I didn't bring that photograph with me, so Walter Cao's camera reverted to its normal function. Yet, strangely, my mood was exceptionally good. I didn't know why, but seeing a look of confusion gradually appear on Walter Cao's face made me feel happy.
Walter Cao approached slowly, as if deep in thought. The last trace of Deathbane Aura within me had vanished. Now, my body felt unbearably heavy, slowly turning human again. Gradually, I realized my left foot and right hand had completely disappeared.
As the price for rebirth, two parts of my body vanished into the scorching flames. I stared at my half-remaining right hand—everything below the arm was gone, leaving only a charred mark. My left leg, below the knee, had also disappeared.
At this moment, Walter Cao stopped, his eyes full of doubt. After a long while, he looked over at me.
"How do you feel about the price of gaining power, Ethan Zhang?"
"Ah, I've lost my limbs, but it was worth it. Walter Cao, how about this—let Claire Zhang go, and I'll go with you."
I spoke up, but Walter Cao just smiled and shook his head.
"You can't stand anymore; you're completely human now. If the Immortality Society didn't need your flesh, I would have killed you long ago. After all, destroying your body and capturing your soul directly would be much simpler."
"Heh, is that so? What exactly does the Immortality Society want me for?"
I asked leisurely.
"I don't know."
At that moment, Walter Cao was already in front of me. He grabbed me off the ground, and soon I heard hoofbeats—Terry Chen was galloping this way.
Walter Cao placed me on the ox's back.
"Consider this a special favor before you go to the Immortality Society, Ethan Zhang."
"Before I go, can you tell me—what is the Immortality Society really after this time? Why cause such chaos in the world?"
I felt tired and planned to sleep for a while. I didn't know what awaited me, but I had no intention of giving up. Walter Cao said nothing, just silently rose into the air.
Watching Walter Cao leave, I lay back on the ox, exhausted. My limbs felt empty, and not far away, Claire Zhang was lying on the ground, seemingly asleep.
"What should I do now, heh."
I slowly closed my eyes, so tired that within minutes I fell asleep.
In a haze, drifting in and out of consciousness, I floated in a kaleidoscopic space, quietly sinking. Strangely, everything around me felt familiar, and a wave of happiness welled up from deep inside.
Gradually, I reached the bottom, where a kaleidoscopic vortex slowly drew me in.
Chirping birds. Even with my eyes closed, blinding sunlight pierced through. Shadows of trees danced as I realized I was lying beneath a large tree, surrounded by lush green grass. A clear, sparkling stream flowed nearby, right by my feet.
It felt wonderful, and I couldn't help but smile.
"Disciple, what's wrong? Wow, your limbs are gone."
A familiar voice called out. I smelled food and looked up in surprise—it was Susie, Nolan, and many other Dreamborn, all here.
"Heh, it's nothing."
"Qingyuan, you're in bad shape. Are you alright?"
Susie came over and helped me up. I thanked her.
"So that's it. I'm dreaming, heh."
I laughed. This was the world of dreams. Just then, Big Mountain approached in silence and began to examine my limbs.
"Even my power can't restore you, Ethan Zhang. What will you do next? Your situation outside is dire."
I shook my head, seeing everyone's worried faces. I smiled.
"It's fine. Thank you all—for giving me such a good dream when I was exhausted. That's enough, more than enough."
With Susie and Nolan supporting me, I walked to the table loaded with delicious food and ate heartily, drinking plenty of wine. My spirits lifted.
"Ethan Zhang, you seem to be in good spirits."
Just then, someone appeared by the river—Mona Ouyang. She walked toward me, and I looked at her, asking:
"What's happening outside? And what about Vivian Wei?"
"Don't worry. I've already sent her back to the Ghost Burial Squad. But there was a battle there too—many of them are badly wounded. The Immortality Society has sent out a large force this time."
"What do they really want?"
I asked urgently.
"I don't know, Ethan Zhang. Once you get out, you'd better be careful. We can't help you anymore—it's up to you now. Ask your instincts; they'll guide you."
I looked gratefully at Mona Ouyang and nodded. Then I remembered something about her subordinates.
"What about your Hundred Ghosts? They're attacking Redmane's Evil Thought Hall, and more keep appearing."
"I'm aware. Wraith Zero already told me. He used his ability to duplicate my Hundred Ghosts. That photographer outside used the camera to capture them again, and with the help of many Green-Eyed Ghosts' aura, these phantoms can keep being produced. You couldn't even handle a Green-Eyed Ghost whose power was only half restored."
My heart skipped a beat as I looked at Mona Ouyang. I had realized from the start that Walter Cao's power was incomplete—he must have needed to divert some to control the photos in Redmane Ghost Domain, which is why I had been able to attack him several times.
(This chapter is not finished yet~.~ Please click next page to continue reading the exciting content!)
"Think carefully, Ethan Zhang. What are ghosts, really? If you stay this naive and childish, there's no hope for you this time."
I nodded and looked at Mona Ouyang.
"What about John Chou? Where did he go?"
"I don't know. I saw him once before—he said he was just going out for a walk. Who knows what he's thinking? If I could, I wouldn't bother saying a single word to that guy."
I smiled—who would have thought Mona Ouyang still despised John Chou so much.
At that moment, I sensed the dream was coming to an end. My body jolted, and I woke up, still on Terry Chen's ox. The scene around me was unchanged, but Walter Cao was nowhere to be seen.
Just then, Terry Chen collapsed on the ground, motionless, eyes closed. I began to ponder what Mona Ouyang had told me—about asking my instincts. But now, I was fully human. I tried to enter the Instinctive Space.
But now, I was powerless. As a ghost, I could do it easily, but as a human, it was difficult—even if I let go of my heart, I couldn't feel anything.
"Without me, you are bright, and I am your shadow—the dark part. Your instincts are where light and dark meet, so naturally, you can't enter now."
Surprised, I looked ahead—there was nothing, but I heard it: my Shadow was speaking to me. My Shadow had already been sealed by Walter Cao inside the photograph. Panicking, I used my left hand to support myself off the ox's back, then crashed to the ground.
Just then, Terry Chen raised his ox head, revealing crimson eyes. I was a bit scared—after all, I couldn't even stand now.
But I realized Terry Chen bore no hostility toward me.
"Is your master not here?"
I asked. Terry Chen snorted, then closed his eyes.
"Can you take me to where my Shadow is imprisoned?" I asked again. Terry Chen stood up, lowered his head, and gently lifted me onto his ox back.
"Master isn't here. Because your attacks weakened his control over the Ghost Domain, I can move my body freely now."
The ox spoke. I was surprised, but then remembered he was once human. I wanted to ask Terry Chen how he could become human again, but finding my Shadow was more important.
"Terry Chen, do you still want to betray Master?"
With a bang, David Dong suddenly turned into a toad and landed in front of us.
"Get lost. I'm doing this for Master."
With an evil laugh, David Dong opened his mouth wide, pus dripping from his back.
"Don't be foolish. Helping Master? Heh, you'd better stay quiet. When Master returns, who knows what punishment he'll have for us. Maybe, if he's in a good mood, he'll turn us both back into humans."
"Move aside." Terry Chen shouted again, his voice heavy.
"Oh? Heh, Terry Chen, you brat, come on then! When Master returns, if I help him resolve this, maybe he'll turn me back into a human."
David Dong stuck out his tongue, clearly ready to fight.
"No matter what happens, I want to once again..."
Terry Chen choked up.
"Once again, to call back what was carved into this Ghost Domain, carved deep inside Master's heart. David, don't you understand? Master isn't some villain from the world—he's a good man. Even now, you still don't get it?"
Suddenly, Terry Chen tossed me off his ox back and charged at David Dong.