I kept spreading my Specter Web out in all directions, but I was already at my limit. Aside from the chaotic and immense ghost energy surrounding us, I couldn't sense anything out of the ordinary.
"Ethan, come down for now. You won't find anything by searching blindly like this," Ma Yongjie said. I slowly landed on the ground. The situation around us was grim—the fighting continued, and even in the sky, the battles seemed to be shifting toward the Hall of Malice. Their goal was obvious: to rescue the two Ghost Syndicate prisoners held by the Ghost Burial Squad.
"Let's check over there."
Just then, Tammy Blade spoke up, her stomach growling audibly. I glanced at her; she was pointing toward the only intact building nearby.
Without another word, we hurried over. Looking around, we saw that in the Red-Haired Ghost's domain, only this building remained intact. The others nearby were either damaged or had collapsed.
"No matter how you look at it, it's just too strange."
Oddball Moe muttered as we gradually approached the building.
"It really is strange—this is the only building left untouched."
I replied as I entered the building. The lobby was silent and empty, but Oddball Moe shook his head and pointed up at the sky outside.
"No matter how you look at it, it's too strange. To replicate so many Blue Wraiths with real combat ability, you'd need a massive amount of ghost energy. I checked—the ghost energy levels of each Blue Wraith are exactly the same when they appear."
I immediately started explaining. Earlier, I had encountered a photo studio, and after going inside, a Blue Wraith even transformed into me, tried to manipulate Zhang Qing, and came to negotiate with me. After the negotiations broke down, the Immortality Society's people started making moves everywhere.
What worried me most now was the Ghost Burial Squad—everyone had lost contact. Just then, my phone started buzzing. I picked it up right away; it was that warning app.
I stared in surprise as the app's icon grew larger and larger, eventually taking up the whole screen. Four big characters appeared: Danger Approaching.
Before I could react, there was a loud bang—a mass of green light suddenly burst into the lobby, followed by a powerful blast that shattered all the windows.
Just as I was about to respond, I saw Mr. Blackmask rush toward the fading green light.
"Not bad, for someone from the Immortality Society."
With a bang, I saw a man—Ronan Wu. He was dressed in a white suit, with a vibrant rose pinned to his chest, and was gripping Mr. Blackmask's fist with one hand.
"How are you here?"
I shouted in shock, feeling that Ronan Wu didn't seem like an imposter. Suddenly, Mr. Blackmask threw him toward us. I saw Tammy Blade and Oddball Moe both looking grimly at Ronan Wu.
"Why shouldn't I be here, Ethan Zhang?"
Ronan Wu retorted, while I kept probing him with my Specter Web. I detected even greater ghost energy inside him than before.
"I'm just a fake created by an old friend, but I still have instincts, so I retain my original consciousness. Ethan Zhang, be careful—you could die. After all, Boss Yin still needs you for his plans."
Ronan Wu stretched out a hand, pointing at me.
"Ethan, calm down and search slowly. Leave this to us."
As Mr. Blackmask spoke, he instantly flashed to Ronan Wu's side, raising his fist. At the same time, Tammy Blade attacked with her Hidden Saber, aiming at Ronan Wu's neck. Just then, as Ronan Wu was about to fight back, he found himself unable to move—Oddball Moe had bound him with invisible threads, as if pulling on ropes.
"I'll tell you one thing: my ghost power and fighting style are vicious. Don't get close to me."
As soon as Ronan Wu finished speaking, I saw Mr. Blackmask's fist punch through Ronan Wu's body, while Tammy Blade's Hidden Saber sliced off his head.
But things didn't go as I'd seen before—Mr. Blackmask's right hand and Tammy Blade's Hidden Saber felt like they'd sunk into mud, completely restrained by a force. Suddenly, a green vortex appeared in Ronan Wu's chest, and in an instant, Tammy Blade, Mr. Blackmask, and Oddball Moe were sucked into his body.
"I told you not to get close to me. Even if I'm a fake, I still retain some power and the traits of a Ghost Soul."
In an instant, I saw all three of them trapped as if in mud, completely unable to move, squeezed deeper and deeper into Ronan Wu's body.
"It's useless, little girl. Your power is strong, but once you're restrained by mine, you can't move. My purpose as a fake is to stop Ethan Zhang and take him away."
As Ronan Wu spoke, he suddenly flashed in front of me. I instantly tried to dodge to the side, but to my dismay, I couldn't react at all. My hands were sucked into Ronan Wu's body, and the green vortex in his chest continued to spin.
Parts of our bodies seemed to vanish after being sucked into the green vortex, leaving us unable to feel anything. Ma Yongjie closed his eyes, apparently thinking of a solution.
"How can we get out of your body?"
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I immediately asked, but Ronan Wu just laughed and shook his head.
"I can't tell you that. If I reveal my trump card, wouldn't that be a problem?"
"Damn."
I watched as my arm completely disappeared into the green vortex. Bit by bit, my body was pressed entirely into the vortex.
"Xiao Rong, isn't this a bit much—playing with people like this?"
I heard the sound of boots, and saw Redmond walk in. At that moment, Ronan Wu started laughing.
"Can't help it, Boss Redmond. I'm just following orders. You'd better hand over those two Ghost Syndicate members you're keeping locked up."
"Damn, have you been eating shit all this time? I never know what the hell you're thinking."
"Heh, that's not quite right. No one needs to understand what I'm thinking—just one person is enough. My wishes and goals all exist for that person, everything I do."
"Cut it out with your disgusting act. When did you start working with the Ghost Syndicate and the Immortality Society?"
Redmond walked toward us step by step, but stopped about four or five meters away.
"It's been that way for a long time. My ties with them have always been close. After all, someone has to play the villain, right? I'm that villain. That's why they sent me this time. At most, they're just my partners. Once I've achieved my goal and the time is right, they'll be useless to me."
"I've had enough of your nonsense."
Redmond's smile vanished. Suddenly, I saw black Malice Wraith Fire erupt around Ronan Wu.
"You've grown even stronger, Boss Redmond. Your Malice Wraith Fire has reached this level—looks like everyone in the world carries malice in their hearts these days!"
In an instant, waves of Malice Wraith Fire attacked Ronan Wu, and suddenly, the four of us broke free from his restraints.
Ronan Wu was completely engulfed by the black flames, slowly fading away within them, a sinister smile on his lips.
"Boss Redmond, are you sure it's a good idea to come over here?"
"Hmph, Noah Grimm is guarding that side..."
Before Redmond could finish speaking, his expression changed instantly. He rose up and transformed into a mass of black flames, flying toward the Hall of Malice.
"Ethan Zhang, hurry up and find out why the Blue Wraiths are appearing."
I couldn't help but look at my hands and feet, which had returned to normal. Just a moment ago, after being sucked in, it felt like they had completely disappeared.
"Calm down, Ethan. Use your instincts and find the key point."
I nodded, then quietly sat down, closed my eyes, and began to sense everything around me. From the start, I'd noticed Redmond's ghost domain was strange, full of hidden power.
As my perception deepened, my mind filled with countless thoughts—various intentions interweaving throughout the ghost domain. Yet every one of these thoughts was malicious, seeking to harm others for personal gain.
My head felt like it was about to explode, but I kept pushing my senses. Gradually, I began to lose consciousness.
I returned to my instinctual space. There, I found the Resentful Ghost, Tong Ghost, and my shadow all looking listless, and the Vermilion Bird was half black, sitting dejectedly on the ground.
"What's wrong with you guys?" I asked immediately.
None of the four responded; they just lay on the ground, motionless.
"Get up and get to work!"
I cursed at them. Earlier, I'd noticed my Specter Web and Deathbane Aura felt weak and sluggish, nothing like before.