I stared at Phantom Sage in front of me, surprised. The frost in my eyes melted, my eyelids twitched slightly, and I looked in terror at the Wraithlord, whose entire body radiated a faint blue glow.
"Father..."
Phantom Sage's voice trembled. Just as I was about to speak, Yuna Ji behind me grabbed my arm. I felt a chill as Yuna Ji's Specter Web pierced into my body.
"Qingyuan, find a way to get us out of here."
Yuna Ji's voice echoed in my mind. I turned to look at her, my gaze solemn, and nodded.
The key to escaping the dream lies in the Dream Gate. But now, Phantom Sage has complete control over the dream. Our only way out is to break this illusion. Yet this is my core dream, and we can't act recklessly. This place is like a cage, trapping us completely.
At that moment, I noticed Phantom Sage descending, kneeling before the Wraithlord. He raised his hands, head bowed in a gesture of sincerity.
"Father, please reconsider. There is nothing left in this world worth your attachment, so I beg you..."
In an instant, the Wraithlord's eyes widened, his chiseled face contorting into a snarl.
"Attachment? That no longer exists. All I have left is hatred. That's why I will destroy the world created by Nuwa and the gods, leaving nothing but rubble. She will weep, because she created me, then abandoned me. So I will destroy everything she holds dear."
The Wraithlord clenched his fist and roared. I felt a tightening in my chest, clutching at my heart. My emotions were linked to the Wraithlord. Yuna Ji had vanished without a trace, and I watched everything unfold in silence.
"Even if you destroy everything, nothing will change. They won't feel any anger at all. Father, haven't you ever considered another way of life? For example..."
As Phantom Sage spoke, the Wraithlord suddenly moved up to him, lowering his head and pressing his face close, one hand gripping Phantom Sage's head.
"Just do exactly as I say. The three of you have no choice, no rights. End this pointless war as quickly as possible. When I am resurrected, I will crush everything myself."
I stared coldly at the Wraithlord before me. As expected, words were useless now. The only way left was to stop the Wraithlord's resurrection.
"Ethan Zhang, you can't stop this. Everything was decided long ago. Just sit quietly and watch!"
The Wraithlord turned and said this to me. I shook my head.
"Our beliefs are at odds, Wraithlord. So I will never..."
"Don't speak too soon, Ethan Zhang. I told you long ago: you're powerless to change anything."
Phantom Sage remained kneeling, head bowed, silent and visibly conflicted. The Wraithlord laughed loudly. I stared at him, quietly stepping forward.
"Have you never truly looked at your own children?"
I asked, and the Wraithlord turned his head to look at me.
"At this point, nothing you say matters, right, Ethan Zhang? The darkness in your heart will crush you sooner or later. You..."
"Do it, Ethan..."
Yuna Ji's voice echoed in my mind.
With a whoosh, a stream of violet energy instantly entangled Phantom Sage behind the Wraithlord. At my mental command, the Wraithlord's soul returned to my body. I stepped forward, swinging the Soulreaper Blade at Phantom Sage.
Mona Ouyang, who had just vanished, appeared again. One hand clamped Phantom Sage's throat, the other raised—there was a hum as the air trembled, and a violet halo emerged.
"You two, get out—staying here is useless. I'll do whatever I can to hold this one off. Go outside and help deal with the other two as best you can."
With two gusts, Yuna Ji and I charged into the Gate of Dreams. When I came to, flames surrounded us. I stared in shock at the cracked, crimson ground—its expanse was massive, and the red clouds in the sky had vanished.
I swallowed hard. The ground was devouring the flames. Behind us, a violent rush of air surged. Yuna Ji and I turned at the same time and flew toward Emperor God, who was locked in battle with John Chou. In the distance, Lord Shenyan was still entangled with nine golden dragons.
We'd been inside for so long, yet it felt like only an instant. Mona Ouyang was gone, and now even Xiaoyan's whereabouts were unknown. I glanced back, sensing that beneath the crimson earth, Yunmei was still tending to the unconscious Redhair.
Berziran seemed to be preparing something. Yuna Ji and I circled behind Emperor God. I swung the Soulreaper Blade, striking straight at him, while Yuna Ji thrust her emerald-green spear.
"Brother, go help Lord Shenyan. Your power of desire is the best fuel for him."
John Chou shouted. Before our attacks could reach Emperor God, a chill ran down my spine—he was already behind Yuna Ji and me, both hands striking toward us.
With a boom, Yuna Ji and I were struck simultaneously—a colossal force hurled us away. John Chou became a streak of red light, and as he reached Emperor God, he slashed down with Belle.
After landing, Yuna Ji grinned. The impact had struck our ghost souls directly.
"That bastard old man."
As she spoke, Yuna Ji charged again. At my mental command, I transformed into a streak of black lightning and instantly appeared before the nine golden dragons circling Lord Shenyan, raising Endbringer as arcs of lightning burst forth.
The air sizzled as black lightning wrapped around the nine golden dragons, but it had no effect.
"It's useless, Ethan. This is the power of Emperor God's manifested ghost soul."
I stared in surprise, about to move forward when Lord Shenyan blocked the attack from the nine dragons and immediately raised a hand.
"Don't come over, Ethan."
I stopped at the edge, growing anxious. The ghost aura around Lord Shenyan was already weaker than before—he must've spent too much fighting the Asura King below.
"John Chou said my power of desire is the best fuel for you. What should I do?"
I called out. Lord Shenyan looked at me and then smiled.
"Let it out, Ethan. As much as you can."
"Got it."
I sat cross-legged in midair, my eyes turning pure white. I noticed the nine golden dragons coiling around Lord Shenyan seemed to follow intersecting paths, forming an isolated space that trapped him inside—no wonder he couldn't break free to help John Chou.
Behind me, a violent stream of air surged. Red and green lights intertwined beside Emperor God as he began to defend himself. Against Yuna Ji and John Chou's attacks, Emperor God no longer had the upper hand.
I raised a hand, and translucent streams of energy flowed from my palm, slowly moving toward the nine golden dragons binding Lord Shenyan. This power of desire was completely unaffected.
"I'm counting on you, Desire Wraith."
A hum rang out. My consciousness blurred for a moment, and when I came to, two translucent, slender hands had appeared before me, with a tuft of hair at my throat. The Desire Wraith was half-manifested—I used Heavenly Soul's power to fully materialize it.
Suddenly, a swirl of multicolored energy appeared—strange and dazzling—all human desire. I understood what John Chou meant: Lord Shenyan's Hellfire could burn away desire, and for Hellfire, desire was the best fuel.
"Is that enough, Lord Shenyan?"
"Not yet, Ethan. Keep going—release as much desire as you can."
I nodded, fury boiling up inside me. Black flames burst from my skin as the multicolored energy streams began to intertwine and merge, gradually turning dark green, then black.
With a rush, I sensed someone approaching from behind—Emperor God. He must've sensed something and come over, but I couldn't move now.
A metallic chime rang out. I swallowed hard, sweat trickling down my forehead. Emperor God's hand hovered less than ten centimeters from my head—John Chou blocked his attack with Belle.
"Crimson Lotus Hellfire..."
My eyes widened as Lord Shenyan sheathed his sword. In that instant, a cluster of red flames ignited in his raised hand. But this time, the crimson lotus was different—orange fire flickered on the lotus petals, falling gently like strands of light onto the ground. Orange-crimson lotuses bloomed on the earth as Lord Shenyan crouched, holding up one hand. The fiery lotus grew larger and larger.
I was startled but quickly moved away. With a swish, I spun in the air to leave the battle zone between Emperor God and John Chou. To my left, the nine golden dragons whimpered, letting out mournful cries.
"I've been waiting for this moment."
Clusters of orange-crimson lotuses suddenly expanded and then ignited. The nine golden dragons turned to dust. Before me, John Chou had already plunged Belle into Emperor God's chest, and a pink glow flared.
"So that's it, John Chou. You noticed last time in the world of shadows!"
John Chou smiled faintly. Behind him, Lord Shenyan dispersed the flames, grasped a black dragon, and slowly approached us.