"How do you know all this?"
Lan Yin smiled and told me.
"It was that old lecher Lan Miu. He mentioned it to me once when he was drunk. As for this secret, Lan Miu coaxed it out of Poison Dreadstar."
I chuckled with a sigh. Their relationships seemed rather messy—especially Lan Miu. I’d heard quite a few stories about him. He even spilled important secrets to others while in bed.
"If this thing gets out, I’m afraid some people in the arts circle will be green with envy."
Felix Fu muttered. It was true—formations were the main combat method for people in the arts circle, and if this Yin Talisman Seven Techniques from the scripture was a powerful formation, there were bound to be those who’d want it.
"But Lan Yin, you’re not thinking of getting it for yourself too, are you?"
Jason Su asked with a meaningful look. Lan Yin nodded frankly and said,
"Of course. If Mr. Virtue is willing, I hope he can give us half of a practical and effective formation."
I shot Lan Yin a look, but he just burst out laughing and pointed at himself, saying,
"I’m actually very weak right now. Maybe you all think I’m strong, but honestly, I’m no match for Miss Shea. All these years, you’ve called me the strongest in the Underworld—but am I really? If I were truly strong, Ethan Zhang wouldn’t have died last time, and neither would my great-granddaughter."
Miles Mo looked at Lan Yin with obvious disdain, while Julian Lu and Wang Su appeared deeply moved.
"I don’t know what kind of mindset or motives you all have, but if we keep going like this, the Underworld will remain scattered and divided. If this continues long-term, we’ll head toward destruction. Last time, I told you we should move the Underworld into the city. I hope you’ll seriously consider this after you return."
Leonard Lane spoke, looking at Hope and Troy Dean.
Wendy Hsieh said, and Lan Yin nodded gratefully.
Wendy Shea said, and Leonard Lane nodded gratefully.
"Thank you, Miss Shea."
"Whether this will cross the Underworld Court’s line is a real concern."
Zane Zhao, usually silent, finally spoke up.
I thought carefully about why Poison Dreadstar asked me not to tell the others in the Underworld about what she’d entrusted to me. It’s likely because the Ten Soul Collectors of the Hades Circle each correspond to one of the Ten Yama Kings in the Underworld Court, so they belong to separate factions. No wonder they aren’t united.
"Leonard, I say we should just mind our own business. Let’s not get involved in the affairs of the arts circle or the Spirit Realm, especially when it comes to the Immortality Society."
Felix Fu said irritably, and Wang Su nodded in agreement.
"That’s right, Leonard. We just need to collect souls. As for the rest—"
Of the Ten Soul Collectors of the Hades Circle, it seemed only two—Wendy Hsieh and Troy Duan—supported Lan Yin. The other seven didn’t.
"Please, after you return, think it over carefully. One day, the Underworld will have to face certain things. When that time comes, if we’re still divided, all that awaits us is death."
"You’re exaggerating, Leonard. If people don’t mess with us, we won’t mess with them. Even though we’re the weakest in the arts circle, we have the Underworld Court’s protection. If anyone touches us, they’re shaking the very foundation of the Underworld Court. So, what you’re saying might..."
Jason Su hadn’t finished speaking when Troy Dean, cold and silent like Wendy Shea, suddenly spoke up.
"Jason, even if we have the Underworld Court’s protection, do you really think those people care whether we live or die?"
Troy Dean’s words made all the Soul Collectors fall into their own thoughts. For a moment, the room was silent.
"I’m telling you, don’t rely too much on the Underworld Court. After all, you’re human, and no matter what, they’re all ghosts who’ve lived for ages."
Soren Black suddenly spoke, and everyone looked at him.
"Dealing with ghosts isn’t that simple. One day, they might just eat you up."
"Nonsense, Soren. Mind your own business."
Jason Su said angrily. As for me, I’ve always held hostility toward the Underworld Court. Leonard Lane sighed and walked outside. I followed him, sensing he knew the conversation couldn’t go on.
"Ethan, the Underworld’s problems are far worse than you think. Those guys—except for Wendy Shea and Troy Dean—Wang Su is rigid and won’t bend on anything outside the rules. The rest are schemers. The Underworld is just a pile of loose sand."
I nodded. It was clear that lately, Leonard Lane’s face often showed deep worry.
But Julian Lu doesn’t seem like he’s scheming anything, does he?
I asked, and Leonard Lane smiled.
"He’s always been an outsider—right from the start. That guy’s a total bookworm, shy and indecisive. All these years, he’s just gone along with the crowd."
I laughed. It’s true—Julian Lu is a real straight-shooter.
"Ethan, do you know? I really hoped that through this negotiation, the Ten Soul Collectors could take a stand and show the Underworld Court that we're no longer scattered. But looking at things now, it’s impossible."
I knew it too. Their attitude just now made it clear.
Lan Yin’s brow furrowed, his expression uneasy. He raised his hand, and a stream of purple flame spilled out.
"Ethan, ever since my fourth rebirth, the power I gained is far stronger than before, but I still can’t control it. My instincts—despair—keep warning me. That’s why now, I hope everyone in the Underworld can unite, face outward together."
"But that’s truly difficult. Most people in the Underworld are numb. Even at the lowest levels, aside from mechanical soul-collecting tasks, there’s almost no connection at all."
(This chapter isn't finished yet. Please click next page to continue reading the rest!)
As I spoke, Lan Yin silently nodded.
"The matter of Lan Ruoxi, in their eyes, is just something trivial—some even mock it."
Suddenly, a flame surged up within me. Lan Yin patted my shoulder.
"Ethan, this time, I hope you can be tougher. After the handover..."
"You don’t need to say it, Lan Yin. Since Yu Mingxuan is still alive, if he can come back, no matter what, I’ll bring his soul back."
At that moment, Soren Black silently appeared behind us. We both sensed it.
"Sigh, I’ll have to trouble you this time. I’m badly injured now, completely unable to fight. Ethan Zhang, let me explain a bit to you."
I nodded, looking at Soren Black. He began to speak. When someone from Nai Luo dies, the Pit of Nai Luo opens up, swallowing both their soul and body together.
I stared at him in surprise. I’d seen this before—when Granny Zinian died, a pit opened beneath her and swallowed her whole.
But Soren Black used a very special method to avoid the Pit of Nai Luo. So now, the pit judges Yu Mingxuan as still alive. That’s why his soul came here. What’s strange is, the Underworld Court didn’t send Yu Mingxuan straight to the Gates of Ghosts, but held him here for two years.
I thought about it. That’s right—why didn’t they take Yu Mingxuan to the Underworld Court?
"Let me tell you, Ethan Zhang. The people from Nai Luo you’ve met—besides Yu Mingxuan, who else?"
Soren Black asked, and I answered. The Nai Luo people I’ve met are only Chen Jun, his senior sister, and senior brother.
"There’s a reason Nai Luo is called the strongest in the arts circle. All their techniques are made to kill ghosts. From the start, their spells were created to target ghost souls, to kill ghosts completely."
I swallowed. Soren Black continued speaking.
"Ordinary people in the arts circle use powers that can hurt ghosts, but they need to find the ghost’s soul and attack it directly to kill. Nai Luo’s spells target the soul itself—no matter how well it’s hidden, they can attack it directly. That’s what makes Nai Luo so formidable."
Suddenly, I seemed to understand something, but wasn’t sure, so I asked.
"Are the Underworld Court people trying to learn something through Yu Mingxuan?"
"You’re half right, Ethan Zhang. They have no way to get the body—only the soul. But Nai Luo’s spells require both body and soul. So right now, they can’t learn anything. The pit of Nai Luo exists precisely to protect Nai Luo’s powerful secrets from leaking out."
I remembered—at first, Yin Choujian took one of my souls to save me, and carried me to find the old man and blind woman, then got hit by their Three-Day Ghost Suppression Ritual and disappeared for days.
"That Three-Day Ghost Suppression Ritual was created by Nai Luo’s founder. For ghosts, it’s a massive restraint. Even ordinary Green Ghosts can be scattered by it. Because the target was Yin Choujian, he only needed some time to recover before he could move again, but he was probably very weak then."
At that moment, I noticed Soren Black always called Yin Choujian by name, not ‘Boss Yin.’ I couldn’t help but ask. Soren Black smiled.
"Let me tell you a bit about how Yin Choujian and I first met."
Strands of green ghost threads reached out toward me. I nodded.