The pounding continued relentlessly. The door before me bulged in several places, as if someone on the other side was using immense force to attack it.
"Listen carefully, Rachel Lan. When you go in, don't say a word—Black Moon will handle everything for you. If any of the wardens show displeasure, just suppress them with your power. Now, close your eyes and concentrate. I'll grant you the power of the Underworld directly, so you'll know what to do."
I was about to nod when I asked:
"What will it take to break the cruel fate of those bound to the Underworld?"
I asked, and Hades hesitated for a moment before breaking into a smile.
"There's nothing you can do about that. Your ten ancestors from the Underworld swore a blood oath with me—an irreversible vow. It can't be undone unless you help me escape Hell. But I'm sorry, Rachel Lan, no matter what power you wield, once I've been marked by the Hellbrand, there's no way out."
I understood exactly what Hades meant, because I had personally felt the power of the Hellbrand. This thing, similar to a threshold ritual, was far more potent and complex than any boundary spell.
Hades raised his hand, and wisps of black energy flowed from his palm.
I gave a quiet grunt as streams of black energy entered my body. Instantly, a wave of discomfort hit me—negative emotions flooded my mind, leaving me at a loss for how to express them. All I could feel inside was a sudden, profound sorrow.
Gradually, the sensation grew more and more indistinct. My fading consciousness began to return. I closed my eyes, and my appearance began to change—a black cloak materialized around me, my cheeks vanished into the swirling black energy, my face disappeared entirely, replaced by utter darkness marked with blood-red sigils. My eyes turned star-like, and my whole exterior transformed.
"What is happening to me?"
As soon as I spoke, confusion overtook me. The voice I heard was familiar—Ethan Zhang's voice, echoing coldly from within me. I tried to shout a few things, and Hades nodded, as if recognizing the change.
"That's about right. Whatever you do, you must stop the wardens from attacking the gate. If you fail, they'll break through Hell's threshold and invade the world of Yin and Yang."
I nodded. Hades motioned for me to follow him—he would lead me to a hidden entrance that went straight to the Heart of Hell.
We soon arrived at a spring bubbling with black water. Hades pointed to the spring.
"Go down here and you'll reach the spring at the border of the Forest of Faces and the Heart of Hell. Get familiar with the area first—Black Moon will contact you when the time is right."
I grunted in response and approached the spring, reluctant but determined. The instant I stepped forward, it felt as if I plunged into an ocean—my body was immobilized, swept along by an unseen current.
With a splash, I swallowed hard and suddenly found myself back on solid ground, right beside the black spring. A chill ran through me. On the slope ahead, directly opposite me, was a vast area covered in connected strips, surrounded by thick black rock both above and below. Behind me stood a forest filled with human faces. I had been here briefly before, so I knew the place well. I quickly rose and drifted toward the area with the connected strips—that was the Heart of Hell.
Images of Hell flooded my mind. I landed on the Heart of Hell and immediately sensed something there. I followed the presence, drifting closer.
A chorus of strange, wavering sounds echoed, as if someone was trying to make contact. I caught a glimpse of orange-red light—then saw a woman raising a sword that glowed with that same hue, hacking away at the strips nearby. Whenever a mark appeared on them, they instantly vanished.
Watching the awkward woman waving her sword about, I couldn't help but laugh.
She looked less like she was training and more like a child at play—her movements were clumsy and naive. I was already close to her, yet she hadn't noticed me. After a moment's thought, I decided not to speak to this odd woman, heading straight for the center of the Heart of Hell instead.
Suddenly, I heard sobbing and the clear clang of metal. Just as I began to float upward, a gust of wind swept past, revealing a woman wrapped head to toe in vegetation. Upon seeing me, she immediately knelt down.
"My lady, I didn't expect you to return."
I nodded silently. Hell's power coursed through me, and my instinct for coexistence was working constantly, converting the drifting energy around me. They must have sensed my strength; for now, they couldn't see through my disguise.
"My lady, you're back. Come and see what I've accomplished."
The woman behind me called out, leaving me awkwardly facing both of them. I hadn't expected to run into strangers so soon after arriving in Hell. Black Moon had told me about some of the wardens and their names, but these two clearly weren't wardens—their power was chaotic and weak, so they probably weren't wardens.
"What was your name again?"
I asked, and the woman with the orange-red sword looked at me in confusion, then burst out laughing.
"My lady, you truly are forgetful! I'm Xu Jin."
I made a sound of acknowledgment. Suddenly, the woman partially wrapped in branches moved in front of Xu Jin and slapped her across the face.
"Watch your manners. When my lady asks you something, just answer honestly."
Xu Jin rubbed her cheek, glaring at the woman before her and retorted angrily.
"Zeng Yu, don't forget I'm older than you. How can you treat your elder this way?"
I watched the two women bicker and finally learned their names. Zeng Yu looked ready to discipline Xu Jin, so I quickly intervened.
"You two, come with me."
At my words, the impending fight ceased, and I breathed a small sigh of relief. In the distance, I saw a patch of white. As I approached, I heard a clear, ringing sound, and behind the white, purple light flickered and intertwined.
I arrived at a pristine white platform radiating pure energy. On it was a stone chair, where I sat without hesitation. Nearby, an old man was swinging a hammer, forging a purple sword.
"How's the progress?"
I asked coldly. The old man stopped his work.
"Don't worry. This is already the sixth Infernal Weapon, all forged according to my designs. They're the greatest masterpieces of my life."
I nodded, sensing something was off. Xu Jin walked over with a cheerful grin.
"Master Ou Yezi, why isn't my sword sharp at all? Could you make me another one?"
I stared in surprise at the old man forging swords—clearly Hell had some plan, but Black Moon hadn't told me anything. I decided to wait until Black Moon arrived and ask him directly.
I carefully examined everything around me. The white platform beneath me was once part of the Heavenly Dao, seized by the Emperor God and his allies. But now the original Dao had fallen, and this piece was useless, unable to connect to the old Dao. Yixue Han planned to build a new reincarnation passage.
Even as I arrived, I could sense intense energies in the distance—there was fighting going on. I couldn't figure out the situation with these three; they were all lost souls, that much was clear.
"So, are you all ready?"
I asked deliberately. Zeng Yu immediately knelt, looking sincere.
"My lady, I'm ready. I can serve you at any moment."
I nodded, glancing over at Xu Jin, who was still pestering Ou Yezi. Realizing I was watching, she came over with a silly smile.
"My lady, I'm not ready yet. You said I had to fully merge with this sword, but I still don't understand what that means. Could you give me some advice?"
I shook my head.
"Can't you even manage something so simple?"
No sooner had I spoken than Ou Yezi laughed and shook his head.
"Xu Jin, your resonance with the sword grows stronger by the day. The swords I forge aren't what you think they are—just trust me on this."
I nodded and replied,
"I'll trust you for now."
At that moment, I sensed Black Moon's presence approaching, with a powerful aura in pursuit. I remained calmly seated.