With a clatter, chains rattled as several members of Ghost Tomb Mountain crouched low. The chains were released from their hands, echoing in the air.
"It's useless. I'm not a ghost."
Mason Yu roared, and in an instant, both his hands transformed into a mass of snakes. Swarms of serpents of every color surged forward fiercely, flooding the city streets. The ground was crawling with snakes, forcing the Ghost Tomb Mountain members to retreat.
"Don't panic. Fall back, all of you. I'll handle this."
A teenager's strong voice rang out. With a swoosh, Ghost Fiend Star landed on the rooftop, and the blue-faced man who had left earlier also returned.
"Master Ghost Fiend Star, let me lend you a hand."
"This is a bit tricky. If those snakes bite you... Heh, it's been years since I've seen this. The heir of the Nether Snake Sign. But this isn't your true power, is it, kid?"
At that moment, a black barrier quickly rose up, blocking the swarming snakes from getting through.
Mason Yu rode atop a black-brown python over ten meters long and approached our side. I was eager to act, but Hu Tianshu repeatedly warned all of us to hold back.
"I don't want anything to do with you people from the Nether Syndicate. You're all freaks."
Ghost Fiend Star said this and burst into loud laughter.
"I think so too. The folks from Nether are all freaks."
"Kid, how about we resolve this peacefully? Since you're from the Nether Syndicate, why not go back and devote yourself to your cultivation? Wouldn't that be better?"
Ghost Fiend Star actually started negotiating with Mason Yu, while Mason clenched his fists, glaring at Ghost Fiend Star with gritted teeth.
"Give me back our people."
"What do those people have to do with you?"
Suddenly, Mason Yu shouted again. Instantly, the snakes crawling on the ground all reared up. Ghost Fiend Star smiled, then with a whoosh, stepped on a mass of black mist, exited the black barrier, and black demons appeared on his back. Immediately, black winds swept through the sky.
"Since you won't listen, I'll take you on myself."
"Zimu Jinling... Spirit Snake Emerges..."
Mason Yu roared, raising his right hand high. In an instant, the Spirit Snake Emergence platform appeared in his palm, and the slender black snake shot out. Mason immediately half-knelt on the python's neck, one hand raised, as if controlling the spirit snake.
"Oh, you even brought your treasure. Heh."
As he spoke, Ghost Fiend Star quickly retracted all the ghosts that had emerged from his body.
"What's that guy doing?" I whispered.
"No other sect is like the Nether Syndicate—every technique they have is designed to kill ghosts. That's why Nether quickly became the strongest sect in the supernatural world. Ghost Fiend Star just doesn't want his ghosts to die needlessly."
Under Mason Yu's control, the slender black Spirit Snake had already reached Ghost Fiend Star. Ghost Fiend Star immediately dodged and began to evade.
Faced with the small black snake, he seemed unwilling to attack, dodging repeatedly in midair.
"What's wrong? Afraid to fight now? Bastard."
Mason Yu roared, and the small black snake instantly opened its jaws. With a hiss, a cloud of milky white fluid sprayed toward Ghost Fiend Star.
With a hiss, Ghost Fiend Star reached out, but as soon as his arm touched the white fluid, it began to dissolve rapidly.
Ghost Fiend Star screamed in agony, then quickly used his left hand to sever his own right arm. The severed limb dissolved into wisps of black smoke.
A buzzing noise erupted, and suddenly, the sky was filled with the sound of mosquitoes. I watched in shock as swarms of mosquitoes flew out from the severed end of Ghost Fiend Star's right arm.
In an instant, the sky was swarming with mosquitoes, forming dense clouds that flew straight at Mason Yu.
"Cheap trick."
Mason Yu roared, instantly retracting the Spirit Snake. He raised his right hand, which transformed into a golden python, its shining scales and massive jaws gaping wide.
"Fire Tongue..."
Suddenly, facing the surging swarm of mosquitoes, a torrent of flames erupted, incinerating the insects in an instant.
"For you, these little creatures are more than enough."
Ghost Fiend Star continued, raising his right hand and releasing more swarms of insects. Meanwhile, on the ground, the snakes kept ramming against the black barrier, their mouths spewing various colored fluids.
"What are you trying to do, kid?"
Ghost Fiend Star roared, then suddenly opened his mouth. Moths poured out, crashing toward the ground.
The moths were all black, their wings marked with strange patterns. With a bang, explosions erupted as the moths collided with the snakes on the ground, detonating on impact.
More and more moths appeared, quickly wiping out half the snakes on the ground. Mason Yu looked pained, clutching his chest.
"Ethan Zhang, that kid can't hold on much longer. He's going to die."
Just then, a voice echoed in my mind—it was the Spirit Snake. I stared in surprise, then quickly whispered.
Although Mason Yu used fire to burn away many mosquitoes, a constant stream kept emerging from Ghost Fiend Star's severed right arm.
"I'll go make that kid lie down."
Poison Dreadstar spoke, then vanished from sight with a swoosh.
"Little one, if you're tired, you should rest now."
I stared in astonishment as Poison Dreadstar appeared behind Mason Yu. She leaned in and blew a stream of black air onto the back of his neck.
"You..."
Mason Yu glared angrily at Poison Dreadstar, his expression complex—wanting to resist but powerless.
"I've temporarily cut off the power I was giving that kid."
The Spirit Snake's voice sounded again in my mind. Mason Yu collapsed atop the snake's head, and the giant python beneath him vanished instantly. The remaining snakes disappeared as well. Poison Dreadstar grabbed the unconscious Mason Yu and tossed him toward Ghost Fiend Star.
"It doesn't matter. I increased the dose a bit—just kill him. By the way, kid, why did you say you'd captured everyone?"
Poison Dreadstar had barely finished speaking when Ghost Fiend Star looked embarrassed, then quickly turned serious, staring at her.
"Aunt Poison, stop joking and get control—don't let this kid die. Otherwise, if the Nether Pit opens and the Nether people find out, it'll be a disaster."
"What's there to be afraid of? You have the Immortality Society backing you now, don't you?"
Ghost Fiend Star looked uncomfortable and hurried over to Poison Dreadstar.
"Aunt Poison, you know how those mad dogs from Nether are. If they find out we at Ghost Tomb Mountain killed one of their own, it'll mean war. You know they'll do anything for revenge—they'll come at us with everything they've got. Aunt Poison, I'm begging you."
Ghost Fiend Star looked as if he were pleading for mercy.
"Alright, kid. If you ever lie to me again, I won't be so forgiving."
Poison Dreadstar leaned close to Mason Yu's neck and sniffed. Ghost Fiend Star breathed a sigh of relief.
"Please, get this kid out of here. For now, let's avoid provoking the Nether Syndicate."
The blue-faced man picked up Mason Yu and nodded.
"Tell me, kid, when you said you'd caught Ethan Zhang and the others, were you just lying to us?"
Poison Dreadstar spoke up, and Ghost Fiend Star finally confessed everything. They hadn't caught us, and based on their guess, we were probably in the Old City. They hadn't sent anyone to capture us yet, mainly because they feared Lan Yin.
"Let's wait. Lock this kid up. When he wakes, maybe he'll know Ethan Zhang's whereabouts. It's possible Ethan Zhang and the others have already snuck in during the chaos."
Hearing this, my heart skipped a beat and cold sweat broke out on my forehead.
Rachel Lan immediately grabbed my hand, and I quickly regained my composure.
Mason Yu was taken away by Ghost Fiend Star, and we returned to the hotel. Everyone was puzzled why Ghost Fiend Star and the Immortality Society were afraid of the Nether Syndicate.
"I'm sure you know the answer, Lan Yin."
Poison Dreadstar spoke, and we all turned to look at her. Lan Yin began to explain: Over a hundred years ago, something major happened in the supernatural world. The people of Ghost Tomb Mountain killed a member of the Nether Syndicate. At first, they thought it would blow over, but the then-leader of Nether mobilized the Ten Heavenly Stems and Twelve Earthly Branches, and the entire Nether Syndicate declared war, vowing to wipe out Ghost Tomb Mountain.
A massive battle nearly erupted. Many members of Ghost Tomb Mountain died in the mortal realm, and Nether seemed unwilling to let them go. Eventually, Old Tom intervened, executing the killer on the spot. Nether's Ghost Fiend Star and Dreadstar came forward to apologize, and only then was the conflict settled.
"I still remember Old Tom telling Poison Dreadstar and Dreadstar that if it ever happened again, Ghost Tomb Mountain would disappear from this world forever."
"So why aren't the Nether Syndicate people active in the mortal world anymore?"
Hu Tianshu asked, and it was a question on everyone's mind. The last time I saw Quentin Yin was months ago.
"For that, you'll have to ask John Chou."
Poison Dreadstar said, and we all turned to look at her in confusion.