Colorful snowflakes drifted down from the sky, swirling and scattering. Nine colors in total. I lifted my head and looked up—a large Ninefeather Bird flapped its wings and cried out, slowly landing beside Yuna Ji.
Just as I remembered, its dark green feathers shaded from light to deep, with tail feathers of crimson, red, black, blue, purple, orange, white, gold, and pink—nine colors in all. Its head resembled a peacock’s, but far more beautiful and delicate, like a finely carved work of art.
Yuna Ji reached out and stroked the Ninefeather Bird’s neck. It affectionately nuzzled her cheek, its eyes filled with hostility as it glared downward.
“What exactly are you trying to do?”
Yuna Ji glared angrily, raising her jade-green spear. The monster opposite her laughed—a body swirled in black and green, with only golden-red eyes and a gaping, pitch-black mouth at its head.
“There’s no need for two kings in one place. Are you itching for a fight, Yuna Ji?”
A cold, wicked voice came from the monster’s mouth. Yuna Ji nodded slightly, her expression grave.
“So you’ve decided to work with those Dark Banquet people?”
The monster burst out laughing, raising a hand with a whooshing sound. I stared in shock—it was Hao Hong and the others, the five Blue Wraiths who’d come here. Their faces were deathly pale, and there was almost no ghostly aura left on them.
“What exactly are you...”
“I’ll let you all live—for now. After all, you’ve done quite a few good things for me.”
I swallowed hard. Scarlet Howe looked at Monster Yuna with a resentful gaze.
“Get out...”
Scarlet Howe slowly stood up and looked over, her eyes blazing with fury.
“One day, I’ll settle this debt, Ethan Zhang.”
I’d warned them before, even if only vaguely. This time, the one behind everything was Monster Yuna. Once I learned there was another Yuna Ji, I suspected as much. After fighting Sebastian Zhao, I became certain—their nine generals obey Monster Yuna’s will, not Yuna Ji’s.
The five Blue Wraiths left quickly. As for what they’d done—it was those bone monsters. Back then, with Joseph Qiao’s help, Yuna Ji regained control, and Monster Yuna’s power was dispersed.
In Zhuang Bo’s memories, I saw the truth. Yin Choujian’s strike was full of killing intent, aimed straight at the monster. To avoid dying, the monster had to leave Yuna Ji’s body, splitting all its power into those monsters, leaving only its consciousness inside Yuna Ji.
Now, there’s so much I want to ask Joseph Qiao, but it’s already impossible. Their nine generals now follow the monster’s will, and the Netherstone can’t control them anymore.
“When did you start working with those Dark Banquet people?”
“From the very beginning.”
I stared in shock as Monster Yuna extended a hand. A black card with golden letters—a Ghost Feast Invitation—appeared in her palm. I’d seen this invitation before.
It was a Ghost Feast Invitation from the Dark Banquet. I’d seen Yin Choujian take one out before. Besides names, it had many strange symbols I couldn’t read, but I’d seen this writing on the huge pillars in Graveyard Desert. It was the script of ancient Hell—the era of Emperor God, Phantom Sage, and their kind.
“This thing has been around for thousands of years. I never had any interest in attending the Dark Banquet. But now, my mind’s changed—and it’s all because of you, Ethan Zhang.”
Monster Yuna slowly raised a finger and pointed at me. I walked over and stood to Yuna Ji’s left, looking down. Those cold, wicked eyes stared at me.
“Why?”
“Enough—choose, Ethan Zhang. Is it me, or her?”
“Qingyuan...”
Yuna Ji turned her head and called softly. I smiled.
“Didn’t you already know the answer, Monster... Yuna Ji?”
“You’ll regret this, Ethan Zhang. I saw all this coming. That terrible future—your choice will decide whether it happens or not.”
I quietly stared at Monster Yuna. Her eyes seemed to say: I know everything—even what the future holds.
“Is it Yvonne May?”
I asked. Time—that’s all I could think of now. Jiuchen, only Yvonne May could do something like this.
“If you already know, there’s no need for me to explain, Ethan Zhang. There’s a friend who wants to meet you.”
My heart skipped a beat. In an instant, a cold, dark aura swept over me—Zhuang Bo walked up.
“It’s someone from the Dark Banquet.”
A swirl of black mist rose behind Monster Yuna, drifting slowly toward us. It gathered before my eyes, taking on a humanoid shape—like smoke, like fog.
With a swish, Belle in my hand lashed out. The humanoid’s head was sliced off in an instant—but immediately grew back.
“It’s useless, Qingyuan. He’s not really here.”