I don't know how long we've been walking. Following Past Ethan Justice, I've traversed many places, encountering countless people and ghosts made of thought-forms. They move about, just as they did before this world shattered, each absorbed in their own affairs.
By now, we've reached a place devoid of life, saturated with ghostly energy. The road we're traveling is thick with this energy, and ghost messengers frequently pass by. Whenever they see us, they greet Past Ethan Justice warmly, as if they all know him. Some even invite him to drink together in Necropolis after their duties are done.
All around this road, Red Spider Lilies bloom in profusion—strange, considering we should be in the living world, yet both sides are lined with these flowers.
"This road is now called the Luminous Path. Since the boundary between the living and the dead has been destroyed, Red Spider Lilies are used to construct a road infused with power from both realms. Anyone—human or ghost—can walk it, but there's only one destination: Necropolis. It now stands in the rift between the two worlds, replacing the old boundary, and manages the relationship between the living and the dead."
Gradually, the road ahead widened, and I saw a long, sloping path leading to an immense city—red walls, green tiles, and vast architecture. The city was built on three tiers: the middle tier was somewhat smaller, and the top tier even smaller, both floating above the ground. Each tier was connected by roads covered in Red Spider Lilies.
I kept seeing ghost messengers escorting souls into the city. Roads lined with Red Spider Lilies stretched in all directions, all leading into Necropolis. The city sat in a basin surrounded by mountains, with sloping roads connecting to each of its eight gates—each representing a cardinal direction.
"Hey, Past Ethan Justice, what brings you here today?"
Just as we reached the city gate, I saw an Asura with three faces and six arms standing there.
"Long time no see, Asura. Is the Emperor of the Dead available now?"
Past Ethan Justice asked, and the Asura shook his head.
"As you can see, everyone is busy dealing with problems between Hell and the living world. We're overwhelmed. Since you're here, you might as well help out. We're holding a grand Soul Burial Ceremony, and Isabelle Frost is already preparing. If you join in, things will go faster."
I swallowed hard.
"Isabelle Frost."
Past Ethan Justice nodded.
He then explained that the Asura in Necropolis is one of the survivors after the destruction of the Six Paths, along with seven others—the Eight Legions. They're like the ten great ghost generals of Hell I once knew. Among the civil officials, the highest authority now is Isabelle Frost, who oversees the Soul Burial Ceremony. The ceremony is meant to send the souls of the dead into the powerful vessels Hell now possesses, necessary for creating a new reincarnation system.
Most of the people I see born nowadays are actually thought-forms, substitutes for real humans. The number of true humans has dwindled by more than half since the war ended ten years ago. After the Six Paths system was destroyed, people could no longer reincarnate. To keep the balance between realms, they sometimes send souls of the dead back to the living world. There hasn't been a newborn in the living world for ten years.
Entering the city, I followed behind the Asura and Past Ethan Justice, lost in thought. Suddenly, my eyes widened as I saw a fat man shouting, keeping order among the ghosts registering for parties at certain spots in the city.
"Damn it, get in line! Didn't you hear me?"
It was The Dragon. I stared in surprise—wasn't he one of Redmond's men?
"Hey, fatso, don't be so rough. What if you end up hurting the souls of these ordinary people?"
A familiar, somewhat disgruntled voice caught my ear. I looked over—it was Soren Black, drifting beside The Dragon.
"This area isn't your responsibility. It's under my jurisdiction."
Seeing my confused expression, Past Ethan Justice explained.
"Though the Ghost Sovereigns are gone, some of their Blue Wraiths survived. Ms. Yi led them here to Necropolis to help out."
The buildings in the city were all neat, square little houses, arranged in orderly rows. Most side streets were about ten meters wide, while the main ones stretched a hundred meters across. Ghost messengers escorted souls, each carrying one of three types of numbered tags: black, white, or gray. I noticed Lord Wraith, looking busy, holding a large bunch of black, white, and gray tags, going from house to house, attaching them to registered souls.
"Not everyone who dies can undergo the Soul Burial Ceremony. Black means evil, white means good, and only good souls can provide pure power through the ceremony. Black souls are sent to Hell as the foundation, while gray ones work in this city, serving as links between black and white."
I understood immediately.
"Still, that's a clever idea, Ethan Zhang. To come up with something like this—ha, we're almost there."
Just then, I noticed a massive plaza ahead, with Red Spider Lily petals drifting down like rain. A woman in a red dress, her hair coiled atop her head, floated above, calling out to the crowd.
"Hurry up! If you miss this hour, you'll have to wait again."
It really was Isabelle Frost.
I watched as ghost messengers hurried to bring souls with white tags into the plaza. After a while, they all withdrew to the side.
"Let me help you, Ms. Yi."
With a whoosh, Past Ethan Justice floated to Isabelle Frost's side. She was just as cold and elegant as ever, glaring at him.
"You've been carefree for so long, leaving all this heavy work to us. Don't you feel any guilt, Ethan Zhang?"
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"Alright, I understand, Ms. Yi."
Isabelle Frost's lips curled slightly as she turned away. She actually smiled—I stared, astonished. It was a rare sight.
"At least call me 'Master,' alright? Remember who taught you so much."
"I understand, Master."
Isabelle Frost floated to the center, raising her hands. Instantly, the falling Red Spider Lilies froze in midair. Past Ethan Justice stood on the ground, drew the sword from his back, and thrust it into the earth, chanting softly. Gradually, I saw an orange glow—like sunset—spreading, and the Red Spider Lilies began to swirl and flow. Past Ethan Justice continued his chant, and soon, as a sea of lilies covered all the souls, a thunderous boom erupted. At Isabelle Frost's gesture, a blinding orange beam shot skyward.
A massive pillar of light appeared before me. After a while, it faded, and Isabelle Frost landed, clapping her hands.
"Good thing you came. Otherwise, I don't know when I'd finish the Soul Burial Ceremony."
Past Ethan Justice smiled, sitting on the ground and gazing up at the lingering orange glow in the sky.
"By the way, Ms. Yi, there's something to tell you—about Ethan Zhang over there."
I walked over slowly, and Isabelle Frost stared at me with icy eyes.
"Is this really Ethan Zhang?"
I swallowed hard. Then Isabelle Frost smiled and shook her head.
"Just as I thought, anyone trained by John Chou ends up useless!"
I looked at Isabelle Frost in protest. Past Ethan Justice stood up and clapped his hands.
"Alright, Ms. Yi, John Chou has been gone for a long time now. Go easy on him."
Isabelle Frost snorted coldly, then beckoned to me with a wave of her hand.
"Come with me."
She led me behind one of the houses. I had no idea what she intended.
"My brother... that John Chou, in the true present you're from, what is he really to Isabelle Frost?"
I gasped, staring at her in confusion.
"What do you think, Ms. Yi? A brother and a sister—siblings. Now that you know, don't ask again."
As she asked, Isabelle Frost's expression softened. Then she tilted her head back and smiled sweetly—a rare sight.
"That's good. No matter where we are, thank you, Ethan Zhang."
Led by Isabelle Frost, Past Ethan Justice and I followed her to the topmost tier, into a palace. Inside sat an elderly man, about fifty, refined in appearance, dressed casually, writing at his desk. Ghost messengers and civil officials came and went, exchanging words and organizing stacks of documents.