At dusk, the sky had already darkened. The Underworld Agents had gone to assign tasks to those arriving from the Hades Circle. In the city near the Golden Temple, thousands had already gathered, still summoning more Underworld Denizens.
I watched the sky anxiously as it turned black. It was just past five o'clock, yet the sun was already gone. Another blackout had struck, and many people had already driven away, afraid of encountering another night of bizarre and terrifying weather like yesterday.
The air turned cold. I wrapped myself in a blanket and continued to watch the Golden Temple. Aside from a few wisps of black miasma on the ground, I could barely see any more of it. It seemed that Logan the Living Buddha's actions last night had some effect, at least enough to delay things until most of the Underworld Denizens arrived. I just didn’t know if anyone from the Lama Order or the Buddhist and Daoist Orders would come to help.
I had already asked several Underworld Agents to inform those in other cities about the situation with the Lama Order here, and to contact members of the Buddhist and Daoist Orders.
My only concern now was how to resolve the calamity rushing toward the lamas. Logically, there was no way to solve this—it was the lamas themselves who had willingly invited disaster upon themselves. If they didn’t bear it, the city would be plunged into catastrophe. I wondered if it might be possible to use our power to gradually isolate the disaster, bit by bit. Maybe then, there would still be hope.
"I think you should stop worrying. You must have seen those lamas in the Golden Temple—their bodies are already deteriorating. They’ve begun to bear the disaster, and it’s only a matter of time before it gets worse."
I looked out the window. In just a moment of distraction, the sky had turned completely black and the whole city was swallowed by darkness once again. Things were getting worse. I had no idea how things would develop next. And John Chou had left and still hadn’t returned. I didn’t know what else he was plotting besides that evil ghost underground.
"It’s snowing."
My eyes widened as I watched the snowflakes drifting down from the sky. Something was wrong—they were black snowflakes. I stared in shock and stretched out a hand. The moment I caught one, I felt that something was off.
"Why are they so heavy?"
I pulled back my hand, now coated in a layer of black miasma, and stared at the snowflake that refused to melt. It was icy cold and felt as hard as stone, leaving me utterly astonished.
"It’s probably about to begin."
Logan the Living Buddha slowly floated upward. My eyes widened as I saw a vortex of black mist appear over the Golden Temple—when had that happened? Black snowflakes drifted all over the city, freezing everything in an instant. I tossed aside the blanket, stood at the window, and instantly unfurled a pair of crimson wings. I leapt out, flapping my wings toward the Golden Temple, with Logan beside me, hurriedly asking:
"You shouldn’t go. You can’t stop it."
I turned my head and shook it.
"Maybe that was true before, but now things are different. I have power now, and..."
I paused as I spoke, placing a hand over my chest.
"My body holds the instincts of Past Ethan Justice. No one needs to tell me what to do—I’ll act regardless."
Crowds of Underworld Denizens surged around the square. The vortex before us began to swell, engulfing the entire Golden Temple in black mist. I landed instantly at the temple gate, watching as crimson flames gradually turned purple. Many of the Underworld Denizens stared at me in astonishment.
"Those who can use the Vermilion Mantle, come with me."
As I spoke, I raised a hand and a long flame ignited in my palm—the Phoenix Blade appeared in my grasp. Several Underworld Agents could only manifest flaming wings, but they had drawn their weapons, some knives and swords, and followed behind me. More than a dozen of us took flight.
"The rest of you, prepare the Fourfold Beast Array. If things get worse, summon the Saints."
I shouted. This would have been impossible before, but now that the Four Guardians Realm had merged with this world, any Underworld Denizen with faith could do it.
I didn’t know what the black mist before us was. With a thunderous crash, I glanced down to see a fissure open up in the steps leading to the Golden Temple—the entire staircase split apart. Instantly, a torrent of pitch-black liquid erupted. Sensing danger, I swung the Phoenix Blade downward.
When the purple flames touched the surging black liquid, they instantly burned it away. I hovered in the air, surprised, while several Underworld Agents also realized something was wrong.
"Master, we should retreat for now. Let’s wait until the Fourfold Beast Array is complete—this place is too dangerous."
One of the Agents spoke. I watched the black mist pressing in, hearing the sounds of breaking and shattering from within—like houses collapsing and tiles being crushed, but there were no human voices at all.
It wasn’t just the staircase—the white plaza behind us was cracking too. The Underworld Denizens could only use their powers to fight back.
The foul miasma had turned to flowing water, and the air was instantly filled with a putrid stench. We all pinched our noses. I stared wide-eyed as flames began to wrap around my body like water. Gradually, my feet transformed into blazing Vermilion Bird claws. Holding the Phoenix Blade, my entire body was engulfed in purple flames as waves of power surged within me. My mind drifted to everything that had happened in the world of the living.
"You go down and help complete the Fourfold Beast Array. Summon the Saints."
This was my last resort. I didn’t know if the Saints would answer me, but I knew that if I did nothing, today would be the Lama Order’s doom. As a human, I couldn’t just stand by and watch.
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The flames began to crystallize on my skin, like purple gemstones—this was the limit of my current attack power. I felt a wave of dizziness.
I gripped the Phoenix Blade tightly, planning to charge in and see for myself. My wings beat, sending purple motes of light drifting behind me as I shot forward like a violet beam.
With a thunderous crash, the surrounding black miasma was burned away by purple flames. At last, I saw what was inside—clusters of dead lamas huddled together, as if still chanting scripture at the moment of death. Just as I was about to land, black mist swept over my vision. The collapse continued—not only were the lamas dying, but the entire Golden Temple was caving in, the ground splitting as if the whole monastery were sinking.
I swung the Phoenix Blade desperately in the black miasma, but it was like an ocean. I barely carved out a visible path before the miasma surged back, enveloping me. I was completely helpless.
A tremendous force was pushing me out, trying to expel me. I gritted my teeth and held on. Outside, the Underworld Denizens were still preparing the Fourfold Beast Array—a ritual that required many people and couldn’t be finished quickly. I’d hoped to wait for more Underworld Denizens before starting, but disaster struck without warning.
My flames were constantly tangled up in the black miasma. I could burn it away, but the miasma seemed inexhaustible, always regenerating and trying to push me out.
"Help me, Logan."
I shouted. With a whoosh, a streak of green light flashed past—Logan suddenly swelled up like a balloon and burst through the darkness. I seized the fleeting chance and flapped my wings, flying straight in.
There was a cracking sound as the purple, gemstone-like flames on my body began to fall away. Gasping for breath, I stared at the dead lamas everywhere—but I could still hear voices. The only way forward was to gather them together and find a way to fight this disaster alongside them.
The purple wings on my back began to transform into scarlet ones. I knew my power had been severely depleted—I needed a plan. All around me were dead or dying lamas. What could I do in such a situation?
Just then, strands of green Specter Web swept up the surviving lamas. Logan smiled at me and spoke.
"Come with me."
Moments later, Logan had split off countless Specter Webs, carrying several lamas in danger to the plaza behind the Golden Temple. Three Living Buddhas were leading the surviving lamas in chanting—the only place that hadn’t cracked. Logan and I landed, while more lamas were brought over. Elder Samuel opened his eyes.
"Amitabha, Ms. Rachel, we appreciate your kindness. You should leave quickly—if this goes on, you’ll be..."
After landing, I retracted my wings. A streak of pink light flashed—Belle appeared in my hand, and I gripped her tightly.
"I’m not leaving."
As I spoke, many lamas turned to look at me. I smiled.
"You could face all this alone, but staying is my own choice. I’m stubborn, so let’s join hands—only together can we survive this crisis. At a time like this, I hope you can put aside old prejudices. It’s the hardest thing for us humans, but there’s still a way."
As I spoke, I looked at the distant black mist pressing in, crushing the temple—the ground had completely collapsed. I stared upward as Logan gave a helpless smile. Strands of vivid green Specter Web appeared, densely weaving along both sides of the rear gate and walls, blocking the black miasma.
"I’m part of this monastery too. Even if I’m a ghost, right now, let’s not divide ourselves."