I subdue demons and monsters, and cultivate immortality in hell to become a saint.

The abode of the Black Mountain Demon Mother, Dark Nether City.

At the center stands a sinister "Hall of Ten Thousand Ghosts," with nine thrones arranged according to their positions, eight ghost kings on either side, and the main throne suspended in mid-air.

That's the location of the Black Mountain Demon Mother. Even though she's in seclusion, no ghost dares to cross that line.

The few little devils rushed into the hall, knelt down with a thud, and reported everything that had just happened.

"Oh? That brat from the Underworld actually dares to say that?"

A deep, resonant voice came from the head seat on the left.

The ghost king who spoke was at least two meters tall, his body wrapped in red-hot iron chains that made a piercing sound as they rubbed together. He was bald, with a full head of red beard that bristled, making him look like a raging beast.

This ghost is the first general under the Black Mountain Ghost Mother, the Crimson Prison Ghost King, who guards the gate of the Ghost Kingdom, "Yin Prison City".

The red-haired demon immediately kowtowed: "Your Majesty, it is absolutely true! That underworld official was extremely arrogant, repeatedly saying that he would take the life of the Thousand-Eyed Ghost King in nineteen days, showing no regard for our Black Mountain Ghost Kingdom!"

He deliberately embellished the story, portraying the calm words of the Inspector General as arrogant and provocative. After all, in the little devil's eyes, exaggerating in front of the Ghost King was a way to curry favor.

"What an arrogant and ignorant judge of the underworld!"

The Crimson Prison Ghost King slammed his fist on the armrest of the throne, shattering the solid stone chair instantly. Amidst the surging Yin energy, he roared angrily, "Do you think my Black Mountain Ghost Kingdom is a pushover? Don't even mention nineteen days, even two hundred days, he won't be able to touch a single hair on Thousand Eyes' head!"

The other ghost kings also roared angrily, each filled with righteous indignation.

Since its establishment, the Black Mountain Ghost Kingdom has been rampant in the Southern Ridge Underworld. No force has ever dared to challenge them like this. This is simply a public slap in their face!

The Crimson Prison Ghost King turned to look at the Thousand-Eyed Demon Ghost standing nervously in the hall, his tone cold yet protective: "Thousand Eyes, don't panic. Just stay here in the Hall of Ten Thousand Ghosts. I want to see just how capable that judge brat is, daring to trespass into my Black Mountain Ghost Kingdom and take ghost lives!"

As he spoke, his Adam's apple bobbed, and his voice boomed like muffled thunder, making the hall resonate with a buzzing sound.

"Your Majesty is wise!"

The Thousand-Eyed Demon hurriedly bowed and thanked them, but in his heart he thought to himself that since the judge dared to say such a thing, he must have a purpose. But now, he could only cling to the big tree of the Black Mountain Ghost Kingdom.

At this moment, the green-robed ghost king, seated at the head of the right, suddenly spoke, his shrill voice filled with sinister intent: "I think that judge brat is playing tricks!"

This green-robed ghost king had a pointed mouth and monkey-like face, with a pair of beady green eyes that kept darting around. His green robe gleamed with an eerie light. He was none other than the Green Ghost King, the second-highest general under the Black Mountain Ghost Mother.

In his early years, he obtained an ancient treasure green robe by chance. He refined it with his own ghostly energy for many years, and named it "Taiyin Crossing the Calamity Robe". When activated, it can instantly conceal his aura for thousands of miles, making his whereabouts mysterious and unpredictable.

"He said he would take action after the 19th, which was a deliberate attempt to lull us into a false sense of security and make us focus only on the last day of defense."

A cunning glint flashed in the Green Ghost King's eyes as he said sinisterly, "In my opinion, they will most likely send assassins to infiltrate in four or five days, hoping to catch Thousand Eyes off guard!"

Upon hearing this, the other ghost kings immediately realized what was going on and nodded in agreement.

"The Second King is right! The underworld officials are the most despicable and shameless; they're definitely trying to pull this trick!"

The red-haired demon hurriedly flattered him, afraid of falling behind.

A cold glint flashed in the Crimson Prison Ghost King's eyes. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "If it weren't for my second brother's reminder, I would have almost fallen into his trap! During the Ghost Mother's seclusion, this matter is entirely under our jurisdiction. We cannot afford to make the slightest mistake, and we cannot disgrace the Black Mountain Ghost Kingdom!"

He immediately ordered, "Second brother, you personally lead men to the border to set up defenses and increase patrols. Make sure to keep the people of the Underworld out, not even a fly can get in!"

"My fellow brothers, stay with me in the Hall of Ten Thousand Ghosts, guarding Thousand Eyes day and night, and never give the Underworld any opportunity to take advantage!"

The Crimson Prison Ghost King sneered, his tone brimming with confidence, "Nineteen days from now, if Thousand Eyes is unharmed, I'll see what face that judge of the underworld will have left to stand in the Southern Ridge. He'll be ashamed to death!"

The Thousand-Eyed Demon was overjoyed. He knelt down with a thud, his head hitting the ground repeatedly. Two black tears were forced from the corners of his eyes as he cried out, "Thank you so much, Great King, Second King, and all the other kings! I will never forget this kindness, and I will serve you all faithfully in the future!"

The Green Ghost King glanced at him, his tone full of sarcasm, showing no respect whatsoever: "Now that you've entered the gates of my Black Mountain Ghost Kingdom and become the Ninth Ghost King, stop with the formalities. We told you to come and join us long ago, but you insisted on guarding that dilapidated city and acting like a local tyrant. Now that you're desperate, you finally remember us?"

He paused, then scoffed, "Better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond? I think you failed to become a big fish and ended up like a stray dog. If you weren't desperate, you probably wouldn't even look down on our Black Mountain Ghost Kingdom, would you?"

These words struck a nerve with the Thousand-Eyed Demon. His face flushed red and then turned pale. He lowered his head sheepishly and repeatedly explained, "Second Brother is joking. I was just confused for a moment and didn't understand. I certainly didn't look down on any of you kings..."

He smiled obsequiously, but in his heart he cursed the Green Ghost King and his ancestors for eighteen generations.

The reason I refused to come in the first place was because I didn't want to be a lackey of you bunch of brutes! If it weren't for the underworld ruining my plans, who would want to live under someone else's roof and suffer this humiliation?

He was seething with anger, but dared not show it on his face. He could only obediently put on a smile and let the Green Ghost King mock him.

Back then, when the Thousand-Eyed Demon obtained the heaven-defying city-building technique of "Silent City", it was an unparalleled opportunity that came with great fortune. As long as the city was completed and integrated with himself, within a few years, he would not only dare to rub the whiskers of the Eight Great Ghost Kings, but even the Black Mountain Ghost Mother!

Unfortunately, they were wiped out by that evil star in the underworld, and their entire plan fell apart.

This is what they call "man proposes, God disposes"—utterly unlucky!

"Damn the underworld!"

A venomous glint surged in Qianmu's eyes as he cursed inwardly: "Once I've firmly established myself in the Black Mountain Ghost Kingdom, I'll definitely instigate the Ghost Mother to tear down your City God's Palace! Then I'll make sure your soul is scattered, avenging this humiliation!"

Although the Crimson Prison Ghost King looks as rough and fierce as a beast, he is actually more shrewd than a needle. He had already seen through Qianmu's scheming little schemes.

But he didn't care at all, and instead sneered: Trying to play tricks? Once you enter the gates of my Black Mountain Ghost Kingdom, you have to follow my rules.

Dare to betray me? First, ask these red-hot iron chains on my body if they'll allow it!

As for Thousand Eyes' attempt to instigate the Ghost Mother to wage war against the Underworld, the Crimson Prison Ghost King was even more pleased to see it happen.

He had been holding back for a long time. Since its establishment, the Black Mountain Ghost Kingdom had been shutting itself off like a coward. Even he, a warmonger, was almost suffering from internal injuries from being cooped up. But the Ghost Mother was forbidding him to move.

If Qianmu can really persuade the Ghost Mother, then it will be just what he wants. He can have a good fight with the Underworld and stretch his muscles.

Just as the ghost kings of the Black Mountain Ghost Kingdom were setting up their defenses and waiting to engage in a stealth attack and defense battle with the underworld, Zhong Jiu had already laid out a deadly trap.

From the very beginning, he looked down on the petty methods of assassination.

Firstly, the Black Mountain Ghost Kingdom is heavily guarded, making infiltration extremely difficult; secondly, relying on a sneak attack to establish authority would make the Underworld appear weak and demeanor!

"System, exchange for the Seven Arrows of Soul Stealing Talisman Book!"

Zhong Jiu's tone was resolute. In order to establish this banner of the underworld, he directly went all in with most of his incense points. This was the hard currency for the operation of the underworld, and he could exchange it without feeling any pain.

A faint light flashed, and an ordinary-looking old manuscript landed in his palm—the very weapon of mass destruction he had been searching for.

Although the Seven Soul-Snatching Arrows are a one-time use magical artifact, they are considered a forbidden killing move. They appear ordinary on the outside, but they contain a mysterious and devastating power within.

Chung Kau spread out the manuscript, and the profound usage came into view: set up a camp and a platform, make a straw effigy, write the enemy's name on it, light a soul lamp on each of the head and feet, perform the steps of the Big Dipper, draw talismans and burn seals, and bow three times a day for nineteen days. After the enemy's three souls and seven spirits are dispersed by the bowing, shoot seven arrows through the straw effigy. No matter if it is a ghost king or a ghost emperor, it will be scattered!

"Good heavens, this is practically a weapon that can kill from afar!"

Zhong Jiu stroked the manuscript and sneered. It could take lives without anyone noticing. No wonder the system was priced exorbitantly and limited to one exchange per year.

"If we could get our hands on the refining method, wouldn't we be able to curse anyone we don't like to death?"

The thought flashed through Zhong Jiu's mind, but he immediately shook his head. There was no crafting technique in the system's product list at all; it was pure fantasy.

He immediately followed the instructions, setting up a straw effigy with the name of the Thousand-Eyed Demon, lighting the soul lamp, and performing the ritual steps. As he bowed for the first time, he felt an invisible karmic force come from the heavens, drilling into the straw effigy and binding it tightly to the soul of the Thousand-Eyed Demon.

Although the power struggle between the City God's Palace and the Black Mountain Ghost Kingdom was kept in the shadows, the news had already spread like wildfire, and all forces in Nanling Province were craning their necks to watch.

Will the newly emerging underworld overtake the mysterious ghost kingdom, or will the Black Mountain Ghost Kingdom continue to monopolize the underworld of the Southern Ridge?

This undercurrent even crossed provincial borders, affecting Beijiang Province to the north.