The air was thick with an oppressive heaviness. I sat quietly in a small room, barely four feet square—my mother's room. Inside, there was only a small table and a narrow bed. On the table sat a computer, and denizens from every corner of the Hades Circle would occasionally send messages.
Now, the whole of Haven City has been reduced to a wasteland. Every day, the Underworld Denizens take turns going out, waiting for the last breath to leave the city's survivors, collecting their souls, and delivering them to the Netherworld.
Things will only get worse. If Emperor God and the others keep holding back, it will only deteriorate further. I glanced out the window—the drizzle was still falling. Though we’ve layered countless formations here to block out the yin energy, it’s not perfect. The chill still drifts up above the plaza, and even the weather is affected.
Just moments ago, the sun was shining. Now, rain poured down. I returned to my bed and closed my eyes. Tan Tian was standing at the doorway.
"You can come in."
I spoke, and the door swung open. Tan Tian stepped inside.
"After a few days of rest, come with me to a place."
I looked at Tan Tian, puzzled. He didn’t say why, but I nodded.
"Is it really wise to pin our last hopes on me?"
I gave a self-mocking smile and shook my head, turning to watch the rain intensify outside the window.
"It's not about good or bad. Right now, this is our only option."
Tan Tian spoke as I got up from the bed.
"We can go now. I don't feel tired."
I spoke, worry creeping into my voice as I looked out the window. Though I didn’t know where Tan Tian was taking me, it was clearly important. I was deeply concerned about the situation here—my parents were still in the city, heading out with the Underworld Denizens each day to collect souls. If Emperor God and his forces attacked, things would get much worse.
"Why haven't I seen any Nether Syndicate operatives?"
I asked, and Tan Tian nodded before replying.
"The Nether Syndicate operatives have gone to other cities, working to prevent ghost outbreaks."
I nodded. The tragedy here had warned everyone in the occult world. Now, stopping another large-scale ghost disaster from happening elsewhere was crucial. I sat at the computer. The Underworld Denizens were busy too. I checked the files my mother received—there weren’t many, but ghost incidents were appearing everywhere.
The Ghost Burial Squad, the Underworld Denizens, and the Nether Syndicate operatives have now formed a Joint Response Division. Whenever a ghost problem arises, they rush to the scene to handle it. Most of the time, they can only use certain spells to affect the victims' memories, making them forget what happened.
Emperor God's attacks were completely unexpected. After reviewing the records, I understood why everyone was powerless against him. They subtly spread ghost rumors throughout the city, planting fear in people's hearts—a terrifying tactic. The end result was Haven City becoming a dead zone, with both the occult world and the Netherworld helpless to stop it.
No one in the occult world truly understands why these ghosts keep resurrecting endlessly. There's no way to trace their origins—they seem to appear out of thin air. But the Daoists have offered a plausible explanation.
Roy Lee said, and Samuel Young nodded.
I asked. Tan Tian shook his head.
"I’m not sure about that, but what I do know is that they’ve used the Dark Mirror to project on a massive scale."
I continued reading the investigation report. Based on my experience in the Mirror World, maybe the sky above us is like a giant mirror, and all the resurrected ghosts are coming through it. The projections show them as they were before death, endlessly restored and programmed with orders—ready for invasion.
"Rest until nightfall. Then I'll take you somewhere."
Tan Tian said, leaving the room with a heavy expression. I lay on my bed, bored. The rain outside had eased, but I could still hear violent coughing from downstairs. Many people had already been infected by the miasma. If this goes on, they'll get sick—or worse, die. Those who can't hold out are sent to Universal Temple for temporary care.
Watching the busy figures of the occult practitioners downstairs, a smile crept onto my face. I'd never seen such a scene before—this time, the practitioners had truly joined hands. Members of different sects cheered each other on. But then I noticed a helicopter flying in from the horizon. It landed quickly, and a tense silence fell over the crowd. I stood up.
"The Immortality Society!"
It was Roy Lee and Fiona Fox. Roy Lee approached formally, leading a group of blue-faced men, while Fiona Fox wore her usual off-shoulder dress, her gait seductive and a smile on her face. I turned and walked out of the room.
Suddenly, people from various sects began arguing at once—grievances about the Immortality Society’s misdeeds, complaints that the Daoists, once the leaders of the occult world, now did nothing. The tension was palpable as everyone joined in.
"You two came back in such a hurry—did you discover something?"
Samuel Young asked. I walked over, and the blue-faced men stepped aside. I stared gravely at Roy Lee and Fiona Fox.
"Rachel Lan, how pathetic you are!"
Fiona Fox sneered. I glared at her, furious, but Roy Lee quickly stood up and bowed to me in apology.
I never had any fondness for the Immortality Society, and it seemed others felt the same. But at this critical moment, their strength was indispensable.
"If you don't want to cooperate, leave now—including you. Evil is evil, but there's no need for these cheap shots. Are you here to help or to cause trouble? For once, people are working together. Isn't that enough?"
Roy Lee looked at me seriously and asked. I nodded.
"According to our intel, the Yang Aspect also has cities similar to those in the Yin Aspect. Over there, the speed and extent of power accumulation far surpasses the Yin Aspect."
"Your Immortality Society is no better!"
"We came today to deliver intel, and we've brought sixty blue-faced men to assist you all."
Roy Lee said, and Samuel Young nodded.
I said, then turned and walked away. Many sect members left with a cold snort, but others approached, wanting to ask about the Yin Aspect. I didn’t refuse and began explaining the situation. More and more people gathered around.
There weren’t many from the minor sects, but together they numbered over two thousand. Most had come after hearing about the disaster in Haven City, but it seemed the major sects hadn’t shared much intel. I explained everything—about the Yin Aspect, Snowveil Crossing, and the Dark Banquet.
"Hmph! If you want to cooperate, return what you took from our sect first."
The old man said, and Fiona Fox giggled.
"Old man, your sect is so tiny—what was it called again? I can't even remember!"
Fiona Fox said, and the old man, clearly angry, strode over. But his three disciples held him back, trying to calm him down.
"Besides, not all thirteen of us in the Immortality Society know everything that's going on. Many things are handled separately. Stop nagging, old man—wait until this is all over!"
At that moment, I noticed several people from odd, small sects gathering nearby—some groups had more than ten, others only three or four. They all seemed to be from minor sects.
Suddenly, people from various sects started talking at once—complaints about the Immortality Society's misdeeds, and how the Daoists, once the leaders of the occult world, now do nothing. Everyone chimed in at once.
"Seriously, if you can't even stomach this much, you should just go home and meditate in peace. Otherwise, when the Ghost Ancestor comes back, you'll be running away in tears—how embarrassing!"
"Enough!"
Fiona Fox kept running her mouth. I frowned as tempers flared; the Daoists started arguing with the other sects.
"Quiet!"
Unable to hold back any longer, I shouted. The noise gradually died down, and all eyes turned to me.
"Anyone who doesn't want to cooperate can leave—including you. Evil is evil, but there's no need for these snide remarks. Are you here to help or to sabotage? For once, people are actually working together. Haven't you said enough?"
I glared at Fiona Fox. She stood up, smiling coldly, and Samuel Young quickly stepped between us.
"You're really insufferable, Rachel Lan."
"Same goes for your Immortality Society!"
I glanced around the room.
"Let's stop arguing—out of sight, out of mind!"
With those words, I turned and walked away. Many sect members left with a cold snort, but some approached, wanting to ask about the Yin Aspect. I didn’t refuse, and began explaining the situation. More and more people gathered around.
There weren’t many people from the minor sects, but together there were more than two thousand. Most had come after hearing about the anomaly in Haven City, but it seemed the major sects hadn’t shared much intel. I started explaining everything—about the Yin Aspect, Snowveil Crossing, and the Dark Banquet.
Just then, a few agents from the Hades Circle approached, acting secretive. I immediately understood their intentions.
"Stay out of this—who’s the sect leader, me or you?"