I widened my eyes and looked around. The sky was a blackish red, streaked with flashes of white lightning. Deafening thunder rumbled across the heavens, and all around us, a gentle, sorrowful wailing echoed—like a trickling stream, it lingered beside our ears, never ceasing.
There were mournful cries from women, and heartbroken sobs from men, all mingling together. In the sky, white ropes hung down, each forming a loop at the end.
In the distance, Mr. White (White Reaper) floated in midair, but his Mourning Staff had vanished. His long, crimson tongue hung down to his chest, his eyes bulged, and the Wraith Enforcer still stood on the ground, slowly beginning to rise.
"It's been over a thousand years, Mr. White. Hmph, who will soothe the resentment festering in my chest?"
"Hmph, Wraith Enforcer, your attempt to incite chaos in Hell has already failed. And now you still have the nerve to come back and cause trouble?"
"And who forced us into this?"
The Wraith Enforcer roared, his long hair instantly billowing upward.
"No one forced you. Everything you've done, you brought upon yourselves. Under the rule of the Yama King, don't think you can act recklessly."
Mr. White spoke each word deliberately, but at that moment, I felt something strange at my neck.
"And as for you all—since you dared to come here, today, no one is leaving."
I was a little startled. In this place, there was an extremely unusual sensation—a real, tangible fear.
"It's the Domain of the Dead. I've only heard of it before, but I never thought I'd get to see it with my own eyes."
Ghost Painting Book Immortal spoke as he took out a yellow-covered book, then opened it and produced a brush.
"Let the painting become a seal..."
Streams of green mist, like fog, swirled out. Gradually, I saw an image appear on the blank pages of the yellow book, a scene almost identical to this Domain of the Dead.
"Watch closely—this will be quite a spectacle. Heh, let's enjoy the show. But everyone, be careful. Treat this place as the true Hanging Hell, because after all, this is the Domain of the Dead."
I stared in amazement at the distant, impending battle between Mr. White and the Wraith Enforcer. Meanwhile, my neck felt tighter and tighter—it wasn't just an illusion. It felt as if an invisible rope was strangling me.
"You all..."
Just as I was speaking, I was stunned—everyone's tongue had grown long, even Isabelle Frost's tongue was stretched out.
Suddenly, the ghost aura around Isabelle Frost erupted. Her tongue snapped back, and she quickly clutched her neck, looking extremely uncomfortable.
I couldn't speak anymore; it felt like I couldn't breathe, as if I was being hanged by an invisible rope, slowly pulled upward.
"Felix, maximize your curse mark and use it to resist the power of Hell."
Deathcurse spoke, and at that moment, the others all began to use their powers to resist something. I immediately started releasing ghost aura; gradually, the pressure on my neck eased considerably.
Felix Zhou's back ripped open with a tearing sound, and I saw two pitch-black jets erupting like fountains. He landed solidly on the ground, immediately collapsed, and gasped for breath.
"Almost got hanged to death."
I stared nervously at the distant, unfolding battle—Wraith Enforcer and Mr. White were already fighting. The Wraith Enforcer wielded his special curved blade, slashing repeatedly, while Mr. White kept dodging, not yet launching any attacks.
"What exactly is the Domain of the Dead?"
"It's a level above a ghost domain."
Isabelle Frost replied coldly, and I swallowed hard.
"Let me explain. After reaching the Blue Wraith level, a ghost can gradually acquire its own ghost domain. The Domain of the Dead, however, is the power of the Underworld Court—it’s also called Hell’s power, and it’s higher than a ghost domain. In the entire Underworld Court, only the Ten Marshals of Hades, the Ten Judges, and the Four Grand Judges can use it. It belongs to the Yama Kings. After all, the Underworld Court itself is made up of the ten Domains of the Dead ruled by the Ten Judges, woven together—the world after death."
I uttered a sound of realization, slowly beginning to understand. Just then, a surge of powerful ghost aura burst forth from the distance—Mr. White's body was sliced in two and fell to the ground, while the Wraith Enforcer roared with his mouth wide open.
"Hmph, Mr. White, show your true power. Otherwise, you'll die here."
At that moment, Mr. White's body reassembled itself on the ground. He raised one hand, extended a finger, and suddenly, I saw the Wraith Enforcer's four arms and legs bound—his whole body suspended in midair, stretched out like a cross.
The Wraith Enforcer roared and struggled, but aside from his arms, legs, and head, nothing else could move. Gradually, even those parts became immobile, and he howled in agony.
Next, I saw invisible ropes tightening around the Wraith Enforcer's body, creaking as his flesh began to cave in.
"It's useless. Before the power of Black Rope Hell, you cannot escape."
"Normally, Underworld Marshals can't use their full strength outside the Underworld Court. But here, it's different. In the mortal world, they're affected by yang energy and can't unleash their power. What's unique is that, as Underworld Marshals, they also possess their own ghost domains, which can be opened in the mortal world."
I recalled that when I first saw Mr. Black and Mr. White, the area divided by the river was Mr. White's ghost domain. But now, the Domain of the Dead radiated a suffocating power—if I didn't keep releasing ghost aura, I'd feel as if my neck was being strangled again.
"Wraith Enforcer, today I'm taking you back. You're the last one—the final rebel who hasn't faced judgment. Hmph."
Mr. White spoke as he crawled up from the ground. Then his right hand clenched tight, and in an instant, black blood spattered. The Wraith Enforcer's body was crushed into a mass of flesh and bone, barely recognizable, as he whimpered. Mr. White floated toward us.
I became alert, but toward Mr. White, I felt no hostility. Luckily, it was him approaching—I could avoid the others for now and speak with him.
"Hahahaha, don't make me die laughing."
Suddenly, the Wraith Enforcer shouted loudly.
"Do you think you've won, Mr. White? You're not the only one who can use the Domain of the Dead. Don't forget who defeated us a thousand years ago."
Everyone's expression changed. The yellow-covered book in Ghost Painting Book Immortal's hand dropped to the ground—he bent over to pick it up.
"Oh dear, this is serious. That guy can use the Domain of the Dead."
Black Moon clapped sharply, emitting a series of piercing laughs.
"See, everyone, I told you this would be quite a show."
Mr. White hesitated, turning to look at the Wraith Enforcer.
"Even if you can use the Domain of the Dead, you'll never be a match for me."
With a whoosh, Mr. White moved over. The Wraith Enforcer was still struggling, his ghost soul firmly bound by the invisible ropes. His ghost aura grew stronger and stronger, and icy winds whipped around, making the ropes in the sky ripple.
"Wraith God, such great benefaction—sometimes harm first, then reward, victory or defeat according to merit. Thus, in the heavens, the skies, and the earth, the Domain of the Dead... opens... Nightshade Dominion."
With a thunderous boom, massive black stones rose up all around us, and then the sky began to distort. The ground cracked and split as the black stones appeared.
Gradually, black rings of light appeared around the Wraith Enforcer, filled with darkness—what lay within, I couldn't tell.
With a sudden rush, I was stunned—a Wraith Enforcer with moth-like wings flew out, holding a trident. One after another, uniquely shaped Wraith Enforcers emerged from the growing black rings, breaking free from their restraints and floating in midair.
Two extremely powerful forces collided, tearing the world apart. From within the rising black stones, more Wraith Enforcers appeared, each wielding misty weapons. They leaped out and charged at Mr. White, baring their fangs and claws.
In the air, taut ropes snapped with sharp whistles. Mr. White extended his bright red tongue, raised both hands, and suddenly, the Wraith Enforcer laughed wildly, brandishing his curved blade and charging at him.
Cracks appeared in the sky and ground—I began to float upward. The fight couldn't go on; if the Yama Kings arrived, we wouldn't be able to escape. I roared and rushed toward the dueling pair.
"Stop! All of you, stop fighting!"
With a crash, the ground beneath my feet split open, the cracks spreading wider. In the sky, I could clearly see the gray-black heavens of the Underworld Court beyond the fissures.
I found myself at the chest of a giant, semi-transparent black demon ghost. Its arms stretched outward, blocking the attacks from both the Wraith Enforcer and Mr. White.
"Move aside, Fang!"
The Wraith Enforcer roared. At that moment, behind him, there was a commotion—Isabelle Frost rushed forward, pressing a hand on the Wraith Enforcer's shoulder.
"Enough! Stop this."
"Who are you?"
Mr. White looked at me in astonishment. I nodded, made a sound, and then smiled.
"Let's talk somewhere no one else can hear."
As I spoke, the space around us began to crack and dissolve, and we returned to the Styx Gate.