"That's right. But Evan Lan was way too strong—guns, bullets, all kinds of high-tech weapons, even missiles couldn't touch him. They had no choice, so they used their ninth wish on me: a weapon that could defeat Evan Lan.
So I found them an abandoned Dimensional Shuttle at the bottom of the sea and told them to use the leftover energy inside to build the Ultimate Weapon. That's the one you're holding now."
"Okay, got it," Lily Bai said. "Eternal Wishfish, so it was you stirring up trouble! If not for you, would Evan Lan's whole family have suffered like this?"
"How am I stirring up trouble? I'm a victim here too, okay? I've been sealed in this painting for millions of years! I just want out." The fish put on an innocent, pitiful face. "If you let me finish the last wish—the one about healing his legs—and let me out, how about it?"
"You really think that's possible?"
Once I'm out, you can keep me in a fish tank, find yourself a boyfriend, and I'll grant you nine wishes too. How about it?
"Get lost."
"If you won't help me, I'll kill you!" Suddenly, a blast of red energy shot out from the painting.
Lily Bai dissolved into black mist, dodging easily. "Are you out of your mind?"
"Help me! Hurry up!" No matter where Lily Bai moved, it could pinpoint her exact location.
Fed up with the fish, Lily Bai just dropped the Spell Stone into the array and teleported away.
"Take me with you!" the Eternal Wishfish yelled.
Have fun chilling here, you two!" Lily Bai called as she teleported away.
Before leaving, she glanced at Kieran Xiao, who lay there motionless, as if he'd lost the will to live.
She teleported back to Heaven's Gate Mountain. Evan Lan was still locked up in the cage.
Seeing her return, Uncle Ernie and Eric Lan's eyes lit up.
Eric Lan asked her what happened.
But Uncle Ernie was staring at the Ultimate Weapon in her hand, deliberately blocking the entrance to Evan Lan's cage, his whole body on alert.
Lily Bai walked toward the cage.
"What are you doing?" Uncle Ernie asked nervously.
Uncle Ernie was still tense, but Evan Lan called out, "Uncle Ernie, relax. She's just here to bust me out. Let her through."
Uncle Ernie shifted aside reluctantly, still watching Lily like she might try something wild.
Lily Bai fiddled with the Ultimate Weapon, aimed it at the cage, and pressed a button. The red light snapped back into the gun with a dramatic whirr.
Evan Lan strode out, stretching like he'd just escaped from a long nap.
Lily Bai grinned at him, twirling the gun in her hand. "So, Evan Lan, aren't you even a little scared I'll just blow you away with this thing?"
Evan Lan just smiled, stepped close, and gently tilted her chin with his finger, his gaze warm and teasing. "Would you really have the heart to, Demon-Spirit Empress?"
Lily Bai raised an eyebrow, smirking. "How'd you figure out I'm the Demon-Spirit Empress?"
"Haven't you read my family's ancient records?" Evan Lan asked.
"I have, but they don't say what the Ling Emperor looks like," Lily Bai replied.
"They do have records about the God-Demon Child," Evan Lan said.
Lily Bai paused, then her eyes widened. "Wait, I remember! The records say the Sacred Spirit Qīngluán's son married the Fiend Princess, but when she got pregnant, the sky went nuts—crazy omens everywhere. The rune masters ran the numbers and freaked out. Turns out, the Demon-Spirit Empress and Holy Spirit bloodlines were just too strong. Their kid would have the power to blow open the Demon Sealing Well."
Evan Lan nodded. "All three Divine Realms wanted the Fiend Princess dead. The Sacred Spirit's son had to kill their own unborn child and destroy his own bloodline—never able to have kids again. Only then did they let her live. After that, they disappeared and were never seen again."