Xuhuan couldn't help but instinctively take a step back when faced with Yao Jun's intense gaze. He had been perfectly calm and cold even when facing Luosho Li and Peyton so she hadn't expected him to react this strongly to such mundane news. She quickly shook herself out of her confused state, promptly answering him.
"Yes, Master, while it is true that there was once a time where the items inside an interspatial ring would end up destroyed alongside the ring, all interspatial rings made in the last two million years are constructed so that their contents will be sent to a specific galaxy once the ring breaks. If my memory serves me correct, the Lost God galaxy should be located at the southern end of your universe, close to the edge of it."
Yao Jun blinked a few times after hearing Xuhuan's response, running his fingers through his hair to calm himself down. His mind quickly returned to its normal calm state, his expression loosening as he muttered quietly.
"So they're not lost, that's good."
Yao Jun didn't give a damn about the lost items within Peyton's interspatial ring, if they were gone then they were gone. But there was one shattered interspatial ring whose contents he cared greatly about, his old interspatial ring which had been crushed by Qiao Xian Yi, the one carrying the Human God Gate, several years ago, before he even left his home planet. That ring contained the last gifts he had been given by his parents before they last separated, a simple sword and a few sets of clothing.
The sword was useless and the clothing would all be too small for him now, but as they were the last things given to him they were still very important to him. If the Lost God galaxy truly was like Xuhuan explained it then Yao Jun definitely had to go there once he had some time on his hand. But for now he could only put it aside, his gaze drifting over to Xuhuan.
"Master, huh? What's with the new title?"
Even Little Thunder and the others only called him Lord so he found it somewhat curious that a Demonic beast who technically wasn't even his follower yet would go out of her way to call him Master, especially considering that she hadn't called him that earlier. Xuhuan gave a small nod of her head and kneeled down on one knee in front of Yao Jun, lowering her head slightly.
"I know that our agreement was to wait for the end of the competition, but looking at how rapidly you have grown, I have decided that there is no need for me to wait for the end of the competition. I wholeheartedly recognize you as someone worthy of bearing the moniker of the Demon God, and my Master. So I beseech you, allow me to follow you in the future and be of use to you."
One of Yao Jun's eyebrows rose slightly in surprise at how rapidly Xuhuan was willing to swear allegiance to him, he had expected that he needed to do his utmost to convince her just before the end of the competition. But it was only to be expected, in the short time since he had absorbed her he had ascended to the Earthly Deity realm and continuously showed strength that defied all reason.
And as the one holding the Demon God's Gate, he would only get stronger and stronger as time moved on, he was like a blazing fire that grew fiercer the more it swallowed and scorched, eventually his flames would reach the edge of the universe and extend beyond it, a brilliant and blinding sun. Yao Jun gave a nod of his head and stepped forward, placing his hand on Xuhuan's shoulder, he wasn't one to reject something like this.
"Alright, then I'll be relying on you in the future, Xuhuan, I look forward to working with you. And since that's what you've decided, then it's about time for you to meet the others."
Yao Jun took a step back, the black gate that was his God Gate appearing at his side and slowly opening. As the God Gate opened, Yao Jun sent a message to Little Gray, opening another gate right in front of him so that he could enter the God Gate. No matter how far away they were from each other, Yao Jun could open an entrance, or exit, to his God Gate in front of any of his Demonic beasts, so it was easy for them to meet up whenever there was a need to.
The elegant and slim Little Gray stepped out of the now open God Gate, his silver hair blowing in the breeze while his equally silver eyes were inspecting Xuhuan. He knew that Yao Jun had absorbed a new Demonic beast a while ago, but this was the first time he was actually seeing her. Xuhuan's pupils shrank slightly when she saw Little Gray, as a Divine Beast she was able to feel that he too was a Divine Beast, a very strong one at that. Yao Jun gave a casual wave of his hand, formally introducing the two to each other.
"Little Gray, this is Xuhuan Huo. Xuhuan, this is Little Gray, also known as Yin Lingzhu, he's one of the people that has been following me for the longest, he's also the most sensible one. Little Gray, can you take Xuhuan with you and introduce her to the others? Also, include her in whatever schemes you have going on now."
Little Gray turned his gaze away from Xuhuan with a satisfied nod, judging her adequate to following Yao Jun. He turned towards Yao Jun and gave him a courteous bow before patting his own chest to reassure Yao Jun.
"Don't worry, My Lord, we have long prepared for her arrival. As for schemes, I can assure you that we have none going, we are simply following your orders and dealing with Peyton's subordinates. Oh, right, we're also keeping an eye on the World Tree clan at the moment. The other clans are preparing to launch a final large war against them so we are keeping an eye on the situation."
Little Gray wasn't lying, they had already even prepared a seat and tower for Xuhuan in their headquarters, that was how confident they were in their belief that she would choose to follow Yao Jun. Yao Jun gave a faint nod at Little Gray's report, his eyes rolling for a short moment before he gave a response.
"Huh, so something like that was going on? Alright, continue keeping an eye on the situation with the World Tree clan, you are free to interfere if you see the need. But I want you to stay away from the various elders and high-ranking people of the clan, if you are forced to interact with anyone you should only interact with Leylan, Arthurius, or Diana. Also, there's no longer a need to hunt down Peyton's subordinates, the root of the problem has been dealt with."
Yao Jun knew that several high ranking elders in the World Tree clan were on the side of the Sebettu, it would be for the best to at least temporarily avoid them. But even though he knew that several of their elders were on the side of the Sebettu, he wasn't against the idea of helping the clan if they needed it, they had helped him after he was forced off his own planet after all.
Little Gray nodded his head and turned to the still-kneeling Xuhuan, gesturing towards the black gate with his head while reaching out his arm. She grabbed onto his hand and stood up, the two sharing a handshake before they bid Yao Jun farewell and headed for the gate. But as they started to head for the gate, Yao Jun called out to them and stopped them.
"Right, Little Gray, take this with you."
A finger-sized gray spire flew out of the open gate, stopping in front of Little Gray and hovering in the air in front of him. This Supreme Law fragment was mostly focused on mental energy, it was well-suited to both Little Gray and Xuhuan. But as Little Gray had followed and helped him for quite a bit longer than Xuhuan, Yao Jun felt it was right that it was given to Little Gray.
He didn't know if it was possible for a Demonic beast to actually absorb a Supreme Law fragment, but if it worked it would probably make Little Gray quite a bit stronger. Little Gray looked at the spire hovering in front of him, his eyes trembling slightly when he realized what it was, quickly turning to Yao Jun.
"My Lord, this... I cannot ac..."
Yao Jun cut him off with a wave of his hand before Little Gray could finish his rejection. He stepped forward and pat Little Gray on the shoulder, letting out a light breath while smiling faintly.
"You can, and you will. Little Gray, you have followed me for years already, let me at least show my gratitude this once."
Little Gray was the second Demonic beast he had ever absorbed, only behind Little Thunder, they had indeed already spent years together. This spire wasn't suitable to him, but once he found something that suited Little Thunder he would send it over immediately, it was the same with Sirius and Ba-Shei. Yao Jun gave Little Gray no room to reject so he simply dropped down to his knee and lowered his head.
"Thank you, My Lord, I won't disappoint you."
Yao Jun placed his hand on Little Gray's head and ruffled his hair, much like he had done in the past when Little Gray was still stuck in his bird form. He helped Little Gray stand up after he was done ruffling his hair, pushing the spire into his grasp and then pushing both Little Gray and Xuhuan into the gate with a casual smile.
"You never have, and I don't expect you to start in the future."