The representatives from the major sects, hearing this, also heaved a sigh of relief.
"However, although the Envoy has emerged from seclusion, he didn't linger in the Immortal City and left early on."
As soon as these words were spoken, the hearts of the representatives from the major sects were once again on edge.
They hadn't forgotten that during the previous excursion of the Underworld Envoy, he slaughtered hundreds of high-level cultivators.
This time going out, there's no telling what trouble might unfold.
Thinking of this, the Golden Core cultivators from the various major sects wished they could convey the information right away, but because Li Hao was right in front of them, they couldn't make any move.
Taking note of everyone's attitudes, Li Hao appeared quite composed.
With the backing of the Underworld Envoy, mere Nascent Soul Sects and Golden Core Sects no longer held much sway in his eyes.
Even among the ten great orthodox sects, in Li Hao's mind, they might not compare to the Mythical Underworld.
Of course, as a loyal underling of the Underworld, and the City Lord of the Nine Nether Immortal City, he wouldn't senselessly create enemies for the Underworld due to pride.
Towarding those forces intending to show goodwill towards the Underworld, he maintained a primarily appeasing approach as he spoke:
"There's no need for concern, Realms. The Envoy has only temporarily left and could return at any moment. Get full chapters from 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩~𝔣𝔦𝔯𝔢~𝔫𝔢𝔱
At the very moment of the Envoy's return, I will certainly inform everyone without delay."
Elder Gu remained worried, unable to resist inquiring further:
"May I ask City Lord Li, do you know where the Envoy headed?"
Li Hao waved his hand: "The Envoy's methods are profound and can open spatial passages with a mere gesture; how could we possibly know the Envoy's intentions?"
Pausing briefly, Li Hao added a sentence.
"However, it seems that the direction in which the Envoy headed is deep within Mount Wu, likely unrelated to your Southern Wilderness territory."
As he spoke, Li Hao pointed towards the towering mountains beyond the city wall.
And at that moment, a familiar silhouette seemed to catch the corner of Li Hao's eye, prompting him to look more closely.
He saw that the escaping light had already reached several dozen miles away, took a turn, and flew straight into the mountains, disappearing from Li Hao's view.
Li Hao was somewhat lost in thought; that disappearing figure, whether in the color of the magic robe or the aura fleetingly glimpsed, seemed very akin to the Underworld Envoy.
The only difference was, the Underworld Envoy, with superb cultivation, commanded the Underworld army to slaughter Nascent Souls like dogs, whereas that fleeting cultivator was merely at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment...