33: Chapter 33 What brings you here?

Bi Luo was just about to answer when a white light suddenly lit up at the center of the stone platform and spread in all directions. Everyone couldn't help but stop and look at the light source in shock.

"What is this?" The Leader of the Men in Black stepped back warily.

The light grew more intense, forming a barrier that split the battlefield in two. The Men in Black were sealed outside, while the Witch, Daoist Wangchuan, Qing Luo, and Bi Luo were enclosed within.

"The formation has activated on its own," Daoist Wangchuan said in surprise. "This is the Yin Yang Barrier!"

The Leader of the Men in Black roared and charged at the light shield, only to be flung several yards away, crashing heavily onto the ground.

"Damn it! The methods of the Yin Yang Loose Cultivator!" The Leader of the Men in Black stood up and struck the light shield with several blasts of black energy, all of which were absorbed.

The Witch was about to give chase, but Daoist Wangchuan stopped her. "Ignore them. This is a rare opportunity; we must hurry."

Bi Luo struggled to her feet. "This barrier won't hold for long."

"Head toward the center of the stone platform!" Daoist Wangchuan commanded. "Qing Luo, you have the soul bead; you might feel a resonance."

Qing Luo nodded and walked toward the center of the platform, as if sensing something. "The runes on this stone platform... they seem to be calling to me."

She reached out to touch the center of the stone platform, and the entire platform suddenly sank, revealing a spiral staircase.

"A secret passage!" the Witch exclaimed.

The four of them dove into the secret passage without a second thought. The stone platform immediately closed behind them, cutting off the cursing from outside.

"They won't be able to follow us in," Daoist Wangchuan breathed a sigh of relief. "At least for now."

The stairs spiraled downward, with glowing stones embedded in the surrounding walls illuminating the path ahead.

"What is this place?" the Witch asked, looking around. "Did Chu Yang build this?"

"It doesn't look like it," Daoist Wangchuan shook his head. "It's too ancient; he probably discovered it."

Bi Luo leaned weakly against the stone wall. "I need to rest for a moment."

The Witch helped her sit down. "You're badly injured."

Daoist Wangchuan carefully checked his disciple's condition. "The influence of the Seal of the Dark Prison is still there; she needs time to recover."

Qing Luo stood on the steps, seemingly listening to something. "There's something waiting for us below."

"What exactly is it?" the Witch asked.

"I can't say for sure," Qing Luo shook her head. "It feels like an existence... very ancient and very powerful."

After resting for a while, Bi Luo was barely able to walk, and the four continued their descent. The stairs seemed endless, and the air grew colder and colder.

"The Yin energy is very heavy," Daoist Wangchuan said warily. "This might be a ghost realm."

"A ghost realm?" The Witch frowned. "Why would Chu Yang set up a formation here?"

"Perhaps he didn't set it up," Daoist Wangchuan speculated. "Instead, he discovered some kind of secret."

After walking for about fifteen minutes, the stairs suddenly ended. Before them was a stone door covered in runes, with a central indentation exactly the size of the soul bead.

"It requires the soul bead to open," the Witch pointed at the indentation.

Qing Luo hesitated for a moment and said softly, "The soul bead has already fused with me. I'm not sure if it can be separated."

Daoist Wangchuan thought for a moment. "Try to control it with your will."

Qing Luo closed her eyes and focused. After a moment, a glow emerged from her chest, forming a phantom image of the soul bead that slowly floated toward the indentation in the stone door.

The phantom image fit perfectly into the indentation, and the stone door immediately let out a rumbling sound, slowly opening.

Behind the door was a circular hall with a pool in the center. The water in the pool was as black as ink. Someone was standing by the pool.

"Chu Yang!" the Witch exclaimed.

The person turned around; it was indeed Chu Yang's appearance, but his eyes were hollow, as if he had no soul.

"No," Daoist Wangchuan said warily. "That's not the real Chu Yang; it's a soul image."

The soul image spoke, its voice distant and hollow. "Welcome to the Realm of Reincarnation. Those who can reach this place must be fated with me. If you can hear these words, it means I have fallen into a deep sleep or passed away."

Qing Luo stepped forward. "How can we help you?"

The soul image did not respond to her question and continued, "The Realm of Reincarnation is one of the oldest secrets in the world, mastering the path of life, death, and reincarnation. I discovered this place by chance and studied it for years, finally obtaining the method. However, the greater the power, the greater the danger. The people of the Dark Prison covet this method, wishing to use it to break the boundaries between life and death. They must be stopped."

"It really is the Dark Prison," Daoist Wangchuan sighed.

The soul image pointed to the pool. "This is the Wangchuan Pool; it can reflect past and present lives. If you wish to know the truth of reincarnation, you may enter the pool to observe. But remember, the past is the past; do not become obsessed."

With that, the soul image dissipated.

Everyone looked at each other, unsure of how to proceed.

"Wangchuan Pool," the Witch frowned. "Is it related to Daoist Wangchuan?"

Daoist Wangchuan pondered for a moment. "My name indeed comes from the legendary Wangchuan River, but I never thought such a thing actually existed."

Qing Luo walked to the edge of the pool and gazed at the pitch-black water. "I feel it calling to me."

"Be careful," the Witch hurriedly pulled her back. "We don't know the risks."

Daoist Wangchuan observed the pool carefully. "This pool is indeed extraordinary; it seems to connect to a certain dimension."

Bi Luo asked weakly, "Master, are you saying Chu Yang was hunted by the Dark Prison because he studied the Law of Reincarnation?"

"It seems so," Daoist Wangchuan nodded. "But these are all speculations. To know the truth, I'm afraid—"

"We have to take a look," Qing Luo said suddenly, her tone firm. "I'm going in."

The Witch looked at her in surprise. "It's too dangerous!"

"I must go," Qing Luo insisted. "The soul bead chose me, and Chu Yang's aura guided me here. There must be a reason."

Daoist Wangchuan mused for a moment. "The soul bead has fused with her; perhaps it can protect her."

Bi Luo nodded weakly. "Qing Luo has a special constitution; maybe she really can see something."

The Witch looked at Qing Luo with concern. "If there's any danger, come back immediately."

Qing Luo nodded, took a deep breath, and slowly reached her hand toward the pool water.

The moment she touched it, she felt a massive suction force, and her entire being was pulled into the water. Strangely, she didn't feel like she was suffocating; instead, it was as if she were floating in a void.

The surrounding scenes shifted, and images unfolded before her eyes. She saw Chu Yang's past—how he discovered the Realm of Reincarnation, how he studied the laws of reincarnation, how he was hunted by the Dark Prison, and how he eventually sealed his own memories and hid his tracks.

Even more shocking to her was that she saw her own connection with Chu Yang. In her past life, she had actually been Chu Yang's close friend, studying the laws of reincarnation together. To protect the secret, Chu Yang had cast a spell to reincarnate her and sealed part of his power within her body.

The image suddenly froze on a scene: Chu Yang stood before an altar, saying to her when she was still an infant, "In the next life, we will meet again. If I fall, please complete the unfinished business."

In the dark, Qing Luo felt a certain connection being activated. The soul bead in her body emitted a dazzling light, and her consciousness was pulled deeper.

In a daze, she saw herself standing in a starry sky, with Chu Yang's figure before her.

"So it really is you," Chu Yang smiled. "My power recognized you."

"You are... the real Chu Yang?" Qing Luo couldn't believe it.

Chu Yang nodded. "It is a wisp of my divine sense, stored within the soul bead."

"Why did you choose me?"

"Because of our past karma," Chu Yang explained. "In your past life, you were my most trusted partner."

Qing Luo was full of doubts. "How can I help you?"