I stared quietly at Redmond. Rage filled his eyes. There was nothing left for us to say—Redmond understood this as well. Yet at that moment, I noticed his hesitation. In a flash, my hand pressed against Redmond's chest.
A streak of crimson light flared. Redmond instantly tightened his grip, but it was already too late. The moment his strength faded, I dissolved into a mass of black mist and scattered, reappearing atop the now-repaired apartment building. Redmond clutched his chest, struggling.
I watched Redmond in silence. On the surface of his body, the Hell Imprint began to spread, creeping along his flesh. Redmond fought back, resisting the Imprint’s invasion with his own power. This was the last remnant of my infernal strength, barely enough to activate the Hell Imprint. Yet I was shocked to find the force Redmond had used to seal off my Ghost Domain remained—still encircling it in flames. I couldn’t escape; if I touched those flames, I might die.
"My offer still stands, Redmond. What do you say?"
Redmond calmly watched as the Hell Imprint tried to cover his body, fully aware of what was happening. This power would trap him. As long as Redmond kept using his strength, the Imprint would spread, locking him in place. There were countless ways to use the Hell Imprint, but I chose the simplest—and it would only last for half an hour at most before fading. Redmond clearly didn’t know this, and I had no intention of attacking. Instead, I kept searching for an opening. The scattered force of calamity around us seemed almost sentient; unless Redmond recalled it, if I tried to leave the Ghost Domain, those powers would destroy me.
"Unfortunately, about that—Yin Choujian already warned me."
My eyes widened. I looked at Redmond in confusion. He burst into laughter.
"If you’re desperate, you’ll definitely use infernal power. Yin Choujian told me to force you into revealing a weakness and using it early. And you did exactly as he predicted, Ethan Zhang."
Frustration welled up inside me. It was true—when Redmond hesitated, I seized the moment and pressed the Hell Imprint onto his chest, activating it with infernal power. The effect was immediate, but I still had no way to escape. I’d miscalculated.
"Death isn’t pleasant, is it, Ethan Zhang? You’ve experienced it many times before—and soon you’ll face it again. As soon as this annoying thing wears off, I’ll kill you, no hesitation this time."
I swallowed hard and forced a helpless smile. Even if I attacked now, it would be useless—might even prompt Redmond to break the Hell Imprint early. I still had time. I had to find a way out.
"Ethan Zhang, I’m not sure what you’re planning, but for the next few decades—maybe even centuries—you won’t set foot in the Living World again."
I grunted in response. Redmond was right. If my Spectral Remnant—the vessel—was destroyed, it would be nearly impossible for me to return to the Living World. When I entered Jane Zane’s karma and altered her past, I sensed it: even with part of the Law of Heaven, I still couldn’t enter reincarnation. The world’s laws would never allow it.
Back when I was Ethan Zhang, my vessel in the Living World could grow rapidly, thanks to its unique nature. But this time, I returned without my memories. I didn’t know how Ethan Zhang’s body was destroyed, or what Redmond meant by my original opponent. Still, I could guess—Ethan Zhang must have died for someone else.
Once dead, even as a ghost, I could continue to grow—sometimes faster and stronger than when I was alive. But the result was obvious: Ethan Zhang, the ghost, had died too. No matter how much I grew, I could never surpass the strongest beings of the Yin-Yang realms.
I’d originally planned to keep sending out vessels. This time, I’d have Black Moon try to teach me, replicating Yin Choujian’s method for implanting vessel consciousness into the Living World. That way, I could become human again in a few years. But the outcome was clear—I’d repeat the same mistake, maybe never even become human again.
During this time, I watched Eugene Smithson forge swords and pondered a question. Because of the world’s laws, I couldn’t connect past and future. Why not try to break those laws? If I could, wouldn’t everything be possible?
That’s when I thought of a solution. First, I had to collect every item related to Ethan Zhang in the Living World. But that part of my memory was devoured by the Ghost Ancestor, making it nearly impossible. Still, my Spectral Remnant could sense Ethan Zhang’s aura—I could feel it clearly.
As the saying goes, objects resemble their owners. Things used often may not connect with their owners on a material level, but over time, their aura lingers. The stronger the owner’s power, the stronger that aura grows. Everything in this world is like that—seemingly unrelated, yet intricately and subtly linked.
"Forget it, Ethan Zhang. I won’t release the power I’ve unleashed. Why not attack while I’m trapped?"
Redmond asked a question. I shook my head and smiled. It seemed Yin Choujian had figured out a lot—and warned Redmond ahead of time. I was a step too late. Arriving here filled me with nostalgia and familiarity. I only meant to reclaim my Shadow Realm.
Then I’d investigate—just enough to learn about the home I’d grown up in. I needed those objects lingering with Ethan Zhang’s aura. Only after collecting them could I take the next step. That way, before dying, I’d grasp the key to breaking the world’s laws.
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"So let me ask you, Ethan Zhang. You said the original Rufina Howard was devoured by Hell—where’s the proof?"
I shook my head.
"If you’re willing to cooperate with me, even briefly, everything can be negotiated. Before I finish what I have to do, you and your allies should have time together. What do you say, Redmond?"
Redmond burst out laughing. I understood well—his feelings for Rufina Howard were clear. He loved her, but she was only a tool for Nuwa. In the end, unable to bear the past, with fragments of memory lingering from every life, she vanished within Rufina Howard’s body in this lifetime. Through Ethan Zhang’s other karmic outcomes, I’d seen it all. Every life, there was no choice—only the burden to bear alone.
Redmond lounged comfortably in midair, a look of longing on his face.
"Things were really good back then."
"Of course. After all, you loved her once..."
Before I could finish, Redmond looked at me and shook his head.
"Though I can’t tell you what you did or what happened in the past, ever since meeting you, my dull and lifeless days became interesting. The seven of us, scattered by past events, gathered again. It’s a strange feeling, Ethan Zhang. Because of you, the storms that slept in the Yin-Yang realms have begun to stir once more."
I sat down and nodded.
"Because of me, the world moves? Sounds good. Maybe I’m a decent person after all!"
I smiled and asked. Redmond nodded.
"You really are a decent person—as a human, you’re much like Zachary Justice, but a little different. Zachary understands adaptability, but you don’t. Once you choose something, you never let go, no matter the cost. It’s your repeated impulsiveness that made the world what it is now. And yet, this result is strange—things should be simple, but the world has grown so complicated."
I grunted.
"The world was meant to be simple—beginning with one black and one white point, stretching out until it became the world. Where black and white meet, there is gray. Just those three colors should have been enough, but gradually, the world gained more colors and grew vibrant."
Redmond stood up. I noticed the Hell Imprint on his body was loosening. It really couldn’t last much longer—my power was completely suppressed by Redmond.
A cracking sound rang out as the Hell Imprint on Redmond’s body shattered like stone and turned to ash. Black flames ignited on his shoulder again—six flames slowly swirling around him. I knew, whatever I did next, Redmond would finish me.
"I’ll keep struggling a bit longer. After all, that’s what I’ve always done—every time I faced a crisis, I managed to unleash some power."
I smiled, raised a hand, and a Deathbane Aura Blade appeared in my grip. Redmond nodded. The blade’s aura began to turn white, then gradually to gray. In an instant, I shifted forward, swinging the blade at Redmond.
A buzzing sound filled the air. My head spun, and my blade felt as if it struck cotton—unable to advance even a fraction. Redmond raised his right hand, forming a blade with his fingers, and his body slipped past mine, standing behind me.
"Looks like struggling is pointless, Ethan Zhang."
"I think so too."
I looked at the torn spot on my chest—black flames were spreading inside me. My body felt as if roots and shoots were sprouting, while the force of calamity tore me apart from within. I smiled faintly.
"But I’ve decided to keep struggling a little longer."