I sat in silent contemplation, still remembering how I had once screamed myself hoarse refuting the words of the Founding Emperors.
Yet the truth was exactly as the Founding Emperors had said—events were unfolding toward an utterly disastrous future.
Back then, the Founding Emperors told me many things. They even explained that the three instincts born within Ethan Zhang—Origin, Coexistence, and Endbringer—each held meaning: Origin represented the past, Coexistence the present, and Endbringer the future. In other words, everything had already been set in motion by Hell’s will.
The Founding Emperors also spoke to me about Instinct itself. They said it was born from the Unreal, existing from the very beginning. Instincts entered the living world seeking vessels—those with strong desires, whether human or ghost—because Instincts originated from the realms of Yin and Yang, created from fragments of the Heaven-Mending Stone.
The stone Nuwa once used to mend the heavens was plucked from the cracks between the realms of Yin and Yang. That is why Instincts desperately seek to return there. They resonate with those who possess intense desires, helping them find their way home by merging with that person or ghost. When the host dies, Instinct returns to the Unreal, waiting for the next to appear.
However, the three instincts Ethan Zhang possesses were not born from fragments of the Heaven-Mending Stone. They have existed since birth—a fact discovered only after Ethan entered the darkness and was thoroughly examined by the people of the Dark Banquet.
Once Ethan Zhang’s Threefold Soul gained intelligence and awareness, the world they perceived matched their instincts. This astonished the Founding Emperors. Through the tireless efforts of the Dark Banquet, the Old Hell, the Underworld, and the Founding Emperors themselves, they finally discovered that Hell was using the three instincts to slowly connect the past, present, and future—planning to devour everything once the connection was complete.
But the instincts born within me left the Founding Emperors deeply surprised, because mine could ignore all worldly laws and generate new power. During my time with them, the Founding Emperors used the power newly created by my instincts to test Hell, and discovered that Hell could not consume any force born from my instincts.
With this, the Founding Emperors confirmed that I could resolve Ethan Zhang and sever Hell’s plan to bind past, present, and future. They taught me everything, often reminding me that Ethan Zhang, as a human, would one day become the will of Hell and devour everything—at that moment, the human Ethan Zhang would die, and all would end.
Everything that followed aligned perfectly with the Founding Emperors’ fears. Yet now, I find myself unable—incapable—of personally killing the one I love.
"It seems you still haven't made up your mind, Rachel Lan."
The Wraithlord spoke, standing before me, his gaze heavy and fixed upon me.
"It’s true that I once brought a part of Hell into the Yin-Yang World. And it’s true that the survivors, along with Nuwa, Tan Tian, and my three children, severed my connection to Hell, finally defeating me—scattering my Threefold Soul and Seven Spirits, and sealing me away. But even if I hadn’t brought Hell up, it would have found a way eventually. I foresaw all of this long ago."
My eyes widened as I stared at the Wraithlord. He began to recount how, after driving humanity to the very site of the Unreal Covenant, he paused to watch—because if he continued the slaughter, humanity would cease to exist. And if humanity vanished, Nuwa would have no reason to remain in this world; she would surely leave, following the gods’ path beyond the Shattered Unreal Realm.
That was why the Wraithlord hesitated—no matter what he did, he could never see sadness or anger on Nuwa’s face.
"For years I believed I controlled Hell, but in truth, Hell controlled me. With their power, could they really sever my link to Hell?"
I stared in shock, eyes wide, as the Wraithlord began to laugh.
"From the moment the Yin-Yang World was born, it contained a Hell meant to bear all filth. This Hell was not created by the gods, but was the result of the Yin-Yang World pressing in on itself. When I discovered Hell, I was delighted—I thought I had gained a power strong enough to challenge the gods. But this power did not exist because I wanted it; Hell merely used my hand to manifest itself."
I swallowed hard as the Wraithlord continued.
"When I was about to destroy the last of humanity, I thought carefully—I decided to leave some alive, let their numbers grow, and then kill them in front of Nuwa. That way, maybe one day she would regret it, would finally cry. At the time, I never meant to bring a part of Hell into the Yin-Yang World as an island, but when I entered the living world, I had already brought part of Hell with me. All these years, I could never understand why. Later, when they severed my link to Hell—using the corpses of gods already sunken into Hell—they claimed it was their power. But now I realize it was Hell’s intention all along. It wanted to cut me off, because if I destroyed the Yin-Yang World, Hell would not grow. Back then, Hell was not yet strong enough to devour everything in the Yin-Yang World in a single gulp."
I stared blankly at the Wraithlord, anger flickering across his face.
"Once I understood everything, Hell had already connected past, present, and future—through Ethan Zhang’s Threefold Soul and his innate three instincts. In the end, only Coexistence could devour everything, because only Coexistence, which represents the present, can bridge past and future. The other two souls no longer matter to Hell; it has already cast them aside. All it needs is Coexistence to finish the task. But when all three instincts come together, past, present, and future will be linked, and the ravenous Hell will not merely open its eyes—it will open its jaws wide and devour everything."
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"Even so, I..."
Before I could finish, the Wraithlord placed both hands on my shoulders.
"Ethan Zhang is already dead—the human Ethan Zhang died in the Six Paths, the place closest to Hell. My three children—you really think they couldn’t have ended Ethan Zhang from the start? They never intended to kill him. If they had, past, present, and future would have connected prematurely. Only Yin Choujian witnessed the truth; he knew everything, wanted to stop it, but couldn’t. Hell’s will killed the human Ethan Zhang. The reason Hell’s progress was so slow was because Ethan Zhang’s consciousness restrained it. But now, that consciousness is completely dead. That’s why the Ethan Zhang of the past and future devised illusions to trap Hell’s avatar. Even though the human Ethan Zhang is dead, the Hell-incarnate Ethan Zhang still retains some of his humanity, so he will remain trapped in the illusion forever. And now, while his power hasn't yet grown, only you can kill him."
As the Wraithlord spoke, I glanced at Coexistence, now completely shrouded in Yin Choujian’s Blood Fiend power. The Wraithlord sneered and walked over.
"Yin Choujian’s Blood Fiend power has grown strong enough, thanks to your newly born instinct, to suppress Coexistence—which is itself a force of Hell. But this can’t last forever. Everyone is preparing for the coming battle. Do you know why? Whether human or ghost, they’ve all sensed it: survival or destruction—that’s the question before us all."
"Isn’t all of this because of you..."
I didn’t finish my sentence; the Wraithlord burst out laughing.
"Reviving me is just a diversion. What is the real purpose of this war? So much sacrifice—human and ghost alike. In the end, it’s all to generate enough energy to temporarily satisfy Hell’s hunger. Every participant’s pain, power, and every act of killing is steadily absorbed by Hell, so it can finally be sated. War is the cruelest ordeal for both humans and ghosts. I’m just a convenient target agreed upon by these factions. That’s why I want to take part in this war—resurrect myself and quickly help them feed Hell. That way, I can seize control, suppress everything, and use all that exists in the Yin-Yang World to create new humans and new ghosts. What do you think?"
I shook my head. Now I finally understood—the Wraithlord wanted everything in the Yin-Yang World, to gather it all and, like the gods who once created this world, forge a new one. But those who know the truth are using this war to feed Hell. I glared at the Wraithlord, teeth clenched.
"Your anger is meaningless, Rachel Lan. If none of you can resolve this, I will face Hell-incarnate Ethan Zhang myself. If I lose, you will have no hope. If I win, there’s still a sliver of hope—a hope I alone have created. Ethan Zhang’s power is growing rapidly now. Do you know why? Hell has already sensed everything in the illusion. It must push its avatar—Ethan Zhang—to master the power to break the laws as quickly as possible!"