Chapter 623: Chapter 525: The New Lord of the Underworld
Zuo Xiaoluo slowly walked towards the pool, a look of curiosity on her face.
Just a moment ago, she inadvertently saw a soul appear inside the pool. At first, it seemed bewildered, then it silently sank into the pool. Zuo Xiaoluo could see the soul gradually become transparent and then, as if purified, disappeared inside the pool.
Clone Thirteen spoke with a smile: "As you see, this is the reincarnation of souls."
"It is not yet perfect, as the pool is only so large, and only very few souls can receive the baptism at any time. Fortunately, not many people have died recently, so you don’t see that kind of congestion."
"I can show you what it’s like when the Rebirth Pool is overcrowded as the Nether Tree devours a world."
With that, he waved his hand, conjuring a light screen before Zuo Xiaoluo.
Zuo Xiaoluo saw countless souls appearing in the Underworld on the screen, each scrambling towards the pool within Fengdu City.
The guards at the city gate, the souls inside, and all the administrators of Fengdu City stood by, quietly watching as thousands of souls rushed in.
No guidance was needed, nor many words, as if instinctual, these souls, upon appearing in the Underworld, knew what they were about to do.
They also understood that only through that pool could they reincarnate.
However.
The Rebirth Pool could not possibly accommodate so many soul bodies.
Moreover, harsh winds blew through the Underworld. Although the living might feel nothing, these weak souls could not withstand such harm.
Whenever those sinister winds swept across their bodies, it felt like countless sharp knives slicing blood and flesh from them, causing unbearable pain.
In just a few minutes, some souls could not endure and were completely obliterated.
At this time, the souls began to slaughter each other, just to be the first to rush into the Rebirth Pool.
They had no weapons, no real strength, but driven by instinct, they swung fists at nearby souls or used sharp teeth to tear into others.
In short, at this moment, they would use any means necessary, as long as they could kill the others.
Even if the souls beside them were once their beloved family or friends, bound by blood, it mattered not at this moment.
In the end.
Out of tens of thousands of souls, only a few hundred entered the Rebirth Pool to be reincarnated as humans.
This was just the tip of the iceberg. After this wave of slaughter, more souls poured into Fengdu City from all directions.
Zuo Xiaoluo didn’t need to watch further. She knew an even more brutal struggle was inevitable.
Clone Thirteen waved his hand, and the light screen dissipated into bubbles.
He pointed at Zuo Xiaoluo’s hands and said, "The reason you’re deemed most suited as the Lord of the Underworld is all because of the Life and Death Energy within your hands."
"You can try reaching forward and placing your hands into the pool to see what’s different."
Zuo Xiaoluo could sense he meant no harm.
Moreover, from the moment she met him until now, his demeanor was not that of an enemy.
With curiosity, Zuo Xiaoluo slowly walked to the side of the Rebirth Pool.
She tried to put her hands in, and a black-and-white intertwined energy began to radiate from her left and right hands.
The Rebirth Pool, as if receiving the greatest nourishment, rapidly expanded, doubling in size within moments.
All of this was within Clone Thirteen’s expectations. He spoke, "As expected, only the two energies of life and death can maximize the pool’s growth. This is before you even become the Lord of the Underworld. Once you do, the Rebirth Pool will expand all the time."
"It won’t take long before this Underworld grows beyond measure."
"Next, I will give you a gift. Otherwise, with your current strength, it’s impossible to control the Underworld."
....
Beside him.
Those subordinates from before seemed to know what Clone Thirteen intended to do.
One by one, their faces revealed expressions of unwillingness.
"City Lord, why must you sacrifice yourself just to let those souls reincarnate? Whether they live another life has nothing to do with us. With Fengdu City, we have enough."
"Yes, the saws that kept you in check are gone. With Fengdu City, as long as we stay hidden in the Underworld, it doesn’t matter if this cosmos perishes."
"You should remain the City Lord."
....
Clone Thirteen shook his head helplessly and said with a solemn tone: "If there were another choice, who would willingly go this far."
"If this cosmos faces annihilation, I’m afraid no one can escape this disaster."
"Moreover, this is my own choice!"
He gestured for those who were still intending to dissuade him to remain silent.
Then.
He stepped in front of Zuo Xiaoluo, his body emanating a powerful energy wave.
This energy was no weaker than that of Clone Thirteen outside. In fact, within the Underworld, it seemed to have an edge.
No wonder his main body allowed him to roam free—any clone stronger than its main body would surely cause sleepless nights.
Then, he transferred all the energy within his body into Zuo Xiaoluo’s through a highly unique method.
"Relax, this is my Power of the Soul Source, which will rapidly strengthen your soul body."
"Given your current strength, it is far from enough to control the Underworld. To say nothing else, even the burden of managing the Underworld would be enough to annihilate your Divine Soul."
"Remember, your current strength is only gathered from those hundred thousand soldiers, not your own power."
....
He wanted to say more, but no longer had the strength to speak.
After all the energy was drawn from his body, he became extremely ethereal.
Beside him.
Seeing this, some guards couldn’t help but turn away, shedding silent tears.
They had lived in Fengdu City for countless years, understanding what the City Lord had sacrificed for Fengdu City.
If not for him, the current Underworld would not exist.
Meanwhile.
They also knew that their Underworld was vastly different from those outside already devoured by the Nether Tree.
Their goal was to balance the soul power of this world, unlike others who simply employed survival of the fittest, deeming souls without strength unworthy of entering the Rebirth Pool.
As for the weak souls, from the moment they arrived in the Underworld, they were already devoured into the purest soul energy.
It seemed like a long time had passed.
Zuo Xiaoluo felt a world of change within herself.
She closed her eyes, yet the entire Underworld appeared before her.
Not just this place before her, any corner of the Underworld, with a single thought, she could see it all clearly.
