"Want to die? If you don't, then get lost—now."
The ghost in front of us barked out the words, his voice rough and intimidating. In an instant, a surge of powerful ghostly energy erupted from him. He rose from his seated position, towering and broad-shouldered. His skin was black and gleaming, long hair draped over him, and his eyes shone a bright silver. He glared at Lin Rui and me, his expression furious.
"How should I address you, brother?"
Suddenly, the ghost on the ground shot toward Lin Rui with a whoosh. His powerful hand reached out to grab him. Lin Rui dodged, but I couldn't see how the ghost moved—it was so fast, I couldn't follow it at all. It felt like everything happened in a split second.
He must be a Wraith Enforcer, but I don't know his name.
Lin Rui said, and the brute lifted his head, looking at Lin Rui with a puzzled expression.
"How do you know my origins?"
"Your movement is silent. It's not how ordinary ghosts move. This is a technique from the underworld, called Phantom Step. It was developed long ago by the Sixth Judge, specifically for ghost messengers. Your build is huge and imposing, and your skin is black and shiny. In my era, I saw quite a few Wraith Enforcers like you."
The brute burst out laughing, then suddenly swung his fist at Lin Rui. With a thunderous crash, a wave of powerful ghostly energy shook the surrounding mountains, and birds resting in the forest scattered in huge flocks.
That's right. The Sixth Judge created Phantom Step so ghost messengers could escape from powerful ghosts while working in the mortal world. It lets them slip past Spectral Bindings. But for someone like you—a Blue Wraith—or your companion, it won't work. There's no way to pass through all these Spectral Bindings.
The Wraith Enforcer spoke, gripping a strand of Spectral Binding in each hand—one black, one green—holding both Lin Rui and me.
"We don't mean to disturb your rest, brother. We just have a few things we'd like to ask."
The anger on the Wraith Enforcer's face eased considerably.
"Speak. And be quick about it."
The Wraith Enforcer said forcefully, staring at Lin Rui and me. I drifted to stand directly in front of him.
"Can you make a ghost soul whole again—a soul that's died but still has a trace of its essence left?"
A gale of laughter swept over us as the Wraith Enforcer threw his head back and laughed wildly.
"The dead never return. Ghosts and humans are much the same. When a human dies, the bond between body and soul is severed. The soul may linger, but the body decays to bones. When a ghost dies, the link between ghost soul and ghostly energy breaks—the soul vanishes, and the energy disperses."
"You've met someone before—a guy named Ethan Zhang."
Brother Ethan, be careful.
Deathbane Aura poured out from my body. The Wraith Enforcer had me in his grip, but in my right hand, with a click, my Deathbane Shotgun was loaded—the black muzzle aimed straight at him.
"What a coincidence—your name is Ethan Zhang too?"
"Yeah, funny enough, I'm Ethan Zhang as well."
The Wraith Enforcer sneered, his grip tightening.
"Then, can I ask you to die? For the peace of both worlds—human and ghost—Ethan Zhang."
"No."
With a thunderous crash, a massive force slammed into me. I pulled the trigger—another explosion. A burst of black Deathbane Aura erupted, the sound of shattering echoing as I broke free from the Wraith Enforcer's grip. A hand pressed against me. Gasping for breath, I looked ahead at the wild, exploding Deathbane Aura. We were already inside Lin Rui's Shadow Realm.
"Well, you're not like that other Ethan Zhang. This is a strange power—it's a gun, isn't it? First time I've seen one."
Half of the Wraith Enforcer's face was gone, black blood dripping steadily. In a flash, I drew Belle and raised it.
"You want to fight?"
The Wraith Enforcer roared with laughter, ghostly energy pouring from his body like mist. With a crash, the half of his head I’d blown off regenerated instantly. A fist the size of my chest came down on me—clang!—pinning me to the ground. His strength was overwhelming, and the ghostly energy in his body erupted, nearly crushing me.
I braced Belle across both hands, pinned to the ground by the Wraith Enforcer.
"But compared to that other Ethan Zhang, you’re much weaker. You must be the real one, right?"
I said nothing. Pink light began to seep from Belle. The Wraith Enforcer, pressing down on my hands, slowly lifted them.
"Such powerful charm..."
The Wraith Enforcer realized something. His limbs began to resist his commands; he struggled to regain control. My eyes turned pink as I raised Belle.
"Tell me—how can a ghost soul be restored?"
The Wraith Enforcer kept resisting. Suddenly, with a crash, he punched through his own chest, spraying black blood. He howled in rage, silver light blazing in his eyes, unleashing a tidal wave of ghostly energy. I raised Belle and slashed at him.
"Never."
Clang! The Wraith Enforcer blocked Belle with his arm. I smiled, gripping a pitch-black Ghost Eagle in my right hand. Bang, bang—the gunshots rang out, black bullets burying themselves in his body. He sensed something, swung his fist, and a surge of ghostly energy sent me flying.
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With a thunderous roar, black flames erupted, engulfing the Wraith Enforcer in a sea of fire.
"Forget it. This kind of fight is pointless. I’m only here to find out how to restore a dead ghost soul."
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"They’re almost extinct now. Wraith Enforcers like him, because of their violent nature and bloodlust—and worst of all, they eat people."
Lin Rui’s voice sounded from the side. I looked at the Wraith Enforcer sitting on the ground, his ghostly energy weakened. He seemed to be in agony, clutching his chest and crying out, sizzling noises echoing. My eyes widened.
"Endbringer’s Power?"
Black lightning crackled in the Deathbane Aura swirling around the Wraith Enforcer’s body. He lay on the ground in pain as I drifted closer.
This power is strong—there’s a will to destroy everything. I can feel it.
"Get out of my way, Ethan Zhang."
The Wraith Enforcer roared. I gently placed a hand on his body and closed my eyes.
"Instinct... coexistence..."
Crackling sounds came from my arm as the Deathbane Aura wrapped around the Wraith Enforcer began to flow into my body. The restless black lightning quieted, merging into me.
The Wraith Enforcer stared at me in astonishment, relief washing over his face.
"What are you... really...?"
"This is my instinct—coexistence."
Back on Moonwatch Terrace, the Wraith Enforcer had calmed down, all his anger gone.
"I don’t know the details, but I once heard Granny Meng say that after death, humans go to the Underworld Court, but when ghosts die, they go to another world. It’s not complete annihilation—there’s Ethereal Isle, a vague, elusive island beyond everything, the final resting place for ghosts. That’s all I know."
I looked at the Wraith Enforcer with gratitude and thanked him.
With a new goal and direction, hope ignited in my heart. The image of Lan Ruoxi appeared in my mind.
"Earlier, when that Ethan Zhang swallowed you, why did a soul on the verge of death come back to life?"
"I don’t know. We weren’t born as humans, but as ghosts. There might be something unique deep in our bodies’ memories. Maybe only the strongest man in the Ghost Syndicate, my old friend, would know. He rescued me, but never explained. In the end, we parted ways, and I never discovered what was truly imprinted in me."
Suddenly, there was a burst of applause—Black Moon appeared.
"Congratulations, Boss, you’ve found a clue. Next, are you heading to the Underworld Court?"
Just thinking of the Underworld Court sent chills through me. Everything I’d seen there was burned into my memory. Now, it must be heavily guarded—ever since I last went to the ghost realm to save my cousin.
"It’s true—the Underworld Court is now guarded by even stronger ghost generals at every entrance. If anything happens, the Ten Ghost Marshals will be there in an instant. But there’s still one place connected to the Underworld Court."
"Where is it?"
I got up quickly and asked. Black Moon pointed southwest.
"Ghost City Fengdu."
"Didn’t the forces of Yin Choujian wipe that place out years ago?"
Black Moon laughed and explained that although Fengdu, once the Underworld Court’s largest stronghold in the living world, was destroyed long ago, the passage leading directly to the Underworld Court was never broken. Black Moon knows where it is.
"I’ll go with you."
The Wraith Enforcer stood up as he spoke. I nodded, then immediately shook my head.
"I still need to find someone."
"Who?"
"Me—Ethan Zhang."
I spoke each word slowly. The Wraith Enforcer’s eyes widened.
"I fought that guy for five days straight in a desolate field. In the end, I lost, suffering the worst injury of my life. Now, he's consumed by destruction and decay—maybe he's no longer you, and you're no longer him."