For several days in a row, Hell's Registrars scoured the forest, leaving many Lost Souls with no time to spare. Meanwhile, John Chou and the other six Ghost Sovereigns consumed only one Lost Soul each day, yet still found no solution. If this continued, the Registrars would notice the ongoing decrease in souls.
What puzzled me most was that these Registrars seemed naturally immune to the destructive power of Abyssal Hell, or perhaps the forces within Abyssal Hell simply couldn't touch them.
"John Chou, still haven't thought of a way out? You told us not to resist, and look where that got us."
Redmond spoke, looking helplessly at John Chou. The Ghost Sovereigns' ghostly energy had nearly been drained, and their forms were turning translucent. Yet, the Lost Souls in the caves were quite happy these days, since the Registrars hadn't come to drag them out for punishment.
"Let's move. After we've eaten our fill."
Once John Chou saw the Registrars going deeper into the woods, he spoke up. Soon, more than ten Lost Souls were subdued by his power and devoured by the seven Ghost Sovereigns. After recovering for a while, the group, led by Lord Shenyan, left the forest.
"John, the only place left for us now is that icefield."
John Chou responded with a hum. They had overheard Lost Souls mention it—the icefield was vast, and no soul had ever seen the edge of any of its four corners.
Another strange phenomenon: if these Lost Souls aren't tortured, they regain memories of previous suffering. One soul said the icefield was even more brutal. Registrars would drag prisoners out for torment, but if someone escaped, they'd likely get lost in the snowy mountains and never return. Registrars rarely approached the snowpeaks—the paths were too convoluted. If you entered and couldn't get out, you'd suffer eternal torment.
So, most Registrars only operate on the icefield, tossing Lost Souls onto its surface where the frostwind slowly freezes their bodies, forcing them to endure pain like being sliced apart.
As soon as they left the forest, Basil Bertram used his powers to make the seven Ghost Sovereigns appear as Registrars to the Lost Souls outside. Most of the Registrars had already gone into the forest to search.
The seven circled the edge of the forest, heading west. In a short time, they reached the icefield, where countless Lost Souls wailed—their cries quickly swallowed by the biting wind. Yuna Ji hugged herself tightly.
"Are we really going there? If we do, we might not be able to withstand it. Our ghostly energy can't be replenished anymore."
"It's because of the Judgment Imprint from the Underworld Court. Damn thing."
Redmond cursed, then pulled open his shirt to reveal a red mark on his chest. Once branded, any ghost would become a Lost Soul, their powers stripped to the utmost, and their spirits would become violently distorted.
"So, have they always relied on some hidden power within their bodies?"
I asked in surprise. The Wraithlord just laughed.
"That's what makes those seven so formidable. Earth Soul, what do you think it takes for a ghost to keep growing stronger?"
I looked at the Wraithlord in confusion, then replied.
"Of course, it's about continually accumulating power, improving the quality of one's spirit, so you can store more ghostly energy, and gradually refine it to ascend step by step."
For ghosts, the pinnacle of power is the Green Wraith. Most ghosts progress step by step, ultimately breaking through the limits of their spirits. Their bodies begin to materialize from ghostly energy, becoming Green Wraiths. With further accumulation, they open their own Shadow Realm, gaining multiple spirits and rapidly increasing both the quantity and quality of their ghostly energy. But there are limits—not every Green Wraith can reach higher ranks.
Most Green Wraiths can't advance beyond the intermediate level because their restraint can't control the wild surge of ghostly energy. Forcing it only burdens their spirits and causes self-harm. So, many Green Wraiths who have opened their Shadow Realm focus on working with the ghost arrays and the spirits within their own domains.
"Seems you know quite a lot, Earth Soul."
I shot a sidelong glance at the Wraithlord. At that moment, John Chou and his group stepped onto the icefield. The Wraithlord seemed about to tell me something, but held back.
"It's freezing. I can't take it anymore."
As soon as they entered the icefield, Redmond began to shiver. Within minutes, a thin layer of frost covered all seven. John Chou kept walking; Mona Ouyang shivered in pain, while Yvonne May held his hand. Basil Bertram and Lord Shenyan flanked the group.
Yuna Ji's cheeks were already turning purple from the cold. It was truly harsh. After walking less than a mile, the group found a large pit used to store Lost Souls and went inside, feeling a bit more comfortable instantly.
But the Ghost Sovereigns' ghostly energy soon began to plummet, and there were no Lost Souls in this pit.
After sitting down, the seven fell silent, each trying to resist the drain on their ghostly energy. John Chou pulled open his shirt, staring at the prisoner's brand on his chest. That mark was a real nuisance. As far as I know, once a ghost enters the Underworld Court and is branded, there's no escape.
Only after the sentence is served can the brand be removed, allowing for reincarnation.
"This mark feels like it has something to do with Hell's Eye. After all, I've been locked inside that eye before, so I know exactly how it feels."
The Wraithlord nodded.
"This power really does come from Hell's Eye, plus the Infernal Judges' strength. It's like a curse—once branded, you're trapped in Hell forever, unable to die. Strange, isn't it? This is recorded on page 54."
This chapter isn't over yet ^.^, please click the next page to continue reading!
I snorted coldly, watching as John Chou stood up and ran his hand along the cave wall, as if trying something.
"Where exactly is all the ghostly energy being drained from us stored?"
Yuna Ji asked, shivering.
"Forget that for now. If anyone still has strength, go find a pit with Lost Souls. I'm starving."
Suddenly, as Yuna Ji spoke, something flashed through my mind.
"Yuna Ji's Netherhell has those giant pits where skeletons keep reviving, just like here. Maybe she figured it out from this place?"
I asked, and the Wraithlord nodded.
At that moment, Bloodbane was still pondering, while Basil Bertram walked over, weakly swallowing.
"Bloodbane, if our ghostly energy is drained, the only way to recover our former state is to die and be revived. That way, the ghostly energy will return to our bodies. In other words, this place is like a giant cyclical formation."
Bloodbane nodded. Mona Owens was already nearly transparent, barely holding on. Just then, Redmond stood up.
"This won't work. We have to get out of here, otherwise, if we die, all our efforts will be wasted."
Indeed, if they died, the seven Lost Souls acting as substitutes for Bloodbane and his group would be exposed. Without Mona Owens' power to control them, those souls would awaken from the dream, and the Registrars would know it was the seven causing trouble.
Yet, just as everyone was at a loss, Yvonne May rose to her feet. She raised a hand, and a sweep of bright white light enveloped Mona Owens, who quickly snapped awake, staring in confusion at his hands.
"Yvonne, what's going on?"
"I just locked your time, that's all. The same goes for the rest of you. This way, your own time will become irreversible. The law of karma may catch up with you someday, and all the pain you're experiencing now will flow into time, eventually returning to you."
Yuna Ji immediately burst out laughing.
"Yvonne, why didn't you say so earlier?"
In the end, everyone agreed, and Yvonne May locked each of their ghostly timelines in turn. The Ghost Sovereigns were amazed—under Yvonne's power, their ghostly energy was no longer being drained. Though still weak, as long as they found a solution and had Yvonne release the temporal lock, they'd recover.
The group climbed out of the pit. The frostwind swept past them, but they felt no cold at all, nor did they need to use their powers to resist the harsh environment. Their bodies remained weak, but there were no other problems.
Gradually, Bloodbane and his companions approached the snow mountain, where they saw countless Lost Souls impaled on icicles beneath the slopes. Looking out, there were many paths into the mountain, all blanketed in snow, none seeming safe.
One glance inside revealed many branching roads. It was clear this snowy mountain could easily cause someone to lose their way and never escape.
"Let's go in and find a place to rest."
Redmond said, striding forward, and the other Ghost Sovereigns followed him inside.
At a crossroads with three branches, the Ghost Sovereigns stopped. There was no wind here; only the black, ice-sealed rock walls around them radiated a strange aura.
Something seemed to be hidden behind the icy walls, occasionally flickering with threads of white light.
"Hey, get over here and crack this open."
Bloodbane snapped, glaring fiercely at Yuna Ji, who immediately waved her hands.
"I can't do it. I don't have any strength left."
But under a dozen cold stares, Yuna Ji walked over.
"Alright, alright, I get it. I'll do it."