Gu Rong’s short legs couldn’t run fast, and he was afraid of being discovered by the translucent people, so he quickly fell far behind.

The little cub decided not to run anymore. He used the [Hanged Little Ghost] identity card, directly stepped his left foot onto his right, and flew forward, catching up with the main group.

He stepped on the skulls of those translucent people, one foot after another, quite nimbly, quickly reaching the front of the procession.

The translucent people whose heads were stepped on: “?!”

Huh? Why did it feel like something stepped on the top of my skull? Could there be ghosts in the Phantom Ghost Realm that even we can’t see?

Before they could think further, another group of translucent people approached from the front, also escorting a group of captives – precisely the people from the Pharaoh.

The features and figures of the translucent people were only outlines. Besides height and build, they were largely indistinguishable.

“All crew members from the Pharaoh and the Phantom Ghost Ship have been captured. We will now escort them to the Temple to complete the sacrificial ritual,” said the leading translucent person. “And then, we can leave the Ghost Realm and re-enjoy the freedom of sunlight and air!”

“Leave the Ghost Realm, enjoy the freedom of sunlight and air!”

The translucent people grew excited, chanting the leader’s words like a slogan several times.

Gu Rong, using the [Hanged Little Ghost] identity card, had activated the state where his soul remained with his body, visible only to five specific people.

Zhuang Yu, Shen Hanxiao, Lin Xuezhou, Old John, and Captain Alpha – these five could see Gu Rong; everyone else could not.

The moment the five saw Gu Rong mingling among the translucent people, aside from Lin Xuezhou who calmly raised an eyebrow, the eyelids of the other four twitched, their hearts nearly stopping.

There, tiny Gu Rong stood right next to the leading translucent person, tilting his little head up, looking at the being with an innocently cute face.

He even extended a short, mini finger and curiously poked the translucent person.

Strangely, when his little hand poked, it was like sinking into quicksand. The translucent person’s skin dented inwards. When Gu Rong retracted his little hand, the skin returned to normal.

Huh?

Gu Rong, as if playing with play-doh, got addicted to poking, poking here and there.

“?”

The leading translucent person was very tall. He seemed to sense something, looked down at his own leg, but saw nothing. He just frowned slightly in confusion before raising his head again.

The Five: “…”

Livestream Chat: […]

Good grief, he’s already started playing?! This cub’s guts are truly as big as ever!!

Just then, an Admiral lunged forward, gripping a dagger. Before anyone could react, he plunged the dagger into the leading translucent person’s heart.

The dagger completely disappeared into the chest area of the leader, but the spot acted like quicksand, sinking inwards. There was no blood, not even a break in the skin.

Then, the dented area swelled back up like a sponge, returning to its original state.

Just like when Gu Rong had poked it with his little hand earlier.

Seeing this, everyone was stunned, their faces showing horror.

The Admiral was also stunned, retreating in disbelief. He had barely taken two steps back when a translucent person behind him thrust a sword through his body.

The sharp sword pierced from back to front. The Admiral looked down at his pierced chest.

The translucent person withdrew the sword. The Admiral collapsed heavily to the ground, eyes wide open, but already breathless.

“………”

A dead silence fell over the scene.

Everyone’s complexion turned extremely grim.

The strength of these translucent people was unknown, but the fact that they were unfazed by having their hearts pierced clearly indicated they weren’t afraid of such physical attacks.

The translucent people wasted no more words, escorting the crews of both warships towards the Temple.

The fallen Admiral, his wide-open eyes staring in the direction the group departed, was kicked into the nearby grass by a translucent person because he was blocking the way.

Overhead, the giant glowing jellyfish continued to float.

The Phantom Ghost Realm was deep beneath the sea, where sunlight couldn’t penetrate. This jellyfish was like the sun on the surface; no matter where they went, it remained at the center of their vision.

Everyone looked up at the giant jellyfish. It had to be said, the creature was incredibly stunning, incomparably beautiful.

But at this moment, no one was in the mood to appreciate it.

This was the Phantom Ghost Realm; these translucent people were naturally ghosts. Perhaps not just them, but the flowers, grass, trees, and the schools of fish overhead – all likely belonged to the category of ghosts.

But what puzzled everyone was, where did these translucent people come from? Or rather, who were they before they became translucent?

The translucent people longed for the sunlight and air of the sea surface, indicating they weren’t here willingly but were imprisoned, unable to find release.

And the leading translucent person used the word “re-enjoy.”

This suggested that before becoming translucent, they too had once enjoyed sunlight and air.

They too were once people from the surface.

Various thoughts ran through everyone’s minds, but no one dared to make another rash move.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, a translucent Temple appeared before them, tall and magnificent, also glowing.

King Louis XIII, along with his cabinet ministers, was stunned upon seeing the Temple, their hearts filled with surprise and uncertainty.

This Temple’s structure was identical to the Royal Palace!

This surely couldn’t be just a coincidence?

The translucent people herded everyone into the Temple.

The internal structure of the Temple was also the same as the Royal Palace, almost like a perfect replica. This was unusual.

But everyone’s attention was drawn to a giant ring at the top of the Temple.

The Temple was open-air, but the “sky” was the inverted sea, deep blue water where various marine creatures swam freely.

And that giant ring, like a finger ring magnified hundreds of times, floated above the Temple, emitting wisps of black mist, exuding an ominous aura.

Seeing the ring, the players’ expressions turned sharp.

Even using their toes to guess, they could figure out that this must be the Soul Ring.

King Louis XIII and the cabinet ministers looked tense, also staring at the ring.

“Doesn’t this place look as beautiful as a paradise?” The leading translucent person spoke again. Seeing everyone’s gaze fixed on the Soul Ring, he sneered coldly, “Let me tell you honestly, this place is merely a tomb for the undead, an illusion conjured by the Soul Ring.”

Everyone’s attention was drawn back to him.

The leading translucent person seemed to hold great prestige; the other translucent people all followed his lead unquestioningly.

As he spoke, the other translucent people became filled with righteous indignation.

“That’s right! This is just a grave for the undead! Under the sea, we never see sunlight or rain! We are alive, but like worms in the gutter, merely existing!”

“Otherwise, why do you think the Phantom Ghost Realm is called the Ghost Realm?”

“This is the root of decay, a fetid swamp, a hell that never sees the light!”

Even though their features were indistinct, their palpable anger could be felt.

Until a calm, deep voice spoke: “General Nicholas?”

“………”

Not just the translucent people, but the crews of both the Pharaoh and the Phantom Ghost Ship – everyone held their breath.

The leading translucent person was tall and imposing, larger than the others.

Hearing the words, his body stiffened, and he turned to face the speaker.

“Since you say the Phantom Ghost Realm is the tomb of the undead, and the Deep Sea Ghost Realm buries the undead of the Nicholas Clan, then… You must be the Nicholas Clan buried here.”

The speaker was none other than Lin Xuezhou. He stood tall and graceful, a faint smile playing on his handsome face.

General Nicholas? How could it be? They… how could they possibly be the Nicholas Clan!!

Everyone gasped sharply, but thinking deeply along Lin Xuezhou’s lines, they realized it wasn’t impossible.

And judging by the reaction of these translucent people, especially the instantly frozen figure of the leader, this possibility was highly likely to be true!

King Louis XIII’s face was grim, showing no emotion.

But Captain Alpha, Jameson, the cabinet ministers, and all the soldiers who had followed the Pharaoh to welcome the Second Prince and retrieve the Soul Ring looked utterly incredulous and devastated.

They thought of the Admiral who had been pierced by a sword and fallen just moments ago.

If… if they are the Nicholas Clan, how could they inflict such a cruel blow on a former comrade-in-arms?

They had spoken of not chilling the spirits of the fallen soldiers, yet the Nicholas Clan, once revered protectors of Starsea Continent, were buried here in the Phantom Ghost Realm, living like worms.

…Wait, something’s wrong!

These translucent people looked exceedingly strange, but just now they themselves had said—they were alive, like worms in the gutter, merely existing.

Didn’t this imply that they weren’t currently in a state of death, but were still alive?

They were alive, yet imprisoned in the Phantom Ghost Realm. However, everyone knew that the Nicholas Clan had sacrificed themselves to protect Starsea Continent.

But looking at it now, the truth was clearly not so.

Judging by their state, although not dead, they could no longer be considered truly human, having evolved into a new species.

Gu Rong had been sticking close to the leading translucent person, like a small pendant, hanging onto him almost weightlessly.

Hearing the words, he tilted up his small, snow-white face, blinked his big eyes, and said in a milky voice: [Rongrong-Zaizai’s Daddy!]

006: [Yes, little host.]

“In that case,” The leading translucent person sneered, “Then return my child.”

Everyone: “…”

Is that an admission? Is this really General Nicholas? His child, isn’t that Rongrong and Zaizai!

The crews of both the Pharaoh and the Phantom Ghost Ship were here, but both ships’ little captains were missing.

It was unknown if they had met with misfortune during the fall.

The little captains were tiny; if they fell into some small, obscure corner, they would be very hard to find.

Just then, a translucent person came forward holding a light-gold wig, saying, “General, this is a wig I found. Judging by the size, it fits the head circumference of a child around two years old. I don’t know if it belongs to the young master.”

Seeing the wig, the royal nobles recognized it at a glance – it was the Little Prince’s wig.

The wig is here, but where could the child be?

General Nicholas asked in a deep voice: “Only the wig?”

The translucent person: “…Yes, General, only the wig was found.”

General Nicholas reached out and took the wig. In his large hand, the wig looked about the size of a cheerleader’s pom-pom.

Holding the wig in silence for a long moment, General Nicholas spoke: “Sacrifice them all! Avenge my child who died wrongfully!”

Gu Rong, hanging on the man’s arm: “?”

006: […]

Livestream Chat: […?!]

Wait, aren’t you even going to look? You’re just assuming the cub is dead?

General Nicholas held extremely high prestige. Once he gave the order, the translucent people immediately began pushing everyone towards the center of the Temple.

In the center of the Temple was a cylindrical beam of light shining down from the Soul Ring overhead, forming a column separated by a light curtain.

Those pushed into the light beam became thinner and more transparent, transforming into translucent beings in the blink of an eye.

Sacrifice… meant transforming into a translucent being?!

Everyone looked at the Nicholas Clan, who were already translucent. Did this mean the Nicholas Clan had also been sacrificed?

A group led by Captain Alpha and Jameson turned to look at the Louis Dynasty group headed by King Louis XIII.

They had long suspected that the Nicholas Clan had been tragically destroyed by the Louis Dynasty due to their achievements overshadowing the monarch. But they never knew the truth was far more complex than simple betrayal.

The Nicholas Clan had actually been sacrificed!

“You must have all guessed it by now.” General Nicholas said mockingly, “My entire clan being destroyed, eternally imprisoned in the Phantom Ghost Realm – it was all the handiwork of His Majesty the King.”

The “His Majesty the King” he referred to was the previous king; King Louis XIII had only ascended the throne after the Nicholas Clan’s destruction.

General Nicholas: “The Soul Ring and Soul Sword originate from the Deep Sea Ghost Realm. To take these two items, a living sacrifice is required, substituting the Ring and Sword with ‘living ghosts’. Otherwise, the sea would pour in, flooding the entire Starsea Continent.”

King Louis XIII said in a cold, deep voice: “General Nicholas, speak carefully.”

General Nicholas looked at Louis XIII, sizing him up. He could vaguely see the shadow of the former king in him, but King Louis XIII was much younger.

General Nicholas sneered, “Now, it’s your turn to serve as ‘living ghosts’. Enjoy the rest of your lives here in the Ghost Realm.”

More and more people were pushed into the ring and transformed into translucent beings.

Gu Rong stopped hanging onto General Nicholas at this point. He stood on the ground, looking up at the giant ring at the top of the Temple.

006 said: [Little host, if we get the Soul Ring, we can clear the instance.]

Gu Rong said: [But the Soul Ring is so big, and I’m so small, what do I do?]

Also, it was so high up. His [Hanged Little Ghost] identity card could let him fly, but he was afraid of heights. Flying that high was scary.

Gu Rong patted his little tummy and said: [Scared!]

Lin Xuezhou, who could see Gu Rong, had been observing the cub intentionally or unintentionally. Seeing him tilt his head back, staring fixedly at the Soul Ring above, and remembering their cooperation in the previous instance, he instantly guessed that the little cub had likely received a task to obtain the Soul Ring.

Gu Rong was currently dressed as the Little Prince, so it must be the Little Prince’s task.

Lin Xuezhou subtly moved closer to Gu Rong, extended a long, fair finger, and gently poked Gu Rong’s little forehead.

Gu Rong looked up and met Lin Xuezhou’s slightly smiling eyes. His own eyes immediately sparkled, and he obediently greeted, “Uncle Doctor!”

Not far away, Zhuang Yu and Shen Hanxiao had also wanted to approach Gu Rong, but seeing Lin Xuezhou walk over to him, they felt relieved.

Lin Xuezhou lowered his voice: “Cub, I’ll help you get the Soul Ring. In exchange, when the sea collapses later, you drive the ship and take me up.”

Right now, the whereabouts of the Pharaoh and the Phantom Ghost Ship were unknown, but only Gu Rong could pilot the two warships.

Gu Rong agreed readily: “Okay, Zaizai will drive the ship and take Uncle Doctor up.”

After saying that, his little face went blank, and his little brow furrowed, “Up where?”

He hadn’t understood Lin Xuezhou’s words at all.

Lin Xuezhou: “…”

006: […]

Livestream Chat: […]

This wasn’t the time for explanations, so Lin Xuezhou didn’t elaborate.

It was unclear how he did it, but in the next second, the Soul Ring that had been floating overhead began to tremble, shrink, and shrink again. When it became the size of a regular ring, it fell from the sky, landing steadily in Lin Xuezhou’s palm.

Everything happened in an instant, taking no more than ten seconds. No one had time to react. Even the translucent people only managed to look up just in time to see the Soul Ring disappear.

However, there was no time for them to react further.