Cloud Mist Returns

Lin Xiao left the mine, about two hours later.

Inside the cavern, Lu Yuan opened his eyes. His Soul Power had recovered to about 30-40%, and the emptiness in his chest had lessened somewhat. He got up and stretched his stiff shoulders.

Whispers came from the direction of the stone chamber. Bai Zhi's voice was soft and intermittent, asking Shen Moxin something. Shen Moxin answered, her tone steady and clear, occasionally interjecting with the name of a herb or two. Mo Chen's carving knife stopped; he was probably resting.

Everything is as usual.

Lu Yuan walked to the entrance of the rock cavity and looked into the deep mine tunnel. Lin Xiao hadn't returned yet. Logically speaking, routine perimeter reconnaissance shouldn't take this long.

He frowned.

Deep within the mine tunnel, footsteps approached. Soon, Lin Xiao emerged from the shadows, moving faster than usual, landing almost silently. His face was expressionless, but his amber vertical pupils slightly contracted, a reaction of heightened alertness.

"Is something the matter?" Lu Yuan asked.

Lin Xiao didn't answer immediately. He glanced inside the cavern, confirming that Bai Zhi and her brother were inside, before lowering his voice. "The people from the Cloud Mist Sect have returned."

Lu Yuan's eyes narrowed.

Where?

"On the other side of the Thousand Needle Stone Forest, on the outer edge," Lin Xiao said quickly, "There are more people, at least ten. Besides the Soul King from last time, there's an old man leading them, and his aura... is very deep."

"Soul Emperor?"

"Most likely." Lin Xiao unconsciously licked his canine teeth. "They didn't enter the core area; they camped on the edge. They brought something, like Soul Tool, specifically for detection. They also brought a few environmental stabilization gadgets."

Lu Yuan remained silent for a few seconds.

He turned and walked into the cavern. "Call Mo Chen and Teacher Shen, let's talk inside."

Lin Xiao nodded and his figure flashed into the direction of the stone chamber.

A moment later, the five gathered around a small stone table deep inside the cavern. The Soul Power lamp was dimmed to its lowest setting, barely enough to illuminate the tabletop. Shen Moxin adjusted her glasses, Mo Chen's hair was even more disheveled, though his eyes remained sharp. Bai Zhi was instructed to stay in the stone chamber to take care of her brother and did not participate.

"The situation." Lu Yuan looked at Lin Xiao.

Lin Xiao briefly recounted the events. Today, his reconnaissance range was farther than usual. When he approached the other edge of the stone forest, he sensed abnormal Soul Power fluctuations—not natural disturbances, but rather man-made, regular detection fluctuations. He crept closer and discovered the Cloud Mist Sect's temporary camp in a sheltered stone hollow.

"Four tents, arranged in a diamond shape. There are two hidden sentries around the perimeter, their positions cleverly chosen." Lin Xiao traced a line on the table with his finger. "I went around to the upwind side and observed them through a crack in the rocks for about fifteen minutes. They were divided into three groups: one group was adjusting their Soul Tool, a disc-shaped device with intricate engravings on its surface; another group was organizing their equipment—ropes, grappling hooks, and specially made leather bags; and the third group was surrounding the old man, seemingly listening to his commands."

"What are the old man's characteristics?" Mo Chen interjected.

"He wore a grey robe with silver cloud patterns on the cuffs, more exquisite than ordinary disciples. His hair was gray and tightly bound. He leaned on a dark wooden staff, the head of which was inlaid with a bluish-grey crystal," Lin Xiao recalled. "His voice wasn't loud, but with each sentence, the surrounding disciples lowered their heads to listen. His Soul Power fluctuations... were like a ballast stone, heavy and steady."

Shen Moxin asked softly, "What are they waiting for?"

"It's like they're waiting for the right moment," Lin Xiao said. "The Soul Tool has been adjusted several times, and the light patterns it displays are different each time. Before I left, I saw the old man walk to the edge of the camp, look towards the core area of the stone forest for a long time, and then shake his head. They didn't rush in."

After listening, Lu Yuan tapped his index finger lightly on his knee.

Once, twice.

"Earth Vein Soul Marrow," he began. "They haven't given up. Last time the earth collapsed, the main crystal disappeared, but its fragments were scattered everywhere. They've returned to find more fragments, or... to find the whereabouts of the main crystal."

Mo Chen cursed, "Again? Last time we were almost buried alive!"

"Precisely because we failed last time, we are much better prepared this time," Lu Yuan said calmly. "We brought Soul Tool specifically designed to detect the Soul Power of earth veins, as well as equipment to stabilize the environment. That Soul Emperor elder is likely a master of exploration or formations within the sect. They have learned from their mistakes."

Silence filled the cavern.

The Soul King and Soul Emperor, along with nearly ten disciples of Soul Ancestor or above. This force, let alone the current members, even if Lu Qinghe, Su Yan, and Li Wangye were all included, would be like throwing an egg against a rock if they were to confront them head-on.

"They won't notice us here for now," Lu Yuan continued. "The Old West Gully mining area is barren of Soul Power, far from the core of the Stone Forest. Their target is clear: Soul Marrow. But..."

He paused.

"But if we want to explore the Stone Forest again, especially to verify the conjecture about the ' Land of Lightning Strikes,' conflict with them is almost inevitable."

Lin Xiao's eyes sharpened. "Then let's give it a shot."

"What are we going to use to fight?" Mo Chen said irritably. "You're a Soul Elder, my Soul Power hasn't fully recovered, and that kid Lu isn't even Soul Master yet. Teacher Shen is a theorist, Bai Zhi arrived, and her brother is bedridden. The remaining two students are Soul Scholar. And the other side has a Soul Emperor backing them up. How are we going to fight?"

Lin Xiao remained silent, but his jawline tightened.

Shen Moxin spoke softly, "Conflict isn't the only option. We can wait for them to leave, or... adjust our exploration plan."

"We can't wait." Lu Yuan shook his head. "The Cloud Mist Sect is well-prepared this time and won't retreat easily until they achieve their goal. Moreover, the longer we drag this out, the wider their detection range might expand, increasing the risk of them accidentally discovering this place."

He looked at Mo Chen: "What stage has the prototype of that ' Quiet Cultivation Array Disc ' reached?"

Mo Chen scratched his messy hair. "The basic structure is finished; we're testing the stability of energy flow. The jade fossil material is more difficult to work with than expected; the Soul Power guiding patterns are prone to breaking."

"Speed up the process." Lu Yuan's tone became more serious. "If the array plate can be completed, it will be crucial for maintaining consciousness in a chaotic Soul Power environment. We need it, especially if we must enter the core area of the Stone Forest in the future."

Mo Chen gritted his teeth. "... I'll try my best."

"Not just try, it's a must." Lu Yuan turned to Lin Xiao, "Strengthen surveillance of the Stone Forest area. Find out their patterns of activity: when they probe each day, the size of the probe area, and how personnel rotate. Especially the activity habits of that Soul Emperor elder."

Lin Xiao nodded. "Understood."

"Furthermore..." Lu Yuan's gaze swept across the entrance to the cavern, as if he could see through the stone walls to Su Yan and Li Wangye sparring inside the mine tunnel, "Our 'trainees' need to grow up faster. At the very least, they need to have basic self-defense and teamwork skills."

Shen Moxin understood. "I will adjust the training program, adding combat Simulation and emergency evacuation drills."

"We also need to take stock of our supplies," Lu Yuan added. "Food, water, medicine, and spare Soul Tool components. If the situation worsens, we may need to take complete cover for a short period, or... an emergency evacuation."

Mo Chen's expression changed. "To that extent?"

"Hopefully not." Lu Yuan stood up, walked to the edge of the cavern, and placed his palm on the cool stone wall. "But we need to prepare."

His back was thin, but his shoulders were straight.

"The return of the Cloud Mist Sect is bad news, but it's also a reminder." Lu Yuan's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears. "We've been too slow. Research, technology, personnel development, defense construction... everything is slower than expected. And the external threats won't wait for us to be ready."

He turned around, his eyes calm.

Time is not on our side.

Inside the cavern, the glow of the Soul Power lamp flickered slightly, casting swaying shadows on the stone walls. In the distance, the shouts of Su Yan and Li Wangye practicing their drills could be faintly heard from the mine tunnel, carrying the tenacity unique to young people.

But at this moment, hearing that voice only made one's heart sink even deeper.

Lin Xiao suddenly spoke up, "I'll keep a close eye on them."

After he finished speaking, his figure flashed and disappeared back into the shadows of the mine tunnel. The sound of footsteps quickly faded away, heading towards the exit.

Mo Chen stared at the table, his fingers unconsciously tracing the old marks on the handle of the carving knife. Shen Moxin took off her glasses and gently wiped the lenses with the corner of her clothes.

Lu Yuan sat down again and closed his eyes.

In his mind, countless fragments of information swirled, collided, and reassembled: the topographical map of the Thousand Needle Stone Forest, the location of the Cloud Mist Sect camp, the possible abilities of the Soul Emperor elder, the status of his own personnel, and the list of supplies.

He's looking for that road.

That path that allowed them to continue moving forward despite being surrounded by formidable enemies.

Inside the stone chamber, Bai Zhi gently tucked a thin blanket around her brother. The young man's face was still pale, but his breathing had become more steady, and the red markings on his chest were almost invisible. She gazed at her brother's sleeping face and pursed her lips.

Deep within the rock cavity, the sound of carving knives rang out again.

Very urgent, very detailed.