Looking at the empty dishes on the table and the nearly bare fridge, I could only take out some leftovers, planning to make a few dishes for Old Cat.
"Ethan, the Founding Emperors gave you the keys to their domains, didn't they?"
I looked up, somewhat surprised at Old Cat, and nodded.
"Then that makes sense. Without their true words, you wouldn't be able to open their domains. By giving you the keys and letting you hold them, they are showing their trust in you—or rather, their trust in Rachel Lan."
"What do you mean?"
I asked, and Old Cat stood up, walked over, and took the dishes I had prepared.
"They must be quite fond of that girl. Rachel Lan has a force completely opposite to yours, and it's able to restrain your power. So they're very comfortable handing the keys to you. First, it avoids war. Second, it helps us tidy up the chaos quickly."
I pondered with some confusion. Indeed, Rachel Lan's instinct is very strange. Even now, I still can't understand what the Genesis Instinct really is, and that force constantly rejects me.
"Now everything has stabilized. Our strategy from the beginning was to force the Founding Emperors to hand over the things in their domains. Now that we've achieved our goal, we can easily deal with everything inside those two domains."
"Is it really that dangerous? The things inside?"
Old Cat nodded.
"When people fight each other, thinking about how to quickly kill and defeat the other, it's terrifying. What comes out of such conflict is the most frightening of all. Everything in the domains of the Founding Emperors is the fundamental threat to the survival of this darkness."
"So the will of the darkness wants to destroy everything inside?"
I asked again, and Old Cat shook his head.
"That, I don't know. Those three are still leading people in their research. Only when the results come out can we draw a conclusion."
Old Cat spoke while eating. I quietly drank my wine, my mind still in turmoil. What role does the Wraithlord play here? This darkness is showing weakness to the Wraithlord.
"Or you could say that the Wraithlord's will itself is the will to destroy everything. This is a disaster for us and for both the living and dead realms. And yet, there are those like the Immortality Society still searching for the Wraithlord's existence, as well as the Wraithlord's three children in the Shadow Realm. They've likely found a way to restore their bodies and return from the Shadow Realm."
I stood up, looking at Old Cat in disbelief.
"For now, it won't happen. If war breaks out between the Underworld Court and Old Hell, neither the living nor the dead will ever see peace again. This time, it won't end so simply. If the three children of the Wraithlord in Old Hell join forces, even the Underworld Court might not be their match."
My mind grew even more chaotic. It's not just these things—even the Asura Realm is a considerable problem among the Six Paths. Everything now is just a brief respite under the balance of various powers.
"If one side's power collapses, war will probably break out."
Old Cat nodded.
"Though I don't know why, when Mother Goddess Nuwa and the gods left this world, they sealed the three soul fragments of the Wraithlord here. But now these fragments have caused a lot of trouble, as if the Wraithlord's will is gathering his three souls and seven spirits. Can you tell me where the three souls of the Wraithlord are?"
I quietly looked at Old Cat. There wasn't a trace of falsehood in his words, so I nodded.
"The first place is in the Forest of Desire, at the bottom of the Lake of Desire. That should be the Human Soul, reading a blank tome. Nuwa made a pact: if he understands the book, he will return. The second place is beneath Mount Immeasurable, which should be the Earth Soul—very powerful. I still vaguely remember the day the Wraithlord struck an indestructible pillar of light—such strength. The last is the Heavenly Soul, wandering through different times and spaces, searching for the eternal end. I've even met him once in the future."
Old Cat pondered for a moment.
"The key is still the bloodline of the Prime Ancestor. It has the power to unseal the seven spirits. When the Immortality Society caught that girl, I secretly observed. The Immortality Society already obtained Rufina Howard's blood. They've probably reached some conclusions."
"Why didn't you stop them?"
I looked at Old Cat with some displeasure. He shook his head helplessly.
"It's not that I didn't stop them, but that I couldn't—or maybe there was no need. There are reasons I won't talk about for now, Ethan. I hope you understand. Now that you've gained the recognition of the will of darkness, this darkness is completely suppressing the Wraithlord's soul fragments for you. Before, you relied on Deathbane Ghosts to suppress the Wraithlord's soul, but he could still peer into this world through you. Now it's different. It's as if he's lost his eyes—he can't see this world anymore, and you have complete control. Now we can act freely and move on to the next steps. The first priority is to deal with everything in the Founding Emperors' domains. I hope you'll come and help."
I nodded, then shook my head.
"Right now, I want to strengthen myself. By the way, Old Cat, do you know where Elder Peach has gone?"
This is what concerns me most right now. Elder Peach would never vanish without reason.
"Maybe he's gone to the Dao. In this darkness, within the range we control, we can see everything. But outside these boundaries, we know nothing. Ethan, that's all for tonight. I have to go—someone else wants to see you."
"Is it Poison Dreadstar?"
I asked, and Old Cat nodded. In a flash, he turned into a shadow and disappeared into the ground. I sensed two people walking toward us on the cold street.
I stood at the doorway. It was past five in the morning.
From afar, I saw a tall and a short figure—a woman and a man—walking toward me. Sure enough, it was Poison Dreadstar and Ghost Fiend Star.
"Why aren't you two going back?"
As they approached, I saw Poison Dreadstar looking grave, while Ghost Fiend Star seemed half-asleep.
"It doesn't matter to me. As long as I can play games, anywhere is fine. And here, the food and accommodations are great. I'm satisfied—being able to play games for a lifetime, that's awesome. Poison Dreadstar is different, though. I didn't expect Yuna Ji to be so ruthless, actually taking out our boss. I was going to avenge him, but on second thought, I'm not cut out for that."
Poison Dreadstar came in. Ghost Fiend Star glanced at the small portion of food left on the table, grabbed some with her hand, and started eating. She opened a bottle of wine for herself.
"You know you have to pay for that wine."
I smiled at Ghost Fiend Star as I said this. She had just raised the bottle, then suddenly froze and gave an awkward smile.
"Oh come on, Boss Zhang, it's just a little wine. Let me have it for free. I'll bring some friends over in a few days to support your business."
"What's up, Poison Dreadstar?"
I asked. Poison Dreadstar stayed silent, her eyes vacant as she stared at the table. After a while, she opened another bottle and drank deeply.
"Is he really gone?"
I responded with a grunt.
"Wraithshade has already died in this darkness, merging with it."
Poison Dreadstar drank with a desolate look, then glanced at me.
"The ending wasn't supposed to be like this. It's all because of those Dark Banquet bastards."
I shook my head.
"No one else is to blame. It was his own choice. Yuna Ji was only seeking vengeance."
Poison Dreadstar laughed bitterly, then slouched in her chair, opening another bottle and drinking. I knew exactly why she'd come to see me.
"Sorry, Poison Dreadstar, I can't help you—or rather, I won't. Yuna Ji is my friend."
Poison Dreadstar looked at me, pleading.
"Really? After what he's been through, he'll never be the same. Ethan Zhang, only you can help me—find the ashes left behind when Wraithshade dissipated. If you can find them, maybe there's still a way in this darkness."
"He was your closest person, Poison Dreadstar. I understand how you feel, but I can't do it. I'm sorry."
I took a sip of wine. Poison Dreadstar lay on the table, crying, tears streaming down. I was a little surprised; Ghost Fiend Star could only sigh helplessly.