The sky was beginning to darken. By now, Entity 001 should already be asleep, and that Earthly Soul fellow must have escaped while she was sleeping. I glanced at the chains on my body, feeling helpless.
It seems escaping is impossible, and more importantly, my most precious pendant is in Entity 001's hands. I stood up and wandered around for a bit before returning to my spot, gathering some discarded items to make a makeshift bed and lay down. The whole process was extremely difficult, especially trying to walk upright—it had become nearly impossible. Looking at my furry paws, I could only cup things in them.
It took a lot of effort to settle down, and by then the sky was completely dark. The moon rose in the west. I had no idea where I was. Lan Yin and the others have probably realized I’ve gone missing in the Four Sacred Realm, but even if they come looking, they’re no match for this girl.
Changing the quality of a soul—this shocked me greatly. I’d never heard of such a thing, but I had seen it once: when Cao Wanzhi turned Claire Zhang into a tiger.
And those monsters used for experiments by the Immortality Society—the arena filled with monsters. Those weren’t monsters at all, but living human souls pieced together. Thinking back, some of those creatures were controlled by multiple souls at once.
A scene from my dreams surfaced in my mind—it was Ethan Zhang, Earth Soul, destroying a research facility. I still remember it: the prisoners in white and those black-faced men. The prisoners must have been experimental subjects.
I raised my furry paw—my current appearance was truly bizarre. My ghost soul remained the same, but my outward form had changed completely. I’d even crossed species, becoming a giant panda for people to gawk at.
The soul is the core of a person after death, while the ghost soul wraps around it; both are indispensable, like the relationship between a fruit’s seed and its flesh.
Since coming to this world, I’ve learned many strange things—especially that such a powerful being’s true body still exists in the living world. I can’t understand it; gaining power isn’t so simple. The only explanation I can think of is the uniqueness of this world.
The Forsaken are able to possess power beyond the Four Guardians, granted by this world itself. I gazed at the sky and lay back down, unable to sleep—my mind was crowded with thoughts, and things were getting more and more complicated.
The Four Guardians, the Curse Vortex slowly devouring everything in the Four Sacred Realm, the Forsaken fighting their own battles, and the intervention of that Earthly Soul fellow—right now, what I want most is the Azure Luan Egg. If it can’t hatch, there’s no way to create pure power equivalent to reincarnation, and Rachel Lan’s shattered soul fragments can’t be repaired.
What I need to face now is how to break this deadlock. I can’t stay like this forever—maybe if I return to the living world, I’ll be able to change back.
The night grew deeper, and sleepiness soon overcame me. I closed my eyes and, lying on my plump side, gradually fell asleep.
"Brother, what kind of look is that? You look ridiculous!"
John Chou’s voice startled me awake. I stared wide-eyed as a cluster of blood-red particles gathered in front of me, his expression somewhere between a smile and a smirk. John Chou came over and tugged at my ear.
"What are you doing?"
John Chou immediately burst out laughing.
"Is it really that funny?"
John Chou waved his hand dismissively.
"Changing the quality of a soul—impressive. Those Forsaken you mentioned."
"It was Entity 001."
But I immediately snapped to attention, glaring at John Chou.
"You've heard of changing the quality of a soul?"
"It’s happened before, right? There are stories about ghosts turning people into animals, into stone and such. Haven’t you heard those?"
I swallowed and nodded. It’s true, some old novels mention things like that—those tales of supernatural strength and chaos, utterly bizarre.
"I always thought those were just stories!"
John Chou took a few steps, turned around, and said.
"Just because you haven’t seen it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. People in the arts have been doing it for thousands of years—changing the quality of souls. But there are more failures than successes, so it was long ago labeled forbidden in the arts. Those who secretly study it are basically pariahs. If anyone in the arts discovers them, they’ll hunt them down together. As for ghosts, some folks around you can do it. I can do it too."
"Then hurry up and teach me how to turn back!"
I blurted out—I’ve had enough of this form.
"But I’ve never tried it—only in theory could I pull it off. If you’re not afraid of dying, I can teach you how, but the chance of success is less than one percent."
"That low?"
John Chou nodded.
"After all, some ghosts could do this in the past. When you get back, you can ask my idiot sister, Deathcurse, or the Ghost Painting Book Immortal. They know more about it than I do."
At that moment, footsteps sounded beside John Chou. He instantly straightened up, staring motionless into the distance.
"Not bad, you’re working harder tonight than last night. That’s how it should be—these are important ingredients. The banquet will start soon, and if anything happens to these ingredients, we’re all dead."
"Yes, Captain."
John Chou actually straightened up and nodded. After a while, the footsteps faded into the distance.
"You managed to infiltrate The Dark Banquet?"
John Chou turned his head, smiled, and nodded.
"Alright, brother, you don’t need to worry about my business. You’d better figure something out—after all, if you go back like this..."
John Chou’s lips curled into a slight smile. I immediately let out a sound and stared at him.
"What do you mean?"
"Once the quality of the soul is successfully changed, if you want to return to normal, only the one who tied the knot can untie it."
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"Teach me the method—so long as there’s even the slightest chance."
John Chou rested his chin in his hand, thought for a while, then shook his head.
"With your current ability, it’s impossible. The failure rate is one hundred percent. And if you die in this world, the ghost’s power will be released, and you’ll be forcibly expelled from the Four Sacred Realm. You’ll lose your chance to save that woman forever."
I stared wide-eyed at John Chou as he continued.
"Still want to try? If you’re not afraid, I’ll tell you how—but you’re guaranteed to fail."
I pondered, my head drooping slightly, my mind tangled with hesitation. A hand landed on my shoulder—John Chou shook his head helplessly.
"Brother, now isn’t the time to act recklessly like before. The stronger you become, the more you encounter, and the higher the level you reach. Those who stand out now have all survived similar trials—and the more formidable they are, the less likely they’ll give you any chance. Keeping your cool is the best option. Things often turn around—you just have to seize the moment."
"What did you mean just now about this being the only chance?"
I immediately realized John Chou had sensed something, but I couldn’t figure it out.
"Think carefully—do you really think the Four Guardians would risk everything by using the Azure Luan Egg to fight against the world itself? They may be Sacred Spirits, but they don’t want to disappear. After all, they genuinely exist for the sake of mankind."
All sorts of thoughts flashed through my mind, and suddenly my eyes widened.
"Transfer to the living world."
John Chou looked satisfied, nodding and patting my shoulder.
"Only by doing this can the Sacred Spirits be preserved. Think about it—what exactly are Ten Tribunal Road and Hades Village?"
"An independent space within the living world, like a ghost domain or underworld domain?"
"Correct."
Suddenly, John Chou’s expression changed. He leaned in close, his cold eyes staring at me.
"What are you doing?"
With a sudden burst, John Chou broke into laughter.
"You’ve grown a lot, brother!"
Suddenly, John Chou’s face turned serious. He spoke earnestly, and I nodded.
"So what they said about saving Rachel Lan..."
"It’s true. But there really is only one chance. The power unleashed at birth comes from years of nurturing, and this kind of force—able to rival reincarnation—only happens once. Even if the Azure Luan hatches, that power only lasts for an instant. The reason they didn’t tell you was to avoid disturbing your state of mind. But they underestimated you."
I let out a sound—I’m not the same Zhang Qingyuan as before. The old, somewhat dull Zhang Qingyuan disappeared with his feelings; now my mind is much sharper.
Indeed, this one-shot opportunity isn’t something everyone can bear. And now, with the Four Sacred Realm in crisis—even if the Azure Luan hatches and can create pure power close to reincarnation, it’s uncertain. Who knows what the Forsaken plan, or what that Earthly Soul fellow is up to? If anything goes wrong, it’s all over.
I couldn’t help but recall the power born in that instant after using the Vermilion Bird’s Power for Phoenix Rebirth—far stronger than what came after. That moment’s flame represented rebirth and possibility.
In my mind, I saw Rachel Lan’s moment of Phoenix Rebirth, defeating Lao Chongyuan. Later, when Lao Chongyuan reappeared, I’d already lost my feelings and couldn’t understand anger. Rachel Lan seemed meaningless—so I have to bring her back, no matter what it takes.
"Alright, brother, it might be a few days before I can contact you again. If I keep going, I’ll be discovered."
As soon as John Chou finished speaking, he burst into a cloud of blood-red particles and vanished.