The Ghost Emperor's lips curved slightly, and he vanished from Zi Linling's sight.
When Zi Linling saw him again, it was merely a figure stepping into the Imperial Hall.
The Ghost Emperor's retreating back was lonely and solitary, exuding an aura of heartache.
Zi Linling watched the Ghost Emperor's silhouette disappear into the Imperial Hall with a thoughtful gaze, and a sudden pang of sympathy for him struck her.
For a fleeting moment, she sensed a familiar aura from the Ghost Emperor, though she couldn't explain why.
However, this was not the time to dwell on such matters.
Zi Linling shook her head and approached Elder Du and Shen Liuxing. She replicated her actions, channeling life force into their bodies to awaken the slivers of soul power protected by their consciousness.
Soon, Elder Du and Shen Liuxing opened their eyes. Zi Linling urged them to quickly recover their soul power.
Elder Du and Shen Liuxing never doubted Zi Linling's words and immediately entered a state of healing.
Zi Linling then went to Chu Hezhou's ten subordinates, awakening them one by one with life force. She similarly instructed them to heal quickly, while Zi Linling herself stood quietly by, acting as a guardian for everyone.
As dawn broke, Elder Du, Shen Liuxing, and the ten Ghost Envoys had all recovered to their peak condition.
Zi Linling glanced at the eastern sky and instructed, "Elder Du, Liuxing, return to the Battle Heaven Domain immediately and inform the Ye family patriarch..."
Before she could finish, she sensed someone approaching rapidly. Not only she, but everyone present felt it.
The ten Ghost Envoys immediately became alert, shielding Zi Linling and the other two in the center.
The Ghost Emperor had warned them that if anything happened to Zi Linling, they would be finished.
Elder Du and Shen Liuxing instinctively moved to block in front of Zi Linling.
Due to everyone's heightened tension, they failed to notice Zi Linling's relaxed expression.
As the approaching figure drew nearer and their aura became more distinct, Elder Du and Shen Liuxing finally recognized the newcomer.
"Patriarch Ye?" Elder Du exclaimed in surprise.
"Why is he here?" Shen Liuxing also looked astonished.
Shi Liuxiang frowned and asked, "You know the person who is approaching?"
Elder Du and Shen Liuxing nodded in unison.
Zi Linling smiled and said, "Everyone, no need to be nervous. He's one of us."
At this moment, Chu Hezhou also recognized Ye Zhan's aura. "How could it be him?"
"Who?" the other nine Ghost Envoys asked in unison.
Chu Hezhou replied, "An old friend!"
"An old friend?" The remaining nine Ghost Envoys looked perplexed.
Chu Hezhou nodded and asked, "Do you still remember, twenty-three years ago, when I battled someone at the entrance of the teleportation array?"
With his reminder, Sai Wei immediately recalled, "Him? The husband of the Extreme Yin Extreme Yang body?"
Chu Hezhou confirmed, "Precisely!"
As they spoke, a dark figure appeared ahead. It was none other than Ye Zhan.
He had pursued from the Battle Heaven Domain. Although the Nine-Colored Pearl Sparrow was incredibly fast, it was still slower than Long'er, who was about to transform into a Azure Dragon.
Furthermore, while passing through the well, the extreme yin heavy water within had aggravated his old injury, forcing him to stop and heal within the well's barrier.
This caused him to be significantly delayed, arriving late.
"Chu Hezhou, release Miss Zi!"
Ye Zhan roared, drawing his saber and slashing towards Chu Hezhou.
In his perception, Zi Linling and the other two had been captured by Chu Hezhou.
"Patriarch Ye, no!"
Elder Du and Shen Liuxing cried out simultaneously.
Zi Linling flashed forward, positioning herself in front of Chu Hezhou, and caught Ye Zhan's saber with her bare hands.
She seized the opportunity to say, "Patriarch Ye, you've misunderstood!"
Zi Linling refrained from addressing Ye Zhan as "Father-in-law" because Ye Lingyuan had not yet awakened, and she was unsure if he would accept this fact.
"Misunderstood?"
Ye Zhan paused, then asked, "What misunderstanding?"
Zi Linling released his saber and looked at Elder Du and Shen Liuxing.
They understood Zi Linling's intent and proceeded to recount the events that had transpired in vivid detail.
Ye Zhan knew he had misunderstood Chu Hezhou, but he showed no inclination to apologize.
After all, Jing Yulan's disappearance was closely linked to the ten Ghost Envoys. How could Ye Zhan be magnanimous and reconcile with them?
He roared, "Chu Hezhou, return my wife!"
With that, he raised his saber again and attacked Chu Hezhou. Chu Hezhou hastily produced the White Jade Bone Flute.
Just as the saber and the bone flute were about to collide, a transparent barrier appeared between them, separating the two weapons.
This barrier, naturally, was Zi Linling's doing.
Ye Zhan looked at Zi Linling with displeasure and said coldly, "Miss Zi, what do you mean by this? Although Lingyuan has not yet acknowledged his ancestors, we will be family sooner or later. Why are you preventing me from seeking revenge?"
Zi Linling calmly dissipated the barrier and said, "Patriarch Ye, I already know your wife's whereabouts. Are you sure you want to waste your time here?"
Ye Zhan looked incredulous. "What did you say? You know Yulan's whereabouts?"
Zi Linling nodded. "Years ago, the Ghost Emperor intended to use the Extreme Yin Extreme Yang body to activate the Ghost Gate and open the passage to the Underworld. However, because your wife was pregnant, it failed. She was then accidentally sent to the Divine Relic Realm."
"Divine Relic Realm? Are you sure?" Ye Zhan asked, his voice trembling.
He had searched for twenty-three years with no results. To suddenly learn of Jing Yulan's whereabouts, how could he remain calm?
Zi Linling nodded. "Originally, I planned to go to the Divine Relic Realm myself to find your wife. However, I have urgent matters that require me to go to the Demonic Realm first. Therefore, the task of finding your wife will fall to you."
"Furthermore, the Heaven Origin Continent, the Heaven Bestowed Continent, and the Divine Relic Continent have already connected. Time is running out for us. We must quickly rally all our forces and be prepared for the impending cataclysm."
Having said this, Zi Linling turned to Chu Hezhou and said, "Since His Majesty the Ghost Emperor has assigned you to follow me, you should not be idle. Immediately mobilize all the forces in the Ghost Domain and be ready for battle at any moment!"
Although the ten Ghost Envoys were shocked by this news, after a brief moment of stunned silence, they replied in unison, "Yes! We will attend to it immediately!"
Chu Hezhou finished speaking and was about to leave with the other nine.
Suddenly, he turned back and asked, "Miss Zi, if we all leave, what about your safety..."
Zi Linling interrupted him, "You don't need to worry about that. Go and do what you need to do! As for the Ghost Emperor, I will speak with him."
"Yes!"
Chu Hezhou responded and then left with the nine Ghost Envoys.
These ten individuals had always served by the Ghost Emperor's side, so no one in the Ghost Domain would defy their wishes. Therefore, their departure was merely to convey Zi Linling's command.