Chapter Eighty-Two: The Sea of Mist

“Do you believe I’ll kill you?” The Queen of Azure’s voice was cold as ice, but Lei Xiang only smiled, utterly unfazed, and replied without hesitation, “No, I don’t.”

Behind her dark veil, her eyes seemed to blaze with fire. With a flick of her wrist, a long blue whip lashed toward Lei Xiang like a serpent springing from its lair, slicing through the air with a fierce wind. Yet Lei Xiang stood there as if nothing was happening, making no move to dodge or evade.

The Queen of Azure appeared momentarily startled. Her wrist twisted in an odd motion, and the tip of the whip veered off by an inch. With a thunderous crack, it struck the black earth at Lei Xiang’s side, splitting the hardened ground with a half-inch-wide fissure. Lei Xiang’s expression did not change, but inwardly he was deeply shocked. “I hadn’t expected the Queen of Azure to be this powerful. If I want to kill her, it will take some real effort.”

The Queen of Azure flicked her whip a few more times, as if venting her anger, then withdrew it with a shake of her hand and immediately donned a smile. “Heh, Lei Xiang, you have courage. I was right about you. However, no one may look upon my true face. That is my rule—anyone who tries does not live to tell the tale.”

Without waiting for his reply, she tossed out a plantain leaf, which, catching the wind, expanded into a plantain boat that floated in midair. “Come aboard, my valiant guard. We set out now. If you can help me obtain that item, I shall send you straight back to the human continent.”

The setting sun was as red as blood.

The plantain boat sailed under that crimson sky, bearing five people: Lei Xiang and the Queen of Azure, as well as Zhuang Yang, Jade Tallow, and even Teacher Mu Qingchun. Lei Xiang racked his brain but could not fathom what use these companions could be—a piggish Zhuang Yang, petite-footed Jade Tallow, and Mu Qingchun, a language instructor, no less.

Yet the Queen of Azure spoke with utmost seriousness, “This is a mission I have long prepared for, and it must succeed! Let me brief you on the situation. Our destination is a place called Ghostshade Valley—a basin surrounded on all sides by mountains, beyond which lies a sea of mist that lingers all year round. The mist is not only toxic, but also teems with innumerable ghosts and monsters. This journey will be perilous in the extreme; everyone must work together.”

When no one responded, she added with a deliberate smile, “But rest assured, I am well prepared. I have also invited an elder of the Red Elves to accompany us. As long as you follow my commands, nothing serious will happen.”

Suddenly, Lei Xiang bared his small tiger-like teeth in a grin. “They say fortune favors the bold. In such a dangerous place, there must be something extraordinary at stake.”

The Queen of Azure nodded. “You are right, Lei Xiang. I will not keep it from you any longer. Our goal is a plant called Reed Aloe—it is the primary ingredient for the Elixir of Delay. I have secured all the secondary ingredients, and the method for making the elixir. All is prepared; we only await the Reed Aloe itself.” She paused, then continued, “To obtain it, we must cross the misty sea, climb the surrounding mountains, and enter Ghostshade Valley to defeat the plant’s guardian beast—the Lord of Aloe. The Lord of Aloe is a beast with ancient wild blood, only at the fifth tier, but immensely strong and able to fly. It is a formidable foe. They live as a mated pair; usually, the male hunts early, while the female guards the Reed Aloe. We will strike at that moment and dispatch her in one blow.”

The group now understood the general plan. Each lowered their heads in thought, except Lei Xiang, who lounged lazily against the side of the plantain boat, his eyes narrowed at the blazing sun, unbothered by its glare. No one knew he was using the time to cultivate the blue radiance in his eyes.

Ten days passed. The plantain boat came to a halt in a gray, formless void. Lei Xiang looked around at the boundless expanse of white mist stretching in all directions. At that moment, the Queen of Azure’s voice rang out, “This is the Sea of Mist. We will rest here. Once the Red Elf elder arrives, we will enter together.”

“What’s there to wait for? I’ve been here ages already!” As the words fell, a meteor-like fireball shot toward them, halting beside the plantain boat as if by magic. “Little Azure sister, are you ready? We’ll break through together.”

The Queen of Azure’s voice was tinged with delight. “Brother Blaze, everything is set on my side. Did you bring that treasure?”

The fireball crackled and popped. “Hahaha, you can always count on me. Let’s go!” With a whoosh, the fireball leapt ten yards ahead, but immediately faltered and dropped. “Hmm, this place is tricky,” he mused.

The Queen of Azure laughed. “Brother Blaze, I forgot to mention—there’s a flight restriction here. We’ll have to cross the mist on foot.”

“I’ll take the lead!” The fireball blazed even fiercer, advancing swiftly into the mist. Wherever the white fog touched the flames, it sizzled into white steam and vanished, revealing a narrow path just wide enough for one person. The group followed closely behind.

After about half a mile, sudden wails and howls echoed through the mist, chilling and dreadful. “Be alert—ghosts are attacking!” warned the Queen of Azure. Everyone activated their defensive magical tools. Lei Xiang tapped into his Reverse Scale defense and set up two layers of beast-hide tents. No sooner were preparations made than a torrent of white phantoms surged from the mist.

The Queen of Azure’s whip cracked—each strike shattered a towering ghostly figure. With a sweep, three more phantoms were dispersed. Jade Tallow and Mu Qingchun stood back-to-back, raising a larch-shaped artifact that kept the ghosts at bay. Zhuang Yang fought with brute force, swinging his iron fists—each as large as a dustpan—sending any ghost he struck tumbling to the ground.

Lei Xiang considered unleashing his evolved Gluttonous Pig, but decided instead to wield the Thunder Hammer, dispatching the ghosts one by one. Though more laborious, this at least avoided drawing attention from the Queen of Azure or the Elder Blaze.

Thus the group fought as they advanced, covering several more miles. The mists churned anew. After a wolf-like ghost’s howl echoed, the phantoms abruptly retreated as if called away, leaving everyone briefly stunned. But soon the mist boiled and thickened, swirling ever denser. Elder Blaze, at the front, was the first to sense the danger. “Be careful—these ghosts are immortal!”

The rest quickly realized that no matter what spells or artifacts they used, the vengeful spirits could not be destroyed—not even Elder Blaze’s fire magic worked. Only after hacking away until their arms ached did a few ghosts finally perish. They understood then: the ghosts were not truly immortal, but must be killed repeatedly to be vanquished—a time-consuming ordeal.

At this, the Queen of Azure gritted her teeth, as if making a great decision. She drew a blue maple leaf from her bosom and tossed it into the air. It grew larger as it floated. She lashed out with her whip, the tip entwining the leaf’s base, then flung the whip skyward, where it stood upright, the maple leaf now the size of a cartwheel at its tip. She threw out two more blue maple leaves, which spun and expanded, adhering to the whip’s tip in a fanlike array.

The Queen of Azure gripped the whip’s shaft with both hands and rubbed it vigorously. The whip spun upright, counterclockwise, the cluster of maple leaves whirling faster and faster like a great propeller, raising fierce blue gales.

Where the gale swept, the mist was scoured away, revealing the ghosts hidden within. The sight astonished all present.