772: mutation

Lin Yang shook his head, temporarily pushing down those miscellaneous thoughts.

The cold, chilling power emanating from the Spirit Communication Array before him made his body shiver uncontrollably.

Furthermore, as more and more Yin Soul power gathered, Lin Yang could even faintly hear some low sobs and indistinct voices echoing vaguely in his ears.

A chill suddenly rose from his back, as if something had pressed up against him.

In an instant, Lin Yang's scalp tingled, and he couldn't help but take two steps back.

However, those low sobs and the whispers that sounded like ghosts did not disappear; instead, they became a bit clearer.

There was even an indescribable, eerie laughter, as if mocking Lin Yang for his cowardice.

The chill on his back grew thicker.

The eerie laughter also shifted from the Spirit Communication Array to echoing directly beside his ears.

It felt as if an invisible force was pressing down on his back.

Lin Yang's body stiffened first, then uncontrollably bent slightly.

"Damn it, is there really something unclean here?"

Lin Yang cursed inwardly.

As a cultivator, he naturally did not believe in ghosts and gods.

After a cultivator dies, their Dao dissipates, and they certainly would not transform into the ghosts and monsters that ordinary people imagine.

But the current situation made Lin Yang's scalp numb.

The things summoned by this Spirit Communication Array were indeed quite sinister.

Even though this was not reality, he still felt that this Ancient Ruins projection world was somewhat eerie.

"Spirit Communication Array, spirit communication..." Lin Yang frowned.

He repeated the name of this Formation Array several times.

The eerie voices were still echoing in his ears.

Lin Yang simply stopped listening and looking; he closed his eyes, even shutting down his five senses, relying on his consciousness to sense and control these cold, chilling forces.

But the effect was not obvious.

Some of the cold, chilling forces were completely out of control, showing signs of wanting to break free from the constraints of the Spirit Communication Array.

Inexplicably, Lin Yang felt that these cold, chilling forces were mocking him, as if he were just a novice foolishly attempting to control them.

Lin Yang felt a surge of anger and unleashed all his Dao Power, forcibly suppressing that portion of the uncontrolled cold, chilling forces.

Sss, sss, sss.

The cold, chilling forces clashed head-on with Lin Yang's Dao Power.

If it weren't for the fact that these cold, chilling forces were, to some extent, constrained by the Spirit Communication Array, Lin Yang would not have been a match for them at all.

The two collided head-on, locked in a stalemate.

Lin Yang seemed to see hideous faces grinning, looking down at him from above.

Whether it was an illusion or not, Lin Yang suddenly saw a distorted face enlarge abruptly and bite towards him.

"Backlash!"

In that instant, Lin Yang immediately thought of the backlash of the Spirit Communication Array that his senior martial brother had just mentioned.

This was the backlash from the cold, chilling forces summoned by the Spirit Communication Array that he couldn't quite control!

Just as he was about to be bitten by this twisted, giant, hideous face, Lin Yang caught a glimpse of his senior martial brother standing in the corner of the room out of the corner of his eye.

He immediately shouted, "Senior Brother, help me!"

He couldn't figure out the true source of these cold, chilling forces, and even his current identity as a Junior Martial Brother, with cultivation at the Dao Above level, couldn't suppress them.

But the senior martial brother beside him looked calm and composed; clearly, he had a way to deal with these cold, chilling forces.

He asked for help without hesitation.

After all, his senior martial brother had said many times before that he was too stubborn and didn't know how to make use of external help.

Then he would make use of it now!

Hearing the cry for help, the senior martial brother looked a bit surprised, as if he hadn't expected Lin Yang to ask for help so quickly, but he still acted immediately.

A massive force surged from within the senior martial brother, instantly enveloping all the cold, chilling forces, suppressing them back into the Spirit Communication Array, and then with a wave of his hand, he destroyed the Spirit Communication Array.

The room immediately returned to calm.

The temperature also returned to normal levels.

The cold, chilling aura that had made Lin Yang's scalp numb vanished, and his back straightened again.

Lin Yang couldn't help but wipe away non-existent cold sweat from his forehead before he somewhat collected himself.

To be honest, Lin Yang's mood at this moment was somewhat complicated.

Previously, his senior martial brother had said that as long as he could master the power of the Spirit Communication Array within a thousand years, he would be allowed to leave the sect and go down the mountain for a trip.

At that time, he hadn't taken it to heart at all; after all, even though he had been pulled into this Ancient Ruins projection world, his current identity as a Junior Martial Brother possessed Dao Above level power.

Wouldn't dealing with some eerie things be easy?

However, the experience just now made him realize that this task was not easy either.

He turned to look at his senior martial brother, first thanking him, and then asked solemnly, "Senior Brother, where do these forces actually come from?"

Asking this was, to be honest, a bit risky, because he was not, after all, the real Junior Martial Brother.

If it were discovered that he didn't even know basic common knowledge, it would be troublesome if an accident occurred.

But his senior martial brother didn't suspect anything and instead smiled:

"Junior Martial Brother, that you could ask me for help the first moment you were unable to handle it yourself is a great improvement."

"I thought you would insist on toughing it out yourself again, and only ask for my help when you absolutely couldn't hold on anymore. You've finally wised up and realized the principle that when there is external help available, you should make use of it."

His senior martial brother praised him first.

It seemed that Lin Yang's immediate request for help had made him very satisfied and gratified.

This made Lin Yang mutter inwardly.

Could this Junior Martial Brother have been an absolute stubborn mule before, insisting on carrying everything himself?

To the point that asking for help early now could earn him praise?

His senior martial brother then continued to answer Lin Yang's question:

"Junior Martial Brother, the power summoned by the Spirit Communication Array is, naturally, the power of Yin Souls."

"..." Lin Yang was speechless.

What was the difference between saying this and saying nothing?

He knew this was the power of Yin Souls!

What he wanted to ask was where the power of Yin Souls came from.

His senior martial brother seemed to see his confusion and, without waiting for him to ask again, further explained:

"Junior Martial Brother, Yin Souls are naturally formed after living people die. This is all basic common knowledge; you should know this. Those Yin Souls linger in the Yin Realm for a long time and can only be summoned through the Spirit Communication Array."

"Of course, this is the method for us ordinary cultivators. Some great powers can directly communicate with the Yin Realm and forcibly capture souls. I have even heard rumors of great powers using their physical bodies to break directly into the Yin Realm to capture the power of Yin Souls from a region, but that is too far from us. Let's not talk about that for now."

His senior martial brother looked at Lin Yang again: "Junior Martial Brother, you did quite well this time; you just lack some experience."

"Although a basic Spirit Communication Array generally cannot summon any powerful Yin Souls, you must still be careful and cautious."

"Next time, after you finish setting up the Spirit Communication Array, if you notice that the Yin Soul power is about to exceed your control, just destroy the Spirit Communication Array directly. Don't be like this time, letting the Spirit Communication Array keep running. Otherwise, if too many Yin Souls are summoned, you won't be able to control them at all."

His senior martial brother's words made Lin Yang feel a shiver in his heart.

What was this saying?

Formed after living people die?

The Yin Realm?

And great powers using their physical bodies to break into the Yin Realm?

This sounded...

"Senior Brother, these Yin Souls wouldn't be what are called ghosts, would they?" Lin Yang asked cautiously.

His senior martial brother pondered for a moment and said, "If you want to understand it that way, that's fine, but it's not the ghost talk in the ordinary sense."

Lin Yang shivered again.

The things in this Ancient Ruins projection world were eerily hair-raising.

"Senior Brother... um, I have understood how to operate it; I must proceed step by step. Then I will continue to try, and I will have to trouble Senior Brother to continue helping me guard."

Lin Yang took a deep breath. He didn't intend to let go of his senior martial brother as a helper and planned to continue setting up the Formation Array.

This damn place was too sinister; he had to leave as soon as possible.

"Since Junior Martial Brother is so diligent, then I, as your senior brother, am naturally duty-bound. Go ahead and set up the Formation Array with peace of mind," his senior martial brother said with a smile.

He seemed very gratified by Lin Yang's ambition and hard work.

Lin Yang didn't waste any more words.

He immediately set up the Spirit Communication Array again.

This time, following the method his senior martial brother had just mentioned, he set up the Spirit Communication Array. When he felt that a portion of the cold, chilling power had gathered around him, he immediately destroyed the Spirit Communication Array first.

Then he went to try to suppress and control those cold, chilling forces.

Just like that.

Lin Yang kept trying.

From initially only being able to control the cold, chilling power summoned by the Spirit Communication Array for twenty or thirty seconds.

To later being able to master the cold, chilling power summoned by the Spirit Communication Array maintained for five minutes.

And this was already close to his current limit.

His senior martial brother was obviously very satisfied with this speed of progress:

"Junior Martial Brother, you are truly amazing. You are worthy of being a Spirit Communication Saint Body; the speed of your progress is truly fast. Our Saint Spirit Sect will have to rely on you for revitalization in the future. If Master knew, he would certainly be very happy. I will tell Master about your progress right now!"

Lin Yang's expression was strange.

Was this senior martial brother always this direct when praising people?

"Saint Spirit Sect..."

Lin Yang repeated it in his heart, and that could be considered knowing the name of this sect.

"I must find another opportunity to figure out the identity of this senior martial brother, otherwise I might give myself away," Lin Yang thought to himself.

Up to now, he still didn't know the name of this senior martial brother.

Just like that, in the following time, Lin Yang went to the Formation Array room every day to set up the Spirit Communication Array, and then did his best to control those Yin Soul powers.

Of course, he also couldn't do without having his senior martial brother guard by his side.

Lin Yang also found an opportunity to find out the name of this senior martial brother.

Xiao Yichen.

He was his Fifth Senior Brother.

This meant that besides Xiao Yichen, he had four other senior brothers above him.

But what Lin Yang found strange was that, apart from Xiao Yichen, he hadn't seen the other four senior brothers.

Since he was awakened by Yu Qing, besides practicing and mastering the Spirit Communication Array, he also often looked for opportunities to inquire about the situation of the Saint Spirit Sect.

However, strangely, currently in the sect, apart from his senior brother Xiao Yichen, the other disciples were all outer sect disciples.

Not a single other inner sect disciple was to be seen, and those outer sect disciples also refused to talk about the situation of the other senior brothers.

He didn't know if they really didn't know, or what was going on.

In short, Lin Yang didn't gather much useful intelligence.

He also found another opportunity to meet with Yu Qing.

Yu Qing also hadn't found a way to leave early.

Lin Yang could only hope that he would reach Xiao Yichen's requirements sooner, so he could go down the mountain as soon as possible.

Day after day.

In the blink of an eye, three hundred years passed.

On this day, after Lin Yang finished setting up the Spirit Communication Array, Xiao Yichen showed a very satisfied smile:

"Junior Martial Brother, you are truly amazing. In just three hundred years, you have already fully mastered the power of the basic Spirit Communication Array. I am truly proud of you. If Master knew, he would certainly be overjoyed."

Lin Yang didn't speak.

That Master, so much time had passed, and he still hadn't returned.

He felt that something was wrong.

However, he didn't ask, but instead said, "Senior Brother, does that mean I have completed your task and can leave?"

Xiao Yichen smiled and nodded, "Junior Martial Brother, you have completed the mastery of the Spirit Communication Array ahead of schedule; naturally, you can go down the mountain for a trip."

"Thank you, Senior Brother. In that case, I would like to go down the mountain today."

Lin Yang didn't want to delay; he wanted to test if he could escape this projection world, and at the same time, he said:

"Senior Brother, you surely wouldn't be at ease with me going down the mountain alone. How about finding another junior brother to go with me? You could issue him a sect mission requiring him to accompany me down the mountain, how about that?"

By saying this, he wanted Xiao Yichen to issue a mission to Yu Qing.

In this way, both of them would have a mission, and perhaps they could both escape the projection world.

Xiao Yichen didn't hesitate much and agreed, "That is also fine. However, in the current circumstances, we can only pick one from the outer sect disciples."

Lin Yang naturally indicated that it didn't matter.

Afterward, he found Yu Qing and had Xiao Yichen issue the mission.

Yu Qing accepted it, and then the two prepared to go down the mountain.

But before they had gone far.

Xiao Yichen suddenly caught up with the two again, his expression somewhat complicated and grave, and said to Lin Yang:

"Junior Martial Brother, come with me first."

Saying this, without waiting for Lin Yang to speak, he pulled Lin Yang into a secret chamber within the sect without explanation.

"Junior Martial Brother, remember this well. From now on, you must stay here. No matter what happens outside, you must not go out."

Saying this, he gave Lin Yang a spatial ring: "Junior Martial Brother, inside this are some medicinal pills and resources, as well as the Formation Array cultivation diagrams for intermediate and higher-level Spirit Communication Arrays. You must practice diligently; in the future, you will recreate the glory of our Saint Spirit Sect!"

Lin Yang felt a sudden, inexplicable shock in his heart: "Senior Brother, what has happened?"

Xiao Yichen, however, did not answer and only looked at him with a smile: "Junior Martial Brother, remember my words. No matter what happens, you must not come out. Promise me!"

"I..." Lin Yang subconsciously wanted to say something, but under Xiao Yichen's gaze, he couldn't help but nod: "Senior Brother, I promise you."

Xiao Yichen then turned and left with satisfaction, and sealed the secret chamber.

A bad premonition rose in Lin Yang's heart.

He tried to break through the seal of the secret chamber, but he couldn't do it at all.

He didn't know how much time had passed.

Outside the secret chamber, there were sudden bursts of roaring sounds and vast fluctuations of power.

Someone was fighting!

Lin Yang wanted to spread his divine sense to sense it, but this secret chamber couldn't even be penetrated by divine sense.

He could only listen to the commotion outside getting louder and louder, and then quickly subsiding.

The battle had obviously ended.

Lin Yang had no choice but to wait patiently for Xiao Yichen to return.

But no matter how he waited, no one came.

It was as if he had been forgotten.

"Something big must have happened outside, but I can't get out of this secret chamber at all. Am I going to be trapped here forever?"

Lin Yang's brows were tightly furrowed.

If he couldn't get out of the secret chamber, it basically meant he would be trapped in the Ancient Ruins forever.

He hadn't expected things to suddenly develop like this.

He had clearly completed Xiao Yichen's previous task and could go down the mountain.

Yet it had suddenly turned out like this.

"There must be some way to get out."

Lin Yang made himself calm down and began to think of countermeasures.

After a moment, he looked at the spatial ring that Xiao Yichen had given him earlier.