With a thunderous crash, just as we were drawing the attention of those approaching from afar, the ground before us suddenly heaved upward. Shards of stone flew everywhere, and in an instant, those beside me spat blood. A violent surge of Yin Energy erupted from the earth, flooding into their bodies.
"Let me handle this. With your current abilities, you can't withstand this Yin Energy."
A voice echoed in my mind. It wasn’t the ground collapsing, but the entire earth beneath us lifting up. The Hades Circle Born nearby kept falling; their skin turned black, as if scorched, and they lost consciousness without even a groan. A tremendous force kept raising the whole section of ground.
A low hum rang out. I stared wide-eyed in horror at the surrounding mountains—the ground on the city's outskirts had risen completely into the air. Thunder roared, black lightning flashed relentlessly from the clouds, striking the island and sparking eruptions of eerie black flames in many places.
I coughed up blood—I truly couldn't hold on any longer.
"Fine, but don’t even think about taking over my consciousness."
As soon as I finished speaking, a wicked smile appeared on my face. Violet flames surged around my body, bursting outward in every direction. Instantly, vast amounts of Yin Energy were purified and vanished.
The moment my Phoenix Wings unfurled, I sensed the Yin Energy around us had vanished, completely blocked outside. Truly, the stronger and purer the power, the more it naturally suppresses ghostly forces. Although the Yin Energy here was formidable, being able to restrain it surprised me.
"Hey, don’t just stand there—use your instincts to convert the Yin Energy."
A jolt ran through me—my body no longer felt like my own, every movement strange and unnatural. I quietly sensed the surrounding Yin Energy. Now that I’d grown used to this instinct coexisting within, the Yin Energy that once burned my skin had begun to soften.
My power began to radiate in all directions, like a protective dome, burning away the Yin Energy. The Yin Energy within every Hades Circle Born started to dissipate. I breathed a slight sigh of relief, but the situation was still dire.
The Wraithlord was now fully awake. All these disturbances stemmed from him—a chilling, paralyzing power surged toward us. Those standing before the Wraithlord—Wu Zheng, Su Yuanjie, Lu Junchi, and Lan Miao—were barely holding on. I glanced around; things were bad. If they really fought him, they would surely die.
Even the immortality of Underworld Denizens meant nothing before the Wraithlord’s power. If Zhang Qingyuan, Past and Future, doesn’t arrive soon, it’ll all be over. My Yin Aspect was helping the Underworld Denizens resist the Yin Energy’s corrosion, but holding back such overwhelming Yin Energy required enormous strength.
From afar, golden Spirit Veils swept toward the Wraithlord from every direction, but the moment they touched his outer aura, they turned to ash. Lu Junchi darted around the Wraithlord, unleashing invisible wind blades, but they had no effect at all.
The Wraithlord sat cross-legged on the ground, chin in hand, watching everything play out as if toying with the four before him. He didn’t take them seriously at all. Something felt off—his Earth Soul shouldn’t have consciousness, yet right now, the Wraithlord’s Earth Soul seemed aware.
It wasn’t just my imagination. I saw a faint smile appear on the Wraithlord’s Earth Soul’s face. Facing attacks from the three Hades Circle Guides, he remained motionless, still seated on the ground.
"Your powers are quite interesting."
The Wraithlord spoke, and instantly, everyone stopped their attacks, staring at him in confusion.
"So you can talk. Where did you come from, and how did you get so strong? You’re almost as powerful as the Infernal Judge."
Lu Junchi was the first to speak. The Wraithlord burst out laughing.
"Infernal Judge? What’s that? After all these years, it seems there are more humans now—the time is ripe."
Suddenly, the Wraithlord stood up. A violent gust swept through, and I felt it slice toward me like blades. My body moved instinctively; I immediately drew the Phoenix Blade and hacked fiercely at the oncoming wind.
Despair filled the air—everyone now understood that nothing they did could stand against the Wraithlord.
"Why are you so strong? Something’s not right. Ghosts from Hell should be bound by the power of the living world—the stronger they are, the tighter the restraints. So why..."
Lu Junchi was cut off by Su Yuanjie before he could finish.
"May I ask, what exactly is your goal?"
Su Yuanjie voiced the question weighing on everyone’s mind—their greatest worry. The Wraithlord tilted his head and smiled eerily.
"Let’s see what this era is really like, then figure out how best to kill everyone."
As soon as he finished speaking, Wu Zheng began forming seals. I noticed movement—beams of light shot up from beneath the floating island, dozens of golden Soul Avatars landed on the island. Wu Zheng stood firm, glaring at the Wraithlord.
"If you truly intend to change this world, you’ll have to get through us first."
Suddenly, a massive, dazzling golden Taiji symbol appeared in the sky. With a thunderous roar, beams of light shot down as the Taiji spun. The Wraithlord scratched his ear, then abruptly looked up and blew forcefully at the descending beams. Instantly, the giant golden Taiji vanished from the sky.
(Irrelevant system message skipped.)
Many Soul Avatars vanished in an instant. Wu Zheng spat blood, but still refused to retreat.
"You’re all far too weak. Are there really no so-called strong ones left in the living world? Back in Hell, I’d hear ghosts talk about how powerful you sorcerers were, how you had a knack for subduing ghosts. But you’re so feeble—don’t let me down."
As the Wraithlord spoke, he stood up and in a flash appeared before Su Yuanjie. Su Yuanjie’s eyes widened, but before he could react, the Wraithlord pressed a hand to his chest. With a thunderous crash, Su Yuanjie was sent flying toward me.
With a boom, flames erupted across my body. I rushed forward and caught Su Yuanjie, then raised the Phoenix Blade in my hand.
"Channel your power to me."
A voice echoed in my mind. I obeyed at once—violet flames engulfed me as I reached the Wraithlord. With a thunderous crash, I brought the Phoenix Blade down on his head, unleashing a violent burst of violet fire.
But as the flames faded, I heard a crackling sound—the Wraithlord was gripping the Phoenix Blade in his hand.
"Impressive strength, young lady. Where did you come from?"
I was startled, but quickly realized a golden Spirit Thread was wrapped around my waist, pulling me back instantly.
"Don’t be reckless. Lan Miao, your Lan family has truly produced an extraordinary genius."
Su Yuanjie spoke, looking deeply pained, sweat pouring from his brow. He turned to Wu Zheng.
"Brother Wu, now is not the time for bravado. I think we should retreat—it's the wiser choice."
But Wu Zheng just shook his head, unmoving, golden light radiating from his body.
"Thank you for your warning, Brother Su. But as members of the Daoist Order, it’s our duty to stop these evil ghosts from wreaking havoc in the world. Besides, my master and fellow disciples have arrived."
As soon as Wu Zheng finished speaking, beams of light landed behind him. I stared in surprise at four women and four men—all Taoist Adepts, each radiating powerful golden light.
"Master will be here soon, senior brother."
A female Taoist Adept spoke. Wu Zheng nodded. Lu Junchi seemed about to act, but Su Yuanjie stopped him quickly.
"We’ll leave this to you, Brother Su."
Watching everything unfold before me, a faint warmth stirred in my heart. So this is what the Daoist Order used to be like. Why did it become so cold and indifferent later? The three Hades Circle Born approached me. Su Yuanjie wrapped the unconscious Hades Circle Born in golden Spirit Veil, glanced at me with deep suspicion in his eyes, but then I saw their expressions completely change.
I sensed an unusual presence and turned around. An elderly man with ruddy skin, dressed in a blue robe, rode slowly toward us atop an ox.
"It’s truly a rare sight, Mr. Ran."
Su Yuanjie bowed respectfully. The old man on the ox smiled gently and climbed down, then bowed in return.
"Thank you all for your efforts this time. From here on, please leave it to us."
The old man glanced at me and smiled, nodding. I had no idea what he meant. Just then, Lu Junchi came over and told me to go down with them, but Lan Miao stopped him.
"Let her stay here. I hope you all won’t interfere further—this is a Lanworths matter."
The other two Hades Circle Born looked puzzled, but still led the Hades Circle members away. I quietly watched the old man, sensing a natural, effortless aura emanating from him.
"Thank you, young lady."