A frenzy of Deathbane Aura erupted from my body, surging in all directions. Ignoring everything else, I swung my fist at Lao Chongyuan before me, but in a sudden instant, my fist landed squarely on his outstretched right palm.
He blocked me completely—I couldn't move at all. Then, with a thunderous crash, I felt myself sent flying backward, a powerful blow smashing into my chest.
I was thrown to the ground, black blood spilling ceaselessly from the corner of my mouth.
"What's wrong, Ethan Zhang? Don't you hate me? Have you forgotten? Rachel Lan... do you remember how she died?"
I roared, clenching my fists and forcing myself to stand, though my body was in terrible shape. I knew clearly in my mind—this was nothing but the anger and desire that guy conjured to make me lose control. But now, the rage inside me was utterly uncontrollable, bursting forth from my heart with no end.
Back then, I was powerless, forced to watch as Rachel Lan and Lao Chongyuan perished together. That scene kept replaying in my mind—Rachel Lan's gentle smile in her final moments, burning my soul with pain.
Suddenly, I crouched down and aimed a punch at my own head—bam! It landed hard.
"I have to stay awake. Awake..."
I knew perfectly well—if I kept giving in to anger and kept using my powers, I'd eventually become just another part of this place. But the rage inside me was already close to breaking loose, spilling endlessly from within.
"Aren't you coming, Ethan Zhang? If you won't come to me, then I'll come to you."
With a whoosh, Lao Chongyuan suddenly charged right up to me, fist raised.
Sixth Layer... the limit...
I stared at him in shock, then suddenly, a hand grabbed me and pulled me up. With a thunderous crash, I was airborne, the forest below collapsing in an instant—earth shattering, wind howling, everything destroyed around us.
At that moment, I realized Lao Chongyuan had vanished from the ground—it was Isabelle Frost who had saved me in that instant.
Qingyuan, who are you talking to?
I looked at Isabelle Frost in surprise, but then that voice echoed again.
Hmph, just wait, Ethan Zhang. I'll make sure you die slowly.
I told Isabelle Frost immediately, but she seemed unable to hear, looking around in confusion.
Where are you? Show yourself.
At that moment, I noticed the forest below had returned to normal, and we descended.
Just now, I sensed an incredibly powerful force that shouldn't exist in the Forest of Desire, so I came over.
Isabelle Frost then told me she hadn't seen anyone from the Immortality Society, but Lao Chongyuan's attack had really happened—I saw it clearly.
After returning, Isabelle Frost led me to the second floor of the Octagon Tower. She brewed a pot of tea and sat in quiet contemplation, as if deep in thought.
She hadn't seen the destruction of the forest below or heard the delicate voice of the girl.
Such overwhelming power shouldn't appear in this place," Isabelle Frost said again.
Thinking carefully, the desires here develop in the opposite direction. Like that day, when I tried to cut down a tree with my power, I ended up hurting myself. But even then, the backlash was only several times stronger than my own strength.
But Lao Chongyuan's Sixth Extreme was hundreds of times stronger than my own power, and yet Isabelle Frost couldn't see or hear it—very strange.
After drinking some tea, I felt much better and decided to rest. Tomorrow, Isabelle Frost would start teaching me how to master my power.
After returning, I lay on the bed, carefully recalling how I was hurt. When I attacked Lao Chongyuan, the power rebounded and struck me. But how could that guy make Lao Chongyuan's phantom unleash such overwhelming force?
Unable to make sense of it, I closed my eyes.
Early the next morning, after breakfast with Isabelle Frost, we returned to the front of the Octagon Tower. With a wave of her hand, clusters of Red Spider Lilies appeared and floated into the forest. The woods withered, turning to dust and revealing a wide open space. The lilies sank into the ground, and even after we entered the clearing, it didn't recover for a long time.
Alright, Ethan Zhang, you can begin. Try to float.
I nodded and tried to float, but a massive force pressed me to the ground. I quickly suppressed my desire, and my body felt lighter.
Ethan Zhang, do you know what Ghost Aura is?
I shook my head, not quite understanding. All I knew was that Ghost Aura could help me identify some ghosts.
No matter how strong a ghost is, it always possesses Ghost Aura—the root of ghostly power. Ghost Aura naturally attracts Yin energy generated in the living world, gathering more and more without dissipating. That's why being near ghosts harms humans: too much Yin energy affects people.
As Isabelle Frost spoke, her body suddenly radiated green light, and I felt a powerful Ghost Aura rush toward me.
You should have felt it by now—your Deathbane Aura isn't simply made from earth energy and Yin energy. It still needs to go through another stage.
I nodded immediately. Isabelle Frost was right—I almost forgot. After my Fifth Ghost Soul was liberated that day, I realized my Deathbane Aura, though created from Yin energy and earth energy, isn't direct. It must pass through my Ghost Soul, release Ghost Aura, and only then form Deathbane Aura.
Ghost Aura is formed from Yin energy, resentful energy, Deathbane Aura, and all negative forces produced by ghosts. Ultimately, the type of power you use depends on how much Ghost Aura you consume.
I listened carefully to Isabelle Frost's detailed explanation, and I understood it.
Now, let's talk about you, Ethan Zhang.
Isabelle Frost continued, and I nodded.
As a ghost, you're different from ordinary ghosts. Normally, ghosts evolve step by step—from the lowest Gray Spirit to the highest Seqing Ghost. Those who reach Seqing Ghost status gain a Ghost Domain, Ghost Martial Power, and the manifestation of their Ghost Soul. Breaking through these three stages is extremely difficult.
What about me?
I asked.
You're different, Ethan Zhang. Your Ghost Soul isn't created from your own power—it's a fusion of many forces. The Ghost Soul in your body is really just a collection of various negative products produced by ghosts. It can't be considered a true ghost soul. In Taoist terms, it's natural, but it has ghostly qualities because it assimilated with your Ghost Soul.
I was a bit confused, so I thought about it for a long time and explained again how these things became my Ghost Soul. Isabelle Frost nodded.
This is closely related to your instincts, Ethan Zhang. Coexistence—maybe last night, the thing that tried to control your desire and kill you is of the same kind as your Ghost Soul. Strange, bizarre things!
Suddenly, I was puzzled. All these strange things seemed to want to enter my body and live inside me, but why did this one want to kill me?
I'm not really sure about that, Ethan Zhang. Now, let's talk about controlling power.
Isabelle Frost raised her hand, a green glow flickering on her fingertip. All her Ghost Aura was gathered inside her body, and I could only sense a faint, weak Ghost Aura from her finger—produced by a Seqing Ghost.
Ethan Zhang, what do you think this Ghost Aura can do?
I shook my head. With so little Ghost Aura, I couldn't even float. Suddenly, Isabelle Frost waved her hand—boom! A flash of green light, and a swath of trees in the distant forest collapsed.
I stared at her in astonishment. How did she do that?
This is what you can do when you master your Ghost Aura and reach your limit. You, on the other hand, might never achieve this in your lifetime.
I let out a cry. Why show me something so difficult?
Isabelle Frost seemed to hear my thoughts, glared at me, and conjured another ball of green Ghost Aura in her hand, just like before.
You don't need to master your Ghost Aura like we do. Instead, use just this amount of Ghost Aura to float.
I nodded happily—so that's what she meant by mastery. She really is a great teacher, combining theory with practical demonstration. I understood quickly.
Give it a try. I'll be watching. If you use more Ghost Aura than this, I'll make you start over until you can float.
I nodded gratefully, closed my eyes, and recalled the amount of Ghost Aura Isabelle Frost had released. But as soon as I tried, I crashed to the ground with a thud.
I felt a heavy pressure, forcing me to the ground. After getting up, I looked at Isabelle Frost and swallowed hard.
It's so hard... Did John Chou really learn to use his power in just one day?
Isabelle Frost nodded.