A dozen pairs of eyes fixed on me. I felt deeply uncomfortable and quietly watched John Chou—he smiled faintly.
Across from me, Xu Fu wore a friendly smile. My mind was blank—I had no idea why John Chou said that.
"Now is not the time for fighting, but I have no intention of cooperating with you villains."
"So what now?"
Xu Fu asked lazily.
"The decision isn't mine alone."
I looked at the Ghost Sovereigns. At that moment, Redmond stood up and walked forward step by step.
"Don’t even think about trying anything. Otherwise, you won’t ever have another chance to stand before us and talk like this."
"Ah, I’ll keep that in mind, Lord Malice."
The tension hadn’t eased at all. We remained split into two groups, both standing near the huge pillar on the north side of the circular plaza, probing and searching.
This seemingly natural black pillar had no unique features except for the number 1 at its top.
With a bang, I looked over. The ground trembled slightly and dust rose—the Immortality Society’s group was still pounding on the surface of the pillar.
"Let me give it a proper try. This pillar is pretty tough!"
Mr. Oblivion raised his right hand slightly. A creaking sound followed as his entire right hand swelled. I felt a surge of intense air pressure appear instantly.
With a boom, I shielded myself with both arms as a fierce blast erupted—dust billowed everywhere. Mr. Oblivion’s fist was still pressed to the pillar, but now black blood dripped down, white bone exposed, the whole hand shattered.
The pillar before us hadn’t moved an inch—not even a single mark was left.
"Hurts like hell."
"I told you not to mess around. Our fists can’t break through it."
Life immediately walked over and pressed Mr. Oblivion’s hand. In no time, the shattered fist was completely healed.
There were about two days left. Everything was deadlocked, like stagnant water.
The people here are top-tier in both the human and spirit worlds, yet still can’t find a way into the space where the Dark Banquet crowd is.
Xu Fu even called over those men in black, who brought food and wine and set up tables.
I sat quietly at the base of the pillar, sending out Specter Webs to wrap around it—nothing. All I sensed was the pillar, solid as a rock, standing silently before us.
A streak of black lightning split in two in the sky, thunderous and wild. The two bolts struck down with crackling sounds, and Earthly Soul slowly descended.
"Even Endbringer’s Power can’t do any damage to this pillar."
Earthly Soul looked helpless. I smiled and stood up—searching was all we could do.
But my mind was still caught up in what happened in the Shadowwood. I’d told the Ghost Sovereigns most of it; the Immortality Society was listening too. Except for the voice that called to me, I’d told them nearly everything else.
"Still thinking about what happened there?"
Earthly Soul asked. I hummed in reply.
"It’s strange—a feeling I can’t put into words. The memories weren’t wiped; they just became part of that forest, impossible to escape. That’s what it feels like."
"The concentration of Dark Power in that forest is probably higher than here—so it’s no surprise."
Earthly Soul was right, but I was still deeply troubled, unable to figure it out.
Just then, a streak of purple light fell—Mona Ouyang, looking disheveled and angry, glared at the huge pillar.
We’d tried everything, but still couldn’t find a way in. Maybe we wouldn’t until the Dark Banquet began.
"Ethan Zhang, can’t you use your instinct to do something?"
I shook my head. This pillar before me was like a dead stone. It’s an awkward way to put it, but that’s the truth—no way to coexist with it.
Suddenly, a black shadow darted up from the ground—it was the Smiling Host, walking over with his trademark smile.
"Honored guests, you’d best go and rest. The Dark Banquet is about to begin."
"Hey you, just tell us—how do we get in?"
Warren Qi walked over with a smile and put his arm around the Smiling Host’s neck.
"Guests, don’t ask about this. Even if I knew, I wouldn’t tell you."
Bang! I stared—Wu’s fist swept across the Smiling Host’s cheek, leaving a gaping hole. The Smiling Host shattered, black fragments scattering in the wind.
"Why get so worked up? What’s the point? These people aren’t afraid of death at all."
Warren Qi shrugged helplessly.
After a while, everyone on both sides fell into deep thought. We still had no idea how to get in, and only one day remained.
In a day, the Dark Banquet would begin here—there was no time left for us to wait. Some of the Immortality Society members were already getting restless.
"John Chou, with your intelligence, can’t you figure something out?"
Xu Fu shot him a pleading look, but John Chou just shook his head.
"Speaking of intelligence, Xu Fu, you should be the one to step up. Why drag me into this, haha."
A few simple words, and the atmosphere fell silent again.
Once again, we were completely lost, as if swallowed by the darkness—no path forward in sight.
No matter how strong the people here were, it was all in vain. We’d tried everything. Isabelle Frost and Deathcurse were still up on the pillar, searching for the entrance.
Time ticked by, tension never easing. The Dark Banquet was about to begin, and if it ended, we might never find anything substantial.
Yvonne May had attended the Dark Banquet before, but it was just a simple meal—she returned to the world of the living right after, nothing happened. She dined with a group of shadows.
The only clue was the shadows. Everyone at the Dark Banquet had a shadow—it was part of themselves, their shadow and body fused as one.
Six hours left. Xu Fu and the others seemed to have given up, already heading to the center, ready to wait for the Dark Banquet to start.
Then another long Thirteen Nights would begin.
Suddenly, shadows rained down from the sky. We all stared as black silhouettes appeared—beings whose outlines we could see, but who had no substance. Every one of them was like this.
Suddenly, we all saw him—Wraithshade. That getup could only be his. Instantly, we all moved closer.
"What exactly do you mean by this?"