"I don't agree with the Nether Syndicate's ideology, so I became a traitor."
We all turned to look at Black Moon. The crescent-shaped eyes on his face curved upward, making him look genuinely happy.
"That's just how it is. The people of the Nether Syndicate are too rigid. Even when they're about to die, they refuse to bow their heads. Once you're dead, you have nothing left. But if you survive, there's still so much you can do. Back then, I almost died and ended up seeking help from a ghost. That ghost helped me, but when the Nether Syndicate found out, I became a traitor. Heh, that's why I say the Nether Syndicate is too inflexible. Their sect is indeed powerful, but they keep repeating the same mistakes, generation after generation."
I didn't say anything, and neither did anyone else. Black Moon simply chuckled.
"It's just a shame that I was eventually found and killed by the Nether Syndicate. But at the very last moment, when my soul was about to enter the Nether Pit, I had the Celestial Hound devour me. So what you're seeing now is just a collection of consciousness and memories. That's why I record everything I see and experience, and have the Celestial Hound help me store it. After all, who knows when I might forget everything."
It was only now that several people finally understood. Deathcurse’s eyes softened; he walked over, a little embarrassed, and patted Black Moon on the shoulder.
"I'm really sorry about earlier."
But Black Moon stepped back and gave a bow.
"It's nothing. I don't mind such trivial matters. Now, I need to keep recording everything, turning my experiences into words. That's the safest and most reliable way. Then I store the memories in the writing and leave them with the Celestial Hound. Even if some force destroys me, I can still come back. After all, I don't have a body, nor a soul—my soul is in the Nether Pit."
I couldn't help but feel confused.
"What exactly is the Nether Pit?"
I asked, but Black Moon did not answer. Instead, he said:
"That place is extremely dangerous for members of the Nether Syndicate. I don't know much, since I've never been there, but after they die, all Nether Syndicate members enter the Nether Pit and remain there forever, unable to leave. As for why, I really couldn't say."
For a moment, no one spoke. After a while, I asked again.
"Old Book Sage, you know so much about formations. Let me show you this technique—it might be the critical ritual you mentioned."
As I spoke, I began to recall the technique I’d seen in that other world. I squatted down, and Ghost Painting Book Immortal handed me a pen. I started drawing on the ground, while the others gathered around.
I drew while recalling, and soon enough, I finished this technique that could extend infinitely.
"It's a strange thing—more like an ancient ritual, used for marking locations."
Sure enough, Ghost Painting Book Immortal saw through it at a glance, just like Felix Fu had. Then I started connecting the points according to Samuel Young's method, and a fierce ghost face appeared. Ghost Painting Book Immortal smiled and squatted beside the formation, while Black Moon quietly stared at it, his crescent eyes now vertical, as if lost in thought.
"Have you ever seen this before?"
Deathcurse asked, and Black Moon shook his head.
"It's a strange thing. I do understand formations, but my knowledge is rather shallow, so I might not be able to offer much advice."
"Doesn't the Nether Syndicate have a lot of formations?"
Deathcurse pressed, but Black Moon just smiled and shook his head.
"When I was with the Nether Syndicate, my focus wasn't on techniques and formations, but on spirit summoning."
"I see. No wonder you were able to take the Dog—the one representing the eleventh branch of the Zodiac Twelve—from the Nether Syndicate."
I knew well that my Paper Spirit Technique also belonged to the realm of spirit summoning, using my own power and blood as a medium to transfer and control certain forces in nature.
At this moment, Black Moon began writing in his palm again. Judging by his crescent eyes, he seemed preoccupied. Ghost Painting Book Immortal continued to observe, and I spoke with him. If you use the open-ended dashed lines outside this maze-like formation, you can create many different techniques. Ghost Painting Book Immortal tried it out, holding his pen.
"Exquisite! This technique looks like a marking ritual, but it contains so much more, like all things in the universe. Where did you get such a marvelous formation, Roxie?"
I shook my head and stood up.
"Once the Ghost Sovereigns arrive, I'll explain everything to everyone. It's very important."
"I feel like I've seen this somewhere before."
At that moment, Kane, who had been silent, spoke up. We all looked at him as he walked over and squatted down, placing his hand on the ground.
"Our bodies are made entirely of yin energy. A long time ago, when I was born, I think I saw this, but I can't remember where."
I felt puzzled, because Lucas Lu had also said he'd seen it somewhere, but couldn't recall where. Kane was the second person to mention it.
"Saying it is the same as not saying it."
Felix Zhou muttered, and the others glared at him, so he shut up.
"Earlier I said this was an ancient ritual, but after studying it, I found it's not. Its essence is different. Ancient rituals, no matter how they're constructed, always need some sort of medium, but this technique has power the moment it appears. The only thing certain is that it's used to mark a place, maybe to guide something to the designated location. That could be its purpose."
While we were all still watching, a streak of dark green light flashed by. Yuna Ji appeared before us, immediately spotting the formation I'd drawn on the ground.
"Isn't this a Hell Mark?"
For a moment, we were all stunned, staring at her. Yuna Ji squatted down and examined the ground.
(This chapter is not yet finished~.~ Please click next page to continue reading the exciting content!)
"Yuna Ji, how do you know about this?"
I asked, and Yuna Ji looked at me.
"Did something serious happen to Ethan Zhang, Rachel Lan?"
I responded with a quiet 'mm.'
"Something like that."
Yuna Ji giggled.
"Where did you get this Hell Imprint? This isn't something you just see anywhere."
Black Moon began writing rapidly again.