Ye Xiu nodded and inquired, "Then what about the invitation to Desolate Bone City? And what are these earth-shattering changes the Insect Emperor speaks of?"

The Insect Emperor produced the notice, looking profoundly uneasy. "The Master of the Bone Sect has changed. Garuḍa, who was formerly the Third Sect Master, has leaped to become the Sovereign. I suspect Kanaan has already perished by his hand."

"The Third Sect Master?" Ye Xiu certainly knew the strength of this Third Sect Master. For him to ascend to the Sovereign position in such a short span was startling. Ye Xiu deliberately remarked, "I had some dealings with Garuḍa when I was in Desolate Bone City. I never thought the fellow would manage to become the Sect Master."

The Insect Emperor was also somewhat surprised, but what was done was done; there was no need for further talk. "The Killing the World Breaking Ice approaches. In three days, all sects across the realm are to converge on Desolate Bone City to discuss the grand endeavor. I hear Garuḍa has already successfully subdued the Savage Beast Gate. It seems the title of Bone Sect Master is not one to be taken lightly."

Ye Xiu had personally witnessed the power of the Savage Beast Gate's protective treasure, the Guardian of Sand. He carefully pondered Garuḍa's cultivation level—besides the Heavenly Bone Sword Art, what else did he possess? Could it be the Heavenly Bone Secret Scroll?

"Very well, you all may retire and rest first. In three days, you and Jun Bugu can accompany me. No... Jun Bugu's identity is too mysterious; my Demonic Insect Gate still requires guardianship. Only Ye Xiu and I will go!" The Drought Demon Insect Emperor turned and walked toward his throne, closing his eyes as if already foreseeing the situation three days hence.

Ye Xiu and Jun Bugu retreated to the hall of the Earth Insects. The situation in the entire realm was beyond salvage. "After the gathering in Desolate Bone City, everyone will jointly advance upon Mount Sumeru. I wonder how our situation should be arranged?"

"Tell me your thoughts," Jun Bugu trusted Ye Xiu completely; this fellow had become far more cunning than when Jun Bugu first met him.

Ye Xiu licked his lips and chuckled, "Although we head to Desolate Bone City representing the Demonic Insect Gate, given my acquaintance with the Third Sect Master, I should be able to gauge his true strength. In the Netherworld, all we Death Gods can strive for is survival within the power structure. Though, I still wish to uncover the secrets you carry."

"Heh, you mean we should sit back and watch?" Jun Bugu held no particular affection for the Netherworld either. He plopped down onto a seat. "I only want to live well. But right now, I'm more concerned with how to snatch that divine weapon from the Drought Demon Insect Emperor's grasp."

"Do nothing and adapt to all changes! That is my conclusion." Ye Xiu had already conveyed this point to Old Liu back in Myriad Dao Mountain, but Old Liu, now burdened with the safety of an entire sect, lacked the spontaneity he once had when making plans.

Jun Bugu agreed it seemed viable. He gazed at the boring green light emanating from the earth below. "So, how are we supposed to pass these few days? We can’t just stay in this godforsaken place, can we?"

"While the Insect Emperor’s Evil Eye cannot yet be deployed, I think I must make a quiet trip to Desolate Bone City." Ye Xiu sought only self-preservation, while also ensuring the safety of Jun Bugu and Old Liu. "I believe it’s time to demonstrate some loyalty."

...

Aboard the painted barge on the Sorrowful Water River, the Shamaness was the most leisurely person in this realm, drifting serenely upon the water while playing her flute.

"Swish..." A streak of black light descended, and immediately, the figure of a woman slid onto the prow of the boat. This woman was masked, and her attire was utterly spectral. "The realm is in chaos, and only you, Shamaness, remain this undisturbed. Truly fortunate."

The Shamaness stopped her flute, rising with a flicker of surprise. "I didn't expect you. It seems you can now command the power of the Heavenly Emperor’s Evil Body."

Jia Yunxin sighed disdainfully, "I have not yet fully mastered the Evil Body's power. I came to you because I believe you know all things, to ask: where can I find the Three Fiends of the Evil Body?"

"What, is one Evil Hand not enough?" The Shamaness lightly raised a hand, and a gust of wind blew, lifting the sleeve of Jia Yunxin's robe, revealing the arm covered in dark, wrinkled flesh. "Can you show me the power of the Evil Hand?"

Jia Yunxin channeled evil energy into her palm and unleashed a light push. Half of the cliff face on the opposite bank of the Sorrowful Water River instantly collapsed. "Does this level of power count?"

The Shamaness's eyes brightened; she greatly admired this strength. She chuckled softly, "Finding the Three Fiends of the Evil Body is easy. On the day the Killing the World Breaking Ice arrives, head to Mount Sumeru. I believe everyone in this realm will gather there, and then you shall obtain what you seek."

"Nonsense!" Jia Yunxin understood perfectly. She spun and took flight, showing the Shamaness no courtesy whatsoever. "Once I integrate the Three Fiends of the Evil Body, what is the Killing the World even worth!"

"Hmm..." The Shamaness stepped out from behind the white veil, twisting her head in deep thought. "If the Heavenly Emperor’s Evil Body power enters the Heavenly Emperor's Cycle, what effect will that have on the entire Netherworld? If the Spirit Body and the Evil Body converge, will it cause the Heavenly Emperor to be reborn?"

In the unseen threads of fate, Garuḍa stood upon the platform of the Heavenly Ladder, the symbol of imperial authority, surveying the entire vista of the Netherworld. He sighed softly, wondering how much longer he could hold dominion over this world.

At that moment, Jiu Liansheng stepped forward to pay respects. "Reporting to the Sovereign, look who has arrived."

"Sovereign!" Ye Xiu had secretly arrived in Desolate Bone City. With his cultivation, ordinary guards couldn't possibly detect him. "Ye Xiu pays respects to the Sovereign."

Garuḍa turned his head, sighing, "I figured you would show up around this time. Tell me, do you have any intelligence that interests me?"

Ye Xiu and Garuḍa were old acquaintances, but now that Garuḍa was the Sect Master, Ye Xiu maintained proper etiquette. "I am simply very curious how the Sovereign managed to reclaim control of Desolate Bone City."

"It was simple: The Heavenly Bone Secret Scroll!" Garuḍa concealed nothing. He displayed his cultivation form, and a blue radiance immediately coursed through his body. "I imagine you recognize Faluoluo?"

Ye Xiu was astounded by the manifestation within Garuḍa's body. "I have seen that thing. That is the Dao Profound Barrier that Faluoluo spent millennia researching. I never realized the Dao Profound Barrier’s function was to integrate into the human body."

"Since you know of him, you must have heard of the Universe Control Seal Blade in Yama's hands, haven't you?" Garuḍa flicked his sleeve, and the Universe Control Seal Blade descended from the sky—still the same great blade, still possessing that poetically crafted handle pommel. "Do you know this weapon?"

"Forged by the pinnacle blacksmith in the history of the Mortal Realm, it once belonged to the Great Vow of the Earth Keeper. It is the divine artifact used to seal the Killing the World!" Ye Xiu approached the blade, its majestic, oppressive aura ceaselessly stimulating his blood. "Yama used this blade to fight Faluoluo’s Dao Profound Barrier, ultimately losing and wagering his very life."

Garuḍa could see Ye Xiu's yearning for the blade, but such a divine weapon was not given away easily. "I know the Universe Control Seal Blade fuses the power of the Death God, but now is not the time to give it to you, as I cannot yet be certain of your current..."

Ye Xiu understood what Garuḍa implied, lowering his head. "The Sovereign must know I have been by the Drought Demon Insect Emperor's side. I have two pieces of intelligence to share: First, the Drought Demon Insect Emperor has obtained the Heavenly and the Peerless Blade; and second, the Drought Demon Insect Emperor has acquired one of the Three Fiends of the Evil Body from the Fire Purgatory beneath the Netherworld—the Evil Eye!"

"Until the Heavenly Sword and Peerless Blade are synthesized, those two weapons are not much of a threat." Garuḍa was more concerned with the Fire Purgatory. At this moment, he channeled his energy, his consciousness directly connecting to the Heavenly Bone Secret Scroll beneath the earth. "The Three Fiends of the Evil Body are one part of the Heavenly Emperor’s Evil Body power. Its appearance in the Netherworld now is certainly a threat. We must devise a way to prevent the Three Fiends from falling into one person's hands."

Ye Xiu agreed with reason, nodding. He reminded him, "I am also worried about Jia Yunxin. Since our last encounter in the Fire Purgatory, she hasn't reappeared. I suspect the Three Fiends of the Evil Body are connected to her as well."

"Ah, Yunxin..." Garuḍa grieved immediately at the mention of his younger sister. However, as a ruler, he should not be troubled by such matters. "This is also what concerns me. The power of the Heavenly Emperor’s Evil Body is unknown. I worry that while the Killing the World might not shake the Netherworld, the power of the Heavenly Emperor’s Evil Body could cause severe consequences."

Jiu Liansheng observed Garuḍa’s distress and couldn't help but offer comfort. "Sovereign, do not worry. I have already sent people searching everywhere. We will report immediately upon receiving any news of the Princess."

"Well then, since we have this rare gathering, the three of us haven't shared a drink in ages." Garuḍa could sense Ye Xiu's true intentions, but in the entire Netherworld, these two were perhaps the only ones he could call friends. "I suppose Ye Xiu cannot stay long before returning to the side of the Insect Emperor."

"The Sovereign sees clearly. I am currently trying to find a way to reclaim the weapons from the Insect Emperor." Ye Xiu gave a cold laugh and shifted his focus. "I am waiting for the day I can deliver the Heavenly Sword and Peerless Blade into the hands of the Sovereign."

"One thing for another. The day the Heavenly Sword and Peerless Blade fall into my hands, the Universe Control Seal Blade will return to the hands of the Death God!" As an exchange, Garuḍa treated Ye Xiu fairly. "I also wish to know the whereabouts of your friend named Jun Bugu."

Ye Xiu felt something was amiss immediately upon hearing this. He replied truthfully, "That fellow has been with me the entire time; he is currently within the Demonic Insect Gate."

"That is strange. When the Blind Tribe assassinated the Killing the World, a figure descended from the sky who appeared to be your friend," Garuḍa said earnestly, without any suspicion toward Ye Xiu. "I recall your friend having a volatile temperament, and his cultivation wasn't particularly strong, yet that time he managed to kill Elder Tianyuan!"

"Gasp..." Ye Xiu exclaimed in shock. Jun Bugu had been by his side constantly during this period. "Could it be another personality that separated from his body? The same kind of personality as the Primordial Source of the Demon Realm connected to the Killing the World?"

Garuḍa, having accessed the Heavenly Bone Secret Scroll, grasped the general idea. He stated precisely, "If that is the case, it can be explained. I just hadn't realized the Demon Realm Primordial Source had descended into the Netherworld since the Ancient Era."

Ye Xiu shook his head, completely bewildered by matters of the ancient past. "We must rely on the illumination provided by the Sovereign’s Heavenly Bone Secret Scroll. My friend truly did not commit such an act. It seems the separation of personalities and the separation of power are not unusual occurrences. It appears two distinct Jun Bugus exist simultaneously in this realm."