In an instant, the Resentful Ghost released a torrent of Deathbane Aura, enveloping Lan Yin completely. The air crackled as the Deathbane Aura rapidly froze into ice, trapping Lan Yin inside as if he’d been shattered and sealed away.
"Help! Ethan Zhang, the Resentful Ghost is dying!"
Tong Ghost shouted, and at that moment, the Black Vermilion Bird noticed me. It flapped its wings, sending a volley of black feathers my way. I quickly raised my hand, instantly forming an ice wall.
As soon as Lan Yin finished speaking, the Resentful Ghost was instantly engulfed by a surge of water, struggling inside as if drowning, clutching its neck in a desperate attempt to breathe.
My shadow kept tangling with Lan Yin, but Lan Yin seemed to be playing, moving easily through the black Deathbane Aura. I felt my strength draining rapidly, the exhaustion mounting.
After regaining human form, I spread my Deathbane Wings and rushed toward the watery sphere trapping the Resentful Ghost. The ghost floated inside, looking as if he were asleep, eyes closed.
I raised my Deathbane Aura Blade and slashed at the water. But as soon as my blade touched it, it melted away—the Deathbane Aura drifted like ink through the water, then vanished.
"Save me first, Ethan Zhang! Hurry!"
Tong Ghost shouted again, just as the Black Vermilion Bird charged at me, its wings flashing. Though it was black, its power was still that of the Vermilion Bird—I had to be careful or I’d be burned.
"Let’s trade, Ethan Zhang."
"Damn it, you two bastards!"
Suddenly, I felt my abdomen tighten—I was inside the Black Vermilion Bird’s beak. Meanwhile, Tong Ghost was freed; he pressed a hand to the watery sphere. I watched as the water slowly turned black, sizzling and then burst apart. The Resentful Ghost instantly snapped awake.
"Brother, get serious. If Ethan Zhang dies, we’re in deep trouble."
Lan Yin suddenly roared in anger. I froze, not knowing what to do. I’d gained these two ghost souls, but had no idea how to use them. Worst of all, when I needed their help, they let me down.
The Resentful Ghost, panting, crouched in midair.
My shadow reminded me, and I immediately severed the Specter Web connecting me to the Resentful Ghost and Tong Ghost. Instantly, all the discomfort in my body vanished, and I breathed a sigh of relief.
I stared wide-eyed as the Black Vermilion Bird’s body began to corrode—its feathers and surface started to smoke and disappear bit by bit, eaten away by Deathbane Aura.
Within seconds, the Black Vermilion Bird was reduced to a white skeleton, which then shattered and vanished with a crack.
This time, I didn’t turn into mist. Deep down, I knew that if I did, I’d be finished.
Streams of black energy surged from the mirror toward Lan Yin on the ground, attacking him. Lan Yin wielded Dragon's Roar, slicing through the Deathbane Aura as easily as tofu. Yet the waves of Deathbane Aura kept coming, relentlessly assaulting him.
Lan Yin clutched his chest, wrapped and twisted by waves of Deathbane Aura, looking to be in great pain.
With a bang, a burst of black light erupted—the Deathbane Aura swirling wildly. My fist collided with something hard, and in that instant, Lan Yin turned, swinging Dragon's Roar at me.
I didn’t hesitate. If I wanted to defeat Lan Yin, now was my chance. I spread my Deathbane Wings—Tong Ghost and the Resentful Ghost rushed into my body. Instantly, I felt a surge of power. I beat my Deathbane Wings, slicing through the air as I charged at Lan Yin.
Deathbane Aura began to gather in my hands. I sensed something new mixing in with the Deathbane Aura and Resentful Energy—a weight from Tong Ghost in my Deathbane Aura Blade. I felt its heft as I raised it.
I closed in on Lan Yin, thrusting my Deathbane Aura Blade at his chest. With a clang, Lan Yin blocked my attack—his left hand clutching his chest, his right wielding Dragon's Roar.
"Looks like it’s time to get serious, Ethan Zhang. Let me show you—and everyone here—something interesting from the Vermilion Bird Realm."
With a whoosh, Lan Yin’s black Dragon's Roar struck me, but it was like hitting a reflection in water. My shadow was unharmed, dissolving into black mist and vanishing.
A sea of fire rose up before my eyes, the crimson flames forming walls all around us, enclosing me and Lan Yin completely.
My shadow spoke, and in an instant, I moved above the black mirror. I spread my Deathbane Wings and rushed toward the two trapped ghost souls in the air.
Streams of black energy surged from the mirror toward Lan Yin on the ground, attacking him. Lan Yin wielded Dragon's Roar, slicing through the Deathbane Aura as easily as tofu. Yet the waves of energy kept coming, relentlessly assaulting him.
I’d already flown up to the black Vermilion Bird.
"Ethan Zhang, you’d better find a way to defeat me. Otherwise, your wife will disappear."
Tong Ghost shouted, and at that moment, the Black Vermilion Bird noticed me. It flapped its wings, sending a volley of black feathers my way. I quickly raised my hand, instantly forming an ice wall.
But as soon as the black feathers touched my ice wall, I cried out—the entire wall dissolved instantly. The feathers struck me, and a wave of searing pain tore through my body. I caught fire, turned into mist, but still suffered massive damage.
My shadow kept tangling with Lan Yin, but Lan Yin seemed to be playing, moving easily through the black Deathbane Aura. I felt my strength draining rapidly, the exhaustion mounting.
After regaining human form, I spread my Deathbane Wings and rushed toward the watery sphere trapping the Resentful Ghost. The ghost floated inside, looking as if he were asleep, eyes closed.
I raised my Deathbane Aura Blade and slashed at the water. But as soon as my blade touched it, it melted away—the Deathbane Aura drifted like ink through the water, then vanished.
"Save me first, Ethan Zhang! Hurry!"
Tong Ghost shouted again, just as the Black Vermilion Bird charged at me, its wings flashing. Though it was black, its power was still that of the Vermilion Bird—I had to be careful or I’d be burned.
"Let’s trade, Ethan Zhang."
Tong Ghost shouted again. I stared in surprise as the Black Vermilion Bird charged at me. Thinking quickly, I released the Specter Web and reconnected with Tong Ghost, trading places with him.
Suddenly, I felt my abdomen tighten—I was inside the Black Vermilion Bird’s beak. Meanwhile, Tong Ghost was freed; he pressed a hand to the watery sphere. I watched as the water slowly turned black, sizzling and then burst apart. The Resentful Ghost instantly snapped awake.
"Brother, get serious. If Ethan Zhang dies, we’re in deep trouble."
"Yeah, I got it."
The Resentful Ghost, panting, crouched in midair.
The black Vermilion Bird holding me in its beak charged at the two of them. Suddenly, Tong Gui transformed into a stream of black energy. I immediately sensed this was neither baleful nor resentful energy. Upon colliding with the Vermilion Bird, the energy turned into mist.
I stared wide-eyed as the Black Vermilion Bird’s body began to corrode—its feathers and surface started to smoke and disappear bit by bit.
Within seconds, the Black Vermilion Bird was reduced to a white skeleton, which then shattered and vanished with a crack.
"Ha, now you know how powerful I am."
Tong Ghost said, and as I fell, the Resentful Ghost caught me. In that instant, I seemed to understand what these two were and how to use my ghost souls.
Lan Yin clutched his chest, wrapped and twisted by waves of Deathbane Aura, looking to be in great pain.
"Zhang Qingyuan, it’s time—show him what real power is."
I didn’t hesitate. If I wanted to defeat Lan Yin, now was my chance. I spread my Deathbane Wings—Tong Ghost and the Resentful Ghost rushed into my body. Instantly, I felt a surge of power. I beat my Deathbane Wings, slicing through the air as I charged at Lan Yin.
Deathbane Aura began to gather in my hands. I sensed something new mixing in with the Deathbane Aura and Resentful Energy—a weight from Tong Ghost in my sword. I felt its heft as I raised it.
I closed in on Lan Yin, thrusting my Deathbane Aura Blade at his chest. With a clang, Lan Yin blocked my attack—his left hand clutching his chest, his right wielding Dragon's Roar.
"Looks like it’s time to get serious, Ethan Zhang. Let me show you—and everyone here—something interesting."
As Lan Yin spoke, a ball of fire ignited. Instantly, the baleful energy wrapped around him was devoured by flames. Without thinking, I beat my wings and retreated. But then I sensed something odd—a warm sensation behind me. I stopped.
A sea of fire rose up before my eyes, the crimson flames forming walls all around us, enclosing me and Lan Yin completely.
Flames roared everywhere. Lan Yin floated before me, dispelling Longyin with a wave of his hand. He spoke, word by word.
"Ethan Zhang, you’d better find a way to defeat me. Otherwise, your wife will disappear."
Waves of heat crashed over me. I felt a sense of doom, especially from the wall of flame ten meters behind me. If I got too close, I’d be melted down to the bone.
"Zhang Qingyuan, you’d better find a way to defeat me. Otherwise, your wife will disappear."