After Lin Ze set up the barrier, Xiao Zi began to inject spiritual energy into the jade. "Also, that fish seems to have found its kin."
Fish? Xiao Zi raised his eyes and blinked in confusion. "Which fish?"
"It's the merman with the blue tail. He recently found his clan," Lin Ze described Ting Lan's appearance.
Also staying in the demon race with Xiao Zi was Ting Lan, who had been in the spatial artifact all along.
"He's leaving with his clan?" Xiao Zi couldn't help but furrow his brows. But he had a contract with the little ghost.
Lin Ze lowered his eyelids and slowly shook his head. "I'm not sure. If you're curious, you can ask him."
"He is in Xilan Sea in the demon race, and the merman clan is also there."
Xiao Zi nodded, retracting the spiritual energy he had gathered.
...
Xiao Diao wandered aimlessly within the demon race, a sense of immense grievance and loneliness overwhelming her, making her small figure appear particularly desolate.
"Are you... that weasel?" A man's voice sounded from not far away.
Xiao Diao started, turned her head, and saw a man leaning on the shore, looking at her, his lower half still submerged in the sea.
The place she was currently in was Xilan Sea, and the one who called out was Ting Lan.
"Crying? Can Xuan Beasts also cry?" Ting Lan looked at her with curiosity, his bright blue fish tail occasionally surfacing on the sea.
"What's it to you! Not a single good thing in the demon race!"
Xiao Diao's voice, laced with tears, echoed in Ting Lan's mind, startling him. "You can actually communicate telepathically?"
Ordinary Xuan Beasts couldn't. Not only could they not, they couldn't even understand others, let alone reply.
Xiao Diao glared at him and continued to walk forward. Lin Ze behind her was silent for a moment, then spoke again, "Could it be... that stinky fox bullied you?"
Xiao Diao stopped in her tracks and turned sharply. Her round, cute eyes were now filled with tears. "That's right! He bought me food, and even risked exposing his identity to save me, all to use me!"
"What's the difference between you demons and those bad guys in the Divine Realm!"
Lin Ze was stunned, and his blue fish tail stopped moving. "He used you? Isn't that very normal?"
Xiao Diao looked at him tearfully, not understanding.
"That guy is a fox spirit, you know. His specialty is trickery and deceit. Moreover, you are an enemy's contracted beast. Who else would he trick if not you?"
After a moment of silence, Xiao Diao's tears became even more intense, flowing down uncontrollably.
"Can't you... comfort me a little! You're being so blunt!"
It wasn't that she didn't understand; she was just a little sad... Xiao Diao sobbed, looking like she was crying.
"Let's break the contract."
The little creature raised its head and saw that he had come ashore at some point, his fish tail transforming into legs as he walked towards her.
More importantly, after transforming into legs, he was completely naked and dripping wet.
"Hey!!! You you you! Stop right there!!!" Xiao Diao quickly extended her little paws and covered her eyes.
How could this fish be so shameless? Coming at her naked?!
"What's wrong?" Ting Lan tilted his head and looked at her, his expression puzzled.
"You! You're a male! A male! With a... you understand?"
After being so flustered by Ting Lan, all her sadness vanished, replaced by panic.
Coincidentally, at this moment, Xiao Zi also arrived at Xilan Sea...
He looked at Ting Lan, who was completely naked, and Xiao Diao, who was covering her eyes. His face turned extremely dark...
"So, what are you two doing?"
...
Ghost Realm, within the palace.
"What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost seeing me?" The Elder casually sat down, his sharp eyes sweeping around.
Ying Xing averted his gaze, thinking to himself, *Elder, aren't you a ghost yourself...*
Zhong Zi and Dong Ling exchanged glances. They hadn't felt this tension when facing a powerful being for a long time.
The last time was hundreds of years ago when they were beaten by the Elder.
The Elder sighed. That arrogant little girl, who claimed she could find the remnants of the Witch race, but instead went into seclusion the moment she left the tomb. Why wasn't she in a hurry?
"Elder, Elder... are you here to find the King?" Ying Xing nervously stepped forward and asked.
The Elder's gaze swept over him. "If I say yes, can you bring her here?"
Ying Xing immediately shut his mouth. Fine, he couldn't. Let alone bring the King, he didn't even dare to disturb the King's seclusion.
"I haven't shown myself for a long time. I've heard that the current Divine Realm has surpassed the Ghost Realm?"
Zhong Zi pursed his lips, then respectfully replied, "Although the Divine Realm outwardly fears the Ghost Realm, they have been constantly sending people to probe us."
"Yesterday, one of the five Great Saints of the Divine Realm lingered outside the Ghost Realm for a long time and was repelled by my subordinates."
The Elder narrowed his eyes, his aura turning cold. "Did that little girl say anything when she returned to the Ghost Realm, or did she set any rules?"
"Yes, the King has established monthly competitions, and the last-place finisher will receive corresponding punishment."
"Quite clever."
The Elder slowly stood up, his hands behind his back. The aura of a superior being inadvertently flowed out. "It's time for the long-dormant Ghost Realm to taste some blood."
Zhong Zi lowered his gaze. Did the Elder mean to challenge the Divine Realm? Such a significant matter, should they not first seek the King's permission?
"This was not set by me, but by that little girl."
The Elder's cloudy eyes stared intently at Zhong Zi, his sharp gaze seemingly having seen through his thoughts.
Monthly competitions would not be enough to ignite the long-dormant fighting spirit of the undead. They needed a greater, more profound stimulus.
Having the Elder lead the Ghost Realm was partly because Bai Ran couldn't reveal herself, and partly to announce to the Nine Heavens that the Elder had come out of seclusion.
Those ants from the Divine Realm should not be allowed to frolic so carelessly near the Ghost Realm.
The Elder shook his head helplessly, but a hint of a smile appeared in his eyes. "Truly cunning."
Then, he turned his gaze to Zhong Zi. "Tomorrow, summon all the undead. I will personally address this matter."
"Yes."
The next day, a dense crowd of undead gathered before the Ghost Realm's palace.
"Did you hear? The Elder has emerged from his tomb!"
"The Elder? Who is the Elder? I've never heard of the Ghost Realm having such a figure!"
Older undead knew of the Elder, but younger ones who had recently joined the Ghost Realm knew nothing about him, as the Elder had always stayed in his tomb and never shown himself.
"The Elder is the strongest in the Ghost Realm, his power crushing that of Lord Zhong Zi and Lord Dong Ling!"
"Really? So powerful? Then wouldn't the revival of the Ghost Realm be imminent?"
Inside the palace, Dong Ling bowed slightly to the person in front of him. "13,655 undead have all arrived."
"Hmm." The figure slowly stood up, his cloudy eyes filled with murderous intent and ambition.