Beneath the halo, an entirely different scene unfolded—a secret chamber walled by chilling, oppressive slabs of stone. What truly struck terror was the deep crimson blood flowing beneath, with a stone sarcophagus resting atop it. Yu Jiuhu lay within, her entire form ghastly pale.

"Yu'er, Yu'er, don't be afraid, I will definitely save you." A figure in crimson reappeared; Ming Luosheng knelt beside Yu Jiuhu, his face etched with sorrow. There were no tears in his eyes, only a profound sense of melancholy mixed with a glimmer of hope. He carefully repositioned Yu Jiuhu in the center of the stone coffin, which rested above a channeled groove designed to guide the deep red blood flow beneath.

"Blood Sacrifice, Rise, Blood Steps!" Ming Luosheng stood steadily before the sarcophagus. He extended two fingers of his right hand, while his left hand sliced down like a blade across his right forearm, immediately drawing drops of deep crimson blood. He slowly channeled his qi, dipping his fingers into the blood sea below. At that moment, the entire subterranean sea of blood began to heave and churn violently.

What was he attempting? The people of the Underworld employing the blood sea—could this be a way to resurrect someone who had died? The question of rebirth had long preoccupied Old Liu: from the rudimentary revival offered by the Corpse Flower, to the eternal life sought by the Bone Gatherers, and then the bizarre existence of Hong Ling, Mo Xi, and Mo Shu. Had methods of immortality existed since antiquity, manifesting in countless forms?

"Hoo... Rumble..." Under Ming Luosheng's command, the blood sea surged and its level rose continuously. Just as the rising waters neared submerging Yu Jiuhu's body, a bright, scarlet drop of blood ascended from the surface. It radiated such intense brilliance that it illuminated the formerly dark chamber as if daylight had broken through. A flicker of joy crossed Ming Luosheng's face as he raised a finger, using his blood sacrifice cultivation to draw the drop of essence blood closer. Once he had it firmly grasped, he did not hesitate, driving it into Yu Jiuhu’s mouth. "Don't be afraid, Yu'er. This is the Styx Blood Step. It refines the waters of the Styx Blood Sea through an exchange of blood. It takes millennia to nurture a single drop. It is a grand gift of rebirth prepared by generations of Blood Masters using their own vital essence for the Lord of the Underworld. Its effect, naturally, is resurrection."

The Styx Blood Step! Watching that drop of essence blood, Old Liu recalled Mo Shu's essence blood. Both were vital essences, yet one could only open a door, while this could grant rebirth. No wonder the Lord of the Underworld held the Blood Masters in such high regard—it was purely for the sake of his own life.

"Thump-thump, thump-thump!" The blood sea receded, but then a heavy, resonant heartbeat echoed out—the unmistakable sign of Yu Jiuhu’s rebirth.

"Capture Ming Luosheng alive!" Suddenly, the sound of countless, chaotic footsteps erupted from the surroundings. They called out Ming Luosheng's name in unison. In the Underworld, only peers or those of higher rank dared to call the Blood Master, the head of the Four Masters, by name. Of course, there was another possibility: that he had already been issued an edict of removal by the Lord of the Underworld and was now a prisoner.

Ming Luosheng glanced toward the stone door before turning back to Yu Jiuhu. He let out a sigh of relief only when he saw a faint trace of color return to her complexion. For the first time, he smiled softly within Old Liu's vision. At this moment, he securely closed the stone coffin and slammed it down into the blood sea. As the Blood Master, he possessed the ability to control the flow of the sea; only he knew where the blood currents would carry Yu Jiuhu within the sarcophagus. He gazed longingly as the coffin slowly sank into the depths. "The Styx Blood Step will greatly enhance your cultivation. I can only bring you this far. You must protect yourself in the days to come. If I am still alive on that day, I will surely find you. Farewell, Yu'er."

"Bang! Bang!" A cloud of dust and debris exploded through the stone door. The Soldier Master, leading the Five Marquises and the Asura elite behind him, burst onto the scene. He roared as he saw the last corner of the stone coffin vanish: "Ming Luosheng, how could you do this? The Lord of the Underworld will not forgive you, the entire Underworld will not forgive you! Hurry and retrieve the Styx Blood Step!"

"Luosheng, why are you being so foolish?" Only then did Mei Lengshuang comprehend the depth of Ming Luosheng’s feelings for Yu Jiuhu. Only now did she realize her own grave error. Ming Luosheng was willing to risk his status as the Blood Master of the Underworld, willing to sacrifice his own life to save Yu Jiuhu. This level of love far surpassed her own narrow perspective. She watched helplessly as the surrounding throng raised swords and blades, closing in on Ming Luosheng; she had neither the reason nor the power to intervene.

"I will not surrender tamely, but I also do not wish to see the blood of my kin spilled again!" The blood markings on Ming Luosheng's face began to glow crimson. He raised his arm, and instantly, a pool of deep red blood swirled in his palm. The blood rose, coalescing into a brilliant, blood-hued saber held firmly in his grip. Without mercy, he brought the blade down again and again, decapitating the clansmen around him until the stone room reeked of slaughter.

Faced with the Blood Light Brilliant Saber of Ming Luosheng, the chief of the Four Masters, the Asura elites below the rank of the Five Marquises had no choice but to retreat. Even the Five Marquises struggled to withstand the blade light filled with murderous intent.

"Die!" The Soldier Master, Wen Wudi, ranked just below the Blood Master, was vastly superior to the Blood Master in martial skill, aside from magic. Now, with his long spear in hand, he flashed forward, directly intercepting Ming Luosheng’s blade light. "The Underworld no longer has a place for you. No matter what, you will not leave today!"

Ming Luosheng’s true purpose was to cover Yu Jiuhu’s escape; he had never intended to flee himself. With a sweep of his blood-stained saber, it instantly transformed into a massive blood print, lashing out at the crowd. His swordsmanship was sharp, his cultivation formidable, amplified by the power of the Nether Blood, manifesting an earth-shattering force. "If the entire Underworld cannot tolerate me, what consequence is that? What can the Lord of the Underworld do to me? Is endless slaughter meaningful? Wen Wudi, answer me—what personal significance does conquering the world hold for you?"

"Aaargh!" The surrounding minions caught in the wave of the blood print collapsed almost instantly. The Five Marquises each deployed their ultimate techniques, narrowly dodging Ming Luosheng’s attack. Meanwhile, the Soldier Master, Wen Wudi, swept his spear forward like a gale, once again forcing the Brilliant Saber into a stalemate. "As the chief of the Four Masters, you dare utter such treasonous words! You deserve death!"

"Answer me!" Ming Luosheng’s pent-up frustration boiled over, and he chose this moment to release it fully. He spun his body, hacking at Wen Wudi with a whirlwind of blade light. The continuous friction between the Brilliant Saber and the long spear sparked flashes of fire. "Answer me, answer me..."

Mei Lengshuang shielded her chest with crystalline ice, barely avoiding the onslaught. She stood frozen, dumbfounded. In her memory, Ming Luosheng had always been gentle and refined—reverent toward the Lord of the Underworld, fond of his subordinates, and tolerant in matters of judgment. This Ming Luosheng before her was clearly maddened by the blood of slaughter. The blood essence had awakened his innate nature for killing, and hatred had spurred his search for his true self. Today’s tragedy was all because she had killed Ming Luosheng’s beloved, Yu Jiuhu.