A streak of black energy shot out from Huang Mingfa's body. I saw a black humanoid figure—the Deathbane Ghost implanted by the Immortality Society. It was this creature that killed Huang Mingfa.
With a crackling sound, Huang Mingfa, who had collapsed on the ground, was instantly frozen. I noticed that the Deathbane Ghost seemed unable to escape from this place; its black humanoid form began to freeze as well, quickly turning into a lump of pitch-black ice that fell to the ground.
This is good news for me—I have to capture this Deathbane Ghost and find a way to bring it back.
As for Huang Mingfa's final words before dying, they should point to some important clue about the Immortality Society. Once I return, I can hand it over to Hu Tianshuo and the others to investigate.
My Specter Web began to extend toward the lump of ice containing the Deathbane Ghost, but before reaching it, the threads had already turned to ice. It looked impossible to succeed. At this moment, I glanced at Huang Mingfa—he deserved this, one way or another.
Everything Huang Mingfa did to Cao Wanzhi still lingers in my mind. By coincidence, he ended up joining the Immortality Society. Xu Fu's smile flashed through my mind—so fake and repulsive. Now, they're messing with the Wraithlord's mind, and they've already taken the Wraithlord's body.
I've seen the Wraithlord's three souls, and now the Earth Soul, Zhang Qingyuan, has taken one of the seven fragments. Next is this fragment before me—the Second Blood Jade Fragment, shimmering with pale blue light.
Just as I was deep in thought, a boom shook the entire ice cave. Shards of ice rained down from above, and the Blood Jade awakened.
"Have you made up your mind, kid? Things are getting pretty wild out there."
My heart skipped a beat as the Blood Jade floated toward me, the ice pressing against my cheek. I grimaced as waves of cold swept through my mind.
"Wait a minute. Do you know what's happening outside?"
A deep, raspy laugh echoed through the cave.
"Of course I do."
"How is that possible?"
This surprised me—it was almost impossible. This was Judge Bane's hell; unless your power could pierce through hell itself and reach the scene of the battle, you couldn't sense anything.
Crackling sounds rang out as the frozen blocks on the ground split open. The ice cave began to shake violently.
"Alright, I agree to your terms."
The Blood Jade immediately burst into loud laughter, its pale blue glow intensifying. I glanced around—the situation outside looked dire. I had to do something, at least help Lord Shenyan and Redmond escape from hell.
Master Zachary Wu once said that extremes breed reversals. This must be the coldest place in hell, and the Blood Jade had clearly stated it knew how to leave here and reach the living world.
"Hurry up. Set me free."
"Do you know about Instinct?"
I asked, and the Blood Jade paused for a moment before replying.
"Of course I do. It's a power born from illusion. What's wrong?"
"The thing that can break your seal is within my Instinct, but right now I can't enter my Instinctive Space."
The Blood Jade seemed to understand. With a crack, the ice on my body shattered. I collapsed to the ground, shivering, gasping for breath—my exhaled air instantly crystallizing into shards of ice.
"Sit cross-legged and do as I say. Then you'll be able to enter your Instinctive Space. This place is protected by a powerful seal designed to greatly weaken Instinct and block all connections between entities."
I grunted in acknowledgment, staring at the Blood Jade.
"Listen carefully. Instinct exists within your soul. You can think of it as your second soul, or to put it simply, it's the deepest, most fervent desire in your heart, gradually condensed into form—a reflection of your spirit. If you can't awaken or unlock this, it only means one thing: you've lost your heart."
I swallowed and quietly watched the Blood Jade.
"That's how it looks. Those without a heart have no right to possess Instinct. But you're a bit different; you still have a spark left. I'll temporarily substitute for your heart and bring it back. When the time comes, all you need is a strong desire for your Instinct, and it will answer you."
I nodded. I hadn't expected the Blood Jade to know so much, but then again, it was part of the Wraithlord—the very first ghost since people existed.
A faint blue light slowly entered my chest. I quietly closed my eyes, feeling my heart beat faster and a wave of nervousness. Suddenly, my eyes flew open as countless thoughts tangled in my mind. I stared at my pounding heart—my mind was no longer a blank white, but filled with swirling colors.
Emotions gradually returned, surging forth. I closed my eyes and began calling out—inside myself, I kept calling for coexistence.
Gradually, a black-and-white scene appeared in my mind, and my consciousness began to blur.
"Are you really going to do this?"
Suddenly, I opened my eyes. A voice echoed in my heart, and images flickered through my mind—it was the future self, The Lost Mediator, with long hair.
My heart was tangled and conflicted, but I quickly stood up.
"No matter what the future holds, I can't just stand by and watch my friends fall into danger without helping. I can't do it."
"Instinct... coexistence..."
In an instant, I stood on the rooftop of my apartment building—my Instinct, half black and half white in form, was staring blankly at me, holding a small vial of black blood.