When Ye Fan approached the ghost, the ghost could only evade, as the Copper Mirror within Ye Fan would cause her great harm. Ye Fan held the black crystal transformed from the evil spirit banner and finally placed it into his storage bracelet.

Lan Jing came over and held Ye Fan's hand, saying, "Ye Fan, thank you for helping me. Although I didn't awaken my mother, I'm very happy. Let's go back together."

"Alright." Ye Fan glanced at the ghost, who obviously was reluctant to let her daughter leave just like that.

"Mortal, you can't take my daughter away," said the ghost. "She belongs to this undersea world, guarding the purest dreams in her heart. Taking her will taint her soul!"

Ye Fan responded to the ghost with the Copper Mirror, saying, "You can make your own choices, but you have no right to decide others' choices, even if that person is your daughter!"

Lan Jing opened a crack in the undersea crust, and she and Ye Fan ascended through the fissure, while the blue ghost continued to follow them, seemingly waiting for Lan Jing to change her mind and return to the world below.

Upon reaching the surface of the East Sea, a sudden downpour started, which made Ye Fan feel strange. Just about ten minutes ago, the sea was sunny and clear. How could it become so cloudy so quickly?

As Ye Fan and Lan Jing passed through Hua Hai City, they noticed everywhere was shrouded in continuous rain and fierce winds. Ye Fan speculated that this might be related to Lan Jing's mother.

"Could Lan Jing's mother be the Rain God?" Ye Fan didn't know much about ancient deities, unsure if there was a Rain God among the ancient powers, but surely there would be a Water God.

Upon returning to Hua Hai City, Ye Fan followed the clues left by Li Zhaojun and directly found a small restaurant where Li Zhaojun, Min Shang, and Qing Xu were dining, actually tracking clues about Shen Yan.

"Ye Fan, Miss Lan, you're back?" Li Zhaojun said with a smile, giving Ye Fan a meaningful look when she saw Ye Fan and Lan Jing holding hands.

Ye Fan simply nodded, but Lan Jing naturally went over and hugged Li Zhaojun, saying, "Sister Zhao Jun, Ye Fan took me to the sea floor. We originally planned to awaken my mother's soul, but it didn't succeed... so we just came back."

Li Zhaojun smiled and nodded, inviting Lan Jing to sit down. At this moment, Lan Jing's face was much brighter and more cheerful than before, no longer just a dazed young girl.

The group sat down again, and Li Zhaojun explained the progress made in tracing the situation during the few hours Ye Fan was away. Meanwhile, Ye Fan's attention remained focused on the ghost at the restaurant's entrance—after all, she was Lan Jing's mother, trying to protect her daughter from any potential harm he might cause to Lan Jing, which was understandable.

"...That's all, Ye Fan. Should we go and capture the person now and ask what's going on?" Li Zhaojun didn't act without Ye Fan's consent, waiting to consult him first.

"No rush, let's wait until nightfall. I still have some matters to handle back at the hotel," Ye Fan said.

Li Zhaojun said, "Are you...?"

Ye Fan shook his head with a wry smile, knowing what Li Zhaojun meant. He wasn't seeking women right now but was thinking about negotiating with Lan Jing's mother to discuss issues regarding Lan Jing. Whether to tell Lan Jing about her mother's awakening would depend on consulting her mother first.

...

...

Back at the hotel, Ye Fan stayed alone in a room, seemingly cultivating but was actually negotiating with Lan Jing's mother.

"...How should I address you, Aunt?" Ye Fan asked.

"Despicable mortal, you don't deserve to know my name. Leave my daughter; she is pure and unblemished. You are tainting her soul!" The woman's tone was arrogantly dismissive.

Ye Fan thought, you are already a Soul Body, yet still so arrogant—perhaps due to being an ancient power?

Ye Fan said, "Aunt, there are some things I need to clarify with you. I and Miss Lan..."

The woman interrupted Ye Fan bluntly, "Her name isn't Lan. She has her own name, but you, as a mere mortal, don't deserve to know it."

What an arrogant mother, considering herself a deity and treating her daughter likewise. But even now fearing a Copper Mirror so much, can she still say such things?

"Let's put it this way, I'm just an acquaintance—I'll respect her wishes. If she wants to stay and explore the world outside, I'll honor her decision, and I ask you, Aunt, not to interfere," Ye Fan said.

"Not interfere? Hmph, you think I'd watch you deceive my daughter emotionally? She knows nothing, she might be bewildered by your vile mortal habits, take you as her beloved, entrust herself to you, and at that point, her cultivation will be in vain, she might not even remain human..."

In speaking too much, Lan Jing's mother inadvertently revealed something.

Ye Fan thought to himself, Lan Jing is the daughter of an ancient power; even if she has a beloved, she wouldn't fail to remain human, right?

"Aunt, I'm not quite sure what you mean," Ye Fan said.

"In any case, you must leave her! Otherwise, I won't spare you!" Lan Jing's mother exclaimed.

"I'll do my best to persuade her to return to the sea, but regarding your matter, should I tell her?" Ye Fan asked.

"I..." Initially arrogant, Lan Jing's mother hesitated when it came to her Soul Body's revival, "You can't tell her, because I... am truly gone."

"Understood, Aunt. I sense your Soul Body is somewhat weakened, likely due to being detached from your energy body for a long time. If it's inconvenient for you to manifest, you can return to the sea first. Here's a Spiritual Energy token from me; you can use it to locate me anytime." Ye Fan tossed a simple token with his Spiritual Energy printed on it. Lan Jing's mother tried to catch it but found herself unable to do so.

"Mortal, are you mocking me?" Lan Jing's mother was angered but still dared not approach Ye Fan, "Wherever you go, I'll follow, as my daughter and I are inherently one."

After saying this, the woman's spirit suddenly vanished, as if she had never been there.

Ye Fan had initially wanted to ask her how to help her regain a substantial form, but she gave no chance before leaving.

Returning to the adjoining room, Lan Jing was looking gloomily at the little Red Crystal and little Blue Crystal. Ye Fan said, "Miss Lan, are you thinking of your mother?"

"Yes, I originally thought I could awaken my mother. I miss her very much and those days we spent together under the sea. I was so happy then." Lan Jing's face was full of joyous memories.

Ye Fan said, "Yet if your mother becomes different, like an object, or perhaps like this little Blue Crystal, would you still wish for her to awaken?"

"Certainly, no matter how my mother changes, she's still my mother. I want to stay by her side to be happy forever... Ye Fan, will you live with me and my mother too?" Lan Jing gazed at Ye Fan with a look of bliss.

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