Just then, a few familiar voices suddenly echoed from inside.
"Brother Ling!"
"Ling!"
"Commander Ling!"
......
For a moment, Ryan Ling froze. The voices calling out weren't strangers—they were Kenneth Li, Gabriel Xue, and other Jinling Military Region soldiers. Clearly, their souls had already been taken into the Hell Court.
"Brothers!" Ryan didn't hesitate for a second. One of his main reasons for coming to the Netherworld this time was to save these good brothers.
"We're alright. It's really great to see you here!" Kenneth Li and Gabriel Xue hurried over, grabbing Ryan's hand. The moment they reunited, tears welled up in everyone's eyes.
"Good, as long as you're okay, that's all that matters!" Ryan nodded, finally feeling the weight lift off his heart.
"Son!" At that moment, another deep, powerful voice rang out.
"Lord Yama!" Ryan Ling spun around, looking up toward the main hall, where a godlike figure gazed down at him.
This was the legendary King of Hell, the boss who straddles yin and yang—and the father who's always looked after him.
"Come on, step forward!" Lord Yama beckoned him warmly.
Ryan felt a surge of vast, gentle power sweep over him, warming him from head to toe. Clearly, Lord Yama's strength was off the charts—way beyond even China’s Divine Dragon at its peak. Ryan guessed his adoptive dad was at the ninth and highest layer of the Heaven-Tribulation Stage, just one step short of the Human Immortal Realm!
But even a powerhouse like that was still a bit behind compared to his mysterious Human-Immortal Diagram!
"Dad!" For the first time, Ryan got a real, up-close look at Lord Yama. He wasn’t scary at all—more like a friendly neighborhood grandpa, totally chill and approachable.
But Lord Yama’s very first words nearly made Ryan faint.
"Son, you’ve really made something of yourself! You’re even stronger than your old man now. So tell me, how many beauties have you slept with?"
"Pfft! Dad, this is our first time meeting—can we not talk about stuff like that? Can we focus on something serious for once?" Ryan protested, black lines all over his forehead.
"Haha, why so uptight? The biggest reason I’m seeing you today is to witness your wedding to Zoe Zhong!" Lord Yama said, glancing over at Marshal Zhong Kui.
Marshal Zhong Kui grinned and patted Ryan on the shoulder. "Brother-in-law, isn't my little sister gorgeous?"
"Gorgeous, gorgeous!" Ryan replied, a bit speechless.
"Alright then! The Hell Court hasn't seen a party in ages—today, let's go all out and celebrate!" Lord Yama was hyped. In an instant, the formerly spooky Hell Court was decked out in bright red, festive decorations everywhere.
The surrounding ghost officers immediately pushed Zoe Zhong to Ryan's side.
"Come on, kiss! Kiss!" Black and White Impermanence and the others started egging them on.
"Cut it out!" Ryan was a little embarrassed. Seriously, why are all these Netherworld folks so wild?
But Zoe Zhong instantly grabbed Ryan. "What’s wrong? Are you looking down on me?"
"No way, I wouldn't dare!" Ryan blurted, caught off guard. Zoe just hugged him tighter.
"Then kiss me! Anyway, tonight I’m definitely becoming your person—no, your ghost!" Zoe said, raising her lips for a kiss, looking unbelievably sexy.
"Isn’t this a bit much? There are so many ghosts watching!" Ryan was stunned. When they first met, Zoe seemed so shy, but now she was getting wilder by the second.
"What’s there to be scared of? Us ghosts aren’t fake like you humans—if we want something, we just go for it!" Zoe Zhong didn’t hesitate for a second and kissed him right then and there—a full-on French kiss.
In an instant, Ryan felt like she was sucking his mouth dry. This girl was seriously a firestarter—if he actually spent the night with her later, she’d probably drain him alive.
But looking at Zoe’s stunning face, killer curves, and her wild, sexy vibe, Ryan couldn’t help but get turned on. Ever since he hit Nascent Soul perfection, he hadn’t burned off any of that fire. With this spicy, untamed Zoe, if she pinned him down, it’d be wild for sure. Just thinking about it, he felt a certain...reaction downstairs.
"You’re already poking me—wow, it’s big!" Zoe giggled mischievously.
Ryan figured he was probably about to get completely wrecked by her later.
"Haha, truly a match made in heaven—talented guy, gorgeous girl!" Marshal Zhong Kui laughed, clearly enjoying the show.
Lord Yama laughed too, chiming in, "Zoe Zhong’s finally found her perfect match. No matter what, tonight we have to eat and drink to our hearts’ content!"
"Exactly! Good food, good booze, and then good action!" The Ghost Elder joined in the rowdy cheering.
Suddenly, all the brothers around burst out laughing.
Ryan was just speechless, but honestly, with Zoe pressing up against him, it felt pretty damn good!
This ghost girl felt totally different from any beauty in the human world.
"Ryan, my lips are ice-cold, you know. Later, I promise I’ll take you to the absolute limit!" Right then, Zoe seemed to read his mind and leaned in close.
"Oh yeah? I’d better give it a real try—tonight, let’s go for four or five rounds!" With that, Zoe had Ryan’s inner fire burning full blast, and he couldn’t help but grab her butt with both hands.
Zoe gasped, then shot back, "Four or five? That’s nothing—at least fourteen or fifteen!"
"Damn!" Ryan’s face went pale. This gorgeous ghost was seriously wild!
......
But just then, a commotion erupted outside the Hell Court.
"Who’s making such a racket out there? Have you lost your minds?" Marshal Zhong Kui shouted. Today was his sister’s big wedding, after all.
"Reporting, Lord Yama, Grand Marshal—it’s the Western Pacifying King’s son and his servants!" a ghost officer called out.
"Wu Silver-Bear?" Ryan was taken aback. He knew that guy would never let things go—but he hadn’t expected him to barge straight into the Hell Court.
"Hold on! Let's see what he says first!" Lord Yama immediately stopped Marshal Zhong Kui—clearly, when it comes to the Western Pacifying King's faction, even the Yama Hall can't just go in guns blazing.
Ryan had already gotten some intel from Zoe Zhong earlier: right now, the Western Pacifying King's influence is massive. Of the Ten Yama Kings, more than half have sided with him, and even a few of the Ghost Emperors stationed in the Netherworld seem to lean his way.
On Lord Yama's side, the power base is noticeably thinner.
The number of Yama Kings and Ghost Emperors is only about half of what the Western Pacifying King commands. If it came down to a direct fight, they'd be totally outmatched!
And don't forget, these Yama Kings and Ghost Emperors are all top-tier Heaven-Tribulation masters, each backed by their own faction. If anyone makes a wrong move, it's all-out war.
Ryan clenched his fists. Sure, he'd just reached Nascent Soul perfection, but down here in the Netherworld, he's still a small fry.
"Where'd you hide Zoe Zhong? Hand her over—now!" At that moment, Warren Damon swaggered in, acting like he owned the place. He didn't give a damn about anyone here. Luckily, Ryan had already stashed Zoe away—after all, with every ghost in the hall as witness, Zoe was now officially his wife, and protecting her was his job!
"Warren Damon, you've got some nerve! This is the Yama Hall—even your old man wouldn't dare act up like this! And Zoe Zhong is my little sister. What do you mean, 'hidden'? Where'd you get that crap?" Marshal Zhong Kui glared at Warren, practically grinding his teeth.
Warren snorted. "Heh, Zhong Kui, our Western Pacifying King's mansion already sent your family the betrothal gifts. That's the highest honor you could get. So Zoe Zhong belongs to us now—I'm just here to reclaim my woman, what's the problem?" He called out Zoe's name again, loud and arrogant.
"Warren Damon, watch your mouth! This is the Yama Hall, not your Western Pacifying King's mansion. You can't just come in here and shout!" White Impermanence couldn't take it anymore and jumped in to scold him.
Before White Impermanence even finished, Warren Damon slapped him hard across the face and started cursing, "Who the hell do you think you are? You think you can talk to me? Want me to skin you alive, rip out your tendons, and throw you into the Eighteenth Level of Hell for all eternity?"