Inside the dark cavern, I quietly stared at the red glow before me. I raised my right hand and pressed it against the wall. At this moment, it felt as if I were standing at the bottom of a well, with a violent sense of oppression radiating from all four walls.
"Do you really think something like this can trap me?"
I sneered as I asked, and the red glow before me flickered slightly, remaining silent. I had no idea how long I’d been here, but I could sense that both time and space were frozen—likely a spell from the King of Reincarnation. I was still inside the passage to the Underworld.
What I saw before me had shrunk until only enough space for me to stand remained in the cave. This wasn’t an illusion—it was real. I could even feel the Hellstream behind the walls. If that thing latched onto me, it would be troublesome. But that was in the past. Now, these Hellstreams meant nothing to me, because I was already a part of Hell itself—just a forsaken part.
I laughed loudly, pressing my hand against the wall as a sinister aura slowly began to emerge.
"Earthly Soul, what exactly is your relationship with the Wraithlord?"
At last, the King of Reincarnation spoke again, his voice tinged with anger. I shook my head.
"Did you not understand what I just said? Things must be pretty bad for you now. Let us help you."
As I spoke, I raised my fist and instantly struck the wall. A rumbling echoed out, but the wall did not crack. Instead, the Hellstream within the wall had connected with my power and was violently trembling in agitation.
With a thunderous crash, the surrounding walls shattered instantly. I saw a vast ocean of black sludge. Using Hellstream as a defense to keep nosy exorcists from breaking the passage was indeed effective—just not against me.
I stood quietly atop the black sludge. It didn’t pull me under—instead, it supported me. The Hellstream was once able to devour everything, but now that I know the truth, my body, as a part of Hell, has fully awakened.
"So that's it. You already know."
I nodded.
"So, King of Reincarnation, there's no need to keep this up. If you want to know my relationship with the Wraithlord: In the Forest of Desire, I met the Wraithlord’s Human Soul—nothing more."
On the far side of the sludge, a violent red glow appeared. Then, a figure emerged, wearing a Celestial Crown and a multicolored robe patterned with intertwining rings, like ripples.
"Want to try fighting me?"
I asked, and the King of Reincarnation stared at me with a solemn expression, slowly drifting closer until he stopped ten meters in front of me.
"I can't let you enter the Underworld, Earthly Soul."
The King of Reincarnation’s tone was resolute. I could only smile helplessly and shake my head.
"I'm not who I used to be. Do you really think you can stop me?"
Casually, I asked, raising my hand. Streams of black Deathbane Aura instantly condensed in my right hand, forming a pitch-black sword. I scrutinized the King of Reincarnation. It seemed the Infernal Judges had long connected the eight channels to the hells they governed—without their permission, no one could enter the Underworld.
With a whoosh, I felt a rush of air sweep past my face. I stepped back, tilting my head slightly upward. A shadow flashed before my eyes. Instantly, excitement surged through me—I widened my eyes and thrust the Deathbane sword at the King of Reincarnation. He wielded a glass-colored steel whip, scattering the Deathbane Aura on my body with a single strike.
With a clang, the King of Reincarnation blocked my sword. His eyes turned ripple-shaped. In the blink of an eye, the scenery around me transformed into a vibrant, multicolored forest. Everything seemed wondrous, and a drowsy feeling washed over me.
I staggered on the ground, but my gaze remained feverish. The power the Wraithlord gave me was the essence of Deathbane Aura. The moment I received it, the Deathbane Aura within my body underwent a qualitative change. Unlike the life-and-death-infused Deathbane Aura Zhang Qingyuan once used, mine was pure and unadulterated. I had never felt so exhilarated—this power surpassed even the primal instinct of Endbringer I once possessed.
"Do you think that'll work, King of Reincarnation?"
In an instant, I raised the Deathbane sword and slashed at the figure before me.
With a tearing sound, the pleasant scenery around me was split apart. Hellstream splashed everywhere. I saw the King of Reincarnation in the distance—he easily blocked the flying Deathbane blade, then charged at me again with the steel whip.
I closed my eyes, clearly tracking the King of Reincarnation’s movements in my mind. I blocked with the Deathbane sword, and immediately noticed the Deathbane Aura peeling away from the blade. His steel whip was a formidable weapon. Smiling, I suddenly let go—the sword shattered, transforming into streams of aura, which then became snake-like entities with mouths. They instantly wrapped around the King of Reincarnation, each one biting down. My eyes widened.
Violent Deathbane Aura erupted from the entities biting the King of Reincarnation. Instantly, I withdrew my power—the King of Reincarnation dissolved into a cloud of multicolored dust and vanished. In the blink of an eye, a surge of force erupted behind me.
With a snap, I caught the steel whip aimed at me, smiling faintly. Instantly, my sleeve and flesh were stripped away, exposing white bone along my arm. I smiled again as colorful ripples flashed in the King of Reincarnation’s eyes.
"It's useless."
In an instant, I thrust my right hand at the King of Reincarnation, but just as I was about to reach him, he transformed into a swarm of vibrant butterflies. Ripples spread through the air, and I found myself unable to move—my power was being restrained, unable to gather.
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"What a strange power!"
Though I was bound, I felt no panic. Hellstream began to coil around my legs, crawling up my body. I closed my eyes and, with a thought, instantly escaped the King of Reincarnation’s domain—appearing a hundred meters away.
"If you want to see what power I truly possess, let me show you, King of Reincarnation!"
As I spoke, I raised my hand. Instantly, my body began to dissipate like smoke and dust, crackling as fractures split the surrounding space. Black particles quickly filled the area, and the Hellstream below began to freeze.
With a furious roar, the space around me shattered, revealing an outer layer of blackness. Waves of black light spread outward, completely dismantling the prison meant to trap me.
Debris floated all around me. I quietly observed the scene—it looked like a starry sky. Faint lights flickered farther out, but I knew clearly: there was only one exit, and it must be inside the King of Reincarnation. If I couldn’t reach him, I couldn’t escape.
"Is this your Domain of the Dead?"
I asked, but the King of Reincarnation did not answer. Instead, I saw fleeting shadows sweeping around me, within which images flashed by—scenes of things coming into being: plants, insects, fish, birds, beasts, and humans.
I gazed quietly into the distance. Above me, I felt an unusually heavy pressure. As soon as I looked up, the King of Reincarnation appeared overhead, raising his hand.
"Reincarnation!"
A buzzing filled the air—my head began to fog, my body felt twisted and stretched, even my consciousness. To my shock, my mind began to fracture, and I couldn’t recall much. Gradually, I realized I was completely split apart—even my emotions. I started to sink into confusion.
Dazed, I slowly opened my eyes, panic rising within me. Before me was a shriveled old man with a wicked grin. A bulging lump protruded from his forehead, and within it was the face of an infant.
As the infant wailed, terror gripped me. I asked, trembling, "Who are you? What do you want?"
The old man cackled, the sound from his throat like crushing walnuts—chilling and grotesque. I lay naked on the bed, unable to move. The room was small, but the walls were lined with jars and bottles. Some contained animal and human bones, and even an eyeball.
Fear surged through me as I desperately tried to struggle, but I couldn’t move. The old man approached, holding a black needle over twenty centimeters long. Suddenly, a sense of wrongness overwhelmed me—it felt as if all this had happened long ago. But as the thought passed, the old man plunged the needle into my chest. Instantly, agony tore through my body—I screamed.
Yet, somewhere in my mind, a patch of darkness appeared. I didn’t know what was in that darkness—I couldn’t even remember my name, who I was, or why I was here.
The pain persisted, unbearable. At last, my head could move. All I could do was beg, staring at the old man with pleading eyes.