With a thunderous boom, a burst of black light exploded right in front of me. I gripped my Spectral Shotgun and was sent flying backward. In my sight, the black Deathbane Aura devoured everything in its path, shattering the ground. The ricocheting Deathbane Bullets split off and rampaged through the chaos.
Gale winds howled around me. With a heavy thud, I crashed to the ground. My right hand, clutching the Spectral Shotgun, felt as if it were about to snap. Just then, with a whoosh, the dust cleared. The black Deathbane Aura twisted madly, drawn toward the spot directly opposite me.
From the swirling black dust emerged the Night Warden. The entire left side of his body below the shoulder looked as if it had been blasted away—completely gone. He roared in fury, raising his right hand, and flew straight toward me.
With a swift motion, I drew Hell's Sentinel with my left hand, while my right—though torn open, swollen, and with bone exposed—was already being repaired by my Deathbane Aura.
My cloak billowed up with a rush, then another thunderous boom—Night Warden slammed his fist into the ground. I dodged the blow and hovered midair, instantly conjuring a Ghost Eagle from Deathbane Aura, aiming it at Night Warden, who had punched a massive crater into the earth.
It was only then I realized—the Day Warden was present. Inside a barrier of light, The Twin Reapers, Marshal Leopard, and Marshal Hornet were all trapped. They tried to break through, but were held back.
"Passage forbidden. This is the world of daylight."
"Ethan Zhang, find a way to escape!"
Brian Shea shouted out. I immediately fired several shots in rapid succession—each pitch-black bullet struck true. With every hit, black flames erupted from Night Warden's body. Though he regenerated quickly, he was soon engulfed in fire, forcing me to retreat.
I was no match for him. That last attack—if it had happened before I received the Molting Skin, I wouldn't have survived. Even dodging it now was barely possible.
"I'm going to finish him off. Everyone, cover me for a few seconds."
A rush of wind sounded. In an instant, my six ghost souls—except for Desire Ghost—each held a fist-sized bullet in their hands. The others charged toward Night Warden.
Thunder roared as the clash erupted. My ghost souls were knocked away, scattering in all directions. Shadow Ghost kept generating black wind blades to assault Night Warden. The Spectral Grenade Launcher in my hands gradually took shape, requiring over thirty seconds to fully coalesce. I calmed myself, watching the Deathbane Aura spiral and wrap, condensing into components before assembling them together.
With a click, I opened the chamber. Desire Ghost handed me the bullet. I loaded it, snapped the chamber shut, and aimed at the charging Night Warden.
"Careful, that thing's dangerous—it's desire..."
Day Warden shouted. In a brief moment of hesitation, I pulled the trigger. With a muffled bang, a massive black shell traced an arc through the air, flying straight at Night Warden.
Bang! A burst of multicolored light erupted. The bullet struck Night Warden squarely, unleashing a fierce explosion of colored brilliance.
Gasping for breath, I watched the light intensify. My six ghost souls returned to my side, merging back into my body.
As the light faded, Night Warden was revealed, his chest split open, rainbow light spilling out as he hovered motionless in the air.
Suddenly, with a crack and a boom, the Twin Reapers and Marshal Leopard burst through the barrier, flying in our direction.
Suddenly, I saw Night Warden stretch his arms, then with a tearing sound, he ripped his body from chest to legs, leaving only his hands, feet, and head. His two hands flew straight toward me.
Bang! The torn body exploded, then was sucked into a swirling black vortex.
"Enough chaos. Stop now."
Fan Wujiu spoke, already at my side with Brian Shea. Each grabbed one of Night Warden's hands.
At the same time, Marshal Leopard moved to Night Warden's head and feet, pressing a hand on his head.
"You've gone too far."
Bang! Night Warden's head was slammed into the ground, creating a massive crater.
Day Warden flew over, furious, raising a hand and pointing it at me.
"You want to fight?"
Fan Wujiu suddenly let out a muffled roar, his body swelling. He shook the Mourning Staff in his hand. Brian Shea swept forward, pointing his white Mourning Staff at Day Warden's neck.
"Three against two. You brothers want to try your luck?"
Marshal Leopard snarled, his form starting to shift. A tail like a leopard's sprouted, and red light kept pouring out.
"Hmph. You want to disgrace the Underworld?"
Day Warden asked, and then Fan Wujiu slammed the Mourning Staff into the ground.
With a thunderous crack, the ground split open, dividing the entire hall in two. Beneath the fissure was endless darkness, and suddenly, scarlet fire snakes surged upward.
"I, Fan Wujiu, have always despised traitors. This time, the ten Soul Collectors of Hades hold high authority in the Underworld, but you used fakes to deceive them. You even tried to kill the one who took Wu Zheng's soul. Such shameless acts—disgrace? Honor is earned, not stolen through cruelty and deceit."
"Stand down, Day Warden, Night Warden. Return at once."
At the gate to Hades Road, a red light flared. In the emptiness, a solemn voice rang out, and Day Warden and Night Warden retreated to the other side of the door.
"Hmph. Zhang Qingyuan, don't think Blackie has your back and you can act with impunity. The Underworld isn't ruled by just the Five Yama Kings."
The red light gradually faded, and soon Day Warden and Night Warden vanished as well. I breathed a sigh of relief, my body aching and drained of ghost energy. Brian Shea helped me to my feet, and I thanked him.
"That guy seems to know just how dangerous desire can be."
I muttered. Brian Shea nodded.
"Day Warden and Night Warden once fought Lord Shen Yan and lost. Lord Shen Yan used Hellfire, dyed with desire. So they know its power. But you, Zhang Qingyuan, are different. The power in you is unique."
Brian Shea spoke, and I smiled.
I hadn't expected Cui Jue to leave so soon, and for Day Warden and Night Warden to attack right after. Once the fake Wu Zheng was exposed, they must've wanted me dead. Good thing I reacted quickly, or I'd have been in real danger.
"Come in and have some tea."
Marshal Leopard said, and I responded, following the Twin Reapers into the office. Inside, I saw the negotiation table from before had been smashed to pieces.
"Cui Jue lost his temper on the spot. Zhang Qingyuan, after today's events, both sides have a way out. When you go back—"
"I understand. I won't say a word about it."
I remembered how Lan Yin and the others suddenly left. They must've known the Underworld was using fakes to deceive us, so they gave the Underworld a way to save face. Besides, Wu Zheng's soul was being held by the Third Yama's people, who brought it over.
After making me a cup of tea, Marshal Leopard sat down. The Twin Reapers and Marshal Hornet left to help repair the damage from Fan Wujiu's strike, which had unleashed Hellfire throughout the hall.
"For thousands of years, problems in the Underworld have only deepened. Zhang Qingyuan, since you've gotten involved, I'll be honest: the Underworld has always been ambiguous about the Immortality Society, hoping that ghost-path factions in the living world will destroy each other. Only then will the Underworld step in to clean up the mess."
My heart skipped a beat. I looked at Marshal Leopard, who smiled.
"This approach has more benefits than drawbacks. It can even drag the practitioners into the fray—watching tigers fight from the mountain, that's the logic. Remember, Zhang Qingyuan, don't think you can oppose the Underworld. Only when all these forces in the living world are wiped out will things finally settle."
"So all those innocent deaths are justified?"
I shouted, glaring at Marshal Leopard. He shook his head.
"Talking can't solve anything now. Sometimes, violence and strategy are far stronger than preaching. That's how it is this time—if we hadn't intervened, you'd already be dead in this hall."
"Cui Jue lost his temper on the spot. Zhang Qingyuan, after today's events, both sides have a way out. When you go back—"
"I understand. I won't say a word about it."
I remembered how Lan Yin and the others suddenly left. They must've known the Underworld was using fakes to deceive us, so they gave the Underworld a way to save face. Besides, Wu Zheng's soul was being held by the Third Yama's people, who brought it over.
After making me a cup of tea, Marshal Leopard sat down. The Twin Reapers and Marshal Hornet left to help repair the damage from Fan Wujiu's strike, which had unleashed Hellfire throughout the hall.
"For thousands of years, problems in the Underworld have only deepened. Zhang Qingyuan, since you've gotten involved, I'll be honest: the Underworld has always been ambiguous about the Immortality Society, hoping that ghost-path factions in the living world will destroy each other. Only then will the Underworld step in to clean up the mess."
My heart skipped a beat. I looked at Marshal Leopard, who smiled.
"This approach has more benefits than drawbacks. It can even drag the practitioners into the fray—watching tigers fight from the mountain, that's the logic. Remember, Zhang Qingyuan, don't think you can oppose the Underworld. Only when all these forces in the living world are wiped out will things finally settle."
"So all those innocent deaths are justified?"
I shouted, glaring at Marshal Leopard. He shook his head.
"Talking can't solve anything now. Sometimes, violence and strategy are far stronger than preaching. That's how it is this time—if we hadn't intervened, you'd already be dead in this hall."