I sat quietly in a high-rise apartment across the street from the Tranquil Residence, Samuel Young’s home. I was waiting for Samuel Young to come out, my mood heavy and troubled.
This was the first time I truly felt pain. I didn't know what to do. The Earthly Soul had already changed, or perhaps it was my own powerlessness that forced him to change. I raised my hand, fully aware that my overwhelming strength had become the final straw that broke his pride.
Originally, I only wanted to quietly watch everything in this world. But now, everything has changed. I started interfering in the affairs of this world—something I never intended. Maybe that's why, ever since I gained consciousness, I've been desperately building my own power. Perhaps deep down, I always knew that one day I would have to intervene in the matters of both Ethan Zhangs.
Maybe it was destined from the moment Ethan Zhang pulled me back from the Gate of Delusion. All these years, it seems I've been cultivating my strength for problems that might arise later. When I finally constructed my own power, I felt exhilarated. Seeing the towering world tree in my instinctive realm filled me with immense pride. (Note: In the metaphysics of this world, the Heavenly Soul is a distinct aspect of Ethan Zhang that embodies spiritual origin and power.)
Long ago, John Chou told me many things. He is the only one who truly understands the strength of my power. Whether it was the Earthly Soul or the Human Soul, Ethan Zhang has visited my instinctive realm. I never told them that my power has far surpassed theirs—my power could be called a world of its own, and it continues to grow at an unstoppable rate. (Note: The Infernal Judges of Old Hell play a crucial role in maintaining order among souls and supernatural entities.)
All along, I followed the laws of Divine Law. But now I have gradually begun to defy and stray from them, because Divine Law itself has changed and can no longer restrain me. Now, I can intervene in anything in this world without being bound by its rules.
Before, every time I intervened, I suffered severe backlash from Divine Law. But now, no matter how I use my power, Divine Law no longer interferes—as if the shackles have finally been lifted from me. Yet, instead of feeling free, I am lost.
Is it because of the Earthly Soul? Maybe it truly is. His heart has already turned toward the dark path, hoping to rely on the Wraithlord for power. This is something I cannot tolerate. Before, I never planned to interfere, since everyone makes different choices and walks different paths. (Note: The Earthly Soul is one of three aspects in Chinese metaphysics, alongside the Heavenly Soul and Human Soul, each representing a facet of existence.)
But now, things are different. Everything has started to change. Maybe when I defied Divine Law and helped Ethan Zhang, things began to change. Back then, the Earthly Soul didn't fail to notice—perhaps subconsciously, he was already aware of my existence.
Because of my existence, Ethan Zhang was able to successfully stop Divine Law from being taken away by the three from Old Hell. I have transcended Divine Law. Now, Divine Law is gradually becoming Buddhist Law, with Buddhist Law as its master, controlling everything. (Note: The Realm of Karma is a metaphysical space where past actions and consequences are confronted and altered.)
What I can't figure out is what I truly want to do. I can't stop the Earthly Soul, nor can I save Ethan Zhang. Maybe I am the real failure.
In the Forest of Desire, I sealed the Human Soul of the Wraithlord's power—something the Earthly Soul could never undo. Yet I don't want to abandon the Earthly Soul, because if this continues, he may fall into even deeper darkness. (Note: Sealing powers within metaphysical forests is a common supernatural method in this universe.)
Unknowingly, I returned to the Living World. In these days of drifting in a haze, I came back, intending to take a good look at the Yang Realm.
I want to find the source of the Forsaken. The Yang Realm is also part of this world of Yin and Yang. Although it was destroyed before by a powerful curse, perhaps it still exists.
Because the Forsaken still exist, as long as I know this, I must go and see for myself. Maybe this power will be useful. I don't know whether I should trust it. After fighting the Wraithlord, I understand clearly: that entity is truly invincible.
Just thinking about it makes my scalp tingle. All those times I fought the Wraithlord, it was only against his Human Soul. At first, I thought the Human Soul was no match for me, even including the Heaven Soul.
But in these days of drifting, I've realized something—and even glimpsed the terrifying root of the Wraithlord: his unparalleled ability to learn and create. No one in this world can compare to even a fraction of the Wraithlord's talent.
During our battle, I held the absolute advantage. But after these days of reflection, I realized something terrifying: before I used Divine Law to tear the Wraithlord's Human Soul into fragments and seal him away, he had already used a power similar to mine—though fundamentally different—trying to escape the seal. He learned it. After just a brief fight with me, the Wraithlord mastered this power and even created a new one.
Just thinking about this made my expression grow grave. The Wraithlord's strength doesn't lie in his raw power, because all power has weaknesses—this is the unchanging law of all things. No matter how absolute a force is, there will always be something that counters it. If you can find that counterforce, you can stand undefeated.
But what is truly astonishing about the Wraithlord is his unmatched ability to learn and create. That's how he can fight the gods and remain undefeated. He knows everything—inside and out, breadth and depth, height and dimension. All of it is clearly recorded in his mind.
That's why he can quickly understand power and then create his own. Such a Wraithlord is invincible—even if, for a short time, a force can counter him and win, the Wraithlord will soon grasp what counters him and then learn and create new powers.
Everything we're doing now feels like a drop in the bucket. The only way is to stop the Union of Three Souls—but the Wraithlord may have already found a way to achieve it. Why hasn't he done it yet? The only reason I can think of is that there still exists a force in this world that can defeat him.
Once the Wraithlord is defeated again, he'll be sealed for a long time—maybe so long he won't awaken for ages. That's why he hasn't immediately attempted the Union of Three Souls.
Thinking it over, one person comes to mind—only Xu Fu could have made the Wraithlord aware of this. I don't know what goes on in Xu Fu's mind, but with his intellect, it shouldn't be hard to grasp the truth: the Wraithlord is truly invincible. So why did he remind the Wraithlord that there is a force in this world that can defeat him?
I stood up, my mind growing restless. What method could possibly solve the problem of the Wraithlord? Even the Judges of the Underworld Court can't do it, which is why they're desperately trying to stop Old Hell—but that's not a long-term solution.
I wanted to tell John Chou about this, but when I went to that island, it was deserted—an abandoned wasteland. Wu Rong and the group of Green Wraiths were nowhere to be found.
This is a grave situation—I must tell John Chou. If there's any force in this world that might defeat the Wraithlord, it's Bloodbane Power. From what I've observed, John Chou's Bloodbane Power now has at least three distinct effects. He stores it in Rachel Lan's body, likely to further evolve his own power. (Note: Bloodbane Power is a supernatural force with unique effects, and Rachel Lan acts as its vessel.)
John Chou once told me that this world is full of contradictions—yet everything still makes sense in its own way.
The Wraithlord has no intention of resurrecting now—he's waiting for the right moment. If he wanted to, no one could stop him from coming back. I don't plan to tell the Underworld Court or any other Ghost Sovereign, because nobody realizes what's really happening. I even suspect this war was deliberately provoked by the Wraithlord—not for resurrection.
"Come out."
Suddenly I stood up, clenching my fists. A faint black light flared behind me. My eyes widened as Xu Fu stepped out from a black door. On the ground, I saw a hidden black formation, snakelike in shape.
"What exactly have you done?"
With a whoosh, I was already in front of Xu Fu, one hand gripping his throat.
"Relax, Heavenly Soul. The moment you left the Forest of Desire, I knew. It seems you finally understand. Yes, when I was sealed with the Wraithlord's Earthly Soul, I hinted at a few things to him. That's why he gave up on his resurrection plan."
I glared fiercely at Xu Fu, while he smiled wickedly.
"Everyone is preparing for the final challenge to the throne—whether it's us or the others, we're all making our last preparations. This isn't something the Wraithlord started; it's inevitable. Haven't you realized that long ago? That's why, back then, when the Human Soul and Earthly Soul did nothing but observe people, you were secretly gathering power. To be honest, your power confuses me, even makes it hard to understand. All I know is about the Lord Wraith incident, the power Ethan Zhang gained—I thought that was all your strength. You're hiding much deeper than I imagined, Heavenly Soul."
I let go of Xu Fu.
"What are you planning? If the Wraithlord destroys everything, none of you will have anything left."
Xu Fu burst out laughing, then shook his head.
"Last night I had a dream—a very interesting one. I think we can become even stronger. Another version of me in the Realm of Karma told me some fascinating things."