The next night, just as Lance Quinn described, entering the Nether Syndicate requires doing so at midnight—precisely twelve o'clock. I asked him how Rachel and William Wu managed to get inside, but Lance Quinn wouldn't tell me.
It was 11:50 PM. Following Lance Quinn's instructions, I waited for him above the museum. The museum below had already closed completely, so there was no one around. I appeared in my human form, unconcerned about being seen by anyone.
A series of plans had already formed in my mind. Since Zhang Jizheng said the Nether Syndicate isn't entirely under control, I should be able to locate a Blood-Sucking Revenant. Once inside, I'll have Lance Quinn find one for me—after I obtain the red Golden Soulstone, Rachel and William Wu will take it back, and I'll go look for Rufina Howard. As for Yuna Ji, I feel I have to go.
From what I remember, Yuna Ji was always cheerful and playful. Except for the time at Putian Temple, when she seemed sad, I've never seen her show any sign of sorrow.
In the distance, under the moonlight, a figure approached slowly—it was Lance Quinn, arriving as promised, with a smile on his face.
"Hurry up, we're running out of time."
I had just started to complain when Lance Quinn was already standing next to me.
"What's the rush? I told you, it has to be midnight."
"Why?" I finally couldn't hold back and asked.
"Don't ask so many questions. If you understood yin and yang, and had half a brain, you'd realize midnight is the moment of transition. Our boss, Luna Quay, only sleeps for a few seconds at this very juncture. If you go in any earlier and our boss catches you, I'll be in trouble."
I let out a startled cry.
"Our boss gave strict orders: as soon as you step in here, I'm supposed to drive you out and keep you from getting involved."
"Isn't what you're doing betraying your boss?"
"Hey, it's no big deal. Our boss isn't one to fuss over small things. Even if he finds out about you, as long as you behave, he won't do anything to you. After all, our boss has connections with the Seven Ghost Lords and is the only revenant who knows love."
I blinked and sighed. Suddenly, Lance Quinn floated into the air.
I watched as a stream of bluish-gray energy began swirling above his head, growing thicker and thicker until it formed a vortex—partially transparent, barely visible.
"Get up here! What are you waiting for?"
Lance Quinn shouted. I quickly unfurled my wings and, with a whoosh, plunged into the vortex above his head.
A wave of rot hit my nose. Instinctively, I covered it with my hand. Hovering in the air, I stared in shock at the vast expanse of sharp, black trees before me.
The sky looked like dusk—dark, with distant glimmers of eerie light, each a different color, flickering on and off. Far away, I could see three great mountains.
Under the interplay of those eerie lights, the three mountains formed an arch. Strangely, they all seemed about the same size.
The ground below looked like pitch-black soil. I saw blackish-green vapors rising from beneath, startling me. The stench was coming from those things.
The Nether Syndicate looked desolate. The charred trees, blackened and twisted, were everywhere. Gusts of cold wind swept past, and in the distance, the shifting lights resembled auroras.
In this setting, I couldn't help but shiver. A crescent moon hung in the sky, faintly silver, barely visible. Outside, a streak of blood-red mist lingered.
"Qingyuan, you’re here! Hurry and save us!"
Suddenly, I heard Rachel’s voice from above. I looked up and saw a two-story building floating overhead. Rachel was at the second-floor window, waving frantically.
I hurriedly flew toward the floating house, about seven or eight meters above me. The moment I saw Rachel, I was startled—her face was dark, her lips pale, and she looked in bad shape.
A rough, labored breathing caught my attention. There was a bed in the room, and I was shocked again—William Wu was lying on it, his face even darker, almost entirely black.
"Qingyuan, be careful! That guy is the one who brought us here."
Rachel shouted. I turned to see Lance Quinn, clutching his neck and staring at us.
"What’s wrong with them?"
"It’s nothing serious—just corpse energy invading their bodies. Once they’re back outside, a couple of days’ rest will fix them. I’ll send them out now, then you come with me."
Lance Quinn explained: if people enter this place, even those skilled in the mystical arts, prolonged exposure to corpse energy will hurt them.
I looked at Rachel and the others. William Wu, the chubby one, looked utterly lifeless, unable to even get up.
Just then, I saw a woman in blue robes drifting in from the horizon. She wore a flowing ancient gown, her hair in a bun, looking almost like a fairy. But as she got closer, I saw her clearly.
Her face was strikingly beautiful, but she wore a look of resentment. What caught my eye first were her two sharp fangs—like little tiger teeth, oddly cute.
"Hmph, Lance Quinn, who said you could bring Ethan Zhang in here?"
The woman spoke—her voice crisp as pearls on marble, yet soft and alluring. She glanced at me, then sized me up from head to toe as if I were some rare creature. Even so, I knew she was a Blood-Sucking Revenant.
"Um, miss, could you not stare at me like that? It’s kind of uncomfortable."
Suddenly, the female Blood-Sucking Revenant appeared before me in a flash, pressing her palm flat against my chest. Before I could react, pain shot through me—my body burst open with a splatter of blood, and a powerful force sent me crashing downward.
It hurt terribly. I checked my chest wound—it was oddly ruptured, the flesh mangled and bloody. Instantly, I shifted into my ghost form, dissolving into smoke and vanishing.
"Mona Cloud, what are you trying to do?"
Lance Quinn shouted. In an instant, I appeared behind Mona Cloud, ready to attack.
"Now I know Ethan Zhang’s strength—he’s no threat yet. Be careful, Lance Quinn. I only came because I sensed you entering. This month’s blood supply is low; I haven’t eaten in two days. Hurry up and settle this."
Mona Cloud licked her lips and dashed toward the wooden house. Rachel gasped and, in a panic, pulled a small ball with a yellow talisman from her pocket, chanting quickly.
"Heaven and earth, mysterious and yellow, fire burst…"
With a bang, just as Mona Cloud reached her, the ball exploded in a burst of flame. Sensing danger, I shielded Rachel from the Blood-Sucking Revenant.
"Let go of me, Lance Quinn! Since people came in here, I’m not holding back. I need to eat—get out of the way! I’m starving, haven’t eaten in two days. Do you get how that feels? Two days—two whole days!"
I blinked, watching Lance Quinn cling tightly to Mona Cloud.
Go on—get the Soulstone from the Blood-Sucking Revenant so we can leave.
I took the towel and thanked her. Rachel knew she couldn’t help much here and might become a burden.
Ethan Zhang, why do you want the Soulstone?
Lance Quinn watched as I spread the bloody towel on the ground and asked.
None of your business.
As I spoke, I checked the gloomy forest around us. A wailing sound caught my attention.
Soon, Rachel began to staunch her bleeding. Mona Cloud, having tasted blood, floated before Rachel.
You’re pretty clever. Thanks for the meal—I only need a little.
Of course—we can’t beat you, and we have urgent matters to handle. No time to fight. If you want blood, I’ll give it to you.
Mona Cloud laughed and left. I stared at Rachel, who smiled weakly and handed me her bloody towel.
Go on—get the Soulstone from the Blood-Sucking Revenant so we can leave.
I took the towel and thanked her. Rachel knew she couldn’t help much here and might become a burden.
Ethan Zhang, why do you want the Soulstone?
Lance Quinn watched as I spread the bloody towel on the ground and asked.
None of your business.
As I spoke, I checked the gloomy forest around us. A wailing sound caught my attention.