37: Chapter 37 Refining the Essence, Shadow Tracking

Only after the rock layers completely sealed the passage behind them, cutting off that bloody slaughterhouse and the suffocating, terrifying aura of Mo Luo, did Lin Yan dare to slightly relax his tense nerves.

Cold sweat had long since soaked his back, sticking to his lichen-grey robe and bringing a cold, clammy sensation.

He leaned his back against the rough rock wall, panting heavily, while the "Pure Corrosion Soul Seal" between his brows still retained the cold aftertaste of its long-distance collision with Mo Luo's destructive soul power, as if it had just been fished out of an ice cellar.

Ahead, Chi Rong was traveling through the labyrinthine rock crevices and underground dark rivers at top speed.

Its massive body seemed somewhat clumsy at this moment, but the instinct for survival and loyalty to its master drove it to ignore its injuries and push its speed to the limit.

Every movement of its body tugged at the gaping wounds on its frame, and dark red blood mixed into the cold water of the dark river, blooming into a faint bloody hue.

Yet, it only emitted suppressed low growls from its throat, without a shred of complaint.

Xiao Yi Xian was likewise lying weakly on Chi Rong's back armor, her face pale as paper.

Having forcefully unleashed the "Poison Tide Soul Burial" to block Mo Luo's strike just moments ago, she had nearly exhausted the poison power she had recently refined and had yet to stabilize, which had further strained her soul origin.

At this moment, her poison power was depleted, her meridians throbbed with pain, and she felt waves of dizziness deep within her soul.

Yet she still held on, gripping several ancient soul scales tightly in her hand, attempting to use the faint resonance of these scales to guide Chi Rong along the most hidden and energetically chaotic escape route.

Deathly silence and oppression shrouded the group as they fled for their lives.

Only the rushing sound of the dark river, Chi Rong's heavy panting, and the eerie hissing of unknown creatures occasionally drifting in from outside the rock crevices formed the only background noise in this underground world.

They didn't know how long they had been traveling through the darkness, but only when Lin Yan felt the "Heart-Burning Seal" on his back and the "Pure Corrosion Soul Seal" between his brows go completely silent, no longer transmitting any sensation of being tracked, did Chi Rong's speed slowly decrease.

Ahead appeared a dry cave, its natural dome formed by the roots of giant ferns; within the cave, faint phosphorescence flickered, providing illumination that was better than nothing.

"Here... should be safe for now." Lin Yan spoke in a hoarse voice, his soul perception sweeping slowly inside and outside the cave like a tired tentacle, confirming there were no other living beings or obvious energy traps. "Chi Rong, stop and rest."

Chi Rong, as if granted amnesty, let out a low whimper and carefully moved into the cave, curling up its massive body and immediately beginning to lick the most severe wounds on its body, while greedily absorbing the thin but peaceful earth-attribute energy within the cave.

It naturally repelled water and yin environments, and traveling through the underground dark river earlier had only exacerbated its injuries.

Lin Yan and Xiao Yi Xian slid down from its back, each finding a relatively flat rock to sit on.

The exhaustion of surviving a disaster surged over them like a tide, and both felt a wave of powerlessness.

"Heal your injuries first and restore your state." Lin Yan did not waste time on sentiment or lingering fear, directly taking out various healing and energy recovery pills he had previously refined or looted from his storage ring, distributing them to Xiao Yi Xian and Chi Rong.

He also swallowed several, sat cross-legged, and sank his consciousness into his body.

First, he examined his soul state.

Although the long-distance collision of soul power with Mo Luo had been brief, the other party's pure, destructive soul power was of extremely high quality, bringing significant shock and minor damage to his soul.

The Pure Corrosion Soul Seal spontaneously emitted cold soul power, slowly repairing this damage while also bringing waves of chill.

Lin Yan guided the Seed Flame of Void Devouring Flame, like the most meticulous craftsman, carefully wrapping and assimilating the soul power emitted by the soul seal, transforming it into soul nourishment that was easier to absorb and devoid of negative emotions.

This process was slow and mentally draining, but he had to do it; otherwise, the erosion of the soul seal would subtly affect his mind.

Next was his Dou Qi and body.

After continuous high-intensity fighting and fleeing, his Dou Qi was nearly exhausted, many meridians throbbed with pain, and his internal organs also suffered slight concussive injuries.

The improved energy-storing pills and the life force of the Living Spirit Flame worked in tandem, slowly nourishing his damaged body.

Xiao Yi Xian was also silently regulating her breath.

She did not immediately replenish her poison power, but instead followed the secret methods recorded in the "Seven-Colored Poison Manual" to first stabilize her damaged soul and comb through her chaotic meridians.

Only then did she carefully take a small jade bottle from her storage ring, which contained the diluted Xuanming True Water she had collected earlier.

She dripped out a small drop and slowly refined it with her own poison power, using its extremely yin and pure energy to wash and temper her poison origin, which had become somewhat unstable due to excessive consumption.

Chi Rong's recovery was much simpler and more brutal.

It lay prone on the ground, and in the crevices of its lava carapace, dark red light flowed slowly, flickering like breathing.

The weak earth and fire attribute energy in the cave was slowly absorbed by it, and in combination with the power of the pills, it repaired its damaged scales and bones.

Its three pairs of lava light wings were now dim and lusterless, hanging limply, clearly severely damaged, and it would be difficult to recover its flight ability in the short term.

Time passed in the silence of healing.

They didn't know how much time had passed, but the phosphorescent light at the top of the cave seemed to brighten a fraction, indicating that night had likely passed in the outside world.

Lin Yan was the first to open his eyes, the divine light in his pupils restrained, his aura having largely recovered, though the pale soul seal between his brows remained conspicuous, emitting a faint cold sensation.

He looked at Xiao Yi Xian, whose complexion had also become much ruddier, and a faint glimmer of interwoven grey-purple and pale blue light flowed around her body; her aura was more solid and calm than before, obviously indicating that under the pressure of the crisis, her control over the fusion of her poison power and Xuanming True Water had improved.

"How do you feel?" Lin Yan asked softly.

"Much better." Xiao Yi Xian opened her jade-green eyes, a trace of lingering fear flashing in them. "That person... was too terrifying. His power felt somewhat similar to the soul seal, but also completely different; it was more... violent and pure, born only for destruction."

Recalling the scene where Mo Luo annihilated the mountain wall with a wave of his hand, she still felt a chill down her spine.

Lin Yan nodded, his expression grave: "He must be a true high-ranking member of the Hall of Souls, his strength at least Dou Zong, perhaps even higher."

"Furthermore, his sensing of my soul seal is extremely keen; I'm afraid he is not merely a common Hall of Souls deacon or protector."

He recalled Mo Luo's words, "Found you... the bearer of the key...", the key... did it refer to the ancient soul scale? Or the Pure Corrosion Soul Seal itself? Or perhaps both?

"System, bring up information regarding 'Mo Luo' and similar high-ranking Hall of Souls members." Lin Yan asked in his mind.

[Searching... Based on absorbed soul fragments (Three-star Dou Ling You Gu, Staff-Wielder, etc.) and mission log analysis:]

[Name: Mo Luo (Codename)]

[Affiliation: Hall of Souls, suspected to be a deputy hall master of a branch hall or a high-ranking elder-level executive.]

[Estimated Strength: High-level Dou Zong (Four-star or above), specific level unknown.]

[Characteristics: Masters highly condensed 'destructive soul power', suspected to be related to the core inheritance of the Hall of Souls or a forbidden experiment. Possesses extremely strong perception of and covetousness for 'Pure Corrosion Soul Power' (Ancestor of Ten Thousand Scales) related auras.]

[Threat Level: Extremely High (Cannot be fought at the current stage).]

[Suggestion: Completely conceal your tracks, improve your strength, and avoid direct conflict.]

High-level Dou Zong... just as expected.

Lin Yan's heart felt heavy.

With his current strength, he could maneuver against a Dou Ling, would need to risk his life against a Dou Wang, and against a Dou Zong... he would only be able to flee, without even the qualification to maneuver.

Escaping this time was purely a stroke of luck, and it was also thanks to Chi Rong's familiarity with the underground environment and its desperate efforts to cover their retreat.

"We must leave this area as soon as possible; his search net will only tighten." Lin Yan made his judgment. "Xiao Yi Xian, what is the direction of the ancient soul scale now?"

Xiao Yi Xian took out those scales, sensed them carefully for a moment, and pointed in one direction: "This piece... has the strongest resonance, still pointing northeast, but it seems... the specific location has shifted slightly, as if it is in a very... damp, energetically 'heavy' area."

"Damp, energetically heavy... it is very likely the 'Mist Swamp'." Lin Yan compared it to the map in his mind. "The environment there is complex, filled with poisonous miasma, which is favorable for us to hide our tracks and suitable for you to cultivate and search for clues regarding poison-attribute ancient soul scales. But at the same time, the danger level will also be much higher."

"With you here, I am not afraid." Xiao Yi Xian looked at him, her tone calm and firm.

Lin Yan nodded slightly and looked at Chi Rong, whose aura had stabilized quite a bit, but whose light wings remained withered: "Chi Rong, can your injuries and state support long-distance travel and potential high-intensity combat?"

Chi Rong raised its massive head, the fighting spirit in its dark golden vertical pupils still undimmed, and transmitted mentally: "Master, rest assured! These minor injuries are nothing! As long as we don't encounter that kind of monster again, this little dragon will definitely protect Master and the young lady! It's just these wings..."

It moved its dim light wings behind it with some annoyance, "I'm afraid I won't be able to fly for a short while; traveling will be slower."

"No matter, safety first." Lin Yan thought for a moment, and took from his storage ring the core of the "degraded Purifying Soul Flame" that he had stripped from the Staff-Wielder's skull and had been preliminarily devoured and purified by the Void Devouring Flame—now transformed into a fingernail-sized, strange crystal interwoven with pale and pitch-black patterns—as well as several medicinal materials obtained from the Hall of Souls Black Robed Man and a decent-quality third-tier water-attribute magic core.

"Try absorbing these things; they might be helpful for repairing your injuries or even purifying your fire attribute."

Chi Rong's lava earth fire tended to be violent; if it could integrate a trace of the purified "Pure Corrosion" characteristic, it might be able to improve the condensation of its flames and its resistance to special energies like soul power.

Chi Rong gratefully took them and immediately began to absorb them.

Although the energy in the pale crystal had been purified, it still carried a trace of chill, which clashed with its lava earth fire attribute. However, under its careful guidance and the suppression of its own bloodline power, it actually began to slowly fuse, and the color of the flames on its body faintly shifted toward a dark red with a golden hue, its aura also becoming more restrained.

Seeing Chi Rong enter a cultivation state, Lin Yan also closed his eyes again. But this time, his target was the small lump of "Purifying Soul Flame Origin Essence" left behind after the "purifying erosion fire seed" that had been lying quietly in the system inventory completely dissipated, as well as the information regarding soul power usage from the ancient flood dragons remnant inheritance.

He carefully guided out a wisp of "Purifying Soul Flame Origin", using its cold and pure soul power as a guide, and combined with the devouring and transformation characteristics of the Void Devouring Flame, began to attempt to temper and purify his own soul power, which had become slightly unstable after a rapid surge.

At the same time, he digested the techniques regarding the control of "Yin" power, soul defense, and attacks from the Ancient Flood Dragon inheritance.

This knowledge faintly echoed with the "Pure Corrosion Soul Seal", giving him more enlightenment on the use of the soul seal's power.

Gradually, the light of the soul seal between his brows became a little softer, and the cold sensation it emitted was no longer so bone-piercing, instead possessing more of a sense of being able to be retracted and released at will.

He felt his control over his soul power was slowly and firmly improving.

[Ding! Detected that the host's soul power purity has increased, and initial control over the 'Pure Corrosion Soul Seal' has strengthened.]

[Triggered phased mission: Soul Seal Initial Understanding.]

[Mission Content: Further refine the 'Purifying Soul Flame Origin', analyze the fragments of 'Pure Corrosion Law' contained within the soul seal, and master at least one Dou Technique for soul power application of Xuan-rank or higher.]

[Mission Reward: Soul realm stabilized to the early stage of the Spirit Realm, unlock partial application characteristics of 'Purifying Soul Flame' (e.g., Soul Flame Armor, Pure Corrosion Eye), Points × 1000.]

[Long-term main mission 'Ancient Secret' progress update: Obtained key clue 'Attention and Pursuit from Hall of Souls High-Ranking Member (Mo Luo)', suggest accelerating the progress of collecting 'ancient soul scale'.]

The mission had arrived, and the goal was even clearer.

Improve strength, unravel the secret of the soul seal, collect ancient soul scales, and at the same time, evade the pursuit of the Hall of Souls high-ranking member.

Several hours later, Chi Rong was the first to wake up. Although the injuries on its body had not completely healed, its aura was much more vigorous, and a trace of pale gold faintly showed through the dark red flames, clearly having gained quite a bit.

Xiao Yi Xian also finished regulating her breath, her poison power restored to seven or eight percent and becoming more condensed.

"Depart, target, Mist Swamp." Lin Yan stood up, his gaze cast toward the northeast.

The ancient soul scale in his hand, pointing northeast, was slightly hot.

The two people and one dragon set out on their journey again.

This time, they were even more cautious. Lin Yan contracted his soul perception to the limit, covering only a hundred-zhang radius around them, while using the aura of the Void Swallowing Flame to conceal his own fluctuations to the maximum extent.

Xiao Yi Xian also occasionally sprinkled some medicinal powder to interfere with scents and energy traces.

Chi Rong, relying on its familiarity with the terrain, chose paths that were desolate, difficult to traverse, but hidden as much as possible.

Two days later, they finally walked out of the complex underground rock layer area and returned to the surface.

Before them was a mountain forest where the terrain gradually lowered and the vegetation became increasingly dense and damp, and the air began to fill with a faint, grey-white mist carrying the scent of decay and sweetness.

The edge of the Mist Swamp was already in sight.

However, just the moment before they were about to step into this strange and dangerous place, at the edge of Lin Yan's soul perception, he abruptly captured a wisp of extremely obscure soul power fluctuation that caused the soul seal between his brows to suddenly turn cold!

That fluctuation did not come from the swamp ahead, but from behind them to the side, at a seemingly calm forest clearing several miles away!

The fluctuation flashed and disappeared, as fast as an illusion, but Lin Yan would absolutely not misidentify it—what it contained was precisely the "destructive soul power" aura that was of the same origin as Mo Luo's, but much weaker and more hidden!

"Stop!" Lin Yan shouted in a low voice, his eyes sharp as knives, looking toward that seemingly harmless forest land.

There is an ambush! The people from the Hall of Souls have actually managed to get in front of them? Or is it that... that Mo Luo used some means beyond their understanding and had long since anticipated their route?