The wind on the rooftop carried a chill. I stared blankly at everything before me, when a bright and clear voice rang out behind me. For a moment, everything around me felt dreamlike, and I widened my eyes in surprise.
Just now, I should have been fighting for control with my own Genesis Instinct, but in the blink of an eye, I was back on my home rooftop. I stood up in disbelief and turned around—there was nothing there. The scene around me felt strange: everything was black, except for the rooftop I was on, which had form; everywhere else was pitch dark.
But I kept feeling that someone had just called me—it was definitely not my imagination. Someone really was calling my name.
"Who is it? Who's here?"
I called out, but the surroundings remained silent. The wind stopped, and I caught a faint whiff of fragrance. Before me, a white robe fluttered gently, a shallow smile on the face, strands of hair brushing the forehead—this was Past Ethan Justice.
"Why are you here? What is this place?"
I stared in astonishment at Future Ethan Zhang before me, but now wasn't the time to talk about these things. Rachel's Shade had probably already taken over my body, controlling me to find my past self and stop everything I was about to do today. If I didn't interact with Past Ethan Justice at all, then when I returned to my original time, everything in my mind about him would soon vanish.
"Hurry and help me get out of here—I have to stop Rachel's Shade."
I shouted anxiously, but Past Ethan Justice just smiled and shook his head.
"Don't worry about Miss Lana. I'm here this time to help you. The place you're in now is provided by the Coexistence Instinct. Without past and future, there is no space for the flow of time. Even after you leave, it will be the same. Do you remember what I said before?"
I looked seriously at Past Ethan Justice and nodded, giving a quiet response. I still remembered that moment when I heard about Ethan Zhang’s death and disappearance—when I was on the verge of collapse, Past Ethan Justice appeared and showed me a faint glimmer of hope. It was that fragile hope that kept me going till now.
That day, when Past Ethan Justice handed me the Starshard Radiance, he made it clear that both he and Future Ethan Zhang had met Ethan Zhang. When Ethan Zhang died, someone did something to save him, but for certain special reasons, Ethan Zhang could never return to this world again.
So, in that instant, Past and Future Ethan Justice worked together to seal the Coexistence Instinct within the Starshard Radiance, cooperating with the one who helped Ethan Zhang to keep his instinct alive. But this instinct could disappear at any moment, so they hoped I could carry it—because the power of my Genesis Instinct could keep the Coexistence Instinct safe. As long as it still existed, there was hope for Ethan Zhang to return.
When I heard all this, my feelings were complicated. But seeing the two middle-aged Ethan Zhangs before me—one from the past, one from the future—I agreed without hesitation.
Past Ethan Justice warned me never to tell anyone about these things, including anything about himself or the Coexistence Instinct. Future Ethan Zhang, on the other hand, told me some things—after this incident, many people would realize just how powerful the Coexistence Instinct truly was. And if they knew I still had it, they would stop at nothing to capture me.
I promised them. So when John Chou intentionally or unintentionally said certain things, I understood his intent. But in the end, I couldn't hide it—the Coexistence Instinct awakened inside me. I never expected that. Originally, it was just being preserved in my body, and Rachel's Shade kept supplying it with power. What I didn't expect was that Coexistence became my second instinct.
I once asked Past Ethan Justice many times if what he said was true. He assured me that as long as the Coexistence Instinct remained in my body, and I never forgot his words, then when the time was right, he and Future Ethan Zhang would find a way to bring Ethan Zhang back. Besides, the one who saved Ethan Zhang was the only person in the world capable of making him human again—so I shouldn't worry.
"What should we do now?"
I asked, and Past Ethan Justice began to speak. At that moment, a cold voice echoed from the surrounding darkness.
"Hurry up and keep it brief. I've suppressed time, but if the Eye of Time notices, things will get ugly."
I looked over in confusion, following the direction of the voice. It must have belonged to Future Ethan Zhang.
"The reason they're in such a hurry now is because The Immortality Society has already obtained six pieces of the Blood Jade."
My eyes widened as I looked at Past Ethan Justice. He sighed helplessly, then continued speaking.
A person needs three souls and seven spirits to be complete, and it's the same for ghosts. Although The Wraithlord’s three souls are still separated, they already know where the Earth Soul and Human Soul are. The Heavenly Soul was temporarily struck by Future Ethan Zhang and sent into the chaotic ruined space, but it's only a matter of time before it comes out.
The Immortality Society will likely try to unseal the six pieces of Blood Jade first, so The Wraithlord’s six spirits can merge. While some emotion will be missing, six spirits are nearly complete compared to seven. The reason they haven’t done it yet is probably because they haven’t found the safest way.
Just as Juchen said, from the moment he was born, he took on the gods’ task. If any opportunity arises for The Wraithlord’s resurrection, he will go back in time to erase that chance. And Ethan Zhang is that chance—the incredible Coexistence Instinct born in shattered illusion, an instinct that should only exist in ideals, yet it truly came into being.
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So at this point in time, Juchen must fulfill the gods’ task: go back to the past and disrupt my meeting with Ethan Zhang. If that meeting is disrupted, none of these events will happen, and The Immortality Society won’t be able to repeatedly obtain The Wraithlord’s spirits. Only by doing this can the crisis of The Wraithlord’s resurrection be eliminated.
With this in mind, even if it means using any means necessary, Juchen must rely on the Eye of Time to correct everything at this critical moment and completely erase Ethan Zhang from this world. If I never interact with Ethan Zhang, there won’t be any emotional bond, and Coexistence will vanish with his death.
"This was originally putting the cart before the horse, but Juchen only wants to keep this world from falling into destruction again. He has a duty to fulfill. Rachel Lan, let me ask you one last time—do you still feel the same way as before?"
I nodded without a moment's hesitation.
Past Ethan Justice smiled and nodded, then looked up and laughed.
"You heard it all, Juchen. This isn't for you to decide. If you still refuse, I'll force Rachel Lan to open the Gate of Time and return to an even more distant past. After all, I have the ability. If I could, I'd really want to help and solve The Wraithlord for you—but unfortunately, I can't do that. It would violate the laws of this world, and my power can't fully penetrate this realm."
I looked at Past Ethan Justice in surprise. He was still glancing around, and now a streak of black energy slowly rose from the ground. Long hair fluttered in the wind—it was Future Ethan Zhang, his eyes cold, one hand gripping Juchen’s head.
"It was you—in the future, you killed time, bringing everything to an end. There was no turning back, and the future reached its conclusion because of you."
Future Ethan Zhang released his grip. I quietly watched Juchen, who glared fiercely at Future Ethan Zhang.
"Juchen, we've been old friends. You helped me a lot back then, but things are different now."
Juchen turned his head, baring his teeth in a snarl, his cheeks twisted and eyes glowing faint red.
"You ungrateful wretch! You actually teamed up with the thing you hate most—why? You would never..."
Before Juchen could finish, Past Ethan Justice dug at his ear and then started to laugh.
"This young lady only wants to save the one she loves. Why should I stand by and do nothing? Besides, it's not hopeless yet—the Immortality Society hasn't gotten six pieces of Blood Jade, only five."
Juchen stared blankly at Past Ethan Justice for a moment. I was also confused. After the Immortality Society left, I heard from the Earthly Soul that they had indeed obtained the Blood Jade from somewhere, but the specific reason wasn’t mentioned.
"What do you mean? They clearly already got it—that’s impossible."
Juchen still didn’t believe it, and said so. Future Ethan Zhang walked silently to the edge of the Skywatch Platform, gazing worriedly into the distant darkness.
"We have to look elsewhere. If the Eye of Time finds this place, it’s only a matter of time—or I could try to trap the Eye of Time for a while."
As he spoke, Juchen began to roar in anger.
"If the Eye of Time suffers even the slightest damage, time itself will fall into chaos."
As he spoke, Juchen raised a hand, and a swirl of black and white energy appeared.
"Get outside."
I felt my head grow heavy, and gradually lost consciousness.
The moment I opened my eyes again, I was stunned—I could move my body, and I was still in the park across from my apartment from five years ago. But everything around me was astonishing: the people in the park, the flowers and trees, the clouds in the sky, the flitting birds—without exception, everything was frozen in place. I glanced at the clock on the tall pole in the park, and with a click, the second hand stopped moving.