"When will it finally happen...?"
Spirit Snake lowered its body, sighed helplessly, and spoke.
"I didn't want to do this either, honestly. The Wraithlord's soul is extremely dangerous. But if we do nothing, that girl is doomed. The Four Guardians won't intervene any further with the Heavenly Dao. Next time, it won't just be a simple punishment by the law of causality. They could all vanish together."
I swallowed hard. At that moment, Spirit Snake looked off into the distance.
"It's not easy for them either, Ethan. You just need to trust them and know they're truly fighting for humanity. But this time, it's different. We're ghosts—we can't rely on their power anymore. And look at you now, Zhu Tang isn't here anymore."
I let out a surprised "Ah" and stared at Spirit Snake. It nodded.
"Originally, I planned to just watch for a while, but time's run out. They've sealed that damned bird, hoping to use the Four Guardians' power to purge the ghostly force that's already tainted you. I don't like it, even if it's none of my business, so I went to find that Serpent-Tortoise."
I looked at Spirit Snake in confusion. There was a hint of helplessness in its eyes.
"Xuanwu is the surface name for the Guardian that looks like a tortoise among the Four Guardians, while Serpent-Tortoise is for the one that's neither tortoise nor snake within Xuanwu. So you can call them both that. Serpent-Tortoise actually belongs to our snake spirits, but for certain reasons got tangled up with the tortoise, so now they're called Xuanwu together."
I picked up the golden spike that Serpent-Tortoise had just spat out. It felt heavy in my hand, radiating a strange power—the power of the Four Guardians was all inside it. Suddenly, Spirit Snake came right up to me, mouth wide open.
"It's safer if you put it in my mouth—the thing that unlocks the seal."
I responded with a simple 'okay' and tossed the golden spike into the Spirit Serpent's mouth. He gulped it down, and immediately, I could no longer sense that peculiar power.
I don't blame the Four Saints. They've already done enough, but there are things in this world that can't be helped. They're just part of the vast order of the world, unable to change anything. If they did, the world’s fragile balance would collapse.
"Qingyuan, it's already midnight. Get some rest. Tonight’s events shouldn’t have been exposed. Tomorrow night, we’ll find a way to obtain the Ghost Blood Jade."
I grunted in response, found a stone cave, and crawled inside, closing my eyes.
Two days left. Tomorrow night, I must get the Ghost Blood Jade. Now, the Spirit Serpent and the four Saintly Sisters are all helping me. The last traces of hesitation in my mind vanished.
"As long as you understand, Qingyuan. Don’t regret your actions. If you do, everything you’ve done—and everything that girl and the Earth Soul did for you—will be meaningless."
I made a sound of acknowledgment.
"Thank you."
In a daze, I sensed a scorching light nearby—azure, piercing the endless darkness. Struggling to open my eyes, I heard birdsong. I looked over and saw a blue bird, wreathed in azure flames, flying toward me.
I reached out, trying to touch it, but with a sudden whoosh, the giant blue firebird vanished before my eyes.
"We meet again, Ethan Zhang."
Startled, I opened my eyes wide. Morning had already come, and warm sunlight spilled over my body. I sat up, confused by the dream I'd just had. It was strange—why would I dream of a blue firebird? But thinking back, it seemed there was something hidden behind those azure flames.
I noticed the Spirit Serpent staring toward the White Tiger Realm. Just as I was about to ask, a chill swept over me. I turned to look.
A crack had appeared at the center of the Four Sacred Realm, where the four domains connected. There was nothing there before, but now, fissures split the sky, revealing black curse energy within.
"It’s begun—the withering."
The Spirit Serpent muttered. I realized no Saintly Sister was nearby. A foul, corrosive scent rose from the water’s surface. I turned my head; blackness was spreading in the Azure Dragon Realm. The Spirit Serpent quickly led me in that direction, and it seemed all the Saintly Sisters were gathering in the Azure Dragon Realm.
Decay was setting in—the World Garden of the Azure Dragon Realm. As soon as we entered the forest, we saw vast stretches of flowers wilting, yellowed leaves falling in clusters from above.
Gradually, we reached the center of the Azure Dragon Realm. All the Saintly Sisters were slowly passing through the tree hollow. Vermilion Bird noticed me and flew over.
"What’s happening?"
"We can't hold on any longer. All the Saintly Sisters here will evacuate before the day is out."
I quietly watched the Saintly Sisters file into the massive tree hollow. They all looked reluctant to leave this once-prosperous, beautiful Four Sacred Realm.
"Where is Lanyin?"
Vermilion Bird shook her head.
"He hasn't come back. You should make your decision soon."
I shook my head.
"I'm staying here."
"Really!"
Vermilion Bird said heavily, shaking her head in resignation before floating upward.
"Sorry, Ethan Zhang, we..."
"It’s alright. Thank you. No matter how many years pass, I’ll stay here—until the day I see Roxie again."
Vermilion Bird’s eyes widened in shock. In the distance, a series of cracking sounds echoed, and then the massive trees began to collapse, fissures spreading across the ground, growing larger.
"Hurry!"
The Azure Dragon, standing by the tree hollow, urged everyone on. Vermilion Bird gazed silently at the collapsing trees in the distance—the entire Four Sacred Realm was falling apart.
"Ethan Zhang..."
White Tiger floated over. Most of the Saintly Sisters had already entered the tree hollow, glowing with ochre light. It seemed to be the passage to the living world.
Suddenly, panic rose in me. I looked at Vermilion Bird.
"Roxie's body is still over there."
The Spirit Serpent shot upward with a hiss.
"Get on, Ethan Zhang."
I quickly climbed onto the Spirit Serpent's neck.
"Ethan Zhang, listen carefully—do not touch that curse energy. If you do, you'll be dragged in instantly. Good luck."
With a whoosh, White Tiger dove into the tree hollow as he spoke. The Saintly Sisters entered safely as well; only Vermilion Bird and Azure Dragon remained, both watching me.
The rumbling grew louder. I saw massive cracks splitting the Four Sacred Realm beneath us—it was falling apart. Vermilion Bird swooped up beside me.
"I'll take you across."
With a crash, just as Vermilion Bird reached us, the center of the Four Sacred Realm shattered. Black curse energy, like glass bursting, poured out and surged in all directions.
"We can't hold on, Vermilion Bird!"
Azure Dragon shouted from behind. Vermilion Bird looked at me in silence. I shook my head.
"Go to the living world. Those who believe in you need you—and you are Roxie's faith. Without you, I’ll never see Roxie again. Go, now!"
I shouted angrily. Vermilion Bird turned with frustration and flew down toward the tree hollow. Azure Dragon raised a hand, summoning a blue stream that formed a barrier against the surging black water, but the shield began to fracture immediately.
With a whoosh, Vermilion Bird dove into the tree hollow. Azure Dragon glanced at me one last time before stepping in as well. I looked toward the crumbling Vermilion Bird Realm—the island’s flames had gone out, the floating island collapsing, huge stones falling, dissolving instantly in the black water.
"Hurry, Spirit Serpent—find Roxie!"
With a thunderous crash, the entire island shattered, debris flying toward us. Anxiety burned in me as the Spirit Serpent darted through the air, dodging massive stones.
"Where is it? Where could it be?"
I searched everywhere for the crimson jar holding Roxie's body. Dust from shattered stones clouded my vision.
"Over here, Ethan Zhang! Hurry!"
A delicate voice—it was Xiao Ai. The Spirit Serpent carried me toward the sound.
It was the Four Saintly Sisters. All four reached out, holding the cracked, crimson jar overflowing with liquid. Roxie's body had already emerged.
"Why aren’t you leaving?"
I shouted, as the Spirit Serpent carried me over.
"If we leave, how will Roxie ever come back to life? You really are clueless, Ethan Zhang—her soul is inside the four of us!"
Xiao Lan cried out, struggling. There was still some distance to go. A shadow loomed overhead—I looked up. It was part of the island, pressing down on us. The Spirit Serpent sped up.
Xiao Ai and the others couldn't hold on any longer. Below, black water had overtaken everything, a powerful suction pulling them downward, while the island above pressed down.
With a crash, the crimson jar holding Roxie shattered. Instantly, the four Saintly Sisters each caught her body. The shadow overhead grew larger.
The Spirit Serpent and I finally reached their side.
"Get on, quickly!"
The Spirit Serpent shouted. The four Saintly Sisters jumped onto its back with Roxie. Suddenly, I felt a chilling surge—the black water below, like a raging tide, swept up toward us, while the island above pressed closer.
I stood up, raising my hand.
"Qingyuan, what are you doing?"
There was no other way. I had to unleash all my power—even if it meant being cast out by this world. I had to save them.
A cracking sound rang out. Suddenly, I froze—the island above split open just as it was about to crush us. Strands of silver-blue light spilled through.
With a thunderous roar, a surge of intense silver light burst forth. Within the light, a sapphire figure appeared.
"Qi..."
I shouted. With a rush, Qi swept past me, her silver-white hair flying. She dove downward, raising both hands.
"Wish... Xiyue..."
In an instant, a sword and a spear appeared in Qi’s hands. She bent forward, plunging into the black curse water, her figure swallowed by the darkness.