With a guttural sound, I snapped awake. Instantly, I saw a mass of black-green light crash into the water before me. With a thunderous boom, Yuna Ji fell not far from my side, her body covered in wounds and scales, the injuries healing only slowly. Gritting her teeth, she glared wide-eyed.
Once more, she leapt from the lake, long spear in hand, and instantly appeared before Emperor God. The spear blocked Emperor God's hand as he reached for Yvonne May.
I floated quietly in the water, sensing that this lake was Basil Bertram’s ghost domain. He was still fighting desperately to help the other Ghost Sovereigns, seemingly unaware that I had regained consciousness. I smiled faintly, my body unable to move.
With a thunderous crash, Lord Shenyan was knocked away by the Asura King once again. Gasping for breath, he raised his Sinblade and charged forward, but under the fierce impact, Lord Shenyan was sent flying once more.
“Not bad, John Chou. If you could reclaim your Bloodshade power, maybe you’d be able to hurt me. But reality is just that cruel.”
With a boom, Tan Tian’s body was riddled with bloody holes, but soon his form turned to mud, slowly recovering. John Chou clutched his chest, gasping rapidly—his ghostly energy was nearly gone.
I had to hurry; things were getting worse. Emperor God’s intentions were clear—he meant to crush Yvonne May. If Yvonne May fell, the Ghost Sovereigns would be powerless. I began to use the last trace of ghostly energy in my body, slowly moving toward the surface of the lake.
Suddenly, a patch of blackness appeared before my eyes, and I could see nothing. I stared in surprise as silvery particles drifted slowly through the air.
"I’ll be there soon. Don’t do anything foolish, Ethan Zhang."
It was Sylvia Blue’s voice, but I shook my head and smiled faintly as I replied.
"Even you can't defy certain laws, can you? Wherever the Six Paths exist... Sylvia Blue, I'm sorry."
With a humming sound, I felt a powerful surge from above. The surface of the water instantly boiled, churning like a cauldron.
Blood splattered in the sky. Yvonne May was stabbed in the chest by Emperor God’s hand once again. Yuna Ji’s spear pierced Emperor God’s body, but she was swallowed up, sinking into him as if into mud.
"Old man, do you really have the mind to worry about anything else while fighting me?"
As John Chou spoke, he turned into a streak of red energy and flashed past Tan Tian’s body. With a metallic clang, I saw Tan Tian’s body shatter, and at that instant, John Chou’s Belle struck a piece of Golden Soulstone.
Immediately, the mud floating around Tan Tian’s body frantically condensed. With a thunderous boom, John Chou took a solid punch, crashing into the water. The impact left a giant crater on the surface, and I too was caught in the shockwave, sinking downward.
With a sudden gust, Basil Bertram and Yvonne May swapped places. Yvonne May, now on the water’s surface, could barely stand, covered in blood. Black tendrils wrapped around Emperor God, while Yuna Ji pulled her spear free.
I tilted my head, looking at John Chou not far away. He glanced back, and for a moment our eyes met. John Chou looked at me in shock. I sensed that Belle, just freed from his grip, was beside me now, and I immediately smiled.
"Lady Cecilia, could you do me a favor and take me up there?"
"Brother, what are you planning to do?"
John Chou asked gravely, and I looked at him before replying.
"Someone has to take responsibility, right? That’s what you always told me—and now I finally understand. Thank you, John Chou, for all these years."
As I spoke, a blazing violet light appeared in the sky. With a thunderous crash, Mona Ouyang, battered and torn, fell from the purple light and plunged into the water.
With a splash, as Mona Ouyang hit the water, Phantom Sage appeared and instantly moved to Lord Shenyan’s side. In a flash, the Asura King and Phantom Sage flanked Lord Shenyan, leaving him no escape. Roaring, Lord Shenyan swung his two swords at them.
The rumbling continued endlessly. Lord Shenyan and Yuna Ji both crashed from the sky onto the lake, barely able to stand. Only Basil Bertram was still fighting Emperor God. With a whoosh, Phantom Sage and Tan Tian arrived at Basil Bertram’s side. All three struck at once. Just as Basil Bertram turned into a blur of light, Phantom Sage yanked him out.
With a spurt, Basil Bertram coughed up blood. Phantom Sage stabbed a hand into Basil Bertram’s head. With a hum, a massive blue ripple spread outward. Emperor God grabbed Basil Bertram’s neck, then slowly let go. Basil Bertram fell, but his ghost domain hadn’t dissipated yet.
"What are you all doing?!"
Redmond jolted awake, struggling to crawl up from the lake’s surface. I was already close to the water’s edge.
Sylvia Yan came over. The others above us were now standing together, glaring coldly at us. There was no way out.
After Redmond staggered to his feet, he immediately fell back onto the lake. At that moment, a hand grabbed me. I turned around, and in the pink light, it was John Chou.
"Brother..."
"There’s nothing more we can do, right? I just saw Zachary Justice, John Chou."
In an instant, John Chou’s eyes widened, his expression complicated and tinged with sadness. I turned to look at Emperor God above, who raised a hand.
"He never blamed you, John Chou. That’s the message Zachary Justice wanted me to pass on."
John Chou looked at me in disbelief as my body slowly left Basil Bertram’s ghost domain. With a rush, I shot upward, strength returning to my body. I stood above, facing Emperor God and the others.
"What do you intend to do, Ethan Zhang?"
Tan Tian asked coldly. I trembled, barely able to stand before them, as waves of powerful energy crashed against me.
"To stop you. I won’t let you take Divine Law."
I spoke slowly, and at once Sylvia Yan raised a hand to block the advancing Asura King.
"Don’t go any further, Ethan Zhang. Even if you unleash all your Evil Ghost power, you’re no match for us here. You can’t even touch us."
I nodded.
"Of course I know."
A rushing sound echoed as both the Heavenly Soul and Earthly Soul flew out of my body at once, instantly landing on the surface of the lake.
"Qingyuan, what exactly are you trying to do?"
Yuna Ji shouted. I didn’t turn around; my gaze stayed firm on Emperor God and the others.
"Maybe you all underestimate humanity. Humans are truly mysterious creatures. Weak as we are, we’ve survived and progressed for thousands of years. We’ve endured through the struggle against nature, through disaster and death, and no matter what, we’ve always come through. Why do you think that is?"
I raised a hand, and a streak of white light—the Starshard Radiance—appeared, dazzling in my palm.
"That’s the Starshard Radiance."
Tan Tian spoke up immediately, but quickly shook his head.
"It’s useless, Ethan Zhang. No matter what you do today, the fate of the Ghost Sovereigns is already sealed."
I tilted my head back and pressed the Starshard Radiance to my chest. Instantly, warmth surged through my body.
"Qingyuan, what are you doing? Hurry, come here!"
Basil Bertram called out. Tan Tian raised a hand, and in an instant, night descended all around us.
"Celestial Phenomena... Nine-Star Execution..."
Bright white stars mapped out lines across the black sky. Nine silver rays slowly linked nine stars together. I looked at Tan Tian.
"Because of love. Humanity survives because of love..."
With a crack, the Starshard Radiance shattered at my chest. I cast one last glance at the seven Ghost Sovereigns and the Heavenly Soul and Earthly Soul behind me, my mouth barely opening.
"Brother..."
"John Chou..."
With a thunderous crash, a silver beam fell from the sky, striking me in an instant. But the light didn’t drive down; my hair grew longer bit by bit as I looked up at Tan Tian again.
My whole body burned, slowly fading away. Fragments of the shattered Starshard Radiance scattered around me as my body disappeared piece by piece.
"Human Realm, I beg you—if the Human Realm truly exists, if Heaven truly exists, please help me, no matter what..."
With a chime, shards of white light poured into my body. I felt a surge of warmth, a strength that filled me with hope. My body burned with heat as I slowly raised a hand and swung it forward.
With a bang, the silver beams surrounding me shattered like glass. I stared quietly at Tan Tian, while Emperor God and the others looked at me in disbelief.
"It’s the power of the Human Realm—stop him, now!"
The Asura King roared. Six arms bent in an instant and charged at me. My heart raced as I felt my connection to the Human Realm slowly fading.
"Qingyuan, be at peace. Since you’ve made this choice, I won’t let it go to waste."
It was Zhuang Bo’s voice. My eyes widened as I heard a cracking sound; my pupils slowly turned gold, and I heard a door creak open.
In an instant, the Asura King’s six fists landed before my eyes. I sensed something behind me and turned my head. A massive door appeared behind me, glowing white, faintly marked with the character for 'human.' The door slowly twisted into the shape of the word itself, white mist swirling all around.
"Thank you."
For a moment, I saw two blurred figures inside the human-shaped door. They were the Yanhuang Emperors.
"The key has long been in your hands, Ethan Zhang. Open the Human Realm. Let them witness the true power of humanity."
Huangdi’s voice rang out clearly. I turned my head; the Asura King seemed to be struggling against Zhuang Bo’s consciousness.
"I’m entrusting this power to you, Ethan Zhang."
I watched as red flames flickered in my left hand. With a creak, the human-shaped door behind me swung open. I roared in fury and smashed my fist into the Asura King’s face.
"Sorry, Zhuang Bo."
With a boom, the Asura King was sent flying, crashing into the surface of the Divine Law. A massive crack split the Divine Law as I stared at Emperor God, Xiaoyan, Phantom Sage, and Tan Tian before me.
"I told you—I won’t let you succeed. If I have to use force to show you, then let it be known: all of this... is wrong."