[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-ring-of-fate":3,"chapter-the-ring-of-fate-the-ring-of-fate-chapter-41":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Ring of Fate",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2298010,4496,"Chapter 41: The Wraiths","the-ring-of-fate-chapter-41",41,"\u003Cp>What kind of otherworld? Lu Mi’s heart jolted; he quickly turned his head toward the window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He should have seen hills, grasslands, and trees, but what met his eyes was a wasteland, with pale clouds stacked layer upon layer high above, blocking out all sunlight and casting every object into the shadow of a vast darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the dark brown wasteland, figure after figure moved and wandered—mostly clad in white linen robes, their faces pale with a bluish tinge, eyes utterly hollow, mouths slightly agape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These clearly weren’t normal people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among the countless figures, some ran frantically toward the edge of the wasteland—or from it—as if they could never stop, never attain the longed-for rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the edge of the wasteland, where a cliff seemed to loom, faint shapes of black monsters with human bodies and goat-like horns could be seen; they occasionally seized a figure in white linen and hurled it downward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cries of agony drifted faintly into Lu Mi and Aurora’s ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tap-tap-tap—among the countless figures, a towering human clad in deep black full armor rode a gaunt white horse, barely more than skin and bone, sometimes walking slowly, sometimes galloping back and forth, as if herding sheep.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi had exceptional eyesight; as the figure turned its body, he clearly saw its appearance from afar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside its metallic sheen helmet, two crimson lights flickered like flames; a grotesque wound stretched from its neck down to its navel, nearly splitting it in half, exposing a long trail of pale intestines dragging behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No other evidence was needed—Lu Mi’s mind instantly flashed one thought:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Death Knight!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the Death Knight that appeared often in the folk legends of Intis!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the carriage carrying him and Aurora came to a stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Noira said nothing, opened the door, and stepped out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from her clothing, her pale-blue face, hollow eyes, and numb expression were growing ever more like those of the figures in white linen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora turned her gaze away from the window and said in a low voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These are all wraiths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must not leave my side.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, she pulled out a golden brooch and pinned it to her chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneously, her other hand withdrew from a hidden pocket inside her clothing a handful of gray-black powder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi leaned forward, glancing at the driver’s seat, and saw that Sevel had also changed—he now had a pale-blue face, hollow eyes, and was slowly walking into the depths of the wasteland, as if he had been dead for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hurriedly told Aurora:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sister, I’m already a Follower—I’ll drive the carriage while you deal with these wraiths; let’s get out of here as fast as possible!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since he had no ability to combat wraiths or ghosts, he reluctantly took on the role of driver.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, if the Death Knight charged toward them, he’d do his best to hold it off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora was startled and, without time to ask questions, warned:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Check the condition of the horses!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only then did Lu Mi realize—he turned his attention to the horses ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They seemed to have had their flesh and blood drained; their coats withered, clinging to bones, utterly motionless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Those two horses seem dead,” Lu Mi reported.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Aurora could speak, the wraiths surrounding them, as if sensing the scent of the living, abruptly changed direction and surged toward the carriage, trying to get inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“xxx,” Aurora uttered a word in a language Lu Mi didn’t understand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, the golden brooch on her chest glowed faintly, and the gray-black powder in her left hand ignited instantly, emitting a fierce yet non-harsh golden light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The light flowed like water across the surroundings; the moment the wraiths touched it, they screamed instinctively, their bodies rising in pale smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They tried to retreat, but more wraiths pressed forward, forcing countless figures to crowd around the carriage, as more and more “people” evaporated and vanished.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi watched, both envious and heavy-hearted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He raged at his own helplessness, his longing to ascend his Sequence and gain greater power intensifying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Aurora’s powder nearly spent and more wraiths still pouring in from afar, completely ignoring those already dissolved by the light, Lu Mi quickly warned:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We can’t stay here forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Break out!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even with the most abundant supplies, Sister couldn’t handle this many wraiths!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, the Death Knight and the demonic creatures near the wasteland’s edge hadn’t moved toward them yet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The best course now was to force their way out of this wasteland known as the “Otherworld” before her supplies ran out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora nodded and said simply:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Follow me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No sooner had she spoken than the gray-black powder in her hand burned to ash, and the empty wasteland around them was instantly filled again by surging wraiths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora quickly pulled out another handful of material, using the golden brooch on her chest to ignite it naturally, producing a brilliant golden glow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wraiths near the carriage screamed as they melted into the light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora leapt from the carriage and sprinted toward the nearest edge of the wasteland; Lu Mi followed close behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, a hand reached out from the golden light and grabbed Lu Mi’s arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With his sharp instincts and heightened senses, Lu Mi sensed the danger in time, twisted his forearm, and lashed out violently at the hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt as if he’d struck a block of solid ice; intense cold surged into his body, briefly freezing him stiff.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clack-clack-clack—his teeth chattered as he saw the hand’s owner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It, too, wore white linen, but its face was covered by a mask made of white paper; its form evaporated extremely slowly within the golden light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Lu Mi freeze, the strange wraith suddenly became insubstantial, preparing to merge with him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a pure and holy light shone down, striking the masked wraith.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It froze in place, its body blazing fiercely before dissolving into streams of black mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t stop!” Aurora pulled her right hand away from the golden brooch and kept sprinting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi shook off the cold and strode after his sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Relying on handful after handful of gray-black powder and the witch’s spells, the two forced their way across the wasteland, countless figures in white linen evaporating in the golden light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, Aurora couldn’t possibly carry only one type of material, stuffing every pouch with the same thing—as a witch, she had to prepare for every possible scenario.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before long, her hidden pouch of sunflower powder was empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet they were still hundreds of meters from the wasteland’s edge, and the wraiths around them seemed endless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Worse still, the Death Knight seemed to have sensed the commotion and turned his horse toward them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Within the golden light, Aurora’s expression shifted several times; she slowed her pace, gritted her teeth, and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Idiot brother, when I shout ‘three,’ run straight for the edge of the wasteland—don’t look back!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi was about to object, but Aurora added:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry—I’ll follow right behind you. If you stay, you’ll only interfere with me casting a powerful spell and slow me down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As she spoke, she removed the golden brooch from her chest and handed it to Lu Mi, who had also slowed down, instructing him:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Focus your spirituality, extend it to this brooch, and when you run, repeat this word—‘xxx’!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi didn’t understand the word, but he forcibly memorized its pronunciation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he took the golden brooch, he felt warm light wash over him, and many dark thoughts vanished, leaving his mind slightly dulled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instinctively fastening the brooch, Lu Mi followed his sister’s guidance and concentrated, extending his spirituality outward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the gray-black powder in her hand dwindling, Aurora pulled out another material and shouted loudly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“One, two, three!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To avoid slowing his sister, Lu Mi sprinted forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost simultaneously, he shouted the word with all his strength:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“xxx!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The golden brooch glowed brightly, radiating streams of pale-gold sunlight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that instant, Lu Mi felt as if he wore a small sun upon his chest; the surrounding wraiths instinctively avoided him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud-thud-thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he sprinted forward, unable to shake his worry for his sister, he half-turned his body and glanced back toward Aurora.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora remained where she was, surrounded by swirling black mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black mist seemed to have an intense pull on the wraiths—they abandoned Lu Mi and surged entirely toward Aurora.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi wasn’t stupid—he understood at once that Aurora’s promise to “follow behind” had been a lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aurora!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shouted, slammed to a stop, and spun around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He feared that those who died within the cycle would truly die when the cycle ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora turned at the sound of his voice; seeing him halt, she cried urgently:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you an idiot? Run!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi said nothing—he charged toward Aurora, and the wraiths ahead, illuminated by the golden brooch, parted for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Aurora lowered her head slightly and muttered softly:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What an idiot…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She immediately pulled out another material and scattered the iron-black powder toward Lu Mi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi was instantly pinned down by an invisible giant hand, forcibly shoved toward the edge of the wasteland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He struggled violently, but found no point to push against.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next second, he saw Aurora, her golden hair coiled up, offer a faintly sorrowful smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora whispered gently:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stupid little brother, live well...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before her words faded, the black mist around her had been completely consumed by the undead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was now fully exposed before countless figures and the Death Knight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Aurora!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Mi’s eyes widened to their limits, as if his eye sockets might split open; thick red veins appeared in his pupils and across his skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet he could not stop being pushed toward the edge of the wasteland.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, all the undead froze in place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something seemed to be happening in the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aurora sensed it, turned in shock, and saw a open-top carriage passing by.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The carriage resembled a seashell or a cradle, entirely dark red; it was pulled not by horses, but by two black, horned creatures resembling devils.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside sat a woman, wearing a floral crown and a green dress, her face strikingly similar to Lady Pualis.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unlike Lady Pualis, her aura was profoundly majestic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Death Knight turned his steed and followed the lady.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the undead on the wasteland made the same choice, clustering behind the carriage as it moved toward the hazy mountain ridges on the other side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1753,"2026-06-20T06:22:34.374Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","a806cf06f2606209eb56b360996d7919ecf8819ee8bf39749e13c41ac566513a","the-ring-of-fate-chapter-42","the-ring-of-fate-chapter-40",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-ring-of-fate-cover.jpg"]