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"Crush?" Gui Wei didn't believe it, "Who is her crush? Is he as handsome and dashing as me? As noble in status as me? As devoted as me? As..."

Ji Chengsi made a retching expression and impatiently shooed him away, "Scram! Don’t stink up my family’s ship!"

Gui Wei was extremely displeased and whined, "Ji Liuliu, what kind of ghost are you? Just now you bled us dry, and now you're driving us away the next moment—turning tail on us already? Who acts like you?"

"Don't call me Ji Liuliu!" Ji Chengsi looked disgusted. "Call me that again and I won’t let you board next time."

Gui Wei waved his bone fan and said, "You're sixth-born in the Ji clan—what else should I call you if not Ji Liuliu?" Ignoring him, he insisted on meeting Miss Shi in person before leaving.

Just as the Ji family disciples were about to throw him back onto the Gui family's ship, Shi Wuming happened to pass by, striding over with such vigor that his skirt nearly billowed, radiating bold, heroic energy.

The picture of masculinity.

Gui Wei's eyes lit up, and he instantly darted over. "Miss Shi! Fancy meeting you here!"

Shi Wuming knew this ghost was here for business—another payday of Yin Stones was coming their way—and was in a great mood. "Young Master Gui, you're here too."

"I was just waiting for you," Gui Wei said eagerly. "Miss Shi, would you like to visit our Gui family's ship? It's much more comfortable than here, and the servants wait hand and foot. You’ll be treated like royalty."

Shi Wuming was about to refuse but suddenly thought of something and cheerfully agreed.

Ji Chengsi watched them and decided not to interfere, taking the signed contracts to Ning Yuzhou instead.

Ning Yuzhou, Ning Jichen, Wen Qiao, and Wen Tuti were all present. A corner of the room had been cleared for research, with a table on which lay a half-mangled undead creature, trussed up like a pretzel with the Ruyi Bracelet, utterly helpless and completely at their whim.

Seeing him arrive, Wen Tuti hopped over and asked how much the pill recipe had sold for in Yin Stones.

Wen Tuti was a cultivator at the Yuanchuang stage. Though disguised as a Ghost Cultivator, he openly displayed "Ghost King-level power." However, his bouncy, kid-like antics made it easy for other Ghost Cultivators to overlook his true power.

Ji Chengsi also felt no restraint in the presence of a Ghost King and promptly recounted the trades made with Xuanyin City and the Gui family.

The Ji family had haggled a sweet deal for the medicinal liquid formula, obtaining many valuable items from both Xuanyin City and the Gui family.

Ji Chengsi presented the list to Ning Yuzhou and the others, saying, "Brother Ning, the effects of this liquid are excellent. Our Ji family would like some too, at the listed price. Does that work for you?"

Ning Yuzhou glanced at the items on the list and said, "No need. Consider it a gift."

"How can that be?!" Ji Chengsi refused to take advantage of them.

"It's fine," Ning Yuzhou smiled faintly. "Call it a friend discount. If trouble arises in the future, I may need Young Master Ji's help."

Ji Chengsi replied without hesitation, "Of course! I already see you all as friends."

Though Ning Yuzhou insisted on gifting it, Ji Chengsi still felt guilty. He rummaged through his storage bags and pulled out several items for them.

"I noticed you only have the Ruyi Bracelets as weapons. Coincidentally, I have a batch of ghost weapons here—take them."

Wen Tuti and the others stared at the unmodified ghost weapons and fell silent.

They used the Ruyi Bracelets precisely because they were the cheapest and easiest to modify. Ning Yuzhou had bought many, so they treated them as throwaway gear.

Ning Yuzhou didn’t bat an eye. "Then we thank Young Master Ji for your kindness."

After Ji Chengsi left, Ning Yuzhou examined the ghost weapons and decided to retrofit them for Wen Qiao’s crew to use.

Before nightfall, Shi Wuming returned from the Gui family's ship.

Watching him cheerfully cross the gangplank between the ships, Ji Chengsi asked with concern, "Miss Shi, did Gui Wei pull any shady moves on you?"

"Nope!" Shi Wuming waved his hand. "We just shot the breeze over some drinks."

Ji Chengsi studied him for a moment and, seeing nothing amiss, didn’t press further.

Gui Wei might be flirtatious, but he wasn’t foolish enough to mess with their esteemed guest from the Ji family. Most likely, he had just invited him for drinks, a bit of life talk, and was trying to charm him.

By then, night had fallen, and the undead creatures emerged once more.

Both the Gui family and Xuanyin City’s ships had obtained the medicinal formula. After their alchemists gathered the necessary herbs and refined the potion, they used it that same night.

The results were indeed excellent—not only reducing casualties but also making things easier.

Of course, the current undead creatures weren't that tough yet. Given the strength of the disciples aboard the three ships, injuries were unlikely. The real challenge lay ahead. Still, thanks to the potion, the Ghost Cultivators of all three factions felt confident that even if their ships pushed further in, they wouldn’t face big trouble—unless they encountered an undead creature even the Ghost Emperor couldn’t handle.

After a month of sailing, they gradually approached the territory of the Fallen Dragon.

Ghost King Uncle Qi stood at the bow, gazing at the distant sky. The sea churned with waves, and dark clouds loomed ominously, as if brewing a storm.

Wen Qiao walked over and asked curiously, "Uncle Qi, does the Undead Sea have storms too?"

Uncle Qi, true to form, kept it short: "Yes."

"What are they like?"

"Huge."

"How big?"

"Bad ones—with thunder."

"Both thunder and storms? Anything else?"

"...Tornadoes."

"What are the tornadoes like?"

"..."

Ji Chengsi couldn’t help but laugh when he saw Uncle Qi’s increasingly strained expression, clearly at a loss for words under the relentless questioning.

Uncle Qi was a quiet type, sitting quietly, keeping to himself, practically invisible—easy to overlook. Still, he was still a Ghost King, and most ordinary Ghost Cultivators steered clear of him. But Wen Qiao seemed unaffected, asking questions directly until even Uncle Qi was worn out.