57: Soul Imprint Reveals Immortal Traces, Undercurrents Before the Trial

The locust leaves in Wangyue Courtyard were still rustling down, and the blood-stained bluestones were hot under the afternoon sun. As the Disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall carried away Lin Hongfeng's corpse and escorted Elder Zhao and Zhou Meng away, Chu Yunxi was carefully using Wood Element True Essence to repair the locust tree roots corroded by the Spirit Corroding Mist. Chu Yuning, meanwhile, crouched nearby, collecting the scattered fragments of the flowing frost sword (the gap cleaved by Zhou Meng's saber during the fight), her face filled with heartache—this sword was a gift from her Master when she first entered the Sect, and it had been with her for three years.

Lin Yang sat on a stone stool, holding the wisp of golden soul seal light thread between his fingers. The light thread shimmered faintly with the aura of the Misty Immortal Palace under the sunlight, subtly resonating with the gray-gold light of the chaos star core in his Dantian. The star core was slowly analyzing the information within the light thread, occasionally flashing a few blurry images: the mountain gate of the Misty Immortal Palace, Elders wearing white robes, tokens carved with cloud patterns... Although these images were indistinct, they gave him a better understanding of the Immortal Palace's layout.

“Senior Brother Lin, can this soul seal fragment really help us find the Immortal Palace's hidden operatives?” Chu Yunxi finished repairing the locust tree and walked up to Lin Yang, looking at the light thread in his hand with curiosity. “Lin Hongfeng just said that crushing the soul seal would make the people from the Immortal Palace come save him. Does that mean the soul seal can transmit location information?”

“Not only can it transmit location, but it can also monitor.” Lin Yang moved the light thread closer to the chaos star core. The gray-gold light enveloped the thread, and the image became clearer—he could see Lin Hongfeng communicating with an Immortal Palace Elder in a dungeon. The Elder's face was obscured by black mist, revealing only a hand wearing a Jade Thumb Ring. “Look, this Elder's Jade Thumb Ring is made of the same material as Zhao Kun's Immortal Palace Waist Token. It should be the same person.”

Chu Yuning also leaned in, pointing to the scroll in the Elder's hand in the image: “The runes on that scroll look very similar to the 'Immortal Palace Teleportation Formation' runes recorded in our Sect's ancient texts! I heard Master say that the Immortal Palace's Teleportation Formation requires a special soul seal to activate. Could Lin Hongfeng's soul seal be the key to the Teleportation Formation?”

Lin Yang's heart stirred. He recalled Shen Shuanghua mentioning that the “Trial of the Heavens Secret Realm shared the same Origin as the Spirit Locking Array.” If the soul seal could activate the Teleportation Formation, perhaps he could use this light thread to find the Secret Realm's hidden entrance. Just as he was about to analyze it further, the star core in his Dantian suddenly trembled rapidly—it wasn't a warning, but a strong resonance with a certain aura, pointing directly towards Meteorite Cliff behind the Star Moon Sect!

“It's Shen Shuanghua!” Lin Yang immediately stood up and put the light thread into the Five Elements Small World. “She must have sensed the aura of the Immortal Palace's soul seal. Let's go meet her at Meteorite Cliff.”

Chu Yunxi and Chu Yuning exchanged a look and immediately followed Lin Yang. The three walked up the small path behind the mountain. The trees along the way were still damp with morning dew, and occasionally they could hear the sound of Disciples practicing martial arts in the distance, yet everything felt strangely unreal after the recent assassination attempt. Chu Yuning couldn't help but ask, “Senior Brother Lin, why do you think the Immortal Palace is so obsessed with your star core? Is there some secret hidden inside?”

“Shen Shuanghua said that the star core is the key to the chaos origin, capable of unlocking the Spirit Locking Array and allowing people to control the power of Chaos.” Lin Yang kept walking, his gaze sweeping over the dense forest behind the mountain. “The Immortal Palace wants to monopolize the chaos origin, so naturally, they want to seize the star core. Lin Hongfeng and Elder Zhao were nothing more than their pawns.”

Chu Yunxi gripped the flowing frost sword tightly, her tone firm: “We will help you! Although our strength isn't enough right now, as long as you continue to guide our sword techniques, sooner or later we'll be able to help you fight the Immortal Palace!”

Lin Yang glanced back at the two of them, a faint smile appearing on his lips—though these twins came from the Xuantian Sword Sect, they lacked the arrogance of Sect Disciples. Instead, they were practical and diligent, having improved the “Azure Luan Double Dance” by more than half in just a few days. Given time, they would surely become capable assistants. Just as he was about to speak, he saw a pale purple figure standing at the edge of Meteorite Cliff: it was Shen Shuanghua.

Shen Shuanghua had clearly been waiting for a long time. Her flowing cloud-patterned Immortal Palace robe fluttered gently in the wind. In her hand, she held a Cloud-Patterned Jade Pendant similar to Lin Hongfeng's soul seal. Seeing Lin Yang approach, she immediately stepped forward: “You came, just as I expected. The soul seal's aura is very distinct. It's an Immortal Palace 'Outer Sect Deacon' level soul seal, used for transmitting basic information.”

“You recognize this soul seal?” Lin Yang took out the wisp of golden light thread and handed it to Shen Shuanghua.

Shen Shuanghua took the light thread, and faint green True Essence appeared on her fingertips. The image within the light thread instantly clarified: “This is the soul seal of the Immortal Palace's 'Flowing Cloud Hall'. The Hall Master is a Disciple of an Immortal Palace Elder and specializes in recruiting external forces—Elder Zhao and Lin Hongfeng were both his doing.” She pointed to the Elder's Jade Thumb Ring in the image. “This thumb ring is the token of the Flowing Cloud Hall. I saw it in the Immortal Palace. The Hall Master is named Yun Song. He excels at using poison and Teleportation Formations. Zhao Kun's Burning Gold Art was taught by him.”

Lin Yang understood immediately. When Zhao Kun used the Burning Gold Art earlier, his True Essence carried a faint toxicity, which originated from the same source as Elder Zhao's Spirit Corroding Mist. It must have been uniformly taught by Yun Song. He pressed, “Is Yun Song's only target the star core?”

“More than that.” Shen Shuanghua's expression darkened. “He is also collecting fragments of the Spirit Locking Array. The Spatial Core of the Qingmeng Mountain Secret Realm and the space stone in your hand are both crucial components of the Spirit Locking Array. The Immortal Palace wants to repair the Spirit Locking Array to control the chaos origin, and you are the only person who can stop them.”

Chu Yunxi and Chu Yuning were stunned—they had originally thought this was just a feud between Sects, but they never expected it to involve the ancient Spirit Locking Array and the chaos origin. This was a level beyond their comprehension. Chu Yuning couldn't help but ask, “Miss Shen, is the Trial of the Heavens also related to the Spirit Locking Array?”

“Yes.” Shen Shuanghua nodded. “The Trial Secret Realm is the outer region of the Spirit Locking Array. It hides fragments of the Spirit Locking Array, as well as traps set by the Immortal Palace. Yun Song will use the Trial to send more people to seize your star core and space stone.” She looked at Lin Yang, her tone serious. “You have achieved a Breakthrough to the Innate Seventh Layer, taking another step in strength, but it's still not enough—Yun Song is in the Gang Qi Realm Late Stage, and he has the aid of the Immortal Palace's Teleportation Formation. You must improve your strength further before the Trial.”

Lin Yang clenched his fist, the chaos star core slowly rotating in his Dantian: “I will. In the past few days, I analyzed the 'Study of Ancient Spatial Formations' and found that the space stone can resonate with the fragments of the Spirit Locking Array, which might help me find more clues during the Trial. By the way, Lin Hongfeng's soul seal contains Yun Song's Teleportation Formation Runes. Can you analyze them?”

“I can try.” Shen Shuanghua took the light thread and merged it into the Cloud-Patterned Jade Pendant in her hand. “This jade pendant was left behind by my Shen Family ancestors; it can analyze the Immortal Palace's runes. If we can find the pattern of the Teleportation Formation, we might be able to avoid Yun Song's ambush during the Trial.”

The group discussed for a long time on Meteorite Cliff. Shen Shuanghua drew the analyzed Teleportation Formation Runes for Lin Yang, cautioning him to be careful if he encountered similar runes during the Trial. Lin Yang, in turn, told Shen Shuanghua about Elder Zhao and Zhou Meng's confessions, asking her to watch out for the remaining forces of the White Cloud Sect and the Black Wind Stockade. As the sun set, Shen Shuanghua transformed into a pale purple stream of light and departed, leaving behind a final message: “I will contact you again before the Trial and bring you Immortal Palace Defensive Talismans.”

When Lin Yang returned to Wangyue Courtyard with Chu Yunxi and Chu Yuning, the sky was already dark. Although the locust tree in the courtyard had been corroded, under the nourishment of Chu Yunxi's Wood Element True Essence, it had sprouted new tender buds, radiating vitality. Chu Yuning looked at the tender buds and suddenly said, “Senior Brother Lin, we want to formally acknowledge you as our Master! No one in the Xuantian Sword Sect can guide our sword techniques. Only you can see our flaws and help us improve...”

Chu Yunxi also nodded, her tone sincere: “We know our identities are sensitive, but we absolutely won't do anything for the Xuantian Sword Sect that would betray you! We just want to follow you, learn sword techniques, improve our strength, and help you fight the Immortal Palace in the future!”

Lin Yang looked at their expectant eyes, recalling how they had risked everything during the assassination attempt, and made a decision. He took two bottles of Five Elements Spirit Liquid from his robe and handed them over: “There's no need for formal apprenticeship; let us treat each other as friends. This is Five Elements Spirit Liquid. It can help stabilize your cultivation. Starting tomorrow, we will practice the final form of the 'Azure Luan Double Dance,' striving to help you achieve a Breakthrough to the Innate Sixth Layer before the Trial.”

Chu Yunxi and Chu Yuning accepted the Spirit Liquid, their eyes filled with excitement, and they bowed deeply to Lin Yang: “Thank you, Senior Brother Lin!”

As night deepened, the candlelight in Wangyue Courtyard lit up. Lin Yang sat under the lamp, spreading out the Teleportation Formation Runes that Shen Shuanghua had drawn. The chaos star core analyzed the pattern of the runes in his Dantian. Chu Yunxi and Chu Yuning were in the courtyard, using the candlelight to absorb the energy of the Five Elements Spirit Liquid, their bodies faintly glowing with a pale blue light.

Lin Yang looked at the two diligently Cultivating outside the window, then lowered his gaze to the runes in his hand. A determined conviction rose in his heart—with Shen Shuanghua's help, the support of Chu Yunxi and Chu Yuning, and his own continuously improving strength, even if the Immortal Palace set up a comprehensive net, he could break through it. The Trial of the Heavens, the Misty Forbidden Land, his mother's whereabouts, the Immortal Palace's conspiracy... all the mysteries would be solved, one by one, in the near future.

The candlelight flickered, reflecting Lin Yang's steady profile, and the unstoppable sharpness in his eyes. His path of Chaos had just begun.