Thought Ghost screamed in agony as Resentful Ghost transformed into a mass of black resentment, merging into his body. He stared at us with wide, frantic eyes.
"Ethan Zhang, I really didn’t..."
I smiled coldly and replied.
"If you truly did nothing, why does the essence of Chimei Wuliang reside in Poison Dreadstar’s hands?"
Thought Ghost fell silent. When I sensed the aura of Chimei Wuliang on Poison Dreadstar, my first instinct was to seize it, but she clung to a desperate, self-destructive resolve. I held back.
They wanted me to witness Chimei Wuliang’s memories—those long-buried fragments remained for a reason. Only that piece survived, sealed inside the unique ghost named Little Red, and later, through me as a vessel, they used Thought Ghost to gather the essence of Chimei Wuliang.
This method caught me completely off guard, for Poison Dreadstar had help. The only one who didn’t return was Elder Peach, who’d known Chimei Wuliang for ages—and Chimei Wuliang owed him a debt.
Now, as I recall, Elder Peach appeared before Chimei Wuliang died, saying the darkness was shrinking. After Chimei Wuliang’s death, he showed up repeatedly, warning that the darkness was ending and urging me to escape. Gradually, it was as if a rope was tied around me, leading me into Chimei Wuliang’s past.
The key now is Thought Ghost. My Ghost Souls have completely severed his connection to me. It’s no coincidence—only Thought Ghost can collect essence. So I knew instantly he’d betrayed me.
"Tell me, what exactly are you plotting?"
I glared furiously at Thought Ghost. He kept grinning wordlessly as Yin Ghost slowly floated up.
"You’d better come clean, Thought Ghost. Those people have nothing to offer you."
Yin Ghost spoke, gripping two black daggers. Suddenly, he lunged at Thought Ghost. I stood up abruptly.
"Wait..."
With a whoosh, a gust of black wind swept over Thought Ghost’s body. With a cry, I saw Resentful Ghost fly out, two holes torn in his chest. Instantly, pain gripped my own chest.
"What’s hap..."
Before I could finish, the thorny vines binding Thought Ghost loosened. Then Curse Ghost suddenly flew toward Deathbane Ghost, tangling him with vines, and began whipping him fiercely.
The scene had become utterly chaotic. My whole body burned with heat as Thought Ghost gave me a wicked smile.
"You bastard."
I floated up in anger, but suddenly my foot was caught by black mud surging from the ground—Tong Ghost. My Ghost Souls were in total disarray: Curse Ghost and Deathbane Ghost were fighting, crashing into the apartment building.
In the distance, Yin Ghost laughed menacingly, slashing at Resentful Ghost with his daggers again and again. Now Resentful Ghost began to wrestle with Yin Ghost.
Thought Ghost sat down in midair, grinning coldly. A swirl of black mist appeared behind him—my Deathbane Aura. It formed a chair beneath him as he floated, sneering.
"If we’d just left things as they were, it would’ve benefited us both. Ethan Zhang, you forced my hand."
As my Ghost Souls battled fiercely, my body grew more and more uncomfortable. Suddenly, a bright shield appeared before my eyes and a small hand grabbed the back of my collar, yanking me away. Thought Ghost stood up in confusion.
"Don’t waste your energy, Desire Ghost. You can’t leave this Shadow Realm. I’ve already taken control of most of Ethan Zhang. His instincts are hard to master, but I just need a little more time."
With a crash, a black python suddenly appeared in the courtyard before me, hissing loudly. Clumps of black mud flew from the ground, striking Spirit Snake’s body and exploding on impact.
"When you can’t hold on any longer, that’s when I’ll take everything from you, Ethan Zhang. Don’t blame me—I’ve lived inside you for so long and never seen hope. You’re too merciful, your path too harsh, with no end in sight. Once I become you, I’ll use everything you have to the fullest. Hahaha..."
With a spurt, I coughed up black blood. Desire Ghost’s small hand gently patted my back. My six Ghost Souls fought more and more fiercely—their injuries transferred evenly to my body. But the damage from three simultaneous battles was unbearable.
"Qingyuan, what do we do?"
Desire Ghost looked at me with a pained expression. My head buzzed violently.
"Ethan Zhang, if you’d just killed Poison Dreadstar and the others outright, maybe I wouldn’t have dared make such a move. All this is because of your mercy."
I glared at Thought Ghost, grinding my teeth.
"No, that's not it."
I stood up. Desire Ghost grabbed my hand, shaking her head.
"Don’t go out, Qingyuan. Hold on—maybe those six will come up with something. Their perceptions have been twisted, but as your strength wanes, so does his."
I grunted, sitting cross-legged on the ground, using Deathbane Aura to repair my damaged body. Desire Ghost kept channeling her power of desire, making it harder for Thought Ghost to find me.
I had to do something while I had the chance.
"Right, I can sever my connection to all the Ghost Souls."
No sooner had I spoken than Thought Ghost stood up and leapt away. With a crash, Spirit Snake’s massive body was knocked into the apartment building. I clutched my chest in pain.
"Don’t even think about completely severing your connection to the Ghost Souls, Ethan Zhang. If you do, they’ll die. Can you really bear to watch the Ghost Souls who’ve helped you for so long die?"
(This chapter is not finished ^.^ Please click next page to continue reading!)
It sounded like a threat, but for me, there was only one choice. I clenched my teeth as black blood kept pouring from my mouth.
Thunderous booms echoed everywhere. I was on the verge of collapse—the fighting between Ghost Souls grew fiercer, my strength kept draining, and I endured unbearable pain.
"There must be another way, right?"
I finally couldn’t hold on, collapsing to my knees before falling to the ground with a thud. Desire Ghost paced anxiously around me.
Struggling, I lifted my head and looked at Thought Ghost. He was unaffected, having completely severed his connection to me. I had to subdue him and reconnect—then we’d both be wounded, and he’d be powerless to act.
"Desire Ghost, help me."
With great effort, I stood up. The only option was to manifest my instincts, seize Thought Ghost in an instant, and kill him. But I quickly abandoned that idea—since my Ghost Souls’ perceptions had already changed, unless Thought Ghost reversed them again, they’d keep fighting indefinitely.
I couldn’t kill him. I could only use my instincts to reconnect with him. Resolute, I crawled up as Desire Ghost guided me toward Thought Ghost, who stood atop the ruined apartment building, sneering as he surveyed everything.
We drew closer. Desire Ghost wore a troubled, fearful expression. I shook my head at her.
"Get ready—I'm grabbing him in an instant."
I stared coldly at Thought Ghost. Desire Ghost nodded. I quietly closed my eyes, and the moment I opened them, Desire Ghost let go—I was already flying forward.
"Instinct... coexistence..."
With a roar, two large gray translucent hands appeared on my back, reaching for Thought Ghost. I gripped my gray Deathbane Sword. Suddenly, I realized Thought Ghost wasn't trying to escape—his smile only grew more excited.
A chill rose from deep within me. My eyes widened as my instincts faded in an instant, replaced by a wave of helplessness. I turned my head, glancing sideways at Desire Ghost, who raised both hands.
"Too bad, Ethan Zhang. If you’d just stayed put, maybe there was hope. But the moment Desire Ghost appeared, I twisted her perception. Now, in her eyes, I am Ethan Zhang, and you are Thought Ghost, the one trying to harm him."
"You bastard..."
Slowly, I fell toward the ground. With a thud, my last bit of strength was spent. Cherry blossom petals danced before my eyes as my consciousness blurred.
Amid the hissing, the Ghost Souls landed beside me. But now, all seven looked at me with hostility. Thought Ghost stood among them as they spread out. I noticed a black ribbon of Deathbane Aura flowing in his palm.
"It’s over, Ethan Zhang. Soon, everything you have will be mine. Cruel as it is, I declare the birth of a new Ethan Zhang."
"Not a chance."
I bared my teeth, gasping for breath. The power supplied by the Ghost Souls was completely severed—Thought Ghost had taken it all, even my Shadow Realm.
Thought Ghost raised a hand, and the cherry blossom trees in my Shadow Realm began to wither, turning to ash.
"These pointless things are no longer needed."
My mind flashed to Samantha Simons. These cherry blossom trees were the crystallization of her power—I loved the feeling of cherry blossoms fluttering in my Shadow Realm. My eyes widened as Thought Ghost erased Samantha Simons’s power.
"Now all I need is to draw out your instincts, and let them choose—are you still you, or are you me? After all, maybe even your instincts are disappointed in you, Ethan Zhang."