On the paper boat, Tanner Shue kept glancing at Quinn Shepherd. The youth seemed cheerful on the surface, but between his brows lingered a touch of worry and longing for his family.
"Does he really have such close ties with Tu Bo?"
Tanner Shue quietly asked the Underworld Courier, lowering his voice: "Lord Prefect, we've known each other a long time—why would Tu Bo give him face and let me out? I don't believe Tu Bo would let me go just because of his speech."
The Underworld Courier glanced at Quinn Shepherd, then whispered, "Of course Tu Bo wouldn't let you go just for his words. Otherwise, everyone would come to chop off Tu Bo's horn, and even the Nine-Bend Horn would be hacked bald. After you chopped out Nether City, a few more worlds were destroyed before Tu Bo managed to restore the Nine-Bend Horn—it cost him dearly. The reason Tu Bo is giving him face is mainly because he doesn't want him to return to Youdu."
Tanner Shue's eyes widened. "He doesn't want him to return to Youdu? Why is that?"
"He was born in Youdu—the first post-celestial being ever born there. That's why he's called the Netherworld Divine Son."
The Underworld Courier sighed, "You didn't see the omens at his birth—Youdu was shaken, and countless giants snuck in to witness the spectacle. In just three or four months, he punched right through the Nine-Bend Horn..."
Tanner Shue's expression turned odd. "Punched through it?" he stammered.
The Underworld Courier nodded, remembering the scene from over twenty years ago, and shivered. "Tu Bo's horn was punched through, which disrupted the interests of many Youdu giants. They all rose up to punish him, but a great number of giants were devoured. Look—Tu Bo's body is still riddled with war, the dead battling endlessly. That shows just how poisonous his legacy is."
Tanner Shue had once been a major giant in Youdu, wielding great influence—he understood what the Courier meant.
Giants in Youdu hold vast power there, carving out territories on Tu Bo's body, ruling over millions of the dead.
With so many Youdu giants devoured by Quinn Shepherd, their souls left masterless and other giants seized the chance to snatch up territory.
It's clear Quinn Shepherd devoured so many Youdu giants that the wars sparked by it still haven't ended.
Tanner Shue was silent for a moment, then asked, "Deep in Youdu, aren't there some beings who were Emperor's‑Throne powerhouses in life? Didn't they intervene?"
"They did intervene."
The Underworld Courier said, "First they tried dueling him one-on-one, but without their physical bodies, they weren't as strong as before and couldn't match him. Then they tried ganging up on him, but that didn't work either. So they had to ask Tu Bo to step in and seal and exile him."
Tanner Shue shivered several times and sighed, "I got trapped in the Imperial Gate Divine Saber and missed out on such a spectacle..."
The Underworld Courier sneered, "Even if you were there, it'd be useless. Unsealed, he was a pure demon king—ate anything he caught. You would've been devoured too! Once you're back, don't even think about messing with the seal on his brow, or you'll die a terrible death! He's already broken that seal more than once over the years, and Tu Bo's been at his wit's end."
Tanner Shue forced a laugh. "I'm not that curious, you know me—I'm a coward." He glanced at the absent-minded Quinn Shepherd, his gaze settling on the youth's brow.
The Underworld Courier said, "You're timid when sober, but after drinking, you dared to chop Tu Bo—what wouldn't you dare do? We have some history, so I'm warning you: if you let him out, the disaster will be worse than chopping off Tu Bo's horn! The living world is almost here..."
Everyone on the boat stood up and looked ahead, but all they saw was darkness.
Suddenly, the Underworld Courier reached out and shoved Tanner Shue off the boat.
The Underworld Courier then pushed Quinn Shepherd and Young Master Cyrus Qi off as well. He glanced at Dragon‑Qilin, who promptly leapt off the boat on his own.
"That big guy knows what's up."
The Underworld Courier chuckled, turned the boat around, and began the return journey.
On the way back, countless paper boats bustled out from the Everpeace Empire, all heading toward Tu Bo's body.
Every boat was packed with the souls of Everpeace's common folk.
With so many boats, surely millions had suddenly dropped dead in a short span!
The Underworld Courier's heart chilled: "Nether City disciples have made their move..."
Each small boat stopped, their helmsman identical Underworld Couriers. They exchanged glances and spoke in unison: "If the Netherworld Divine Son returns to the living world, he'll surely act. Now, sending these wrongful souls to Tu Bo, he'll likely seize them back. Better to wait a few days and see what happens."
"So, how many days should we wait?"
"Give him seven days. If he can survive this calamity and use Soul-Guiding to lead these spirits back to the living world, so be it. If he can't, their bodies will rot and Tu Bo can't take them back anyway."
"But if we give him seven days, won't people say Nether City fears the Netherworld Divine Son? We need a proper excuse."
"We'll call it the 'First Seven Return Day.' For seven days after death, souls may return to the living world. That way, no one will talk."
"Good!"
Beneath the Godsever Mountains, Quinn Shepherd suddenly opened his eyes. Looking around, he saw Bruno the Dragon‑Qilin and Young Master Cyrus Qi waking up too. Everyone hurried to distance themselves from the Imperial Gate Divine Saber, lest their Primordial Spirits be sucked into the blade's inner world again.
"Big Brother Tian isn't here," Bruno the Dragon‑Qilin said, looking around but not seeing Tanner Shue.
"He should be in Nethergloom Ravine."
Quinn Shepherd flew down to the palace beneath the blade and said, "His body is in the depths of Nethergloom Ravine, half-buried and gripped by Tu Bo's hand. This palace was likely built for him by the Pioneer Emperor. He'll surely come looking for us. Let's wait here for a while."