30: Chapter 30 Chu Yang?

Qing Luo walked forward cautiously, with Moyue following closely at her heels.

The light source was a simple, ancient oil lamp; its flame was steady and bright, unaffected by any wind. Beside the lamp stood a stone tablet with four words inscribed upon it: "Samsara Array."

"This is..." Qing Luo murmured to herself.

Moyue gave a soft cry and suddenly ran forward. Qing Luo hurried to keep up, passing through a long, narrow passage into a spacious circular hall.

In the center of the hall was a massive Bagua diagram. Standing in the middle of the pattern was a man—a handsome, middle-aged man dressed in white, sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed.

Qing Luo was stunned. "Are you... Chu Yang?"

The man did not respond, remaining motionless with his eyes shut. Qing Luo summoned her courage and approached, only to find that the man was not a living person but a lifelike statue.

"So that's how it is..." Qing Luo sighed softly.

Moyue circled the statue a few times before suddenly jumping onto the center of the Bagua diagram and barking at Qing Luo.

Understanding the hint, Qing Luo stepped before the statue. From up close, it looked even more realistic, as if it might open its eyes at any moment. In its hands, the statue held a scroll titled "Sutra of Reincarnation."

"Is this a secret manual he left behind?" Qing Luo reached out to touch the scroll, but the moment she made contact, a burst of intense light flashed!

The scene before her changed abruptly, and Qing Luo found herself standing amidst a starry sky. A blurry figure approached her from the distance—it was Chu Yang!

"You have finally come," Chu Yang said with a smile. "I have waited a long time."

Qing Luo was shocked. "You... are you really Chu Yang?"

"I am, and I am not," Chu Yang replied. "I am merely a wisp of consciousness he left behind to wait for the fated one."

"The fated one... is me?"

Chu Yang nodded. "You carry a portion of my soul within you. This is destiny."

Qing Luo recalled Daoist Wangchuan's words. "Your soul is residing within my body?"

"Not entirely," Chu Yang explained. "Years ago, I performed the Great Reincarnation Technique and split my soul into three parts: one remained at Bright Moon Mountain to maintain the formation; one entered the cycle of reincarnation to be reborn; and the last part chose you as its host."

"Why me?"

"Heaven's will works in mysterious ways," Chu Yang smiled. "Perhaps it is because you were born with the Spirit Eye and can see things others cannot; perhaps it is because your heart is pure and untainted by the mundane world; or perhaps... this was all simply arranged by fate."

Qing Luo said thoughtfully, "So that's why the soul bead recognized me as its master..."

"Precisely because you have a fragment of my soul within you," Chu Yang nodded. "Now, I need your help."

"What kind of help?"

Chu Yang pointed into the distance. "My reincarnation has already awakened but has been captured by the Dark Prison. He needs to merge with my soul fragment to regain all his memories and power."

Qing Luo was surprised. "Where is your reincarnation?"

"Not far from here," Chu Yang said. "But first, you need to rescue your friends."

As soon as he spoke, the starry sky dissipated, and Qing Luo returned to the hall. Moyue was still standing on the Bagua diagram, as if time had stood still.

Qing Luo took a deep breath and looked at the statue. "I know what I must do."

She stepped onto the Bagua diagram and stood beside Moyue. The soul bead within her emerged automatically, emitting a soft glow. Qing Luo closed her eyes and slowly circulated the spiritual energy in her body according to the hand seals Chu Yang had just taught her.

The Bagua diagram lit up, and ripples of light spread outward from the center. Every strand of Moyue's black fur stood on end, and a brilliant blue light flared in its eyes.

"Open!" Qing Luo shouted softly.

The Bagua diagram erupted with a boom, and a pillar of intense light shot toward the sky as the cave shook violently!

Outside the stone door, the Witch and the leader of the Men in Black were still locked in a fierce battle. Bi Luo was already exhausted and had collapsed to her knees. The situation was critical.

"Hand over the girl," the leader of the Men in Black sneered. "I might give you a quick death."

The Witch wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. "In your dreams!"

At that moment, the stone door suddenly exploded from the inside. A dazzling golden light surged out, forming a massive golden formation that enveloped the entire platform!

The leader of the Men in Black was horrified. "The Samsara Array? Impossible!"

From the center of the formation, Qing Luo walked out slowly, with Moyue by her side, its gaze like burning torches. Even more shocking was the white-clothed figure following behind Qing Luo—it looked exactly like the statue of Chu Yang!

"Chu Yang!" The leader's face turned pale. "You... you're still alive?"

The white-clothed figure did not respond but gave Qing Luo a slight nod. Understanding the gesture, Qing Luo raised her hand and pointed; the golden light transformed into countless chains, binding the leader and all his subordinates.

"This is impossible!" the leader struggled desperately but could not break free.

Qing Luo walked over to the Witch. "Are you alright?"

The Witch looked at her in astonishment. "Qing Luo? You..."

"I've borrowed some power for the moment," Qing Luo smiled. "Where is Daoist Wangchuan?"

Just as she finished speaking, footsteps were heard on the mountain path. A familiar figure slowly appeared—it was Daoist Wangchuan! His aura was weak and his clothes were torn, but he still stood with a straight back.

"Master!" Bi Luo cried out with joy.

"The old man's life is certainly tenacious," the leader of the Men in Black gritted his teeth. "He actually didn't die!"

Daoist Wangchuan approached and saw the white-clothed figure behind Qing Luo, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. "Chu Yang..."

The white-clothed figure nodded in greeting to him, then looked at the leader and pointed a finger. The soul mirror in the leader's hand instantly flew out, floated into the air, and shattered into powder with a snap.

"No!" the leader screamed.

The white-clothed figure turned to Qing Luo and made a gesture. Qing Luo nodded. "I understand."

She looked at everyone. "Chu Yang says his reincarnation has been captured by the Dark Prison and is nearby. We need to save him."

The Witch and Daoist Wangchuan exchanged shocked looks. Bi Luo looked thoughtful. "No wonder the Dark Prison has been so active lately."

Qing Luo turned to the leader of the Men in Black. "Where is Chu Yang's reincarnation?"

"I wouldn't tell you even if I died!" the leader gritted his teeth.

The white-clothed figure shook his head slightly and tapped the leader's brow with a finger. In an instant, the leader let out a miserable scream, blood began to flow from his facial orifices, and the light in his eyes quickly faded.

"The memories in his soul show," Qing Luo said, as if she could read something, "that Chu Yang's reincarnation is being held in the Dark Prison Secret Dungeon, in an underground cave five miles from the foot of Bright Moon Mountain."

Daoist Wangchuan pondered for a moment. "We must go at once."

The white-clothed figure nodded and then looked at Qing Luo, making a gesture.

"He says," Qing Luo translated, "that he can only exist for a short while and must return to the Bagua diagram to maintain the formation. The rest is up to us."

The white-clothed figure gradually became transparent before finally turning into a wisp of golden light and flying back into the cave.

After resting for a moment, the group decided to set off immediately. The leader of the Men in Black was dead, and the remaining Dark Prison Disciples were trapped in the golden chains, unable to escape for the time being.

On the way down the mountain, the sky grew dark and mist filled the forest. Moyue walked at the very front, leading the way.

Bi Luo asked Qing Luo, "That white-clothed figure... was it really Chu Yang?"

Qing Luo shook her head. "It was just a wisp of consciousness he left behind to protect the Samsara Array."

The Witch asked curiously, "What did he say to you?"

"He said..." Qing Luo hesitated for a moment. "He said everything is fated. I have a fragment of his soul within me so that I can merge with his reincarnation in the future."

Daoist Wangchuan sighed. "The path of reincarnation is profound and mysterious. Chu Yang's wisdom far exceeds that of ordinary men."

After walking for about an hour, Moyue suddenly stopped and stared alertly ahead.

"What is it?" Qing Luo asked.

Moyue gave a low growl, its fur standing on end.

"There's an ambush," Daoist Wangchuan said warily.

The Witch focused her senses. "There are indeed people... but their auras are very weak."

" Proceed with caution." Daoist Wangchuan decided.

The group moved forward carefully, passing through a thicket to arrive at the entrance of a valley. Several bodies of Dark Prison Disciples lay at the entrance.