"Assimilation... Zhu Tang..."
With a thunderous roar, black flames erupted from my body, weaving into serpentine tendrils. Gradually, my skin was encased as if armored—the fire solidifying, clinging to me in a hardened shell.
"So that's it? This is the instinct called coexistence. It can even transform the power of the Saint Spirit into ghostly strength. Heh, impressive—truly impressive."
With a rush of air, I appeared inside the apartment block—my own ghost domain. Here, I had the advantage. I let Zhu Tang, one of my Seven Ghost Souls, substitute for me, completing the switch at the instant the flames burst forth. Master Autumn likely didn't notice; I had no time to fight him now. I had to find a way out of this Nether Pit.
"Slaughter, are you there? If you are, I need you to come out."
I called out. At the small pavilion, a cluster of red light particles flickered, then condensed into Slaughter, appearing in the form of Yin Qiu. I rushed over.
"The reason the Nether Syndicate holds the title of strongest among the great sects is because of the Nether Pit. Every generation, masters implant special techniques in the chosen ones before death, so that when they return here, they provide power for the next generation of the Nether Syndicate."
"So, all the past masters are here in the Nether Pit. Do you know how to get out?"
I asked. Slaughter shook his head.
"The most important function of these masters in the Nether Pit is to enslave the Saint Spirits of the Zodiac Twelve. To do that takes immense power, and these people are the source. Only one—Felix Fan—betrayed them, taking the Spirit Snake from the Zodiac Twelve and leaving. That's the ghost soul you now possess."