My vision pierced through mountains and rivers, through the skyscrapers of the city, and I kept my eyes on the western mountains that Felix Fan mentioned, searching for the snake pit from his memories.
Gradually, I settled on a spot near the mountain’s base, close to the rocky wall. There was a stream flowing above, and below, a cave covered in dense vegetation.
"Is this the place?"
I asked, and Felix Fan nodded in disbelief.
"Your power has surpassed anything we can comprehend, Rachel Lan. It’s truly astonishing."
I smiled faintly. In the blink of an eye, I arrived at the spot I’d seen before. After we landed, Felix Fan parted the grass. At that moment, we both heard a rustling sound. Inside the cave, there were indeed many black and yellow snakes, coiled together and slowly moving.
The scene was enough to make anyone’s skin crawl. Felix Fan walked over, raised a hand, and took out a small vial of blood.
"Blood from the previous snake inheritor. As long as we use this as a medium, we can open this..."
I gave Felix Fan a nudge, signaling him to put away the blood. It might be useful someday.
"What are you planning to do, Rachel Lan?"
I raised a hand, accompanied by a swirl of pink mist. Belle in my hand slashed forward, instantly opening a cracked fissure. I stepped through the rift first.
The others quickly followed. I found myself standing on a stretch of pure white sand. In the distance, I could see a black dot, but the white beach began to tremble violently.
Suddenly, a chill ran through me. Soren Black floated into the air with Mason Yu, while Felix Fan and Ghost Fiend Star sat in a small boat crafted by Black Moon. The once clear sky was now filled with thunder, lightning, and thick clouds.
The sea before me, just like the ground beneath my feet, transformed into a writhing mass of giant snakes. I floated upward as countless black and yellow serpents raised their heads from all directions, mouths gaping wide, lunging at me.
I stared quietly at the scene before me.
"Spirit Snake, are you here?"
I called out, and immediately Zhu Tang’s voice echoed in my mind.
"He’s here, but he’ll probably disappear soon."
I raised my hand, accompanied by a golden glow. In an instant, the entire world was engulfed in gold. When the light faded, the strange phenomena vanished. I spread my black wings and teleported to a palace adorned with serpent-patterned columns, where a red-and-black snake stood atop the hall.
"What exactly are you trying to do? A human, yet you want to..."
With a swift motion, Belle was already pressed against the neck of the upright serpent before me.
"Where is the Spirit Snake?"
I asked, as a rustling sound echoed all around. Suddenly, a swarm of snakes of various colors surged toward me from every direction.
"Infernal Phoenix!"
I called out softly, and with a thunderous roar, clusters of black flames erupted from the cracked earth. In the blink of an eye, a massive black Infernal Phoenix stood behind me. Everything around began to turn to ash, and the entire space filled with cracks.
"I'll ask one more time: where is it? If you don't tell me, I'll deal with you first."
As I spoke, Belle pressed against the serpent’s neck. It flicked its tongue, and suddenly a spray of red liquid shot toward me. I tilted my head to dodge, swung my blade, and severed the serpent’s head.
With a deafening crash, a red-and-black triangular head shot up from beneath my feet. I leapt backward, landing gently on Zhu Tang’s back.
"What should we do, Rachel Lan? This creature seems to have replaced Viper as the head of Serpent Hall."
A massive serpent with a red-and-black triangular head roared violently at us. I stared as its enormous head moved closer.
"Make it understand the difference in power. That's the only way."
Zhu Tang spoke, and the flames on his body surged. I raised my hand, black fire burned in my palm. As the serpent approached, I grabbed its neck.
"What are you..."
A sizzling sound accompanied by a pained whimper filled the air. The giant serpent before me began to turn to ash. I didn’t hesitate—I had to bring the Spirit Snake back, because he’d helped Ethan Zhang many times. Yin Ghost and Curse Ghost flew out from my body. The serpent was completely consumed by the flames of Hell.
With a click, I watched as two ghost spirits moved to a column, pried off pieces of engraved serpent patterns, and, as a red glow spread, a black-and-gold serpent with golden-red eyes appeared before us. It really was the Spirit Snake.
"Why have you come to me now?"
I gazed quietly at the Spirit Snake. Yin Ghost immediately started laughing.
"Of course we need your help. But this time it’s for Rachel Lan, not Ethan Zhang."
I nodded. At that moment, the Spirit Snake noticed several figures approaching from afar, a complicated look in its eyes.
"Mason Yu!"
Soren Black stared at the Spirit Snake.
You took part of Mason Yu’s soul! Give it back to him.
Soren Black looked agitated, and the Spirit Snake turned to Mason Yu.
Of course. He saved you back then, sacrificing half of himself to do so. That half now exists within the will of this world, and cannot be retrieved.
The Spirit Snake spoke, glancing at me with a smile in its eyes.
But if you help, it’s not a problem.
I nodded. The black clouds in the sky still hadn’t dispersed, and I could feel powerful forces gathering around us, trying to drive us out.
I stood up, my black wings spread once more, and I shot straight into the sky.
Give me back Mason Yu’s other half.
As I spoke, red lightning like serpents gathered toward me. Without hesitation, I used Belle to slice through the lightning.
The severed lightning transformed into countless snakes, swarming toward me from every direction, filling the sky.
I felt as if my body were caught in a vice, completely immobilized. Raising one hand, I saw streaks of blue and gold light appear on my skin, and a hint of red flashed in my dark green eyes.
"Overturn!"
With a thunderous roar, my wings beat violently outward, tearing open a gap in the dense black clouds above. As the darkness faded, I sensed Mason Yu’s presence and instantly flew over, grasping a pale wisp of soul in my hand.
"If you do this, you’ll violate..."
"Violate? I’ve done things like this more times than I can count. If you still refuse, I’ll destroy everything here—including you."
My words were resolute. The world calmed instantly, and I returned to the ground. Holding the soul in my hand, Soren Black quickly took it and placed it into Mason Yu’s body. Mason Yu clutched his chest in pain, his consciousness fading until he soon fell asleep.
"You’ve become this powerful? Rachel Lan, able to suppress the will of an entire world."
The Spirit Snake asked. I nodded and raised my hand. As he reached out, the moment I released the power of coexistence, the Spirit Snake entered my body. I felt a force surge inside me, threatening to tear me apart, but soon everything settled. My body felt renewed, and the fatigue vanished completely.
Now, only the Desire Ghost and the Grief Ghost remain. I plan to go to the Forest of Desire to find the Desire Ghost, and then figure out how to locate the Grief Ghost. If I can’t find them, I’ll go with Black Moon to Hell. During this time, Black Moon has been unusually silent, as if her consciousness isn’t in the world of Yin and Yang.
"Time is running out, Rachel Lan. Hurry up—the Jailers have already started attacking the two gates to Hell. The Nine Nether River is holding them off now."
I nodded. To enter the world of desire, I must first return to find Yixue Han, retrieve the Karma Fire from the original Infernal Hell, and use it to open the Tunnel of Desire.
"Rachel Lan, what do you plan to do next?"
Fan Xiaoran asked. I nodded and replied.
"Help me gather information on the Immortality Society. As soon as you hear anything about them, tell me—I’ll deal with them myself."
I said, and Fan Xiaoran smiled and nodded.
"Since I rarely get a chance to come here, I’ll stay for a while."
I nodded. With a thought, a rift appeared in the ruined hall, leading to the city. I walked straight out, with Black Moon and Ghost Star hurrying after me. Soren Black brought Mason Yu out, who looked at me with deep gratitude.
"Thank you, Rachel Lan. I owe you..."
"No need. Let Mason Yu rest well. If there are any problems, contact the people of the Netherworld—they’ll notify me."
After I finished speaking, I immediately took Black Moon and headed to the gate of the Yin Realm, holding the token in my hand.
The moment the gate opened, I flew inside, quickly following the black path to the Bridge of Forgetfulness. I saw the Soul-Washing Water, which had begun to flow again, forming a small pond. Yixue Han was there with a group of Green Fear Ghosts, seemingly giving them instructions.