"What was that thing just now?"
Thinking back to when I fell from the air just now, the sensation I felt—within a few meters around Tammy Blade—something came from inside, transmitting into my mind. It was fear. My first reaction was: I'm done for. There was no room to resist.
"Such strong killing intent. For a human, that's impressive, little girl."
Old Eccentric spoke from the side as Tammy Blade put away her hidden blade.
"You're too kind, sir."
"Killing intent?" I muttered, while Oddball Moe chuckled beside me.
"You must've felt it, Ethan," Oddball Moe said. "That moment—when your Specter Web snapped."
As Oddball Moe spoke, I recalled it. In that instant, all I knew was: if I fell into Tammy Blade's attack range, I'd be turned into minced meat by her hidden blade in a flash. That chilling, heart-stopping terror.
"Want to go again, Ethan?" Tammy Blade looked cheerful, completely different from the feeling I had about her just a moment ago.
With a swoosh, Samantha Simons floated in front of me, reaching out her hand.
"Master Ethan, it seems you've misunderstood the Specter Web."
As Samantha Simons spoke, her hand seemed to pinch something in the air. With a flick of her sleeve, a faint, translucent light flashed around me. Then, black, thread-like things—like spider silk—floated lightly all around my body.
"So this is the manifestation of the Specter Web," Oddball Moe said. I stared in horror. These black threads were coming from my own body, as fine as capillaries. It was bone-chilling to look at.
"What on earth is going on?"
A scene flashed through my mind: Samantha Simons using those falling cherry blossoms to slice me to pieces—my body a bloody mess. Shocked, I immediately jumped back.
But Samantha Simons hadn't moved; she was just holding one of my Specter Web threads.
"Do you understand now, Master Ethan? The Specter Web isn't like human reflexes, letting you dodge attacks from others—it's about intent!"
"That's right, Ethan. The Specter Web isn't some kind of clairvoyance. During a fight, ghosts use it to sense their opponent's intent, and then react accordingly."
Suddenly, Samantha Simons gave a slight tug, and my Specter Web snapped completely. She held a small thread in her hand, which then dissipated.
"So, you can briefly know how your opponent plans to attack you, right?"
"That may be true, Ethan, but your Specter Web is too weak," Evan Zhao said, floating up to me. His whole body glowed green, and gradually I could see strands of green Specter Web, sparkling with tiny translucent lights.
Samantha Simons reached out and tugged at Evan Zhao's Specter Web, but it was as tough as steel—she couldn't pull it apart.
Then Samantha Simons raised her hand, and a cherry blossom petal swept by, slicing off a segment of Evan Zhao's Specter Web, which she held in her hand.
Strangely, Evan Zhao's Specter Web didn't dissipate like mine. Instead, the green thread floated gently in the air.
When Samantha Simons let go, the severed green Specter Web drifted softly, slowly moving back toward Evan Zhao.
"Master Ethan, your Specter Web isn't complete. After all, you still have another half—you're human, so don't rely too much on this ability," Samantha Simons said as Evan Zhao smiled.
"Sister Samantha, words alone won't make Ethan understand. Let me give him a more direct experience."
As Evan Zhao spoke, Samantha Simons nodded and floated away. I stepped up in front of Evan Zhao.
"I'm counting on you."
"Relax, Ethan. I won't go as hard as that crazy woman did."
I watched Evan Zhao carefully. The black Specter Web around me vanished, and so did Evan Zhao's. With a creaking sound, green light flickered on Evan Zhao's back, and then that jet-black scorpion tail emerged.
"Ethan, over the next few days, we'll teach you a bit about Blue Wraiths!"
I nodded.
"Oh, I didn't expect you could already use the second stage of ghost martial arts. It doesn't look complete, though—not like that sister over there, who's already mastered ghost martial arts."
Vincent Swallow muttered, and Evan Zhao replied irritably.
"Monk, I'm still a growing Blue Wraith. You're strong, but if we fought, who knows who'd win?"
Vincent Swallow patted his bald head and laughed heartily.
"Sorry, Evan. Weren't we supposed to help Ethan understand Blue Wraiths better?"
I looked at them in confusion. What exactly were these ghost martial arts they kept mentioning?
"Alright, Ethan, get ready—it's time to fight."
I let out a sound of acknowledgment and smiled at Evan Zhao before me. Flames of deep crimson ignited all over my body. After all, he's a ghost—using pure yang fire against him should work well.
"Smart move, Ethan. Using the power of the Vermilion Bird against me is a good idea. Show me everything you've got, Ethan."
Evan Zhao spoke as the scorpion tail on his back began to move. It stood upright beside his body, twisting like a snake.
With the Vermilion Bird's cry, my entire body was enveloped in flames. The Vermilion Mantle gradually materialized, and as I slowly rose into the air, Evan Zhao followed suit.
I pondered how to deal with Evan Zhao, but then realized his Specter Web could probably sense my attack. I roared, took a deep breath, and unleashed a torrent of flames at Evan Zhao before me.
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With that strike, I beat my wings fiercely, wielding the Phoenix Blade, and charged forward with the flames. With a bang, crimson fire exploded in the air, and wild fire serpents shot out in all directions. I had already circled to Evan Zhao's side, and through the Specter Web, I could clearly sense that he was just behind the burst of flame.
Without hesitation, I swung the Phoenix Blade at Evan Zhao. In a split second, an image flashed through my mind: his scorpion tail piercing my chest. I immediately halted my attack, raising the Phoenix Blade and not daring to get close.
"Didn't Sister Samantha just say? Don't rely too much on the Specter Web."
From behind me, Evan Zhao's voice rang out. Just as I was about to turn, I felt a kick to my left shoulder and plummeted straight down.
With a splash, water sprayed everywhere as I crashed into the pool. Looking up, I saw Evan Zhao upside down in the air, his black scorpion tail snapping back like a whip. That was what hit me just now.
"Oh, Ethan, you couldn't see through such a simple trick? Your future looks grim."
Old Eccentric commented. I looked at Evan Zhao in confusion. I had really felt, in that burst of flame, Evan Zhao swinging his scorpion tail to pierce me—and when he kicked me down, that image also flashed through my mind.
"Don't be fooled by appearances, Ethan."
The Vermilion Bird's voice rang out in my mind. I nodded, flapped my wings, and flew at Evan Zhao. My hands, wrapped in flames and transformed into claws, struck toward him.
Another image flashed in my mind—Evan Zhao's scorpion tail coming straight at me. I smiled, confident, stopped my attack, then dodged to the side and slashed at Evan Zhao with my claws.
"I told you, Ethan—didn't Sister Samantha say not to rely too much on the Specter Web?"
Evan Zhao said sternly. All I saw was a foot coming at my face. With a bang, I crashed down again, my head ringing, and felt a hot rush at my nose as I hit the water with a splash.
All around, people and ghosts burst out laughing. Rose Harper was especially over the top, clutching her stomach and spinning in circles in the air from laughter.
"Sorry, sorry, Ethan, I hit a little too hard. Is your nose okay?" Evan Zhao said with a laugh.
I wiped the blood from my nose and looked at him resentfully.
"Master Ethan, you're fighting a ghost. If your thinking is too naive, you're going to suffer for it."
Twice knocked out of the air by Evan Zhao, I seemed to vaguely understand.
"What's so funny?"
I shouted and charged at Evan Zhao again. In my mind, the image of his scorpion tail striking down appeared once more. I raised the Phoenix Blade and, without hesitation, slashed at him. This time, I didn't dodge or retreat.
The scorpion tail didn't strike down; instead, it blocked in front of Evan Zhao. With a bang, flames exploded as my Phoenix Blade struck his hardened tail.
In my mind, the impression of Evan Zhao retracting his tail and preparing a fierce attack came again. I almost moved to defend, but still raised the Phoenix Blade and launched a flurry of slashes. Evan Zhao only defended, doing nothing else.
Yet through the Specter Web, I could clearly sense all sorts of attacks from Evan Zhao—but in reality, he only smiled, using his scorpion tail to defend and doing nothing else.
Just then, another image flashed in my mind—Evan Zhao attacking with his scorpion tail. This time, a chilling aura swept over me.
With a clang, my Phoenix Blade struck Evan Zhao's tail. Suddenly, his tail wrapped around my sword. With a crack, the Phoenix Blade shattered into pieces. As I tried to flap my wings and escape, I saw countless scorpion tails stabbing toward me.