Vast waves of resentful energy surged up from both sides of the Underworld Path, flowing toward the place where souls are judged. My whole body drifted forward, carried by this tide of darkness.
The black resentful energy nearly swallowed the entire Underworld Path, like a sweeping, wind-blown fog veiling the world. I could sense it clearly now—at the edge of the Bridge of Remorse, along both banks of the River of Forgetfulness, the Red Spider Lilies were in full bloom. The image was vivid in my mind.
Clusters of Red Spider Lilies swayed in the wind. Now and then, crimson petals drifted onto the quietly flowing River of Forgetfulness. The sky was ablaze red, streaked with fiery clouds.
This beautiful scene, the last sight before reincarnation, appeared in my mind. I knew I was close—once I saw the Bridge of Remorse, I could cast all this resentful energy into the River of Forgetfulness and end it all. Then, along the Underworld Path, the Red Spider Lilies would bloom in waves once more.
A striking view appeared before me: a small wooden bridge stood alone above a river, its surface bathed in the last rays of light. Pale ghosts crossed the bridge one after another.
Suddenly, I stopped. The resentful energy gathering around me crashed into an invisible wall and came to a halt, swirling madly against this unseen barrier before me.
A violent aura welled up from deep inside me. The resentful energy seemed to go berserk. I reached out my hand and, strangely, was able to extend it forward, but the resentful energy could not follow.
A constant rumbling sounded from beneath my feet. The resentful energy was rampaging, pounding the ground. To my shock, the stone slabs of the Underworld Path began to crack, fragments flying. It was as if hope was right before me, yet I was utterly powerless.
I kept trying to use my instincts to calm everything down, but I couldn’t. Suddenly, I opened my mouth wide and shouted.
"Pass through my body, to the other shore..."
As soon as the words left my mouth, I felt as if my internal organs were being simultaneously burned and frozen, wracked with pain. My entire body felt like it was being pierced by countless tiny needles all at once. I screamed in agony.
"More. This amount of Specter Web isn't enough."
Gritting my teeth, I forced out each word. Then, a dense web of Specter Web threads burst from my body, linking directly into the River of Forgetfulness. In an instant, the resentful energy surged like a dam bursting, flooding into my body and, through the Specter Web, continuously pouring into the River of Forgetfulness.
The relentless pain nearly made me lose consciousness.
"Ethan Zhang, that's enough! Get out of here now, or your body will collapse—your soul won't survive this!"
Inside, the ghostly part of me screamed. I had never experienced pain like this in my life—my whole body was wracked with unbearable agony.
On the surface of the River of Forgetfulness, the once clear waters gradually turned black.
A sharp snapping sound rang out. I screamed in pain as my Specter Web could no longer withstand the immense force—it began to snap, thread by thread.
"I told you to stop, Ethan Zhang! Damn it!"
Suddenly, my shadow flashed out, its face twisted in anger and pain as it roared at me. I realized, to my horror, that it was splitting apart—and beginning to crystallize.
But now, my body was completely beyond my control. It felt as if it no longer belonged to me, utterly dominated by the resentful energy flooding into it.
"Have you forgotten, Ethan Zhang? How did your Second Ghost Soul die?"
I stared in shock at myself—my cheeks had split open, and my eyes glowed gold. He roared at me, frantic and furious.
At that moment, my body began to swell like an overinflated balloon. Most of my Specter Web threads connecting to the River of Forgetfulness snapped, and the few remaining ones could no longer withstand the overwhelming resentful force.
I screamed in terror as I saw the skin on my cheeks and body begin to peel away, turning to ash. What do I do? Desperate, I looked to my golden-eyed self for help.
A crisp bell rang out, and suddenly I felt something wet and slippery wrap around my neck. In an instant, I was yanked backward, and the scene of the Bridge of Remorse vanished completely from my sight.
Out of the corner of my eye, I glimpsed a flash of white clothing. Another bell sounded, and with a bang, I cried out, mouth wide open as torrents of resentful energy erupted from my seven apertures.
Only then did I see clearly—it was a tongue wrapped around my neck. I was hoisted up again, and then struck twice by the white Mourning Staff, each blow landing with a sharp crack.
With a retching sound, I crashed to the ground. My stomach churned violently, and I vomited uncontrollably—black water poured out of my mouth as the tongue uncoiled from my neck.
The crisp ringing of bells sounded again. It must have been Mr. White (the White Reaper) who saved me; he was swinging the Mourning Staff.