Behind Mylan Mountain, Song Yan sat quietly beside a small pond. Before her stretched a vast forest, from which the occasional ferocious roar of spirit beasts echoed, piercing the night. Even amidst the darkness, her face glowed like the moon—serene and untouchable, a beacon of calm.
The silence was broken only by the rustling of wind through grass and the distant chirping of insects. Yet her expression remained emotionless, unaffected by her surroundings.
Suddenly, the space distorted.
Ye Kaishan stepped out from the spatial rift.
Sensing his presence, Song Yan slowly opened her eyes. She looked at him, then rose to her feet, her brows furrowed.
"So, you finally remembered I was waiting here?" she asked with a teasing tone.
Ye Kaishan gave an awkward smile. He opened his mouth to speak but, seeing the cold glint in Song Yan's narrowed eyes, immediately shut it again.
Seeing his reaction, Song Yan chuckled lightly. "Anyway, I'm glad you didn't come any later than this. We can still begin."
Ye Kaishan exhaled in relief. "But… why did we come here to cultivate?" he asked curiously.
Song Yan walked barefoot along the pond's edge and dropped an herb into the water. "In cultivation, we build our foundation up to the Soul Spirit Realm and temper it until we awaken and sense our dao companion," she explained, her voice calm as she paced.
"After sensing our dao companion and establishing a soul link, the next stage is the Soul Breaking Realm. This realm is special. Once the soul link is formed, our souls intertwine, binding our destinies together."
She dropped a second herb into the pond.
"But in that process, the soul becomes fragile. That's why the Soul Breaking Realm reshapes and strengthens it."
Ye Kaishan listened attentively.
Song Yan continued, "Then comes the Soul Forging Realm. In this stage, we nourish the weakened soul—like we did in the Ghost Territory—using items like the Yin Drop and the Soul Emperor Orb. This transforms the soul into something far stronger."
She dropped a third herb into the pond. "Finally comes the Soul Body Realm. After forging the soul, we must temper our physical bodies. For that, we need numerous magical and soul-nourishing herbs. I've already gathered them all. We'll use them here, in this pond."
Ye Kaishan nodded. "But why are we cultivating in the middle of the night?"
Song Yan didn't answer at first. She simply looked up at the three moons shining in the dark sky.
"Because the night is when yin energy reaches its peak," she said finally. "And at dawn, the yang energy begins to rise."
Ye Kaishan also gazed up. "Yin energy?" he asked, puzzled.
"You don't use soul energy yet, and you haven't stepped into any realm, so it's impossible for you to sense it," she said, looking at him.
Then, as if everything was ready, Song Yan summoned the final material.
Ye Kaishan frowned. "A wooden plank?"
"It's just regular wood," Song Yan replied, "but the two strings attached to it are made from rare spiritual grasses—one of yin, the other of yang."
She glanced at the pond. "The best time for cultivation is slipping away. You go in first."
She began to undress, but then paused, biting her lip and gripping her clothes tightly. "Wait… go first," she said, avoiding his gaze.
Ye Kaishan had already removed his upper clothing, revealing his bare chest and feet. "Alright," he said with a light chuckle.
But Song Yan shot him a cold glare.
Understanding her meaning, he didn't push his luck. Silently, he stepped into the pond and waded into the water.
"Turn around," Song Yan said, clenching her clothes.
"Sigh… alright," Ye Kaishan muttered, turning around and closing his eyes.
Song Yan slowly removed her garments, leaving only her belly band and lower garments, and entered the pond opposite Ye Kaishan.
Once inside, they extended their hands underwater and held each other's palms. Song Yan then dropped the yin string into the pond. Immediately, the water turned a pale icy white.
She activated a spirit technique, and the yin energy in the area surged toward them. The temperature around them dropped drastically.
The pond, already chilly, became nearly unbearable. Their expressions tensed, but they endured. The herbs were potent—painful even—like being locked inside a freezing chamber filled with needles and blades.
Instinctively, they inched closer, seeking warmth, yet kept their distance with restraint.
Ye Kaishan, eyes still closed, frowned. He stabilized the violent energy inside both of them using time laws, allowing only the beneficial forces to remain.
Song Yan's previously strained expression eased. She could feel the time laws entering her body.
"Did you use the Time Law?" she asked softly.
"Yes," Ye Kaishan replied.
A faint smile touched her lips. "You know, I can manage this much on my own."
"Is it bothering you?" he asked with a grin.
Song Yan chuckled. "Not at all."
Later...
As dawn approached, they remained in that same state. When Song Yan sensed the yin energy fading and the rise of yang energy, she released the yang string into the pond.
The three moons dimmed as the sun's rays began to stretch across the sky.
Yang energy surged.
The pond, once bone-chilling, now heated rapidly. In moments, the water began to boil.
"How long do we have to stay like this?" Ye Kaishan asked.
"Until the pond dries up and the herbs are fully absorbed," Song Yan replied.
The heat intensified. Veins began to bulge slightly on both their bodies, and beads of sweat trickled down Song Yan's chin. Their skin began to crack under the immense pressure, but they didn't falter.
Time passed.
The pond gradually dried. At the center, only the two of them remained—sitting cross-legged, still holding hands.
Sensing the opportunity, Song Yan muttered, "Break it for me."
A wave of soul energy surged into both of them, as if the heavens had responded. Ye Kaishan also felt his Space-Time Tree absorbing that soul energy greedily.
Song Yan's soul power skyrocketed—and then exploded.
The impact sent powerful waves through the surrounding forest, leaves swirling in a storm of energy.
Before their eyes, the cracked skin on their bodies healed instantly.
A powerful aura surged from Song Yan, greater than anything in the Soul Forging Realm.
"Soul Body—Initial Stage," she whispered.
Both opened their eyes slowly.
Ye Kaishan clenched his fist, feeling his blood and qi surging. He had broken through. He could feel it clearly—his physical power had leapt to a new level.
But when he looked ahead, Song Yan was already gone.
She stood on the bank, fully clothed with a simple flick of her fingers. "What are you waiting for? Let's go," she said, smiling.
Ye Kaishan scratched his head with a wry smile, then jumped out of the pond and dressed quickly.
"Let's go," he said, taking her hand.
He activated his space laws, and the two vanished into the air.
Northern Continent — Ghost Sect
"You failed to retrieve the orb."
A chilling voice rang through the dark room, its tone filled with disdain.
The room was suffused with dense demonic aura, its wooden floor stained with blood.
A veiled young woman, no older than twenty, reclined on a luxurious bed. Behind her stood two dark souls, acting as her silent guards.
Kneeling before her, Lee Xiao didn't dare to look up.
"A couple… A couple used the orb and the Yin Drop… M-Milady…" Lee Xiao stammered.
The veiled woman toyed with two bloody balls in her hand, unconcerned.
Beside Lee Xiao lay a man—unconscious, his eyes gouged from their sockets. It was Lee Mo.
One of Lee Xiao's own hands had been severed.
"You said they were using space laws?" the woman asked coldly.
"Y-Yes, Milady."
She paused for a moment, then waved her hand. "You may go."
"T-Thank you…"
Lee Xiao picked up Lee Mo and swiftly left the room, never once lifting her gaze—not out of fear of death, but because of the murderous intent burning in her eyes for the woman before her.
Looking at the unconscious Lee Mo, she whispered, "I have to restore his eyes first."
Then she flew into the sky, disappearing.
Back in the room, the veiled woman laid back on her bed and muttered:
"Space laws… huh…"
Lee Xiao entered her abode, carrying Lee Mo in her arms. She gently placed him on the bed, then opened a medicinal bottle and fed him a pill.
"This will do the work," Lee Xiao muttered softly.
After ensuring Lee Mo had swallowed it, she took a pill herself, sat cross-legged on the bed, and began circulating her cultivation technique. Before the naked eye, her severed hand began to regenerate, bones and flesh knitting together rapidly.
"Haa… haa…" Lee Xiao exhaled deeply, sweat forming in glistening drops across her forehead.
Then, she slowly looked up—her gaze sharp and saturated with unimaginable killing intent.
"Her eyes fell on Lee Mo, still unconscious. The memory of Lin Yao pulling his eyes from their sockets and playing with them—those torn orbs trailing blood like tears of agony—flashed through her mind, igniting a storm within her."
"Just wait, Lin Yao," she whispered, her voice laced with cold fury."The moment I step into the Saint Realm, I will repay every debt in full."
Lee Xiao looked down again. Lee Mo's eyes had almost fully healed, but he remained unconscious—his soul still reeling from the brutal attack.
"This idiot…" she muttered, her tone soft but bitter. "Even if my hand was severed, he shouldn't have looked at Lin Yao and confronted her. It's just a hand... it can be restored."
She sighed quietly, her expression softening for a moment as she brushed a strand of hair from Lee Mo's face.