I was stunned, staring up at the sky as John Chou descended slowly. When he was about seven or eight meters from the ground, he sat in midair. Tiny blood-red particles gradually appeared, forming a crimson chair beneath him. John Chou pressed his palms together, crossed one leg over the other, and looked over at us with a half-smile.
"What's wrong, brother? Can't go on anymore?"
In that instant, my anxious heart calmed immediately. I let out a smile.
"No. Where's Ghost Grandpa?"
I asked, and John Chou shook his head.
"He's outside, just dealing with something for now. I came ahead. Thanks, driver."
John Chou said, then turned and smiled at Luke Ling.
"Finally, you're here. I can take a break now."
"Hmph, John Chou, you despicable scoundrel."
As soon as Luke Ling saw John Chou, his expression changed drastically; his eyes turned blood-red. He clenched his fists so tightly they creaked, glaring at John Chou, his emotions flaring up instantly, and his body trembled slightly with rage.
"Really, is it necessary to get so worked up? I'm right here, waiting for you to come kill me anytime."
John Chou said faintly, tilting his head and leaning back in his chair, looking completely relaxed and at ease.
Damn, we actually got played by that bastard. What a mistake, a real mistake. Shit.
Lan Yin cursed angrily, stepping forward with clenched fists.
"Tell me, Lan Yin, you and Hu Tianshu—did neither of you notice anything? I'm so disappointed in you both, letting yourselves get used by others. Ha."
John Chou said, looking at Luke Ling.
"John Chou, if you hadn't exploited that loophole back then, hurting Xu Fu would’ve been nothing but a pipe dream. Hmph, if not for you, our plan would've succeeded long ago."
In an instant, Luke Ling's fury erupted; he strode up to John Chou, fist raised.
"Aren't you afraid? Of my Bloodbane power?"
John Chou spoke softly, raising a hand. A pool of dark red blood suddenly surged from his palm. At the moment Luke Ling attacked, he pulled back his fist and retreated to my side.
"What exactly do they want? Why did they seize the Vermilion Bird's flame?"
Lan Yin immediately asked, and now everything was becoming clear. The reason Luke Ling gave us so much time was probably because he knew we weren’t his match. The only thing that could defeat him was the flame the golden Vermilion Bird gave me.
With Lan Yin here, he would likely try to use this last trump card at a critical moment. Luke Ling must have calculated this, which is why I was captured now.
"For a ticket to the Dark Banquet. Didn’t your ancestor tell you, Lan Yin?"
John Chou spoke, and for a moment, Lan Yin was shocked. Then he started to laugh, slowly at first, then more and more.
"So even the uninvited have a way to get in? That banquet?"
"Yes. All you need are two human items and nine ghost items, and you qualify for the Dark Banquet."
Lan Yin stared at John Chou in astonishment. Then John Chou stood up, landed beside Lan Yin, and pointed toward our side.
"The two human items: One is a flame that doesn’t exist in this world, the pure flame—they’ve already obtained it. The other is the purest blood in existence, which I suspect they’ve gotten from Rufina Howard!"
I stared at Luke Ling, who was grinning and nodded.
"Indeed, the ticket is complete now—the Dark Banquet ticket."
Suddenly, John Chou burst out laughing, clutching his stomach as if he’d heard something incredibly funny. Then he raised his hand, and a streak of black appeared. Instantly, a sense of foreboding filled the air. A black paper, densely covered with tiny red characters, materialized.
"A list?"
Luke Ling’s gaze was completely drawn to the thing in John Chou’s hand.
"The Dark Banquet List. The items you’ve collected do qualify you for the Dark Banquet, but only one person can enter. With the two human items and nine ghost items, you have the right—but only one of you can attend. Your Immortality Society has thirteen people, but you can’t all go. You’ve misunderstood."
"Let me see it."
Lan Yin reached out, trying to grab the list from John Chou’s hand. Suddenly, John Chou raised his hand and Lan Yin missed.
"Don’t touch it recklessly. Anyone who isn’t qualified to attend the banquet will be in big trouble if they touch it."
Lan Yin looked over reluctantly as John Chou unfolded the list. Then Lin Rui and the other Blue Wraiths all walked over, eager to see for themselves.
"The names of seven Ghost Sovereigns are all on it. Qingyuan, your name is there too."
Lin Rui spoke, and I was a little surprised. At this moment, Luke Ling looked furious, his expression as if he wanted to devour someone, staring at John Chou.
"I didn't lie to you. If you don't believe me, see for yourself."
John Chou said, slowly drifting over to our side, glancing at me.
"Brother, clench your fist and steady your breath. You should be able to feel it."
Suddenly, a voice echoed in my mind—it was John Chou. Right now, I was being pinned down by a blue-faced man. I hurriedly did as John Chou said, clenched my fist, closed my eyes, and kept sensing. Gradually, I seemed to realize that something was around us. I couldn’t understand what exactly, only that it felt familiar.
John Chou was gradually approaching Luke Ling. Ghost Grandpa also stepped out, looking impatient as he stared at the list in John Chou’s hand.
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"Wait..." Just as John Chou was about ten meters from our side, Luke Ling shouted, turning to look at me.
"Hmph, John Chou, don’t think I don’t know what you’re up to. You want to save Zhang Qingyuan? Dream on."
As he spoke, the blue-faced man holding me lifted me up and shoved me in front of Luke Ling, who grabbed me by the throat.
Suddenly, Luke Ling’s fingers swelled, as if inflating, and wisps of black energy drifted before my eyes.
"John Chou, does it matter if Zhang Qingyuan dies? If you dare make a move, I’ll kill him in an instant. He’ll vanish without a trace—dust won’t remain. We want his instinct, but that’s not important anymore."
John Chou held the list in his right hand and waved his left dismissively, walking over step by step.
"All right, I won’t play any tricks. Relax."
"Better not, Mr. Ling."
Ghost Grandpa spoke, his old voice surprisingly strong. Luke Ling turned to look at him.
"John Chou isn’t just trouble for us at the Ghost Syndicate—he’s burned the likes of Naraku, Brahma, Maoshan Sect, the Renegade Sect, Yellow Springs, and your Immortality Society too. Have you forgotten?"
Luke Ling nodded and looked around.
"Throw it over—the list."
"I can’t do that. The list needs a medium to exist in this world. If it leaves my hand, it will vanish."
"But you have a way, right?"
Luke Ling spoke, and I screamed. My mouth filled with blood, and with a little more force, I coughed up blood, feeling as if my body was about to collapse.
"No way?"
Luke Ling sneered, and John Chou nodded.
"There is a way. Lan Ruoxi, come here, and bring the Phoenix Blade."
John Chou spoke, and I looked over. Lan Ruoxi looked nervous, spread her wings, and flew over with the Phoenix Blade. John Chou then turned to her.
"Hold the Phoenix Blade flat."
Lan Ruoxi did as told. John Chou placed the list on the Phoenix Blade; it sizzled, but the list didn’t disappear. Then he pushed Lan Ruoxi aside.
I immediately closed my eyes, feeling that familiar sensation, trying to recall it. Gradually, I realized the feeling was icy cold—definitely ghostly, but there was kindness within the chill.
"Brother, focus and clench your fist. Strike that guy."
John Chou’s voice echoed in my mind again, and Lan Ruoxi was already close. My heart pounded in my chest.
As Lan Ruoxi approached, Luke Ling and Ghost Grandpa leaned in to scrutinize the list.
"It seems the rules are right; you need exactly eleven items. But it doesn’t say only one person can enter."
Ghost Grandpa said, and Luke Ling looked at John Chou.
"Turn to the second page and check. I’ll come flip it for you."
"No need. I’ve got a way, old man."
Ghost Grandpa spoke, removing his glove. Instantly, I was shocked, a chill running down my spine. Ghost Grandpa’s hand looked as if countless twisted human faces were fused together—blue-black and terrifying. He reached out and touched the list.
With a hiss, Ghost Grandpa’s entire hand was burned away, but he quickly flipped the page.
"Withdraw your power, Qingyuan. Punch now. It may hurt, but at least it’ll resolve the crisis."
An aged voice rang out—it was Ghost Grandpa. I was startled, then I felt it clearly: this sensation was Ghost Grandpa’s, and it was the Specter Web. My body was being connected, thread by thread.
"Die, you bastard!"
I roared, raised my fist, and struck Luke Ling’s face.