Spirit Domain

The morning sunlight once again bathed the grounds of Xiyuan Street, carrying with it the fresh scent of dew.

The large tree in the courtyard swayed gently in the breeze, its rustling leaves whispering softly, as if bidding farewell.

Jay stood at the courtyard gate, casting a final glance at the place where he had rested for several days.

His gaze carried a trace of nostalgia, but it was overwhelmed by determination.

Next to him, Wilk stood with his arms crossed, his eyes glimmering with eager anticipation.

"So, it's really time to leave," Wilk murmured, though there wasn't the slightest hesitation in his tone.

"Xiyuan Street is indeed a nice place, but it's far from enough to be the starting point for what we aim to accomplish."

Jay gave a faint smile, a light pack slung over his shoulder.

"Yeah, this place is decent, but it was never meant to contain what we're set out to do."

He stepped out of the courtyard, the creak of the gate behind him echoing softly, like a ritual marking their departure.

The two walked side by side along the street toward the unknown.

The residents of Xiyuan Street, ordinary souls lingering in this spiritual domain, carried on with their morning routines.

Occasionally, curious glances were thrown their way, but no one interrupted their journey.

Jay returned their looks with a nod, silently thinking, This world of the spirit realm is truly peculiar.

Ordinary souls who refuse to reincarnate choose to settle in such streets, living almost like regular people—as long as they don't turn into malevolent ghosts.

They headed east, passing through narrow alleys and winding paths.

The buildings lining the streets were low and weathered, their walls covered with moss and faint engravings, bearing the marks of a history that no one spoke of.

"These alleys feel strange," Wilk observed, scanning their surroundings.

"It doesn't feel like a simple residential area. It's more like… a passage—a path leading to somewhere unknown."

Jay kept walking, his sharp eyes studying the environment.

He nodded. "You're right. These alleys and their layout don't seem natural. It feels like they were deliberately designed for something."

Wilk frowned. "It's unsettling here, for sure."

As they pressed on, the atmosphere grew heavier.

Occasionally, they crossed paths with spirits or natives of the spiritual realm, but these figures hurried past, heads down, avoiding any engagement. A heavy tension lingered in the air, pressing down on them.

After an indeterminate amount of time, they suddenly halted.

Before them stood an ancient stone gate, its surface carved with three words: "Youfeng Street."

The gate was tall and imposing, its surface scarred by the passage of time.

On either side, stone pillars bore intricate phoenix carvings, their lifelike forms seemingly ready to take flight.

However, a peculiar aura emanated from the gate, one that sent shivers down their spines.

"Youfeng Street?"

Wilk read aloud, his tone laced with doubt.

"The name sounds poetic, but the energy here is entirely off."

Jay stood still, his gaze fixed on the gate.

From beyond it, he could feel a faint sense of pressure—a subtle, invisible force that resonated deeply.

Even within his spirit space, his guardian spirit, Ares, stirred uneasily, as though warning him of the danger ahead.

"There's something strange about this place," Jay murmured, his tone cautious. "It feels like there's something hidden—something far from ordinary."

Wilk nodded, his own guardian spirit, Adam, reacting similarly. The flickering light in his spirit space seemed to echo a silent alert.

"What do we do? Should we go in?" Wilk asked, his voice low and wary.

Jay didn't answer immediately. He turned to survey their surroundings, noticing how the air itself seemed to have stilled. Even the breeze had vanished, leaving an eerie silence. The world felt as though it were holding its breath, waiting for them to decide.

"It seems we have no way back," Jay finally said, his voice calm but resolute.

"Since we've come this far, we might as well see it through."

Wilk clenched his fists, a spark of determination lighting his eyes.

"Alright. If there's no way back, then we'll push forward. After everything we've been through, a little street called Youfeng won't stop us."

Sharing a knowing smile, the two strode toward the gate of Youfeng Street.

The shadow cast by the towering gate engulfed them, swallowing the light around them. They had no idea what awaited beyond, but their unwavering gazes betrayed no fear—only resolve and the thrill of the unknown.

The morning sunlight spilled onto the grounds of Xiyuan Street once more, but upon stepping into Youfeng Street, Jay was immediately struck by an unusual sense of oppression. This sensation was unlike ordinary danger—it was a chilling coldness that seeped into the very marrow of his soul, sending shivers through his being.

The buildings on either side of the street were dilapidated, their walls covered in black moss, and the air was thick with the stench of decay.

The surroundings were eerily silent, with only Jay and Wilk's footsteps echoing faintly through the desolate street.

"It's too quiet," Wilk murmured, his voice tinged with unease. "This place doesn't seem like somewhere normal spirits or humans could survive."

Jay frowned and stopped in his tracks. His sharp gaze swept over the area as a cold glint flashed in his eyes. "Something's wrong. This place is too oppressive, as if it's hiding something extremely dangerous."

At that moment, a voice echoed in Jay's mind—Ares, his guardian spirit, speaking with an unusual tone of gravity:

"Master, this place is far too dangerous. We must leave immediately. The presence here surpasses any enemy we've faced before."

Ares' warning heightened Jay's alertness.

His body tensed as his eyes continued scanning the surroundings, ready to react to any sudden attack.

Wilk, too, felt the abnormality. His guardian spirit, Adam, emitted a low hum, and the fluctuations within his spiritual space became so intense they seemed ready to burst forth.

Wilk's brows furrowed as he stared into the depths of the street. "Something's coming. Something very powerful."

Jay turned his gaze toward the same direction, his expression growing colder.

A formidable aura of icy, spiritual energy was steadily approaching, each step weighing heavily on their nerves.

The oppressive presence seemed to envelop the entire space, suffocating everything around it.

"It's here," Jay murmured, his voice calm but laced with tension.

From the depths of the street, a shadowy figure began to emerge. As it drew closer, the surrounding air seemed to freeze, plunging the area into a chilling coldness.

A tall figure cloaked in black robes materialized, its form shrouded in thick, swirling black mist.

The only discernible feature was a pair of blood-red eyes that gleamed like rubies, exuding a piercing chill that seemed to see through souls and penetrate all defenses.

Atop its head rested a dark, faintly glowing crown—an eerie ghost crown set with several gems that pulsed with a ghostly green light. Within each gem, countless tormented souls seemed to be sealed, their mournful wails faintly audible.

The black mist surrounding the figure coiled and writhed like a living entity, emanating a palpable aura of death.

Each step it took reverberated like a hammer blow, pounding against their chests and making it hard to breathe.

Jay felt an unprecedented pressure bearing down on him. His fists clenched instinctively, and spiritual energy surged within him as Ares quivered in his spiritual space.

"A Ghost King…"

"It's a Ghost King!" Wilk exclaimed in a hushed voice, his expression turning grim. "This level of existence… what's it doing here?"

The Ghost King's voice was low and rasping, yet it carried an unshakable authority that sent chills down their spines.

"Who dares trespass upon Youfeng Street? Do you know the price of your transgression?"

The voice echoed from all directions, its weight crushing down on Jay and Wilk like an invisible force.

Their bodies trembled slightly, and the flow of their spiritual energy felt suppressed, almost unmovable.

Gritting his teeth, Jay steadied his mind and forced himself to remain composed. He raised his head and met the Ghost King's crimson gaze without flinching.

"We are merely passing through. We mean no offense."

The Ghost King let out a low, menacing chuckle, his tone dripping with murderous intent.

"Passing through? This is no place for the likes of you. Since you've come, do not expect to leave."

As his words fell, the black mist began to expand, spreading rapidly as though to engulf the entire space in darkness.

Jay took a deep breath, his gaze sharpening. "It seems we have no choice but to face this."

Wilk snorted, his spiritual energy flaring to life as Adam's ethereal form appeared behind him.

"Fine. If there's no way out, then let's fight. I want to see just how strong this Ghost King really is!"

Jay summoned Ares, the guardian spirit's burning energy enveloping him as his resolve solidified. "Ares, this might be the toughest battle we've ever faced. Are you ready?"

Ares' voice echoed from within the spiritual space, brimming with fiery determination.

"Master, no matter how powerful the enemy, we will never back down!"

The two stood side by side, their eyes locked on the Ghost King ahead. Around them, the black mist twisted and surged, transforming into countless spectral apparitions that lunged toward them.

The Ghost King's oppressive aura grew even more overwhelming, like a towering mountain casting an unbreakable shadow.

Yet Jay and Wilk did not waver. Their spirits burned brightly amidst the encroaching darkness, their unwavering resolve the only light against the storm of death closing in.