24: The Meaning of Chapter 24

"There are array remnants on this platform, perhaps they can help us." Bi Luo's trembling finger pointed at the faint runes appearing on the stone platform's surface.

Qing Luo focused intently: "What do these runes mean?"

"It's too complex," Bi Luo struggled to prop herself up, "I only recognize parts of it... but this is the Yin-Yang Two Extremes Array, it should be able to amplify the power within you."

In the distance, the demoness was struck by a Men in Black's palm, staggering backward. Daoist Wangchuan also fell into a disadvantage, bloodstains already visible on his face.

Qing Luo no longer hesitated, placing her hands on the stone platform: "Tell me what to do!"

Bi Luo guided her: "Use your heart as a guide, feel the soul bead, and let it resonate with the stone platform."

Qing Luo closed her eyes, feeling the rhythm of the soul bead within her. In an instant, a strange yet familiar power surged into her heart, and she seemed to hear that voice from her dream:

"Go ahead, I am with you."

The runes on the stone platform suddenly lit up, and light flowed like water towards Qing Luo's hands. She stood up, her eyes gleaming with golden light, and walked towards the battlefield.

"Be careful!" Bi Luo cried out urgently.

The leader of the Men in Black noticed the anomaly and waved to his companions: "Stop her!"

A Man in Black flew forward, his magic artifact emitting a shrill whistle. Qing Luo, however, remained calm, raising her hand and sweeping it, a golden light cutting out like a blade. The Man in Black dodged in horror, but was still grazed on the shoulder by the golden light, instantly emitting black smoke and letting out a tragic scream.

"Yin-Yang Power!" The leading Man in Black exclaimed in shock, "How is this possible?"

Qing Luo walked lightly to the demoness's side: "Are you alright?"

The demoness looked at Qing Luo, who seemed like a completely different person, with surprise mixed with relief: "You... controlled the power of the soul bead?"

"Not entirely," Qing Luo's voice carried a different rhythm, "it's more like it's guiding me."

The Men in Black regrouped, staring warily at Qing Luo. Their leader sneered: "How long can a mere remnant of soul bead power last?"

He raised his hand and conjured a black talisman, while the other two attacked from the sides. Qing Luo calmly drew a Tai Chi symbol with her hands, golden light encircling her body. The black talisman bounced back the instant it touched the golden light, striking one of the Men in Black in the chest, sending him flying back several zhang.

"Retreat!" The leading Man in Black, seeing the unfavorable situation, shouted urgently.

Just as the three were about to flee, Qing Luo suddenly clasped her hands together, and the golden light transformed into countless threads, entangling the three of them.

"Presumptuous!" The leading Man in Black roared, black energy erupting, but he only managed to break free from some of the golden threads.

Qing Luo separated her hands, and the golden threads tightened abruptly. The three Men in Black cried out in pain, their black energy and the golden light mutually dissolving. Just as victory was about to be decided, Qing Luo's face suddenly turned pale, and she spat out a mouthful of blood, the golden threads instantly dissipating.

The Men in Black seized the opportunity, transforming into three streaks of black smoke and vanishing into the dense fog.

"Qing Luo!" The demoness quickly supported the swaying Qing Luo.

Daoist Wangchuan's expression was solemn: "Her soul power is overdrawn."

Bi Luo walked over with difficulty: "Her physique is special. This is her first time using such powerful strength, and it has exceeded her capacity."

Qing Luo's face was pale, but she still asked with concern: "Master, are you alright?"

Daoist Wangchuan shook his head: "Just superficial wounds." He looked into the distance: "We are temporarily safe, but we must leave quickly. The Dark Prison people will not give up."

The demoness supported Qing Luo: "Where to?"

Daoist Wangchuan pondered for a moment: "To find Chu Yang. Qing Luo has the soul bead within her, so her senses should be the most acute."

"I..." Qing Luo tried to say something, but suddenly her vision went black, and she fainted.

"Qing Luo!" The demoness exclaimed.

Daoist Wangchuan checked her and sighed in relief: "Just exhaustion of soul power, rest will suffice."

Bi Luo sat down weakly: "I also need to recover."

The demoness looked around: "First, let's find a safe place to hide."

Daoist Wangchuan nodded: "I sensed a cave to the northeast just now, let's go there."

The four supported each other, moving forward with difficulty. The dense fog gradually dispersed, revealing a desolate mountain range.

The demoness looked at the unconscious Qing Luo, her face full of worry: "Is the power within her... really Chu Yang's?"

Daoist Wangchuan sighed: "Most likely. A soul bead recognizing its master is no small matter, especially since she can use Yin-Yang power."

"Then will it..." The demoness hesitated.

Bi Luo continued: "Will it affect her true self? I'm not sure about that either. As far as I know, soul power fusion usually doesn't change the recipient's essence, unless..."

"Unless what?" The demoness asked nervously.

"Unless the caster intentionally wills it," Daoist Wangchuan replied in a deep voice.

The three fell silent, only the sound of their footsteps echoing through the mountains.

In the distance, the entrance to a black-hole-like cave was faintly visible.

#Chapter 12

The cave was more spacious than imagined, dry inside, with some light filtering through cracks in the ceiling.

Daoist Wangchuan surveyed the surroundings: "It's temporarily safe here."

The demoness gently laid Qing Luo down, her fingers on her pulse: "Her breathing is steady, she's just sleeping."

Bi Luo leaned against the stone wall to meditate: "Master, those Men in Black just mentioned 'master'. Do you know who it is?"

Daoist Wangchuan frowned: "I only know that the leader of Dark Prison calls himself 'King of Hell'; other details are unknown."

The demoness took out a cloth pouch and distributed pills to everyone: "Take these to restore your strength."

Bi Luo took the pill and asked: "Master, why did you say you never secretly learned forbidden techniques? Wasn't that why you were expelled from the sect back then?"

Daoist Wangchuan gave a bitter smile: "I only said I was expelled, not the reason. Everyone thought I stole techniques, even you believed it?"

Bi Luo lowered her head in shame: "I just heard..."

"It's alright," Daoist Wangchuan looked at the gloomy sky outside the cave, "the truth will always come out eventually."

The demoness had a feeling: "Could there be another hidden story behind what happened back then?"

Daoist Wangchuan sighed deeply: "It's a long story. Back then, Chu Yang and I were both disciples of the Bright Heart Sect. He had extraordinary talent, and I earnestly sought his guidance. One day, the sect leader transmitted the Reincarnation Secret Art to him, and soon after, the scroll of the secret art was stolen. All the senior and junior disciples knew that I often sought Chu Yang's advice, so they suspected it was me."

"What's the truth?" The demoness asked.

"I did come into contact with that scroll, but not to secretly learn it." Daoist Wangchuan's expression was complex, "Chu Yang personally taught me."

"Then why didn't you defend yourself?" The demoness was puzzled.

Daoist Wangchuan shook his head: "Chu Yang had already gone down the mountain to travel, and if I defended myself, it would implicate him. Privately teaching secret arts is an even greater crime."

"So you were willing to bear the infamy?" Tears welled up in Bi Luo's eyes.

Daoist Wangchuan smiled indifferently: "It's just a reputation, nothing to dwell on."

"Master..." Bi Luo choked up.

Just then, Qing Luo suddenly let out a soft moan and woke up.

"Qing Luo!" The demoness quickly helped her sit up.

Qing Luo looked around blankly: "Where is this?"

Daoist Wangchuan explained the current situation and then asked: "How do you feel?"

"My head hurts," Qing Luo rubbed her temples, "but it feels very warm inside, like something is flowing."

Daoist Wangchuan nodded: "It's the power of the soul bead fusing with you."

Qing Luo raised her hand, a faint golden light swirling in her palm: "I just had a dream. I dreamt of someone teaching me how to use this power."