/
The day before.
“Two hundred thousand souls
..”The shadow ghost silently followed behind Ji Xuan.Under the feet that didn’t touch the ground, the ground was pitch black. Layers upon layers of dried blood and flesh covered its surface, making it almost impossible for one to be able to tell the original colour of the ground.It was in deep thought.Two hundred thousand souls was an extremely large number, even for a high-level fierce ghost.How could they gather all those souls without killing anyone?A’Mi couldn’t think of a method.It didn’t realise that it had been mumbling to itself out loud.Ji Xuan didn’t answer either. He just turned and glanced at the shadow ghost, “Have you finished doing what I asked you to do?”A’Mi was startled back from its thoughts, “K-king
.Everything is ready!”----Fierce ghosts and monsters had never shared one goal in the first place.In order to ensure the game's smooth operation, Mother rarely appeared in it. She was too powerful and any excessive actions taken by her would interfere with the plan.Before the door between the real world and the game was opened, only a very small number of high-level fierce ghosts knew of Mother’s existence.For the vast majority of the lower levelled ones, they only knew of her existence when the humans found out about her: They only learnt of her terrifying existence after the door in M City opened.For some of them, they had even grown accustomed to coexisting with the humans and preferred that over being ruled by a terrifying monster.But due to their fear towards Mother’s power, none of them dared to show any resistance.Complaints and frustration may be suppressed but it didn’t mean that they didn’t exist. It continued to silently grow and strengthen over time.And during this time, Ji Xuan’s subordinates did a very simple job—- It was to add oil to the fire.Mother and the high-ranking ghosts on her end paid no attention to those weaker ghosts. After all, the difference in strength between them was almost insurmountable. What was the point of paying attention to a bug that could be crushed to death with a flick of a finger? There were however many of these weak and neglected ghosts who filled the small dark crevices across the entire world.These fierce ghosts may not be powerful but they had a huge information network.The shadow ghost was originally born from darkness and shadows. In terms of hiding its presence, it could even hide itself without being discovered by Mother, making it the best candidate for this task.“It’s here.” The shadow ghost looked to the side.A fierce ghost fearfully stepped forward, its jelly-like body jiggling with each movement. The four or five faces on its head showed apprehensiveness:“
.King.”It lowered its head in fear as it continued to tremble.A man’s calm voice sounded from above, “Raise your head.”That ghost carefully raised its head and looked back at the other party. The man’s scarlet eyes were slightly lowered, looking like a cold and cruel sea of blood. Those eyes that resembled Mother’s made it instinctively feel fearful.But it knew very well that the other party was the only person who could guarantee its safety.After that human who could control fire forcibly broke into M City, basically all the fierce ghosts there had been exterminated. It was the only one who managed to escape.While it hid in the corner overwhelmed with fear, the shadow ghost came over and asked it a question:“What do you think Mother would do to you if she knew that you had neglected your duty and allowed humans to enter the city and even get into the underground passages?”
So it only had one choice left.Immediately afterwards, it was put into a team that worked closely with Mother.It witnessed with its own eyes Mother’s cruel side. What filled that pool of blood weren’t just humans but also the bodies of other fierce ghosts and monsters. They had all been killed and dismembered for no reason and had their bodies discarded there.Not to mention
...It had been assigned a task that was almost impossible to complete.That fierce ghost knew very well that Ji Xuan was its only hope for survival. Moreover
..“Have you made up your mind?” The man’s voice was calm and his mood was difficult to read.The fierce ghost lowered its head, “I will follow your orders.”
..And, more importantly, it didn’t think that Mother would let the weaker ghosts continue living after she is released from the other side.“Good.” Ji Xuan said.He lowered his eyes and continued, “Tell me everything about this sacrificial pool.”“Yes.” The other party bowed respectfully..Very soon, only Ji Xuan and the shadow ghost were left in this wasteland.The shadow ghost couldn’t help but speak up, “King
.two hundred thousand souls
.what do you plan to do about that?”Ji Xuan gave it an indifferent look and replied, “Sacrificed souls are needed to open the door. Humans or ghosts, it doesn’t matter which one.”The shadow ghost immediately understood, “So you plan to use
”“No.” Ji Xuan said.The shadow ghost, “
..Huh?”The man raised his hand and lightly drew across his wrist. The skin there split open and a few drops of blood flowed out, dripping into a glass bottle below.The shadow ghost’s eyes widened in shock. It took a step back.It could smell
.a smell that was so rich, it was enough to make ghosts go crazy.Soon, the glass bottle was filled and firmly sealed.That smell was finally gone.The shadow ghost looked at Ji Xuan in disbelief, “King, t-this
..”“The energy in there is equivalent to two hundred thousand souls.” Ji Xuan gently wiped the wound on his wrist and it quickly closed.His originally pale complexion had turned even paler.Ji Xuan lightly hooked up his lips, “This should be enough.”Mother must open that door.Both he and Ye Jia are a part of this sacrificial process. They were not only essential components, but also raw materials to be used up..And now, the sacrifice pool was only lacking in two hundred thousand souls.If any one of them were missing

.In a situation like that, if the door was still forcibly opened, only one thing would happen:Backlash.
Mother would be rejected by the laws of the world and be forced back to the other side.Ji Xuan looked over at the shadow ghost, “You can go find Ye Jia.”“What
.what do I say?” The shadow ghost scratched its head blankly.Ji Xuan, “Tell him that the matter with the souls has been resolved.”All that remained was the last step----How to trick Ye Jia and get his hands on the other party’s blood.But
..Ji Xuan looked in the direction where the shadow ghost disappeared.He had to admit that he was a little apprehensive..Ji Xuan buried his head into the other person’s arms, greedily taking in the young man’s cold scent. His arms around him tightened. It was as if it would never be enough for him.The young man’s arms were as cold as his, but it felt warm. He knew that if he continued like this, he wouldn’t be able to return but he was still uncontrollably addicted to it.So intimate.It was like a dream and felt very unreal.The young man’s helpless voice sounded above him, “Then just a little longer.”He didn’t want to let go.He didn’t want to let go.Ji Xuan heard those words repeat in his head.He released the other party and raised his head and smiled, “Is there a reward this time?”The kiss on his forehead was soft and quick. Like an extremely fragile soap bubble, it burst open with a ‘pop’ deep in his chest, sending him floating up into the air. A cold and dark thought however wrapped around his ankle, dragging him back down into an abyss.Blood.No matter what method he used, he must get Ye Jia’s blood.At the door.Ji Xuan licked the other party’s lips, used his sharp teeth to cut into their lips and carefully brought the blood flowing out from that wound into his mouth.He calmly and steadily carried out his plan.But
.just a little longer. Just a little longer.Ji Xuan knew very well the source of his apprehensiveness.He was afraid
.that the moment he sees the other party, he wouldn’t be able to hold back his burning desire and attachment and would want to bring the other party together with him into hell.“After everything is over.”Ji Xuan heard the other party say this.Yes, after everything is over.
“Then it’s a promise.”Ji Xuan looked deeply at the young man standing before him, as if he wanted to firmly imprint the person into his mind.He would have never imagined that
..the person who would break the promise of ‘always being together’ would be himself.Ji Xuan let out a short laugh:“After everything is over.”.Puppet Master’s expression was particularly complicated, “
.Are you sure?”Ji Xuan, “Of course.”Puppet Master took in the man before him before shaking his head, “This isn’t like you, Ji Xuan.”Fierce ghosts are selfish existences that would do anything and everything in order to satisfy their desires. To make such a decision for the sake of another person
.It really couldn’t understand.Ji Xuan raised his hand and a drop of fresh blood appeared. He said calmly:“For you, if mother doesn’t leave the real world, you would have to hide here forever, no?”Puppet Master gave him a look and replied:“Fine.”He received the blood from Ji Xuan, “Give me some time.”After saying that, Puppet Master disappeared into the ghost domain.Ji Xuan stood alone in the wasteland for a very long time gazing in the distance with his scarlet eyes. Deep desire and reason fought against each other. His sharp nails sank into his palms, leaving deep imprints, but he could hardly feel the pain.A voice cried out in his mind.It was his desire.So what if the entire world is turned upside down? Wouldn’t it be enough if they’re together forever?You’re really willing to do this?Really?Ji Xuan’s pupils constricted and turned into a narrow vertical slit resembling those of a reptile. It flashed a cruel light.The young man’s face appeared in his mind.In the darkness of the night, the young man turned to look at him, his star-like eyes reflecting the night sky and lights above his head.Ji Xuan closed his eyes.Yes.He’s willing.At this moment, the shadow ghost returned with a big gift ----A struggling and trembling human.Ji Xuan glanced at him indifferently.His past as a human is already meaningless to him and he could hardly remember what happened so long ago, but since Ye Jia had sent him over, it could be regarded as a gift.
Just as Ji Xuan was about to raise his hand and order the shadow ghost to take him away and let the other fierce ghosts have their fun torturing him, a blood-red coloured moth fluttered towards him from a distance.He was surprised.Ji Xuan raised his hand and that moth landed on his finger. It seemed to be whispering something.It was news from the information network.There had been a change in the Bureau. They seemed to be gathering people
...and Ace was also there.Ji Xuan was stunned.Was gege about to take action?But the other party hadn’t told him anything about his next plans
.what was going on?The man lowered his eyes, his gaze falling onto the man’s pale and distorted face next to his feet. His scarlet eyes flashed a cruel light but his voice was still calm.He said to the shadow ghost, “No need to send him away.”Ji Xuan unhurriedly approached him and bent down. Facing the other party's terrified eyes, he smiled warmly:“Let’s have a nice chat.”A terrible scream echoed across the bloody wasteland. That cry was filled with intense fear and despair.It was unknown how much time passed.That scream finally stopped.Ji Xuan slowly cleaned his bloodied fingers with the emotions in his half-lowered eyes difficult to read.Although the director was never able to get his hands on the notebook, he had continued to conduct research into this matter for many years. He may not have sufficient knowledge but he had still managed to get quite close.And when comparing it with the knowledge Ji Xuan knew
.He could roughly guess the other party’s intentions.Pain shot through every muscle, bone and flesh in Ji Xuan’s body. His heart felt like it was once again pierced through by the other party’s scythe
..The shadow ghost cautiously stepped forward, “King, what do you plan on doing now?”Ji Xuan, “No need to stop them.”He looked at the shadow ghost, “Divert away the ghosts placed near the sacrificial pool. If you encounter an ambush, there is no need to fight. Immediately report it to Mother.”“Yes.” Not daring to ask anymore, the shadow ghost bowed deeply and disappeared.Ji Xuan lowered his head and spread open his hand.A doll with light coloured hair and amber eyes sat in his palm carrying a small scythe.“Gege, looks like you lied to me too.”He lowered his head and lovingly kissed the top of the doll's head, “You love me.”.Ji Xuan lowered his scarlet eyes and his gaze swept across the humans who looked back at him with anger before retracting his gaze.The sacrificial pool of blood in front of him bubbled dangerously.A large hollow hole appeared in the air. Thick malice flowed out.Ji Xuan imperceptibly smiled as he held the doll that carried Ye Jia’s scent.Gege, I win.