"I'm not the type to argue endlessly, Ethan Zhang. There's no need to keep dwelling on those discouraging words. Heh, in this world, there are no grudges that can't be resolved—only whether you want to let them go or not."
The Hell's Sentinel in my hand trembled, and Mr. Oblivion's tone carried a hint of provocation.
"The only thing lacking in Brother Owen's approach is that his ghosts lack independent will. That's why you were able to reach the Jialan Lotus Platform, isn't it?"
Allen Zhang smiled and stepped forward, walking toward Mr. Oblivion one step at a time.
"Is it one of the Ten Evil Ghosts? I wonder, which evil are you?"
"Oh, you know me? Heh."
Allen Zhang burst into arrogant laughter. Inside me, that uncontrollable urge whenever I meet someone from the Immortality Society kept stabbing at my heart.
"After all, you Ten Evil Ghosts are famous, even under John Chou's command. Of course we know you."
With a sudden whoosh, Allen Zhang struck. His fist landed in Mr. Oblivion's palm. Something scattered through the air—sand. I stared in shock.
Allen Zhang's hand turned to sand as he struck, yellow grains swirling around him. Yet Mr. Oblivion seemed completely unaffected. That blow was powerful, but Allen Zhang's force was instantly suppressed.
Ghostly energy appeared and vanished in an instant.
"So you're the 'Blasphemer' among the Ten Evil Ghosts? Heh, that's much more interesting. You evil spirits under the Ghost Sovereigns are nothing special. But you're not my match."
Mr. Oblivion spoke as Allen Zhang threw his head back and laughed.
"Ah, true, I'm not your match. It's just... I haven't stretched my legs in a long time."
As he spoke, I saw gusts of wind rise around Allen Zhang, and his body gradually turned to sand, leaving only half his face. Yellow sand filled the air, and a massive ghostly aura surged around us.
"Stop. Now's not the time for a fight."
Suddenly, I saw Mr. Oblivion standing in midair. I had no idea when he'd moved. The swirling yellow sand began to coalesce, and Allen Zhang stood before Mr. Oblivion.
"Ethan Zhang, if you're looking for Howard Zhang, go downstairs. He's in the Heart Purification Hall beneath these steps."
I glanced at Mr. Oblivion, then with a whoosh, soared into the air.
"You're not going to stop me?"
Allen Zhang asked.
"After all, the Jialan Ceremony hosted by Brother Owen is in five days. If we start fighting now, the Jialan Lotus Seat could suffer serious damage. Of course, if you insist on making trouble, I'll gladly oblige."
I clenched my fist. Deep down, I knew my cousin was the priority—I had to find him first. Yet I just floated there, staring at Mr. Oblivion.
"Suit yourself, Ethan Zhang."
Mr. Oblivion seemed utterly unconcerned with us. Then Allen Zhang floated over, smiling, and patted me on the shoulder.
"Since he means well, let's accept it. Brother Owen isn't here right now. Heh, let's go."
Allen Zhang grabbed my arm, ready to leave.
"Ethan Zhang, what are you hiding? I saw your fight with the Failed One on video. It looked ordinary, but you were clearly concealing something—something designed specifically for us in the Immortality Society. I'm sure of it. Heh."
I turned to look at Mr. Oblivion—neither nodding nor denying it.
"Let me put it another way. You know Gregory Wu, right? He's a complete wreck now, bedridden, his power draining away. It's strange, really. Your existence, your growth—it's unpredictable. That's why, out of personal interest, I'm eager to see what you're hiding."
I ignored Mr. Oblivion, turned, and headed down toward the hall beneath the steps.
"If necessary, I'll let you see it."
I replied coldly and walked toward the hall.
It was a square hall, with doors on all sides—not hidden at all. Each door was marked with the characters 'Heart Purification Hall.' I looked inside and suddenly my eyes widened, emotions surging.
"Cousin!"
I rushed inside. It was my cousin, sitting cross-legged atop a Black Lotus, with pale blue water below him. He remained motionless, just as I'd last seen him.
I moved closer and immediately sensed something wrong with the water and the Black Lotus. Just then, my cousin opened his eyes.
His eyes were cold and indifferent, staring at me. No matter how I called out, he acted as if he couldn't hear me.
"What's wrong with you? What happened?" I shouted anxiously. My Specter Web couldn't get near him—a powerful force surrounded his body, blocking my threads.
I reached out, but Allen Zhang grabbed my arm.
"This blue water is dangerous, Ethan Zhang. Be careful. You stay here—I'll go take a look around."
With that, Allen Zhang walked out, stopping at the doorway.
"If a fight breaks out this time, as my comeback battle, I'll go all out. Ethan Zhang, consider it a greeting gift for Boss Yin. Heh, relax."
I stared in surprise as Allen Zhang turned into a streak of green light and left.
I stood at the edge of the blue pool, watching my cousin. My Specter Web was useless, and my cousin's eyes remained cold, as if he didn't know me at all.
"Who are you?"
"I'm your cousin, Ethan Zhang."
I replied immediately, my gaze soft as I looked at him. His voice was icy, as if facing a stranger.
It felt just like when Master Swallow saw his junior disciple.
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I quietly sat at the edge of the pool and slowly closed my eyes. My Specter Web stretched out, but was immediately repelled—unable to get anywhere near my cousin.
My attempt to probe with the Specter Web failed. The force surrounding my cousin's body was incompatible with mine—I realized that right away.
"What are you doing?"
I opened my eyes and saw my cousin standing, hands in a Buddhist gesture, his gaze cold and indifferent.
"Cousin, have you forgotten? Your wife, your parents, your children, and your master are all waiting for you to come home. Have you forgotten all of this?"
I stood up and looked seriously at my cousin, but he still acted as if he didn't know me.
I bowed my head, glancing at the blue water. Brother Owen must have done something to my cousin—he can't remember me. The best course now is to get him out of here. I have no idea where Master Swallow was taken, but my cousin may be the key to Brother Owen's reincarnation plan.
I have to get my cousin out first, then figure out how to rescue Master Swallow.
Deathbane Aura seeped from my body, swirling around my cousin like ropes. I planned to take him down by force.
"Warning: Danger detected. Please evacuate immediately."
Just then, my phone vibrated—it hadn't turned on in days, but now it made a sound. I froze for a moment, and my cousin suddenly appeared right in front of me, holding a monk's staff: gold at both ends, purple in the middle.
With a bang, my cousin struck my chest with the staff. Blood spurted from my mouth and I was sent flying.
With a thunderous crash, I saw a rainbow halo in the sky—I was back in front of the Grand Buddha Hall.
What shocked me even more was my cousin's power. A gust of wind swept up yellow paper, and Mr. Oblivion sat atop a stone lion. At the edge of the distant steps, my cousin, barefoot and holding the staff in his right hand, stared at me coldly.
I slowly got up and looked at my cousin. He no longer recognized me.
"This is someone with a heart of darkness, heh. Ethan Zhang, you're the same. Once the darkness in your heart awakens, there's no turning back. But your spiral of contradiction is different."
Mr. Oblivion spoke as I slowly got up and shouted.
"Cousin!"
With a whoosh, my cousin flew at me, swinging the monk's staff.
With two clicks, Deathbane Guns appeared in my hands. I pulled the triggers, firing black bullets at my cousin.
Bang bang bang—my bullets were all blocked by my cousin. The ground around us shattered from the force, debris flying, as my cousin closed in.
With a crash, I gripped Hell's Sentinel in both hands as my cousin's monk's staff pressed down. In an instant, I was pinned against the incense burner.
A piercing screech rang out—the force pushed me back, moving the incense burner with me.
Words couldn't solve anything now. With a snap, I turned into a cloud of black mist and moved to my cousin's side, swinging Hell's Sentinel at his neck.
With a clang, my cousin blocked Hell's Sentinel with his staff.
I couldn't believe my cousin's attack power, speed, and reflexes had become so formidable in such a short time.
Then, my cousin pressed his left hand to my chest—a black light flared.
"Cousin..."
With a thunderous roar, a pillar of black light shot into the sky.