Chen Lin searched the entire surrounding area, but found no trace of Yun Xiumian. Unease began to gnaw at him.
After decades together, they were closer than family despite having no blood ties. They might constantly bicker, and he might not trust her completely, but she had long since become like family to him. If something truly terrible had happened to her, he would be deeply saddened.
"Xiuniang!"
"Yun Xiumian!"
He called out as he widened his search.
Still, he found nothing.
Chen Lin rose into the air, intending to survey the area from above, only to discover that he could reach no higher than the treetops. Beyond them, the black mist was almost solid. Even with the strength of his flesh and divine soul, he dared not linger there and could only abandon the attempt.
After a moment's hesitation, he took the risk of releasing a bright signal, then waited where he was.
Despite all his efforts, Yun Xiumian never appeared.
Chen Lin's expression grew exceedingly grim.
He felt that Yun Xiumian could not have left of her own accord. If she had wanted to leave him, she would not have waited until now, nor would she have done so in such a dangerous place.
That left only one possibility: she had encountered danger and been carried off by something.
He immediately thought of the Soul-Devouring Buddha.
But he quickly rejected that possibility. According to Yun Xiumian, the Soul-Devouring Buddha did not devour just any soul. Besides, it had locked onto him, so it should not have attacked her.
Moreover, Yun Xiumian had been beside him all along. If the Soul-Devouring Buddha had approached, there was no way he would not have sensed it.
That meant there was something even more powerful in these woods!
Chen Lin's expression changed,