Hearing Ye Ling's words, Xu Shuya was stunned, and for a moment, she couldn't react, "How could Father harm me?"
"If you don't believe me, then let's make a bet," Ye Ling smiled. "If you win, I'll let all three of you go, and I won't make a move on this Heavenly Net Ghost City."
"But if you lose, you'll have to listen to me and go with me to a certain place, how about that?"
Xu Shuya glanced at Tian Yi and Zhang Qi. After some hesitation, she said to Ye Ling, "I believe Father, I'll bet with you!"
"Spoken like a true friend."
Ye Ling smiled slightly at Xu Shuya. "However, to ensure fairness in our bet, I need to place a mark on all three of you, to prevent you from leaking information midway and disrupting my plans."
With that, three small black orbs appeared in Ye Ling's palm and merged into the foreheads of Xu Shuya and the other two.
"What is this?" Xu Shuya felt a coolness on her forehead and asked curiously.
"A small safeguard. As long as you don't try to tell anyone about this place, the mark will disappear after today."
Ye Ling explained, then said to Ye Qingyan, "Qingyan, release that boy. The Heavenly Net Ghost King's banquet should be starting soon, and you need to go back to play the role of the sacrifice."
"Then I'll leave this to you. I'll be going ahead."
Ye Qingyan didn't hesitate, quickly released Tian Yi, and then swiftly departed from the garden.
Tian Yi, now free, got up from the ground and looked at Ye Ling with a complex expression. Without saying anything else, he said to Xu Shuya, "Miss, we should be going."
Xu Shuya glanced at Zhang Qi again and asked Ye Ling, "What about Big Brother Zhang?"
"I'll be watching him, naturally," Ye Ling said with a smile.
"You must keep your promise."
Xu Shuya looked at Ye Ling seriously. "Otherwise, even if my soul is scattered, I will never forgive you."
Ye Ling chuckled, "Don't worry, I always keep my word."
"I hope so."
Xu Shuya gave Ye Ling a deep look and didn't linger. She left with Tian Yi.
"This girl, if nothing else, she's quite brave."
Watching Xu Shuya's retreating back, Ye Ling shook his head and smiled. The demonic energy surging around him coiled around the unconscious Zhang Qi, dragging him into the distorted space.
After dealing with Zhang Qi, Ye Ling also concealed his figure and hurried towards the banquet hall.
When Ye Qingyan returned to her room, the girls who were about to be sacrificed were still chattering away, none of them realizing Ye Qingyan had left.
Not long after Ye Qingyan returned, the female housekeeper who had brought them here entered the room and clapped her hands, "Young ladies, the banquet has begun. Line up and follow me. Maintain silence throughout."
"Yes."
The girls responded in unison and then, according to the pre-arranged formation, lined up in two rows, filled with excitement.
Ye Qingyan stood at the very back.
After confirming the headcount, the female housekeeper led the more than ten young women, who had been bathed and changed, towards the banquet hall.
At this moment, a high platform had been erected in the center of the banquet hall. On both sides sat many evil spirits and cultivators who served the Heavenly Net Ghost City. The Heavenly Net Ghost King, clad in black armor, sat on the main seat, with several bloody human heads placed before his table.
The grand banquet, far from being lively, was incredibly eerie and sinister.
The entire hall was shrouded in an oppressive gloom.
Evil spirits feasted on human flesh and drank human blood, while the cultivators ate meat broth, their cultivation enhanced through unholy means.
This was no place of the living!
Just then, Tian Yi led Xu Shuya into the hall. He ignored the scenes around him and respectfully bowed to the Heavenly Net Ghost King, "Master, Miss has arrived."
The Heavenly Net Ghost King smiled at Tian Yi, "Ah, your seat is the first on the left. It's already prepared for you. I know you don't eat human flesh, so the dishes on that table were specially prepared by an executive chef I brought from a five-star hotel. See if it suits your taste?"
The evil spirits and cultivators around, seeing Tian Yi's assigned seat and the special treatment he received from the Heavenly Net Ghost King, couldn't help but show envy in their eyes.
The first seat on the left was the most honored position, second only to the main seat, usually occupied by Duke Huiling.
Now that the seat was taken by Tian Yi, the Heavenly Net Ghost King's intentions were quite clear.
However, despite their envy and jealousy, everyone respected Tian Yi's placement.
Tian Yi was the Heavenly Net Ghost King's personal attendant. Not only did he possess seventh-grade cultivation, but he was also loyal and trustworthy, the Ghost King's most trusted confidant.
Moreover, Tian Yi was a man of few words and many deeds, which further earned him the Heavenly Net Ghost King's favor.
When the Heavenly Net Ghost King was absent from the Heavenly Net Ghost City, Tian Yi was essentially his representative, and few in the city dared to offend him.
"Thank you for your kindness, Master."
Tian Yi knelt and offered a deep bow to the Heavenly Net Ghost King, then walked towards his seat.
Xu Shuya followed behind him.
"Shuya, ascend the high platform."
At this moment, the Heavenly Net Ghost King spoke, causing Xu Shuya to freeze.
"Master!"
Tian Yi, having just taken his seat, suddenly heard the Heavenly Net Ghost King's words and leaped to his feet!
The high platform in the center of the hall was not for a bonfire party; it was an altar for sacrifices!
Was the Heavenly Net Ghost King going to sacrifice his own daughter?
Tian Yi's mind went blank; he couldn't believe it.
"Tian Yi, what are you doing?"
A hint of displeasure flashed across the Heavenly Net Ghost King's face, his tone turning somewhat cold.
Tian Yi trembled and quickly apologized to the Heavenly Net Ghost King, "My apologies for my presumption, Master. Please punish me!"
"Let this be the last time. Sit down."
"Thank you, Master."
Tian Yi numbly sat down, watching Xu Shuya in the center of the banquet hall, Ye Ling's words echoing in his mind.
He had been saved by the Heavenly Net Ghost King since childhood and had been tasked with protecting Xu Shuya.
Although he had always believed that the Heavenly Net Ghost King's actions were wrong, he had been instilled with the belief of loyalty to his master and the vow to protect Xu Shuya with his life.
In many matters, he could only choose to turn a blind eye to uphold his master's authority.
But now, the very person who had instilled these beliefs in him was about to personally kill the person he was sworn to protect…
Tian Yi's mind was in turmoil.
Xu Shuya, however, was unaware of what awaited her. Since the Heavenly Net Ghost King wanted her to ascend the high platform, she had no reason to hesitate.
Without a second thought, Xu Shuya walked step by step onto the high platform.
"Master, the sacrificial offerings from various regions have arrived."
At this moment, the female housekeeper entered the banquet hall with the more than ten young women and respectfully said to the Heavenly Net Ghost King.
The young women, who had been anticipating what awaited them, all showed expressions of terror when they saw the human heads on the table and the ferocious evil spirits devouring human flesh!
Where was this place?
The girls were terrified, their initial excitement vanishing instantly, replaced by boundless fear!
They wanted to flee, but their legs felt weak!
"Excellent, all pure sacrificial offerings. Take them to the altar, and the ritual can begin!"
The Heavenly Net Ghost King laughed heartily, ignited a human head from his table, and hurled it towards the base of the high platform.
Boom!
The massive high platform erupted in green flames, and a scarlet magic circle lit up below. A multitude of blood-red tentacles emerged from the ground, binding Xu Shuya on the platform.
Seeing this, the young women screamed in unison and frantically tried to escape.
"Wind Rope!"
The female housekeeper clasped her hands together and snorted.
All the young women, including Ye Qingyan, were bound by the strong winds that swept around them and were blown towards the high platform.
Like Xu Shuya, they were also ensnared by the blood-red tentacles.
"Father, what are you doing?" Xu Shuya struggled and asked the Heavenly Net Ghost King in a shocked voice.
The Heavenly Net Ghost King grinned, "My dear daughter, I have been waiting for this day since the moment you were born."
"For Father's dream of godhood, you must make a sacrifice."
Hearing the Heavenly Net Ghost King's words, Xu Shuya's pupils contracted sharply!
"Father, you… you want to kill me?"