In an instant, the red and black currents surging in and out of my body froze. The ritual circle constricted to barely three square meters, its oppressive glow snuffed out. Only the golden heart, suspended and throbbing in midair, kept beating—its red and black veins writhing as if desperately resisting some unseen horror.
A mass of crimson flames erupted across Rachel Lan’s body. In that moment, my mind snapped—I refused to submit. Through the haze, I glimpsed Mason Yu’s corpse lying in ruin nearby, and a surge of terror and defiance flooded my heart. I cannot die here. Under the round moon, I saw the Black Tornado tear through everything at the foot of Ghost Tomb Mountain, leaving nothing but ruins.
Suddenly, Poison Dreadstar snatched Hugh Thompson and Justin Huang, dragging them away into the shadows. Ghost Fiend Star recoiled as Zuo Quanyi, seized by Lao Chongyuan, was hurled aside. Black currents coiled around Lao Chongyuan, his skin splitting and reassembling like patchwork, black light seeping from within.
Flames twisted around Rachel Lan’s body, cocooning her in a blazing shroud. My eyes went wide—Phoenix Rebirth. Want her to live, Ethan Zhang? If you do, give up—only your death can save everyone. Decide now.
"Girl, be careful. Your body won’t survive this." Rachel Lan’s Phoenix Blade vibrated ominously as she charged at Lao Chongyuan, crimson wings beating furiously.
Lan Yin roared, his voice echoing through the darkness. Suddenly, Rachel Lan began to rise, crimson flames blooming into a sphere that swallowed her whole. Without hesitation, Rachel Lan brought the Phoenix Blade down toward Lao Chongyuan’s head.
"Phoenix Rebirth..." Suddenly, the black vortex shattered with a crack, and a surge of violet light burst forth.
From above, Rachel Lan’s voice thundered—two words, sharp as a blade. Flames shifted, darkening to a blood-red hue. Lao Chongyuan curled into himself, arms raised, fists clenched so tightly his bones creaked. His heart hammered, each beat echoing the terror building in the air.
The blood-red flames swelled, merging into a monstrous fireball. Its light stabbed at the eyes, ever shifting and seething. Soon, the red glow became needle-sharp—the ground melted, flames surged toward me, but the inferno could not break the ritual circle trapping me. In an instant, dark red flames raced along Lao Chongyuan’s arm, engulfing his entire body.
"The third Phoenix Rebirth? That’s suicide."