Chapter 13: The Remnants of Yongning

Morning mist enveloped the desolate paths of western Hunan, with gravel and dead grass crunching underfoot as the three traveled. Jiang Hao led the way, carrying a worn-out backpack, his steps steady as he chewed on a stalk of grass, muttering, "Yu Guan said 'the soul lock is the key,' Yongning has a path, and whatever the betting game is, I won't play along." His voice dripped with disdain, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Lin Yao followed closely behind, holding ancient texts in her arms, her steps light as she whispered, "He said 'countless betting games,' the soul lock is the core. If we break it, the games are over." Her tone was calm, her gaze scanning the mist with a sharp edge.

Old Zhong, leaning on his wooden cane, walked last, his voice hoarse as he murmured, "The soul's sound resonates in Yongning. My soul lock is loosening. There's something there." His voice carried the weight of time, but his eyes were unwavering.

In the mist, black fog suddenly swirled, the air tightening. The three halted. A figure in gray robes materialized, coldly stating, "The soul has not returned to the archives, power must be restored to order." A figure in red robes followed, speaking in a low voice, "The soul can be destroyed, power must be reborn." Dark whispers oozed from the mist: "The game is not over."

The black fog surged like a tide, wrapping around them. Jiang Hao swung a fist at the fog, shouting, "What the hell is this?" But he felt his soul's power suddenly vanish. Lin Yao whispered, "My soul light is gone."

Jiang Hao furrowed his brow and muttered, "No power? Are they scared we might break the lock, playing these tricks?" He spat out the stalk of grass, fury flashing in his eyes.

Lin Yao quickly flipped through the ancient text, her fingers brushing over the yellowed pages. She murmured, "Wait, I've seen this before. The gods can grant power, but if the soul lock breaks, the soul won't scatter..." She looked up, her gaze firm. "Yu Guan said 'find your own way.' The soul lock is the key. Our souls are still here, we can break it."

Old Zhong nodded and pointed forward with his cane.

Jiang Hao sneered, "No power, but we still have to do it. Yongning is the way, gods are nothing." He stepped forward, Lin Yao following, whispering, "The soul lock hides the answer. Let's go find it."

The three moved through the mist, the sound of their souls growing louder. Ahead, the outlines of ruins began to emerge.

The Yongning ruins were a desolate landscape, with collapsed buildings and crumbling walls barely visible in the black fog. The sound of souls hummed like the wind, remnants of a runic formation embedded in the ground, faintly glowing. Old Zhong murmured, "This is Yongning. I feel something broken here, the soul lock is buried." The soul sound grew louder, and the runic formation illuminated. The gray-robed figure sealed the formation, while the red-robed figure sent the soul sound into a counterattack. A guardian—a fusion of shadows—appeared, murmuring, "The soul belongs to the game."

Jiang Hao clenched his fists, his eyes sharp. "What do we do?" Lin Yao whispered, "No soul light, the formation's locked, we need to think of something."

The black fog pressed in, the guardian's shadow waved a hand, and the soul sound surged like waves. Jiang Hao dodged to the side and growled, "What's the point? How do we fight without power?" He slammed his fist into a fragment of the runic formation, blood dripping from his hand. The blood seeped into the formation, and the soul sound rose in intensity. A strange power surged within him. The soul sound turned into a soul blade, and Jiang Hao froze for a moment before murmuring, "What is this?" He swung his hand, the soul blade slicing through the shadow, leaving a gash. He roared, "Get lost!" The force exploded, creating a sonic shockwave. Lin Yao's eyes flashed with surprise and excitement.

Seeing this, Lin Yao quickly pressed down the ancient text, the pages touching the runes. A faint soul light appeared, and a surge of power flowed into her. She whispered, "Soul imprint? The text mentioned it—spiritual power!" Lin Yao's tone was calm, though her eyes gleamed with excitement.

Old Zhong exclaimed, "The soul lock is guiding me. I can hear it!" The faint remnants of the soul were drawing the soul imprint's position. He murmured, "The core of the formation is there!" He pointed his cane.

Jiang Hao sneered, "Soul break!" The soul blade swept through, slashing the shadow, and Lin Yao whispered, "Soul burn!" The soul flow burned the runes, using strategy to break the formation. Old Zhong's guidance was precise, and the trio's teamwork shattered the illusion. The guardian's shadow whispered, "The soul..." but before it could finish, the soul blade collided, and the shadow disintegrated.

The runic formation collapsed with a crash. The Yongning soul imprint soared, and the souls whispered their gratitude. Jiang Hao waved his hand and muttered, "The soul imprint is stronger than the gods. I don't need them!" Lin Yao whispered, "Are these souls trapped in an endless loop of reincarnation? Old Zhong?" Old Zhong bent over his cane, "Yes, these are the souls of my hometown. Go on."

The black fog faded, and dark whispers murmured, "The soul has not returned to its place, the imprint power is just beginning. Interesting."

The three stepped into the fog. The soul imprint awakened, and a new path in their journey was about to begin.