The Urban King gazed into the projection screen displaying the data, deep in thought. Although the Underworld hadn't dispatched their absolute top-tier martial arts masters to support this external exploration, their strength was not to be underestimated. The team was led by a seventy-five-year-old, fourteen-star quasi-Martial Arts Master. While not a true Martial Arts Master, his extensive combat experience, especially in wilderness exploration where life experience is as crucial as martial power, was invaluable.
A quasi-Martial Arts Master, seasoned by multiple life-and-death encounters, equipped with a hyper-modern squadron of martial artists, and even six Jungle Ranger mechs, had been entirely wiped out at the very moment they discovered the new energy source and new metals.
What the Urban King found most incredible was that despite the loss of so many lives, the camera footage hadn't even captured a shadow of the assailant. The quasi-Martial Arts Master had simply ceased to be, losing his life instantly without even managing a reaction, and the rest of the team perished in the same split second. Had some new form of hidden, shape-shifting mutated creature appeared there? One even the experienced quasi-Martial Arts Master couldn't detect?
The Urban King pondered. He had encountered numerous mutated creatures on Saturn; the most powerful among them only possessed combat strength comparable to a human fourteen-star martial artist. What made them truly terrifying was their concealment and certain unique abilities. For instance, a patch of ground might appear as just a pool of clear water, but the instant someone stepped on it, the water would suddenly come alive, transforming into iron-hard spikes that instantly pierced the body, injecting paralyzing neurotoxin.
Or perhaps a seemingly solid rock, but the moment someone sat down, the rock would violently erupt with a hard barb that pierced a vital spot, expanding inside through the fragile intestines into countless tiny needles, stabbing the victim to death.
These sudden attacks were sometimes special strikes even fifteen-star Martial Arts Masters couldn't evade. Based on all collected data regarding mutated creatures, their strongest forms only equated to human fourteen-star martial artists; in a frontal confrontation, they were absolutely no match for a Martial Arts Master. Killing a fourteen-star quasi-Martial Arts Master was not an easy feat.
Unless it was a sneak attack! If executed properly, it wouldn't be strange even for a genuine Martial Arts Master to fall victim to them.
What kind of mutated creature could it be? Capturing one would surely be valuable for research, right? As the Urban King remained in contemplation, the meeting notification device beneath him suddenly chimed. This was a summons from the Underworld! A meeting reserved only for high-ranking executives at the level of Yama Lord and above.
The Urban King activated the meeting mode, and nine figures appeared before him, their faces obscured by black shrouds. The Underworld granted complete freedom; if a Yama Lord wished to conceal their true appearance during a meeting, they could activate the blackout mode. Thus, it was entirely normal for Yama Lords to have never seen each other's faces.
The Urban King paid them little mind. As a martial arts expert, why fear being seen? He had seen the faces of several of the Yama Lords himself; he couldn't fathom why these others still insisted on hiding. However...
The Urban King’s gaze kept drifting towards the Yama Lord of the Fifth Hall, trying to penetrate the black shroud and discern the identity of that mysterious Celestial Sovereign of Hell. Rumor had it only Hades and King Qinguang had seen his face; even Diting, the foremost personal general under Ksitigarbha, had never laid eyes upon the Celestial Sovereign of Hell.
Across the nine windows, besides the seven living Yama Lords, the remaining two black shrouds belonged to the Underworld’s strongest—the current helmsman of the Underworld, Ksitigarbha!
Beside Ksitigarbha’s shadow was Diting, whose true appearance the Urban King had also never witnessed, though rumors claimed his strength was no less than King Qinguang’s.
“I trust everyone is aware of the matter concerning the new energy source and new metals.”
Ksitigarbha’s voice was eternally pleasant, magnetic, yet utterly impossible to discern whether it belonged to a man or a woman. The latter five of the Ten Yama Lords were personally invited by King Qinguang and had never seen Ksitigarbha’s true form.
It was rumored that among the top five Yama Lords, only King Qinguang and the Celestial Sovereign of Hell had truly seen Ksitigarbha. The others, despite being personally invited by him, had also never seen his face.
“Mm.”
A deep, unified response hissed almost simultaneously from the noses of everyone present.
“I believe the Underworld must secure the new energy source and new metals,” Ksitigarbha resumed, his melodious voice weaving through the room. “Do you all have any suggestions?”
King Qinguang, shrouded behind his black screen, spoke with a rich voice, perhaps utilizing a voice modulator: “The recent incident is highly unusual. Although we cannot confirm if the new energy source exists in bulk, nor ascertain the reserves of the new metal, they clearly possess terrifying potential. Setting aside the possibility of interstellar travel offered by the new energy, consider only the lethality of the new metal…”
The screens fell silent. They were all great masters of martial arts and fully understood what a handy, highly lethal weapon in the hands of a master accustomed to weaponry truly represented.
“Precisely,” Ksitigarbha’s voice cut through the silence again. “Therefore, we cannot afford to be lax this time. Although dispatching a Yama Lord seems like overkill, I deem it necessary.”
The black screens remained silent, but their eyes, gleaming with piercing light, shifted silently towards the Urban King.
Some say the eyes of the masses are discerning.
Feeling the combined gaze of the assembled Yama Lords, the Urban King recalled another saying: Truth is often held by the minority.
The deployment of a Yama Lord wasn't a grand affair in itself; even King Qinguang moving out wouldn't be strange in the Underworld. Legend had it that when the Celestial Sovereign of Hell first went to eliminate the Eight Immortals of the Upper Cave, King Qinguang had secretly mobilized to protect the Celestial Sovereign, who had only recently joined the Underworld.
The Urban King desperately did not want to leave at this juncture. The expedition to the Natural Graveyard promised great rewards, perhaps even elevating his status among the Ten Yama Lords due to the merit gained. But the ultimate beneficiary would be the Underworld, not the Urban King himself.
Regarding the hostage ransom incident three days hence, the Urban King was confident that if managed correctly—bringing Qin Fen and the others under his command—the resulting benefits would far outweigh anything gained from a mere Natural Graveyard expedition. Leaving now meant that Black and White Impermanence would inevitably report back, causing him to miss his best chance for the future.
The goal of any Yama Lord in the Underworld was never merely to remain a Yama Lord.
Divine Beast Warriors! That was the objective for every Yama Lord, and the ultimate goal for martial artists above the level of the Eight Immortals of the Heavenly Gate.
Becoming a Divine Beast Warrior required one to cultivate their own Constellation Retainers. The Urban King had considered this: rather than finding subordinates from within the Underworld later, it was better to utilize Qin Fen and his cohort. These young individuals had lower seniority and fewer connections, making them much easier to control than a Yama Lord like the Celestial Sovereign of Hell, and he wouldn't have to worry about them rebelling.
Under the scrutiny of everyone, the Urban King paused briefly, then coughed lightly and said, “Gentlemen, I also believe it is safest to dispatch a single Yama Lord to investigate this matter. However, I suggest sending two Yama Lords simultaneously for maximum security. Do not forget, such matters are easily leaked. What if the Heavenly Gate catches wind of this…”
Ksitigarbha’s gaze tracked up and down, clearly considering the Urban King’s suggestion seriously. The conflict between the Heavenly Gate and the Underworld had reached a fever pitch. If news of the new energy source truly leaked, the Heavenly Gate would certainly intervene!
“Gentlemen, while I truly desire to go, however…” The Urban King glanced apologetically at the others, “I have pressing matters these next few days. If you can wait a few days, I wouldn’t mind undertaking this mission for the Underworld.”
Wait a few days? The meeting fell silent again. How could a matter concerning new energy afford any delay? Every minute wasted was another second the Heavenly Gate might learn of it.
“This is how it will be…” Ksitigarbha spoke slowly. “Sixth Brother, Seventh Brother, you two go first. Urban King, once your matter is concluded, proceed immediately to rendezvous with them. Be extremely cautious in this operation.”
The meeting adjourned, and the projections vanished. The Urban King tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of his seat. If the Sixth and Seventh Brothers hadn't completed their mission in three days, all the credit for this operation would likely fall to him again. Leading a group of young men, if they encountered the Heavenly Gate forces, wouldn’t that give the Heavenly Gate a shock? Of course, that was predicated on the Heavenly Gate finding out—but they would, wouldn't they? The Urban King smiled. Saturn held many secrets, but often these secrets amounted to nothing. If his guess was correct, the Heavenly Gate probably already had word.
“Understood! That is settled. Lü Dongbin, you lead the remaining eight Immortals.”
In the Heavenly Gate’s projection meeting room, an almost identical scene was unfolding simultaneously. The Jade Emperor had also received news regarding the new energy source and new metals. After brief deliberation, Lü Dongbin, known for the extreme rigidity, fierceness, and speed of his martial arts among the Eight Immortals, was appointed to lead the expedition to search the Natural Graveyard.
Both the Heavenly Gate and the Underworld desperately wanted to mobilize a large force, yet both were simultaneously wary, fearing the other might take the opportunity to launch an attack on their main base, leaving the garrisoned martial artists even more vulnerable.
“Qin Fen, regarding this new energy source and new metal matter, I’ve managed to calculate a few potential locations,” Yang Lie said, looking up from his computer. “The exchange of hostages in three days introduces too many variables. On Saturn, it’s not just us; the Heavenly Gate and the Underworld are also present.”
Qin Fen nodded in strong agreement: “What do you propose?”
“As for the exchange of hostages, I don't think you need to go,” Yang Lie looked at Xue Tian. “Young Master Xue, decide who should make the trip this time. If they play dirty, Lin Ling will provide long-range sniper support to take down Solov. You should retreat immediately. Even if you can't win, you should be able to escape, right?”
“I’ll go.” Solomon’s single statement claimed the spot.
Yang Lie nodded indifferently. “For this Natural Graveyard matter, Qin Fen, you take one person and make the run. The rest should remain at the base to initiate the relocation. Since Solov, a night demon from the Underworld, is responsible for this base, no one can guarantee its security.”
The military personnel in the room stared blankly at Qin Fen, just as they had at Solov, then blankly at Yang Lie. Wasn't the highest-ranking officer appointed by the military command this Lieutenant Colonel Qin Fen? How had this handsome mixed-race heartthrob instantly usurped Qin Fen’s command authority, making arbitrary decisions and arrangements? And Qin Fen seemed completely unconcerned—was he utterly indifferent to power? This was control over a planet's military command structure! If the troops became accustomed to obeying the mixed-race soldier’s orders, Lieutenant Colonel Qin Fen would be sidelined.
“Fine!” Qin Fen said softly, sensing Du Peng’s burning gaze. “Then Du Peng, you come with me.”
Yang Lie was slightly taken aback, then looked at the faint excitement beneath Du Peng’s composed face, letting out a soft sigh. Du Peng wasn't the most suitable candidate for this mission; Morad, Caesar, Brooks, Chen Feiyu, or even himself, would have been better fits. But since his friend had expressed such a strong desire to go out, he couldn't argue further.
“Alright,” Yang Lie clapped Du Peng on the shoulder. “Be careful on the road. I reviewed the footage several times; I have a strange feeling. That place seems genuinely dangerous.”
Du Peng clenched his fists tightly and nodded hard. Compared to the others, his star-level martial power was admittedly weaker, but he too wanted to contribute to the group. Qin Fen looked at Du Peng: “Are we taking the Jungle Rangers? I observed the terrain there just now; it seems perfectly suited for those light mobile armors.”
Du Peng nodded, two glints of cold light flashing in his deep eyes: “Ace Pilot level.”
“Excellent,” Qin Fen turned back to the logistics section hanging by the cubicle entrance and asked, “Colonel, do we still have any Jungle Rangers available?”
“Yes, yes, we do,” the Colonel managing logistics nodded repeatedly.
Qin Fen walked forward: “Please set aside two for us.”
“No problem, no problem,” the Colonel nodded again. “I’ll contact you. You can pick them up over there after you leave this location.”
Qin Fen took the requisition slip and left via the elevator. Yang Lie glanced at Caesar, his eye twitching slightly. Caesar smiled and turned away from the base.
Brooks walked up to Yang Lie, punched his shoulder lightly, and murmured, “Why wasn’t it me?”
“If it truly turns into jungle warfare, Caesar is more suited,” Yang Lie replied earnestly. “I recall Caesar’s jungle warfare score is higher than yours.”
Brooks shrugged, offering no argument. No matter the decision, everyone was uneasy about Qin Fen taking Du Peng to the Natural Graveyard. Having Caesar secretly follow behind as a double insurance policy was always better. If no danger arose, that was best; but if an accident occurred, he would be there to help immediately.
Solov realized he understood this group of young people even less. It seemed anyone among them could make the final call, and any one of them could order the others around.