Distorted clusters of energy began to form all around me. Though I couldn’t see them, I could clearly sense their presence—this was the power of the Basilisk before me. After observing for a while, I quickly understood: this beast was called the Basilisk, a colossal serpent capable of devouring the heavens and earth.
The Basilisk eyed the woman in my arms with a predatory hunger, intent on devouring her. At this moment, the woman’s brows were tightly furrowed as she clutched a dazzling, radiant sword. I sensed an extraordinarily powerful force emanating from the blade, but it seemed to possess a will of its own—restraining its full strength so as not to burn the woman holding it.
After a brief examination, I realized the woman in my arms had fainted—or perhaps she had chosen to lose consciousness herself. Within her body, I sensed two instincts, one of which felt oddly familiar to me. Though I wasn’t sure why, I knew her name was Rachel Lan. When Nuwa heard Rachel Lan was in danger, she immediately sent me to her side.
Looking at Rachel Lan in my arms, her elegant face was tinged with sorrow. Her brows were tightly knitted, her lips pressed together, and her body bore several wounds. It was clear she had endured a fierce battle before the Basilisk tried to swallow her. Her consciousness had likely been seized by the two instincts within her, leaving her temporarily comatose—a measure to prevent her mind from being damaged by the chaotic forces in this space.
I placed a hand on Rachel Lan’s forehead. After a flash of golden light, the chill in her body faded, replaced by warmth. Smiling, I gazed at Rachel Lan in my arms.
“Is this my wife? It’s a pity I can’t remember anything… How tragic. This should have been a joyful reunion.”
I spoke, smiling as I looked at the Basilisk before me. It continued to scrutinize my every move. After my last attack, it had realized my power was formidable. Now, the Basilisk circled me cautiously, its massive body coiling around and around.
“Let me take her back.”
I shouted loudly, but from the Basilisk’s demeanor, it was clear it had no intention of letting me leave. I didn’t know why, but the beasts in this illusion seemed to be born with a mission: to eliminate anomalies within the seams of time and illusion.
“Impossible. I won’t let her go back. If she returns, it will disrupt the flow of time. If that happens…”
I smiled faintly, then slowly drew the sword from Rachel Lan’s arms and pointed it at the Basilisk.
“I won’t say it again.”
With a thunderous crash, the twisted vortexes I sensed earlier surged toward me, trying to crush Rachel Lan in my arms.
With a whoosh, I transformed into a streak of white light, instantly reaching the Basilisk’s head. Without hesitation, I stabbed forward with the sword—its enormous head exploded in an instant. Sensing a faint trace of time’s energy, I flew toward it without looking back. I had no intention of tangling with the Basilisk; the longer I lingered, the greater the harm and burden to Rachel Lan’s body.
I had to find a way to send Rachel Lan back to her original world as soon as possible. Meanwhile, black fissures kept opening around me, each one revealing monsters with gaping mouths and red eyes, lunging at me.
Brandishing the radiant sword, I slashed at the creatures swarming from all sides. In an instant, their wails faded as they vanished. The sword felt perfectly balanced in my hand, but what struck me most was its power: pure, yet unlike anything from Buddhism or Taoism—something beyond human, utterly inconceivable.
I couldn’t stay here any longer—something was wrong with Rachel Lan. Suddenly, she opened her eyes wide.
“So you’re still alive, Ethan Zhang.”
My eyes widened at Rachel Lan in my arms—it wasn’t her, but her Instinct speaking.
“Do so many people want me dead?”
I joked half-heartedly, but Rachel Lan’s face grew heavy, tinged with a trace of anger.
“Everything happening to Rachel Lan is because of you, and our world faces destruction because of your presence. Ethan Zhang, whether for her or for this world, I hope you’ll stay here and never return to the realms of yin and yang. Can you promise me that?”
I smiled and shook my head.
“Sorry, but maybe everything you said has nothing to do with me now—I’ve lost all my memories. Still, when I remember, I’ll do whatever it takes to return. I have a wife, friends, and parents, don’t I?”
Rachel Lan glared at me fiercely, but I had no time to argue further. More and more black fissures were opening around us, trying to entangle me and stop me from leaving with Rachel Lan. The Basilisk was closing in.
Just then, a faint blue glow appeared before my eyes—a streak of flame flashed past, followed by agonized screams behind me. The Basilisk’s massive body was instantly engulfed in blue Foxfire, twisting and writhing violently as it fell.
It was Foxfire. A striking figure darted to my side—I stared in shock as shrill howls echoed all around. The monsters emerging from the fissures had turned to black smoke and vanished. In the wide swath of blue Foxfire, everything gradually grew quiet.
“What do you want, Nine-Tailed Fox?”
The Basilisk’s furious voice echoed from the bottomless darkness below. I saw a snakeskin, charred to ash, slowly crumble and disappear.
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“It’s nothing. Long ago, I owed Mother Goddess Nuwa a favor. Now, that debt is repaid.”
I breathed a sigh of relief and thanked her. The Nine-Tailed Fox glanced at me, giggling.
“No need to thank me, Ethan Zhang. What you’re holding looks delicious!”
There was a feverish intoxication in the Nine-Tailed Fox’s voice as she licked her lips repeatedly. I smiled and shook my head.
“That’s not something I can give you.”
Soon, I reached the boundary between the Illusory Realm and time—a vast, murky yet translucent barrier appeared before me. I stopped, looking at the furious, menacing Rachel Lan in my arms, intending to place her inside the barrier.
“Wait.”
Just as I was about to place her inside, Rachel Lan called out.
“What is it?”
“Have you really not remembered anything at all?”
I grunted in reply, but suspicion flickered in Rachel Lan’s eyes—she clearly didn’t believe me. Drip, drip—I heard the sound of running water. Turning my head, I saw drool streaming from the Nine-Tailed Fox’s mouth like water, as she hungrily eyed the human Rachel Lan, eager to devour her.
“Hurry up. If you don’t go back soon, those things behind us will eat you.”
I smiled as I spoke, but just then Rachel Lan in my arms suddenly closed her eyes. After a brief moment, she opened them again, her face filled with disbelief. Tears welled up in her eyes as she reached out and pressed a hand to my cheek.
“Qingyuan...”
I held Rachel Lan’s hand and smiled.
“Go back—return to your own world. Maybe one day I’ll remember everything, and when that happens, I’ll come to you right away.”
Gently, I pushed her away. Rachel Lan reached toward me, her eyes wide with shock and sorrow, unwilling to let go—but soon her figure vanished into the translucent barrier.
“What a pity—that was a real human. Even if I can’t eat her, can’t I at least have a bite?”
“Don’t joke about that.”
I turned away. Everything behind me had quieted completely. The sorrowful face I remembered seemed familiar—perhaps I’d seen it before, but now, none of it mattered.
Because everyone has someone they miss—and as long as you’re alive, there’s always a chance to meet again someday.
Just as I was about to leave, a chilling force swept up behind me. I spun around. Inside the translucent barrier stood a figure—the same one I’d seen when I lost consciousness in Mother Goddess Nuwa’s Illusory Realm. He looked exactly like me, only older, with long hair.
“Who are you?”
“Don’t ask anything, Ethan Zhang. You don’t need to know right now. I’ll help you protect Rachel Lan—but for now, you have only one task: push your human powers past their limits. Otherwise, you can’t hope to face the Wraithlord.”
My expression darkened. I still had a piece of Blood Jade with me.
“There’s a piece of Blood Jade in this Illusory Realm—no one here has the power to claim it, right?”
I said, but the figure across from me shook his head.
“The Wraithlord’s power is already drawing itself together. The seals holding him are failing. When they’re gone, his three souls and seven spirits will reunite, his ghostly essence will return, and the world’s malice will hasten the disaster. Remember, Ethan Zhang—never forget what it means to be human.”
The figure vanished. I smiled and sighed.
“Guess that’s all I can do for now.”
With that, I turned to the Nine-Tailed Fox.
“Should we...”
Before I could finish, the Nine-Tailed Fox’s nine tails appeared, each one blazing with blue flames.
“Whatever you want—I’m free anyway.”
I nodded, raising a hand—a golden sword appeared in my grasp.