All around me, thunder rumbled as forests, deserts, snowy plains, and mountains collided beneath my feet, shifting in impossible ways. I sat atop a vast golden cloud, awestruck.
"You really are strong. Even something like this is within your reach."
Thinking back to what just happened, an entire land covered in ice and snow was ripped up and hurled toward the Azure Domain. Such a thing was unheard of—the ground here is as solid as that of the living world. To lift a continent so easily feels like something out of myth.
Entity 004 simply smiled and shook his head. He looked every bit the immortal sage, but I knew better—he was no deity. No matter how astonishing his power, at his core, he was one of the Forsaken.
"My power is called Imagination. Amusing, isn't it? Though I prefer to call it Immortal Arts."
I could only shake my head helplessly.
"Pathetic creature."
I didn’t ask why he saved me. I knew well enough—no one helps you for nothing. All I had to do now was wait for him to take me where I needed to go.
I glanced back, but the Four Sacred Realm was nowhere in sight—only barren, frozen earth remained. The landscape had changed, the snowy plains gone.
We must be heading south. After Entity 004 pulled me out of Lan Yin’s flame prison, he immediately moved beneath the Azure Domain—southward, as far as I could tell. I don’t recall us ever straying from our path.
Lan Yin’s progress amazed me. In just three months, he’d grown so strong—it was almost unbelievable. When I saw him over three months ago, his powers were unstable, but now he was formidable. Even in the living world, I might not be his match anymore.
I smiled, feeling oddly happy inside. Still, Lan Yin hadn’t held back—if he hadn’t recognized me, I might have died then and there.
It looked like my plan to sneak into the Four Sacred Realm for the Blood Jade was finished. The face of Ethan Zhang, the Human Soul, flashed in my mind and I snorted. I didn’t know what had gone wrong in the Four Sacred Realm, but relying on him was a mistake.
"We’ll be there soon."
Entity 004 spoke up. I nodded. The scenery grew more desolate—below us, the earth was a vast expanse of cracked yellow soil, riddled with ravines. The shifting terrain seemed to have finally settled.
"Aren’t you going to ask where I’m taking you?"
I shook my head.
"Wherever it is, I’m not doing anyone’s bidding."
Entity 004 gave me a puzzled look, then smiled and nodded.
"Agent Two asked me to bring you over. I’m just doing him a favor—I don’t care for conflict."
I made a sound of acknowledgment and nodded, then stood up. Before me appeared a patch of green—a floating island covered in flowers, with a three-story house and its door open. The island was small, and beside the flowerbeds I saw someone wearing a scarf, watering the plants with a kettle.
To the left of the house stood a tree taller than the roof. As I drew closer, I saw a man in his fifties, unremarkable in appearance, humming a tune. The yard was tidy and well-kept. Seeing so much green in this place surprised me.
"You’re here, Entity 004, Ethan Zhang."
The man looked up. His red eyes bore the marks—two zeros on the left, a two on the right. He was plain, forgettable, with a generic face and a mild smile, his voice just as indistinct. He seemed like someone born to be overlooked.
"I’ll head back now, Agent Two. There’s nothing else, right?"
"Stay for a cup of tea before you go. It’s freshly picked."
Agent Two pointed to a small row of lush tea bushes behind the big tree on the left side of the house. He took off his apron and hurried inside, but Entity 004 was already gone. Soon Agent Two returned, sighing helplessly.
"Is there really any need to rush?"
I watched quietly. It seemed the Forsaken had no hierarchy among themselves. In this world, everything was casual. Agent Seven once told me that some intelligent Forsaken would devour others of equal intelligence, but those were rare cases.
"Please, have a seat. Don’t be shy—try some fresh tea."
I made a sound of acknowledgment and sat down at the wooden table by the flowerbeds. Agent Two came over with three teacups, poured out the freshly brewed tea, and a fragrant aroma filled the air. Everything here felt surreal to me, and what puzzled me most was that, on this cracked earth, there were no strange creatures—just endless yellow soil cut through with ravines.
I took a sip of hot tea and immediately gave a thumbs up.
"This tea really is excellent."
Agent Two opened his squinting eyes and nodded.
"Ethan Zhang, why have you come here?"
"To obtain something."
I answered plainly. Agent Two gave a sound of acknowledgment.
"The Blood Jade, is it?"
I looked at him in surprise and asked:
"Do you know where it is?"
"I don’t know for sure, but I’ve heard Agent One mention it. I’m not clear on the details. As for why I called you here, I wanted to ask for your help."
I shook my head and stood up.
"Do you think I’d agree so easily?"
"Doesn’t look like it. But hear me out first."
I sat back down and listened quietly as Agent Two spoke.
Agent Two’s request was simple: return to the Four Sacred Realm, find out what’s going on, and report back to him.
"It’s an easy job, isn’t it, Ethan Zhang?"
"It is simple. But why should I tell you?"
Agent Two sighed helplessly, poured me another cup of tea, and gestured for me to sit. I sat down.
"If you agree to help, I can take you to Agent One. If she’s in a good mood, she might tell you the whereabouts of the Blood Jade and save you the trouble."
"No need. I’ll find it myself. I’m not like that Ethan Zhang—I don’t like getting involved in trouble. If I need something, I’ll take it with my own hands. I don’t want to depend on anyone, nor do I want anyone depending on me."
I made myself clear. Agent Two fell silent, then nodded after a long pause.
"Alright, I won’t keep you then."
I made a sound, stood up, and walked straight to the edge of the island. Then I turned around; Agent Two looked at me helplessly. I asked him a question.
"The ground around the Four Sacred Realm keeps shifting. That’s your doing, isn’t it?"
Agent Two stared at me in shock.
"How did you know?"
"It’s the aura—or maybe a sixth sense. Besides, you know me in reality, and you’re certain about me, otherwise you wouldn’t be so sure. Where have you been watching me from?"
Agent Two’s expression changed. He sneered at me, and for a moment, his presence became chilling—especially those wide-open red eyes.
"You really are impressive, Earth Soul—Ethan Zhang."
"So it’s true, then. Don’t try anything clever—if I catch even a hint of it, your body in the living world will die instantly."
With a whoosh, I leapt down, plunging straight to the ground. Instantly, I felt a wave of heat—the blazing sun overhead burned fiercely. I had to get out of here fast and return to the outskirts of the Four Sacred Realm.
"The world really is incredible."
I muttered as I ran. In the living world, I might be less than alive, but here I was powerful. Though I wasn’t sure, there was a small faction in reality plotting something—Agent Two might be one of them.
During my brief time in this world, I’d discovered things even the Four Saints hadn’t noticed. The truly terrifying ones are people. By their logic, you need to survive long enough to become strong, but they’re dead wrong.
Faith needs a foundation—a vessel. People are carriers of faith. Everything here is a reflection of reality’s opposite: empty delusions, fantasies, dreams, and the faith born from them. When those faiths die, they come to this world.
In all my time here, I hadn’t seen any ancient or even modern Forsaken or people—only those from the present. That means the bodies of these dead faiths still live in the real world, maybe as someone lying in a hospital bed, or as someone lower than a beggar. Everything here was born from the desperate faith of society’s weakest.
My mind was clearer than ever. After great joy and sorrow, ups and downs, I seemed to have found a path. What I saw and what I thought weren’t always real—Hen Qiu taught me that.
"I’ve decided—I can’t let you leave alive."
Suddenly, I stopped. Agent Two appeared before me, eyes wide with a vicious grin, murderous intent radiating from him. I smiled and clenched my fists.
"If it were me, I’d do the same. You weaklings are nothing but trash in the living world—society’s scum, humanity’s parasites."
"Bastard."
Agent Two erupted in fury, instantly appearing at my side. Before I could react, his hand gripped my throat. My fist crashed into his face with a bang. His twisted, grinning face, with those red eyes, stared at me with amusement.