Golden spectral light flickered in the narrow staircase descending below. A chill crawled up my spine—though I was a ghost, I couldn't see anything beneath me. What shocked me even more was that my Specter Web was being swallowed by this narrow staircase.
Standing at the entrance to the staircase felt like facing the gaping maw of a monster ready to devour me. The little ghost hands at my side kept pointing downward, their bodies trembling in fear.
Just now, those little ghosts led me around various places in Limbo. We did find some abandoned underground cells, but they were empty. Only here—when I pushed open the door, I immediately felt something. This sensation was similar to what I experienced in the underground chamber beneath Brahma Tower at Universal Temple.
I made a toy and handed it to the little ghost with outstretched hands. He scurried away. This place was at the center of Limbo—a vast area of eerie green pools. Each pool held wailing spirits, but only in the middle was there a small spot to stand, with stone paths connecting it.
The words spoken to me by The Lost Mediator, my future self with long hair, still linger in my mind. It feels as if I'm facing another monumental choice. If I step down, I might trigger something.
I sat at the top of the stairs. With a thunderous crash, the ground shook violently. The water in the green pools churned, stone fragments flying everywhere. I rubbed my hands together, still hesitating, my mind filled with images of that city buried under black sand.
Eventually, I stood up and walked down. Master Zachary Wu's primordial spirit flew ahead of me, just visible as a faint trace.
"Daoist, are you all right?"
I asked, as the glowing particles swayed and continued downward. The staircase grew steeper and steeper. I had no idea where it led—it seemed endless.
With every step, I grew more cautious. The further I descended, the heavier the chilling aura became.
"Qingyuan, you must go on alone from here. I can go no further."
Master Zachary Wu's voice drifted down from above. With a snap, the golden particles before me vanished. I felt my way along the wall, step by step, not knowing how long I'd been walking. The staircase still hadn't ended, nor had I reached any branching path.
Gradually, I began to feel cold—a sensation that surprised me. As a ghost, I shouldn't be able to feel such physical things. Yet my skin shivered uncontrollably.
Suddenly, my foot slipped on the step. My body lurched backward, and with a crash, I hit the ground and tumbled down the stairs. When I finally stopped, I stared wide-eyed—everything around me was a chilling blue. I was inside an ice cavern.
I had stepped on a frozen patch of ground. Now, a block of ice shimmering with pale blue light caught my attention, radiating a bone-chilling aura. As I stood up, I couldn't stop shivering—the cold here was so intense it could freeze my very consciousness.
I had to act quickly. Deathbane Aura began to seep from my body, crackling in the air. With a series of thuds, large chunks of frozen Deathbane Aura fell to the ground. The black ice instantly merged into the pale blue surface and vanished.
Suddenly, I saw something inside the massive ice block before me. Trembling, I took cautious steps closer.
It was a pale blue jade. I stared in shock—it was just like the Blood Jade I once held, except for its color. I glanced around, planning to leave immediately. This was one of the Wraithlord's seven souls.
"Wait, young man, come here."
Suddenly, a hoarse voice called from behind me. I hadn't planned to respond, but found I couldn't move. Wisps of pale blue energy curled around my feet, pulling me backward. I tried to release Deathbane Aura, but the cold outside grew even fiercer. The moment the Aura seeped out, it turned into tiny ice crystals that fell to the ground.
I was dragged to the front of the ice block, staring blankly at the cracks forming on its surface. I knew things were going wrong.
"Weren't you looking for the Frozen Underworld? This is it. You've found the right place, so why are you trying to leave?"
The voice was indeed coming from the pale blue Second Blood Jade Fragment before me. Now it laughed hoarsely—a sound that made my skin crawl.
"How do you know that?"
I muttered. Sure enough, this Second Blood Jade Fragment could read my mind, just like the red one. But it seemed to know more.
"I know everything. If you want to leave the Shadow Realm, I can show you a way out—all you have to do is let me out."
"I can't do that."
I immediately rejected the Second Blood Jade Fragment's request.
A hoarse laugh echoed instantly. I swallowed hard.
"If you don't let me out, you'll be trapped here forever."
My eyes widened as cracks echoed through my body, starting from my feet—I was freezing, bit by bit. I wanted to do something, but was powerless. The ice spread faster, and soon, except for my exposed head, my whole body was sealed in pale blue ice.
"Forget letting you out—I don't even have the strength to resist you."
I blurted out. The Second Blood Jade Fragment laughed—this time, its voice sounded clearer.
"Don't you have it? My blood."
Suddenly, the Second Blood Jade Fragment roared in fury. I was startled as pale blue energy surged into my body. I tilted my head, gritting my teeth—the indescribable cold instantly froze my thoughts.
"No, that's not right—where is it?"
I looked over, trembling. The pale blue energy withdrew from my body, and my consciousness returned. The cracks in the ice block widened, but just as it was about to shatter, the ice suddenly repaired itself, and the Second Blood Jade Fragment glowed pale blue.
(This chapter is not finished yet~.~ Please click next page to continue reading!)
I shouldn't have any of that black blood—it was probably taken by John Chou.
"I'll ask you one more time, kid—if you let me out, everything can be negotiated. If you want to leave the Shadow Realm, I know the way."