The closer they got to the Blood Prison, the more chaotic it became.
Shen Jiuxiao and her two daughters, searching for a solution to the Ghostly Ring of Resentment, drew ever nearer to the Blood Prison.
"Mom, did something happen up ahead? Why are there so many death spirits running around like they're fleeing for their lives?" Shen Xue asked.
Shen Jiuxiao also sensed something was amiss.
If she were alone, she would have been very curious about what was happening and wanted to go investigate.
However, with Shen Bing and Shen Xue present, she had to suppress her gossipy nature.
"Let's capture some death spirits and ask them. Then we'll know," Shen Jiuxiao replied.
She summoned her Overlord-grade Abyssal Barbarian Fish Monster.
The Abyssal Barbarian Fish Monster unleashed its ultimate skill, Abyssal Impact.
A strange power spread outwards.
All death spirits within a five-kilometer radius were affected.
The closer they were, the more severe the impact.
Many Lord-grade and General-grade death spirits were knocked unconscious.
Only Emperor-grade death spirits remained conscious.
However, they were still injured.
Subsequently, the Abyssal Barbarian Fish Monster's tentacles grabbed them and brought them before Shen Jiuxiao.
Shen Jiuxiao looked at a seemingly intelligent Dark Flame Weasel and had the Abyssal Barbarian Fish Monster inquire about what had happened and why they were all fleeing.
The Abyssal Barbarian Fish Monster used its powerful mental energy to communicate with the Dark Flame Weasel.
Soon, an answer was obtained.
But the result was not what Shen Jiuxiao had hoped for.
This creature had simply seen others run and followed suit, having no idea what was actually happening.
It was hard to say if it was stupid, but it didn't seem entirely so.
Shen Jiuxiao then looked at another Emperor-grade Bloodthirsty Mad Wolf.
This creature resembled a husky, with a volatile temper. Even while suppressed by the Abyssal Barbarian Fish Monster, it bared its teeth and snarled at Shen Jiuxiao.
Since the seemingly intelligent ones were unreliable, she decided to find a more stubborn and perhaps duller one.
The answer from this creature left Shen Jiuxiao even more speechless.
Its friends had left, so why should it stay!
Shen Jiuxiao began to doubt if all the death spirits around the Blood Prison were missing a screw.
Afterward, she questioned a few more death spirits.
Fortunately, they weren't as clueless as the Dark Flame Weasel and the Bloodthirsty Mad Wolf, but they didn't know much either.
The places they had been in were still some distance from the Blood Prison.
However, they could see the Blood Prison from afar.
About ten days ago, the Blood Prison suddenly collapsed, turning into ruins.
They still dared not approach.
A few days later, the ruins of the Blood Prison disappeared, and a blood lake appeared in its place.
The blood-colored lake was not very large.
The surrounding death spirits paid it little mind.
However, any death spirit that approached the blood-colored lake, regardless of its level, would eventually leap into it in a frenzy.
This was not a major issue as long as one stayed away.
But in recent days, the blood-colored lake had been expanding at a speed of tens or even hundreds of times its original size.
The original blood-colored lake had now become a vast sea of blood.
These death spirits, not wanting to be affected by the sea of blood upon waking the next day, had simply jumped in.
This was why they had decided to flee the area.
Shen Jiuxiao frowned.
After confirming that these death spirits were not lying, she had the Abyssal Barbarian Fish Monster deal with them.
Then, she prepared to take Shen Bing and Shen Xue on a detour, to steer clear of the entire Blood Prison region.
Shen Bing and Shen Xue did not object.
After all, the area ahead was too dangerous, and they didn't want Shen Jiuxiao to take risks for them.
Under Shen Jiuxiao's command, the Abyssal Barbarian Fish Monster extended three tentacles, gently rolled up the mother and daughters, and placed them on its back.
The Abyssal Barbarian Fish Monster, along with the other fleeing death spirits, also headed in the direction of the Blood Prison.
The journey was smooth initially.
With the Overlord-grade aura of the Abyssal Barbarian Fish Monster, ordinary death spirits kept their distance.
This, however, attracted a Totem-grade death spirit, the Dark Night Profound Fire Bird.
Compared to the other fleeing death spirits, the Dark Night Profound Fire Bird had sensed danger and was fleeing the Blood Prison on its own.
It didn't dart around aimlessly like the other death spirits.
Instead, it seemed to be out hunting.
It had hunted many Overlord-grade death spirits.
The Abyssal Barbarian Fish Monster was considered prime prey in its eyes.
Since their escape routes aligned, it saw no reason not to attack.
Thus, the Dark Night Profound Fire Bird flapped its wings and caught up to the Abyssal Barbarian Fish Monster.
Sensing the powerful aura emanating from the Dark Night Profound Fire Bird, the Abyssal Barbarian Fish Monster shivered all over.
It wasn't that it was worried, but rather it felt the opponent was too strong, extinguishing any thought of resistance.
Seeing this, Shen Jiuxiao scolded it with annoyance:
"Coward!"
Despite Shen Jiuxiao's scolding, the Abyssal Barbarian Fish Monster still showed no intention of fighting, burying its head deep beneath its numerous tentacles.
It was quite like an ostrich burying its head in the sand.
Understanding the Abyssal Barbarian Fish Monster's nature, Shen Jiuxiao did not press further and directly summoned her Totem-grade Nether Barbarian Phoenix.
As soon as the Nether Barbarian Phoenix appeared, it locked its gaze onto the Dark Night Profound Fire Bird.
It seemed as if they shared an ancient feud, an ingrained enmity that recognized the other as a mortal enemy.
Without hesitation, the Nether Barbarian Phoenix launched its attack.
The Dark Night Profound Fire Bird also unleashed its ultimate skill, Profound Fire Annihilation.
The strength of this Dark Night Profound Fire Bird was no less than that of Shen Jiuxiao's Nether Barbarian Phoenix.
After several rounds of intense combat, the Nether Barbarian Phoenix gained no advantage.
Seeing this, Shen Jiuxiao produced a Talent Bead.
This Talent Bead had absorbed the Beast-Taming Talent of "Fire God's Blessing," which could enhance all fire-attribute extraordinary creatures.
Shen Jiuxiao activated the Talent Bead, strengthening the Nether Barbarian Phoenix.
The Nether Barbarian Phoenix's combat power surged instantly, and it sent the Dark Night Profound Fire Bird flying with a single claw.
The Dark Night Profound Fire Bird was utterly bewildered.
It could not comprehend how the Nether Barbarian Phoenix had suddenly become dozens of times stronger.
Even two of them combined would not be a match for the Nether Barbarian Phoenix.
Terrified, it lost the will to fight and spread its wings to flee.
Unfortunately, it was quickly caught up by the Nether Barbarian Phoenix.
The Nether Barbarian Phoenix spewed a mouthful of hellfire, enveloping the Dark Night Profound Fire Bird.
Although the Dark Night Profound Fire Bird could resist the hellfire, the hellfire released by the Nether Barbarian Phoenix seemed endless. Once it opened its mouth, it did not close, and a vast amount of hellfire transformed into a sea of flames, completely engulfing the Dark Night Profound Fire Bird.
The Dark Night Profound Fire Bird struggled within the sea of flames.
But it was futile.
The Nether Barbarian Phoenix's claws firmly grasped the Dark Night Profound Fire Bird, pinning it down in the sea of flames.
After exhausting its strength, the Dark Night Profound Fire Bird gradually gave up resisting.
It wasn't that it didn't want to survive, but rather that it had exhausted all options.
Shen Jiuxiao, watching from the back of the Abyssal Barbarian Fish Monster, had the Nether Barbarian Phoenix inquire if it knew anything about the Ghostly Ring of Resentment.
The Nether Barbarian Phoenix had to retrieve the Dark Night Profound Fire Bird from the sea of flames once more.
Like a drowned rat, the Dark Night Profound Fire Bird was unceremoniously dropped onto the ground by the Nether Barbarian Phoenix.
Afterward, the Nether Barbarian Phoenix used its powerful mental energy to communicate with it, asking for information regarding the Ghostly Ring of Resentment.
The Dark Night Profound Fire Bird desperately wanted to preserve its life.
Unfortunately, it had no idea what the Ghostly Ring of Resentment was.
It did, however, know about many resentful ghosts.
It was uncertain if they could be linked to the Ghostly Ring of Resentment.
A resentful ghost was a death spirit that, upon reaching an extreme emotional state, killed according to its own logic.
Anyone who triggered their logic would be relentlessly pursued, either by being killed or by killing them.
The Dark Night Profound Fire Bird had once seen a death spirit swallowed by the sea of blood, only to emerge from it transformed into a resentful ghost.
It was as if they were deliberately released by the sea of blood.
It was precisely this terror that had caused the Dark Night Profound Fire Bird to sense danger and flee outwards.
Upon hearing the Dark Night Profound Fire Bird's account, Shen Jiuxiao felt that if she could uncover the secret behind the sea of blood, it might be possible to resolve the Ghostly Ring of Resentment on Shen Bing and Shen Xue.
However, the sea of blood was too dangerous, capable of engulfing even Totem-grade death spirits.
With her current strength, she would be nothing more than a sacrifice, unable to uncover its secrets.
Shen Jiuxiao mused, perhaps she should have Zheng Dong come and test the waters.
After all, that brat had no particular connection to her.
It would also sever any lingering hopes Shen Bing and Shen Xue might have.
Thus, Shen Jiuxiao, through a fragment of Ling'er, informed Zheng Dong about the situation near the Blood Prison. She specifically mentioned that uncovering the reason behind the sea of blood might resolve the Ghostly Ring of Resentment and free them from the control of the Spirit of the Ruins.
Zheng Dong was quite surprised that Shen Jiuxiao would contact him proactively.
Didn't she always dislike him?
Was she trying to send him to his death as cannon fodder?
Zheng Dong quickly deduced that Shen Jiuxiao couldn't solve the problem herself, which was why she contacted him.
She likely wanted him to test the waters.
Zheng Dong had already left the territory of the Savage Hall and arrived near the Wandering Soul Prison.
Zheng Dong utilized his abilities to subdue a large number of death spirits.
Youyou had also mastered numerous Overlord-grade death spirit puppets, exceeding ten thousand in number.
With such a large number of Overlord-grade death spirit puppets gathered, even dealing with Totem-grade death spirits would be entirely feasible.
However, Zheng Dong felt it was still not enough.
He was facing a quasi-divine grade death spirit, and he needed at least ninety thousand more Overlord-grade death spirits.
Of course, if he encountered any Totem-grade death spirits, Zheng Dong would also summon the Light and Dark Elemental Spirits, heavily injure them, and then have Youyou convert them into death spirit puppets.
Unfortunately, he hadn't encountered many Totem-grade death spirits along the way.
Including the Blood Zombie Queen, Youyou controlled only twenty-four Totem-grade death spirit puppets.
When Zheng Dong received Shen Jiuxiao's message, he was just about to engage the Totem-grade Dreamy Ghost King outside the Wandering Soul Prison.
Therefore, Zheng Dong did not rush to find Shen Jiuxiao and her daughters, but asked them to wait patiently.
Upon seeing Zheng Dong's reply, Shen Jiuxiao's eyebrows shot up.
That brat, what did he take her for? Daring to make her wait!
Shen Jiuxiao was furious, and she even looked at Shen Bing and Shen Xue with displeasure.
She was on the verge of cursing, "What kind of friends have you made?"
Despite her anger, the immediate problem still needed to be addressed.
Shen Jiuxiao, with the two sisters, continued to flee.
However, their escape speed was slower than before.
Shen Jiuxiao only wanted to avoid the range of influence of the sea of blood, not to distance herself from it.
After all, she still wanted to uncover the secret behind the sea of blood.
This delay, however, provided an opportunity for the Nine Nether Ghost Emperor.
After obtaining detailed information about Shen Jiuxiao and her daughters, the Nine Nether Ghost Emperor rushed to the vicinity of the Blood Prison to find them.
However, the Nine Nether Ghost Emperor's strength had not fully recovered, so searching for Shen Jiuxiao and her daughters was not an easy task.
After searching for two to three days, it finally determined the approximate location and direction of Shen Jiuxiao and her daughters.
The Nine Nether Ghost Emperor, holding a bone left over from the Abyssal Barbarian Fish Monster, tracked the Abyssal Barbarian Fish Monster's scent and soon spotted Shen Jiuxiao and her daughters.
Shen Jiuxiao and her daughters were still sitting on the back of the Abyssal Barbarian Fish Monster, appearing relaxed and at ease, completely unaware of the approaching danger.
It wasn't until the Nine Nether Ghost Emperor was within a thousand meters that Shen Jiuxiao sensed danger.
Shen Jiuxiao possessed the bloodline power of the Undying Nether Phoenix, and it was far more potent than Shen Bing's.
She also mastered a high-level skill, Nether Phoenix Warning.
However, the danger-sensing ability of this skill was not very strong.
It was only when the Nine Nether Ghost Emperor approached that she detected it.
Immediately, she commanded the Abyssal Barbarian Fish Monster to accelerate its escape and summoned the Nether Barbarian Phoenix and other spirit beasts.
Seeing Shen Jiuxiao preparing for a formidable enemy, Shen Bing and Shen Xue also summoned their respective spirit beasts and heightened their vigilance.
But it was still too late.
The Nine Nether Ghost Emperor strode through the air, step by step.
The Abyssal Barbarian Fish Monster trembled in fear, wrapping itself into a ball with its tentacles once more.
Shen Jiuxiao was startled to see the Nine Nether Ghost Emperor.
She had never expected the Nine Nether Ghost Emperor to come looking for them personally.
Damn it, what should she do?
Without hesitation, Shen Jiuxiao immediately had Ling'er's fragment call for help.
She also urged Shen Bing and Shen Xue to leave quickly.
Her body surged with potent Undying Nether Phoenix power, and a pair of phoenix wings formed from black flames condensed on her back, shielding Shen Bing and Shen Xue behind her.
"Go quickly!"
Shen Jiuxiao knew she couldn't hold out for long against the quasi-divine grade Nine Nether Ghost Emperor, but she hoped Shen Bing and Shen Xue could escape.
Shen Bing and Shen Xue, however, shook their heads with determined eyes.
If they left, Shen Jiuxiao would surely die.
With their help, they might be able to hold out until Zheng Dong and the others arrived.
At that point, they might all still be alive.
Shen Jiuxiao looked at Shen Bing and Shen Xue's stubborn eyes and smiled helplessly.
Then, she rolled up her sleeves, preparing to fight desperately.
The Nine Nether Ghost Emperor looked at Shen Jiuxiao's actions with disdain, not taking them seriously.
Shen Jiuxiao's expression turned cold, a fierce glint in her eyes. All her power gathered in her fist as she punched towards the Nine Nether Ghost Emperor.
Accompanied by a phoenix cry, the fist imprint transformed into a ferocious Undying Nether Phoenix that lunged towards the Nine Nether Ghost Emperor.
"If it were a true Undying Nether Phoenix, even in my prime, I wouldn't be able to resist it.
Unfortunately, it's merely a trace of the Undying Nether Phoenix's bloodline power, which poses no threat to me."
The Nine Nether Ghost Emperor sneered, raising a palm and casually dispelling Shen Jiuxiao's punch.
Following that, it sent Shen Jiuxiao flying with another palm strike, causing her to crash to the ground and cough up blood incessantly.
"Is the gap really this large?"
Shen Jiuxiao was filled with disbelief at the vast difference between herself and the Nine Nether Ghost Emperor, unable to impede it in the slightest.
Seeing the Nine Nether Ghost Emperor drawing closer to Shen Bing and Shen Xue, Shen Jiuxiao attempted to forcibly gather her strength to rescue them.
However, after much effort, she could barely even get up.
Witnessing Shen Jiuxiao being sent flying and her condition unknown, Shen Bing and Shen Xue could no longer control their emotions and frantically commanded their spirit beasts to attack the Nine Nether Ghost Emperor.
Towards Shen Bing and Shen Xue, the Nine Nether Ghost Emperor was much more merciful.
It feared injuring them, as they were the prime candidates for its vessels.
If they were injured and the vessels were damaged, its sin would be great indeed.
To avoid harming them, it did not even kill their spirit beasts, merely severely injuring and knocking them unconscious one by one.