Inside me, it felt like a raging fire—my anger was almost uncontrollable. It was as if a wild beast was roaring within my body. My eyes grew increasingly bloodshot as I stared intently at the two golden-masked men walking toward us.
"If you have a grudge, take revenge. If you have resentment, let it out. Ethan Zhang, don’t you understand this principle?"
Wu hadn’t even stepped onto the platform yet when he stopped and spoke. Hugh Thompson placed a hand on my shoulder.
"Hold it in for now."
Although we had already confirmed that the Immortality Society would definitely show up, I still couldn’t suppress the beast inside me the moment I saw them.
Without realizing it, both my hands were already gripping the shotgun and Hell’s Sentinel. At that moment, Mr. Brown pulled Hugh Thompson aside.
"Go and give it a try, Ethan. See just how wide the gap is. If a man doesn’t know how to turn back, he’ll never be able to move forward."
"Don’t you get it, Ethan Zhang…"
In an instant, I moved in front of Wu. With a thunderous crash, Wu and the other wolf-faced golden-masked man leapt to either side. I slowly raised Hell’s Sentinel, lightning crackling all over my body. The ground split open with a deafening roar as a surge of murderous energy slashed upward, tearing a huge gash.
"Go keep him company."
The wolf-faced golden-masked man spoke, then stepped aside. At that moment, I saw Winona Wu approaching, her fist clenched so tightly it creaked.
"If you can’t understand, then just lie down."
Winona’s words echoed in my ears as her palm came to rest on my forehead. Her long hair floated before my eyes as she lunged forward, crouched low.
I couldn’t track her movements at all. Her palm pressed my forehead down toward the ground with a thunderous crash. In that instant, I turned into mist as I touched the floor.
I immediately shifted into the air, gripping the Spectral Shotgun slung across my back. One hand reached for it, but my right hand was held in place.
"If it’s your killing move, then keep it hidden. If we see through it, it’s no longer a killing move."
I turned my head in shock and looked at Winona Wu. She was already behind me, her left hand gripping my right hand. Her right hand rose slightly, the back of it bent, and with a sharp smack, she struck at me. I felt a powerful force, though her hand never actually touched me.
I spun through the air several times before crashing to the ground. I was no match for her—not even close. I hit the ground, then quickly got up, raising Hell’s Sentinel. But Winona had already vanished from sight, and I had no idea where she was.
No one in the crowd said a word. They just watched in silence. I knew—clearly knew—I couldn’t beat her. But my fighting spirit only grew stronger.
Fueled by my rising determination, I calmed myself and tried to sense every inch of space around me. As expected, I couldn’t feel a thing.
"Is that enough, Ethan Zhang? We’re here to talk business today."
Suddenly, I roared in anger. Black wind blades whipped up a violent maelstrom around Winona Wu. My only option was to block her escape.
"It’s useless, Ethan Zhang. Right now, you’re nowhere near our level."
Winona spoke softly, each word clear and emotionless, standing behind me.
I quickly spun around and saw Winona on tiptoe, her left foot forward, right leg bent behind her, right hand raised, and left hand lowered.
Then, suddenly, thirteen black vortexes appeared on my chest, spinning rapidly. She’d done it in the instant I turned around.
"I’ve already destroyed your Thirteen Ghost Gates. If you keep pushing… you’ll die…"
With a sickening squelch, I spat out a mouthful of blood. My Ghost Soul churned violently inside, hit by a massive shock.
Ghost aura erupted from my body, flooding out uncontrollably like a broken dam. The situation was dangerously unstable. Suddenly, a hand pressed against the nape of my neck. I felt a surge of immense ghost aura pouring into me. With a series of sharp cracks, the thirteen black vortexes on my chest gradually faded away.
It was Mr. Brown. Then, with a flash of red light, John Chou appeared, clutching a handful of black Specter Webs. I stared at him in shock.
"Brother, fighting isn’t just about brute strength."
John Chou waved his hand. I felt it—these were my Specter Webs, so many of them, all cut apart. Yet I didn’t feel a thing.
"Want to play?" John Chou asked, smiling coldly at Winona Wu.
"Cut it out, John Chou. Sit down and let’s talk business. If I play with you, I’ll lose half my life. Today is for negotiations, not fighting. After all, we’re not like those other troublemakers. Warren Qi, come over here."
As Winona spoke, I glanced over. My condition had improved a lot, and I realized how she’d been evading my Specter Webs—slipping through the gaps in my perception, appearing behind me without a sound. When she couldn’t pass through, she simply cut my Specter Webs, leaving me unable to sense her at all.
"Still too weak, Ethan. Your Specter Webs need to be stronger. Pull yourself together."
Mr. Brown supported me as I returned to the platform and sat down. My Ghost Soul still felt like it was burning. I looked at the two golden-masked men—Winona Wu and Warren Qi—who took seats to the right of the Nine Dao Gate Elders.
"Heh, well then, the agreement is void now."
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John Chou spoke slowly and deliberately. Sage Newton grew anxious, beads of sweat appearing on his forehead.
"Mr. John Chou, about this matter..."
"Sit down, Daoist. Let me handle this."
Winona Wu stood up, bowed respectfully, and began to introduce herself.
"My name is Winona Wu, and this is Warren Qi. Since so many practitioners are gathered here today, the Immortality Society naturally wishes to participate. We planned to appear at the right moment, but now that John Chou has exposed us, there’s no point in hiding. Set aside your issues with the Daoist Gates for now—let’s make a deal between us first."
The seven Ghost Sovereigns all looked at Winona Wu as she stood. John Chou smiled.
"Oh? And do you have anything to offer for this deal?"
"Let’s not talk about Lao Chongyuan—he’s already dust, no point in bargaining there. Zuo Quanyi and Luke Ling are still in your hands. Our purpose today is to ask you to release those two."
"Impossible."
Redmond instantly shot to his feet, ready to fight, glaring at Winona Wu.
"Redmond, that girl in your Hall of Malice is still asleep. We can wake her up right now—all you have to do is release Zuo Quanyi."
In an instant, Redmond’s eyes widened, ready to explode with rage.
"Sit down, Mountain King."
John Chou spoke softly, drifting over to Redmond, pressing him down into his seat before sitting cross-legged in front of the other six Ghost Sovereigns.
"It’s not impossible, but that’s a pretty meager offer."
John Chou said, and Winona Wu nodded.
"True, it’s a bit thin. How about we add Yvonne May and Mona Ouyang’s items to the deal?"
As soon as Winona finished speaking, I saw Yvonne May look at her in surprise, while Mona Ouyang’s expression grew serious.
"Still not enough."
John Chou smiled and looked at me.
"Well, in that case, we should ask the person involved if they’re willing."