With a thundering crash, Adam Dale lunged at Luantian Xuekui. Her body, light and supple, drifted backward, while thick, gnarled blood vessels erupted from the ground, crossing and intertwining. The moment Adam Dale struck, it was as if his strength was sucked away, his body turning limp and powerless. He staggered, nearly falling, but forced himself upright, visibly agitated.
"The Nether Syndicate and I have an agreement. You..."
"I'm not Luna Quay, nor am I Tan Tian. I don't have to honor your agreements."
Luantian Xuekui let out a guttural snarl. Her entire form suddenly liquefied into blood, which began to coagulate in the air, filling the space with a suffocating, metallic stench. Gradually, the blood congealed into a crouching beast—its maw gaping like a wolf, but its lower body was spectral, with sharp claws. The sight triggered a memory, and I instinctively turned away.
"You transformed like this in that horror story, didn't you?"
John Chou nodded slightly.
"It's true—I learned this from Luantian Xuekui, just in case. Turning my whole body into blood isn't easy. Adam Dale is probably terrified and won't try anything reckless unless he uses all his strength. But right now, no one from The Immortality Society would dare risk that."
The two stood locked in a silent standoff. Luantian Xuekui showed no sign of attacking, determined to drag things out.
Time ticked by, minute after minute. Adam Dale kept glancing nervously over his shoulder, his anxiety plain. At this, John Chou began to chuckle.
"Get rid of this substitute and it'll be fine."
In a flash, Luantian Xuekui sprang into action. The instant she vanished, blood erupted at Adam Dale's feet, morphing into a beast. Luantian Xuekui's hands pierced Adam Dale's sides—he screamed as black bones were wrenched out. Her sharp jaws latched onto his neck, gulping down his blood.
Adam Dale's eyes bulged, his body shrinking rapidly, his appearance warping before my eyes.
"So it was a fake all along."
I said angrily. Not even a fake Golden Mask Man could be defeated—this infuriated me most of all.
"Forget it, brother. Everything here is naturally hostile to ghosts, but it doesn't affect zombies. Maybe you haven't noticed, but the moment we entered Mount Immeasurable, our power was completely suppressed—we can't unleash it properly."
Suddenly, everything around us faded, revealing scorched earth. Luantian Xuekui returned to her normal form. As she let go, a bloodless corpse collapsed to the ground.
"Alright, the danger's passed. Now, care to explain why you're here?"
Luantian Xuekui raised a hand, and a blood-red membrane appeared—a Corpse Barrier. Inside, Rufina Howard grinned mischievously, wrapped tight.
"John Chou, you're really pitiful—especially since you couldn't even beat a fake."
Annoyed by Rufina Howard's mockery, I floated over and pinched her cheek.
"Why are you acting like another Ethan Zhang?"
"I helped you before, didn't I? Is this how you treat me?"
Rufina Howard immediately pried my hand away and stuck out her tongue at me.
"Hmph, this operation can't succeed without me."
Rufina Howard stood with her hands on her hips, looking proud and defiant. The realization hit me: though the outer seal was Daoist, the intricate force-dispersing seal inside must have been set by the Mother Goddess Nuwa. Only someone with the Prime Ancestor's bloodline could move the entire space.
John Chou asked, and Rufina Howard looked angry before shaking her head.
"No idea where he went. Hmph, I'm furious—he didn't tell me anything. Vivian Maple is much better."
As she spoke, a purple glow flashed by, and Vivian Maple landed in front of Rufina Howard.
"The Immortality Society has already left."