"This way!"
"No, of course we should go this way!"
I looked at Xu Fu, who now had two heads—one wanted to go right, the other left. Agent One was sleeping for now, resting in the forest city where Agent Seven used to be.
The forest ahead was beyond anything we imagined. We could see a range of brownish mountains in the distance, but no matter how fast we moved, we could never reach them. Yet, when walking on the ground, the mountains seemed to come closer. We came to a path split by a small hill—on the left, the way was overgrown with thorns, while on the right, the woods were sparse.
If we took the wrong path, we’d end up circling back. In this forest, everything looks the same and is hard to tell apart. The only way to mark our route was for Xu Fu to use his own blood. We’d already traveled to several places over the past few days and made a few wrong turns. If there was no way forward, we had to turn back. Climbing higher seemed to lead us out of the woods, but in reality, we’d just return to where we started. The only way was to keep moving on the ground.
"It has to be this way."
The left-headed Xu Fu insisted, while the right-headed Xu Fu burst out laughing. His body looked bizarre—his mind seemed split, but his body was controlled by both heads. Now, the two-headed Xu Fu was stubbornly trying to go both ways at once.
Watching Xu Fu’s antics, I felt both amused and a little sorry for him. His legs moved on their own—one to the left, one to the right—until he lost his balance and fell flat on his backside.
"What do you think, Heavenly Soul?"
Both of Xu Fu’s heads turned to look at me, waiting for my answer. I closed my eyes, tried to sense something, but still had no idea what to do. In the end, I chose the path on the right.
"The woods on the right are less dense. If we make a mistake, we can still turn back."
I climbed a tree to get a better look at the distant mountains, then we headed into the woods on the right.
"Heh, I think we should definitely go left. Higher ground makes it easier to find the way—just look at the plants. Lower ground usually means you can’t see the path."
The left head of Xu Fu argued, while the right head shook in disagreement.
"Lower ground gives you a better view."
I noticed a vast swamp ahead in the forest. We had to cross because I sensed something in those mountains.
Xu Fu’s two heads started arguing again. The path ahead grew harder, and we couldn’t use our powers—any attempt would stop us from moving forward in this forest.
The swamp stretched all the way to the small mountain ridge that split the terrain. I had to keep to the right, circling the swamp before heading straight toward the mountains.
Getting here wasn’t difficult—Xu Fu had already marked the way with his blood. It only took a few hours, and we were now halfway to the brown mountains.
After we circled the huge swamp, a path appeared. I climbed to the top of a tree and confirmed there was a way forward. Xu Fu pricked his finger again, dripping blood on the tree to mark our route. If we couldn’t get through today, we’d have to fly back. Strangely, flying back wouldn’t return us to where we started—this forest was bizarre.
Soon, we could faintly see the brown mountains ahead. Xu Fu quickened his pace as the terrain opened up. Before long, we reached the edge of the barren mountains. I stared quietly at them, sensing the same presence we felt when the forest city changed.
"Well, Heavenly Soul, do you sense anything?"
I nodded. Both of Xu Fu’s heads had a sly look in their eyes. I didn’t tell him what I sensed—I knew he was always trying to probe my power. I wasn’t stupid, and neither was he. He knew I was wary of him, so he just kept following me.
"Let’s go up and take a look. I’m not really sure, either."
I slowly floated upward. After trying, we soon reached the top of the mountain—using our powers didn’t send us back to where we started.
The mountain top was bare, nothing there. I crouched down, feeling a warmth coming from the ground. I wasn’t sure what it was, but it felt like the mountain was alive.
I’d felt this way even from afar—as if the mountain was watching us. Xu Fu stood nearby, his two heads glancing at me from time to time.
"Forget it, we didn’t find anything. Let’s go back—Agent One might be waking up soon."
I spoke, but Xu Fu stepped in front of me.
"Heavenly Soul, I don’t think you need to be so wary of me."
The left head of Xu Fu spoke directly, and the right head nodded in agreement.
"There’s no point in being so guarded, Heavenly Soul. Right now, I think we need to go back to the Living World."
I looked at Xu Fu in confusion. Both his heads started grinning, a hint of malice in their expressions.
"Did something happen in the Living World?"
I asked, and Xu Fu laughed, nodding as he replied.
"The Wraith Ancestor has been resurrected."
"What?!"
I stared at Xu Fu in disbelief. His right head lifted slightly and burst into wild laughter.
"Things are getting exciting in the Living World. Staying here any longer won’t help us, so I suggest we quickly figure out what’s going on here and then hurry back."
I stared at Xu Fu suspiciously. His left head smiled and spoke.
"Don’t doubt it—the Wraith Ancestor really has been resurrected. He’s been locked in the Bone Realm by Tan Tian and is fighting there now. All the factions are gathering. A war unlike any we’ve seen is about to begin, and its outcome will be decided soon. Unimaginable power can crush everything, and right now, we have no way to stop the Wraith Ancestor."
My face darkened, but I quickly dismissed the idea of going back. No matter what, I had to find a way for the Forsaken to gain power—even if the Yin-Yang World disappeared. If I rushed back now, I might never have another chance to come here. Xu Fu just wanted to figure out the problem here—I didn’t need to go along with him.
"If you want to go back, go alone. I’m staying here."
As I spoke, Xu Fu laughed, then turned and took out the golden talisman that Master Xiao Yao had given us before we arrived. Tearing it would send us back. My own talisman was still with me. Xu Fu shook his head.
"Sorry, Heavenly Soul. I do want to know what’s going on here, but the Yin-Yang World has changed completely—I have to go back."
I stared in shock as Xu Fu tore the golden talisman. A golden light engulfed him, and his body became transparent and blurred. Then, his two heads merged into one.
"Goodbye, Heavenly Soul!"
With a burst of golden light shooting into the sky, Xu Fu vanished before my eyes. I could no longer sense his presence—he was truly gone. Everything he said seemed to be true; he really had left.
I looked around at the surrounding mountains, unsure what to do. Even though I sensed something strange about them, I decided to head back.
"Everything you’re looking for is right here."
Suddenly, a heavy voice drifted on the wind, as if from far away, but it was clear in my ears. I turned and saw something splitting open and collapsing nearby—I immediately floated over.
A section of the mountainside split wide open, revealing a cave. I floated straight inside.
Suddenly, a swarm of colorful lights, like fireflies, appeared before my eyes, swirling all around. I stared in confusion at the scene.
The lights began to gather, forming an old man radiating a gentle white glow. He looked at me kindly.
"You’re the first one to find this place."
"What exactly are you?"
I asked, and the old man smiled gently.
"I’m just one of the countless stones that make up this world. You can think of me as the spirit of the mountain—just like you humans have souls."
I stared at the old man in astonishment.
"The world is being destroyed. Soon, the war will spread here, and that’s why we have awakened—we are fragments of the bodies of the gods."
The old man floated gently ahead, and I followed. He reached the mountain wall, pressed a finger to it, and the wall vanished. On the ground lay a giant corpse—clearly not human, its lower half fused with the earth.
"Is that a god?"
I stared in shock, and the old man nodded.
"This is the burial ground of the dead gods!"
The old man paused, then continued.
"It’s also the origin of this world!"