quickly picked up three intact ones and wanted to rush back to refine them."Their legs are so long standing side by side, impressive. This place is clear of people, the wind's picking up, it’s best t...A journey through the vast emptiness must eventually come to an end.

The end of the sentence trailed away, entering my ears with a plain and cold tone.

Those who have never seen a soul may not be able to imagine such a desolate and lonely figure passing before their eyes, silent as a mime.

Jiang Qiyun's fingertips, like a sharp blade, pointed the way. Lin Yanhuan's vague figure seemed to drift toward that direction.

Cheng Banxian sat in the courtyard, his back looking a little strange. There were some black marks on the ground spreading in all directions, looking like...chains

And above his head was a swirling mass of black mist, merging and churning like an inverted well.

Who exactly was he in the underworld Why could he create an inverted chaotic space to bring back lost souls

Jiang Qiyun's Soul Lamp in his hand flickered and gradually opened its light. When Lin Yanhua's figure disappeared behind the door, he suddenly clenched the Soul Lamp in his hand, unknowingly exerting force on it, crushing the lamp handle and pulling out a "bone" densely inscribed with runes from inside.

"This item is useless in the underworld, and it's likely to be misused if left in the world. I shall destroy it." He looked at Cheng Banxian and said with a slightly "consultative" tone.

I couldn't see Cheng Bansxian's face, but his hair had grown long and white, with prominent pointed protrusions appearing on his forehead.

He rasped back, "...everything, everything depends on the Lord Emperor's decision..."

Jiang Qiyun placed the bone in his palm and squeezed it tightly.

A handful of grayish foam, like sand, drifted from his fingers and scattered in the wind, vanishing.

The remaining portion of the soul lamp resembled an empty shell, as lifeless and rusty as discarded metal.

I was a little startled and blurted out, “You can’t just take the Soul Tower—”

That tower I still need to take back to Grandma for her to keep!

Jiang Qiyun glared at me: "Shut up... This seat has its own measure."

Well, well, that's just being biased, isn't it

I didn't have time to say much. Lin Yanhuan's figure disappeared behind the door, and the dim lights in this courtyard quickly faded with the destruction of the Soul Lamp. The ground array was also taken back by Cheng Banxian.

He rose tremblingly, bending his body to turn and say: "It's time to go next door... Delays breed disaster. I implore the Emperor to protect the formation..."

I stared blankly at Cheng Banxian. His face was cracked and withered, not a trace of his former white-faced appearance. Moreover, he had horns on his forehead, his hair grew long and gray, and his complexion was dark and sickly. He looked completely different.

He retracts the array on the ground, two black wisps of mist like snakes swiftly slither into his sleeves.

"You... are you alright Do you need a break I've got what you asked for ready." I couldn't help but ask with concern.

His current state is even weaker than when my dad pulled out the poison!

Cheng Banxian waved his hand, his voice hoarsely replied: "… Use it later, Your Highness don't worry…"

He leaned against the wall and walked to the next courtyard, replicating the formation he had drawn on the ground.

This process seemed long, so long that I could faintly hear the voice of a woman singing.

Singing...

Like a melodious ancient tune, or a soft whisper of lament.

I shook my head, hugging my arms and rubbing goosebumps all over... Where was that sound coming from Was it the spirit of Chen Yan

— Boom.

A dull thud echoed from the house before me.

I was jolted, and I bounded up the stairs three steps at a time, two steps for every one. I flung open the door —

In the inner room, unimportant furniture had been removed. One could see at a glance the bed and the conspicuous medical monitoring equipment.

Lin Yanhuan, who should have been lying still on the couch, was rolling around on the floor. I ran back and forth in a panic, then grabbed his wrist with excitement and confusion —

He had been lying down for too long, his muscles were very weak. In our words, his soul had returned to its place, but his seven spirits were still unstable.

"Lin Yanhuan! Lin Yanhuan! Did you do this yourself!" I called out in a low, urgent voice.

The people on the ground wore pale blue scrubs and their eyelashes fluttered slightly.

I was so excited I didn't know what to say. I turned around and ran out to call Yànqìn—her brother woke up!

Who knew Lin Yanhuan's fingers, soft and weak, would brush against my sleeve, as if wanting to keep me.

I was stunned and quickly said, “ … I can’t move you. I’ll go call the doctor in. We’ll tell Yan Qin the good news together. She’s been under so much stress —”

"...No, don't..."

Lin Yanhuan's thin lips suddenly squeezed out these two words weakly.

I was amazed, he could talk

Then, I saw him seemingly using great effort to control his limp body, his fingers trembling one by one, and then he opened his eyes himself.

His gaze was calm and resolute, without a trace of weakness or helplessness.

"No." He repeated.

"Well, then I can't move you, I…" I hastily reached out and pulled a blanket from the bed to cover him. But it was so cold on the floor, lying like that wouldn't be good for him at all.

"It's good that you're awake, it's good that you're awake... I was so worried you'd be gone like this... How could I explain to your family..." I trembled and stammered out a bunch of meaningless things.

Lin Yanhuan didn't speak, but I saw his Adam's apple bob slightly, as if he was gathering his strength.

She hurried to pour some warm water and held it to his lips, letting him drink a few sips through a straw.

"... How long... was I unconscious" Lin Yan asked in a low voice.

"Not long… no, that’s wrong… a long time… two months now… we're all going crazy." I stammered.

His wrist suddenly moved, trying to struggle to sit up on the ground. I wrapped him in a blanket and helped him up to lean against the bed frame.

His mental fortitude was astonishing, as if swiftly dispelling the clouds of confusion and bewilderment in his mind. Within a few minutes, although his face paled and his lips were somewhat bloodless, his gaze had regained its former serenity and wisdom.

"Where's that little girl" he suddenly asked.

"Who" I was startled and patted my head, "Oh, you're asking about Chen Yan She's next door. Cheng Banshen is performing a ritual to summon her soul, Jiang Qiyun is there too. As soon as the soul returns, Jiang Qiyun will guide it back to its rightful place—"

He hummed softly, lowering his eyelashes slightly.

I feel relieved. Lin Yanhuan seems to be fine, back to normal and not showing any signs of dementia... As long as Chenyan is back, she should be alright too.

"Xiao Qiao, please step aside for a moment." Lin Yanhuan suddenly spoke up.

"Huh" I was taken aback again. "Dodge...what are you going to do"

His gaze fell on the clothes hanging at the foot of the bed.

I frowned and said, "You've just come back to your senses. Why are you changing clothes Don't get sick again. The doctor will definitely have to check you out later. Just lie down and rest, I'll go call them in..."

As I ran out, talking and keeping my eyes on the next courtyard, my mind was filled with worry about what was happening there. I chewed on Yanqin’s words but couldn't help but glance at the neighbor's yard.

That faint voice still continued, and from within the black mist, a point of light drifted out.

This situation doesn't quite add up with Lin Yanhuan——Lin Yanhuan's soul wouldn't have this intense glow.

What's going on Chenyan, a little girl, shouldn't there be something special about her

"...Xiao Qiao." Lin Yanhuan's voice sounded behind me.e name Mu Wanchen fills my mind.I've lost count of how many times I recited the Bao-gao. At first, I could still hear the rustling of trees outside the grand doors behind me, but gradually it became s...