Xu Fu's eyes were filled with deep sorrow. He no longer had any will to fight, but Tan Tian and Luna Quay were still poised to strike.
"This is our only chance. If those Soul-Stealing Ghosts around him recover, it will be impossible for us to eliminate him."
Luna Quay spoke, while Xu Fu said nothing and simply sat down on the ground, smiling.
"I'm tired. Do as you wish."
With a whoosh, Luna Quay attacked again. Lord Shenyan gently swung his sword, blocking Luna Quay's extended palm. The space beside them instantly contracted, and the scattered debris was sucked inside. A flash of silver light flickered, and with a thunderous boom, a violent explosion erupted next to Lord Shenyan.
But at that moment, a surge of brown mud erupted from the ground. Lord Shenyan took a slight step back; with two swift slashes, the streams of mud curling toward him were instantly shattered and splattered.
Tan Tian appeared again, but this time his hands had changed—both were black, radiating a terrifying aura.
The roar echoed, as Luna Quay and Tan Tian launched a fierce assault on Lord Shenyan. I swallowed nervously. With every attack, Lord Shenyan dodged, his sword constantly slashing back, countering as he was attacked.
In the distance, Xu Fu laughed coldly, looking over with utter contempt.
The rumbling grew louder, and Luna Quay and Tan Tian's attacks became even fiercer. We had already retreated to the rear. The center of Swordspire City was completely destroyed, buildings collapsing one after another under their relentless assault.
"Aiden Shen will never lose. Never."
In the haze of battle, I could no longer see Lord Shenyan's position. Carrie beside me spoke stubbornly. I couldn't even sense Lord Shenyan's ghostly aura, but I knew he was still fighting.
When the dust cleared, Luna Quay was above Lord Shenyan, gripping his sword tightly with both hands, while Tan Tian pressed one hand against Lord Shenyan's back.
"It's over."
With a deafening boom, a brown light pierced through Lord Shenyan's body. Luna Quay instantly leapt aside, while Xu Fu rolled away. Another thunderous blast erupted, a towering brown light and an ear-splitting explosion. In the distance, a deep trench was left where nothing remained, and Swordspire Peak was slowly collapsing.
Lord Shenyan stared motionlessly at the gaping hole in his chest. Suddenly, he swung his sword backward with a sharp slash. Tan Tian dodged immediately, but a deep sword mark appeared on his cheek. He looked at Lord Shenyan with growing confusion.
Even I didn't understand what was happening. There was no trace of ghostly aura left, yet Lord Shenyan was still fighting. The fact that he could even move was a miracle.
"He hasn't changed at all!"
With a thunderous boom, Lord Shenyan gritted his teeth, half-crouching as he raised the Sinblade. Luna Quay, overhead, launched another ferocious attack. His invisible strike triggered a violent explosion, sending a powerful shockwave toward us.
He didn't fall. A gentle breeze swept by, making Lord Shenyan's long hair billow, his tattered robe fluttering.
"Save your strength. Don't you understand yet? No matter what you do, you can't defeat him now."
Xu Fu reminded them again. Tan Tian stood before Lord Shenyan, raising both hands with a whoosh to approach, but instantly vanished. When he reappeared, he was above Lord Shenyan, pressing his hands toward either side of Lord Shenyan's head.
With two clanging sounds, Lord Shenyan deflected Tan Tian's attack. Luna Quay immediately joined in, and suddenly I saw clusters of silvery light appear in front of Lord Shenyan.
With explosive bursts, Lord Shenyan's body was instantly torn and bloody. He staggered back several steps, and after steadying himself, he glared coldly at the two zombies before him.
"Aiden..."
Carrie shouted loudly. I swallowed hard. Lord Shenyan smiled at the corner of his mouth, still refusing to back down. Tan Tian stopped attacking and looked behind me.
I turned my head and saw countless low-level ghosts drifting toward us, filling the sky. I glanced at Lord Shenyan and the Soul-Stealing Ghosts; their expressions made me suddenly understand.
"He will never fall!"
"You probably won't ever understand. After all, you're just cold corpses. Heh."
Xu Fu laughed, then shouted.
"Go on, Lord Shenyan. For all those false things behind you—hahaha, this is just like you."
"They're not false."
As Lord Shenyan spoke, some of his wounds healed. It seemed even the last trace of ghostly aura was gone, but he was still standing, with shouts echoing from behind him.
The low-level ghosts called out, their voices rising and falling.
"Aiden, keep fighting! Don't lose to those bastards!"
"You've saved us so many times. Please, save us again this time."
I stared blankly at the people behind me. Their eyes, full of hope, were fixed on Lord Shenyan. He smiled and muttered softly.
"Ah, I will save you."
With a whoosh, Lord Shenyan charged at Tan Tian and Luna Quay. The clash of swords rang out. In a new round of combat, Tan Tian stared in disbelief at his severed hands, while Luna Quay was knocked far away, a shallow wound appearing on his cheek.
"For the flowers and grass behind me, must I become a towering tree? It's the first time I've seen something so exhilarating!"
Xu Fu spoke, his face bitter, then continued.
"This time might be a bit troublesome!"
Tan Tian and Luna Quay continued their assault, eyes filled with murderous intent. Suddenly, Luna Quay broke away, heading toward us. I stared in astonishment.
With a swish, a flash of green light appeared. In a daze, I saw two large blue characters—Justice. Lord Shenyan blocked Luna Quay's attack and then kicked him in the abdomen, sending Luna Quay flying.
"Forget it."
Tan Tian pulled Luna Quay back, and Luna Quay nodded slowly.
"I've said it before: if you can't sever what's behind him, you can't defeat him."
Xu Fu smiled as he spoke. Behind him, a black space opened, and Tan Tian and Luna Quay walked inside. Xu Fu stood at the entrance, watching Lord Shenyan.
"It's a pity we couldn't have a proper fight, Lord Shenyan. I look forward to our next meeting. Heh."
The last trace of darkness vanished before us. Lord Shenyan slowly descended in front of us, his wounds still unhealed. All around, ghosts gathered, and cheers erupted, filling the air.
"Everyone, get some rest."
Without saying much more, Lord Shenyan simply sat down. He looked utterly exhausted, but happy.
I finally understood. Even if these people couldn't truly be part of Lord Shenyan's world, they still chose to follow him. Most of Swordspire City was destroyed, but countless ghosts were saved. Without Lord Shenyan, all the ghosts here might have perished.
I looked at the collapsed Swordspire Peak in the distance, and the massive pit left by Tan Tian—a terrifying force. I lay on the ground, staring at the sky.
I could no longer sense my ghost domain—it had vanished completely as the price.
Gradually, the ghosts around us dispersed. They began to clear the ruins of the city, working in perfect order under the command of the Soul-Stealing Ghosts. Only Lord Shenyan and I remained. I looked at him, a strange feeling in my mind.
"Even if it's false, it truly exists."
Suddenly, Lord Shenyan spoke. I stared at him, as if understanding what Yan Chou wanted me to see, what he wanted to tell me through Lord Shenyan.
"Even if it's false, does it truly exist?"
I couldn't help but ask. Lord Shenyan stood up and slowly walked away from me.
"Head home early, Ethan Zhang. You've done enough for this place. The journey ahead is yours to walk."
I stood up, regaining some ghostly energy. I nodded and drifted out of Swordspire City. My mind was chaotic, but gradually I understood—perhaps I had cared too much about my own everything.
Losing my human heart was a tremendous blow. These things, even if false within me, truly exist in reality.
Ethan Zhang loved Rachel Lan and wanted to see her again. All of this truly exists in reality, things I cannot erase. My wavering comes from my heart.
"Time to go home, Ethan Zhang."
Perry Min had somehow reached the riverbank. I nodded, then shouted.
"Old Zhou!"
"Once we've rested enough, we'll leave this place. Everyone has finally made up their minds. Lord Shenyan is still the same as ever, unchanged. The ones who have changed are us. For centuries, we've wanted to be part of Lord Shenyan's heart, but maybe we already were, without knowing it."
I smiled, though the smile was still stiff, unchanged. But I understood clearly now: even without my heart, it didn't matter. What mattered were these memories and everything that happened—they aren't false. Even if I can't feel what love truly is, perhaps love has long existed within me, flowing through my veins.
On the distant Styxwater, Old Zhou sailed his little boat slowly toward me. After docking, I boarded, nodded to Perry Min, and the boat set off. I looked to the opposite bank.
"I wish I could go home soon."