Inside the temporary frontline command center at Mount Pingdu. After the third eruption of immortal light, the transfer station began sending out messages every thirty seconds instead of once every few minutes. Over a dozen Special Warfare Unit soldiers operated at full strength, running back and forth between the Nether Gate and the transfer station. In just a few minutes, the yin qi near Mount Pingdu had spread to twice the size of the original area. Daoist elders and Daoist masters from different Daoist sects rushed through the surrounding mountains and forests, trying to temporarily contain the yin qi in the woods. If it affected the government's army, the entire battlefield deployment would have to be rearranged. All signs showed that the distance between the Small Nether Realm and Mount Pingdu had narrowed even further. To prevent the Small Nether Realm from spilling into the Mortal Realm, a few of the research institute's scholars who specialized in material sciences proposed the idea of destroying the Small Nether Realm entirely. However, no one could guarantee how much damage such an action could cause to the earth. Moreover, with their current means, destroying the Small Nether Realm was nothing more than a fantasy. Even if a full-scale nuclear war broke out on Earth, it would only destroy human civilization on the surface and the livable environment. It would not significantly affect Earth's internal structure. Earth was not that fragile. Likewise, even nuclear strikes could only flatten the Small Nether Realm, which Emperor Ziwei had created. They could not completely destroy it. The probes sent into the Eighteen Levels of Hell had already drawn two conclusions before the third eruption of immortal light. First, the top three levels of the Eighteen Levels of Hell were completely empty, but a force that defied scientific explanation had sealed off the fourth level. The probe could not approach the vertical entrances and exits. Second, the Eighteen Levels of Hell had apparently risen by a significant amount. No one expected that with the third eruption of immortal light, the Eighteen Levels of Hell would be pushed all the way to the surface. The first level now extended above the bottom of the rift, forming a "volcano" or a "caldera." While pushing up the Eighteen Levels of Hell, the third eruption of immortal light also shattered the seal on the fourth and possibly the fifth or sixth levels. More ghosts crawled out from below. Inside the command center, reports came in nonstop for several minutes. "Strong energy reaction detected at the rift. Immortal light has appeared again." "Violent crustal movement detected within the Nether Realm. The entire Eighteen Levels of Hell are rising!" "Our Golden Core Realm cultivators are currently unaffected. Daoist Master Bu Yan sent back a message asking us to consider deploying unconventional weapons again, but we must avoid the area between Fengdu City and the Eighteen Levels of Hell." "The top of the Eighteen Levels of Hell has reached the surface. It is confirmed to be related to the energy eruption within the rift! "A large number of life-like energy signatures have been detected. Judging by the readings, the seal beneath the third level must have been broken. "A massive wave of ghosts has escaped from Hell. We estimate them to be eight to twelve percent of the size of the first wave." "New ghost types detected! Types One and Two targets have disappeared. However, Type Three targets have increased, and two new ghost types are undergoing initial power assessment." "Type Four appears to be a strengthened version of Type One, and Type Five is a strengthened version of Type Two. Their energy levels are below that of Type Three. Classifications are being reassessed." "Drones and various instruments near the rift are now back online, and the bombing squadron has already taken off. All the ghosts are converging toward the eastern section of Fengdu City. Our combat forces might not be able to hold out until the bombers arrive." "All units, please maintain silence. Incoming video footage." The command center immediately quieted down. New aerial footage that a drone had just sent back began playing on the large screen. The first few seconds showed the western wall of Fengdu City. Everyone in the command center had already seen countless images of Fengdu City through previously transmitted footage. It resembled an ancient city. Though it was vast, it had narrow alleyways everywhere, and its buildings were densely packed. It was as if ghosts had once inhabited it. From an aerial view, Fengdu City was a perfect square. Each wall was three thousand three hundred and thirty-three zhang long, which was roughly ten kilometers. To the north of the city was an expanse of wasteland about ten kilometers wide, beyond which was a boundless lake of lava that stretched to the horizon. There was also a ten-kilometer wasteland to the south. Past it was scorched earth where lightning struck and fire fell occasionally from the sky. Drones could not approach it at all since lightning instantly struck those that tried. The video was not intended to give the officers another geography lesson. The key footage appeared at the twenty-second mark. Behind the eastern wall of Fengdu City, tens of thousands of ghost soldiers were climbing the wall. At first glance, they looked like living terracotta warriors[1]. The ghost soldiers emitted an earthy yellow glow. Some carried longbows and quivers, some had longswords at their waists, while others wielded long spears or halberds. They quickly ascended to the top of the city wall, silently forming ranks as they faced the endless horde of malevolent ghosts and fierce spirits. After a few close-up shots of the ghost soldier formations, the video ended. Discussions erupted throughout the command center. Most talked about the combat power of the ghost soldiers and whether they could hold back the ghosts. Surprisingly, the atmosphere in the command center was not too tense. If things really got out of hand, they could just have Daoist Master Bu Yan and the others retreat and let the second wave of ghosts rush up the Yellow Springs Road again. Dismantling expired nuclear weapons cost a fortune anyway. It was better to use them to gather more live combat data. Inside the Nether Gate, on the eastern side of Fengdu City. The ghost soldiers seen in the video had now fully climbed up onto the wall. If their strength were measured using a cultivator's realm, most would be at the Illusory Core Realm, slightly stronger than Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators. Talisman soldiers were manifestations of power that Nether Realm immortals had condensed and hidden throughout the realm in advance. Now, an elder of the Hidden Earth Sect had summoned them using a Black and White Ghost Banner. The strength of talisman soldiers was closely tied to the power of the one who summoned them. No one knew what Emperor Ziwei had been thinking when he created the Small Nether Realm, but Fengdu City had gate openings without any actual gates. This made defending the city much harder. Perhaps the gates were once sealed using immortal arts. Outside the gateway, thousands of ghost soldiers had formed a semicircular battle formation. Their ranks blocked the gap where the city gate should have been. Behind the hundreds of ghost soldiers, atop the wall, was the area with the most archers. The twelve Golden Core Realm powerhouses also stood among them. The roaring army of ghosts drew closer. They could already clearly hear the shrieks of vengeful ghosts and the eerie laughter of wandering spirits. The fierce spirits resembled the one that Wang Sheng had eliminated at the Li family residence. They came in green-skinned and red-skinned varieties but were clearly stronger than the one Wang Sheng had fought. What really put pressure on Qing Yanzi and the others were the black-skinned, ferocious ghosts. They were fewer, but dense yin qi surrounded them. Their aura fluctuations were also already close to that of Golden Core Realm cultivators. In an environment like the Small Nether Realm, cultivators were more or less weakened, while the vengeful spirits were greatly strengthened. The endless yin qi in the area could rapidly heal their injuries. Just as Qing Yanzi and the others had predicted, the horde began to merge together and charged straight toward the city gate. They showed no interest in the weaker northern and southern city walls or the surrounding wastelands. As calm and cold as always, Qing Yanzi turned to the Hidden Earth Sect's grand elder, who was beside him. "How do we command these ghost soldiers?" "Do not worry, Daoist Master Bu Yan. They possess spiritual intelligence. They can judge the situation on their own." At that moment, they heard two loud shouts from below. Within the ranks of the ghost soldiers, several generals had appeared. Donning ancient armor, they raised their longswords and shouted in archaic accents. Their voices echoed outside Fengdu City. "Hold this city! Those who retreat shall be executed!" "How dare those filthy ghosts invade Fengdu City!" A general raised his longsword and roared upward. "Let them perish in both body and soul! Fire!" Tens of thousands of bowstrings twanged at once. Streams of glowing arrows formed a radiant curtain of light, pouring down on the charging ghost army like a heavenly net. Watching the ghosts being knocked over in waves, Qing Yanzi shrugged. "Looks like we don't have to do anything." The other Daoist masters all nodded and relaxed a little. The drone above passed overhead again, capturing the current battle outside Fengdu City and sending the footage back to the transfer station. From there, the Special Warfare Unit soldiers relayed the videos beyond the Nether Gate. On Yellow Springs Road, the Daoist, the monk, and the half-immortal fox listened to melodious Buddhist chants as they emerged from the long canyon and into a vast open plain, completely unaware of the ongoing battle at Fengdu City. This was the second stretch of Yellow Springs Road. Another hundred kilometers ahead lay the nuclear blast zone. Due to the terrain damage that the nuclear strike had caused, they had to take a slight detour. It would not delay them for long, though. To Wang Sheng, the plain was far too quiet. It was far too quiet. When he looked back, he found a black line stretching to the horizon. Looking in all other directions, he felt as though the sky was right next to them. There was no trace of yin qi. Not even a breath of wind. "Something feels off…" Wang Sheng muttered softly, feeling a little restless. His not-so-sharp sixth sense had, for once, started to kick in.