Dark Current Stirs

Qingyan Town lay twenty miles southeast of the foot of Tianyuan Sect's mountain, an inconspicuous little town. It was nearing dusk, and the shops in town were closing one after another. Only a small shop at the street corner bearing the sign "Zhou's Pharmacy" still had its lights on.

Ning Xiaochuan and Su Linger wore coarse cloaks and kept their hoods low as they silently approached the pharmacy's back door through the alleyways. Along the way, they had avoided at least three patrols of Tianyuan Sect disciples, all of whom bore the mark of Xuantian Peak on their robes.

"Are you sure it's here?" Ning Xiaochuan asked in a low voice, warily scanning the surroundings. Little Dragon's source soul hid in his arms, poking out only its tiny head to look around.

Su Linger nodded and knocked on the door three times long, then twice short. A moment later, the door opened a crack, revealing a cloudy yet sharp eye.

"What medicine are you buying?" a hoarse voice asked.

"Ice Soul Powder for heart pain," Su Linger replied.

"Ice Soul Powder is cold in nature. It isn't suitable for heart pain."

"Then give me a dose of warming Dragon Blood Soup."

The passcode matched. The door opened fully, and a white-haired old man with a stooped back gestured for them to hurry inside. Ning Xiaochuan recognized him as Old Zhou—the pharmacy manager in Qingyan Town whom his father had mentioned.

The back room of the pharmacy was more spacious than expected. Shelves were filled with all kinds of medicinal herbs, and the air carried a mingled scent of bitterness and fresh fragrance. Old Zhou shut the door. When he turned around, his back suddenly straightened, and his cloudy eyes became bright and piercing.

"I've finally been waiting for you." Old Zhou's voice was no longer hoarse but full and vigorous. "True Man Xuanyu sent word three days ago that you might come here."

Ning Xiaochuan stared at Old Zhou's transformation in surprise. "You... aren't an ordinary pharmacist?"

Old Zhou smiled and took a jade token from his robes—almost identical to the one True Man Xuanyu had given Ning Xiaochuan, except slightly darker in color. "Zhou Buhui, Intelligence Department of Tianyuan Sect's outer sect. I've been undercover in Qingyan Town for twenty years."

Su Linger did not seem surprised. "Is Master well?"

Zhou Buhui—who should now be called Zhou Buhui—darkened. "Not very well. The Grand Elder placed True Man Xuanyu under house arrest under the pretext of 'secluded cultivation and enlightenment.' In truth, he fears that Master Xuanyu will interfere with the plan." He motioned for them to sit and poured them hot tea. "What did you discover beneath the Frozen Abyss?"

Ning Xiaochuan briefly recounted the ice-carved giant dragon and the Sacred Source Trial, but left out everything concerning his mother. After listening, Zhou Buhui took out a letter from a hidden compartment in the medicine cabinet.

"True Man Xuanyu anticipated this long ago." He handed the letter to Ning Xiaochuan. "Take a look."

The letter bore True Man Xuanyu's familiar handwriting: "Xiaochuan, Linger: If you are reading this letter, it means there truly is a Sacred Source Inheritance beneath the Frozen Abyss. The Grand Elder has colluded with the Dark Source Soul Hall and intends to use the coming Twin Moons in the Sky to open the seal of the Frozen Abyss, sacrificing the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon to obtain the power of origin. This power can break the fundamental restrictions of the Open Source Continent, and the consequences would be unimaginable. Two-thirds of Tianyuan Sect's elders are already under the Grand Elder's control, but there are still loyal people within the sect. Lei Lie, Mu Qing, and the others have secretly gathered and can be trusted. Remember this: before the Twin Moons in the Sky, you must find the Land of Origin. Only the Sacred Source Bloodline can stop this disaster. —Xuanyu"

Ning Xiaochuan clenched the letter. "The Land of Origin... The ice-carved giant dragon also said we had to find it, but it never told us where it was."

Zhou Buhui walked to the window and drew the curtains after confirming that no one was outside. "I do have some clues about the Land of Origin." He took a battered notebook from the bookshelf. "This was left behind twenty years ago by a mysterious guest. She came here seeking treatment for severe injuries, and she looked remarkably similar to Madam Bai Li in True Man Xuanyu's painting."

Ning Xiaochuan's heart jolted. "My mother?"

"Very likely." Zhou Buhui opened the notebook and pointed to one page. "Look here—'When moon shadows overlap, the dragon soul will show the way, and the Primal Gate will appear.'"

At that moment, the Dragon Soul Jade on Ning Xiaochuan's chest suddenly grew hot and flew out on its own, hovering in midair. The dragon pattern on its surface moved like a living creature, emitting a soft milky-white glow. Even more miraculously, a faint path appeared within the light, pointing northwest!

"This is...?" Su Linger watched in astonishment.

Reverence flashed through Zhou Buhui's eyes. "A phenomenon that occurs after the Dragon Soul Jade recognizes its master. It seems the Twin Moons in the Sky are drawing near, and it has begun sensing the call of the Land of Origin."

Little Dragon's source soul completely wriggled out of Ning Xiaochuan's arms and joyfully flew circles around the Dragon Soul Jade, occasionally puffing out little clouds of milky mist. The jade's glow strengthened in response, and the path became clearer.

"Northwest... That's the direction of the Endless Desert." Su Linger frowned. "There are only six days left until the Twin Moons in the Sky. Can we make it in time?"

Zhou Buhui shook his head. "In your current condition, I'm afraid the Dark Source Soul Hall's people will spot you the moment you enter the desert." He pointed at their tattered clothes and still-pale faces. "Rest for the night first. I'll contact Lei Lie and the others and have them join us."

Only then did Ning Xiaochuan notice how bedraggled he and Su Linger truly were—their clothes had been torn in several places by ice spikes, their faces were pale from the Frozen Abyss's chill, and even Little Dragon's source soul had lost the luster of its scales.

"Senior Zhou is right." Ning Xiaochuan put away the Dragon Soul Jade, and its light vanished. "We need help and supplies."

Zhou Buhui arranged for the two of them to rest in an upstairs guest room, then went to prepare food and medicine himself. Ning Xiaochuan had barely lain down when three owl calls sounded outside the window—two long and one short.

Su Linger immediately sat up alertly. "It's Lei Lie's signal."

Before long, two figures silently climbed in through the window. The one in front was a burly red-haired young man with thick brows and large eyes, a crimson greatsword strapped to his back. Behind him was a woman in blue robes with delicate features and several brocade pouches hanging from her waist.

"Junior Sister Su!" The red-haired young man strode forward, his voice booming. "I heard you were beneath the Frozen Abyss—"

"Keep it down, Senior Brother Lei!" Su Linger hurriedly stopped him. "There are patrols outside."

The woman in blue smiled faintly and flicked her fingers. A pale-blue Light Screen enveloped the room. "You can speak freely now. I set up a soundproof barrier. I'm Mu Qing, a disciple of Jingshui Peak."

Lei Lie scratched his head awkwardly and lowered his voice. "Lei Lie of Yan Peak. Master Xuanyu sent us to support you."

Ning Xiaochuan studied the two of them. Lei Lie radiated scorching heat, clearly a cultivator of fire-attributed source energy. Mu Qing, meanwhile, gave off an unfathomable impression, especially considering that the barrier she had casually set up was far more intricate than anything an ordinary disciple could create.

"So you're the host of the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon?" Lei Lie looked curiously at Ning Xiaochuan, his gaze landing on Little Dragon's source soul. "It looks... pretty cute?"

Little Dragon's source soul gave an unhappy "Goo Chu!" and sprayed a small cloud of milky mist onto Lei Lie's face. To everyone's surprise, the mist rapidly seeped into his skin upon contact, and Lei Lie immediately felt refreshed.

"Huh? My source energy recovered by twenty percent!" His eyes widened. "This little guy is amazing!"

Surprise flashed through Mu Qing's eyes. "A source soul capable of directly replenishing another person's source energy... No wonder the Dark Source Soul Hall is so determined to obtain it."

Su Linger briefly explained what they had discovered beneath the Frozen Abyss and True Man Xuanyu's predicament. After hearing it, Lei Lie slammed his fist onto the table—fortunately, there was a soundproof barrier. "I knew that old bastard from Xuantian Peak was no good! Three years ago, when he proposed 'peaceful coexistence' with the Dark Source Soul Hall, we should have cut him down with a single sword!"

Mu Qing remained relatively calm. "The sect is currently divided into three factions—the Xuantian Peak and Disha Peak controlled by the Grand Elder; the neutral Tianshu Peak and Yuheng Peak; and Yan Peak, Jingshui Peak, and our Xuanyu Peak, which still remain loyal to the Sect Master."

"Although Master Xuanyu has been placed under house arrest, he has secretly contacted several elders." She took out a brocade pouch and poured out several jade tokens. "These are tokens for passing through the restrictions around each peak. Senior Brother Lei has already arranged for trustworthy disciples to prepare to receive us."

Zhou Buhui entered carrying a tray of food. He wasn't surprised to see Lei Lie and Mu Qing. "Perfect. We can discuss the plan together."

The five sat around a table, eating as they talked. Ning Xiaochuan wolfed down the steaming food, feeling his strength rapidly return. Little Dragon, however, was especially fond of a plate of specially made medicinal cakes. After eating three in a row, he let out a satisfied burp and puffed out a cloud of milky mist carrying a medicinal fragrance.

"According to our intelligence, the Grand Elder plans to open the seal on the Frozen Abyss at midnight during the Twin Moons in the Sky." Zhou Buhui spread out a map. "At that time, the Third Hall Master of the Dark Source Soul Hall will personally attend and preside over the sacrificial ritual."

"The Third Hall Master?" Ning Xiaochuan recalled the person the Golden-masked Soul Hunter had mentioned.

"The third most powerful figure in the Dark Source Soul Hall, a Source Venerable-level expert skilled in Soul Devouring Source Qi." Su Linger's expression was grave. "It is said that, to increase his cultivation, he devoured more than a hundred rare source souls."

Lei Lie snorted coldly. "This time, I'll let him have a taste of my Flame Dragon Heavy Sword!"

Mu Qing shook her head. "A direct confrontation isn't the answer. We need to split into two groups—one group will go to the Land of Origin to find a way to stop the ritual; the other will remain in the Tianyuan Sect, ready to rescue True Man Xuanyu at the critical moment and prevent the ritual from being completed."

"I'll go to the Land of Origin." Ning Xiaochuan did not hesitate. "Only I can use the Dragon Soul Jade."

"I'll go with him," Su Linger said at once.

Lei Lie and Mu Qing exchanged a glance. "Then we'll handle matters within the sect."

Zhou Buhui took two bundles from a cabinet. "I prepared some necessities—water skins for the desert, dried provisions, medicine, and clothes for disguises."

He handed Ning Xiaochuan a small jade bottle in particular. "This contains Thousand Mile Fragrance. Drop a few drops along the way, and our people will be able to track your location."

The plan was settled: before dawn tomorrow, Ning Xiaochuan and Su Linger would disguise themselves as traveling merchants and set out; Lei Lie and Mu Qing would return to the sect to continue their covert preparations; Zhou Buhui would be responsible for communication between both sides.

Late at night, after everyone else had gone to rest, Ning Xiaochuan sat by the window keeping watch. Moonlight filtered through the lattice, casting mottled shadows across the floor. Little Dragon was curled up asleep on his lap, his scales rising and falling faintly with each breath.

Soft footsteps approached, and Su Linger, wrapped in an outer robe, came to stand beside him. "Can't sleep?"

Ning Xiaochuan nodded. "Too many things... my mother, the Sacred Origin Tribe, the Land of Origin... Sometimes, it all feels like a dream."

After a moment of silence, Su Linger suddenly asked, "What was your original world... like?"

Ning Xiaochuan looked at her in surprise. "How did you...?"

"I heard some things during the trial." Su Linger gazed at the moonlight. "You said you weren't from this world..."

Ning Xiaochuan smiled bitterly. "That's right. I come from a world without source qi or source souls." He described skyscrapers, cars, airplanes, phones, computers... Su Linger listened, utterly absorbed.

"It sounds like a myth," she said softly. "Then... do you want to go back?"

Ning Xiaochuan looked at Little Dragon on his lap, then touched the Dragon Soul Jade at his chest. "I used to. But now..." He turned to Su Linger. "There are people and things here that I care about."

In the moonlight, the lines of Su Linger's profile softened considerably. She seemed to want to say something, but in the end, she merely took Ning Xiaochuan's hand gently in hers.

The two sat quietly like that, neither pulling their hand away. Ning Xiaochuan felt the warmth of her palm. It was warmer than usual, no longer so cold.

"My younger sister's name was Su Xue'er," Su Linger suddenly said, her voice very soft. "She was five years younger than me. She loved to laugh and chase butterflies... That day was her birthday. I promised I would take her to pick wildflowers in the mountains..."

Ning Xiaochuan tightened his grip on her hand. "We'll stop the Dark Source Soul Hall. For your sister, and for everyone they've harmed, we'll make them pay."

Su Linger nodded lightly. A trace of vulnerability flashed through her eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination. "The Twin Moons in the Sky will arrive in six days. No matter what lies in the Land of Origin, we have to find it."

The moon gradually sank westward, yet their fingers remained interlocked. Little Dragon shifted in his sleep, his tiny claws unconsciously catching hold of Su Linger's sleeve.

The darkness before dawn was at its deepest. Ning Xiaochuan and Su Linger changed into merchant attire, shouldered their bundles, and quietly left the pharmacy. Little Dragon hid beneath Ning Xiaochuan's cloak, exposing only a pair of eyes as he warily observed the surroundings.

Zhou Buhui saw them off at the small road beyond town. "Be careful. You must return within five days, or you won't make it back in time to stop the ritual."

Ning Xiaochuan nodded and took out the Dragon Soul Jade. In the faint light before dawn, the jade gave off a pale milky glow, its dragon patterns pointing northwest.

"Let's go." Su Linger tightened her cloak.

The two hurried down the path and soon vanished into the morning mist. Zhou Buhui watched them leave, then turned back to the pharmacy and took out a carrier pigeon from a hidden compartment.

"I hope it's not too late..." he murmured, tying a prepared secret letter to the pigeon's leg before releasing it.

The carrier pigeon flapped its wings and soared toward the Tianyuan Sect. However, just as it was about to leave the town, a stream of black qi suddenly shot up from the ground and struck it with unerring accuracy!

The pigeon turned to ashes before it could even cry out. Atop a large tree beyond the town, a figure wearing a bronze mask sneered before silently disappearing.

By noon, Ning Xiaochuan and Su Linger had already traveled more than twenty li from Qingyan Town. To avoid possible spies, they had chosen a rarely traveled mountain path.

"Let's rest for a while." Ning Xiaochuan wiped the sweat from his forehead. The May sun was already quite scorching, especially at midday.

The two rested beneath the shade of a large tree. Su Linger took out a water skin and handed it to Ning Xiaochuan. "Have some water. At this pace, we can reach the edge of the desert by tonight."

Ning Xiaochuan took a few drinks, then suddenly noticed that the Dragon Soul Jade had become unusually warm in the sunlight. He took out the jade and was surprised to find that the dragon patterns on its surface were clearer and more active than they had been that morning.

"Is it absorbing the sun's energy?" Ning Xiaochuan guessed.

Su Linger examined it closely. "Not entirely... It seems more like it's resonating with some distant power."

Little Dragon impatiently flew out and circled the Dragon Soul Jade, puffing out milky mist from time to time. Whenever the mist touched the jade, it triggered a faint ripple of light.

"They're communicating..." Su Linger said thoughtfully. "Try channeling your source qi into the Dragon Soul Jade."

Ning Xiaochuan did as she said, guiding the source qi within him toward his palm. The Dragon Soul Jade immediately flared with light, projecting a blurry phantom map—showing their current location and a winding path leading northwest.

"This is... a route map to the Land of Origin?" Ning Xiaochuan said in delight.

Su Linger carefully studied the projection. "It looks like we need to cross an oasis at the center of the desert... That should be the entrance."

Just as the two were studying the map, Little Dragon suddenly raised his scales in alarm and let out a low rumble.

"Someone's coming!" Su Linger quickly put away the Dragon Soul Jade, and the two hid behind a tree.

A moment later, a group of black-clad riders passed along the path. At their head was none other than the Bronze-masked Soul Hunter! They seemed to be searching for something, stopping from time to time to inspect the ground.

"Damn it, how did they catch up so fast?" Ning Xiaochuan lowered his voice.

Su Linger frowned. "Maybe our tracks were exposed... or perhaps they were already watching every route leading to the desert."

Only after the black-clad men had gone far away did the two breathe a sigh of relief. Ning Xiaochuan noticed that Little Dragon's source soul was still staring tensely into the distance. "What is it, Little One?"

Suddenly, a pitch-black crow flew up from the treetop and headed in the direction the black-clad men had left—the strange Red Light in its eyes flickered ominously!

"A Soul Devouring Crow! A scout of the Dark Source Soul Hall!" Su Linger's face changed drastically. "We've been discovered!"

Sure enough, the bronze-masked man's command rang out in the distance, followed by the sound of horses turning back.

"Run!" Ning Xiaochuan grabbed Su Linger's hand and charged deeper into the forest.

Behind them, the pursuers' hoofbeats drew closer and closer. Worse still, the terrain ahead was beginning to open up, and they would soon enter a completely exposed wasteland!

"Split up!" Su Linger made her decision without hesitation. "You take the Dragon Soul Jade to the Land of Origin. I'll draw them away!"

"No!" Ning Xiaochuan refused flatly. "We agreed to do this together!"

Su Linger wanted to say more, but the pursuers had already come into view. The bronze-masked man raised a black net with a vicious grin. "Found you, little rats!"

At that critical moment, the ground suddenly shook violently, and a wall of fire erupted from beneath the earth, cutting off the pursuers!

"Move!" A familiar voice came from the side. Ning Xiaochuan turned and saw Lei Lie poking his head out from behind a Giant Rock, waving at them!

The two had no time to think and immediately rushed toward Lei Lie. The moment they ducked behind the Giant Rock, Lei Lie seized their arms. "Hold on tight!"

Crimson source energy burst forth, and the three were instantly wrapped in flames—but strangely, the fire was not hot. The next instant, they shot across the ground like arrows loosed from a bow, speeding away from the pursuers in the blink of an eye!

"A fire escape technique?" Su Linger stared at Lei Lie in surprise. "Didn't you return to the sect?"

Lei Lie grinned. "Master Xuanyu knew you'd be tracked down and sent me to protect you in secret." He pointed toward a cave not far ahead. "Mu Qing is waiting for us there. She has a way to shake the pursuers."

The moment the three rushed into the cave, Mu Qing activated a concealment formation she had set up beforehand. The entrance was instantly covered by an illusion; from outside, it looked like nothing more than an ordinary cliff face.

"Time is short." Mu Qing spoke concisely as she took two talismans from an embroidered pouch. "These are Mirror Talismans. They can create doubles of you to lure away the pursuers, but they will only last for half an hour."

She stuck the talismans onto two straw figures and recited an incantation. In the blink of an eye, the straw figures transformed into Ning Xiaochuan and Su Linger, even carrying identical auras!

"Impressive!" Ning Xiaochuan praised.

Mu Qing handed the straw figures to Lei Lie. "Senior Brother Lei, take the doubles south and make as much noise as possible."

Lei Lie nodded, slung the straw figures over his shoulder, and rushed out of the cave, deliberately shouting, "This way! Hurry!"

Before long, the sound of the pursuers' horses turning in another direction came from afar.

"We should move too." Mu Qing took out two more sets of clothing. "Put these on. They're desert merchant caravan clothes."

While they changed, Ning Xiaochuan asked, "How are things at the sect?"

Mu Qing's expression turned grave. "Not good. The Grand Elder has publicly announced that he will hold a 'Heaven Worship Ceremony' during the Twin Moons in the Sky. In truth, it's a cover for sacrificing to the Holy Spirit. What's more troublesome is..." She hesitated. "Han Li suddenly disappeared yesterday."

"Han Li?" Su Linger frowned. "Would he betray the Grand Elder?"

"Not sure." Mu Qing shook her head. "But Master Xuanyu said to be wary if he suddenly appears... regardless of whether he is friend or foe."

After changing clothes, the three quietly left the cave. Mu Qing's mastery of formations was superb; she led them around every possible lookout and took a detour toward the desert.

By sunset, they finally reached the edge of the desert. In the distance, a red sun slowly sank below the horizon, staining the entire desert blood-red.

"I can only take you this far." Mu Qing stopped. "Remember, you must return within five days. Otherwise, it will all be too late."

Ning Xiaochuan nodded and took out the Dragon Soul Jade. Beneath the sunset, the jade emitted a dazzling Golden Red glow. The dragon patterns on its surface seemed ready to soar into the air, pointing straight toward the depths of the desert.

The Land of Origin lay in that direction.