Gurgling sounds echoed as I quietly stared at the blood-red pool before me.
"Are you satisfied?"
I gave a soft hum in response, turning my gaze to the woman beside me. Dressed in an elegant azure robe, she was strikingly alluring. Her left cheek was concealed by long bangs, revealing only half her face, but through the strands of hair, a faint red glow shimmered.
"Ember Doom, it seems you understand me best."
I nodded in approval. Ember Doom flashed a captivating smile and bowed deeply to me.
"Of course. When Black Stone came to see me, I immediately understood what was going on. After all, you’ve been back for so long and never summoned us. Black Stone said you only called for us, so I guessed you needed something from the Ghostfire Pool. I brought a pool over."
I hummed in acknowledgment. The blood-red lava pool before me, just over ten square meters, bubbled continuously. Specks of black, like spots, floated on its surface. Ember Doom smiled, raised a finger, and dipped it into the steaming Ghostfire Pool, stirring it gently. The black specks erupted into tongues of flame—black fire, sharp as blades, burning with distinct edges.
"Not bad. Using Devouring Fire for smelting should effectively remove impurities."
As I spoke, Ember Doom laughed and shook her head.
"This is a combination of Hellfire and Devouring Fire, not just Devouring Fire alone."
I looked at Ember Doom in confusion, but quickly sensed what she meant. Sitting by the edge of the pool, I gazed at the distant black, thread-like connections, uncertain when Eugene Smithson would return. My mood was good—I wanted to begin forging as soon as possible. But what Eugene called the 'strongest soul' left me perplexed. Choosing one by one would be far too troublesome.
"Is something troubling you?"
Ember Doom asked. I told her what Eugene Smithson had said to me before. She pondered for a moment, then sat down beside me, patting my shoulder and pointing ahead.
"There’s a simple way. Once the weapon is forged, just insert it into the Sin Stone. Whoever can pull the weapon out is the one it’s meant for."
I looked at Ember Doom with some doubt. She smiled and raised a hand, from which a fiery red ribbon-like object flowed.
"This is my sword, Blood Mist."
The sword floated through the air like a ribbon, flickering like flames. Its oval-shaped purple hilt was inscribed with many black runes. Ember Doom gracefully wielded her sword, and in an instant, the black, thread-like connections around us were sliced into countless segments. I clapped my hands in admiration.
"Impressive. You’ve improved again—instantly channeling your power through the sword, and your precision is excellent."
Ember Doom smiled and put away her sword.
"People often say you need a good weapon to unleash your strength, but the best weapons usually choose their own masters. The key is the resonance between the soul and the weapon. Only when both are deeply attuned can they truly become one. Otherwise, even if you force them together, the result is the same."
I understood completely, nodded, and stood up in good spirits.
Just then, Hades returned, carrying a forging platform that slowly descended. The round platform was jet-black and looked extremely heavy. He set it down next to the Ghostfire Pool along with a hammer and a pile of tools. I eyed the whole set of forging equipment with curiosity—it all looked quite old.
"These were used by Eugene Smithson to forge weapons for the Underworld Court back in the day. I found them. I guess my work here is done, right?"
I gave a soft hum. Hades was about to leave, but Ember Doom called out to him.
"Hades, you must use Cursefire with great caution. Otherwise, you might create irreversible consequences."
I smiled and shook my head helplessly. I knew what Ember Doom was worried about. Cursefire could use one's own soul as fuel to increase power, which made it the most suitable force for Underworld Denizens. It could grant them immense strength. In the current world of Yin and Yang, only my original Ghost Curse and Death Curse could wield such power.
"I understand. I’ll be careful."
With that, Hades hurriedly left. I returned to my seat and snapped my fingers. Soon, the servants brought wine and food. Ember Doom drifted over; her mind was far more meticulous than Fiona Blaze or Pyra Blaze.
"When the Infernal Weapons are sent to the world of Yin and Yang, I hope you’ll join those three and go to the Living World."
Ember Doom nodded, her eyes lighting up with joy as she looked at me.
"So you're asking me to secretly assist those three?"
I hummed in response.
"Black Shade is far too impulsive, and Black Stone’s mind is just like his name—solid as a rock. He’s meticulous and serious, but not exactly clever. Black Moon, though smart, often acts beyond my expectations. Just like before, when he tested Rachel Lan without my permission."
Ember Doom hummed in agreement.
"It’s true, Black Moon always does things his own way, and often goes overboard. Don’t worry—I’ll step in and clean up after them when necessary."
I nodded in relief. With Ember Doom going along, I felt reassured. But thinking about the other two, I knew they’d be far from pleased.
"Let me handle persuading them. Sooner or later, all twelve Hell Wardens will go to the world of Yin and Yang, but the timing isn’t right yet. If we move too soon, every faction in the world of Yin and Yang will strike at us. They know that much."
I hummed in response.
This chapter isn’t over yet ^.^, please click next page to continue reading!
"The biggest problem is my vessel. If my vessel is destroyed, I won’t be able to descend into the world of Yin and Yang, and who knows how long it’ll be before I get another chance."
Just then, I heard a wicked laugh—Black Shade slowly drifted over.
"I heard your whole conversation. Don’t take me for a fool, Ember Doom, you’d better not..."
Before Black Shade could finish, Fiona Blaze returned. She glared at me fiercely. I gave an awkward smile and lifted my wine glass.
"How about you three beauties join me for a drink?"
With a bang, my glass exploded in my hand. Ember Doom had already retreated to the distance, and I was briefly at a loss for words.
"I want to go to the Living World."
Fiona Blaze stood before me, speaking with annoyance. I hummed in response.
"You can go once preparations here are complete."
Black Shade glared at Ember Doom by the edge of the platform, furious. The Hell Wardens had never gotten along, and I knew this well—they’d fought countless times over the years.
They all wanted to go to the Living World, not for glory or achievement, but simply to see it for themselves. After all, they’d spent so long in this unchanging hell.
"You can all go. Every one of you can go."
I stood up and spoke with a smile, though the atmosphere was heavy. Just then, from afar, Black Moon returned on a silver boat, bringing Eugene Smithson. I saw that the boat carried a chunk of orange-red stone, its surface cracked and pitted, still smeared with black mud.
As soon as it arrived, I realized the orange-red stone was no good—far too poor in quality for weapon forging. I almost spoke up, but stopped myself. After the boat landed, Black Moon hauled the meter-tall stone off. Eugene Smithson saw his old tools and smiled with nostalgia. He gazed at the steaming Molten Abyss and walked over to examine it closely.
"This smelting pool won’t work. Its power is too strong—it’ll dissolve the stone instantly."
I looked at Ember Doom. She drifted to Eugene Smithson’s side, and the heavy mood finally eased.
"Alright, for the next few days, just help Eugene Smithson with whatever he needs. Wherever he wants to go, whatever he’s looking for, you’ll accompany him. If you perform well, when I begin deploying the weapons, you’ll go to the Living World with them."
Unlike me, the Hell Wardens are originally humans whose bones remain in the world of Yin and Yang. After death, they became ghosts, then were swallowed by Hell itself. Their bones and belongings still linger in the world of Yin and Yang, so they can travel to the Living World easily, through the passage connecting the Ninefold Abyss and Hades Circle. For years, I never allowed any Hell Warden to go to the Living World—I didn’t want my plans exposed too soon. But now that things are out in the open, I plan to convene all twelve Hell Wardens and the two gatekeepers for a meeting, and send them all at once after the war ends.
"This time I mean it—you’ll all go to the Living World, just in batches. The first to leave will be Black Moon, Black Stone, and Black Shade."
I kept Ember Doom’s involvement secret.
"Doesn’t matter to me—as long as I get to go."
With that, Fiona Blaze joined Eugene Smithson. At that moment, Eugene Smithson was discussing the smelting pool with Ember Doom.
"Lower the power of the smelting pool, or I won’t be able to forge any weapons."
Fiona Blaze raised her hand, and fiery-red flame brambles extended into the Ghostfire Pool. Eugene Smithson watched intently. Ember Doom pulled out a flame bramble and placed it in Eugene Smithson’s hand.
"If it seems suitable, just say so."