The spiritual energy cultivated indoors slowly dissipated. The person on the couch stood up and sent the spiritual energy into the earring.
But as time ticked by, the earring, unlike before, did not carry Long Jinhan's smiling voice.
Something has happened... Bai Ran's expression turned grim, and the temperature around her became terrifyingly cold.
She pushed the door open and her steps grew urgent. Ying Xing, waiting outside the palace, eagerly approached upon seeing Bai Ran.
"My King! Have you emerged from seclusion?" Ying Xing followed behind her like a little attendant.
"Are there any souls with spatial abilities within the Ghost Tribe?" Bai Ran turned back, her gaze exceptionally cold, causing Ying Xing to freeze for a moment.
"Reporting to my King, Fang An is a soul with spatial abilities. She is the only one within the Ghost Tribe."
"Summon her immediately!" As she spoke, Bai Ran clenched her fist, then amended, "No, I will go see her..."
"My King?" Ying Xing watched Bai Ran vanish instantly, a look of utter confusion on his face. What was wrong with their King? Why was she in such a hurry?
Her mental power spread out, instantly permeating every corner of the Ghost Tribe.
Originally, Bai Ran's mental power could only cover a small area. But as her strength grew, the range of her mental power coverage expanded.
Finally, in a small courtyard, Bai Ran detected Fang An's aura.
She leaped forward, traversing the Ghost Tribe at breakneck speed, leaving afterimages in her wake. Even the weaker souls didn't notice her passing.
"You! What are you doing here!"
Seeing Bai Ran suddenly appear before her, Fang An was startled at first, then adopted her usual dismissive posture.
Only two tomb keepers were needed, and Fang An and two others took turns guarding. Today was her day off.
"To make a long story short, I need your help with something."
Bai Ran landed steadily, speaking as she approached Fang An. "The Demon Realm is under siege by the Divine Realm and demonized humans. I need your ability."
Upon hearing this, a hint of suspicion appeared on Fang An's face. "What does the Demon Realm being attacked have to do with you?"
"Teleport me to the Demon Realm, as quickly as possible." Bai Ran stared directly at him, her tone serious and solemn.
"Hey... are you listening to me..." Fang An scanned Bai Ran from head to toe. Seeing her appearance, it seemed she was truly in a hurry.
Whether to help her, Fang An hesitated.
If she didn't help, Bai Ran might resent her for it, and perhaps even give up her position as Ghost King and leave the Ghost Tribe...
But meeting Bai Ran's eyes, which flickered with a dark crimson glow, she faltered.
Red pupils were a symbol of the Ghost King's status, only appearing when the Ghost King's emotions were greatly stirred.
Now, her eyes were horrifyingly red, indicating she had encountered a situation of extreme urgency, to the point where she couldn't even suppress the red pupils.
Fang An clicked her tongue impatiently, then sighed heavily. "Fine, only this once. But let me be clear, I am not acknowledging you!"
"As soon as possible."
"What's the rush..." Fang An muttered under her breath, but her hands secretly quickened their pace.
In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a massive spatial rift appeared before Bai Ran.
"Notify the elders to assemble the souls. This matter is entrusted to you."
The moment Bai Ran finished speaking, she vanished. Fang An wanted to refuse, but couldn't.
"Sigh... I really owe her..." she grumbled, then sped towards the mausoleum.
A wave of dizziness washed over her. When Bai Ran opened her eyes again, she had passed through the spatial turbulence and was now in the Demon Realm.
A year ago, she had visited the Demon Realm. Its streets were incredibly prosperous, like a fairyland under the moonlight.
The cries of vendors, the shouts of the Demon Realm's people, the happy scenes visible everywhere in the streets and alleys, and the orderly patrols of Demon Realm soldiers.
And in the far east, the magnificent Demon Realm palace...
However, at this moment, the streets of the entire Demon Realm were covered in dried bloodstains, deserted, with no sign of living beings.
The air was thick with the stench of corpses and the pungent smell of rust.
Even the most magnificent palace had now collapsed, reduced to ruins.
"Long Jinhan..." Bai Ran's heart ached. Everything before her eyes deeply wounded her vision.
Where was he...? Bai Ran raised her hand and touched the crimson earring on her ear.
Spiritual energy was continuously channeled into it. The earring responded to Bai Ran, and in her mind, a small dot emitting a black light quietly appeared.
At the front line... Knowing Long Jinhan's location, Bai Ran sped towards the battlefield.
Her gaze was solemn, and her palms involuntarily clenched, drawing blood.
Long Jinhan... he would be fine... absolutely wouldn't...
Her steps quickened, her heartbeat deafening, drowning out the whistling wind.
...
"Still not making a move?"
A woman's voice rang out, laced with endless amusement and excitement.
Long Jinhan stood high in the sky, facing his long-lost inner demon and the Divine Emperor.
Half an hour ago, the Divine Emperor and the inner demon, leading demonized humans and heavenly soldiers, launched a fierce assault on the Demon Realm.
The Demon Realm had already dispatched sixty thousand troops. Now, only less than sixty thousand soldiers remained.
The Divine Realm and demonized humans combined numbered thirteen to fourteen thousand, more than double...
Tang Yi was defending the west of the Demon Realm, and Jing Yun was defending the east. The bad news was that the east gate had been breached, and Jing Yun had been captured alive.
The Divine Emperor's face was a picture of a smile, as if he had already foreseen his victorious outcome of Long Jinhan's death and his conquest of the Demon Realm.
"Bring him up."
With a command, Jing Yun was forcefully pushed forward and fell heavily to the ground.
Not a single piece of intact skin could be seen on him. He was covered in glaring, conspicuous wounds, as if he had been tortured for a long time and was already on the verge of death.
"Jing Yun!!!" Tang Yi, standing behind Long Jinhan, was also covered in wounds of various sizes.
However, the sight before her shattered her, making her oblivious to her own injuries.
"If you don't make a choice now, he will die."
The inner demon's gaze was fixed on the tall, slender man opposite her, filled with boundless amusement and interest.
As she spoke, she took out a small porcelain bottle and sprinkled the powder within onto Jing Yun's wounds.
This was... poison!
Tang Yi frantically tried to run towards Jing Yun, but the Demon Realm soldiers behind her held her back tightly, preventing her from taking a single step forward.
"Jing Yun!!! Stop it—!!!" she screamed, her voice trembling slightly upon close listening.
"Bastards! If you have a problem, come at me!!!"
Long Jinhan, standing beside them, also had a face clouded with gloom.