The sea surface rocked beneath me as I sat quietly at the bow, my gaze fixed on the ever-present sea of Red Spider Lilies. My mood was bleak.
Everything in that world should have already perished, and I was about to return to my original world. I didn’t know what awaited me, but perhaps the war would be over when I got back—and what then? What would I do next?
I stared dazedly at the deck. Luo Yu was dead. Though our time together was brief, I felt a sharp ache in my heart. His final words—doing the right thing.
“I only did what was right. Qingyuan would have thought so too, if he were still alive!”
I stood up. Suddenly, the sea grew turbulent again. The shore lined with Red Spider Lilies was now within sight. Soon, I would enter the River of Forgetfulness and return to the domain of the Underworld.
The boat gradually approached the shore. There, I saw someone sitting cross-legged. As the boat drew closer, Tan Tian opened his eyes, watching me rise to my feet. The boat slowly docked at the riverbank.
“Luo Yu is dead.”
I spoke, and Tan Tian nodded. I stepped off the boat, head lowered, as everything behind me gradually faded away. When I looked back again, the sea had transformed into a vast expanse of Red Spider Lilies, and the boat now drifted in the River of Forgetfulness, slowly dissolving into the water like mud.
“How is the situation?”
I asked, but Tan Tian didn’t answer directly. Instead, he floated upward. Before me appeared a purple beast. I climbed onto its back, and it carried me after Tan Tian.
I turned to look at the Underworld Path. I planned to head straight for the Living World—whatever I could do, the only thing left was to join the battle.
Come with me, Rachel.
Just then, Tan Tian blocked my way. I shook my head, knowing exactly where he wanted to take me.
Even if I went with you and learned to use corpse membrane, the result would be the same. Besides, I’m not in the mood right now.
Tan Tian stared at me, then stepped aside. The purple beast beneath me began to rise. Just then, I saw a flash of black-green light racing toward us from the distance. I sensed a surge of ghostly energy. In the blink of an eye, Yuna Ji landed right in front of me.
What have you done, Rachel?
I’ve ended everything in the Shadow Realm.
I muttered. Yuna Ji stared at me, her expression strange. I didn’t know how to explain, but her face softened, bitter sorrow showing as she tilted her head upward.
I can feel it—my friends have left me for good!
I shook my head, then turned away as the beast carried me upward.
As long as you remember them in your heart, that’s enough.
Yuna Ji turned away, a faint smile at her lips. She looked far more spirited than before, slowly floating upward.
Don’t die, Rachel. To be honest, I used to really dislike you.
I nodded, then replied.
Me too, Yuna Ji.
Tan Tian left first. I quickly urged the beast beneath me to follow. In an instant, we reached the city wall—the gate was open, and many souls were passing through. Tan Tian and I flew straight out.
Tan Tian had already entered the passage with the Underworld Token. I followed him through a dark cave. As we emerged, a freezing chill hit me, turning my skin black. But then a violet glow swept over my body—a faint purple corpse membrane appeared, blocking the Yin energy.
Countless Hell Troopers and ghost generals watched from the city walls. Tan Tian and I swept past them. I could barely tell where I was—H City was filled with surging Yin energy like an ocean. It was broad daylight, but all I saw was a gloomy sky.
The entire city was shrouded in black clouds—not clouds, but condensed Yin energy. Only a single spot at the city’s center was lit up: the site of Dragon Plaza. Even from afar, I could sense people from the Underworld Path and many from the Ritual Society there. I decided to check it out first.
Just after passing a vanished apartment building, I suddenly stopped. The building had disappeared—I didn’t know what happened. Stunned, I stared at a patch of overgrown grass beside a ruined street, close to University Town. I landed on the grass immediately.
I looked at the waist-high grass and the desolation all around—including the mountain, now half-carved away, with piles of rocks at its base. It was as if the apartment building had never existed.
What happened?
I asked. Tan Tian replied.
Zhang Qingyuan came to the Living World. Although it’s unclear what he wanted, Redhair destroyed Zhang Qingyuan’s vessel.
I swallowed, a chill running through me. I crouched quietly in the grass, but soon sensed ghostly energy nearby. I stood up, pulled out the half-broken Beauty, and instantly spread its wings, flying toward University Town.
Suddenly, I stared wide-eyed at a crowd of people moving like the walking dead. Their eyes were vacant—all possessed by ghosts. I was shocked, about to act, when Tan Tian stopped me.
Even if you drive out the ghosts possessing them, they’ll just be possessed again.
I looked at Tan Tian in confusion. He pointed toward the glowing Dragon Plaza, but I rushed down anyway. Instantly, golden flames erupted from my body. Amid sobs, wisps of black smoke flew from the possessed people—ghosts burned by my power. This human fire can’t hurt people, but it can harm ghosts.
I raised my hands, releasing streams of white silk to support the many people about to collapse. One after another, people fell asleep in the streets. Nearby, more possessed people appeared. I didn’t know what had happened while I was in the Shadow Realm, but the world I returned to was no longer the one I knew.
Just as I was about to go over, I noticed more ghosts appearing in nearby alleys and rooms. As soon as they saw people, they possessed them. I stared in shock.
It’s useless, Rachel. The battle is the same as in the Shadow Realm.
I fell silent, unsure what to say. As I hesitated, many of those who had just collapsed stood up again, moving like the walking dead. I realized these people were doomed—their Yang energy nearly drained after long-term possession. Raising my head, a streak of red flame shot upward as I soared into the sky.
With a whoosh, I stopped before a thick layer of cloud-like Yin energy. I drew my bow, notched three golden flame arrows, and shot them. The arrows turned to fire, instantly evaporating the Yin energy. But just as I was about to see the sky, the arrows vanished and black clouds of Yin energy gathered again.
After a while, I withdrew my flames, but still couldn’t see the sky. I looked down at the gloomy earth below and flew to a rooftop. An elderly man was coughing violently—also possessed by a ghost, his face pale. At last, he collapsed. I rushed over, killed the ghost inside, but the old man still died.
If they keep hiding their true faces, both worlds will be destroyed.
Tan Tian muttered. I stared quietly at everything before me. A pale soul appeared in the air, but after a few minutes, the old man’s soul began to change from exposure to so much Yin energy. He couldn’t bear it—I rushed over, but was too late. His soul dissolved into ashes.
Let’s go, Rachel. Your parents are over there too.
I rode the purple beast, following Tan Tian toward Dragon Plaza. The city was in chaos, like a dead city—no one was conscious, most possessed by ghosts. They would gradually die, and if not dealt with in time, the Yin energy would kill them.
The war is still raging!
Tan Tian replied coldly. I watched the sea of Red Spider Lilies rush past below.
So there’s more than one place in the Shadow Realm that supplies power to the Divine Emperor and his followers?
I realized it immediately. Gradually, I saw the Bridge of Sighs in the distance, bathed in sunset. The beast beneath me accelerated, speeding across the bridge. As I arrived at the long slope leading down to the Nether Hell, my eyes widened.
Rays of fiery red light occasionally streaked across the mountains of Shuzhou in the distance, isolating them. On the ground, masses of skeletons and Hell Troopers marched. The earth trembled like thunder. I swallowed hard—it seemed the enemy hadn’t yet breached the pass into Nether Hell.
We can’t hold out much longer.
Tan Tian muttered. I looked toward the Underworld Path, where another group of newly arrived souls appeared. As soon as they arrived, the Hell's Registrars ordered them to go below, collect weapons and equipment, and head straight to the battlefield.
What about the Living World?
I asked. Tan Tian shook his head.
The situation is just as bad. Just like the ghosts appearing here, there are many rampaging ghosts in the Living World. It’s complete chaos.