19: Chapter 19 Soul Mirror

"It's the soul mirror!" the enchantress exclaimed. "A magical artifact capable of trapping souls."

The Men in Black seized the opportunity, and one struck Bi Luo in the chest with a palm. Bi Luo spat blood and collapsed, on the verge of being captured.

The enchantress gritted her teeth. Although she had a grudge against Bi Luo, she couldn't stand seeing such bullying by numbers.

"Wait here," the enchantress said to Qing Luo before leaping out.

"Three against one—do you call that honorable?" the enchantress said coldly.

The Men in Black were stunned, but immediately surrounded her with caution.

"Another one comes," the leader sneered. "Perfect, we'll take you both at once."

The enchantress said no more. A ball of eerie blue flame gathered in her palm, which she violently hurled. The blue flame arced through the air and struck one of the Men in Black. He screamed as blue smoke erupted from his body, and he instantly turned to ash.

"It's the enchantress!" the remaining two shrieked in terror.

The enchantress gave a cold smile. "Recognize me now? It's too late."

The two turned and fled. The enchantress chased them for a few steps, but remembering the injured Bi Luo, she had to give up.

She walked back to Bi Luo and found that Qing Luo was already examining her injuries.

"How is she?" the enchantress asked.

Qing Luo shook her head. "It's serious; her soul has been damaged."

Bi Luo opened her eyes weakly. "Why... save me?"

The enchantress was silent for a moment. "After Chu Yang disappeared, I owed you an explanation."

Bi Luo forced herself to ask, "Did he... really abandon the soul of samsara?"

"He didn't abandon it; he chose a different way to use it."

"What way?"

The enchantress hesitated for a moment before deciding to tell the truth. "He hasn't disappeared; his body just needs to be reconstructed."

Bi Luo was shocked. "How is that possible?"

"The power of the soul of samsara is far beyond our imagination." The enchantress looked at Bi Luo. "Can you tell me now who these Men in Black are?"

Bi Luo struggled to sit up. "They are... people from the Dark Prison."

"Dark Prison?" The enchantress frowned. "I've never heard of it."

"That is because... they have always been hiding in the shadows," Bi Luo coughed a few times. "They specialize in hunting cultivators with special constitutions to collect their souls."

Qing Luo suddenly interjected, "I can tell they want your soul."

Bi Luo looked at Qing Luo in surprise. "Are you... a Spirit Eye user?"

Qing Luo nodded.

Bi Luo looked at the enchantress. "Where are you going?"

"Yin Yang Valley," the enchantress replied briefly. "There might be clues about Chu Yang there."

Bi Luo struggled to stand up. "I will go with you."

"Why?" the enchantress asked warily. "Shouldn't you be reporting to Daoist Wangchuan?"

Bi Luo gave a bitter smile. "Master... is no longer the master he once was."

The enchantress was startled. "What do you mean?"

"Ever since Chu Yang disappeared, Master has seemed like a different person," Bi Luo said, her eyes welling with tears. "He has begun seeking other ways to obtain the soul of samsara, even... willing to sacrifice his disciples."

Qing Luo suddenly pointed at Bi Luo's chest. "There is black energy there."

The enchantress looked and indeed saw a wisp of barely visible black energy entwined around Bi Luo's heart.

"This is..."

"It is Master's restriction," Bi Luo said with a bitter smile. "He planted this restriction inside me, so he can control my life and death at any time."

The enchantress was silent for a long time, then decided to accept this ally. "Fine, you may travel with us, but you must tell the truth, otherwise..."

"I know," Bi Luo interrupted. "For me now, there is no choice but to find Chu Yang."

The three formed a temporary alliance and continued on their way to Yin Yang Valley.

Night fell, and the three rested in a cave. Qing Luo was already asleep, Bi Luo sat cross-legged to regulate her breathing, and the enchantress leaned against the cave entrance, gazing at the starry sky.

"Do you really believe that Chu Yang will return?" Bi Luo asked softly.

The enchantress did not turn back. "I believe it."

"Why?"

"Because I understand him," the enchantress turned around, her gaze firm. "He never breaks his word."

Bi Luo looked at the enchantress and suddenly realized something. "The bond between you two isn't just a simple matter of saving a life, is it?"

The enchantress did not answer; she only smiled slightly, turned, and continued to gaze at the starry sky.

Moonlight spilled down, illuminating the anticipation in her eyes.

# Chapter 9

Yin Yang Valley is located surrounded by five great mountains. It is shrouded in fog all year round, where the energies of Yin and Yang converge. It is a treasure trove in the eyes of cultivators, but a dangerous place that mortals avoid at all costs.

Three days later, the enchantress and her group finally arrived at the outskirts of Yin Yang Valley.

"Such thick fog," Qing Luo exclaimed. "I can barely see what's ahead."

The enchantress looked around. "The fog inside the valley is even worse. Be careful not to get separated."

Bi Luo took out a red rope. "Use this to tie ourselves together so we don't get lost."

The three connected themselves with the red rope and, with the enchantress leading the way, stepped into Yin Yang Valley.

The fog inside the valley was substantial, with visibility less than three paces. Relying on memories from six hundred years ago, the enchantress moved forward slowly.

"This place is truly strange," Qing Luo whispered. "I feel like countless pairs of eyes are watching us."

Bi Luo nodded. "In Yin Yang Valley, the Yin energy keeps the souls of the dead from dispersing, and ghosts and spirits run rampant. It is a notoriously dangerous place."

Qing Luo swallowed hard. "Then why did you specifically come to a place like this?"

"Because this is where Yin and Yang converge," the enchantress explained. "Chu Yang once meditated on the Dao of Yin and Yang here and became the Yin Yang Loose Cultivator. If he needs to reconstruct his body, this is the most suitable place."

The three continued forward. Various strange sounds could be heard faintly in the fog—the crying of infants, the moaning of old men, and eerie laughter.

"Don't be distracted," the enchantress warned. "These are all illusions."

Bi Luo suddenly stopped. "Wait, someone is approaching."

The three became alert, but then saw an old man in black robes emerge from the fog. His face was kind, yet he gave off a powerful sense of oppression.

"Master!" Bi Luo exclaimed.

Daoist Wangchuan looked at the three of them with a smile. "I didn't expect you to end up together."

The enchantress stepped in front of Qing Luo. "Why are you here?"

"I have been keeping an eye on Yin Yang Valley," Daoist Wangchuan said calmly. "Six hundred years ago, Chu Yang attained enlightenment here; six hundred years later, I believe he will return here."

Bi Luo said in a low voice, "Master, you..."

Daoist Wangchuan looked at Bi Luo. "My good disciple, are you injured?"

The enchantress sneered. "It was caused by your restriction, wasn't it?"

"Restriction?" Daoist Wangchuan appeared confused. "What restriction?"

Bi Luo was shocked. "Master, you clearly..."

Daoist Wangchuan shook his head. "Bi Luo, I have never planted a restriction inside you."

"Then what is this?" the enchantress asked, pointing to the black energy on Bi Luo's heart.

Daoist Wangchuan focused his gaze and his expression changed drastically. "The Seal of the Dark Prison!"

Qing Luo suddenly realized. "No wonder those Men in Black wanted to capture her that day!"

"What does that mean?" Bi Luo asked, confused.

Daoist Wangchuan sighed. "I suspect someone impersonated me and planted the Seal of the Dark Prison inside you. Their goal was to lure you to Yin Yang Valley."

"Why lure me here?"

"Because," Daoist Wangchuan pointed to the heart of the valley in the distance, "there is a Yin Yang Great Array at the center of Yin Yang Valley, which is where Chu Yang condensed the soul of samsara back then. If he really intends to reconstruct his body, he will definitely return there."