Ancestor-Level Old Ginger

"Whew... Whew..."

The three great overlords lay sprawled by the shore, gasping for breath!

Yet within mere moments,

Cold sweat had already drenched their entire bodies!

The memories of what they had just witnessed roared through their minds like thunder, sending shockwaves through the hearts of these three elders, leaving them unable to calm down for a long time.

The more they thought about it, the more terrified they became!

The North Sea Emperor suddenly jerked upright, his voice trembling.

"The master of Lord Skeleton... is actually on Black Island?!"

"Before such a being, we are nothing but ants. It's truly unimaginable that someone of that stature would personally visit a small place like ours..."

Hearing this,

The Sturgeon Dragon Emperor seemed to recall something and leaped up from the ground in shock.

"Black Island...?"

"That island belongs to the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Dragon Merfolk, one of the seventy-two islands of the Eastern Sea. Recently, an outsider has led the humans there in rebellion, and it's said they've already clashed bloodily with the Heavenly Dragon Merfolk."

"Could it be... that outsider is...?!"

Before he could finish,

The other two also shot up and locked eyes, their expressions growing increasingly horrified.

"Is this true?!"

"Absolutely! My clan is distantly related to the Heavenly Dragon Merfolk, and I heard this with my own ears. Rumor has it that an outsider surnamed Yi aided Black Island, and he's already slaughtered over a thousand merfolk!"

"How could a mere human overpower the merfolk's might? That outsider must be Lord Skeleton's master!"

"Lord Yi aided Black Island first, and then Lord Skeleton took action against the merfolk. Could it be that the Heavenly Dragon Merfolk offended him in some way?"

"Nonsense! A being like Lord Yi—how could lowly merfolk ever hope to provoke him?"

"Exactly. In my opinion, this matter is far more complicated than we can fathom. It's likely not just targeting the Heavenly Dragon Merfolk but heralding a calamity for our entire sea race!"

"Tch..."

By the time their speculations reached this point, the three overlords had turned deathly pale!

An overwhelming, invisible force seemed to press down upon the sea, enveloping everything in its shadow. The three of them were nothing but small fish and shrimp, helplessly tossed by the waves!

The North Sea Emperor's pupils trembled in fear.

"W-what should we do?!"

"Should we seek Lord Skeleton's help? As that lord's servant, even if his influence is limited, perhaps he could still plead for mercy on our behalf?"

The Sturgeon Dragon Emperor was equally panicked.

"That's our only hope!"

"Before Lord Yi, no one can stand as his equal. Let us pray that Lord Skeleton's meager influence might buy us a sliver of survival!"

This emperor and this sovereign were the pinnacle figures of the sea race.

In ordinary times, they stood unshakable, their mere titles enough to make the seas tremble. But in the face of such a catastrophe, they could only feel utterly powerless.

For tens of thousands of years,

They had never experienced such terrifying oppression!

No wonder these two once-mighty overlords were now as flustered as inexperienced youths!

While the two were frantically discussing,

The Crab Emperor had remained silent. Though his aged right hand trembled slightly as he stroked his beard, his expression was noticeably calmer, lost in deep thought.

Seeing this, the North Sea Emperor couldn't help but urge him impatiently.

"Elder Crab, speak up!"

"At such a critical moment, how can you stay silent? Our sea race faces imminent disaster!"

The Sturgeon Dragon Emperor also turned to him, cupping his hands respectfully.

"Elder Crab, we both believe only Lord Skeleton can turn the tide. What do you think?"

Watching their agitation, the Crab Emperor only grew more composed.

"Not so, not so!"

His tone was as steady as an old dog's, immediately dismissing their proposal.

The North Sea Emperor's temper flared.

"Hah!"

"If the Crab Emperor disagrees, do you have a better plan?!"

The Crab Emperor chuckled, stroking his beard without a care.

"Of course I do."

"Gentlemen, since this matter stems from Lord Yi, and even Lord Skeleton obeys his will, why don't we pledge ourselves to Lord Yi instead?"

Huh!?

The two froze, their eyes flashing with realization!

"This...!"

"That... actually makes sense!"

Caught off guard by this unprecedented calamity, they had been too panicked to think clearly. But the Crab Emperor's suggestion struck them like a bolt of enlightenment!

Yet, remembering Lord Yi's status, they hesitated again.

"Lord Yi is a being beyond our comprehension. Do the three of us even qualify to serve him? And doesn't he despise our sea race? Wouldn't we be walking into a trap?"

"Right. Even if he doesn't hate us, when even Lord Skeleton is merely a slave, how could our meager cultivation ever earn us a place? We'd be lucky to qualify as footstools..."

The Crab Emperor nodded and continued guiding them patiently.

"True enough."

"But, gentlemen, consider this carefully."

"If Lord Yi has come to the Eastern Sea in person, he must be approachable. He likely wouldn't scorn our lowly cultivation. Besides, we know the seas inside out—how could we lack opportunities to serve?"

"Even if Lord Yi despises the entire sea race, we could always take human form to follow him."

"And even if we're nothing but dust in his eyes, isn't it enough just to be able to stand in his presence?"

Whoosh!

The two felt their minds clear, as if a vast new horizon had opened before them!

"That's true!"

"If I can serve that lord, I wouldn't even mind being the dirt beneath his feet. My identity as a sea being... I'll discard it without hesitation!"

The more they thought, the more hopeful they became, their eyes alight with renewed determination!

They turned to the Crab Elder, their faces filled with admiration.

"Elder Crab, your wisdom leaves us in awe!"

"Meeting you has been our greatest fortune! No wonder humans say, 'An elder in the house is a treasure in the house'!"

The Crab Elder stroked his beard with a pleased smile.

"Hoho, you flatter me."

"This old man has merely lived for a hundred thousand years, so I've picked up a bit of experience. As humans say, 'The older the ginger, the spicier it is.' But this is just the wisdom of age—nothing remarkable."

Hearing his humble words, their respect only deepened.

If ginger grew spicier with age, then the Crab Elder was the ancestral-grade variety. With his guidance, the three of them could surely navigate this storm safely!

Even so,

The thought of Lord Yi's terrifying status...

Weighed on them like a mountain, leaving no room for arrogance.

Time was of the essence!

The three great overlords immediately transformed into human forms, tore through the void, and set off for Black Island in the Eastern Sea!