Chapter 130: The Kingdom of Si

After returning to his room, Jiang Xiaofei immediately began to cultivate. Although the Si Mansion had gained the addition of Old Man Feng, a half-step Divine Realm expert, the powerful influence of the Netherworld loomed over him like a massive mountain, leaving him no room for complacency. He knew that only by seizing every moment to cultivate and strengthen his own power could he hope to contend with them. Relying on external forces was, in the end, relying on others; it was not a long-term solution.

During the battle at the Abyss of Ghost Howls, he had broken through to the peak of the Heaven-Transforming Realm by devouring the Heavenly Ghost army with the Myriad Ghost Pilgrimage Art. However, he realized that this realm was unstable and volatile. The path of cultivation required a steady, step-by-step approach; relying solely on the Myriad Ghost Pilgrimage Art to boost his cultivation would only leave him as an empty shell—lacking substance and prone to becoming a mindless killing machine.

His priority now was to stabilize his foundation. True power is forged through tempering and hardship. While external help had its place, only by becoming stronger himself could he protect his territory in these chaotic times. The arrival of Old Man Feng only intensified his desire to improve, for the Divine Realm was his true pursuit. Only by becoming a god could he solve the mystery of his origins and find his parents. He was well aware that the road to godhood was as difficult as ascending to heaven; otherwise, those ancient monsters would not have remained stuck at the half-step Divine Realm for so long. Yet, this could not shake his resolve. No matter how arduous the path, he would walk it one step at a time.

After casting aside all distractions, Jiang Xiaofei sank into a state of selfless cultivation. Seeing him immersed in his training, Jun Yao began her own. Although she was already a master of the Dao-Extreme Realm, she knew the Netherworld’s power far exceeded what a single Dao-Extreme expert—or even a half-step Divine Realm expert like Old Man Feng—could resist. After all, Old Man Feng had been defeated by the Underworld King in the past, and there was more than one half-step Divine Realm expert in the Netherworld.

The two cultivated in isolation until dawn. After sharing a smile, they set out for the Si Mansion. The mansion was bustling with activity, especially after the alliance of the Four Great Families pledged their allegiance, turning the city into a scene of joyous celebration. The five hundred thousand troops brought by the alliance were highly valued and quickly divided among the various generals of the Ghost Abyss. The Corpse King claimed one hundred thousand for his own ranks, replenishing the losses from the battle at the Abyss of Ghost Howls.

Inside the Si Mansion’s grand assembly hall, as Jiang Xiaofei and Jun Yao walked in, the generals who had been waiting long since rose to welcome them, showing their deep respect. After the battle at the Abyss of Ghost Howls, where Jiang Xiaofei had suppressed all rivals and forced various factions to submit, he was no longer just the "Flying King"—he was the undisputed King of the Underworld. If he wished to claim the throne, a single word would bring a chorus of support. Sensing their reverence, Jiang Xiaofei gave a slight nod before taking his seat alongside Jun Yao at the head of the hall.

Once they were seated, the generals followed suit. Jiang Xiaofei nodded slightly and said, "You are all great generals of the Si Mansion; there is no need for such formalities in the future."

"That will not do," Elder Song said, rising to object.

Jiang Xiaofei frowned slightly. "Why not?"

Elder Song replied, "Our Si Mansion is a vast organization. Without rules, there is no order. I hope the Flying King will retract his command."

"Indeed!" the other generals chimed in, echoing the sentiment to demonstrate their loyalty.

"Fair enough," Jiang Xiaofei conceded, seeing their unwavering devotion. "How about this? We shall reform the system of our Si Mansion."

"How so?" the generals asked, looking intrigued.

Jiang Xiaofei smiled. "Our Ghost Abyss Si Mansion now dominates the Underworld, and I have the intention to restore the Underworld to its former glory. If you are all willing to support me, I wish to unite all the various factions under the Si Mansion to form a single, unified entity."

"We are willing to support the Flying King, remain loyal to the Si Mansion, and dominate the Underworld!" the generals shouted in unison.

Satisfied, Jiang Xiaofei nodded. "Very well. Since you all share this ambition, from today on, you shall address me as 'Your Majesty,' and the Mansion Mistress shall be addressed as 'Her Majesty.'" As he spoke, he looked toward Jun Yao. She did not object and gave a slight nod.

The generals were taken aback for a moment, but being quick-witted, they promptly responded, "Greetings, Your Majesty, Her Majesty."

Jiang Xiaofei nodded with satisfaction. "From this day forward, we shall no longer be called the Si Mansion."

"Then what shall we be called?" an old general asked, furrowing his brow.

Jiang Xiaofei thought for a moment. "The Si Kingdom."

"The Si Kingdom?" The generals looked at one another. They were perceptive men and immediately understood what this signified: Jiang Xiaofei intended to rule over the entire Underworld. In the past, this would have been unthinkable, but things were different now. Under the Flying King’s leadership, the Ghost Abyss Si Mansion was in its ascendancy, with the foundation to claim the title of the premier power in the Underworld.

While this news was sudden, it was a welcome development. Since the departure of the previous Underworld King, the realm had been fractured. If the Flying King took the helm, it might lead to a new era where they possessed a true nation, much like the Netherworld Kingdom. This would not only benefit the veteran generals but would also elevate the status of the entire Underworld, potentially even rising to become a mid-level realm. A mid-level realm would grant access to vast resources and gain the attention of higher-tier realms—a status many smaller realms dreamed of. The Netherworld was the leader of the Three Realms precisely because it was a mid-level realm favored by the Underworld itself.

Seeing that there were no objections, Jiang Xiaofei nodded. "I have one more important matter to announce today."

"What is it?" the generals asked, all ears.

Jiang Xiaofei smiled. "Feng Qingyang, the venerable senior, has joined our Si Kingdom as a guest elder!"

"What?" The announcement sent a shockwave through the hall. Even the Corpse King was startled. He had heard of Feng Qingyang when he first arrived in the Underworld; it was said he was a half-step Divine Realm expert who had once defeated the Underworld King. Though perhaps not at his peak, he was a hegemon of the Underworld, a figure whose mere footsteps could make the realm tremble.

"My thanks to the Flying King for the honor," a voice rang out.

Everyone turned to see an elderly man in white robes, wearing a beaming expression, walking into the hall.

"Greetings, Senior Feng."

The appearance of Old Man Feng commanded immediate respect. Though he was known for his eccentric behavior, everyone knew he was a half-step Divine Realm expert. Now that he had joined their ranks, they dared not be negligent. Following behind him was a woman, Meng Feixue, who looked as pure as falling snow, like a celestial maiden descending to earth, drawing many eyes to her.

After Feng and Meng Feixue were seated, Jiang Xiaofei smiled. "Now that everyone is gathered, we shall hold a celebration to welcome Senior Feng. Let us move to the Si King Pavilion."

"What? The Si King Pavilion?" The generals were stunned at his words, and even the Corpse King frowned, for the Si King Pavilion was the former residence of the previous Underworld King.