Time slipped by, second after second. I quietly stared at the Deathbane Ghost, but he still hadn’t found it. Isabelle Frost looked increasingly anxious.
"Miss Frost, is something wrong?"
I asked, and Isabelle Frost nodded.
“Some places in the Yin-Yang Realm and the Living World have already started to merge.”
I looked at Isabelle Frost in shock. Beside us, Ghost Fiend Star spoke.
“This isn’t good. If the Yin-Yang Realm and the Living World merge, it would be extremely advantageous for many ghosts. There have been similar incidents before, but those were man-made. If it’s a natural merger, things will get ugly.”
I nodded. At that moment, the souls of the beggars began to whimper in pain. Streams of Deathbane Aura pierced straight into their bodies, and the souls cried out in unbearable agony.
Suddenly, I sensed something strange. The Deathbane Ghost opened his eyes, a smile on his lips.
“I’ve pinpointed the location. Follow me.”
As he spoke, the Deathbane Ghost floated upward, tossing the orange-red gourd to Isabelle Frost. She caught it, and instantly a swarm of beggar souls were sucked into the gourd. We followed the Deathbane Ghost, swiftly drifting toward Netherhell.
"I know the place. Follow me."
As I spoke, I floated upward, swirls of black-blue clouds winding around my body. I moved swiftly, taking Deathbane Star and Black Moon with me.
"We enter here, Miss Frost."
I pointed to a faint, shifting current beneath the black-green sky. Isabelle Frost immediately produced her crooked cane, orange ghost tendrils extending outward. Her expression softened completely and she nodded.
"This is it. Go ahead, Rachel Lan. I’ll handle what comes next."
I nodded and instantly moved to the indistinct current before me. Raising a hand, my eyes turned black-green—I could see clearly, watching the flow of mingled energies. They truly streamed into another space.
I pressed my hand against it. With a thought, the space before me shattered, and in a flash of golden light, I plunged in.
Black Moon and Deathbane Star didn’t follow. A vast expanse of strange black stone piles appeared before me, and behind me and ahead lay two utterly different worlds. Before me was a realm of blazing sun; behind, it was night. In the distance, I saw countless things moving—Lost Souls, tormented by the Yin-Yang Realm’s scorching sun and frigid night, approaching.
The Lost Souls drew closer, darting through the rubble like monkeys. I glanced around. Shadow Ghost, Deathbane Ghost, Wraith Ghost, and Zhu Tang emerged from within me, spreading in four directions. I landed atop a stone pile higher than the rest, watching the tide of Lost Souls surge from all sides—short, shriveled, monkey-faced, shrieking eerily.
I ignored them, raising a hand. Purple Vermillion Birds burst from within me, landing all around. The approaching Lost Souls recoiled in fear, not daring to come closer, only watching me from afar and continuing their piercing cries.
I waited as the four ghost spirits went out to search for Curse Ghost and Thought Ghost. Suddenly, I noticed the Lost Souls around me stirring. Some tried to approach, but as soon as they neared the Vermillion Birds within ten meters, their bodies were instantly reduced to ash in purple flames. Eerie cries rang out, and a mass of Lost Souls began to flee.
I stared quietly at the Lost Souls and muttered to myself.
"This won’t happen again."
I knew Isabelle Frost and I might not share the same thoughts. Human life is suffering—from birth to death, the process is pain. Even after death, peace is elusive. Though it’s possible to strip away the Lost Souls’ consciousness, that awareness briefly returns before reincarnation. Only after drinking the Waters of Oblivion do all desires and emotions fade, allowing them to forget. All those tormented memories flood back into the Lost Souls’ minds; the agony must be unbearable.
I planned to continue honing my power until I could control Weakwater. Then I could channel Weakwater into Hell, feeding it with the vast negative emotions within. Now, the Ten Yama Kings have become a force restraining Hell, so we still have plenty of time.
"Found them."
I murmured with joy as beams of light shot toward me. Soon, I saw a female figure and a male figure bound by red curse chains—Curse Ghost and Thought Ghost had arrived. The other ghost spirits immediately merged back into my body.
"I need your help."
I spoke directly. Curse Ghost nodded, and I released the power of coexistence. But at that moment, Thought Ghost laughed.
"Rachel Lan, aren’t you afraid I’ll alter your thoughts?"
I shook my head, raised a hand, and clenched it into a fist.
"If you dare, I guarantee I’ll make you disappear for good."
Curse Ghost began to transform. After accepting the power of coexistence, she gradually took on my appearance. Staring at my own cold, ruthless face, I was a bit surprised. Thought Ghost also completed his transformation, but only half resembled me—the other half remained shadowy and black.
"I’ll keep an eye on him, Rachel Lan."
As they spoke, both ghost spirits entered my body. My eyes widened instantly. The surrounding Vermillion Birds cried out excitedly, their forms growing larger, flames raging like wild horses, transforming the area into a sea of burning lava. I quickly withdrew my power, feeling once again that something within me had changed.
I had found six ghost spirits. The ones left were Grief Ghost, Desire Ghost, and Spirit Serpent. Next, I planned to find Suyuan and Yu Mingxuan, to ask if Yu Mingxuan knew how to reach the Hall of Ten Thousand Serpents. After all, he was once the heir to the Naraku Serpent Clan and might know. Now, the entire Naraku Sect had mysteriously vanished—even in Snowy River, there was no trace of them. I had no idea what Old Cat was scheming.
I gazed quietly at the Yin-Yang Realm. I’d heard Zhang Qingyuan mention before that it was vast—not only did it house the Lost Souls of beggars exiled from Zhejiang, but other things dwelled here too. Now, I sensed the presence of conscious beings, but I was pressed for time.
Raising my hand, I surged forward. The space split open, and I returned to Netherhell. Orange ghost tendrils reached through the rift—Isabelle Frost had vanished, and all around, the landscape had become a bizarre sea of flowers.
"Go, Rachel Lan. Thank you. Leave the rest to me."
I nodded. Black Moon clapped his hands.
"Congratulations, Rachel Lan. Your power has grown again."
Isabelle Frost intended to use her power to forcibly drag the Yin-Yang Realm back into the interstice where yin and yang mingled. I didn’t wait for Deathbane Star or Black Moon to speak—I took them with me and floated away.
Next, I headed for the island where life and death merged—Suyuan and Yu Mingxuan were there. Although Yu Mingxuan had survived, he was still in poor condition, so Suyuan stayed behind to try to heal him completely. But now, Yu Mingxuan had become something never seen before—a Corpse Ghost.
Soon, I left the Yin Realm and instantly returned to the Living World. Dawn had broken; the distant sky was turning pale. I didn’t head east immediately—instead, I took Deathbane Star and Black Moon to a tall building, planning to wait until after sunrise before going.
"How do you feel now, Rachel Lan?"
Black Moon asked. I nodded, raised a hand, and streams of red light spilled from my palm. I could feel the curse power merging with the bloodbane force.