A faint rustling snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned around. 001 stood before me, the three digits—0—etched starkly on her cheek.
"Why aren't you continuing your training?"
I asked. 001 shook her head.
"It's so boring. Besides, I've been in a pretty good mood lately. I think it's because Isabelle Jiang is feeling well, so every day I wake up feeling happy."
I smiled faintly and nodded. Isabelle Jiang was 001's true name in the Living World, born into an exceptionally unique family—the rulers of humanity. Yet she felt no attachment to them.
Lan Yin never returned to this world, and I already knew the outcome. Though I still wasn't sure what had become of the Living World, my instincts were whispering to me: the war was over, and Zhang Qingyuan's presence had vanished completely.
"Maybe you should go back. Come again when there's a chance."
Isabelle Jiang sat beside me and spoke softly. I shook my head.
"If I leave now, I might never get another chance to return. Emperor God and the others won't let me disrupt their plans again."
Old Cat only came to persuade me to go back, but I refuse. I've already made up my mind—to stay in this world, like a nail driven into the heart of a wooden board. I won't let Emperor God and his followers manipulate everything as they please. Their problems will erupt again one day. The Wraithlord has fallen, but Emperor God remains unresolved. Their ambitions are insane—to fuse all worlds into one.
And as for what the Immortality Society is really plotting—I can't be sure. But after spending these days with Xu Fu in this world, the more I see, the more I realize just how dangerous he is.
"I really don't know what's going on in the Living World, but Isabelle Jiang seems so happy."
I smiled. I think I already know—it's probably because the Earthly Soul went back to find Isabelle Jiang, and that's why she's so cheerful.
I stood up and gazed at the distant black mire. Isabelle Jiang raised her hand, and the mire began to bubble. The darkness receded, and the swamp started to change. I watched, astonished by Isabelle Jiang's power—the black vapors evaporated rapidly.
"It's always so bleak here. Let me reshape it."
The mire all around began to turn, bit by bit, into a clear, pristine lake. I watched the rapidly changing scene in silence—the black swamp was almost gone. Isabelle Jiang floated into the air, clearly in high spirits.
I stared quietly at the lake. Mist rose in waves, and rainbows arched over the water. Bright flowers bloomed from beneath the surface. I marveled at such power—only gods could do this. Perhaps those who inherited the dead gods' strength never wondered why they possessed it.
I often ponder this question too. Maybe it has to do with the spirits I see. Whenever I use my own powers, I can perceive these floating spirits—each with a different form, all things present.
I squatted by the lake, watching unknown rootless flowers bud and bloom one after another from the water. On this Oath Island, the ground began to spread with lush green grass.
I breathed in the fresh fragrance of flowers as butterflies appeared, fluttering across the water and among the blossoms. When I looked back at Oath Island, behind me was already a vast, green forest.
Soon, the world around me had transformed into a dazzling spectacle of color. Isabelle Jiang laughed playfully and landed beside me.
"Well? My power's grown even stronger."
I looked at the three zeros on Isabelle Jiang's cheek and nodded. Her power used to only reshape lifeless things, but now everything around us was brimming with life. Streams of light flickered before my eyes.
Many souls had already gathered. I smiled faintly. Isabelle Jiang yawned—night would soon fall here, while the Living World would be entering daylight.
Isabelle Jiang walked into a wooden cabin, its walls draped with vines and pink blossoms.
"I'm going to sleep, Heavenly Soul."
I nodded. Soon, aside from the wind, all was quiet. The sky darkened, and night descended. I walked quietly into a small pavilion, picked up a bottle of wine, and drank alone.
The moon soon appeared—large, round, and bright as ever. But these past nights, a clear black shadow had always shown in the moon. It must be the Celestial Hound, still watching this world.
But Emperor God and his followers won't easily let Hell's power seep into this Yang Realm again.
I lay back comfortably on the grass, quietly enjoying the peace of night. As long as I help Isabelle Jiang transfer the Yang Realm's power to the Living World, I'll begin breaking through the Emperor God's layered dimensions—contacting the other Forsaken and bringing them here.
I know for certain—the Forsaken's power will be vital in the future. And the war with Emperor God demands early preparation.
This conflict is proof—had we planned ahead, maybe things wouldn't have ended this way. I don't know what happened to Zhang Qingyuan, but I doubt he can ever return to the Yin-Yang Realm. With his temperament, he won't come back until he's found a way to fully resolve the Wraithlord.
My head grew heavy. I raised my hand, streams of light slipping softly from my palm. I could feel it—countless souls all around me. These souls were unlike those of humans or ghosts, utterly unique.
My powers are still immature, but I wanted to observe these souls more closely. As I closed my eyes and focused, when I opened them again, the sky was filled with slowly drifting souls, swirling in every color around me.
Spirit of the Mountain once said—they only appeared in this world after the gods were slain by the Wraithlord. I still don't understand their connection to the Forsaken, but perhaps some link exists between them.
"What exactly are you?"
I raised my hand and asked. In my palm, a pale blue soul, like a spiked orb, landed softly. I felt its delicate touch—my palm grew cold as it passed through my body, a rush of coolness spreading inside me.
Souls gathered around me, and suddenly, my surroundings glowed with multicolored lights. The souls teased me, drifting through my body, touching me here and there.
I smiled faintly, floating upward as a swarm of souls followed. I drifted among the flowers blooming on the lake, everything so gentle and smooth. My body felt as light as the souls around me.
Vast, pure energy drifted across the lake. I gazed into the distance, certain that coming here was the right choice. This unknown power I found will surely be useful in the future.
At that moment, I noticed an even greater presence in the distance. Drifting closer, I saw a massive head enveloped in white mist, with eyes staring out. I was surprised—I had never seen anything like this before.
Countless souls now floated toward this huge, mist-shrouded, slightly gray soul, passing through its enormous head. Suddenly, I understood—it must be a soul born from the creation of this lake tonight.
I quietly savored the aura of these souls, feeling intoxicated in the gentle night breeze. This sensation was entirely new to me. My body seemed to be aligning with theirs, and soon, perhaps, I wouldn’t need any special powers to sense them—I would be able to see even more than before.
My mood was impossibly light. I felt no sorrow at Zhang Qingyuan and Lan Yin’s departure; on the contrary, hope filled my heart. The Yin-Yang Realm had survived a tremendous crisis, and now someone must take on what comes next.
All night, I drifted over the lake, becoming almost like the souls themselves. The sky began to brighten, dawn breaking on the horizon. I gazed quietly as the souls gathered around me, and I sat atop the enormous gray soul.
Morning dew coated the leaves, and the mist gradually faded. Watching the sparkling droplets, I willed them to rise, and instantly, all the dew floated toward me. The souls eagerly devoured the droplets, their joy unmistakable. I lifted a dewdrop from my fingertip to my lips—a rush of sweetness and freshness flooded my body.
A sound came from behind me—the creak of a door opening. Turning, I saw Isabelle Jiang awake, yawning as she drifted over.
"What are you doing here all by yourself?"
Though I was a little puzzled, I quickly shook my head. She probably couldn’t see any of these souls.