Chapter 629

Chapter 629: Doubts in the Heart

A glimmer of excitement flashed in Ye Yun’s eyes as he pierced through the chaotic darkness, briefly illuminating the space around him.

Without hesitation, Ye Yun reached out and grabbed the pure white mist. It landed in his palm with a faint tactile sensation, partially restoring his six senses.

“Quick! Hurry!”

The Ancestor of the Sword Path shouted urgently. Through Ye Yun’s vision, he recognized this white mist as his own divine soul—its familiarity struck him like repeated shockwaves, leaving him mentally shaken.

Yet Ye Yun remained helpless. With his six senses muted and true qi scattered, he couldn’t absorb the soul into his body. This fleeting opportunity would vanish once the chaotic darkness returned.

Suddenly, a black and white light flickered at Ye Yun’s brow. The white soul plunged into his forehead and disappeared.

Ye Yun didn’t understand why the Heart of Immortals and Demons had shifted from his chest to his brow, nor why it devoured the soul. But with no other options, he focused inward to see if he could expel it later.

The chaotic darkness descended again, severing his senses and dispersing his true qi. Ye Yun floated in emptiness—no void, no substance, only formless chaos.

Inspecting his body, he saw the white soul vanish completely into the Heart of Immortals and Demons.

“Ye Yun! Where’s the soul? Can you still feel it?” The Ancestor’s voice quivered. This soul determined his chance to return to the world—failure meant irreversible loss.

Ye Yun hesitated before answering, “It entered my body… but I can’t locate it now.”

The Ancestor panicked. “Impossible! You should sense it once absorbed. Are you trying to steal my soul for yourself?”

Ye Yun stiffened, stunned by the accusation. “Ancestor, have I ever given you reason to doubt my honor?”

The Ancestor faltered. “I spoke rashly in desperation. Retrieving this soul benefits us both.”

Ye Yun’s tone hardened. “Such words sting, even in urgency.”

“My apologies,” the Ancestor muttered. “I won’t repeat this mistake.”

Ye Yun nodded. “Let’s drop it. Could the Ethereal Void Breaking Array be interfering?”

The Ancestor pondered. “The array differs from ancient records. I pray it’s the cause—otherwise, losing this soul dooms us both.”

“We’ll wait until my senses return,” Ye Yun said. “Perhaps it’ll resurface then.”

The Ancestor sighed. “Let’s hope so.”

Silent, Ye Yun hid the truth—the Heart of Immortals and Demons had devoured the soul. Would it ever release it? If absorbed permanently, consequences loomed unfathomable.

The black and white light pulsed faintly at his brow, visible only to him.

_Please spit it out,_ Ye Yun pleaded inwardly.

Pushing aside the worry, he recalled the young couple’s faces—mirror images of Su Hao and Shui Qingxuan, yet decades younger.

Su Hao had died after imparting his cultivation to Ye Yun. From this legacy came several impure laws and a wisp of sword intent, purified later by the Heart of Immortals and Demons.

But confusion lingered: How had Su Hao possessed so many laws while stuck below the Golden Core stage? With such mastery, he should’ve reached the Nascent Soul stage long ago.

Was it insufficient training resources… or flawed cultivation techniques?

Ye Yun recalled what the Ancestor of the Sword Path had said – cultivation methods were never an issue, and training resources weren’t major obstacles either, especially before reaching the Nascent Soul stage.

Though the Heavenly Sword Sect where Su Hao belonged wasn’t a prominent sect and the Jin Kingdom remained a tiny nation, the sect still reigned as Jin’s foremost power, even overshadowing the royal family. As master of a peak and prime contender for next Sect Leader, Su Hao’s training resources naturally weren’t lacking. Compared to ordinary wandering cultivators in the Great Qin Empire, his provisions were undoubtedly superior.

In the Great Qin Empire, wandering cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage were rare, but Golden Core stage practitioners numbered in the hundreds. Ye Yun himself had encountered thousands recently. Given Su Hao’s talent, resources, and comprehended laws, he should’ve long broken through to Golden Core stage, even surviving the sixth-level heavenly tribulation. Why hadn’t he formed his alchemy pill by thirty?

This made no logical sense.

Shui Qingxuan’s case proved stranger. She could instantly discern others’ cultivation levels and techniques. As Spirit Demon Race’s holy woman with formidable cultivation, choosing to perish with Golden Core opponents defied reason.

Ye Yun originally thought their cultivation levels proved insufficient against Golden Core experts. But Su Hao with multiple laws could challenge higher-level foes, while Shui Qingxuan as holy woman should possess secret techniques or treasures to counter Golden Core adversaries. If she couldn’t handle mere Golden Core practitioners, how could she hold her sacred position?

The faces of Su Hao and Shui Qingxuan overlapped perfectly with those young couple in Ye Yun’s memory, differing only in youthfulness. Clearly, they were likely the same people.

Who were they truly? Why reside in Heavenly Sword Sect? Why lead Ye Yun into that illusion to obtain the Heart of Immortals and Demons, undergo Marrow Cleansing, and achieve his current strength?

Su Ling’s image surfaced – during her Bloodline Awakening, blue and icy lights had flashed through jade-like skin. The leaking power overwhelmed sub-Golden Core cultivators; its full release might crush ordinary Golden Core experts. With such potent Demon Race Bloodline, Su Ling’s future power seemed assured. Connecting this to Su Hao and Shui Qingxuan’s actions, Ye Yun formed a startling suspicion.

Had Su Hao and Shui Qingxuan faked their deaths? Were they hiding in shadows? Yet why conceal themselves? The puzzle deepened.

Ye Yun shook his head, doubts multiplying. One certainty remained – neither Su Hao, Shui Qingxuan, nor the illusionary couple bore him ill will, at least presently.

Sudden resolve gripped Ye Yun. He desperately needed to reach Nascent Soul stage or even Earth Immortal realm. Only then might he qualify to confront them for answers.

Ye Yun now firmly believed they lived, hidden somewhere, pursuing schemes or observing events.

Taking a breath devoid of spiritual energy, he focused on immediate goals: delivering the Divine Rhythm Crimson Fruit to heal Su Ling in Jin Kingdom, recovering the Ancestor’s divine soul for body reconstruction, then journeying to Central State’s Lingxiao City as Tongtong mentioned.

The Great Qin Empire faded from his concerns. Only continent’s top sects like Moon Goddess Palace mattered now.

Ye Yun sensed reaching Lingxiao City soon might unravel all mysteries.

He sat waiting for the next light pulse, determined to break the Ethereal Void Breaking Array then. Urgency gnawed at him – crucial tasks awaited, leaving no time for delay here.

"Ye Yun, much time’s passed. Can you sense the divine soul?"

The Ancestor’s voice roused him.

Squinting, Ye Yun focused inward. The Heart of Immortals and Demons had returned to his chest from his brow, its black-white whirlpool still spinning.

As Ye Yun prepared to investigate, a white light shadow shot from the vortex, hovering within him.

The Ancestor’s divine soul had been expelled by the Heart.

"Divine soul! My divine soul!"

The Ancestor’s thunderous cry of joy reverberated through Ye Yun’s consciousness.