Around 800 years ago, a person was born—rejected entirely by both the Yin-Yang Realm. Though he was meant to enter the Human Realm, he came into existence on a day that did not exist in this world.
Day or night, Human Realm or Ghoul Path—there was no place for him. From childhood, he endured endless torment, never holding hope for either life or death.
He understood clearly that after death, there would be nothing—nowhere he belonged. His plan was to keep walking, to admire the scenery along the way, and wherever he fell, to return to ashes and dust.
Yet he was swept into one conflict after another, between humans and ghosts. Neither side would accept him; both sought to kill him.
That should have been the end—a hellish life finished. But for reasons unknown, when the enemy’s blade touched his neck, for the first time, a desperate urge to survive erupted from his heart.
Fleeing and killing his pursuers along the way, he angered both humans and ghosts. They wanted him dead.
One day, he could run no further. Surrounded, he felt his life was about to end. Yet he had no desire to die—none at all. He refused to die so unjustly, for he had done nothing wrong. He was unwilling to accept it.
A single Evil Ghost appeared, slaughtering all his enemies in an instant.
Never had he seen such a powerful Evil Ghost. In that moment, his heart was drawn to the specter’s form.
Existence itself is reason enough.
The Evil Ghost spoke simply to him. In that instant, the shadow over his heart vanished. Hope filled him again—he wanted to keep living, to find a place of his own.
"My name is John Chou. What about you, kid?"
"I don’t really know. But I’m born under the sign of the cat."
"Hahaha, interesting. From now on, I’ll call you Little Cat."
........
That encounter changed his path forever. With the Evil Ghost’s help, he hungrily absorbed knowledge from both humans and ghosts, and began to create a place of his own.
Gradually, more people gathered around Old Tom. He founded a sect called the Nether Syndicate, and after a highly controversial battle, its name spread throughout the supernatural world. It was then that the Evil Ghost decided to leave.
Before leaving, the Evil Ghost said, "If one day you lose your heart, I will return and bury you myself."
He remembered the Evil Ghost’s parting words, even to this day........
Images and words flickered through my mind, sketching out this scene. In a daze, the people of the Nether Syndicate stared anxiously at me.
"Hurry up and say it—what is John Chou’s Verity Incantation, really?"
Drake Kwan looked impatient.
I smiled. This is the source of the Nether Syndicate’s core power. Now I understand why John Chou wanted to destroy this place—Old Tom has lost his heart. He is no longer human.
The true source of the Nether Syndicate’s power lies in the Nether Pit. When the strong die, they return to the Nether Pit, becoming the foundation for the next generation.
"I have one last request—can Old Tom come out?"
I looked at Drake Kwan. The others from the Nether Syndicate said nothing. Then, one by one, the Syndicate members left my side. I looked up—a pale blue light descended before me.
"You still won’t come out, Old Tom?"
The Old Tom before me was only his Thought Form.
"Qingyuan, I am not dead. My life continues, so I cannot enter the Nether Pit. Only those whose lives have ended in the Living World can return to the Nether Pit."
"What does John Chou mean to you?"
I asked in a low voice, my heart still tangled and hesitant. In those images and words, I saw Old Tom following behind John Chou, his eyes clear and bright, smiling with hope.
Across centuries, countless meetings and partings—their relationship defies description.
"The past is past, Ethan Zhang. I keep my word. In a hundred years, I’ll set you free. Here, generations of Nether Syndicate’s strongest have gathered. You are weak now, unable to face the true powers of the Yin-Yang Realm. After a century’s silence here, what harm could it do?"
I shook my head, then smiled and slowly floated upward. My right hand rested on my left chest, half-kneeling on the ground. All eyes were on me; Old Tom’s gaze was filled with excitement. I glanced back—words could no longer solve anything.
"Prepare to receive the Sanzu Seal Relics."
Old Tom called out. I saw ten figures step forward, followed by twelve others. They were the Ten Stems and Zodiac Twelve of the Nether Syndicate. Among them, I saw Granny Zinian.
"I, Hungry Ghost, Hell, Beast, Sanzu Crossing, Sixfold Passing, Born of Killing..."
In my mind, the half-smiling figure surfaced. For ages I’ve wondered—what is John Chou’s purpose? Is he good or evil?
"Thus, sins committed, no hope in past lives, dust in future ones..."
This question haunted me. Only after death did I begin to understand—good or evil doesn’t matter.
“Alas, Heaven’s Way has fallen, Ghoul Path runs rampant, mortals dream, gods and Buddhas abandon us… From the day I perished, I fed on ghosts, found joy in humans, roamed the Three Paths—slaughter, wrath, severance…”
Those who possess a heart—be they human, ghost, or otherwise.
I slowly opened my eyes. All around me, blood-red particles floated, and a streak of yellow light appeared on my back.
"What is that?"
Old Tom stared in astonishment at the Abyssal Treasure Mirror manifesting on my back. It crackled, and within the red particles, flashes of red lightning darted around me.
A sharp cracking sound rang out—the bronze mirror’s surface fractured.
Old Tom began to laugh, his voice rising and falling, his face twisted and ferocious.
"Ready to receive the Three Seals..."
The Ten Stems and Zodiac Twelve sat cross-legged, hands pressed together.
I stared at them coldly, whispering under my breath.
"It’s over... The Three Seals... open..."
With a crash, the Abyssal Treasure Mirror shattered. A white ghost wailed, circling me. A beast howled—a wild creature leapt out. Chains of black iron snaked out, crossing behind me.
I heard a voice. A burning sensation surged from my chest, and black blood poured from my seven orifices.
"Your task is done, Ethan Zhang. Uncle Chou entrusted something so important to someone as weak as you—his mistake. If he’d given it to Elder Zhuang, perhaps it could have lasted longer."
I laughed, slowly rising to my feet. My chest burned with restless heat—something was about to emerge.
"Old Tom, one last question—what is John Chou, in your eyes?"
"Nothing at all."
I raised my head—the answer was chillingly indifferent.
"Fine, it’s all over, Old Tom—the Bloodbane Power..."
With a crash, I screamed in agony. My chest bulged and exploded, red blood gushed out, flooding from my body, melting away my consciousness and everything I was.
"You’ve worked hard, brother..."
In a daze, I heard a gentle voice, and my consciousness faded away.
When I opened my eyes again, faint sobs echoed around me, growing louder. The Nether Syndicate members were either collapsed on the ground or lying limp, completely immobilized.
"Ethan Zhang..."
A furious roar—Old Tom rushed up to me. With a splash, a torrent of blood surged up, blocking my way. I coughed up a mouthful of black blood.
My power was collapsing—because of the Bloodbane Power.
"Everyone, do not use your powers. The Bloodbane Power will destroy you completely."
Old Tom shouted and retreated below. Beneath me, a sea of blood had formed, and a mass of blood-red sludge dragged my body along.
Thunder rumbled. I looked up—the black sky was collapsing, the ground split open. The Nether Pit was dying. Old Tom’s face was anxious, deep in thought.
"Impossible, absolutely impossible! The Bloodbane Power—don’t even think about inheriting it. Even with your coexistence instinct, your power will collapse upon contact. You’ll die instantly."
Old Tom roared in furious rage.
"Indeed, to inherit John Chou’s Bloodbane Power in this world is impossible. But you know the Nether Pit’s special nature."
With a rush of blood, Slaughter stood before me.
"You’ve lost, Little Cat..."
"Chou... Slaughter, is it?"
Slaughter laughed wildly, then reached out and grabbed something—the Abyssal Treasure Mirror, slowly materializing in his hand.
"Do you know what this is? The Abyssal Treasure Mirror from Hell—you must have heard of it."
"Those bastards from the Underworld..."
Old Tom shouted, his form beginning to fade. Some Nether Syndicate members were completely petrified, like statues, their bodies turning dark red.
"Let’s go, Ethan Zhang. Everything here will soon vanish."
Slaughter spoke, grabbing my hand. With a creak, I heard distant machinery—a black passage appeared before me. It was Ethan’s Spectral Juggernaut.
I glanced back at the Nether Syndicate’s spirits, catching Granny Zinian’s warm smile, as if she were saying thank you.
I turned away and entered the Blood Path.