Only after exchanging blows did I realize that Isabelle Frost's current power level is equal to mine.
Beyond shock, I was filled with questions about her Ghost Martial Red Spider Lily. Thinking it through, it must be related to the Red Spider Lily—Isabelle Frost is able to adjust the power she releases to match mine exactly.
"What's wrong, Ethan? I'm coming at you now."
I nodded and began to channel my Ghost Aura. When I attacked Isabelle Frost just now, I used a large amount of Yin energy, turning it into invisible blades that easily weakened the Ghost Aura she used for defense. My blade, Beauty, also effortlessly cut through the Ghost Aura covering her body. But for the final strike, when I tried to pierce her body, the tip of Beauty couldn't move an inch.
It was the Ghost Aura. In that instant, I felt Isabelle Frost's entire body's Ghost Aura gather, all at once, at the spot I was aiming for. My blade tip couldn't advance any further. Ghost Aura really can move across the surface of the body—it isn't difficult to achieve.
With a single thought, my Ghost Aura began to gather at my chest, a faint black light leaking out. But the difference is, my Ghost Aura is chaotic. Even though I can move it and use it, I can't do what Isabelle Frost does—her Ghost Aura is uniform, like a single sheet of paper. When she uses it for defense, the defended area becomes a thousand layers of paper, and new layers appear elsewhere on her body.
Whenever Ghost Aura is depleted, it immediately seeps out again to form a new defense.
I can't do what Isabelle Frost does, but I have to adapt bit by bit. I stared intently at her—she was already gliding toward me, the Red Spider Lily in her hand swaying gently.
Her target was my chest—Isabelle Frost's intent was obvious. Even through the Spectral Bindings, I could clearly sense it. I immediately gathered a large amount of Ghost Aura at my chest.
"Nope, it's still a mess, Ethan."
Accompanied by the voice of the Ghost-Painting Book Immortal, there was a sharp crack. At my chest, a stream of transparent energy dispersed—it was Ghost Aura, already gone. Now I was completely exposed. The Red Spider Lily in Isabelle Frost's hand struck my chest mercilessly, and once again, I crashed to the ground.
After hitting the ground, I didn't get up. I looked up at Isabelle Frost, her red dress billowing above me, as streaks of black blood kept spilling from the corner of my mouth.
"Failed again, Ethan."
The Ghost-Painting Book Immortal walked in. Now, in the sky, only six of the eight black skulls remained.
"Xiao Yi, can you wait a moment? Let this old man have a word with Ethan."
"Go ahead."
As Isabelle Frost spoke, a huge Red Spider Lily appeared beneath her, soft and plush. She gently sat cross-legged atop the flower.
"In ancient times, when making shoe soles, you know? They had to be stitched layer by layer, which gave rise to the saying 'a thousand-layer sole.' Ethan, for the Blue Wraith, there's a major threshold between intermediate and advanced levels. Do you know what it is?"
"Besides the manifestation of Ghost Martial or Ghost Soul, is it Ghost Aura?"
The Ghost-Painting Book Immortal nodded.
"Ghost Aura can also take form, though many Blue Wraiths don't realize it. If used properly, a Blue Wraith can create a defense like a thousand-layer sole. As I said before, the Ghost Aura on your body's surface might be just a single sheet of paper, but when Xiao Yi took on Lan Ruoxi's Ghost Aura, it was ten thousand layers. Even if you can't reach ten thousand, if you can get to a thousand layers, you'll at least have the power to fight back."
I stood up and looked at Isabelle Frost in the air. This time, I drew the scattergun from my back.
"Attack and defense—they're always opposed, yet they complement each other. Ethan, your offensive power is already impressive, but your defense is far too weak. Think about your journey so far."
I grunted in response. Isabelle Frost was still sitting on the Red Spider Lily, idly playing with the Red Spider Lily in her hand, her gaze icy as she looked at me.
All along the way, whenever I encountered strong opponents, I would be easily defeated. Every time, I'd be half-dead, relying on instinct alone to survive by the skin of my teeth, but my body would be left severely wounded. If this keeps up, one day it'll be the end of me. This was something Yin Choujian told me long ago.
Only now do I understand, after all this time, what Yin Choujian really wanted—to let my body experience so much first, and finally, to have someone like Isabelle Frost, a top Blue Wraith, teach me how to use my power and truly become strong.
The dark muzzle of the gun aimed at Isabelle Frost. She stood up, and the Red Spider Lily beneath her vanished.
"Come on."
Her voice was resolute. I looked at Isabelle Frost with deep respect and nodded. Now that I used the scattergun, my Ghost Souls had completely adapted—even if the recoil was strong, the Ghost Souls inside me would work together to ease the burden.
I stared quietly at Isabelle Frost, still more than twenty meters away. I had to close the distance in an instant and pull the trigger. The scattergun's power at close range was far greater than from afar—the blast of fiendish energy bullets would create a chaotic explosion zone. The fiendish energy used for the bullets was already compressed, packing what was once a large but low-quality amount into a single, tiny round.
"Hurry up, Ethan."
Fiendish energy overflowed from my entire body. In an instant, I moved right in front of Isabelle Frost, aimed the scattergun at her, chambered a round with a click, and pulled the trigger.
With a bang, two bullets shot out instantly. The recoil pushed me backward, but the explosion never happened—Isabelle Frost held both thick black bullets between her fingers, each wider than her finger.
"Heh, it's useless, Ethan."
I swallowed hard. What Isabelle Frost did reminded me of what Xu Fu once did.
"My, Xiao Yi, you're clever! Truly a genius—even more brilliant than Yin Choujian! Haha, I've learned something new today. The density of your Ghost Aura—you can actually control it now? This old man can't even hope to catch up."
The Ghost-Painting Book Immortal exclaimed in admiration.
"Old man, you'd better think of something fast. Your ghost formation might develop a breach."
Isabelle Frost frowned. Immediately, the Ghost-Painting Book Immortal raised his brush and drew a few strokes on the green-glowing barrier—a hook, and a strange symbol with a dot in the center appeared. Suddenly, Isabelle Frost flung the fiendish energy bullets at that spot. With a thunderous boom, a burst of blinding light erupted, followed by violent explosions, one after another. With a whoosh, Isabelle Frost flew over.
The Ghost-Painting Book Immortal and I both looked at Isabelle Frost, waiting for her to explain.
"Miss Yi, that's impressive. None of us here could pull off that move."
At some point, Lin Rui was already standing at the bottom of the stairs—all the others had come in as well.
"What's everyone so surprised about? It's just catching bullets with your bare hands and stopping them from exploding, that's all."
As soon as Zhou Fulai finished speaking, Isabelle Frost shot him a fierce glare, and Duan Wentian smacked Zhou Fulai on the head.
"Just now, Miss Yi's Ghost Aura in her hand was like when we were on that island and couldn't use our own Ghost Aura—because the outside was made of Ghost Aura, so dense that if ours leaked out, it would just merge back into nature, making us powerless. It's the same principle: Miss Yi instantly created Ghost Aura even denser than on that island, so Ethan's bullets were duds."
Zhou Fulai gave an 'oh' of half-understanding and brushed Duan Wentian's hand away.
"If what Old Book said was ten thousand layers of paper, then what Miss Yi just created was a hundred million layers."
Huang said this in a low voice. The Ghost-Painting Book Immortal immediately floated over, looking eager to try it himself.
"Xiao Yi, step aside for now. This old man wants to give it a try too. If I can manage it, I might even break through some of my own limits, haha."
"Move aside, Old Book."
Isabelle Frost shot the Ghost-Painting Book Immortal a cold look.
"Sorry, Xiao Yi, you're still teaching. I was out of line."
The Ghost-Painting Book Immortal looked embarrassed and retreated to the edge. I watched Isabelle Frost quietly, a chill rising within me.
Isabelle Frost drifted over, her expression softening.
"What is it? Are you scared, Ethan? Maybe you'll never reach our level in your lifetime."
Though I hated to admit it, what Isabelle Frost said was true. If I were rated by Blue Wraith standards, I'm only stronger than the average one. Against a Blue Wraith with a Ghost Domain, I'd still struggle—a ghost spider is one such example.
I glanced at Duan Wentian. If we really fought, I might not be his match.
"Why do you want to be like us, Ethan? Think carefully—what did your two years in the Forest of Desire really mean?"
I lifted my head, eyes wide, staring at Isabelle Frost.
"There are so many outcasts in this world, but it's exactly these outcasts—whether human or ghost—who break the monotony. If everything stays the same, nothing moves forward. Only by creating something of your own can you reach greater heights."
As Isabelle Frost spoke, she turned her face away, muttering bitterly under her breath.
"Yin Choujian once said this, in the Endless Hell."
"Ah, Xiao Yi, I nearly forgot. Haha, such a simple yet important thing—how embarrassing."
I looked around—everyone seemed lost in thought.
"Think carefully, Ethan, about what sets you apart from us. The path you need to take is completely different—go and create your own billion layers of paper."