I quietly examined the weapon in my hand. It looked like a sword, but its tip was crescent-shaped. Nearly 80 centimeters long, it was inscribed with strings of black runes—words from the Netherworld, utterly unreadable to me. The hilt was round and otherwise unremarkable. When I held it, it felt almost weightless, but swinging it revealed a strange power. Gripping it, I could clearly sense the presence of my Ghost Soul, knowing exactly where it was.
I glanced at Lord Shenyan beside me. I also knew where his Ghost Soul was—somewhere beyond the reach of my current power.
“This sword is said to have existed since the days of Old Hell. It can sever a ghost’s Ghost Soul directly. Anything that possesses a soul can be cut by it.”
I hummed in response, studying Lord Shenyan’s expression. His face was calm now; earlier, he had looked grave, but something had changed—there was a hint of joy.
“Lord Shenyan, why did you look so troubled before?”
I asked. Lord Shenyan smiled faintly, then replied.
“Some things may not be as simple as we imagine. But seeing everyone’s current state, I feel a bit more at ease.”
I turned to look at the other Ghost Sovereigns. Suddenly, I seemed to understand something and began to smile.
“Back when you were in Abyssal Hell, it was like this too, wasn’t it?”
I asked, and Lord Shenyan nodded.
“At that time, we had reached our limits—especially that Death Fiend, whose body could no longer withstand the Hellfire in Abyssal Hell and was fading away. The rest of us each had our own problems. In that desperate situation, we finally chose to join forces, and managed to accomplish the unimaginable.”
I hummed in agreement.
“After all these years, they haven’t changed much, have they?”
“Perhaps not.”
Lord Shenyan said, turning and walking slowly toward Yvonne May.
“Miss Yvonne, don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”
I was surprised to see that Yvonne May looked uneasy. Lord Shenyan must have sensed her anxiety, which was why he said those words.
“What’s there to worry about, Yvonne? You probably can’t see the future anymore, can you?”
Mona Ouyang, leaning over the side of the boat, spoke up. Beside her, Basil Bertram sighed helplessly.
“Is it because you can’t see the future that you’re starting to worry?”
“Yvonne, you’ll never change, will you? Always worrying about this and that. Don’t forget, it’s been centuries since the seven of us teamed up again. John Chou, you must have come up with something, right?”
Yuna Ji said this while looking toward John Chou, who was sitting at the bow. I glanced over too.
Redmond laughed.
“Don’t worry. When the time comes, just watch me. Over all these years, your powers haven’t returned to their peak, but I’m different—mine have only grown stronger. Surely you know why that is, don’t you?”
Redmond said this, his gaze intense as he glared at the other Ghost Sovereigns.
“Lord Shenyan can’t use his full power because of Quentin Kue’s influence. Yuna Ji’s strength is now fully restored. But you four—I don’t know what you’re thinking. As Ghost Sovereigns, do you feel no shame at all? Especially you, John Chou. When will your Hundred Ghosts return? Think it over. If you want to regain your peak, or even break your limits, your Hundred Ghosts are essential.”
John Chou turned his head and smiled.
“No need to make things so heavy, Redmond. Everyone has their own path.”
“Hmph, what nonsense about ‘everyone has their own path.’ Basil Bertram, Yvonne—what exactly are you two planning? If you don’t pull yourselves together, how will you answer the expectations of the Hundred Ghosts?”
Mona Ouyang gave a sarcastic laugh.
“Redmond, it’s easy to talk when you’re not the one suffering. If you’re so capable, help me get my Hundred Ghosts back!”
Redmond looked seriously at Mona Ouyang and said,
“I’m already searching, you idiot. Otherwise, why do you think Nameless and Vivian Maple aren’t at my side? In such a crucial battle against the Divine Law, my two subordinates are far more reliable than you bunch of misfits, always having problems left and right. Hmph.”
Mona Ouyang stared at Redmond in disbelief, eyes wide with surprise.
“You’d actually do something good like that?”
With a bang, Redmond punched the mast, and black flames erupted.
“I don’t want to see you disappear, you idiots. If any of you are gone one day, what’s the point of me becoming an Infernal Judge? You’re all so lacking in fighting spirit—it annoys me just to look at you. So let me remind you: think back to how we survived in Abyssal Hell. We made it through. The battles ahead will be no easier. If you’re not confident, get off the boat now. Don’t go, Yvonne.”
Redmond looked at Yvonne as he spoke. Anxiety was written all over her face. It was just as Basil Bertram had said—once she lost sight of the future, she grew uneasy and anxious. Yuna Ji ran over, grinning, and grabbed Yvonne’s hand.
“Don’t worry, Yvonne. If anything happens, I’ll find a way to protect you.”
“Yuna, you...”
The sound of clapping rang out. John Chou stood up and walked over slowly.
“Redmond, there’s no need to say things like that. We all know why we’re here.”
Redmond sat down, clearly annoyed, still glaring fiercely at Yvonne. Yuna Ji made a face at him.
“You should worry about yourself, Redmond. Don’t mess up at a critical moment. Battling the Divine Law won’t be easy, but we’ll do whatever it takes.”
“Hmph, dead transvestite, I’m not like you. All these centuries, I’ve always been with my Hundred Ghosts.”
“Alright, that’s enough. Quiet down, all of you. If this old woman had just thrown you seven into reincarnation back then, maybe none of this would have happened.”
Lady Meng sighed helplessly. I leaned back, hands behind my head, feeling relaxed. For a while, no one spoke. We each fell into our own thoughts. Yvonne’s expression softened a bit, and Yuna Ji stayed by her side, comforting her with quiet words now and then.
I glanced around at everything. According to Lady Meng, we used to see many scenes of reincarnation by the Sanzu River, but now they’re almost gone. Only a few lucky ghosts make it into reincarnation. What I saw earlier must have been one of those rare, fortunate souls.
Everything around us was as desolate as ever. Lady Meng said that we used to see countless scenes of reincarnation here, but now only pitch-black rocks remain.
“Don’t you think something’s off?”
Just then, John Chou suddenly spoke. When Lord Shenyan stood up, he already had the Sinblade in hand, with another black rectangular sword strapped to his back.
I grew alert too. After John Chou spoke, we all felt something was wrong. I drew the Soulreaper Blade and watched everything around us.
Lady Meng closed her eyes, as if sensing something.
“Time and space are getting chaotic.”
As Lady Meng spoke, her eyes glowed orange and she began to float.
“Only the three rulers of the Old Hells could do something like this. After all, this place is connected to the Sea of Oblivion.”
With a whoosh, Lady Meng’s cane shot out, scattering orange needle-like rays in all directions.
“Realm of Truth.”
In an instant, the scene around us seemed to burn away, bit by bit, until the black sea appeared and the boat began to shake violently. I looked up at the sky.
“Just now, the sky inside the Abyssal Treasure Mirror looked just like this.”