I gazed out into the darkness. The mountain pass was nearly pitch black, with barely any light, but the night had gifted the ghosts with eyes that could see through everything.
I watched for a long time, especially the Shadow Falls several hundred meters away from us. The Deathbane Fiend that emerged from it, after moving around for a while, retreated back into the falls.
Now, everything was silent again. The surroundings were deathly still. Behind me, that black humanoid figure was still snoring, but I couldn't sleep. I could only squat at the entrance of the cave, quietly waiting.
"Aren't you going to sleep?"
That one sentence startled me, making me jump to my feet. I didn't know how much time had passed, but the figure behind me was awake now. I turned around and looked at him.
"You can talk?"
"Why wouldn't I be able to talk? I have a mouth, don't I?"
The black humanoid figure got up, shook his head, and looked at me.
"Why did you come down here? It's so much better up there."
"Can you teach me? How to use Shadow Aura?"
I blurted out my request immediately. The figure laughed, then sat down.
"You are also a Child of Malice, but you're incomplete. Without being whole, you naturally can't use Shadow Aura."
My heart skipped a beat as I looked at him.
"My name is Ethan Zhang. What's yours?"
"You can call me Deathbane Ghost."
I let out a soft "oh." This black humanoid figure was actually called Deathbane Ghost, but he seemed rather straightforward and even agreed to teach me how to use Shadow Aura.
"First, you need to understand how Shadow Aura is produced. Everything here is made of Shadow Aura."
I swallowed nervously. I could really feel it—every blade of grass, every stone here was built from fiendish energy.
Deathbane Ghost led me outside, and I looked over anxiously at that spot.
"At this time, those monsters formed from fiendish energy won't appear."
After walking for quite a while, we approached the Deathbane Falls. The black Deathbane Aura surged upward like a stream, constantly flowing. I asked about the falls—why did it turn silver and bright at the top, and why couldn't I feel any Deathbane Aura up there?
Deathbane Ghost began to explain what fiendish energy really is.
In the world of the living, there are many people commonly called 'bad.' Driven by self-interest, they hurt others and commit harmful acts. These people share a trait: their bodies are filled with resentment. Some are so wicked, they're beyond redemption.
Once their hearts have fallen, hurting others becomes routine. In the end, after death, their fate is certain—they fall into hell. Usually, they enter the realm of hungry ghosts; even worse, some go straight to hell, never to be reborn.
After these people die, the aura they've accumulated over years becomes what is called 'turbid energy.'
I had heard Master Frank Yuan mention this before, up above.
"So this turbid energy is what evolves into this?"
I pointed at the Deathbane Falls in front of us. Deathbane Ghost nodded.
"This turbid energy was originally born from human passions and desires, meant to ensure the three souls merge and enter reincarnation whole. But such people can't reincarnate."
Back at the cave, Deathbane Ghost was smiling, playing with a Deathbane Blade in his hand.
"Have you made up your mind, Ethan Zhang?"
Once the soul is cleansed and enters reincarnation, new understanding and desires slowly form, creating a new personality. Yet, long ago, some were born evil—fortune tellers called them Children of Malice. As adults, they were destined for disaster, marked by bloodshed and misfortune.
The root cause of all this is the fiendish energy mixed into the turbid aura after death. Because they were evil in life, this energy can't dissipate or be washed away. It follows the soul into reincarnation.
Once the underworld discovered this, they found a solution: this place, created by the Ten Judges, doesn't exist in any time or space.
From then on, when a person dies, their fiendish energy comes here. Through a cycle of yin and yang, it flows upward. This place belongs to yin, and as the energy rises, the mist winding through the mountains is relatively pure. When the fiendish energy flows up, it contaminates the pure aura, then returns to the world of the living.
It sinks into the ground and merges with the earth's energy, so it doesn't threaten the world of the living. This solves the problem of Children of Malice being born with fiendish energy from a previous life and suffering misfortune. Only a rare few, who don't enter hell, carry a little fiendish energy into reincarnation, but it's not a big issue.
I listened for a long time and finally understood most of it.
"What about you, Deathbane Ghost? Why do you want to go up there?"
"I've had enough of this place. I don't know why I was born, but ever since, I've never been able to return to the falls. Now that I have self-awareness, I want to go up and see for myself. But whenever I enter that mist, a tremendous force pushes me back, refusing to let me pass—the force up there rejects me."
I let out a soft "oh." No wonder Deathbane Ghost keeps trying to climb upward.
"I've lost count how many times I've fallen. I can't float up, because fiendish energy has mass. That's why it can freely transform into anything—blades, spears, swords, staves, whatever you want."
As Deathbane Ghost spoke, the dense, black fiendish energy in his hand shifted freely into all sorts of shapes—long swords, short daggers, spears, staves. I swallowed, watching in awe, and Deathbane Ghost smiled.
"By the way, I sense a strong power inside you. It's instinct, isn't it? What's your instinct?"
I gave a soft "oh" and told Deathbane Ghost—my instinct is called Endbringer.
"Let's do a test. I've had enough of this sunless place and want out. Endbringer—a good name. It means everything will be destroyed, nothing left. Heh."
Inside me, the only thing I can sense as power is the fragment Endbringer placed in my body—a piece of Endbringer's power. I can take it out.
Standing before the falls, Deathbane Ghost smiled happily and pointed at the waterfall.
"Try putting your Endbringer Fragment in."
I gave a soft "oh," looking at Deathbane Ghost with some hesitation. He wore a chilling smile, and I started to feel uneasy. Last time I entered the instinct space, my shadow was like this too—seemingly harmless, but actually wanting to kill me.
"Don't trust me, huh? Ethan Zhang, since you're a Deathbane Wraith, I'll teach you how to use Deathbane Aura. Hurry up."
My heart hesitated and tangled. Since this guy is called Deathbane Ghost, he must be a ghost—and ghosts aren't to be trusted. Last time, it was because of John Chou that I died, and now, there's no going back.
"Suit yourself, Ethan Zhang, since you don't trust me."
Deathbane Ghost started to leave, but I called him back.
"Wait, let me try."
I understood Deathbane Ghost's intention—he wants to destroy this place and find a way out.
Standing before the waterfall, I was tense. As I focused, I felt a response—my chest crackled with black lightning, the Endbringer Fragment. I took it out. Suddenly, the surface of the fiendish waterfall reacted; as I brought the Endbringer Fragment closer, the water surged and splashed.
"Give it a try, Ethan Zhang. There's no harm in it."
I gave a soft "oh," and reached into the upward-flowing fiendish water. Instantly, there was a crackling sound—a loud boom—and a large opening appeared. The fiendish current scattered, revealing a cave. Deathbane Ghost laughed excitedly.
I hesitated to throw the fragment in. Suddenly, Deathbane Ghost gave a chilling smile and grabbed my hand.
"Throw the fragment in, did you hear me? Otherwise, I'll kill you right now."
A chill rose in my heart, and suddenly I let go of the fragment with one hand, catching it with the other. Then, aiming it at Deathbane Ghost, I pressed forward. With a whoosh, Deathbane Ghost jumped back, clearly wary of Endbringer's power.
From what I remember, when I use fiendish energy, it can carry Endbringer's power. That's how I was able to destroy Warren Qi's arm.
"If you won't listen to me, don't blame me for what happens."
Suddenly, fiendish energy swirled up from beneath my feet, wrapping around my legs and hurling me toward the fiendish waterfall. I quickly raised the Endbringer Fragment, and with a snap, the energy around my legs vanished, losing its form.
"Hmph, I have my own ways."
I felt awful. This guy—think about it—fiendish energy comes from the most wicked people, and Deathbane Ghost couldn't possibly be a good person. I was far too naive.
"I am evil, Ethan Zhang. Hold on tight—don't drop it. The moment you let go of your fragment, I'll kill you."
I swallowed hard. Deathbane Ghost's golden eyes stared at me, full of laughter, then he chose to leave.
I stood before the fiendish waterfall, wondering—behind the falls is a cave. Deathbane Ghost wants me to throw the fragment in, but what does he mean by that? I didn't want to think too deeply about it; I just wanted to talk to Deathbane Ghost again.
Back at the cave, Deathbane Ghost was smiling, playing with a broken sword in his hand.
"Have you made up your mind, Ethan Zhang?"