Three nights ago.
It was eerily quiet all around. In the vast expanse of rice paddies, the lingering ghostly aura nearby was fading, and the powerful ones had vanished. I stepped out.
With a sudden snap, Elder Peach, who was packing his belongings, was startled. In a flash, a Peachwood Blade shimmering with golden light thrust toward my nose.
I caught the Peachwood Blade between two fingers. Its power scorched my hands immediately, but such force was useless against me. With a crackle, and a snap, my Deathbane Aura destroyed the blade in a burst of black lightning.
"You bastard..."
Elder Peach glared at me in fury. I grinned wickedly and drifted closer.
"Ethan Zhang..."
"So you know who I am. I'll skip the pleasantries. Before the Ritual Array is dealt with, send me to the Four Sacred Realm. You must have hidden some of that girl's blood—I saw you do it! You can deceive others, but not me."
Elder Peach looked at me in panic and quickly pulled out a golden talisman.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Firebane Killing Curse—Divine Weapon, blaze forth by decree!"
With a thunderous boom, a blinding burst of flame exploded before my eyes, engulfing my body. My skin seared instantly, waves of pain sweeping through me. The fire invaded every pore, trying to devour me whole. (Note: The term 'Soul Avatar' refers to the Daoist concept of '元神,' a spiritual double capable of independent action and supernatural power. See glossary.)
"Do you really think these childish tricks could kill me? Elder Peach—maybe they'd work on Zhang Qingyuan, but not on me..."
I crouched in midair, my crimson eyes fixed on Elder Peach behind the flames. He seemed to be preparing something, but I wouldn't give him the chance. If he managed to complete a Ritual Array, I'd be in trouble.
"Endbringer... Ever since the Human Soul aspect lost its emotions..."
With a swift motion, I gripped Endbringer. It crackled and hissed, and the flames invading my body began to turn black, dissipating bit by bit.
With a whoosh, I swung Endbringer and instantly appeared before Elder Peach. He was still muttering incantations, but Endbringer was already pressed against his chest, sizzling.
With a roar, the ground beneath me shattered, black lightning erupting and writhing wildly around us. The bolts converged, trapping Elder Peach in a deadly cage.
"You..."
Elder Peach glared at me. I just sneered, contempt rising within. People like him disgust me—only fools like Zhang Qingyuan would ever trust such a man. But I'm different. Zhang Qingyuan has lost his emotions, yet still can't see through him; I haven't lost mine, and I'd never be so blind.
Those who've lived for centuries are the least trustworthy—especially humans. And when it comes to asking a woman for help, my doubts grow even deeper.
Right now, I felt a rush of satisfaction. With just a flick of my hand, I could finish off Elder Peach. The Mount Mason Order may have plenty of life-saving arts, and Elder Peach his Soul Avatar, but none of that matters before Endbringer.
Elder Peach slowly lowered his raised hands and stared at me in silence.
"I heard about the commotion at Universal Temple a few days ago. You let Master Richard Ming capture you with his disciples. Why did you let yourself be caught? With your strength, they'd pay a heavy price trying to subdue you."
"Looks like you've finally figured it out."
I chuckled, feeling rather pleased. I decided not to kill him after all. Once I sheathed Endbringer, the black lightning quickly faded. Much of the field was ruined, except for the areas marked by black Ritual Arrays.
"How did you know I secretly kept some of that girl's blood? Not even Chaos Veins saw through it, nor did those two Ghost Sovereigns or the powerful Blue Wraiths present..."
"I guessed."
I replied coldly, laughing as I pressed a hand to Elder Peach's shoulder.
"I've never trusted anyone from your world of arts—not even once. The Prime Ancestor's blood is right before your eyes. If you miss this chance, getting that sacred blood again will be harder than reaching the heavens. Now the Hall of Malice is filled with swordsmen as strong as the old Hall of Bloodbane. Doing anything in there is even tougher."
Elder Peach's face turned ashen. He didn't answer any of my questions, just stood there in silence, a look of sorrow on his face. I laughed, patted his shoulder, and leaned in close.
Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. All you have to do is send me to the Four Sacred Realm. Whatever reason you had for risking so much to steal the Prime Ancestor's blood in front of everyone is none of my concern. Choose—send me to the Four Sacred Realm, or die here.
Elder Peach stared at me for a long moment before finally nodding. I stepped outside the Ritual Array as he shook his head and sighed helplessly.
"Ethan Zhang, you and the other one are worlds apart—strong, confident, and utterly unemotional in your actions."
I laughed, sitting cross-legged on the ground. Ever since the Human Soul lost its emotions, its mindset has become clearer, but not much else has changed. That disappoints me. The Heavenly Soul's attitude remains as ambiguous as ever.
I don't know when it started, but my heart has filled with hatred—hatred for the Human Soul, for that Ethan Zhang who always believed in coexistence between humans and ghosts. He's grown more distant from me, and lately, I no longer wake from those heartbreaking nightmares. My heart has grown harder.
"Are you going to the Four Sacred Realm to help the other Ethan Zhang?"
Elder Peach asked. I shook my head, watching his puzzled expression. I said nothing—the Human Soul's affairs have nothing to do with me.
Everything seemed ready. I stood and walked to the center of the Ritual Array.
"One last question: are you good or evil?"
"It doesn't matter. Good and evil have no boundaries. Take you, for example—clearly good, but evil lurks in your bones. Good and evil are just products of human values."
Suddenly, both Elder Peach and I turned toward the side. Twin streams of red and black energy swept in, and before I could react, petals of Red Spider Lily drifted before my eyes. A cold finger pressed against my neck.
"Don't move, or you'll regret it."
"It's been a while, Ms. Yi. Though you're blind, your heart remains so clear."
Elder Peach quietly watched his body change as a layer of black energy enveloped him—it was Deathcurse. I had no intention of resisting; I'm not a match for these two right now.
"You seem to understand well, Ethan Zhang—the gap in strength."
Deathcurse muttered. I nodded, looking at Isabelle Frost. She glared at me in anger.
"Why are you going to the Four Sacred Realm?"
"To claim the Wraithlord's soul."
I didn't hide anything. Deathcurse's face changed instantly, and Elder Peach stared at me in astonishment. Judging by his reaction, he knew something about the Wraithlord.
"Kill the Taoist."
In an instant, Isabelle Frost spoke. With a bang, a golden light exploded—Elder Peach was already floating in midair, while his body lay collapsed on the ground. The Elder Peach in the air glowed with golden radiance—he'd released his Soul Avatar.
With a rush, Deathcurse lunged at Elder Peach. I smiled, watching Isabelle Frost.
"Goodbye, Ms. Yi."
A surge of darkness rose from within me as the Ritual Array activated. My body began to transform—its yin aspect gradually shifting to yang. Isabelle Frost stepped out of the array, gritting her teeth and raising her hand, a Red Spider Lily blooming in her palm.
"It's useless, Ms. Yi. Once this Ritual Array is fully activated, I won't exist in this world anymore. No matter how strong you are, you won't be able to catch me."
"Listen carefully: if anything happens to Ethan Zhang in the Four Sacred Realm, I will kill you—even if I have to chase you to the ends of the earth."
I nodded, looking seriously at Isabelle Frost, then bowed.
"Thank you for everything, Ms. Yi. I won't forget your kindness, and I'll remember what you just said."
My body slowly turned into particles of light, fading away. My consciousness began to disappear, my vision blurred, and memories of the past flashed through my mind.
It was Isabelle Frost who taught me how to use my powers. When Yin Choujian told me to find her, I was hesitant—doubting her simply because she was a woman.