Ling Ruo was in a daze, unresponsive.
Yue Zhiyin repeated herself.
Ling Ruo remained dull and foolish, showing no reaction to Yue Zhiyin's questions.
"What's going on?" Yue Zhiyin narrowed her eyes, looking at Ling Ruo. She lightly tapped the table in front of her, but Ling Ruo still didn't respond, not even able to speak.
"It's likely a symptom of soul damage," Chi Ming said from beside her, glancing over. "Though I don't understand why, it's probably the work of Rakshasa Heavenly Venerate."
"It was probably done in the Illusionary Painting Mirror earlier," Qi Yu said. He wasn't particularly concerned about why Ling Ruo had become this way. He simply looked at Yue Zhiyin. "Your Majesty, I suggest we detain her for now, to prevent her from feigning ignorance to escape punishment and get away with it."
Yue Zhiyin also felt that this matter should be temporarily set aside.
Just then, the Dragon King of the West Sea suddenly stepped forward and bowed to Yue Zhiyin. "Your Majesty, this humble one has something to report."
"What is it?" Yue Zhiyin looked at the Dragon King of the West Sea.
"My niece, Jing Xiu, due to the Blood Demon Fiend incident, suffered soul possession and has now passed away. After being sealed, her body is still in the South Sea..." The Dragon King of the West Sea's voice choked with sobs. "Although this child is not my own flesh and blood, she is still a member of the West Sea tribe..."
"But the dead cannot be brought back to life, especially not a dragon," Yue Zhiyin said to the Dragon King of the West Sea. "What are your plans?"
"..." The Dragon King of the West Sea remained silent. He actually wanted to try and revive Jing Xiu.
But this action went against heavenly principles, so he could only think about it in his heart, not daring to speak it aloud.
Yue Zhiyin could guess what the Dragon King of the West Sea was thinking, so she could only sigh and then try her best to persuade him.
"Dragon King of the West Sea, the dead cannot be brought back to life. Jing Xiu is gone now. I think it's best to deal with her body as soon as possible. You should handle it yourselves, and you must also try to move on."
The Dragon King of the West Sea bowed in agreement.
After everyone had retreated and Ling Ruo's soul had been taken away, the Dragon King of the West Sea, trembling, found Yan Hua.
"Lord Yan Hua," the Dragon King of the West Sea bowed to Yan Hua. "May I ask if you are available? I have something I wish to discuss with you."
Chen Xi, who had been leaning to the side watching the commotion, heard this and consciously moved a little further away.
Yan Hua glanced at the Dragon King of the West Sea, neither nodding nor shaking his head, and simply asked, "Are you here about your niece?"
The Dragon King of the West Sea nodded, tears streaming down his face. "Lord Yan Hua, I know my plea will put you in a difficult position, but my niece cannot die in vain like this. I don't ask for my niece to be revived, but could I at least go to the underworld to see her?"
"Can't you go down yourself?" Si Qing walked over from the side, his expression filled with confusion. "Why don't you go down yourself?"
Did such a matter require his master's permission?
"He doesn't simply want to visit the underworld," Yan Hua said, then turned to look at the Dragon King of the West Sea. "Very well, if I don't agree, I fear you will continue to dwell on this matter. I will accompany you on this journey."
"But after this, Jing Xiu should be properly buried. Dragon King of the West Sea, do you understand?"
The Dragon King of the West Sea nodded repeatedly.
Chen Xi saw the Dragon King of the West Sea walking towards them and knew they had finished their conversation. He then eagerly trotted over again. "Going to the underworld? Come on, take me with you. I want to go with you."
Yan Hua glanced at Chen Xi. "Since you could hear everything, why were you pretending to walk away earlier?"
"Wasn't I trying to be a gentleman?" Chen Xi tidied his hair. "Today is the New Year in the mortal realm. Although we didn't succeed in defeating Rakshasa Heavenly Venerate, and he escaped, I think victory is not far off. I've decided at this juncture to redefine myself with a new image. Wang Lanqing called it something, what was it? Oh, right, a persona!"
"I plan to change my persona from the original to a gentleman's persona!" Chen Xi said proudly. "Changing my image starts with me!"
"..." Yan Hua looked at him silently, then after a moment, withdrew his gaze and looked at him again.
Chen Xi was very displeased by his stare. "What are you looking at? What do you mean, looking?"
"I just want to be a gentleman, is there a problem with that?"
Qi Yu, Si Qing, and Yan Hua all shook their heads, indicating there was no problem.
The Dragon King of the West Sea urged, "Let's hurry to the underworld."
Yan Hua responded with a "good" and pushed Chen Xi down to the mortal realm, heading towards the junction between the mortal world and the underworld.
Upon arriving, the Dragon King of the West Sea looked up and saw the Judge, who had been waiting there for a long time.
"Greetings, Dragon King of the West Sea," the Judge said with a smile, bowing. He then stepped aside, inviting Qi Yu and the others to sit.
"I am here for my... niece, Jing Xiu," the Dragon King of the West Sea said to the Judge. "May I ask if my niece's soul is currently in the underworld, and if so, can I see her?"
Jing Xiu had died too early, so no one dared to guarantee that they could see her departed soul.
The Judge hesitated. "Jing Xiu died unjustly, so even though she is of the dragon race, according to regulations, she must enter the City of Unjust Deaths."
Qi Yu showed hesitation. The Prince of the Underworld was not a place anyone could enter. Even great immortals had to abide by the rules of the underworld.
However, some minor conveniences could occasionally be granted.
"So, my niece hasn't reincarnated yet? Then when can my niece reincarnate?" the Dragon King of the West Sea asked anxiously.