I lay sprawled on the ground, coughing and gasping for breath. That last strike felt as if it would shatter my ghost soul in an instant. If Lucas Dao hadn’t appeared, I wouldn’t have been able to get up at all.
"Is that Tan Tian?"
Lucas Dao glanced at Tan Tian, who was floating like a balloon in the center of the green pool. Judge Bane still hadn’t shown up; it looked as if Tan Tian had been temporarily subdued, but he himself couldn’t move either.
"Don’t keep fighting. Ethan Zhang, you’re still no match for him."
With a thud, I struck the ground and forced myself up, my body swaying. Lucas Dao extended his giant brush behind me—I leaned against it, tilting my head back, still struggling for breath.
A hand reached to support me, but I pushed Lucas Dao’s hand away. In my eyes, there was only Xu Fu.
Cui Jue was still locked in combat with Wu Yusheng. The Twin Reapers had already drawn the battlefield farther away; their clashes with Mr. Oblivion and Warren Qi sent shockwaves that tore at the earth and ground, filling the air with piercing roars.
With a boom, Lucas Dao suddenly leapt into the air, wielding his giant brush midair. Black strokes of ink slashed out, blocking attacks from Lao Chongyuan.
"I’ll be your opponent. Xu Fu is just getting started—don’t mess up my plans."
Lucas Dao glanced at me, as if hoping I wouldn’t keep fighting Xu Fu.
Kid, your moves are pretty interesting, but you’re still no match for him. Give me your body and mind.
I nodded slightly. With a swoosh, Xu Fu leapt toward me, arriving in front of my eyes in an instant. I immediately swung Belle, but Xu Fu was already standing upside down above my head. A powerful pressure descended from above.
Suddenly, my body moved. I lay back in midair with both hands raised—my left hand holding a mass of Black Flame, my right hand a swirling current of air.
With a boom, I swung out with both hands. A sharp flame, accompanied by swirling air currents, smashed toward Xu Fu.
The flame flickered, the wild wind roared. I turned into a Black Mist, rolling backward. Xu Fu landed on the ground, dodging at the last moment. The sleeve on his right arm had vanished, black fragments fluttering. His arm was covered in cuts, some parts charred and smoking.
Not bad. Keep going, Ethan Zhang.
Xu Fu shook his right arm, and the wounds instantly healed. He kept swinging his arm, then suddenly threw a punch at me.
Bang! My cheek was struck hard, and my body bent backward. A black shadow flashed before me. Bang! My abdomen was hit solidly by a knee, and I shot upward into the air.
Xu Fu didn’t let up; he grinned wickedly and clasped his hands together, slamming them into my neck. I spat out blood, and my consciousness faded instantly.
In a daze, I seemed to hear voices urging me to wake up. I suddenly opened my eyes wide, and pain flooded my mind. I screamed in agony, feeling as if my body was being torn apart. I stared blankly as Xu Fu sat on top of me, one hand already plunged into my chest.
Something was being slowly pulled out of me, and a large black vortex was swirling on my chest.
I win, Ethan Zhang.
I struggled desperately, but found my limbs completely collapsed. When I tried to recover, I realized the flow of my ghost soul was blocked.
Just lie quietly, Ethan Zhang. Once I take this thing out, it will all be over. This fight was enjoyable! I look forward to our next meeting. If you can fight me like this on your own strength next time, I’ll be very pleased.
I screamed, trying to get up, but the power inside me was gradually fading.
Gradually, I saw a faint blue glow on my body, glowing softly. It was the Blood Jade being slowly pulled out.
Don’t get too carried away in front of me.
Suddenly, the angry voice of King Taishan rang out in the sky. It seemed to instantly cover the City of Wrongful Death. With a boom, Xu Fu immediately let go and leapt off me, retreating.
I saw countless translucent spheres appear in the air. With a bang, Xu Fu was struck by something and immediately fell to the ground.
The sky was changing. The originally black-green sky was growing darker and darker. A streak of red light appeared—it was a pair of terrifying giant eyes, staring at the ground.
Soul flies...
As a majestic roar pressed down from the sky, I looked around. All the members of the Immortality Society were sprawled on the ground, unable to move. The Underworld Marshals and Judges began to retreat to the perimeter. With a swoosh, Bloodfiend Chaos appeared before me, waved his hand, and a stream of red blood wrapped around me, pulling me away into the distance.
Things look bad. Old Tan Tian, what are you doing?
Xu Fu struggled to lift his head, looking at Tan Tian in the center of the green pool, but nothing had changed. In a daze, I saw a faint white shadow appear on the bodies of the Immortality Society members, like multiple bodies overlapping. These white shadows kept rising and falling.
A blood-red bolt of lightning flashed across the distant sky, followed by a thunderous crash. The ground shook, and Xu Fu and the other six were unable to move, slowly floating upward.
Today, I will eliminate you all.
King Taishan’s voice was like thunder. I felt nauseated, wanting to vomit; my ghost soul churned, as if it was about to leave my body and fly into the air.
With a swoosh, Cui Jue appeared before me, pressing a token onto my forehead with a slap. Immediately, a bright red character appeared on my head.
The uncomfortable feeling immediately disappeared.
With a snap, Tan Tian’s body exploded in midair. For a moment, I saw streaks of silver light in the sky, each covering one of the six Immortality Society members.
When Tan Tian appeared again, he stood between the pair of giant blood-red eyes. King Taishan immediately let out a puzzled grunt, his eyeballs turning to stare at Tan Tian.
Celestial phenomena...
Suddenly, the sky, once like a black curtain, became filled with dazzling stars. On one side was a radiant sun, on the other a brilliant moon. White and black mingled together as the sun and moon revolved.
Everyone was stunned, staring at the incredible scene.
With a tearing sound, King Taishan closed his eyes. I saw Tan Tian reach out and suddenly grab King Taishan from thin air, squeezing his neck and dragging him down toward the ground.
With a boom, the green pool on the ground instantly evaporated. I saw starlike light bursting forth, and King Taishan was pressed firmly onto the only spot where one could stand.
Don’t go over there.
Just as the Twin Reapers were about to move, Cui Jue shouted urgently. He looked gravely at the scene before him.
It’s extremely unusual. That guy called Tan Tian existed even before the Old Hell was established. If you go over, you’ll die.
Once again, the sky was filled with strange sights, like the end of the world. The sun was gradually approaching the moon, their hot and gentle lights mingling together.
King Taishan was pressed firmly to the ground.
I didn’t want to use force, but it looks like I have no choice. Hurry and remove the heavy prison from them, or I’ll finish you.
I swallowed nervously as King Taishan burst into laughter.
If you’ve got the guts, go ahead and try! Hahaha! Today, I’ll see who finishes whom!
Bang bang! The entire City of Wrongful Death was collapsing, cracks appeared in the ground, and King Taishan struggled. With a boom, the whole city broke free from the earth and flew into the sky.
In an instant, I felt both scorching heat and icy cold. A black sphere appeared in the sky, and all of us began to float, as if being drawn toward it.
Tan Tian looked solemnly at the approaching black sphere, which was swallowing everything drawn toward it.
Do you really intend to kill even those people over there?
If you want that thing so badly, I’ll give it to you. Ethan Zhang, take out the Blood Jade.
King Taishan suddenly shouted at me.
You bastard...
Tan Tian snarled, and King Taishan burst out laughing.
No matter how powerful you are, once you enter my heavy cave, everything will be crushed—even the Blood Jade.
I reached out, about to pull something from my body, when Tan Tian suddenly let go. With a hum, the sun and moon in the sky intertwined, and the giant black hole below instantly expanded. My body vaporized, and everything around me began to spin.
Black and white light intertwined, and a piercing sound threatened to shatter my ears. My consciousness began to blur. In the last moment, I saw myself flying toward the black sphere, but inside it, I saw a trace of orange light.
A violent bout of coughing sounded. I opened my eyes and saw an old woman in gray-blue clothes patting someone’s back.
This isn’t your Great Hell. Good thing I arrived in time.
A hand grabbed me. I swallowed—it was Granny Meng and King of Five Senses. King Taishan was still coughing on the ground. I stared wide-eyed. We were in a black space, surrounded by floating debris. We were on a giant rock, clearly a part of the City of Wrongful Death.