"As long as you make a contract with the Master, that's all that matters."
Xiao Diao looked at Ting Lan with a hint of confusion, then heard him continue.
"As long as you break your current contract and then form a new one with the Master, that fox won't be able to bully you. The Master will even help you bully him."
"Really?" Xiao Diao's eyes seemed to sparkle with anticipation.
She had witnessed Bai Ran forcibly break through her cultivation for her four subordinates, resulting in severed meridians and a damaged dantian. Thus, Xiao Diao knew that Bai Ran was someone who valued emotions deeply.
At that moment, she had fantasized about how wonderful it would be to have such a Master...
"Of course it's true. I wouldn't lie to you like this fox," Ting Lan vowed with all seriousness, causing Xiao Zi's expression to turn dark.
"What do you think?" Ting Lan asked with a smile.
Xiao Diao glanced at the sullen Xiao Zi, then unhesitatingly nodded, "Deal!"
Upon hearing this, Ting Lan's legs transformed back into a fish tail, and he leaped into the sea.
He turned back, erected a protective barrier around Xiao Diao, and said, "Follow me."
The little one leaped from Xiao Zi's embrace and joyfully darted to Ting Lan's side, descending into the sea as well.
"Fox spirit! Just you wait until I break my contract! I'll make you pay!"
With those words, they vanished. Xiao Zi stood by the shore, feeling utterly helpless.
...
Upon returning to the palace, Mo Huai'an's expression was extremely grim, so dark it seemed he could drip ink.
"Reporting, reporting to the Divine Emperor. For this expedition, fifty thousand celestial soldiers..."
"More than twenty thousand survived... and one of the three Holy Lords has also perished..."
The Fourth Elder stood behind him, reporting the battle situation with trepidation. "Regarding the position of Holy Lord, should we appoint someone to fill it?"
"Which Holy Lord died?" Mo Huai'an took a deep breath, the weariness on his face making him look remarkably aged.
"It was the Hall Master of Tianzhe Hall."
Mo Huai'an rubbed his temples and waved his hand dismissively, "Yes, appoint someone with great strength to fill the position."
The Fourth Elder finally breathed a sigh of relief. He bowed and then left the hall.
Following him, Mo Ze entered the hall with a smile, accompanied by a figure clad in black robes, whose face was concealed.
"I heard Father Emperor's campaign did not go well?" Mo Ze's voice carried a hint of amusement, which sounded particularly jarring to Mo Huai'an.
"What do you want?" His voice was extremely cold, devoid of any of the familiarity or closeness one would expect when addressing their own flesh and blood.
"Your son merely came to share your burden."
"Share my burden?" Mo Huai'an scoffed, "You're here to gloat at my misfortune, aren't you!"
For years, Mo Ze had been scheming to usurp his position, showing no mercy. Now, with this battle loss, it was the perfect opportunity for him to find fault, wasn't it?
Mo Ze smiled thinly, but his eyes held a chilling indifference. "What are you saying, Father Emperor?"
"Look, who has your son brought?"
As he spoke, the figure in black robes behind him lowered their hood, revealing the escaped Inner Demon.
"You!" Mo Huai'an abruptly stood up, his pupils trembling uncontrollably. "The bloodline of the demoness!"
"No, Father Emperor, you may be mistaken. The one controlling this body now is not the bloodline of the demoness."
"It is the King of the Demonic Ones, that is, the Inner Demon of the demoness's bloodline."
Mo Ze spoke unhurriedly, a faint smile always on his lips, which now appeared somewhat eerie.
"Inner Demon...? Then where is the true bloodline of the demoness?" Mo Huai'an's emotions gradually stabilized, his brow furrowed deeply as he inquired.
Mo Ze looked at the Inner Demon, who nodded and stepped forward, bowing before Mo Huai'an.
"Greetings, Divine Emperor. To answer your question, that woman has already reclaimed her own body. She has truly been resurrected."
Mo Huai'an's dark eyes narrowed, meaning she had returned to her original form...
"The demoness's bloodline used the Divine Realm's first War God to collect the final soul fragments," the Inner Demon said, bowing. Every movement was remarkably compliant.
Mo Ze, standing beside, also added with a light smile, "Father Emperor, this Inner Demon knows many things that others are unaware of."
"For example, the demoness's intentions, the backgrounds of everyone around her, and her weaknesses..."
Mo Ze's words lingered, sounding incredibly alluring, constantly tempting Mo Huai'an.
Mo Huai'an's expression was complex, his dark eyes harboring unfathomable strategies. "Conditions."
"Divine Emperor is sharp-witted. What this humble woman desires is merely to personally execute her enemy."
"Furthermore, I require a new identity, one that can conceal my true self."
The Inner Demon spoke, her appearance identical to Bai Ran's, yet her words and actions bore no resemblance to Bai Ran.
The enemy she spoke of was naturally the demoness, Bai Ran.
"Currently, wearing her appearance, I can accomplish many things that others cannot. Divine Emperor, please consider carefully."
Hearing this, Mo Huai'an lowered his gaze, weighing the cost against the reward.
Seeing Mo Huai'an still hesitating, Mo Ze administered another shot of confidence. "The Inner Demon has already contacted the Demonic Ones. They are currently waiting in the Upper Realm."
"As soon as she gives the order, the Demonic Ones will attack the Upper Realm, attacking the place where the demoness's Master resides, Medicine Valley."
Medicine Valley! Mo Huai'an could no longer suppress his greed. Medicine Valley was renowned, containing all lost elixirs and secret recipes.
If Medicine Valley could be conquered, not only could the current battle losses be quickly compensated, but they could also capture the demoness's Master alive, thereby using him to threaten her.
"Very well, I shall accept your favor!"
Indeed, Mo Huai'an could not resist the temptation and fell for the bait.
Mo Ze's smile widened maniacally, though he quickly suppressed it. "Then your son congratulates Father Emperor in advance."
Mo Ze and the Inner Demon had joined forces with additional conditions.
The Inner Demon would approach the Divine Emperor and help Mo Ze usurp the throne, while Mo Ze would help the Inner Demon make the Demonic Ones the second most powerful force in the Nine Heavens, forever flourishing.
A faint arc always graced Mo Ze's lips. He bowed and strode out of the hall.
Mo Huai'an stared intently at the Inner Demon, his every move filled with urgency. "When will we attack the Upper Realm?"
"As soon as the Divine Emperor gives the order, it can be at any time." The Inner Demon's eyes were filled with madness, a craving for power, and an unshakeable determination to obtain it.
"Tomorrow... no, now! I will give the order now!"
Mo Huai'an's heart was consumed by greed, completely oblivious to the Inner Demon's calculations and triumphant smirk.
"Humble woman, receive the decree—"
The Inner Demon bent down, a sinister smile curving her lips.
...
The spirits that returned to the Ghost Clan were ecstatic, feeling completely invigorated.
"The Divine Realm isn't that impressive."
"Yes, I don't know why they became the number one force in the Nine Heavens."
"Isn't it because we lacked our Elder and King? Look, as soon as the Elder and King joined forces, the Divine Realm couldn't even defend themselves?"
"Hahaha, that's true."
Ying Xing surveyed the scene, his face filled with helplessness. "The Divine Realm didn't go all out this time, only sending fifty thousand celestial soldiers."
One had to remember that the Divine Realm had a total of one hundred and fifty thousand celestial soldiers. Moreover, only one of the five Holy Lords had died.
With such meager gains, were these spirits already lost in their delirium?