I drifted slowly through the air, now fully awake. The shattered fragments in my mind had pieced themselves together. My eyes had turned blood-red. On Ghost Tomb Mountain, I quietly surveyed the surroundings, where the black bamboo hats had gathered—every one of them members of the Ghost Syndicate.
At the same time, astonishing changes were happening inside my body. My flesh bulged as red leeches shrieked, wriggling out from within me. The moment they appeared, the Deathbane Aura erupting around my body incinerated them to ash.
Everything I had consumed earlier also began to leave my body, emerging continuously as dust from every pore.
Mouth agape, I spat out streams of green, red, and gray matter.
"Impossible! That’s Lord Dreadstar’s ghost body—how could it..."
A member of the Ghost Syndicate shouted. At that moment, they surrounded me, half-crouched with palms pressed together, chanting. Chains glowing green surged toward me. I raised Endbringer in my hand, and every chain that drew near was instantly reduced to ashes.
"Let this place meet its end."
I muttered, then lifted Endbringer high above my head and, with a sudden motion, thrust it down toward the ground below. With a loud bang, Endbringer embedded itself firmly in the dust-ridden ruins.
The world began to change. Thunder rumbled as the ground cracked open. Floating silently in the air, I watched as a pillar of black light shot skyward, enveloping me. Black lightning crackled all around. I could feel everything—every detail—welcoming the end.
Suddenly, the transformation stopped. It was Ghost Fiend Star, drifting slowly toward me. I looked up and saw a massive black dome in the sky.
The power of Endbringer I carried began to be suppressed.
"Impressive strength. Why not sit down and talk this over?"
I glared at Ghost Fiend Star, with no intention of negotiating. Instead, I lunged toward Endbringer, still embedded in the ground. Suddenly, Ghost Fiend Star flashed before me, raising a hand. Black tendrils shot from his fingers, instantly weaving into a net that wrapped around me.
A sizzling noise rang out—the moment those things touched me, they turned to dust. I grabbed Ghost Fiend Star with one hand, but with a splat, he dissolved into a puddle of black Specter Clay and disappeared. It was Specter Clay—I could sense it. Turning my head, I pressed a hand onto Endbringer.
With a thunderous roar, the ground cracked layer by layer, stones flipping up. Ghost Fiend Star remained at a distance, raising both hands to suppress Endbringer's power.
"This place is about to meet its end. It’s useless."
The Ghost Syndicate members tried every method they could think of to stop me, but I gave them no chance. Tendrils of Deathbane Aura surged from the ground, transforming into needles that stabbed at the surrounding Ghost Syndicate members.
I said nothing, seething with rage. I wouldn’t spare any of these bastards—not a single one. Deathbane Aura radiated from me.
They began to flee. The Ghost Syndicate members, caught in the Deathbane Aura infused with Endbringer’s power, found their strength utterly useless against me.
Tendrils of Deathbane Aura instantly pierced those Ghost Syndicate members who failed to escape, riddling them with countless holes. Laughing wildly, I controlled the aura, slaughtering the Ghost Syndicate without mercy.
The power within me raged out of control, growing stronger and stronger. Gripping the sword hilt tightly, I kept channeling energy downward. The ground was completely deformed, and today, aside from the Ghost Syndicate, no one else was present.
"Hahaha, not bad—really not bad, Ethan Zhang."
It was Warren Qi. He clapped, standing atop a jagged boulder. Suddenly, I unfurled my wings and charged at Warren Qi.
"You’re next."
I roared, but at that moment, Warren Qi suddenly fell silent.
"Your Endbringer power is indeed strong, but aren’t you a bit too arrogant?"
As he spoke, I felt the space around me twist. With a boom, I spat black blood and was sent flying. My whole body was struck by some force, leaving me shattered and broken.
Sitting on the ground, Deathbane Aura spilling from me, I slowly recovered. I stood up as Warren Qi walked over. In that instant, I hadn’t even seen how he attacked—I was already down.
"Ethan Zhang, still a weakling—just as weak as ever. Heh."
I wanted to reclaim Endbringer, but couldn’t. If I pulled it out now, the destructive power infused into this place would dissipate. Though Ghost Fiend Star was holding on, he couldn’t last much longer.
At that moment, I realized something—this guy didn’t dare touch me.
Once again, I flew toward Warren Qi. As soon as I sensed the space twisting, I halted and waved my hand. With a thunderous crash, Warren Qi dodged a tendril of Deathbane Aura I unleashed. As expected, he didn’t dare touch my aura infused with Endbringer’s power.
My body was wounded again, crashing to the ground. Warren Qi smiled, watching me.
"Keep increasing your power, Ethan Zhang. If you think I’m afraid to touch your Deathbane Aura, go ahead and try."
Panting, I stared at Warren Qi, eyes wide. Now, I felt Endbringer’s power was fading at the start of forging the sword—I was at my limit. Pressing a hand to the ground, tendrils of Deathbane Aura surged at Warren Qi, but he stood motionless, reaching out a hand.
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A flurry of sharp sounds rang out—my Deathbane Aura was completely scattered. Even mixed with Endbringer’s power, it couldn’t withstand Warren Qi’s fists.
But just moments ago, Warren Qi had clearly been dodging. I was sure I wasn’t mistaken. Once again, I unfurled my wings and flew at Warren Qi.
Suddenly, black lightning flashed across my hands. With a bang, chaotic black electricity raged all around, reducing everything on the ground to ashes.
My eyes widened—Warren Qi’s body was completely unharmed. Just as he’d said, he wasn’t afraid of my Endbringer power.
With a crash, I was sent flying, landing before Endbringer. My head began to ache, and I started convulsing.
"Heh, you just unleashed your power and already want to destroy this place? Ethan Zhang, aren’t you a bit too impatient?"
It was true—this was too much. Around me, the ruined things began to restore themselves. I stared in shock. My Endbringer power was almost depleted, though the Deathbane Aura was unaffected.
"Sometimes, people need to retreat. Go outside, find a place to recover and learn your strength, Ethan Zhang—if you want to defeat me."
Gripping Endbringer, I seethed with anger. It seemed Warren Qi said this deliberately to make me face reality. I really had been impatient, thinking I could destroy everything with this power.
"Let me tell you something: the strength of instinctual power depends entirely on your physical body or the intensity of your ghost soul. Since you’re a ghost, it’s your ghost soul’s strength that matters."
With a whoosh, I drew Endbringer, slowly unfurled my wings, and took flight. I was nearly spent, and Endbringer itself was fading. To escape, I’d need its power to open a breach.
"Damn it, brat! Ethan Zhang, just wait till I deal with you!"
Ghost Fiend Star shouted, surrounded by a crowd of ghosts—men and women alike. Without hesitation, I lashed out, sending several tendrils of Deathbane Aura at Ghost Fiend Star.
"Someday, I’ll bring the end to all of this."
I floated upward, drifting through the sky. My instincts told me that only above could I escape.
I reached the top, sensing it. Raising Endbringer, now half vanished, I sliced open a gap. Instantly, a force ghosts despise poured through—it was the sun of the living world. Without hesitation, I plunged into the sunlight.
Sizzling sounds erupted as my skin burned. I whimpered in pain, surrounded by golden light. But this wasn’t the sun of the living world. Stunned, I gazed around, sensing an incredibly pure power.
"Young man, turn back before it’s too late."
I stared in shock—it was an old man’s face. Endbringer had vanished from my hand, and I slipped into unconsciousness, eyes slowly closing.
A chant of Buddhist prayers echoed. I awoke suddenly, checking my body—nothing seemed wrong. A statue of Shakyamuni Buddha appeared before me. I sat in the main hall of Hidden Falls Temple, immediately sensing the presence of a gaunt, white-bearded old monk.
"Where is this place?"
I roared, releasing my Deathbane Aura at the old monk. But as it neared him, it vanished.
"Space, time—none of it exists here. Amitabha. Benefactor, my Dharma name is Abbot Fortune. I am the abbot of Hidden Falls Temple."