"Resonance, instinct... coexistence."
I kept my eyes shut as Deathbane Aura began to spill out, spraying softly in all directions like scattered embers. The black aura drifted gently, and the gray walls around me finally began to react.
Reaching out, I touched the uneven surface. Instantly, my mind buzzed and I collapsed onto the ground.
"Coexistence denied."
This was the second time I’d felt something like this—the first was inside Yvonne May's Primal Essence, where that overwhelming, terrifying power wrapped itself around something like this gray wall. I tried to coexist, but was attacked immediately.
This time felt similar, but now my instinct was whole—and I still couldn't coexist.
I stared upward, overcome by a sense of impossibility. Against this wall, I was completely powerless.
"Phantom Sage, take me back."
I shouted, and in an instant Phantom Sage appeared before me, smiling.
"Did you sense anything?"
Phantom Sage placed a hand on my shoulder, and before he finished speaking, I was already back in the hall, shaking my head.
"I felt nothing. Coexistence is impossible."
Emperor God looked at me in confusion. I returned to my seat behind him, quietly watching.
"Is that truly so?"
A question tinged with doubt—Emperor God clearly didn’t believe me.
"Previously, when your instinct was passed to that fellow, he truly sensed something above—a barrier within these walls that blocks this world from the living. Now, you possess your full instinct, don't you?"
I said nothing, just gave a cold smile.
"I think both sides should show a little sincerity. That will make our exchange much easier. Emperor God, let us see the core of this world first."
Shade’s words carried a chilling undertone. Emperor God glanced over at us.
"Let’s talk about what’s above first. The tower we’re in wasn’t built later—it’s been here from the very beginning."
What Emperor God said left us all deeply shocked.
"And at the very top of the tower, there's nothing. Beyond that, what looks like gray mist is actually an unbreakable wall. The three of us tried everything, but couldn't break through. Inside that wall, what we sensed was the world of the living."
At that moment, Phantom Sage stepped forward. With a wave of his hand, a three-dimensional image appeared—a tall, pale blue tower stretching from green at the base to gray at the top.
"We investigated the wall and found something interesting. Everyone knows about the exchange between the realms of yin and yang—neither the living world nor the underworld ever truly stops. That's what keeps the world in balance. Even here, in a world made entirely of yin energy, there is still an exchange between yin and yang."
"Oh, so you're saying the exchange between yin and yang happens through this wall?"
Phantom Sage could only shrug helplessly.
"We don't know for sure. The principles of yin and yang are eternal. Our world, our forms exist here, but everything is unknown. If the world's existence depends on yin and yang, then this wall is most likely where the conversion happens. Emperor God once sensed yang energy up there—just once."
"That reasoning won't convince anyone."
Xu Fu stood up and glanced at Emperor God.
"It's only a possibility—a place of conversion, maybe a way to connect with the living world. But with such slim odds, you’re willing to risk everything for this world? As rulers of Old Hell, that's laughable."
Luna Quay looked at Emperor God.
"Your guess can't be substantiated. Without absolute certainty, our Corpse Realm won't agree to cooperate so easily."
"I understand your concerns. Once it starts, there’s no stopping it. This is a..."
"Enough pointless talk, Emperor God. Show us the so-called core of this world."
I watched Xu Fu intently. He looked excited—he must know something.
Phantom Sage shot Emperor God a look, and Emperor God nodded.
"Then I won't keep you in suspense. Let's go."
A gust of wind howled past. I stared wide-eyed at the gray sky—the place I’d just been. Now we were at the top of the tower, surrounded by endless gray.
Now, beside Phantom Sage, there was a huge, jet-black coffin—over two meters long and more than a meter wide. Its material was impossible to tell, but it definitely didn’t belong in this world. There wasn’t a trace of yin energy on it; instead, a deathly aura shrouded the black coffin.
Xu Fu’s eyes lit up at the sight of the coffin. Just then, Ghost Painting Book Immortal muttered thoughtfully.
"Corpse Aura Stone, huh."
Suddenly, Lance Quinn burst out laughing.
"Old ghost, you’ve got a sharp eye. Heh, this is the Corpse Realm’s greatest treasure—a coffin made from Corpse Aura Stone, impossibly tough. These two brought it out when they defected."
"It blocks all traces of living energy. Anything kept inside will never decay, and corpses become as hard as the stone itself over time. Legend has it this stone existed since the dawn of life, formed from the aura released by corpses, condensed over ages. I once knew someone in the ghost arts who used Corpse Aura Stone as a weapon in life, and gained power like the stone after death."
Ghost Painting Book Immortal spoke from behind me.
"Enough. Before we go further, I want you to show us—words alone mean nothing."
Luna Quay spoke up, and Lance Quinn walked forward, smiling.
Emperor God nodded, and Phantom Sage waved his hand, producing a black bottle. He handed it to Lance Quinn.
This chapter isn’t over yet ^.^ Please click next page to continue reading!
"This is the result of years of research. It can temporarily restore your emotions. The two from the Corpse Realm have already tested it—it lasts about five minutes. This is the possibility."
As Lance Quinn twisted open the bottle, a pale blue vapor escaped. He inhaled it, and I shot to my feet.
"Tears?"
I stared at Lance Quinn in astonishment. His eyes were wet, and black liquid dripped down. He looked at his hands in shock, choking out his words.
"It hurts so much. Is this what sadness feels like?"
Black tears poured down Lance Quinn’s cheeks like a broken dam. Luna Quay watched the transformation intently.
"To condense emotions like this and inject them into a corpse is extremely difficult. The feelings must be absolutely pure, without any impurities. Creating this bottle took about three years. It’s hard now, but with Ethan Zhang’s help, it would be much easier."
Emperor God immediately turned the topic to me, and Lance Quinn rushed over.
"Ethan Zhang... help us, please. This feeling is so strange. Even though it’s so sad, I don’t know why, but these emotions are addictive..."
Just then, Lance Quinn’s tears stopped. His sad face twisted, returning to a sly grin. The last tear slid from the corner of his mouth.
I didn’t say anything. For these zombies, regaining emotion matters more than anything. That’s why they’ve joined forces with Emperor God. Luna Quay’s face was still cold, but in his eyes, I saw a glimmer of hope.
"Alright, everyone, come over. I’ll show you the core of this world."
We drifted over, gathering a few meters from the black coffin, watching as Phantom Sage moved the lid. With a creak, the coffin was opened.
At once, a wailing erupted—dozens of black, ferocious wraiths floated out. All you could see were their faces; their bodies were missing, with only long, black tails trailing behind as they scattered, howling.
There seemed to be hundreds of them. They quickly vanished, eroded by the surrounding yin energy, turning to ash as they wailed. Suddenly, a few wraiths drifted toward me.
"Save us, please—we beg you, you who can hear our voices."
Victor Duan raised his hand, but I quickly shook my head and glanced at him. Seven wraiths slipped into my body, sending a chill through me.
"Those scraps went into your body, Ethan Zhang. Do you really want to save them?"
Emperor God said coldly. Lance Quinn burst out laughing, and Xu Fu looked at me with contempt.
"It’s my interest. Is that a problem?"
I shouted angrily.
Inside the black coffin, the black mist slowly dissipated, revealing a person lying inside.
"What is that?"
Ghost Painting Book Immortal hurried over, staring in confusion.
Black skin, a face like it was carved from stone—male features, tall, nearly two meters, with bulging black muscles. But below, there was nothing, making it impossible to tell male from female. The corpse, like the coffin, radiated an aura of death.
"So that’s it. This is your core, isn’t it? The strongest body found. But who is it meant for?"
Xu Fu said quietly, and Emperor God glared at him.
"You don’t need to know that. This is the key to our future. Once it moves, reclaiming Hell will be nothing but a trivial task."