The scene before me remains unchanged. I wander aimlessly through a vast desert, where I spot countless pillars half-buried in the sand, each inscribed with ancient script I cannot decipher.
Looking up to the horizon, I see Mother Goddess Nuwa standing motionless at the edge of the mountain, guarding the Heaven-Mending Stone. Flames continue to dissolve the stone, but after so many days, there is still no sign of it melting.
Earlier, I asked Mother Goddess Nuwa about the process. She told me that purifying the Heaven-Mending Stone and removing its impurities is a complicated ordeal, requiring a long time. But time itself isn’t the obstacle—she’s determined to infuse her own power, to reach the stone’s purest core.
All of this is preparation for the final act: I must be the one to kill the Wraithlord. If the worst comes to pass, it falls to me to end him. Every detail must be prepared before that moment, and above all, my own power must reach a level strong enough—otherwise, I will never succeed.
Mother Goddess Nuwa didn’t need to tell me this; I already knew. After witnessing the secret of this world’s creation, I understand just how powerful the Wraithlord truly is. With my current strength, I might withstand him, but in the end, I will lose—and I will die.
I stare quietly at the yellow sands around me. Even now, I cannot recall everything—only fragments of memory remain. These ruins of my mind persist within Mother Goddess Nuwa’s domain, never vanishing, yet lifeless and scattered. I have no idea how to piece together the memories of all I’ve experienced.
Eugenia and Blueflame Warden have vanished. Mother Goddess Nuwa has allowed them entry, but they’re still nowhere to be seen. I want Eugenia to take me through the illusions here—to seek a way to restore my memory, and to strengthen my power.
Here, I’ve fought countless supernatural beasts—creatures strong enough to destroy worlds. Each is unique, with bizarre methods of battle and powers that defy both human and ghostly nature.
I’m not searching without purpose. My first target is the Celestial Hound. That creature knew me before, and there’s one thing about its power I remember vividly, though I can’t recall where or how: it can devour or rewrite memories.
I’ve already confirmed this with Mother Goddess Nuwa—the Celestial Hound does possess such power. But to find him, I’ll need Eugenia’s help. I rise and drift to a pillar jutting from the sand, studying the dense, ancient hellish script and carvings I cannot understand.
Mother Goddess Nuwa once said these scripts were used when Hell was first founded, but even she doesn’t know their true meaning. I remember this place is called the Graveyard Desert—a place I visited long ago. My memories are stacked from the bottom to the top, each location and moment recorded.
At the top of those memories is the most recent place I’ve been—a city shrouded in darkness. The gods built this isolation belt to separate the Shattered Unreal Realm from the Yin-Yang Realms. From afar, it looks like a mass of black mist, but inside, you find a city in the dark, ring-shaped, with districts of wildly different styles.
Yet what stands out most in my memory is Lee’s Barbecue. I recall countless ways to grill food, mixing spices myself—perhaps I once ran this shop for years.
After thinking for a while, I rise and leave the floating island that bears the Graveyard Desert, drifting toward Mother Goddess Nuwa. Something is approaching—Eugenia and Blueflame Warden must have found me. The entrance to this illusion lies just ahead, where Mother Goddess Nuwa stands.
During this time, the Blood Jade—sealed below, containing one of the Wraithlord’s souls—has not erupted with power again. Mother Goddess Nuwa has cut off its source of strength and sealed the surrounding illusion.
Standing behind Mother Goddess Nuwa, I gaze at the blazing cauldron before me—the Heaven-Mending Stone inside remains unmoved.
"If your power fails, this world will be doomed the moment the Wraithlord is reborn."
I smile as I speak. Mother Goddess Nuwa slowly turns her head and nods.
"Because I created him, gave him life and power, my blood has a certain suppressive effect on him. You must strike when that suppression takes hold—only human strength can break ghostly power, only a human can kill a ghost."
I hum in response. Mother Goddess Nuwa once hinted that when I regain the ability to return to the living world, she will grant me new life, restoring my humanity. I can’t help but feel a surge of excitement.
In the distance, beneath the orange sky, a pale blue light appears and hurtles violently toward us. Riding the Zephyr, Eugenia brings Blueflame Warden with him. At the same time, I sense a force of extreme cold—colder than even the Wraithlord. Terror grips me. Mother Goddess Nuwa feels it too.
As Eugenia approaches on the twin-headed dragon Zephyr, I spot another figure—Chaos Fiend. His body is now roughly human-sized, but far more massive. Chaos Fiend has been cleaved in two, and though his halves struggle to reunite, a streak of black energy blocks the wound. This chilling blackness prevents his body from healing.
[Irrelevant passage skipped.]
"Mother Goddess Nuwa, do something—save him!"
Eugenia shouts as soon as he arrives. Zephyr drags the barely breathing Chaos Fiend behind. I stare in shock at his sundered form—never before has any force in this illusion done this to Chaos Fiend, not even Mother Goddess Nuwa could. I study the black aura on his body, horror rising. I've never seen anything so terrifying.
"What happened?"
Chaos Fiend looks at me weakly, his gaze pained as he turns to Mother Goddess Nuwa. She swims to his side, raising a hand to touch him—but instantly, the black aura corrodes her hand. Blueflame Warden reacts in a flash, severing her hand.
"What is this? It's even colder than the Wraithlord's aura."
I stare at the black energy in silence. Chaos Fiend begins to speak: his role is to hunt anomalies in the rift between time and the Illusory Realm, devouring them. He sensed an intruder and went out—only to encounter another Ethan Zhang, from the future.
Shock widens my eyes. Chaos Fiend looks agonized, mouth open, his breath fading. I reach out, pressing my hand against the black aura, channeling Buddhist Power—and fail to purify it. I try Taoist Power—still nothing. Suddenly, a chill shoots through my skull and my consciousness blurs.
"Listen, Ethan Zhang—if you sense me, get Chaos Fiend to take you into the rift. Rachel Lan is in danger."
In my daze, I hear a voice—and see a man who looks exactly like me, only older, with long hair and cold eyes fixed on me.
When I come to, Chaos Fiend has healed, his strength slowly returning. I breathe a sigh of relief, but unease gnaws at me.
"Rachel Lan is in danger."
I mutter, not knowing who this Rachel Lan is. Mother Goddess Nuwa’s eyes widen instantly.
"Move! Go save Rachel Lan."
I nod and look to Chaos Fiend.
"Take me to the rift between time and the Illusory Realm. Hurry."
Chaos Fiend glances at me, sighs, and nods.
"Fine."
As Chaos Fiend speaks, the red-black-purple vortex on his belly begins to expand. His body swells slightly, and he lets me climb onto his back. Soon, we plunge into the swirling vortex.
"Ethan Zhang, I’ll take you—but don’t mess around. If this rift collapses, things will get ugly."
I nod. Instantly, the illusion accelerates. I sit on Chaos Fiend’s back as we plunge into a dark space. Soon, I sense violent commotion in the distance.
"Thank you."
Eyes wide, I channel Buddhist and Taoist Power, transforming into a stream of white and gold energy that lands atop a giant serpent’s head. The serpent lies motionless, seemingly sated, but I sense someone within its belly.
The serpent notices me now, its gaze locked on mine.
"Human?"
With a thunderous crack, the serpent splits in two beneath me. It screams, but I’ve already grabbed a woman and pulled her from its stomach. The writhing serpent shatters into thousands of smaller snakes that swarm toward me.
Suddenly, blinding white light bursts from my body—thousands of needles pierce the air, and the swarm vanishes. Yet the giant serpent reappears, flicking its tongue, glaring at me with malice.
"It’s our duty as illusion beasts. You’re one of us—don’t interfere."
"Sorry, meddling is my nature. I’m saving her—no matter what."