The lid slid open.
For a heartbeat—
Nothing happened.
Then—
**WOOM.**
A thick wave of dark energy burst violently from the box, billowing outward like black smoke under immense pressure.
The air distorted. Cold. Heavy. Oppressive.
The moment it erupted, the fox's fur **instantly stood on end**, every instinct in her body screaming danger.
Her turquoise eyes widened as she leapt backward, claws digging into the grass.
"—!!"
The dark energy didn't explode outward like a conventional attack. Instead, it **poured out slowly**, curling and writhing as if alive, twisting in the air like smoke with a mind of its own.
The temperature of the valley dropped sharply. Even the moonlight seemed dimmer where the energy swirled.
The fox's ears flattened against her head.
"…What the hell did he keep in here…?"
Her voice was low, cautious, suspicious.
The dark mist continued rising from the box, spiraling upward in slow, deliberate coils.
Then—
Something within the mist **stirred**.
The fox froze. Her pupils narrowed.
"…No way."
The dark energy condensed, twisting and compressing. Two faint points of light flickered within the shadowy mass.
Eyes. Cold. Watching.
The fox's tail puffed up instantly.
"That…" Her voice dropped to a whisper. "…is definitely not treasure."
Behind her, the small lizard still lay on the grass. His eyes were closed.
But as the dark energy emerged, his golden eyes slowly opened.
He had felt it the instant it appeared—and it was **far from weak**.
The fox stared at the swirling black mist, her ears flattened tightly against her head.
Her voice came low, measured.
"…Death energy."
The air around the box felt unnaturally cold, as if warmth itself were being drained away.
The mist twisted, rising higher and coalescing into vague shapes that constantly shifted and collapsed back into shadow.
Behind her, the lizard lifted his head slowly, lightning faintly flickering along the tip of his black-scaled tail. His golden eyes fixed on the dark form, calm and watchful.
Inside his mind, a thought surfaced.
*Yin energy…*
But this wasn't pure yin. It was heavier. Corrupted.
The system spoke quietly.
**[Scanning energy signature…]**
**[Analysis complete.]**
**[Conclusion: Yin-aligned spectral entity.]**
The lizard's eyes narrowed slightly.
**[Common classification: Ghost.]**
The fox's tail stiffened. She saw the dark mist compress again. Two hollow eyes flared within the shadows.
"…Of course," she muttered, irritation creeping into her voice.
"That idiot sealed a **ghost** in a box and carried it in his storage ring."
The mist thickened, coalescing into a vague humanoid silhouette, its body made entirely of writhing death energy.
The temperature dropped further. Grass near the box frosted lightly.
The fox took a cautious step back, turquoise eyes fixed on the forming spirit.
"…And judging from that aura…" Her voice lowered. "…this isn't a weak one."
Behind her, the lizard's head lifted fully, golden eyes still locked on the ghost.
Lightning flickered faintly along his tail. Calm. Observing.
Unlike beasts or cultivators, ghosts obeyed **different rules**.
The system spoke again:
**[Warning: Host should exercise caution.]**
**[Spectral entities composed of Yin energy are resistant to physical damage.]**
The mist surged violently. The ghost's form became clearer—long, thin, twisting constantly, its hollow eyes burning like cold lanterns.
Its head slowly turned, and its gaze locked directly onto them.
The valley fell into an oppressive silence.
The fox's turquoise eyes stayed fixed on the swirling specter. Despite the pressure radiating from it, she didn't retreat. Her tail flicked once behind her.
"So that's what it was…" she muttered thoughtfully.
"At least now I understand the **ghost banner**."
Her gaze shifted briefly to the open box on the grass.
"A container for a ghost steeped in Yin energy like this."
The spirit continued forming, dark mist swirling endlessly, only the two burning hollow eyes remaining clearly visible.
Then the ghost **growled**.
Not a beast's roar. Distorted. Like countless voices grinding together inside a hollow cavern.
"I… feel it…"
The dark mist shuddered violently. Its head turned.
"…I am free…"
Its gaze swept across the valley before locking onto the fox.
The killing intent radiating from it surged.
"Where…"
Its voice dragged, like rusted metal scraping across stone.
"…is that bastard?"
The fox blinked.
"Which bastard?"
The ghost's eyes burned brighter.
"The one who sealed me… the one who carried my prison…"
Its form surged with violent Yin energy.
"I will tear his soul apart…"
The fox stared for a moment, tilting her head slowly.
"Oh." Realization dawned.
"You mean the **Golden Core cultivator** who owned this ring?"
She tapped the metal band lying on the grass beside her.
Her voice turned casual.
"If that's who you're looking for…"
Her tail flicked once.
"…then that's unfortunate."
The ghost's burning gaze sharpened.
"Speak."
The fox gave a small shrug.
"Well."
"The owner of the ring…"
She nudged it slightly with her paw.
"…and everything inside it…"
Her turquoise eyes gleamed mischievously.
"…belongs to us now."
The ghost froze, swirling mist solidifying slightly. Its hollow eyes brightened.
"…You…"
The valley seemed to grow colder.
"…killed him?"
The fox shook her head lazily.
"No."
"He ran away."
Her grin widened slightly.
"But he ran away **poisoned half to death**, so whether he survives is none of my concern."
The ghost's form trembled violently. Its voice dropped to a cold whisper.
"…Then he lives."
The dark mist surged outward again, intent crackling through the valley.
"Good."
Its hollow gaze burned with hatred.
"Because I will find him."
The fox's ears twitched.
The ghost slowly turned its gaze back toward her.
"And you…"
The valley chilled further.
"…opened my prison."
For a moment, it simply stared at her.
Then the mist began shifting again.
"And for that…"
Its voice became eerily calm.
"…I should decide whether to thank you…"
The hollow eyes flared.
"…or devour your soul."
Behind the fox, the small lizard rose quietly to his feet, golden eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight.