The night sky was beautiful, and I lay quietly on the ground. It was just past eleven o'clock. Samuel Young was still busy, Xu Fu sat beside me drinking, and the preparations for the ritual formation were nearly complete. Soon, we would be able to travel to the Yang Realm.
Earlier, Samuel Young told us that after Elder Peach sent Zhang Qingyuan and the others to the Yang Realm, he obtained this ritual formation from Elder Peach. But now, the Four Sacred Realms no longer exist in the Yang Realm, so connecting to that world using the Four Sacred Beasts as markers is impossible. After much experimentation, Samuel Young finally managed to send a pigeon across.
Sending people across now is much more complicated, but it can be done.
"I really am looking forward to it, Heavenly Soul. Soon, we'll be able to reach the Yang Realm."
I ignored Xu Fu and continued gazing at the stars. Xu Fu handed me a bottle of wine, which I accepted and took a sip from. Then I sat up, noticing a strange glow flickering in the distance, near the center of the ritual formation.
"Do you think the Arcane Society should get involved in this war?"
I asked. Xu Fu looked at me in confusion and shook his head.
"It depends on what they choose. Even if they don't get involved, they'll be dragged in sooner or later. The world isn't theirs to decide anymore. Once the real war breaks out, the Yang Realm won't remain unscathed."
I let out a cold snort.
"What exactly are you preparing for? Lately, your people from the Immortality Society have vanished without a trace."
Of course, it's to make some preparations for this war. Specifically, it's to prepare for fighting against ghosts.
I glanced suspiciously at Xu Fu.
Even if our people in the Immortality Society have strong bodies, they're still human. If they stay in the Ghostrealm for too long, their bodies will have problems. That's why lately, Thousand Hands has been performing modification surgeries on some people, to block the erosion of Yin Energy.
That's impossible.
Xu Fu had just spoken when I retorted. Since we're human, we possess Vital Energy, and Vital Energy always attracts Yin Energy. So it's impossible for people to stay in the Ghostrealm for long, just like low-level ghosts can't stay in crowded places for long. Even powerful ghosts can't remain in places with strong Vital Energy for too long; eventually, their bodies will be harmed by it.
It's true that complete isolation is impossible. That's all I'll say—after all, it's an Immortality Society secret.
After a moment, Samuel Young walked over to us.
Everything is ready. At midnight, I'll send you across.
I checked the time—it was exactly 11:56. Xu Fu and I quickly walked to the center of the ritual formation and sat down, waiting quietly.
By the way, Samuel Young, the thing you want is really unusual!
I widened my eyes in shock. Samuel Young looked at me, and in that instant, I felt a surge of anger. Xu Fu immediately started laughing and shook his head.
Just kidding. Heavenly Soul never told me anything, but I bet what you want is pretty special, isn't it?
At that moment, the ritual formation's colorful glow enveloped Xu Fu and me. My mind stayed clear, but everything around us gradually blurred.
Dazed, I opened my eyes to find myself in a desert. I stared in shock at my surroundings—the ground was steaming with blue smoke, and I instantly felt the scorching heat in the air.
It's unbearably hot.
Xu Fu said from beside me. I looked over, doubting whether this was really the Yang Realm, because after arriving, I couldn't sense even a trace of curse power.
This world was clearly flooded with curse power before, but now there's not a hint of it left. It made me deeply puzzled.
Is this really the Yang Realm? Why is it so different from what I imagined?
Xu Fu muttered. Just as I was about to float up, I felt something was wrong—a powerful force instantly dragged me into the sea of sand. My eyes widened as I noticed a faint number appearing on both our cheeks: Xu Fu's was 25478563, mine was 25478564. It seemed to be some kind of code, marking the order in which we arrived here. I sensed I'd been bound by some law of this world, unable to defy it.
Xu Fu and I were both stunned by this. Xu Fu tried to clench his fist, but found it weak and limp.
What on earth is going on?
The heat was unbearable. Xu Fu and I looked around, then started walking in one direction. The sand kept swallowing our feet, making every step a struggle. With the scorching heat, it took less than half an hour before exhaustion set in.
It looks like something has changed in this world—probably someone's doing.
Xu Fu sneered and suddenly lay down on the sand, but the scorching heat made him jump up again. Then we spotted a large boulder in the distance—about five or six meters tall. Xu Fu and I rushed over and found a hollowed-out spot in its shade. Once inside, out of the sun, we both felt instantly revived by the coolness.
Did you notice anything unusual when we arrived?
I asked. Xu Fu shook his head.
This place is probably like the darkness we were in before. Those people used a spell on us—our bodies are restricted, or maybe we've been transformed into part of this world. Naturally, we have to follow its rules.
I nodded, but Xu Fu and I had no sense of direction. Besides this boulder we were hiding behind, I couldn't see anything else around us.
By the way, Heavenly Soul, is your power not working either?
I nodded. I couldn't feel a shred of power in my body. My body is a special type, between human and ghost, so it shouldn't be affected by Vital or Yin Energy. But when I came to, I found I couldn't use any power at all—my connection to my instincts was completely severed. At least my mind was still clear.
After a while, Xu Fu and I got up, took off some of our clothes to shield ourselves from the sun, and kept moving. Staying put wasn't an option. The heat was bad, but we could bear it. Even though we couldn't use our powers, at least our physical strength hadn't weakened.
We walked through the endless desert for nearly two hours and saw nothing else—just endless yellow sand and sand dunes everywhere. Sometimes, it felt like we were climbing mountains.
I can't go on. Looks like we're going to die out here.
Xu Fu said, then started digging into the side of a sand dune, making a small pit and lying down in it, looking perfectly content—completely ignoring the sand starting to bury him.
I looked around, eyes closed, still trying to sense something. After a while, Xu Fu suddenly crawled out of the sand, spitting it out and shaking it from his hair.
Just then, Xu Fu and I both stared in shock at something in the distance. We jumped up and ran toward it. Xu Fu waved his hand and shouted. I was surprised to see more than a dozen people leading camels across the desert.
Thank you.
I looked at an old man in front of me, two young men who seemed like guards with curved knives at their waists, two women, and three other young men.
Sir, where are we?
Xu Fu asked while drinking water. I felt much better after drinking too. The old man looked at us in puzzlement.
This is Sand City. We're a caravan from the Greenlands.
I glanced at the goods on the camels and caught a whiff of spices. The two guards kept a close eye on us, all wearing headscarves. When we asked where we were, the group looked at us strangely—it was a bizarre feeling.
Xu Fu and I traveled through the desert with the caravan, while the two guards kept following us, clearly still wary.
What do you think happened to this world?
I shook my head. Xu Fu pointed to his cheek. The number code on our faces disappeared after we entered, and none of these people had any numbers on their faces or elsewhere.
By the way, who's in charge here?
Xu Fu asked with a smile. The caravan leader turned and smiled back.
Are you two from the Land of the Dead? How come you know nothing?
Xu Fu nodded immediately.
We don't know either. We woke up and found ourselves here. Where exactly is this place?
The old man smiled as he spoke.
There are three god-rulers in this world: Xiao Yan, Emperor God, and Illusionborn.
Xu Fu and I both stared in astonishment. But as the sky began to darken, the old man pointed to a spot with some desert plants and firmer ground not far away. He started directing people to set up tents, while others searched for dry plants—apparently to start a fire.
When did those three gods begin ruling here?
Xu Fu asked again, and the old man smiled and shook his head.
Probably before I was born. You two must be from the Land of the Dead—you're different from us. We were born and raised in this world. Long ago, this place was ruled by a pack of beasts. Only after they left could our people emerge from underground.
Beasts?
I looked at the old man in confusion.