A series of creaking noises came from behind me. I hurriedly raised the Deathbane Aura Blade and turned to face the threat. Thick, massive black strips surged toward me, blotting out the entire sky above.
My mouth hung open in terror, unable to move at all. One thought echoed in my mind: I’m going to die.
“Heh heh, young man, don’t be afraid.” An old voice rang out—it was Mr. Brown. He appeared before me, and with a flash of green light, I saw the giant black strips that covered the sky instantly dissolve into a vast pool of black water, surging toward us.
With a bang, the black water crashed against the green barrier and recoiled, slowly sinking into the ground. I gasped for breath as Mr. Brown turned to me, smiling and reaching out his hand.
Gradually, I began to float upward. At that moment, ghostly hands reached out from the ground below, and I drifted into the air.
A fierce wind swept past, scattering the white mist below. Slowly, the scene became clear—a massive black sphere. Mr. Brown and I were suspended between three giant spheres, each a different color.
The ghosts that had crawled out began to drift toward the pale blue sphere.
“Is this the Sanzu Force?”
My eyes widened in panic as I looked around. Mr. Brown nodded.
“The so-called Sanzu Force—the Hell Realm, Hungry Ghost Realm, and Animal Realm—these are the Three Paths. Setting aside the Heavenly Realm, Human Realm, and Asura Realm, these three are where souls fall after death.” Mr. Brown spoke as he pointed to the black sphere below.
“The Hell Realm is where the truly unforgivable souls fall after death. It’s the most agonizing of the Six Realms—no joy, only endless suffering. When the sentence is served, they rise to the Animal Realm.”
I thought of that ghost who had just escaped—he’d tried over a thousand times. Then I spoke up.
“Let’s set that aside for now. About the Animal Realm—those who owed animal debts in life, or indulged in every earthly blessing, end up here. After cycling through animal reincarnation, they’re reborn as humans.”
I glanced at the pale blue sphere; several clusters of light were still rising from it.
“The Hungry Ghost Realm is a little easier than the Hell Realm. In the human world, those who die with sin fall here. Once their sentence is served, they enter the Animal Realm. Normally, souls shouldn’t fall from the Hungry Ghost Realm into Hell, nor should those in the Animal Realm drop into Hell. And those not fully punished can’t escape these three realms.”
Thinking back, it was true—those raindrops shaped like human heads in the Hungry Ghost Realm kept falling into the Hell Realm, swallowed up. Suddenly, with a crash, I saw a thick black strip rise from the Hell Realm and stab straight into the Animal Realm. Instantly, animal cries echoed as creatures fell from the Animal Realm, transforming into ghosts and dropping into the Hell Realm.
“What’s happening?” I asked in astonishment. Mr. Brown sighed and shook his head.
“It’s the Young Master. He disrupted the cycle of the Three Paths all by himself. That’s why everything’s in chaos now. Anyone who falls into these realms can escape if they’re strong enough, and some can even ascend directly to the Heavenly Realm, Human Realm, or Asura Realm.”
I stared in shock, then looked upward. Though it wasn’t clear, I could sense a gentle aura emanating from above the three realms.
“So John Chou is being suppressed by the Sanzu Force?”
Mr. Brown nodded.
“Such a crime is more severe than any sin in this world. The Young Master tried to break the order of the Six Realms. After disrupting the cycle of the Three Paths, he sought to challenge the Heavenly Realm, Asura Realm, and Human Realm—but he failed. The Sanzu Force stripped him of everything.”
A chill ran through my heart and I swallowed hard.
“What about the Spirit Court?”
Mr. Brown shook his head.
“The Spirit Court couldn’t do anything about the Young Master. When they learned he was being suppressed by the Sanzu Force, they wanted to destroy him, but were powerless. His ghost soul has condensed into eternity, renamed Deathstone. As long as the Deathstone exists, the Young Master can never die. You must have seen it, along with the other six Ghost Sovereigns.”
I let out a quiet sound and nodded.
“Back then, it was my fault—I didn’t stop the Young Master. As the last of the Chou family, his closest kin, I was powerless. Because of that, he committed such a grave sin. Now, all the major sects know the Young Master is desperate to break through the Sanzu Force—like ants on a hot pan.”
“Why? What happens if he breaks through the Sanzu Force?”
“If that happens, the world will descend into chaos. Right now, the Three Paths are already in disorder—like a lunatic on medication—but they’re slowly recovering, since the Young Master’s Bloodbane Power is weakening. But if he becomes the Bloodbane Ghost Sovereign again, the Three Paths could collapse. Then, humans might give birth to animals, or even ghosts, and ghosts might give birth to humans or animals. Anything could happen.”
I sucked in a cold breath.
"Damn, wouldn’t that throw everything into chaos?"
"Young man, do you remember the first time the Young Master tried to break through the Sanzu Force?"
I nodded. The time Madam Violet planned to marry my cousin—I really did see the Sanzu Force then.
"From that moment, the high-ranking spirits in the Spirit Realm, the major sects, and the Ten Judges all took notice. That’s why lately, the Young Master hasn’t left his house. The Hades Circle, Ghost Syndicate, Nether Syndicate, Brahma Order, even the Renegade Monks, Mount Mason Order, and Spirit Court are all watching him."
I blinked, cursing silently in my heart.
"Sigh, young man, you know what? I originally trapped the Young Master in Old Vine Hill, but you accidentally wandered in and set him free."
I gasped, staring at Mr. Brown in shock.
"Do you remember that night, when you broke something?"
Suddenly, I remembered that night—drunk, in the cemetery—I really did knock over the offerings.
"Those items—I begged for them from the Brahma Order, Mount Mason Order, and Nether Syndicate. They were meant to seal the Young Master, but I didn’t expect you, with your Sevenfold Curse, to break the seal. Once you did, the Young Master escaped. By the time I realized it, it was too late—he’d run off with you that very night."
[Irrelevant system message skipped.]
I lowered my head awkwardly, glancing around.
Suddenly, Mr. Brown gripped my shoulder hard and glared at me.
"Later, the Young Master called you back for the Deathstone—and you actually came, not knowing the danger. You broke the Deathstone’s seal again. I nearly killed you then."
I let out a sound, looking at Mr. Brown with resentment.
"But thinking about it, this was all part of the Young Master’s plan. Taking it out on you wouldn’t change anything."
"Did I really set loose someone that dangerous?" I stared dumbly at Mr. Brown, who nodded.
After seeing all this, my heart was in turmoil. Mr. Brown didn’t seem to be lying, and if John Chou unlocked the Sanzu Force, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Staring at the chaos of the Three Paths, I started to doubt what I’d always believed. Now, when it came to John Chou, I felt a barrier in my heart.
"So what should I do?" Just as I finished speaking, the image of Scarlet Hayes flashed through my mind—what I’d said to her that night.
I started to laugh. Mr. Brown looked at me in confusion.
"Mr. Brown, I’m Zhang Qingyuan, John Chou’s friend. No matter what happens, even if he unlocks the Sanzu Force, I’ll still be his friend."
Mr. Brown gazed at me seriously.
"Can you really do that? The Young Master might be the strongest enemy you’ll ever face."
"He’s not my enemy—he’s my friend. Maybe I couldn’t handle an enemy, but a friend—I’ll always be there."
Mr. Brown stroked his beard and smiled, then shook his head.
"Let’s go, Qingyuan. Time to head back."
As Mr. Brown spoke, he raised his hand. A green light flashed, and I lost consciousness again.
When I came to, I saw Rachel Lan holding her nose, staring at me.
"Qingyuan, where on earth did you go?"
I let out a sound. A stench of blood, rot, and acid clung to me. I looked down—green, yellow, and black goo, sticky and dripping, covered my body.
"Take a bath first."
A large wooden barrel sat over a fire. I kept rinsing myself with well water while Rachel Lan crouched nearby, adding more wood to the flames.
Embarrassed, I turned my back to her, completely naked.
"Qingyuan, the water’s ready. Hurry up and get in."
I made a sound of acknowledgment.
"Can you… go in first?"
Rachel Lan smiled and went inside.
I slid into the barrel, my exhaustion melting away. The sky was clear, stars scattered overhead. Soaking in the bath, I felt at ease—a sweet fragrance drifted by, and I couldn’t help but swallow.
Mr. Brown brought back some wild game and was grilling it over the fire, not far from where I sat.
"Qingyuan, I can’t go back with you. When you return, just tell the Young Master that when I’ve figured things out, I’ll come to him myself."
I nodded.
"Mr. Brown, what if John Chou won’t help me heal the ghost girl?"
Mr. Brown smiled.
"Let me tell you something—when the Young Master was in his teens, there was an incident he never wants to remember. For someone like him, if you use that as leverage, I guarantee he’ll help you. I’d stake my reputation on it."
I laughed, leaning in with interest.
After eating the grilled game, Rachel Lan and I returned to the car. It was already past four—another sleepless night. I sighed.
"Aren’t you going to ask what I saw?"
Rachel Lan smiled and shook her head.
"If you want to talk, you will. If you don’t, I won’t ask."
"Thank you."
Mr. Brown had also told me not to mention the Sanzu Force to anyone else. In the Spirit Realm, the only ones who know this secret are Mr. Brown and the other six Ghost Sovereigns. They all keep silent. In the Spirit Court, only the Ten Judges know; in the other sects, it’s said only those ancient monsters who’ve lived for centuries are aware.