Chapter 31: Opportune Moment Emerges

In the following period, Lu Yun instructed Yun Feng and Liu Xinghun to continue exploring the situation at the Soul Transformation Pool, while he and the others secretly headed towards the outskirts of the Shura Forest, preparing to wait for the right opportunity.

Looking at the Shura Forest, both Lu Yun and his companions felt a strange sensation. This was the only forest they encountered since entering the Ghost Realm, and it was markedly different from those on Earth. Aside from its black color, the branches of each tree seemed interconnected, giving it a hazy appearance. Despite not being extensive, as Yun Feng had noted, dark clouds floated above it, dancing gently with the eerie breeze.

After much searching, the group hid in a relatively sheltered spot away from the wind. Lu Yun glanced at those around him and began, "Bitian and Duli are weakened, they should start practicing to restore their cultivation as soon as possible. The rest of you, carefully observe the surroundings for any differences compared to other places. This area is close to the Soul Transformation Pool, so the atmosphere may be different from elsewhere. If we can deduce something from the surroundings, it could help us analyze the Soul Transformation Pool."

Nodding silently, everyone followed his instructions, attentively watching the surroundings. Lu Yun, meanwhile, gazed at the sky, lost in thought. At that moment, his eyes held a peculiar glint, hinting at concealed thoughts. A faint fragrance wafted through the air, subtly reaching his senses. Turning back, he looked at the beautiful face before him and smiled gently, "Remember to practice diligently when you have time. The environment here is peculiar and can greatly enhance cultivators' progress. Your cultivation has already reached the upper realms of 'Immortality,' with effort, you can ascend to the realm of Immortal Return."

Gazing softly at Lu Yun, Aoxue replied calmly, "I know. What are you thinking about so intently? It's better to concentrate on the present." She described the bleak sky and the absence of stars, questioning what there was to gaze upon. 

Meeting her bright eyes, Lu Yun felt a surge of joy. He wished he could forever admire her beauty. With a slight turn of his thoughts, memories flooded his mind, and a hint of infatuation appeared in his eyes. With a silly smile, Lu Yun revealed his truest self.

As a gentle breeze brushed past, a faint laughter reached Lu Yun's ears. He suddenly snapped out of his reverie and looked at Aoxue, whose elegant smile reflected her inner joy. Delighted, he whispered, "Aoxue, you're so beautiful. With you here, there are memories. Though the sky lacks light and the night lacks stars, your smile, your gaze, are the eternal stars in my heart. In this starless night, your radiance illuminates the world. If you ask when this heart will cease, even if the realms collapse, my heart will remain steadfast!"

A spark lit up Aoxue's eyes. She gazed deeply at Lu Yun, her smile genuine. Without a word, they silently communicated, immersed in their shared world. In that moment, words were unnecessary. Their souls connected, their emotions intertwined, conveyed through their gazes.

In the gentle breeze, all other sounds faded, leaving only the rhythm of their heartbeats. With a serene smile, they both showed a trace of joy in their eyes before gently averting their gazes. Glancing at Jian Wuchen and Cang Yue not far away, Lu Yun suddenly felt a surge of pride. Regardless of how fate might punish him, he still had Aoxue, still had Cang Yue's deep affection. Even in failure or departure, there were many memorable moments in this life.

Nodding gently to Cang Yue with a smile, Lu Yun shifted his gaze. "Everyone, rest here. I'll check the surroundings to see if I can gather any useful information." With a flicker, he vanished mysteriously, his body concealed by the miraculous cloak of invisibility.

As Lu Yun departed, Zi Yang withdrew his gaze, sighing softly as he looked at Aoxue and Cang Yue, then at Jian Wuchen. He couldn't help but murmur quietly. In this lifetime, Lu Yun and Jian Wuchen were destined to be rivals, whether in competition for fame or in matters of love. As the True Immortal Zi Yang, upon entering the Ghost Realm, he had already sensed that Lu Yun harbored many secrets. Although he hadn't inquired, he understood that everything would eventually come to light. Some things could be concealed momentarily but not forever. Regarding Lu Yun, his predominant feeling was worry, for he feared his suspicions were true.

Alone in the air, Lu Yun activated the mystical cloak, masking all traces of his presence. Surveying the surroundings, he analyzed the dynamics of the Shura Forest through seven waves of mental vibrations, each at a different frequency.

Soon, the results emerged. The Shura Forest exhibited several distinct characteristics. Firstly, the trees, though resembling earthly ones, were fundamentally different. They were manifestations of a mysterious and sinister aura. Secondly, the distribution of trees formed a vast array, capable of misleading one's consciousness. Thirdly, a powerful barrier enveloped the forest's surface, seamlessly integrated with the trees. This barrier possessed formidable repelling force and binding power, effectively concealing the aura of the Soul Transformation Pool.

With a slight sinking feeling in his heart, Lu Yun pondered how to infiltrate the area without attracting attention. As he casually glanced down, he suddenly noticed the invisible cloak draped over him, prompting a faint smile. He chided himself for forgetting such a miraculous treasure, realizing it was a mistake. He hadn't developed the habit of considering it yet, given its recent acquisition, hence it slipped his mind during deliberations.

Touching down lightly on the ground, Lu Yun simultaneously emitted mental waves to scout the area while entering the forest, gradually approaching the vicinity of the Soul Transformation Pool. Once inside, complex patterns of Shura Forest's aura distribution suddenly manifested in Lu Yun's mind as he scanned his surroundings. Countless intertwining lines and swirling energies startled him momentarily. Within an instant, millions of different combinations flooded his mind, overwhelming his brain's capacity to process them. He had to exert his utmost effort to maintain the rotation of his thoughts and analyze the results. Soon, the outcome emerged, leaving Lu Yun exhausted, sitting on the ground, analyzing the results while replenishing his energy.

After a brief rest, Lu Yun rose and swiftly darted deeper into the forest. Dodging through layers of trees, he finally arrived near the Soul Transformation Pool. Glancing to his left, he spotted Yun Feng and Liu Xinghun concealed there. He had known their whereabouts since entering the forest, thanks to his miraculous mental waves and his cultivation technique, "Limitless Heaven and Earth."

Gazing at the Soul Transformation Pool, Lu Yun confirmed Yun Feng's description: a three-zhang-sized pool resembling a well, with a three-chi-sized black cloud hovering a zhang above it. Initiating his mental waves, Lu Yun meticulously probed the secrets of the black cloud.

Feeling his mental waves repelled beyond the ninth level, Lu Yun increased their intensity, only to be abruptly diverted to the black cloud in mid-air. Surprised, he withdrew them, only to focus on the five dark figures near the pool's edge, carefully analyzing their auras. One figure, shrouded in dark green light, stood out among the rest. Another figure, significantly smaller, emitted a faint but terrifying aura, hidden beneath its surface.

Concealing himself within the cloak, Lu Yun silently approached the five figures, observing their reactions. The green-shrouded creature displayed slight agitation, scanning its surroundings before settling down. Similarly, the smaller entity showed subtle signs of unease but failed to detect anything amiss.

Relieved, Lu Yun realized he could now closely investigate the Soul Transformation Pool's secrets. Evading one of the ghostly figures, he inched closer, scrutinizing the mysterious patterns surrounding the pool. These patterns, forming constellations resembling the Milky Way, puzzled Lu Yun. Why were they spread around the pool? He circled the pool and noticed its water wasn't black but a dark green, nearly indistinguishable under the dim light.

Continuing his investigation with mental waves, Lu Yun encountered resistance upon nearing the pool, diverted forcefully towards the black cloud. Startled, he retracted his mental waves and focused on the five experts, pondering if he could glean any insights from them regarding the pool's mysteries.

As Lu Yun contemplated, a stealthy presence suddenly appeared near the pool. Observing the arrival of the sinister ghostly figure, Lu Yun concealed his aura and attentively observed its actions.

Glancing around, the figure, addressed as Yin Lei, inquired, "Any disturbances?" The five figures nodded silently, their attention fixed on the Soul Transformation Pool.

Yin Lei seemed to understand their disposition and continued after circling the pool, "Apart from observing changes here, there's another matter I hope you can assist with. The Ghost King cleverly lured Earth Realm's experts into the Soulless Realm, intending for them to engage the Soulless residents. Unexpectedly, they managed to kill the Soulless Ghost King, throwing the realm into chaos. The Ghost King now plans a surprise attack to seize the Soulless Realm before the Black River Realm. He's urgently requesting assistance from you five."

The green-glowing creature expressed reservations, "Isn't the Ghost King's sudden assault too rash? Our priority should be waiting for the seven-day period to end, allowing us to enter the Earth Realm. His current actions might jeopardize our chances."

Yin Lei reassured, "Rest assured, the King hasn't withdrawn all of you. He only needs two or three to assist. This opportunity is rare, and missing it could complicate matters for the Ghost King's ambition to unify the Ghost Realm. Hence, he's eager and has dispatched me to discuss with you. What are your thoughts?"

After a brief exchange of glances, the leaders conferred and reached a decision. One of them, addressing Yin Lei, responded, "We'll consider your proposal. Our cooperation aims for the Ghost King's unification of the realm, which benefits us all. We'll deliberate and inform you later."

With the agreement reached, Yin Lei bid farewell and departed with three of the experts. Observing their departure, Lu Yun, Yun Feng, and Liu Xinghun felt a surge of excitement, recognizing the rare opportunity presented. However, Lu Yun couldn't shake the fact that they hadn't yet discovered a way to enter the Soul Transformation Pool. With such a valuable opportunity at hand, yet lacking a viable approach, he found himself lost in contemplation. Ultimately, the decision rested with him.

Raising his head, Lu Yun glanced towards the forest, sensing that Yun Feng and Liu Xinghun had quietly departed. His gaze shifted back to the Soul Transformation Pool, and suddenly, he emitted a powerful mental wave, attacking it. The high-speed vibrations of his mental waves struck the pool, only to be deflected by a powerful force and redirected onto the black cloud hovering in mid-air. The collision generated a silent dark force, causing the black cloud to swiftly churn.

"Who goes there? Show yourselves!" Two different voices echoed simultaneously as the figures of the Elder and the Ghost Lord multiplied, instantly covering the entire vicinity of the Soul Transformation Pool. Paying no heed to them, Lu Yun cast a peculiar glance at the pool before departing.

Once outside the Shura Forest, Lu Yun stowed away his miraculous cloak and swiftly returned. Barely after Lu Yun had left, the figures of the Elder and the Ghost Lord appeared in the sky outside the forest. Observing from afar, the Elder remarked, "How strange. We couldn't detect that presence at all. Seems like this mysterious individual is quite formidable."

The Ghost Lord chuckled sinisterly, "Regardless, our plan is foolproof. If they dare to come, we'll ensure they have no way back, burying them in the Soul Transformation Pool, hehe." Shadows flickered under the dark sky as the eerie laughter faintly echoed above the Shura Forest.

Upon returning to the group, Lu Yun noticed Yun Feng and Liu Xinghun excitedly conversing with everyone, evidently discussing the opportune moment. Approaching them, Lu Yun inquired, "What's the excitement about? Did you receive some good news?"

Yun Feng eagerly pulled Lu Yun aside, grinning, "We've learned some great news. Currently, there are only two guardians at the pool, the weakest in terms of strength. If we launch an attack, we can seize the Soul Transformation Pool and retrieve the Soul Sealing Talisman. How's that for news?"

Shaking his head with a smile, Lu Yun asked, "Even if there's just one guardian or none at all, could you enter the pool? Merely taking a quick glance won't reveal much. So, even if we seize the pool now, there are still more important tasks ahead. The timing may be favorable, but it's a bit rushed."

The excitement diminished among the group upon hearing Lu Yun's words. He was right; while the opportunity was rare, its suddenness caught them off guard. Looking at Lu Yun, Purple Yang True Person asked, "Now, at this critical moment, what do you think we should do? Should we give up or take the risk?"

Meeting everyone's gaze, Lu Yun spoke solemnly, "Because this matter is of great importance, I'd like to hear everyone's opinions. We came here for the sake of peace in the human realm, so we must seize every opportunity. Deciding on this matter isn't solely up to me; it requires everyone's input. Only when we all agree can we cooperate better and accomplish our mission together. Now, let's discuss our views on this matter."

In the following discussion, Lu Yun and the others debated whether to give up or take the risk. Among the eleven people, seven were in favor of taking the risk, while only Lu Yun, Proud Snow, Cangyue, and Feng Yuanyang were in favor of giving up. Ultimately, with seven votes outweighing four, they decided to proceed with the gamble.

Watching the assembled group ready for action, Lu Yun's gaze swept over each person before drifting towards the sky. After silently gazing at the sky for a moment, Lu Yun spoke softly, "This battle determines our fates and the safety of the human realm. Everyone must devote their full effort and take this seriously. I hope for success on our first attempt, without needing a second or third, as there are some costs we cannot afford. Now, let's depart."

With a swift movement, Lu Yun's figure darted like the wind, leading the group into the Shura Forest towards the Soul Transformation Pool.