The atmosphere in the room was heavy. Quentin Kue was still deep in thought, while John Chou strolled over with a wicked grin.
"Well? After all, you and Yuna Ji made certain promises back then, and we've been suffering here for over a hundred years. This is a win-win for both sides. If you let us govern the living world, it's a huge benefit for your Underworld Court too."
Quentin Kue remained silent, while the other Ghost Sovereigns temporarily suppressed their ghostly aura. After all, this might be the best possible outcome. None of them wanted a direct confrontation with Quentin Kue; all they wanted was to escape Abyssal Hell.
John Chou seemed to be plotting something, just like the other Ghost Sovereigns. Now that they had obtained the key to escape, Quentin Kue sat by the gate, unlikely to let them leave so easily.
"Fine, John Chou, return the token to me. Once I'm back, I'll report to Fifth Tribunal Yama and then..."
"Quentin Kue, do you think we're idiots? Hah, you fooled us once already, and now you want to try again? Do you take us for children?"
Yuna Ji immediately snapped, her anger flaring. Quentin Kue glanced at her but said nothing.
"If you leave now and bring a horde of ghosts to hunt us down, won't we just end up captured again?"
John Chou said.
"I can't guarantee anything, John Chou. This time, I will do my best to persuade Fifth Tribunal Yama. The other Tribunal Judges are also interested in you all. Give me a few days, and I promise I'll return here. If..."
"Don't be so sure of yourself, Quentin Kue. Even though you're a Hell Judge, the final decision rests with the Tribunal Judges—especially Fifth Tribunal Yama. He values stability, so I doubt he'll agree so easily. I have a proposal: let us return to the living world first, and then we can negotiate further."
John Chou spoke, while Quentin Kue glared coldly at him, then swept his gaze over the other Ghost Sovereigns.
"If I let you all return to the living world, chaos would erupt in an instant. It took years to clean up the mess you left behind."
With a whoosh, Yuna Ji was already gripping a long, emerald-green spear.
"John Chou, stop wasting words with him. Quentin Kue, I have just one question for you: let us go, and we'll leave you in peace. If not, we'll kill you and then leave."
Yuna Ji spoke forcefully. Quentin Kue laughed, then stood up. The Redwood Duskblade in his hand radiated thick, crimson ghostly energy and an unsettling stench.
Yuna Ji was clearly annoyed, her nose wrinkling. The other Ghost Sovereigns began to release their ghost aura. John Chou stared coldly at Quentin Kue, gripping a bright silver sword—a strange blade with unfinished edges, jagged like broken teeth.
"I didn't expect you to have even forged Wraith Armaments. That makes it all the more impossible to let you leave."
With a thunderous roar, a violent surge of energy swept through Abyssal Hell. Yuna Ji's face changed drastically, and the other Ghost Sovereigns also looked grim. John Chou's smile vanished.
"John Chou, return the token to me. I'll report to the Tribunal Judges. With your immature ghost aura, you can't hope to challenge me."
John Chou nodded and said.
"It's true, we're all still growing. But right now, it's seven against one. You're strong, Quentin Kue, but in the end, victory will be ours."
Quentin Kue laughed coldly, unmoving as a mountain. He stood at the exit, clearly determined to defend it to the death until he reclaimed the token.
"Lord Shenyan."
Suddenly, John Chou shouted. Instantly, Lord Shenyan raised a sword—red, gnarled like a tree root—and stabbed at Quentin Kue. Quentin Kue coldly smiled, gripped the hilt of the Redwood Duskblade, and, without a word, blocked the attack. With a clang, a burst of crimson flame exploded outward, but Lord Shenyan's sword couldn't pierce Quentin Kue's ghostly red aura.
John Chou lunged with his sword, but Quentin Kue remained motionless, as if to show the others their inferiority. He stared coldly at the Ghost Sovereigns. Basil Bertram was wrapped in black tendrils, sinking into the ground; suddenly, a mass of black tentacles appeared around Quentin Kue, whipping toward him.
With a deafening buzz, Quentin Kue's eyes widened. The ghostly aura that protected him burst outward, instantly repelling John Chou and Lord Shenyan. Cuts appeared on their bodies as if slashed by weapons, and Basil Bertram's tendrils were reduced to ashes.
The Ghost Sovereigns now stood dozens of meters away. At this moment, they all realized the vast gap in power between themselves and Quentin Kue—not just in ghost aura, but in combat skill.
"What a pain. Let's attack together—if he slips up, the power John Chou and I wield will be useful."
At that moment, John Chou smiled and stepped forward.
"None of you move. Just watch. I'll go first—this is a rare chance to train. Opportunities like this don't come often."
Excitement flashed in John Chou's eyes; blood-red particles swirled around him. Quentin Kue sensed something but didn't attack, still guarding the passage. He knew the Ghost Sovereigns wanted to escape, and if he pursued or attacked recklessly, they'd find a chance to flee Abyssal Hell—which he couldn't allow.
"Come on, John Chou. Show me what you've got."
Quentin Kue said, watching John Chou closely. John Chou slowly turned to mist. Quentin Kue realized something and suddenly opened his mouth, unleashing a torrent of flames with a deafening roar.
In an instant, John Chou reformed at the edge of the flames, moving in a flash of red light to stand before Quentin Kue, swinging his sword.
With a clang, this time Quentin Kue abruptly withdrew his ghost aura and blocked with the Redwood Duskblade. In that moment, Quentin Kue saw through John Chou's plan. Watching from the side, I was utterly shocked.
John Chou intended to first use Bloodbane Power, subtly injecting it into Quentin Kue's ghost aura, then trigger it at a critical moment. This would affect Quentin Kue and give the Ghost Sovereigns a chance to defeat him.
Suddenly, John Chou's form turned to mist again, but Quentin Kue was faster. He grabbed John Chou's neck with one massive hand and slammed him to the ground with a thunderous crash.
With a tremendous crash, the ground caved in, John Chou spat blood and dropped his sword. But then, Quentin Kue's eyes widened—a face appeared, growing out from his left side.
Quentin Kue's Redwood Duskblade followed in a flash, slicing a fierce red arc across John Chou's shoulder. The John Chou on the ground vanished into ghostly mist, but the real John Chou was in the air—luckily, he dodged the strike.
Now, Quentin Kue was fully alert. John Chou landed a dozen meters in front of him, his shoulder wound rapidly healing. In this place, rich with ghost aura, every ghost finds it an ideal sanctuary.
"You've come this far already, John Chou. In just a century, I suspect there won't be anyone in the living world who can rival you once you're out."
Quentin Kue spoke, his gaze heavy as he stared at the other Ghost Sovereigns.
"Need a hand, John Chou?"
Yuna Ji called out from behind. John Chou shook his head, waved, and his sword flew into his hand.
"Looks like this fight won't end anytime soon. Quentin Kue, if you just let us go, you wouldn't have to bother battling us."
John Chou continued, but Quentin Kue burst out laughing.
"Unless I die here, I will never let you seven fiends escape Abyssal Hell."
Quentin Kue's words were resolute. After briefly clashing with John Chou, he had already judged the seven Ghost Sovereigns to be a grave threat.
"Then there's nothing more to say."
With a whoosh, John Chou dashed up to Quentin Kue. Quentin Kue's chest swelled, but just then, John Chou split in two—one on the left, one on the right—both stabbing at Quentin Kue with their swords.
"Cheap trick."
As he spoke, Quentin Kue's body split as if he were a conjoined twin, producing another Quentin Kue. With two loud bangs, both John Chous were sent flying—one vanished into ghost mist, while the other, just as he landed, was engulfed by a surge of flames.
With a thunderous crash, John Chou dodged to the side, as the ground dissolved into drifting ghost aura.
After getting up, John Chou smiled and attacked Quentin Kue again. Yuna Ji glared at Quentin Kue, clearly frustrated that he hadn't moved an inch the entire time.
Once more, John Chou charged head-on. Quentin Kue blocked with the Redwood Duskblade, then a black chain shot from his sleeve, instantly binding John Chou. He stared in shock as Quentin Kue opened his mouth wide.
"I'll eat you first, then we'll talk."
But at that moment, a strange smile appeared at the corner of John Chou's mouth. His body began to shrink, about to be sucked into Quentin Kue's mouth—when suddenly, Quentin Kue stopped. He stabbed John Chou in the chest, and with a burst of flames, John Chou was sent flying.