The Vermilion Bird nodded in agreement, spread its wings, and took flight.
"Sigh, Ethan Zhang, why are you humans always like this? You're so stubborn, just like that kid Mason Yu. That young girl made her own choices, but in the end, it's others who suffer for it."
"Keep going, Ethan Zhang. Unleash all your power—only then can you awaken the Second Phoenix Rebirth."
At that moment, with a whoosh, my shadow drifted in front of me, revealing a faint smile and extending a hand.
I kept releasing fire, determined to expel everything inside me until I was utterly exhausted. Only then could I achieve Phoenix Rebirth.
I shot my shadow a glare and placed my hand on theirs.
"You can't wait for me to die, can you?"
No sooner had I spoken than my shadow burst into wild laughter.
"That's right, we all can't wait for you to die. That way, the part of you that's a ghost can fully awaken and you'll gain immense power."
I snorted coldly and began to fade, little by little, within this space.
The instant I regained consciousness, Claire Zhang—transformed into a tiger—clamped her jaws around my waist, pinned me to the ground, and began gnawing and tearing at me relentlessly. Although, with the power of Deathbane Aura, my ghostly half could keep regenerating, the drain on my strength was immense.
I smiled easily, placing one hand atop the tiger head that Claire Zhang had become.
"I promised your father, Claire. Since I gave him my word, I will keep it. Whether it's you or your father, I will protect you both."
Gritting my teeth, I shouted, enduring the burning pain spreading through my body. But when I saw Sunny below, and in my mind, the image of Boss Chang reincarnated as an infant, his eyes pleading for help, I found the strength to bear it all.
My internal organs had ruptured. Gritting my teeth, I shut my eyes.
"Ethan Zhang, what are you trying to do? Are you looking to die?"
"Vermilion Bird..."
A surge of crimson flames erupted with my shout, followed by the Vermilion Bird's cry. Instantly, the pain in my body vanished, replaced by an overwhelming power. As expected, the Vermilion Bird's strength wouldn't harm Claire Zhang, even in her tiger form—she was only startled by the firelight, let go, and retreated. But soon she realized the flames posed no threat, and she lunged at me again.
Flames ignited all over me, my wounds gradually healing and closing. I felt much better. Claire Zhang pounced again, and with a bang, I caught her by the neck and pinned her hard to the ground.
"Phoenix... Rebirth..."
I quickly looked up at Cao Wanzhi, who stared back at me in confusion.
"Ethan Zhang, the Phoenix Blade should've been taken back by Martin Lane. So where did you get the Vermilion Bird's power? How come I know nothing about it?"
The dark red flames multiplied, enveloping me completely. It worked—this Second Phoenix Rebirth. I sensed the hard walls at the border beginning to melt.
"What are you trying to do, Ethan Zhang?"
"Enjoying yourself? Watching the show from outside?"
"Phoenix Rebirth... rebirth..."
"Once I get out, I'll deal with you. I won't forgive you—you're the one I absolutely cannot forgive."
With my furious roar, crimson flames shot out, but could only reach the border, stopping there—no sign of breaking through.
"Don't waste your energy. Even though the Vermilion Bird's power is strong, it's still not enough to break through."
"Oh, is that so?"
I replied quietly, then half-crouched in midair, continuously unleashing flames.
"Keep going, Ethan Zhang. Unleash all your power—only then can you awaken the second Nirvana."
I threw my head back and roared, the fire within me pouring out, battering the invisible borders all around. The surging flames filled the space, but posed no threat to the restrained Claire Zhang.
I kept releasing fire, determined to expel everything inside me until I was utterly exhausted. Only then could I achieve Nirvana.
"Don't waste your energy, Ethan Zhang. This much power can't break through."
Cao Wanzhi continued speaking.
"You'll find out soon enough, ah..."
Flames kept spewing out, vanishing, then erupting from my body again. In this sealed space, the explosions echoed endlessly, but the invisible boundaries remained solid—no sign of loosening.
"Getting a bit sleepy, haha. Ethan Zhang, you keep going—I'm going to take a nap. Do whatever you want."
With that, Cao Wanzhi—yawning—vanished from sight. I was exhausted, my whole body aching, a burning heat in my chest threatening to melt me.
"Keep going, Ethan Zhang. Hold on..."
"I know..."
Gritting my teeth, I shouted, enduring the burning pain spreading through my body. But when I saw Claire Zhang below, and in my mind, the image of Boss Chang reincarnated as an infant, his eyes pleading for help, I found the strength to bear it all.
"Why do you fight so desperately, Ethan Zhang?"
At that moment, the Vermilion Bird asked.
"That's right, I don't really know either. All I know is that the things I chase after, the places I want to go—they're not lonely, I'm not alone. It was true before, it's true now, and it always will be. There's no such thing as letting go or not letting go. The most important things are worth risking everything for, Vermilion Bird..."
I roared again. In an instant, a cold wave surged to my forehead, like being struck by an electric current. My whole body tingled and went completely limp, as if I were dying. My consciousness began to blur.
In that instant, I emptied everything inside me. The flaming wings on my back extinguished, and I slowly fell downward, eyes wide open.
"Nir...vana..."
With those two soft, deep syllables, I suddenly froze in midair. All around me, the air began to smoke, sizzling sounds filling the space. Needle-like flames erupted around me, converging into my body, an overwhelming power surging within, threatening to make me explode.
Gradually, my body curled up, and the space around me turned a dark red. The once-bright crimson flames now burned with a shadowy hue, searing heat spreading through every corner of my body.
The dark red flames multiplied, enveloping me completely. It worked—this second Nirvana. I sensed the hard walls at the border beginning to melt.
A smile appeared at the corner of my mouth as I waited quietly. My heart beat steadily, each thump like a giant mallet striking a drum—deep, powerful, rhythmic, and calm.
Inside, I felt like a larva about to break out of its cocoon, filled with joy. Gradually, my body seemed to dissolve, vanishing into the flames. My consciousness, body, and soul—all of it—were broken down by the searing fire, then began to reassemble.
"Nirvana... rebirth..."
I roared, and countless dark red rays, along with raging flames, erupted. With a bang, everything that had trapped me turned to ash. Roaring, I spread my wings and shot out.
In an instant, I appeared inside that old photo studio. On a rocking chair, Cao Wanzhi—startled awake—looked at me in terror.
I raised my fist and struck toward his face.
"Die."
With a thunderous boom, everything in the photo studio turned to ash and vanished. Cao Wanzhi's entire body was reduced to ashes by my punch, without a single whimper—he simply disappeared. I found myself drifting above a street, surrounded by countless photo studios.
Just then, a clicking sound came from behind me. Suddenly, I was back inside the photo studio, clenching my fist as dark red flames ignited.
"It's useless."
Immediately, I threw another punch—bang—something broke, and I charged forward again, turning to strike at Cao Wanzhi, who stood behind an old tripod camera.
With a whoosh, Cao Wanzhi instantly turned into a ball of green light. Still, my punch landed on his feet, and he screamed as his feet were reduced to ashes by the searing fire. He floated in midair, while I felt a wave of discomfort, half-kneeling on the ground, my body unbearably heavy.
With a splutter, I coughed up a mouthful of blood. The crimson liquid evaporated in the intense heat before it could hit the ground, turning into a wisp of smoke.