"The other two generals of the Undead Army, Yan Ge and Su Mian."
Bai Ran's face was adorned with a smile, one hand supporting her chin, the other playfully twirling a strand of hair. They had truly arrived...
"Summon them into the hall—"
"Yes."
The light in the entire palace was dim, casting a shadow over all the decorations displayed in the grand hall. A moment later, two slender figures strode in.
Upon the throne crafted from black gemstones, a figure clad in fiery red was shrouded in darkness, a deep smile hidden within her eyes.
"What brings you here?"
The two bowed slowly, first stating their allegiance. Then, Su Mian spoke, "To complete the task assigned by the King."
Bai Ran sat up, resting her chin on her hand as she looked down at them. "A task? You know its contents?"
Yan Ge nodded, his demeanor subservient and humble. "We do."
Upon hearing this, she slowly rose and paced back and forth on the high platform. "Tell me, what have you figured out?"
Su Mian looked up, his pupils involuntarily widening slightly. When had she appeared before him?
Bai Ran, who had been on the high platform, was now standing in front of them, remarkably close, within arm's reach.
Bai Ran raised an eyebrow, and Su Mian quickly lowered his head, no longer daring to meet her gaze. After all, directly confronting someone of such noble status was disrespectful.
"We dared to privately speculate on the King's intentions..."
Bai Ran continued her pacing, listening calmly to Su Mian's words.
His explanation was clear: the identities of the three Undead Army generals. Two were already decided; it was them.
The outwardly declared fair competition was, in fact, rendered unfair the moment the King formulated the plan.
The remaining spot would be chosen from among Fang An and the other two.
What the King desired was their infighting, their internal strife, their struggle...
And the one who successfully ascended would only be Fang An, because the King never intended to show mercy.
Fang An's temperament was impatient and easily clouded by anger. He had also been scheduled for a competition with the King. Once Fang An lost, the three of them would have no chance of a comeback.
"And why would I set up such a plan?"
Hearing Bai Ran's question, Su Mian paused before continuing, "As generals of the Undead Army, not only are their strengths top-tier, but they also manage their respective armies below."
"Firstly, if the three were to join forces, they would compensate for each other's weaknesses, making them difficult to deal with."
"Secondly, the King has only just returned to the Ghost Clan today, and the people are not yet familiar with you. If you were to exert strong pressure, it would be easy for those three to exploit the situation and tarnish your reputation."
For example, rumors could spread that the King was a hothouse flower, long accustomed to luxury, only capable of abusing power and unworthy of being King...
"Thirdly, when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits. With the three of them out of the way, the King's prestige will also rise."
Using the three undead, including Fang An, as stepping stones, the King would gradually gain control of the entire Ghost Clan, eliminating the troublesome elements while elevating their own position...
While discussing this with Yan Ge, Su Mian felt a chill run down his spine, completely awed by this newly appointed King.
A profound silence fell upon the empty palace, the atmosphere heavy and tense.
After a long moment of silence, Yan Ge pursed his lips and cautiously raised his eyes to look at the woman before him.
Could it be... they had guessed incorrectly?
Bai Ran's gaze drifted into the distance, as if looking at something unseen. "I have never predetermined the spots for the Undead Army generals..."
"How do you know... you are not involved in this scheme?"
Su Mian's expression faltered, a hint of panic flashing across his face before he quickly concealed it.
"You are all pawns on the chessboard, and I am the one playing the game..."
Su Mian had guessed everything else correctly, but he had missed this one crucial point.
There was no predetermined winner for the position of Undead Army general. Whoever was stronger would ascend by stepping on others.
Even if Su Mian and Yan Ge lost, and Fang An's group ultimately took the positions, Bai Ran would not intervene.
"Predetermined?" Bai Ran chuckled softly, looking at the two before her. "Where is the blood and ambition of you Ghost Clan members?"
Su Mian pursed his lips, his eyes dark and unreadable. Yan Ge looked similarly introspective.
"The Ghost Clan I desire is one that never loses its inherent pride due to certain undead being overbearing for too long."
"If they challenge you, then accept the challenge."
"The Ghost Clan I want is one where even in death, you would still tear a piece of flesh from your enemy."
Bai Ran's words resonated deeply within Su Mian and Yan Ge, stirring up significant ripples.
The current Ghost Clan was listless, lacking the unruliness that had been ingrained in its very bones during its peak.
They allowed Fang An and his ilk to lord over them, afraid to step forward and intervene.
Yan Ge and Su Mian, assuming they were the King's predetermined choices, had subconsciously ruled out the path of earning it through effort.
"Ying Xing, whose strength is not great, still stooped to beg Instructor Dong Ling for help, yet you two came here to confirm who was predetermined?"
Bai Ran's words grew sharper, her killing intent intensifying.
Su Mian and Yan Ge stiffened, but their minds became clear as if struck by a bolt of enlightenment.
"Please, Your Majesty, calm your anger. Your subordinates know what must be done."
They did possess ambition, but it was an ambition born only from the assumption that they were the predetermined candidates.
To be honest, Bai Ran was disappointed. She had expected them to come, perhaps for cultivation techniques, or hoping for a sparring match with Zhong Zi and the other two.
But she had not anticipated that their fighting spirit would be so thoroughly extinguished.
Even after they had long since departed, her anger had not subsided.
However, this only solidified her conviction that the path she had chosen was correct.
"Zhong Zi, where is the mausoleum?"
Bai Ran spoke, and a figure emerged from the shadows. It was Zhong Zi.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, the mausoleum is located at the furthest southeastern corner of the Ghost Clan." he replied respectfully and obediently.
Bai Ran nodded. "I will go to the mausoleum tomorrow to visit the elder."
Zhong Zi was taken aback, a clear expression of helplessness and panic crossing his face. "Your Majesty, might you reconsider?"
That elder was aloof and notoriously fierce. Even the King of the clan would not receive a pleasant welcome.
If Your Majesty were to go, she would surely be driven away, and even entering the mausoleum would be a problem...
"How will we know the outcome if we don't try?" After visiting the elder, Bai Ran would formally enter seclusion for cultivation.
But if the Ghost Clan had the elder's backing, those troublesome individuals would cease their petty schemes and causing disruptions.
Zhong Zi lowered his gaze, his face filled with hesitation, as if he still wanted to persuade Bai Ran to change her mind.
But Bai Ran gave him no room to speak. The elder was the anchor of the Ghost Clan, and Bai Ran had a gut feeling that he would be the key to the Ghost Clan's resurgence.