I nodded. Although I felt uneasy deep down, there was still hope. My strength alone was not enough to protect this world—we needed the power of the Ghost Sovereigns as well.
At this moment, the purple mist before my eyes began to ripple. Mona Ouyang sighed helplessly.
"Forget it, I won't hide it from you anymore. When Ethan Zhang left, he did help us. He took away the power accumulated over the years by Yvonne May, which had been sealed in time—all the damage and pain. That's why I was able to return to the Dream Realm."
I nodded again.
"Can't you sense the others?"
I asked.
"I can't sense them. But Yvonne's primal instinct is still present, which means she must have awakened. I don't know exactly where she is, and it's the same for the others. We paid a heavy price this time—our ghost bodies have been destroyed."
I continued to stare at the Rainbow Stone in my hand, then clenched it tightly and tucked it into my chest.
"Did Zachary Justice say anything else?"
I asked. Mona Ouyang replied.
“He was completely exhausted at the time. It was only with Isabelle Frost's power that he managed to return from the Mirror World and release his last remaining strength. He preserved a part of Ethan Zhang within himself. Even though it's just a tiny fragment, this stone is the same as the one Ethan Zhang used to exist in before. Maybe there will be a way in the future, but don't get your hopes up. For now, you must find a way to unite the forces of the Living World. That's what you need to do next.”
I looked at Mona Ouyang in confusion as she continued speaking.
“I need you to help me with something.”
“What exactly does 'unite' mean?”
I asked, and Mona Ouyang smiled.
“What do you think it means? After all that's happened, if the Living World's practitioners are still as scattered as before, there's no way we can withstand the next disaster. Emperor God and the others have been preparing for a long time. Last time, their rushed participation was more like an experiment, including those people from the Immortality Society—they're still hiding in the shadows as always.”
I nodded and asked.
“I'm just...”
“Just what? Think carefully about what you have now, Rachel Lan. Absolute power. If anyone refuses to cooperate, make them submit. If they still won't work with you, then simply...”
I immediately shook my head.
“Isn't this approach putting the cart before the horse? Besides, those people...”
I stopped myself, thinking of the chaos in Gourd Village and all those who fled at the last moment. A wave of helplessness washed over me—I couldn't bring myself to blame them.
“Break down old prejudices, Rachel Lan. Find those with real talent, get the major sects to work together, and teach them. Naraku is strong because they combine the strengths of each school and constantly create new techniques, with no boundaries between sects. If you can do the same, the Living World will finally have enough power to face whatever comes next.”
I nodded. What Mona Ouyang said made sense, but to actually achieve it seemed nearly impossible.
“You can start by talking to the Buddhist and Daoist sects. If they're willing, you can begin. Once this precedent is set, the other sects—big and small—will follow.”
I murmured in agreement, as the purple mist before me began to slowly dissipate.
“I've told you everything I can, Rachel Lan. I can't stay like this for long—I don't have a physical form and need to rest, or wait for the next suitable inheritor from the Ouyang family.”
My eyes widened as I asked.
“Isn't Xiao Wei...”
“Ouyang Wei has nothing to do with me anymore. Before the battle with the Wraith Ancestor, I severed all ties with her. She can't be my vessel again.”
I immediately ran over.
“Wait a second. Didn't you just say you needed my help with something?”
Mona Ouyang smiled.
“Forget it. We'll talk about that later. Remember this, Rachel Lan: when you return, use everything Ethan Zhang has done for this world as a reason to unite the sects of the Living World.”
After Mona Ouyang left, I lay down beneath the big tree, quietly enjoying the breeze and the comfortable sunlight, listening to the sound of the stream. Before long, my consciousness slipped back into sleep.
When I opened my eyes, I immediately became alert, seeing Black Moon standing beside me.
“You've been asleep for five hours, Rachel Lan. Get up and come back with me.”
I got up, feeling completely restored. I followed Black Moon through a bright white door and returned once again to the pitch-black depths of Hell.
But this time, I could clearly sense two distinct forces within the Heart of Hell, both at its center.
Soon, Black Moon and I returned to the white platform. I saw a woman wreathed in flames—her name was Flame Thorn—and another woman, Nine Nether. The two were staring each other down, and Flame Thorn looked furious.
“Everyone, stop.”
Black Moon stepped forward to intervene, while I went straight to my seat and sat down. Next to me, Zeng Yu quickly poured me a drink.
“Ethan Zhang, I don't think there's any need to be so cautious. The powers of the Netherworld aren't enough to stand against us. Rachel Lan is troublesome, sure, but if we take the Netherworld first and use it as a base, we can gradually channel Hell's power up. It's a rare opportunity—if we miss it, it's gone.”
I was about to say something when Black Moon stepped in front of me.
“Flame Thorn, the Boss has already decided. Didn't you get the order? Everyone agreed.”
Flame Thorn stared at me suspiciously. I could tell by her eyes—she was doubting me. I said nothing, just kept my gaze fixed on her.
Flame Thorn stormed toward me, but Black Moon grabbed her and held her back.
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“Ethan Zhang, didn't you agree before? We were supposed to head to the Yin-Yang World first—why are you changing your mind now?”
“That's the plan.”
As Black Moon spoke, a thorn-like flame suddenly erupted, instantly restraining him. Flame Thorn strode over, grabbed me with both hands, and pulled me to my feet.
“What bullshit Wraith Ancestor—didn't you say you'd already devoured him? If that's the case, the plan can begin. There's no need to wait. If we keep delaying, once the Yin-Yang World's forces solidify, it'll be nearly impossible for us to establish a foothold. We have to act while the foundations are still unstable.”
I stared at the agitated Flame Thorn, then suddenly shoved her away. A burst of black hellfire shot out, and Flame Thorn looked at me in confusion.
“Are you really Ethan Zhang?”
“When did it become your place to doubt me?”
I replied, my tone sharp. Suddenly, two flaming thorns shot toward me. Instinctively, I grabbed them, but the black flames quickly crawled over my body, dispersing the hellforce around me, making it impossible to gather it effectively.
It was the first time I'd felt such power. Black Moon was still struggling, looking to be in agony. I was close to my limit.
The thorn-fire kept peeling away the hellforce clinging to my body, but I endured.
With a bang, Black Moon broke free from the thorn-fire binding him and instantly moved beside me. A flash of silvery light erupted, and Flame Thorn suddenly floated upward, her whole body radiating white light.
“You bastard, this isn't your place to speak, you sly creature. He's not Ethan Zhang at all—he's a woman.”
A shock ran through me. Flame Thorn's body began to change, black matter slowly seeping out. Without thinking, I lunged forward. Flame Thorn sneered at me as I pressed my hand against her. Instinctively, I overturned everything, and the hellforce scattered around me instantly reformed, surging with a power I'd never felt before. In a flash, it absorbed all the hellforce Flame Thorn had unleashed.
“I'm in charge here. If you understand, then back off. I'm not the same as I used to be.”
I spoke coldly. Flame Thorn looked at me in surprise, then bowed. I finally breathed a sigh of relief as Black Moon burst into laughter.
“Flame Thorn, are you crazy? If he wasn't Ethan Zhang, wasn't our Boss, it would be impossible for him to use hellforce neither of us understands to subdue you.”
Flame Thorn nodded, her suspicion gone. I returned to my seat and began instinctively gathering hellforce from the surroundings to replenish what I'd just lost.
“Enough. I want to be alone for a while.”
I said, and after bowing, Flame Thorn left. She seemed overwhelmed by my earlier presence. Nine Nether's previously tense expression also relaxed, and Black Moon conjured another silvery barrier.
“Why did you come down here?”
Black Moon asked, and Nine Nether nodded, replying.
“Rachel Lan has been away for a long time. I sensed Flame Thorn had arrived, so I came down to stop her. She probably still can't get rid of her doubts. It's best to prepare for the worst. If the other wardens find out, they won't let it go.”
Black Moon nodded.
“Here's what we'll do: let Rachel Lan leave Hell for now and deal with the Netherworld's problems. If you want temporary peace in the Netherworld, try to destroy the Lake of Truth. Once that lake is gone, the entrance connecting here to the Netherworld will disappear.”
I stared in shock, and Nine Nether nodded.
“This is the only way now.”