The Lord of Void and Real

Chapter 281: Chapter 279: Return to the Yang World

With the help of the Treasure-hunting Talisman’s ability to see through the mountain wall, Shen Luo was able to find a way to open the passage. The two quickly found a protruding stone that was different from the others, with the vague outline of a mechanism inside.

Xie Yuxin pressed hard on it, and the mountain wall made a “crackling” sound. The wall split open, revealing a passageway. It was pitch black inside, destination unknown.

“Thanks to Friend Shen for having such a magical talisman, otherwise, I don’t know when we would find this passage.” Xie Yuxin said with a sigh of relief.

“We don’t have much time, let’s go.” Shen Luo didn’t bother to dwell on the Treasure-hunting Talisman, and entered the passageway.

“I’m not sure if Yu Guan is reliable. There might be danger in the passageway. I’ll go first.” Xie Yuxin rushed to the front. A gray light flashed in her hand, revealing the Ghost Head Saber she held earlier. At the same time, a white light emerged from her body, forming a shield of white light in front of her.

Shen Luo, whose cultivation level was lower, didn’t insist on going first. He took out the Ghost Wailing Ring and held it in his hand, following behind.

The two figures quickly disappeared into the passageway. The mechanisms on the mountain wall crackled to life and slowly closed, covering the passageway once again.

In a room in the Impermanence Pavilion, the white wheel floated in front of Yu Guan, showing the scene of the passage closing.

“They really found it, quite interesting indeed.” Yu Guan clapped his hands and laughed.

He immediately made a hand sign and the scene inside the light wheel changed rapidly, showing the situation at the entrance of the valley.

All the shops in the valley started to close, and the stalls began to pack up. The ghosts in the valley were leaving the valley entrance one by one.

Black Pattern and Blood Robe Attendant stood in a hidden place outside the valley. The Blood Robe Attendant was holding a small black mirror, reflecting the multitude of ghosts leaving the valley.

Apart from them, there were over twenty black-robed ghosts standing in the fog in the distance, forming an encirclement and blocking the exit.

“Heh heh, to dare to disrespect me, this is the consequence. Keep looking.” Yu Guan chuckled, made another hand sign, and dissipated the light wheel.

Meanwhile, Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin were advancing slowly and carefully inside the passageway.

Thankfully, the anticipated danger did not appear, and they reached the end of the passage quite soon, blocked by a stone wall.

Shen Luo took out another Treasure-hunting Talisman, and after a brief search, they quickly found the mechanism again.

The mechanical sound of the mechanism starting rang out, and the stone wall in front spread open, revealing a foot-wide exit in front of them, showing the profound night sky outside.

“Finally, we are out.” The two of them stepped out, quickly scanned their surroundings, confirming that they were behind the valley.

“We shouldn’t linger here for long. That Black Pattern won’t be able to locate us at the entrance of the valley, so he might send people here to search.” Xie Yuxin said.

Shen Luo agreed, and they immediately set off, heading towards the place from where they teleported in, following their memory.

At the valley exit, Black Pattern and others were standing there.

By now, the sky in the east was getting brighter, and there were hardly any figures in the valley, yet there was still no trace of Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin.

“What’s happening? Why haven’t we found those two human cultivators yet?” Black Pattern’s face darkened, he asked in a cold voice.

“Could they have detected our presence outside and are still hiding in the valley?” The Blood Robe Attendant frowned and said.

“Impossible. The Ghost Market will close soon. The two humans are desperate to return to the Human Realm. There is no way they can stay in the valley. Is there something wrong with your Viewing Mirror?” Black Pattern immediately retorted, then asked in a deep voice.

“The Viewing Mirror was personally refined by the Black Mountain Ancestor. Even an illusion technique cast by a cultivator in the Late Grain Avoidance stage can be seen through. That Shen must still be in the Qi Refining Stage, there’s no way he could evade the search of the Viewing Mirror.” The Blood Robe Attendant shook his head.

“Then what’s going on?” Black Pattern asked angrily.

“Wait a bit longer. Those two are surely still in the valley,” said the Blood Robe Attendant with sparkling eyes.

Black Pattern wore a gloomy expression, but there was nothing he could do but continue to wait here.

At this very moment, Shen Luo, guided by the markings he’d made earlier, had already returned to the place where he was initially transported.

The eastern horizon was growing brighter as the first rays of sunlight appeared in the sky.

There was a loud “bang” as countless wisps of greyish-black mist emerged around them, blotting out everything in sight.

Much like before, the mist didn’t linger for long. It dissipated swiftly, and their visibility was restored. Once again, they found themselves in the Green Pine Forest outside of Jianye City.

Both Shen Luo and Xie Yuxin heaved a sigh of relief and removed the masks from their faces, revealing their true appearances.

“I owe a great deal to you, Brother Shen. I’ll repay you someday, but I have some pressing matters to attend to now,” said Xie Yuxin, seemingly in a hurry. After bidding Shen Luo farewell, she immediately leaped towards the edge of the forest, her figure vanished in no time.

Shen Luo opened his mouth, intending to ask her if she knew when the Ghost Market would next open, but before he could pose the query, she had already vanished into the distance.

“Never mind, I can ask Senior Horse Face when he comes to retrieve the ghost market mask,” Shen Luo muttered to himself, moving in the opposite direction towards Jianye City.

In the evening.

Having returned from the Ghost Market, Shen Luo rested for half a day, then in the evening, he made his way to Bai Hecheng’s study.

“Shen Luo, how are you feeling? Are your injuries healing well?” Bai Hecheng immediately stood up and asked with concern as soon as he saw Shen Luo.

“Thank you for your concern, Family Head. After using the ointment from the mansion, I’m fully recovered,” Shen Luo courteously replied.

“Since we’re alone, there’s no need for such formalities. Just call me Uncle,” said Bai Hecheng with a smile.

“Uncle, there’s something I need to ask you,” said Shen Luo, clearly not comfortable asking this favor.

“Go ahead, don’t hold back,” Bai Hecheng said, waving his hand for Shen Luo to proceed.

“I’ve made some recent insights into cultivation and want to go into seclusion to see if I can make further progress. But this means I won’t be available for any tasks from the mansion for a while,” explained Shen Luo.

“And here I thought it was a serious matter. Feel free to go into seclusion!” Bai Hecheng replied with a careless smile.

“Thank you, Uncle,” Shen Luo quickly thanked him.

“It is I who should thank you. I heard that Xiao Yun has agreed to resume his cultivation, and I know it’s all thanks to you,” said Bai Hecheng as he clapped Shen Luo’s shoulder.

“Xiao Yun has a good temperament, I merely gave him some advice, so I should hardly be credited,” Shen Luo modestly replied.

“I know that boy’s temperament very well. In the entire Bai Family, he only listens to Sky. He even brushes me aside at times, so I’m curious as to how he wound up listening to you?” Bai Hecheng inquired curiously.

“Well…probably because we hit it off,” replied Shen Luo with a smile.

“Regardless, I owe you a debt of gratitude for this. Take this token. From now on, you can freely access the secret chamber at the bottom of the lake in the Bai Family’s grounds. Since you are going into seclusion this time, why not do it there,” said Bai Hecheng, as he handed over a green jade token with the word “Bai” carved into it.

“Thank you, Uncle,” Shen Luo didn’t refuse and accepted the token right away.

“By the way, have you been in contact with Elder Ma Liang lately? If he’s still in Jianye City, perhaps invite him over to the Bai Mansion. We’d be happy to extend our hospitality,” said Bai Hecheng as if he’d just remembered.