Ravenous wolves tore at the overwhelming surge of resentful energy, drawing closer to me. I could feel it now—these waves of resentment had reached a subtle equilibrium with my body.
Though I could still sense sorrow and rage within it, I was already becoming part of this resentful energy, able to move through it. Marshal Leopard was strong, but facing such a massive amount of resentment, even he was helpless.
The wolves were nearly upon me, howling and tearing at the resentful energy as they closed in. I moved quickly, while Marshal Leopard remained on the Underworld Path, never once stepping into the Forest of Wailing.
He seemed to fear the Forest of Wailing, always following me along the Underworld Path, never daring to set foot in the forest itself.
As the ravenous wolves lunged at me, I remembered Ray Lin's warning—not to let them bite me, or it would be trouble. I roared, my body dissolving into mist, blending into the resentful energy rising ceaselessly from the ground.
At this moment, I was entirely part of the resentful energy. My Specter Web continuously absorbed the resentment, then expelled it through my body, making me nearly indistinguishable from the surrounding energy.
Sure enough, my strategy worked. The wolves instantly lost their sense of direction, unable to pick me out from the sea of resentful energy. They howled, gnashing endlessly at the mist.
"Ethan Zhang, come out now, or you’ll die."
Marshal Leopard shouted, but I had no intention of leaving. I needed to return to the world of the living, and I would never follow him to the Court of the Ninth Yama.
My situation was still dire. Though I wasn’t absorbing and expelling as much resentful energy as before, even the small amount left was dangerous—I couldn’t afford to be careless. For now, I could still endure it.
I kept moving forward, and soon I saw a large bend in the distance—this should be the middle section of the Underworld Path, which I’d seen before when I first arrived.
Suddenly, a flash of red light—Marshal Leopard had leapt to the middle of the Underworld Path and, in an instant, yanked me out of the enveloping resentful energy.
I stared in shock, and at that moment, the resentful energy in the distant forest—and even on the other side of the Underworld Path—erupted like a volcano, surging towards us with overwhelming force.
The Underworld Path vanished, replaced by a black ocean. The resentful energy was thicker than I’d ever seen—no longer mist, but like water itself.
Marshal Leopard was also stunned by the sudden change. He quickly reached into his clothing, frantically searching for something.
I could feel the flow of resentful energy—it was all directed at Marshal Leopard. Within this immense mass, their hatred for him was palpable.
Though Marshal Leopard had me in his grasp, I managed to release my Specter Web. Behind us, the pursuing wolves whimpered as the dark energy swept them up, dragging them into the black water. After only a few seconds of struggle, they vanished.
Suddenly, Marshal Leopard pulled out a long, rectangular Yellow Spring Token. As soon as he did, red light burst forth. I watched in awe as the resentful energy surrounding us recoiled in fear, retreating to the edges.
In less than a minute, a section of the Underworld Path reappeared. Though the resentful energy still churned around us, it seemed blocked, unwilling to approach.
"Eat him, Green Wolf..."
I remembered that day at the gate leading to the Underworld Path—my ghostly power was devoured by a green wolf, and then Marshal Leopard nearly ripped out my Three Souls and Seven Spirits.
I struggled, but Marshal Leopard gripped my throat, preventing me from turning into mist. A faint green light glowed from his chest, followed by a wolf’s howl—a green wolf’s head appeared and, with a rush, passed through my body.
All my ghostly power was consumed by the Green Wolf.
"This time, you won’t escape, Ethan Zhang. Three Souls and Seven Spirits—come out..."
A buzzing filled my mind, and my consciousness vanished in an instant. When I came to, I was back on the Underworld Path. The swirling resentful energy had dissipated, and in shock, I saw my own body lying in the forest.
I looked at my pale, semi-transparent form and understood—Marshal Leopard had forcibly extracted my soul from my body. I felt utterly powerless. A red, tail-like object glowed and bound my hands, and Marshal Leopard gripped it, dragging me forward without a word.
I tried to resist, but it was useless. Strangely, as soon as we left the Forest of Wailing, the resentful energy sank back into the ground. From afar, I could see my body lying in the forest.
I absolutely couldn’t let myself be dragged to the Styx Gate—if I did, I’d be finished. If I could just get back, maybe there was still hope.
Suddenly, I remembered—when Marshal Leopard entered the Forest of Wailing, the resentful energy was drawn to him, as if it wanted to tear him apart.
"Are you truly content? Watching this Underworld Court official stroll past you as if nothing happened? Have you forgotten who cast you to the sides of the Underworld Path, leaving you to rot? Have you forgotten the officials of the Underworld Court who abandoned you?"
Marshal Leopard stopped and turned to look at me.
"Stop wasting your energy, Ethan Zhang. In the presence of the Yellow Spring Token, this resentful energy cannot harm officials of the Underworld Court."
[Irrelevant system message skipped.]
I ignored Marshal Leopard and kept shouting. On both sides of the Underworld Path, humanoid figures formed from resentful energy stared at us, their numbers growing.
I could no longer see my body. I had to buy time—at my chest, a rope-like object glowed with warm yellow light. It was my Soul Lock. At first, it was thick and sturdy, but now, though I could still sense my body through it, it was growing colder and hungrier.
I knew that if this chain broke, I’d be as good as dead. Returning to my body would become nearly impossible. My body was already starting to rot; my clothes were almost gone, and the resentful energy was corroding me.
"Are you all really so afraid of this Underworld Court official? Why are you so weak, spending your whole existence in this place? Are you truly content? Don’t you hate him?"
I kept shouting. The swirling resentful energy was my only lifeline—I had to hold on.
Just then, Marshal Leopard stopped and pulled out the Yellow Spring Token again. I watched as the resentful energy began to spill out, drifting onto the Underworld Path and gathering, but as soon as he revealed the token, the energy scattered.
"Don’t fear him. He’s alone, and you are countless. Why should you still be afraid? Will you spend eternity here, never reincarnating? How much longer will you wait?"
All around us, the black humanoid figures formed by resentful energy multiplied, gathering in greater numbers. The Underworld Path was lost from sight as the energy amassed before us.
But Marshal Leopard remained silent, dragging me forward with one hand and holding the Yellow Spring Token aloft with the other. The resentful energy blocking our way slowly retreated.
A little farther ahead, we’d reach the Styx Gate. I had to think of something.
Suddenly, I realized—the resentful energy was afraid of the Yellow Spring Token. But I wasn’t. I took a deep breath.
"If you’re afraid, then leave it to me—leave it to Ethan Zhang. Lend me your strength, your resentment. I’ll help you fulfill your vengeance..."
I shouted. Suddenly, Marshal Leopard turned, immediately letting go. He quickly raised the Yellow Spring Token in front of me. I laughed as the red binding around me snapped with a crack.
All the resentful energy flooded into my body. Marshal Leopard, desperate, slammed the Yellow Spring Token against my forehead, but the energy kept pouring in. Miraculously, I didn’t lose consciousness.
Normally, as an ordinary soul, this much resentful energy would overwhelm me, shattering my consciousness. Yet, strangely, I remained clear-headed—as if the energy was deliberately sparing me.
Marshal Leopard kept the Yellow Spring Token in front of me, muttering under his breath. Red light flickered before my eyes, and with it, the resentful energy behind him scattered, vanishing into the forest.
Regaining control, I bolted for the forest, running as if my life depended on it. I had to reach my body.
"By order of Yama, Ethan Zhang, report at once!"
Behind me, Marshal Leopard suddenly shouted, raising the Yellow Spring Token high. I felt a wave of discomfort—a burst of red light, and a character appeared on my chest.
With the glowing red character, the resentful energy that had entered me began to pour out at high speed. The energy rising from the ground also sank back, and my body was no longer under my control.
But now, I could see my body again—just fifty meters away.