I quietly watched John Chou floating in the sky. He remained motionless, staring down at Martin Ouyang below. The smile on his face had vanished.
"That proposal isn’t bad at all. I believe that right now, everything is under my control. Soon, this world will be mine, and I will become the new Nightmare Ghost Sovereign."
From all directions, the Hundred Ghosts who once belonged to Ouyang Dream had now turned black, kneeling on the ground in complete submission. Only the Three-Eyed remained standing, head raised, gazing at John Chou in the sky.
Suddenly, John Chou vanished from the sky. In a heartbeat, I saw him materialize before Martin Ouyang, blood-red particles swirling around him. John Chou stood right in front of Martin Ouyang, a wicked grin twisting his face as he raised his right hand and lunged for Martin Ouyang’s chest.
"I told you, everything now is under my control. I’m nothing like that broken cornerstone, John Chou."
In an instant, Martin Ouyang disappeared from in front of John Chou. John Chou’s eyes narrowed, immediately turning around. With a snap, Ouyang Dream blocked John Chou’s outstretched hand.
"I know very well, John Chou, your Blood Fiend power—trying to destroy me from within. Ha, it’s useless. After all, I’ve seen your tricks hundreds, thousands of times, John Chou."
Martin Ouyang roared, raising his hand. Around John Chou, there was a bubbling sound, and then with a rush, water flooded in from all directions, instantly enveloping John Chou.
"Don’t even think about escaping, John Chou. If you don’t agree today, you’ll die here just like Ouyang Dream."
Martin Ouyang raised his hand. John Chou clutched his mouth, eyes shut, face twisted in pain, seemingly struggling.
"Aren’t you getting a little too full of yourself, kid?"
It was John Chou, trapped in that mass of water, fading away like a shadow. Now, John Chou appeared behind Martin Ouyang.
Martin Ouyang vanished again, reappearing far from John Chou, staring at him in terror.
"Smart move, kid." John Chou raised his hand. My eyes widened—it was the first time I saw John Chou holding a pool of dark red substance, seeping from his palm, resembling blood.
"Hmph, I have no need to fight you myself. Three-Eyed, it’s your turn."
Martin Ouyang called to the Three-Eyed, who was still on the ground, head raised, watching the sky. He let out a low growl, but after Martin Ouyang’s command, the Three-Eyed remained motionless, continuing to stare.
"Oh? What’s wrong? Aren’t you about to become Ghost Sovereign? Looks like your new subordinates aren’t very obedient!" John Chou’s voice was thick with mockery. I frantically searched for a way out. There was a transparent wall before me—I tried to break through, but it felt like a sponge, soft and yielding, my strength useless against it.
I had no idea what Ouyang Dream had just done to me. Not only could I not make a sound, but now I felt utterly powerless, just like a normal person facing all this.
"You dare defy me, Three-Eyed!" Martin Ouyang snarled, then thrust out his hand. With a crack, a purple, rope-like tendril shot toward the Three-Eyed and burrowed into his black body.
Instantly, the Three-Eyed screamed in agony.
"Now you are my Hundred Ghosts, Martin Ouyang’s Hundred Ghosts. Obey me and get rid of John Chou."
The Three-Eyed stopped howling, then silently crouched on the ground, his whole body trembling as if fighting against something deep within.
"Hey, hey, Zhang Qingyuan, think of something quick—awaken your instincts."
At that moment, a rough voice echoed from within my body. It sounded familiar, as if I’d heard it somewhere before.
Who are you? I wondered to myself.
"Wow, you really are forgetful. I’m the ghost weapon John Chou wields."
Suddenly, I remembered—in the west of the city, John Chou handed me the ghost weapon. I just held it casually. It was still with me in the basement, but when the black Dream Wraith appeared, the ghost weapon vanished without a trace.
"Just now, I slipped into your body during the chaos. John Chou wanted me to tell you—awaken your instincts. Think carefully about what your instincts truly are. If you don’t understand, you’ll never unleash their true power."
With a thunderous crash, the ground beneath the Three-Eyed split, stone slabs flipping up. He roared in fury and shot into the sky, his massive hands reaching to seize John Chou in an instant.
"Completely under control, huh? Pathetic."
John Chou murmured softly, then, in a sudden motion, I saw him raise both hands. Ten dark red, threadlike tendrils shot from his fingers, instantly coiling around the Three-Eyed’s body.
A sizzling sound filled the air—the Three-Eyed’s body seemed to melt, as if seared by burning flames, dissolving piece by piece.
Martin Ouyang’s face twisted in surprise, raising his hand as if to help the Three-Eyed. But John Chou seemed to anticipate this; with a snap, he transformed into a mist of blood, scattering in the air. Freed from his bonds, the Three-Eyed lashed out in all directions, fists flying in a frenzy.
In the sky, a burst of purple light exploded—it was Martin Ouyang, looking as if he’d lost control, staring up at the scene above.
"You won’t last long, John Chou. No matter how strong you are, you’ve been in this world too long already."
Martin Ouyang spoke quickly, then closed his eyes. A cracking sound followed, and now, faint purple light seeped through the sky. Bit by bit, the sky split open, purple light shining through the cracks.
"Before the power of this dream, you are powerless, John Chou. After all, this is my domain."
Martin Ouyang continued. The moment he opened his eyes, John Chou’s form was revealed under a wash of purple light. Three-Eyed, seeing John Chou, hurled himself at him like a cannonball.
With a thunderous bang, a red light shot down from the sky. I saw it clearly—Three-Eyed knocked John Chou from the air, crashing him into a cluster of houses. With a crash, the buildings shattered and the ground split open.
The Three-Eyed barreled through the dust-choked ruins. The moment he landed, he seized John Chou’s neck. With a brutal twist, he tore John Chou’s head off, then, with a sickening crunch, crushed his body into pulp.
I couldn’t stand to watch any longer—I had to act. Just as Martin Ouyang said, John Chou had lingered in this world too long to save me. No matter how powerful he was, with the Three Paths pressing down, his strength had truly faded.
John Chou, reformed in the air, crouched and gasped for breath. Three-Eyed attacked him once more.
"Hahaha, this is the first time I’ve ever seen you so pathetic, John Chou."
Martin Ouyang laughed loudly as Three-Eyed raised his fists and struck at John Chou again.
Suddenly, I saw a cold, bone-chilling smile creep across John Chou’s lips.
"Dead demon, can’t you hear it? The cries of your Hundred Ghosts—how much longer will you endure?"
Suddenly, John Chou shouted, transforming into a streak of red light, charging at Martin Ouyang. Three-Eyed, missing his attack, quickly adjusted and gave chase.
"I told you, it’s useless. Ouyang Dream is about to disappear—his instincts no longer recognize this crumbling cornerstone, and the Nightmare Stone will be mine. Soon, I’ll have complete control over Ouyang Dream’s instincts."
Just then, I saw John Chou suddenly vanish. Martin Ouyang smiled, then disappeared from where he stood, appearing before the place where I was imprisoned.
"I saw through it all long ago..."
Before Martin Ouyang could finish, my eyes widened—it was John Chou, already standing before him.
"Is that so?"
"Hmph, dreams can exist anywhere, anytime. You’ll never catch me, John Chou. I know what you’re after."
As he spoke, Martin Ouyang appeared behind John Chou. I saw a cold smile at the corner of John Chou’s mouth, as if his scheme had succeeded.
"What are you trying to do?"
Martin Ouyang shouted. With a snap, it was Three-Eyed—his two hands gripped Martin Ouyang.
"No escape now, is there?"
John Chou sneered, then spun around and thrust out a hand as dark red threads spilled forth again.
"It’s over, Martin Ouyang."
As John Chou spoke, with a harsh rip, he drove his hand into Martin Ouyang’s body.
Martin Ouyang screamed, and then his whole body erupted in purple light. The entire city began to vanish, turning to ashes and dissolving into the air.
Martin Ouyang writhed in pain in the air, his body curling up in agony. Something inside him seemed desperate to burst out. After a moment, with a splatter, Martin Ouyang coughed up blood and slowly fell to the ground, collapsing.
"Why does he listen to you?"
I stared wide-eyed at the Three-Eyed standing beside John Chou. At this moment, the Three-Eyed seemed no longer under anyone’s control.
"Why do you think? Clearly, you still don’t understand that dead demon, or his Hundred Ghosts. That eye records everything—it never forgets."
John Chou spoke, pointing at the vertical eye on the Three-Eyed’s forehead. The eye was open.