Chapter 1056 Netherworld's Power

"This quest is finally finished. It wasn't particularly difficult, just took too long."

Han Xiao's eyes flickered as he looked down at the back of his hand. A mark was slowly forming, its design identical to the one on Hela's hand.

He looked up and saw Onicelu smiling at him.

"This is the Netherworld Brand. It allows you to borrow some of the Netherworld's power. Without your help, the Netherworld wouldn't have been able to restore its full glory. I don't have much to repay you with, so this is a token of my appreciation."

"I understand. I will make good use of your body... cough, the Netherworld."

Han Xiao coughed awkwardly.

The Netherworld was Onicelu's body. Could this be considered a damsel offering herself in gratitude?

Absolutely not, I'm a respectable person... please increase the intensity.

Suppressing his urge to make sarcastic remarks, Han Xiao sensed the Netherworld Brand. Wisps of black energy emanated from the mark, wrapping around his palm, drawing in a bit of Netherworld energy.

This was the second sub-dimension he had a connection with. Compared to the Void Dimension's mind link, which was more advanced, the Netherworld Dimension only allowed him to borrow a portion of its power through a medium. However, it also provided an extra boost.

At the same time, due to the Netherworld Dimension's unique properties, he could choose to absorb the souls of enemies he killed through the Netherworld Brand, turning them into heroic spirits under Hela's command.

Once Aurora stepped into the Beyond Grade A realm and allowed the Netherworld to regain its ability to revive the dead, he should be able to summon heroic spirits into battle using the Netherworld Brand, requiring the cooperation of Hela and Aurora and consuming their energy.

'In that case, the more heroic spirits in the Netherworld, the more benefits I'll receive, so it's not like I'm doing free labor.'

Han Xiao pondered for a moment, then looked at the other reward, Onicelu's Character Summon Card.

The effect of 【Source of Myriad Souls】was domineering, granting immunity to all mental attacks. It was simply inhuman.

Although it could only be used once, it was undoubtedly a trump card that could be used to great effect at the right moment.

While he was examining the quest rewards, the Netherworld was undergoing a major transformation. On the other side, Hela was already communicating with the seven Heroic Spirit Kings.

After these seven surrendered, the process of reaching a consensus became much smoother.

"From today onwards, you are all honorary members of the Black Star Army. Understand?" Hela said in a deep voice.

"No problem! If Your Excellency Black Star tells us to go east, we will never go west! If he tells us to go to heaven, we will never go to earth!"

The seven patted their chests, guaranteeing their loyalty with a practiced change of attitude.

"Were they always like this?" Han Xiao asked curiously.

Onicelu whispered, "The previous owner didn't have much ambition to expand the Netherworld. Among these seven, two provoked the sisters and were beaten to death and captured, suffering endless torment, which smoothed out their edges long ago. Three others fled here, owing favors. And the last two actively sought them out, begging the sisters to take them in… so you can imagine what kind of people they are."

"Amazing…" Han Xiao's lips twitched.

From the sisters' actions, it was clear that they acted as they pleased and had no sense of responsibility. The reason why there were so many people in the Netherworld was probably because many were seeking immortality and were willing to join regardless of whether the sisters were reliable, even sacrificing their freedom. Obviously, they wouldn't have much integrity left.

Han Xiao sensed a kindred spirit among them.

This was a master!

Sitting at home, the leeks flock in like clouds, fully demonstrating that building a platform is better than making a product.

Indeed, the essence of all wealth accumulation is raising leeks and harvesting them. Without the leeks' contributions, there would be no oligarchs' happiness.

Although the seven Heroic Spirit Kings had different reasons for joining, after years of being influenced, they were already reluctant to give up immortality and didn't dare to offend the masters of the Netherworld. They were also hoping to be summoned by the Ruler of Life so they could travel outside.

Their personalities could be described as meek internally, but aggressive externally! Useless in internal conflicts, but divine in external battles!

Currently, the most powerful of the Heroic Spirit Kings was an Initial One named Leijia. According to the data, his energy level was around 65,000 Ona, not quite peak Beyond Grade A, but in the upper-middle tier among ordinary Beyond Grade As. With his immortal and indestructible body, his actual performance could be elevated by half a level.

Han Xiao thought for a moment, stepped forward, and asked, "Do you know anything about the Sanctuary?"

He had originally intended to inquire about information about the Sanctuary from the Heroic Spirits of the Netherworld, but the cooperation with the Holy Covenant had further developed, and they were constantly recollecting the "key" to the Third Sanctuary, so they no longer needed the help of the Heroic Spirits of the Netherworld.

Moreover, these Heroic Spirits definitely knew less about the Sanctuary than the Holy Covenant. Han Xiao was just asking to see if he would get lucky.

"The Sanctuary? I didn't expect that you... Old Boss also knows about this."

The seven Heroic Spirit Kings looked over at the same time, their expressions slightly complicated, as if they were reminded of something in the past.

"Before we entered the Netherworld, there was a rumor circulating among a small number of Beyond Grade As, saying that some people could occasionally sense a special existence outside of time and space. Some people called it the Sanctuary, but most people didn't have such an experience and couldn't verify its truth, so it has always been considered a rumor," one of the Heroic Spirit Kings said.

"Some people say the Sanctuary is a higher step on the ladder, some say the Sanctuary hides all the technologies from the past to the present, and some say the Sanctuary can bring people back from the dead. No one knows what's true," another person said.

Leijia sighed and shook his head.

"We don't actually know much, but during the exploration era, I remember there was a group of Beyond Grade As who formed an organization, seemingly wanting to use the Sanctuary to be reborn in the future. We thought it was unreliable, so we didn't join. They should have failed by now."

Han Xiao raised his eyebrows. "What was the name of that organization?"

"I think it was called the Holy Covenant."

"…"

Han Xiao pursed his lips, unsure of what expression to make.

It really was the Holy Covenant. They hadn't failed at all. Their plan was a great success!

Of course, the vast majority of the credit belonged to the Oathkeeper. He didn't know what good deeds those revived Initial Ones had done in their past lives to make them run into such a reliable partner.

However, it was best not to tell the seven Heroic Spirit Kings in front of him about this. Having entered the Netherworld, they would probably never be able to revive through the Sanctuary. If they knew about this, these seven would probably regret it to death.

It was better to let them continue to believe that the Holy Covenant organization had failed. Not revealing this cruel truth was also to ensure the leeks' physical and mental health…

In any case, these Heroic Spirits had also achieved a different form of immortality. Although they had taken different paths, they ultimately reached the other shore.

Various thoughts flashed through his mind. Han Xiao suppressed his inner emotions and stopped talking, listening to Hela communicate with the seven Heroic Spirit Kings.

After the few of them chatted for a while, the seven Heroic Spirit Kings bid farewell and left to govern the heroic spirits.

Seeing the seven walk away, Hela turned her head and asked, "What do you think of them?"

Han Xiao smiled. "Although their personalities are a bit off, their strength is undeniable. The Netherworld is an extremely powerful armed force. Although it's useless now, as long as Aurora maintains her current growth rate, she will eventually step into the Beyond Grade A realm. At that time, there won't be many people in the universe who can threaten you two sisters… Speaking of which, the Netherworld is like a special universe treasure exclusive to you two. Tsk, I'm really envious."

In his previous life, Hela didn't receive this inheritance and wasted it. This time, as long as the Hela sisters didn't encounter any accidents, they would be able to join the first echelon of experts in the explored universe.

As long as Aurora stepped into Beyond Grade A, the two sisters would take off.

"Then how does that compare to you? Can we defeat you?" Hela's eyes sparkled.

"What are you trying to do, usurp my power?" Han Xiao joked, "Dream on. I'll still be able to beat your butts black and blue when the time comes."

"Hmph, I don't believe you." Hela's lips curled up slightly, and she said, "We'll only know after we try."

She secretly decided that after returning, she wouldn't do anything else but urge Aurora to train every day to restore the Netherworld's combat power as soon as possible.

After finishing her business, Hela sensed the solid and powerful aura emanating from Han Xiao, and her itch to fight immediately flared up, and she secretly felt her hands itching, and she sent out an invitation to fight.

"You have nothing to do now, do you want to have a match with me?"

"The Netherworld has just recovered, and you still have a lot to do. It's best to organize a list of heroic spirits. We'll spar another time," Han Xiao waved his hand.

"Alright." Hela had no choice but to restrain herself.

Han Xiao gave a few instructions, put on his Emperor Suit, and left the Netherworld with a teleportation.

Back in his office in the Black Star Palace, Han Xiao changed into casual clothes, summoned Phillip, and added the Netherworld's information to the confidential plan archives.

While recording, he secretly analyzed, and although it was good news, his heart felt heavy.

"In this way, I have another powerful secret force in my hands. In the future, the two Hela sisters' status in the universe will inevitably skyrocket, enough to become high-level members of the Beyond Grade A Association.

"When the Holy Covenant emerges, the entire universe will have two paths to resurrection, one is the Sanctuary and the other is the Netherworld. Beyond Grade As will have a choice, but currently only I and the Oathkeeper know that the Sanctuary is infinitely resurrected. Others think it's a one-time thing, and it can't be ruled out that some people will switch to the Netherworld because of wrong information… But for those below Beyond Grade A, they only have one choice, and that is the Netherworld.

"And these two methods of resurrection are both related to me, openly and secretly. I will inevitably become the focus of the entire universe and the focus of attention of the three major civilizations. Now the Empire is controlled by hardliners, and the new president of the Shining Federation seems to be a muscleman too… Tsk, the situation is not optimistic. The importance of the Sanctuary and the Netherworld is far higher than the Evolution Cube. This time, the advanced civilizations will not let it go, and I may become the starting point of the storm.

"Once it develops to a certain stage, it can't be stopped. If you don't advance, you will retreat. Advanced civilizations, which represent group power, will never stop targeting Beyond Grade As…"

Han Xiao frowned and thought, forced to consider the future.

The intricate web of vested interests made many things unsolvable problems. He suddenly had a vague and bold idea.

If the Beyond Grade A Association and all Beyond Grade A forces were to merge and transform into a new force, completely severing the class separation between ordinary people and superhumans…

This might be an unforeseen path, a world-shattering change that would kill many people.

In his current position, he already had the ability to guide the direction of the universe's pattern. Many things that seemed impossible were no longer unimaginable.

However, once he decided to change, it would affect the lives of billions of living beings. He currently only had ideas and had no intention of taking action.

The shadow of the World Tree still loomed over the explored universe, and now was not the time to make these plans.

"Let's decide based on the situation after solving the external enemies. I really don't want to take this step…"

Han Xiao let out a breath, suppressed the churning waves in his heart, and suppressed these thoughts in the deepest part of his heart.

Just then, the communicator suddenly rang.

"Di di di…"

He took out the communicator and glanced at it. It was Sivia's call.

"Army Commander, the Crimson Empire has sent an official letter stating that they will send envoys to conduct a phase-by-phase inspection of the Kunder Race's cultural transformation. If it meets the standards, they may consider opening up a portion of the sealed-off areas and let a group of people enter interstellar society first."

"Oh? It hasn't even been thirty years, right? That's a lot earlier than expected."

Han Xiao's eyes suddenly lit up.

He still remembered the Kunder Race's quest. Modo had already lost everything, and only the requirement for cultural transformation hadn't been completed.

As long as he could complete this quest, the abilities he had been thinking about day and night would truly be in his hands.