I've already been surrounded. These Evil Ghosts, all looking nearly identical, closed in on me with long spears in hand. Everything here feels surreal. I can't pinpoint the moment I began hallucinating, but thinking about it, illusions are usually triggered when a part of one's mind is bewitched.
I carry Belle, a sword with powerful enchanting abilities, so I shouldn't be susceptible to illusions. Everything I just experienced felt real, nothing like a hallucination. Now that I've mastered control over my powers, my body clearly tells me how much Deathbane Aura I just used.
The ghosts wielding long spears were already closing in. Suddenly, they all floated up and lunged at me. Black mist billowed everywhere as they attacked, their bodies exuding darkness that blotted out the sky.
I crouched on the ground, drew Belle, and with a crisp clang, stabbed it into the earth. In an instant, Deathbane Aura scattered like thousands of tiny needles, shooting out in all directions.
A chorus of wails echoed as vast numbers of ghosts turned to ashes. Gradually, not a single ghost remained around me. These ghosts were low-level, and most crucially, they lacked consciousness.
They were just like puppets on strings. I looked around, planning to head up the mountain again for a closer look.
I climbed the steps. This time, the oppressive feeling was gone, and I could float. With a whoosh, I rose until I could see the entire mountain clearly, then stopped—the summit was already reached, and I couldn't go any higher.
The mountain was shrouded in thick white mist, and more ghosts emerged from the fog, moving toward me.
At that moment, I saw a glimmer of light at the summit. I rushed toward it at full speed.
But as soon as I landed, I realized something was off. It wasn't a light—it was a ghost clad in gleaming silver armor. He seemed conscious, wore a helmet, held a long spear, and his eyes glowed red.
"Where exactly is this place?"
I immediately asked, then darted to the side, drawing Belle. Black blood dripped down my cheek—I wiped it off, then quickly leapt back.
Shadows of the spear flickered before my eyes. My eyes had turned gold and red, my reflexes incredibly fast—I could react, but it was too late to strike back. I was being suppressed. The ghost before me was at least Blue Wraith level; his Specter Web was red, intertwined with my black Specter Web.
This guy was conscious, but he had no intention of speaking to me. I had no choice but to fight.
Dodging a thrust aimed at my brow, I raised my right hand and fired several shots in quick succession. Each bullet was dodged by my opponent.
With a thought, I altered the bullets' trajectory as they grazed his armor, aiming for his head instead. Several metallic clangs rang out, followed by small explosions.
Unbelievably, he sliced every bullet aimed at his head with the tip of his spear.
"You bastard..."
I glared at him coldly, sheathed Belle, then raised both hands—two Deathbane Aura Blades appeared. His spear lunged at me, and I crossed my swords to block. With a thunderous bang, I was knocked aside, and as I landed, I instantly turned into mist.
A spear shadow flashed by with a clang. I blocked it, rolling out of the black mist and crouching low. Deathbane Aura instantly formed into needles, shooting toward my opponent.
Empty. The word echoed in my mind. Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine as the spear pierced my ribs with a hiss, striking my Ghost Soul. Gritting my teeth, I grabbed the spear with one hand, lifted the entire thing, and slammed it down toward the ground.
"It's a Wraith Armament."
No sooner had I spoken than I was slammed hard into the ground. I rolled a few times, clutching my ribs, quietly watching my adversary charge at me.
In a daze, my opponent vanished again. I roared and threw a punch to the side, my body leaning back. With a bang, Deathbane Aura burst out—the enemy was sent flying, and a large dent appeared in the armor on his cheek.
"He really can evade my Specter Web."
I watched him silently. I had concentrated my Specter Web in front, behind, above, and to the left, leaving the right side completely open. He fell for the trap.
Wisps of white vapor hissed from his body. In that instant, my punch, infused with murderous Deathbane Aura, struck his Ghost Soul. He probably couldn't get up now.
But then I saw his armor turn gray, and the white vapor gradually changed to gray as well. With a creak, he got up immediately, and the dent in his helmet was restored.
"So fast."
I twisted my body, but still a huge gash opened in my chest. The force sent me flying, and the ground beneath me suddenly collapsed, splitting open with a massive crack.
The force was even greater. After he fell, facing another thrust from his spear, I decided not to keep testing him. I drew Belle, holding my breath and focusing on the spear aiming for me.
A surge of murderous intent boiled up inside me as the quality of my Deathbane Aura changed. The moment the spear approached, I saw it clearly—my immense Deathbane Aura flooded into the sword. With a swift motion, I dodged the spear and stepped forward, slashing down with Belle.
A huge gash split open—the ghost's armor and most of his body were completely severed. I floated upward as the ground below exploded, debris flying everywhere. I watched calmly as the ghost I had cleaved in two lay before me, his Ghost Soul split as well.
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Gray streams of vapor emerged, and gradually a hint of red appeared. I stared in astonishment, sensing an incredibly powerful ghostly aura surging from his body.
It keeps getting stronger. I realized something shocking—facing a ghost with this kind of aura, I decided not to linger and made for the main hall again.
With a whoosh, a red spear, accompanied by a powerful red current, blocked my path.
The ghost before me now wore red armor, holding a spear, blocking my way.
"Move aside."
Judging by his expression, he had no intention of letting me enter the main hall.
I raised my Wraith Armament, intending to split him in two again, but this time he was much faster—I didn't even have time to gather Deathbane Aura.
With a hiss, I arched back—sparks flew as his spear grazed Belle, passing right over my head.
Suddenly, a massive force pressed down on me. I accelerated in midair to dodge, and as I landed, Deathbane Aura surged out, gathering on my sword. With a roar, I slashed up at my opponent in the air.
With a clang, red and black light burst forth, a powerful current dragging everything nearby into the chaos. He blocked my strike and immediately retaliated.
I couldn't afford to hesitate—my entire left arm was shattered by his spear.
His reaction speed was terrifying, and his strength overwhelming. Without manifesting my instincts, I couldn't match him.
I calmed myself and rose to my feet the moment I landed.
"Get inside the main hall. Keep running. Don't get entangled again."
A hurried but steady voice sounded behind me. I immediately turned and swung my sword several times—Deathbane Aura flew forth as I rushed into the main hall.
He chased after me, relentless, closing in without pause.
I was moving as fast as I could through the main hall, but he was nearly upon me.
"This way, hurry!"
Just then, a voice called from my right. I turned sharply and saw a red barrier—without hesitation, I plunged into it.
For a moment, I finally breathed a sigh of relief. A long, straight road paved with massive blue stone slabs stretched ahead, flanked by tall, straight roadside trees.
"Fifth Tribunal Yama."
The memory hit me, and I immediately stood up and called out.
"Thank you, Fifth Tribunal Yama, for saving me."
"Come here, Ethan Zhang."
I nodded and ran toward the distant archway inscribed with the name of the Fifth Tribunal.
Standing outside a massive palace, I bowed to the plaque marked 'Fifth Tribunal,' but did not enter—there was no one inside.
"Judge Bao, this time..."
"I already know the whole story. I can't appear in person, because this is Lord Tai Shan's Ghost Soul."
A jolt ran through me. I thought for a moment, then drifted over and sat beside the stone lion at the entrance.
"The Yamas issue tokens that are actually formed from billions of Ghost Souls condensed into talismanic shapes. The one you just fought was, to put it simply, Lord Tai Shan's Ghost Soul. Such immense power can only be sealed by the owner themselves. If you break through its superficial seal, its strength will keep growing. Even if it's only one-billionth of its true power, defeating it would be extremely difficult."
I swallowed hard. If I'd manifested my instincts earlier, I could have defeated that red ghost, but afterward, I probably would've been killed.
"Once I realized you'd entered his Ghost Soul, I immediately sent someone to find him for a discussion, so he left for a while. Time is short, Ethan Zhang—I need your help with something."
"Just tell me, Judge Bao."
I nodded and replied.
"I need you to destroy the corpse you saw in the black coffin in the Other World."
I swallowed again. At that moment, a streak of red light descended from the sky, carrying something within.