"To be able to do even this—casting the consequences of everything into the future—is terrifyingly powerful."
Lord Quintus clenched his teeth as the orange dome above us buckled inward, shadows crawling across its surface.
"I'll say it again—hand over the Blood Jade."
Tan Tian’s voice stayed cold and commanding, echoing like a death sentence. I kept searching for Lord Tai Shan, but his shadow was nowhere to be found.
"One of the Judges has already been dragged back to Hell. Are you next?"
Tan Tian asked, and Lord Quintus managed a faint smile. Lady Meng shook her head in resignation and quickly grabbed Lord Quintus’s hand.
"Don’t be reckless. If you really unleash Hell, the consequences will be beyond imagination."
Lord Quintus let out a strangled cry, slowly turning to face Tan Tian.
"There’s nothing I can do to help, Lord Quintus."
Cui Jue said this, his expression heavy with disappointment. Lord Quintus just shook his head.
A harsh snapping sound rang out as Lord Quintus’s outstretched arms bent backward in an instant.
Tan Tian thrust his hand at my chest. With a thunderous boom, black flames erupted, and behind me came a clanging sound as a streak of blue light flared to life.
"Long time no see, Tan Tian, you old bastard."
My eyes widened in shock—it was Red Hair, his whole body battered and torn. One hand gripped the blood-soaked locks hanging from his brow, the other caught Tan Tian’s thrusting hand in a vice grip.
A violent rush of air exploded, dazzling blue light swirling. I turned, wide-eyed, as a wave of blue radiance shimmered. The six Immortality Society thugs had their fists severed, and Lord Shenyan stood behind us, Sinblade raised high.
"It's you, kid."
Red Hair let out a low chuckle, then suddenly hurled Tan Tian skyward with brute force. His right leg shot up—crack!—and slammed into Tan Tian’s chest, sending him flying.
Lord Quintus snapped back to his senses and spun around, his long sleeve whipping forth—a streak of blood-red light cut through the air.
"Fall back!"
A cold male voice rang out as Lord Quintus appeared before Xu Fu and the others, unfurling a shimmering silver barrier that rippled like a curtain. The instant the red glow struck the barrier, it was absorbed completely.
As the curtain dissolved, the Immortality Society members had already retreated to the floating boulders where they’d stood before. Xu Fu glared fiercely at Lord Shenyan, while a thunderous crash sent Tan Tian tumbling beside Xu Fu, his chest smoldering with black flames. He flicked his hand, and the fire was instantly snuffed out.
"This is a real mess. Lord King of Bell City, you nearly cost us Zhong Zhengnan. If you hadn’t helped us pinpoint their location, we never would’ve gotten in—there’s no way to set foot outside now. If we keep going, we’ll all end up dead."
Red Hair’s ghostly aura had faded considerably, and Lord Shenyan was drenched in sweat. Both men looked far worse for wear.
"Of course. Eight of the Ten Judges are outside. If you keep pushing, there’s only one path left—death. This time, I’ll pretend I saw nothing, you little brats."
"Let’s withdraw for now. Tan Tian, we’ll figure something out once we’re back in the world of the living."
Xu Fu raised his shattered right hand with a ragged gasp—his fingers were slowly regenerating. With a thud, Tan Tian stomped hard on the ground.
"It’s only because this is the underworld that you can act so brazenly. Do you really think you’ll have a solution once we’re back in the living realm? Are you sure?"
Tan Tian pressed his questions, and Xu Fu forced a bitter smile.
Lord Quintus watched Red Hair and Lord Shenyan in silence, his expression deeply complicated.
A round of applause broke out. Red Hair laughed, clapping as he drifted over to Lord Shenyan’s side.
"You’ve got guts, all of you—hurting Lord Tai Shan, stirring up the old guard’s bloodlust. Who knows what’ll happen next? If you’re going to run, do it now. Tan Tian, you and I both have much to gain here. What do you say?"
Lady Meng’s eyes stayed fixed on Lord Shenyan’s body, watching the intricate bell-shaped markings.
"Zhong Zhengnan, once you recover, go explain everything to the Judges."
A rattling chain echoed out as Zhong Zhengnan burst into laughter.
"How did all this happen? The Great Summoning has devastated the underworld—countless souls have lost their way. Who caused this? We should sit down and talk, seek a solution. But some want eternal freedom, as if such lawless things could exist in this world."
"Zhong Zhengnan, shouting at me won’t help. The Judges decide these things. I just want a few quiet years by Naihe Bridge."
"This isn’t the time for arguments."
Lord Shenyan spoke coldly, bowing as he raised Sinblade. In the distance, Tan Tian could attack at any moment.
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"If you keep fighting like this, you’ll accomplish nothing in the short term, Tan Tian. I can see right through your bravado—in the face of my curse, you’re already exposed."
A thunderous boom sounded. As Red Hair’s voice faded, Tan Tian vanished onto a distant floating boulder. Red Hair closed his eyes, and Lord Shenyan lunged left.
Two sharp cracks rang out. Tan Tian turned, glancing back, and after a brief exchange, several wounds appeared on his arms.
"See? I can see everything. My curse told me your location."
Red Hair’s eyes snapped open, locking with Lord Shenyan’s. A low rumble echoed as Lord Shenyan charged with Sinblade, blue energy swirling. Tan Tian, overwhelmed, sprouted several new wounds and retreated, hovering in midair, his gaze fixed on Lord Shenyan.
"You’re far too reckless, Lord Shenyan. Your true strength is remarkable."
Xu Fu spoke in a low, bitter voice. Lord Shenyan glanced over; the other Immortality Society members’ fighting spirit had completely vanished.
Only Tan Tian showed no intention of leaving—he was still observing something.
"Stop looking, and stop searching, Tan Tian. Neither of us can keep fighting Lord King of Bell City much longer. Do you know why? Heh heh..."
"Hand me over to them."
Suddenly, Ghost Ancestor’s voice echoed in my mind. I stared, wide-eyed, at the faint blue glow emerging from my chest. With a whoosh, the Blood Jade shot out, and Lady Meng snatched it from the air.
As soon as Lady Meng grabbed the Blood Jade, Tan Tian charged again. Red Hair’s face turned grim, teeth clenched, eyes locked on the artifact in Lady Meng’s hand.
"Lord Shenyan..."
With a whoosh, Lord Shenyan had already moved to Lady Meng’s side, sword raised to strike. A sharp clang rang out as Tan Tian, appearing in a flash, blocked Lord Shenyan’s blade with his hand.
Red Hair darted behind Tan Tian, his face suddenly contorting.
"You’ve underestimated me, Red Hair. I’ve lived centuries longer than you."
Another Tan Tian appeared behind Red Hair.
"Titanic Impact."
A thunderous explosion erupted, but amid the blast, a streak of red light flashed. A rattling sound followed as the floating boulder beneath us split in two.
"Hand over the artifact."
As the explosion faded, Tan Tian had Lady Meng pinned, his hand gripping her throat in a death grip. But the Blood Jade had already vanished.
"Heh, if you want that thing, you’ll have to kill me first."
Red Hair stared at Lord Quintus—just a moment ago, Lord Quintus had saved him.
"I’ve already repaid my debt to you. Don’t come asking for it again."
"And the interest?"
Red Hair smirked, half-joking, but everyone turned to Tan Tian.
My heart raced, but I realized my emotions hadn’t faded—though the Blood Jade was gone from my body.
"Kid, if you trust me, just do as I say."
"Why? If it hadn’t been for you..."
"I don’t want to be sealed away again, but I also refuse to be controlled by this crowd."
I nodded, my body moving almost instinctively. I drew the mist-bullet rifle from my spine.
"Now’s the time."
With a whoosh, I darted past Lord Shenyan, flying toward Tan Tian. A rattling sound—I raised the mist-bullet rifle, aiming at Tan Tian’s head.
"Looking for death, Zhang Qingyuan!"
Tan Tian turned, and I pulled the trigger.
"You’re the one who’ll die."
I roared, and with a bang, a burst of rainbow light flared—a shimmering, multicolored bullet shot into Tan Tian’s skull.
Lady Meng stared at me in shock, and I flashed her a grim smile.
"Ghost Ancestor..."
Tan Tian let go, clutching his head, dazed. A faint blue glow seeped from my shoulder, and the Ghost Ancestor appeared, barely visible.
"Overconfidence is never a good thing. Remember, behind great power always lurks terror."
A chilling silence hung in the air.
No one dared move.
Tan Tian’s body trembled, blood trickling from his mouth. He stared at me, eyes wild.
Lord Shenyan’s sword gleamed coldly, reflecting the blue light.
Lady Meng clutched the Blood Jade tightly, her face pale.
Red Hair wiped blood from his lips, grinning fiercely.
Lord Quintus lowered his gaze, expression unreadable.
Xu Fu’s right hand finally healed, fingers flexing as he watched the chaos unfold.
The battle’s aftermath left only silence and dread.
No one knew what would happen next.