I quietly stared at Sylvia Yan before me, having already withdrawn the power of the Vermilion Bird. With my strength alone, I am no match for Sylvia Yan. But Lucas Lu is different—he seems extremely confident. It's strange that this chatterbox is now silent, simply gazing at Sylvia Yan.
A total of sixteen massive pillars of fire surrounded us, trapping us in what was once a parking lot, now reduced to ashes. Many people died in an instant just now, and I stared at Sylvia Yan with anger.
"What exactly are you trying to do? Don’t you know that if you resurrect the Wraithlord..."
"Create a new world."
My eyes widened. This is what the Wraithlord said—once resurrected, he would create a new world, and bring forth new people.
"Why do you think the world is like this?"
I looked at Sylvia Yan in confusion. Lucas Lu spoke up.
"Not everyone can possess or accept faith, right? That’s what you’re trying to say, isn’t it? Unfortunately, the world has always been this way."
Sylvia Yan laughed.
"We only want to create a world filled with happiness and joy. Father’s ideals have changed. We’ve already tried it—in the world of light. If you’re willing, I can take you there to see for yourself. Rachel Lan, you can use your own eyes to see the new people we’ve created and what they’re really like."
My gaze was heavy as I stared at Sylvia Yan. Lucas Lu muttered softly.
"I'll find a way to break this barrier. When the chance comes, you escape directly—can you do it?"
I looked at Lucas Lu; he smiled.
"Let me help you."
But Lucas Lu immediately shook his head.
"Your power will become your burden. If you fight this woman, my strength may not be much, but it's enough to handle her."
As he spoke, Lucas Lu instantly moved in front of Sylvia Yan, raising his blade and slashing down at her.
A sharp wind howled, slicing through the air. In an instant, Sylvia Yan was cut into countless pieces—but there was no blood. I glanced around, and sensing movement beneath my feet, I leaped backward.
With a whoosh, a burst of flames erupted from below, instantly coalescing into Sylvia Yan's form. The Sylvia Yan that Lucas Lu struck exploded into fireballs. I knew Sylvia Yan's target was me. I drew my bow, nocked a golden flame arrow, and shot at her.
But Sylvia Yan caught it with one hand—the flames had no effect on her, and she absorbed them instead. In that instant, I realized: Sylvia Yan was now human, reborn. Yet for a human to wield such overwhelming power—I've never seen anything like it.
With a swift sound, Sylvia Yan appeared right in front of me, reaching out with one hand to grab me. My power had no effect on her at all.
But at the very moment Sylvia Yan’s hand reached for me, she suddenly stopped. I could sense a violent wall of wind forming in front of me, and with the sound of slicing air, Lucas Lu had already slashed several times behind Sylvia Yan. Her body was once again split apart, erupting into clusters of flames that exploded instantly.
Yet, as the exploding flames surged toward me, they were immediately sliced apart by the wind. Lucas Lu stood in front of me, his clothes partially burned away, patches of exposed skin scorched, but quickly healing.
"So strong. For a human, that's almost terrifying," Lucas Lu said.
As Lucas Lu spoke, Sylvia Yan’s form vanished. I sensed something, but it was too late to shout. A searing lance of fire pierced straight through Lucas Lu’s chest. His eyes widened, and in an instant, a massive tiger with faint blue and white stripes appeared. I felt a strange shift beneath me—the tiger carried me and leapt away to a distant spot.
Lucas Lu clutched painfully at a crimson flame, which pierced through his chest like a spear. The fire didn’t vanish—it embedded itself in the ground, and Sylvia Yan slowly appeared before Lucas Lu.
"Good reflexes, but sadly, far too weak," Sylvia Yan said coldly.
Sylvia Yan’s voice was icy as she slowly floated upward. Lucas Lu howled in agony, trying to pull the flame—now petrified—out of his chest, but it wouldn’t budge. Instead, his body was repeatedly scorched by the burning fire.
"Come with me, Rachel Lan. You must lead us into Snowridge Springs."
I smiled, gripping Beauty in my hand as the white tiger carried me through the air.
"It’s dangerous, Rachel Lan. You must escape. Soon, I’ll try to break open a path—when I do, you run for it."
My eyes widened. Lucas Lu was completely restrained; his power couldn’t match Sylvia Yan’s flames. He was going to die—I could feel it.
The white tiger’s voice rang clearly in my mind.
"Don’t hesitate. The war has already begun. The world of shadows is attacking the city guarded by Lord Shenyan, and the battle in the Ghost Realm is underway. Soon, it will spill into the Living World."
As the white tiger spoke, violent gusts swept toward Sylvia Yan, roaring through the air. The tiger spun and lunged at a pillar of fire, carrying me.
With a thunderous crash, chaotic winds whipped around, and the pillar of fire became unstable. The burning flames opened a gap, and I felt a powerful wind shove me, pushing me through the opening.
With a rush, I shot out through the gap, but instantly my eyes widened—I couldn’t get out. Before me was a curtain of flowing fire, like a waterfall, flames surrounding me on all sides, even overhead. I couldn’t see anything. Sylvia Yan appeared behind me.
"Even if you can create faith, and those you create possess it, as long as the human heart remains unchanged, your so-called new world is nothing but empty talk."
As I spoke, I turned around. Violet flames began to gather on my skin—it was time to risk everything. I knew that showing weakness meant no chance at all. No matter how powerful Sylvia Yan was, she was still human, and as long as she had a true body, I could sense where it was. The Sylvia Yan before me was just a phantom of fire. If I could find her real body, I might have a chance.