The arena was built from slabs of Purple Nether Crystals, its sturdiness beyond question.
On the stage stood two Ghost Generals, both clad in armor. The gold-gilded plating radiated a powerful aura. One of them was the Long-Tongued Ghost, and the other, the Crimson Fla Ghost.
“Which one is General Hepburn?” Xie Changliu asked soone nearby.
A bystander pointed to the Long-Tongued Ghost and explained, “That one there. At this point, unless a Ghost Monarch personally steps in, no one can defeat him. The next Ghost Monarch will surely be him.”
“Yeah, yeah,” another chid in. “I just wonder how long that Crimson Fla Ghost can last.”
As soon as he said that, the two onstage began their duel.
The Crimson Fla Ghost attacked first. Opening his mouth wide, he spat out a massive fireball. The blazing flas scorched the air itself as they hurtled toward General Hepburn.
But Hepburn didn’t flinch. As the fireball ca close, he clenched his right fist and smashed it forward.
A deafening boom rang out, sparks flying everywhere as the fireball was obliterated by his fist wind.
The Crimson Fla Ghost’s eyes narrowed. His entire body ignited in flas, burning as though self-immolated. The sky-reaching blaze split into countless fireballs, nearly a hundred in total, suspended in midair.
He spread his arms and slamd his palms together. With another booming roar, the hundred fireballs rged into a linked chain, blazing like miniature suns.
The storm of fire descended, pressing down with suffocating intensity. The heat was so fierce that the watching ghosts stepped back instinctively, unable to bear it.
Hepburn stood unmoving at the center of the inferno, his armor glowing red under the flas.
His long tongue flicked out, bright and slick like fresh blood.
It shot out dozens of ters, snaring all the fireballs in one sweeping motion, the sticky tongue coiling them up like silk thread around insects.
A mont later, he opened his mouth wide, so wide it split grotesquely, stretching nearly a hundred ters across, and swallowed every last fireball whole.
“T–This…” the Crimson Fla Ghost stamred, stepping back in fear.
“Here, let return them to you,” General Hepburn sneered.
He opened his mouth again and spat the fireballs back out. They fused together midair, growing larger and brighter, until they burned like a miniature sun.
The massive orb of fire roared as Hepburn’s tongue whipped it toward his opponent.
Another thunderous explosion echoed through the arena. The fireball shattered, the shockwave sending debris flying. The Crimson Fla Ghost’s armor cracked apart completely.
He dropped to one knee, his flas dimming, and looked up at Hepburn in terror.
“Trash like you dare challenge ?” Hepburn strode forward, raising his foot high.
He stomped down hard.
The Crimson Fla Ghost howled, it was unclear whether in pain or fury, before passing out cold. Hepburn kicked him off the stage like a broken doll.
“Anyone else who wishes to challenge , co forward,” he said, scanning the silent crowd. “But next ti, know your worth before you throw away your life.”
No one spoke.
Satisfied, Hepburn stepped off the arena.
Xu Zimo gave Xie Changliu a subtle signal. They had already agreed on a plan, whether it would work or not remained to be seen.
“General, I have urgent news to report!” Xie Changliu ran forward, shouting anxiously.
“Who are you?” the surrounding ghosts barked, stopping him.
“It’s about the secret of the Flower of Death!” Xie Changliu shouted even louder. “I can only speak to the general himself!”
Hepburn, who had been about to leave, stopped when he heard those words. His eyes narrowed slightly, and he raised his head.
“Let him through,” he ordered.
Xie Changliu stepped forward. Hepburn studied him closely. “Well then, speak.”
“There are too many people here,” Xie said cautiously, glancing around.
“Say it. They wouldn’t dare spread my business,” Hepburn replied indifferently.
“We were under Commander Hexben,” Xie Changliu began. “Earlier today, while patrolling with him, we accidentally overheard a secret from the Primal God Race. They’ve found a place filled with Flowers of Death. Unfortunately, we were discovered. We fought desperately, but Commander Hexben and the others were all killed. Only the two of us managed to escape.”
“Two of you?” Hepburn frowned.
“The other one is here,” Xie said, motioning. Xu Zimo stepped out from the crowd.
“Yes, us,” Xie continued. “We heard the place’s na was… uh...”
Before he could finish, Hepburn interrupted him. “You’ll tell in my mansion.”
He gestured for them to follow.
As a Ghost General of high standing, especially one as powerful as him, Hepburn naturally had his own residence.
They followed him through the busy streets to a large, well-guarded estate.
Inside, in the inner hall, a few ghost servants poured tea for them and withdrew.
“Now speak,” Hepburn said. “What place?”
“We only caught two words, Sunflower,” Xie replied.
“Sunflower?” Hepburn repeated, frowning again. “That’s all?”
“We didn’t have ti to hear more before we were discovered,” Xie nodded.
“How do I know you’re not lying to ?” Hepburn asked coldly.
“General, I swear my loyalty to you!” Xie said quickly.
“I don’t believe in loyalty,” Hepburn replied. “I believe in corpses.”
As he spoke, he raised his hand. Black ghostly energy surged out, coiling around Xie Changliu’s neck.
Slowly, it lifted him off the ground.
As Hepburn tightened his grip, Xie’s face turned pale, his breathing shallow.
Just when he was on the verge of death, Hepburn suddenly released him. Xie dropped heavily to the floor, gasping for air.
“If you had resisted just now,” Hepburn said calmly, “you both would have died miserably.”
He turned toward the door and shouted, “Guards!”
A Long-Tongued Ghost entered the hall.
“Find them a courtyard,” Hepburn ordered. “Let them rest.”
He intended to keep them alive for now. He had never heard of “Sunflower” before, and until he found out what it ant, it was best to keep his options open.
The aning of the Flower of Death was clear enough to him, though, if he could obtain another one, his ascension to Ghost Monarch would be all but guaranteed.
As the Long-Tongued Ghost led Xu Zimo and Xie Changliu away, Hepburn himself left the mansion and made his way toward the Spectral Ghost Race’s historical archives.
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