Suddenly, a buzzing sound filled the sky. I raised my hand and unleashed flames, but I couldn't break through this space. Turning my head, I saw Dreadstar open his mouth—a faint red glow appeared, and swarms of flies poured out. The flies emerged from his mouth and burrowed into the mouths of those Ghost Syndicate members who were fighting each other.
One by one, the Ghost Syndicate members collapsed.
"I don't know what tricks you've pulled, Basil Bertram, but today, you won't be leaving." Dreadstar roared harshly, flying toward us.
I had recovered quite a bit by now, flames burning on my body. Even if I couldn't win, I had no choice but to fight.
Basil Bertram gave a calm, indifferent smile.
"It wasn't me," he chuckled, "and that includes Yin Choujian. If you underestimate him, you'll suffer dearly."
"Ha! Basil Bertram, you seven Ghost Sovereigns—we'll deal with you one by one. You're nothing but chaos in this world. It's not just us; every faction hates you, including those from the Underworld Court..."
I suddenly attacked, swinging my fist. As soon as I got close to Dreadstar, my flames were snuffed out. He glared at me, and I felt my head buzz, blood gushing from my mouth as I was sent flying.
Basil Bertram lay on the ground, barely alive, his gaze never leaving Leah King.
"Lord Dreadstar, a lot of outsiders have arrived. We should finish this quickly and leave—something doesn't feel right."
Old One-Eye floated over as he spoke. Suddenly, Dreadstar grabbed Basil Bertram and—with a thunderous bang—Basil's entire body exploded into pieces, leaving only his head. Dreadstar tossed Basil's head aside, then grabbed Leah King.
Despair filled Basil Bertram's eyes. I immediately rushed toward them—I couldn't just stand by and watch this father and daughter suffer such tragedy.
"Heh, Ethan Zhang, is the fire in your heart really this fragile? No way, right? I've done all I can to help you. Ethan, that stubborn, prideful fool—it's up to you now..."
Just as I dashed forward, Redmond's voice echoed in my mind. In a split second of distraction, I was already right in front of Dreadstar.
A dark shadow appeared before me. This time, I saw it clearly—it was the ghost from Old One-Eye. Its arm whipped toward me like a lash. I turned my head just in time, feeling a hot sting on my face, and dodged it.
With a tearing sound, I stared in shock as a gash opened on Leah King's chest—her heart was ripped out entirely.
"Shit..."
I roared and charged forward, but it was all in vain. The ghost from Old One-Eye grabbed my neck. I stared in shock as blood splattered everywhere.
"Something's wrong, Lord Dreadstar."
Old One-Eye shouted. Suddenly, I saw that the Leah King in Dreadstar's hand was gradually changing—she was turning into an old tree root, and the heart he had ripped out crumbled into dust.
"Oh, Basil Bertram, what's this? You still have some strength left?"
I felt a heavy blow to my chest and spat out blood, flying backward. Someone caught me—I turned to see it was Basil Bertram. His whole body was starting to turn transparent, just like when I saw Samantha Simons after her ghost soul was wounded.
"You..." I didn't finish my sentence. Basil Bertram looked gently at Leah King in his arms. Though he'd lost an arm, the bleeding had stopped.
"It's heavy... so heavy. Just like back then..."
"Hmph, you can all die here together! Hahaha..."
Red light erupted from Dreadstar's body, accompanied by a creaking sound. I watched as his hands gradually transformed into two thick, massive leeches, their tips ringed with sharp, pointed teeth. Dreadstar himself was changing—his skin turned a reddish-brown, sticky and slick.
A powerful force surged—I felt it, a fierce current swirling through the space, forming a chaotic turbulence. I could barely keep my footing.
"Mortal, what are you seeking?"
At that moment, a voice echoed in my mind—the exact same voice from the horror stories, clear and distinct, reverberating in my head.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, daughter—your father is sorry, so sorry..."
I turned my head. Tears streamed down Basil Bertram's cheeks, falling onto Leah King's face.
Power—I needed power. The strength to protect them. That's what I told myself, deep in my heart.
"Heh, as you wish. Speak my name..."
Memories from the horror stories echoed endlessly in my mind. Everything I'd experienced flashed before my eyes like a revolving lantern. My mind went blank as Dreadstar charged at me, laughing maniacally.
A piercing cry rang out in my empty mind. Suddenly, a crimson flame appeared—a flaming phoenix silhouette emerged.
"Its name is the Phoenix Blade, one of the Four Saints' wings—the Vermilion Bird..."
I shouted. A burst of fire erupted from my body, lifting me into the air. Scarlet flames exploded outward from me, and with a thunderous boom, the entire space trembled.
Before me was a sea of fire. The Phoenix Blade hovered silently in front of me. I felt hot streams on my face—blood from the wound I'd just received. Like drops in water, the blood floated toward the Phoenix Blade, hissing as it touched. The originally fiery Phoenix Blade gradually turned as crimson as the surrounding flames, drawing closer to me.
[This chapter is not finished yet~.~ Please click the next page to continue reading the exciting content!]
As the flames faded, Dreadstar appeared before me, his face filled with disbelief.
"Careful, Lord Dreadstar. This fire—it's not ordinary Yang fire, but spirit fire. I think I've seen it before..." Old One-Eye said, as the Phoenix Blade pressed against my body, then seemed to melt, slowly merging into me.
A scorching sensation filled my whole body—power, an overwhelming power. With a roar, crimson flames erupted from within me, slowly enveloping my skin.
Everything around me was vividly clear in my mind; the flames kept shifting and changing form.
"You don't have to tell me, Old One-Eye—I know, it's the Vermilion Bird Robe..."
Suddenly, Dreadstar flew at me. His body sprouted dozens of leeches—red, gaping-mouthed, lunging to bite me.
A chorus of bird cries rang out. Fiery red wings unfurled from my back, fanning waves of heat that instantly incinerated Dreadstar's attacking leeches to ash.
Flames kept shifting across my skin. Three burning feathers hung at my feet. My hands were completely encased in fire, slowly transforming into blazing claws. My head was wrapped in flame, gradually forming into the Vermilion Bird's head—like a helmet, with a long beak before my eyes.
I flapped my wings. In an instant, chaotic currents and erupting flames swept in all directions, accompanied by a thunderous chorus of bird cries.
A faint crimson glow sparkled like stars, swirling clouds around my body.
"Impossible! Kid, not even the souls of the Yellow Springs could do this—how can you use the Vermilion Bird Robe...?"
The Vermilion Bird Robe? My mind flashed to Rachel Lan's mother, Helen Lane, and what she'd said about the Four Saints Robe. How could I have this? Could it be Old Moe? Right now, the only explanation I could think of was Old Moe—he must have given it to me.
"Lord Dreadstar, be careful—let me help you."
Old One-Eye spoke, then released the ghosts from his jar. A mass of black mist spread, nearly covering the crimson glow radiating from my body. Ghosts howled as they rushed toward me from the mist.
I focused my will—suddenly, I knew what to do. I shouted loudly.
"Blazing Wings..."
In an instant, massive phoenix wings unfurled from my back, wrapping around me. Ghosts swarmed from all sides, but with a cry of the phoenix, my wings suddenly spread wide.
Feathers glowing crimson shot out in all directions. The moment they touched the ghosts, explosions erupted—the black ghosts were reduced to drifting ash.
The three long feathers hanging at my feet began to flutter. I roared, flapped my wings, and a spray of fiery sparks burst behind me. Raising my flaming claws, I flew straight at Dreadstar.
"Kid, don't get cocky..."
"Earth, formation, pray for rain, cloud-water net..." Old One-Eye shouted from beneath Dreadstar, suddenly raising his hand.
A stream of water appeared in front of Dreadstar, weaving into a net that blocked my path.
"That won't work on me..."
I roared, tearing through the net with one claw. My other claw clenched into a fist and smashed into Dreadstar's chest.
With a cry, Dreadstar's clothes were instantly incinerated by the flames. My claw sank into his reddish-brown, sticky skin, and with the phoenix's cry, he plummeted toward the ground.
"Lord Dreadstar!" Old One-Eye shouted. I kept flapping my wings, fury fueling the flames, the searing heat sending white smoke curling through the air.