The salty sea breeze rushed toward me. The sun had just risen above the horizon, and the seaside town was already bustling, just like before.
Soren Black and Mason Yu's island wasn't far from here. The Underworld Denizens had already prepared a yacht for us, and I planned to head over slowly.
After reaching the shore, several Underworld Denizens approached. I nodded, and we boarded the yacht. Ghost Fiend Star yawned, looking exhausted after barely sleeping for two days.
Black Moon went to the helm and started the yacht. I looked at him curiously, surprised that he could drive a yacht.
Get some rest, Rachel.
I shook my head. For some reason, I felt wide awake, my body seemingly tireless. If I wanted to sleep, I could, but I didn’t want to now. I gazed at the golden sea, standing by the edge of the boat, the fierce wind tossing my hair as I held down the ends, quietly staring at the horizon.
Heat surged through my body, power coursing within me. I raised a hand, watching purple marks occasionally appear on my arm. These marks surfaced whenever my power grew, and then my body would start to change.
Ghost Fiend Star was already asleep, while Black Moon seemed in good spirits—I could sense his mood, which surprised me. With a thought, my consciousness floated above, looking down at the yacht cutting through the blue waves.
Half an hour later, I sensed a presence ahead—it was the island where the Burial Ground of the Grudge lay.
The boat slowed down—Black Moon must have sensed it too. The seemingly empty sea was thick with ghostly energy. Wu Rong had previously set up a ghost array here.
Gradually, the boat stopped on the water. I stood up, a sharp cold wind swirling around me as I tore open the ghost array and entered the moonlit island. As I landed, I saw many of the living dead in the village moving toward me, sensing something.
There was a disturbance behind me. I turned to see the red-clad ghost woman dragging Ghost Fiend Star along.
Why did you come in?
Of course I came to see. The living dead—I've never seen anything so unbelievable.
I looked over as a crowd of living dead approached. Ghost Fiend Star eagerly moved closer, as if discovering something new. Suddenly, a violent green light shot toward us.
Rachel!
Soren Black had just landed and called out. I nodded. He seemed puzzled, so I explained my purpose. Soren nodded, but his eyes held a hint of sadness.
Is something wrong with Mason Yu?
I asked. Soren nodded and told me that the corpse energy in Mason Yu’s body had been transferred out by Entity 001’s power. Because of the Ghost Ancestor incident, Soren had participated in the Netherworld battle, but when he returned, Mason Yu was already unconscious.
Take me to him.
After a while, we arrived at a newly built cabin behind the village. As soon as I opened the door, I saw a coffin suspended in midair, with a pool of black liquid beneath it. I could sense intense corpse energy inside the coffin, constantly flowing into the black liquid below.
Soren Black told me this was to let the corpse energy accumulating in Mason Yu's body flow out, so his body wouldn't completely stiffen.
I nodded and stepped closer. Suddenly, a surge of baleful energy rushed toward me. Soren looked at me in confusion. I raised a finger, and instantly all the corpse energy in the space gathered at my fingertip. The coffin shook, its lid flew open, and black corpse energy streamed from Mason Yu’s body into my palm. I opened my mouth and swallowed it in one gulp.
You really are full of surprises!
Soren seemed to understand. I smiled and nodded. After the rope tying the coffin broke, Soren gently lowered it. He then walked to the coffin’s side. I saw Mason Yu move slightly—his face was deathly pale and he looked extremely weak. I walked over slowly and pressed a hand to his head.
A stream of purple energy flowed into Mason Yu's body. His eyes widened. I stared at my hand in disbelief. I understood Mason Yu's condition and knew how to temporarily restore his consciousness and soften his almost rigid body.
Ra...chel!
Mason Yu coughed. Soren quickly and carefully helped him up. I smiled at him.
It's alright. I'll figure something out.
After a while, we arrived at a small shed outside. I quietly observed Mason Yu. In the lamplight, his face looked deathly pale—I'd never seen him like this before. Just then, Ghost Fiend Star walked over.
It's really strange—the living dead here, and this Corpse Ghost.
Ghost Fiend Star approached Mason Yu, who immediately glared at him in anger. Soren shot a cold look, and Ghost Fiend Star quickly waved his hands.
I don't want to get involved in any more fights. I have nothing to do with the Ghost Syndicate anymore. Besides, if I do anything bad again, Rachel will kill me.
I glanced sideways at Ghost Fiend Star. He smiled and moved next to Mason Yu, pulling out a row of black needles from his coat and began inserting them one by one into Mason Yu’s body.
Soon, Mason Yu's body was covered in black needles. Ghost Fiend Star stared at him grimly.
Your soul seems to be gradually fading. If this continues, you won’t be able to move your limbs, and your flesh will slowly rot. What method did you use to forcibly merge this guy’s soul into his original body?
Ghost Fiend Star asked. Soren explained that he used the method developed by the Immortality Society, but it was a failure and couldn’t perfectly bind the dead to their bodies.
I can't do anything about that. The best option is to separate his soul from this corpse. Otherwise, if his soul disappears, there’s nothing we can do.
Soren looked at Mason Yu, his expression serious. I saw the unwillingness in Mason Yu’s eyes. He tried to clench his fists but couldn’t move. I kept thinking of a solution, but so far, I haven’t found one.
Rachel, what brings you here?
Mason Yu began to gasp for breath, still looking very uncomfortable.
Do you know how to get to Serpent Hall?
As soon as I asked, Mason Yu nodded. Then Ghost Fiend Star started laughing.
Maybe the soul was never whole to begin with.
I looked at Ghost Fiend Star in confusion. He explained that the Ghost Syndicate had long studied human souls and ghost spirits. After using one of their techniques to probe Mason Yu’s ghost spirit, he found it odd; a complete soul shouldn’t disappear so slowly. If the soul were incomplete, it couldn’t survive this long. The only possibility was that Mason Yu’s soul was never whole.
To Serpent Hall.
Soren Black immediately said anxiously. I nodded. Mason Yu was silent, his head bowed, seemingly confused, but finally he nodded.
There's only one way to get to Serpent Hall. Each successor of the Serpent Zodiac has a Spirit Serpent Platform, but it's gone missing. Maybe Felix Fan can help.
I looked at Mason Yu in confusion, then nodded, because Felix Fan lived where Old Man and Blind Granny used to.
There’s no time. If we don’t hurry, he’ll die.
Soren looked anxious. I nodded, and black wings unfurled behind me. I raised a hand, and a surge of baleful energy wrapped around Mason Yu. Soren stared at me in shock.
How did you get so strong in such a short time?
I shook my head. Instantly, my eyes turned purple-black and my vision extended infinitely. I unleashed streams of baleful energy that grabbed everyone.
Hold on tight.
I saw Felix Fan in the yard of Old Man and Blind Granny’s house, relaxing under a big tree.
I just need a moment to get there.
I knew my power could tear through the boundaries of time and space.
With a swoosh, my wings tore through time. White fragments floated around me as I landed in the yard. Felix Fan jumped up from his lounge chair, startled.
Don’t scare me like that, Rachel. You showed up out of nowhere.
When Felix Fan realized I’d teleported, he was even more shocked. But when he heard we were going to Serpent Hall, he knew the way.
Getting to Serpent Hall isn’t hard. When I left, I left a door there. I call it the Snake Den, and it’s in a mountain not far from the city.
I nodded and used baleful energy to pull Felix Fan. The shared power flowed into him, and he began to recall the location. Soon, I had a clear image of the Snake Den in my mind.