Differences and Choices

When Lin Xiao brought back the message, it was just dawn.

He slipped into the valley camp like a shadow, his body carrying dew and the slightly fishy chill of the distant forest. His amber pupils contracted slightly in the morning light.

"The Cloud Mist Sect hasn't retreated." He spoke quickly, "They've joined forces with the ' Stone-Splitting Sect,' and their search area is expanding in this direction. Within three to five days at the latest, their outposts will be able to sniff out the mountain passes in this region."

The camp fell silent instantly. Mo Chen stopped what he was doing, Shen Moxin looked up, and Lu Qinghe clenched the water pouch in his hand.

Lu Yuan was drawing diagrams on charcoal ash, explaining Soul Power deflection to the surrounding Soul Master. His fingers paused, but he didn't look up. "The Stone-Splitting Sect? The one that tricked three disciples at the Black Stone Gorge Entrance half a year ago with a Soul Tool trap?"

"It's them." Lin Xiao licked his canine teeth. "They hold grudges."

Mo Chen snorted but didn't say anything.

The faces of those surrounding them changed. A tall, thin man's lips trembled. "Then... what if they use wide-range Soul Power detection..."

"This valley can't be hidden any longer," Lin Xiao replied decisively.

Panic spread like ice water. Several Soul Master instinctively backed away, their eyes darting around nervously.

Shi Jian suddenly stood up, a phantom image of Rock Shield flashing behind him. "What are you afraid of! Bring it on!"

"What are you using to block it?" A voice boomed from behind the crowd.

Wu Meng walked over with four or five men, his scar on his face taut. He glanced at Lu Yuan, his gaze sharp as a knife. "Boss Shi, still not awake? Don't you know how the enemy found us?"

Shi Jian's face flushed red. "Wu Meng! What do you mean?"

"That means a jinx has entered our door!" Wu Meng raised his voice, pointing at Lu Yuan, "If they hadn't hidden here, would the Cloud Mist Sect have searched this remote mountain valley? Would the Stone-Splitting Sect have gotten involved? Now look what's happened, they're practically at our doorstep! We're all going to be buried with these outsiders!"

A stir ran through the crowd. Some people lowered their heads, while others moved closer to Wu Meng.

Lu Yuan put down the branch he was holding and dusted it off. He stood up, his movements steady.

"Wu Meng Soul Ancestor right." He spoke, his voice low but enough to drown out the noise, "We were indeed being pursued, which is why we fled here. The Cloud Mist Sect and the Stone-Splitting Sect are after us."

Wu Meng was taken aback; he hadn't expected him to admit it so readily.

"But there's one thing I want to remind you all," Lu Yuan said, his gaze sweeping over the uneasy faces. "Over the years, the search for 'abnormal Martial Soul ' and 'evil and mutated beings' has never stopped. You're hiding here because you're lucky, because this place is remote enough, not because the enemy is merciful."

He paused, then emphasized.

"Even without us, they'll find their way here sooner or later. The only difference is time."

Wu Meng's face turned ashen. "Lies!"

"Whether it's sophistry or not, you know in your heart." Lu Yuan didn't argue with him, turning to Shi Jian and the other eager Soul Master, "I won't lie to you and say that following me will guarantee your safety. Our path is fraught with danger, the theories are still being tested, and the enemy is very strong."

He spoke slowly, each word like a stone falling to the ground.

Whether you learn it or not, believe it or not, follow it or not, the choice is yours. I don't force anyone.

Wu Meng sneered. "That sounds nice! Then leave now! Get out of the valley immediately and draw the pursuers away!"

Shi Jian stepped in front of Lu Yuan. "Wu Meng! Are you even human?! How much has Mr. Lu helped us? Healing our injuries, teaching us techniques, even the trick to redirecting my Soul Power was taught to me by him! And now you're kicking us out?"

"Your little tricks are utterly useless!" Wu Meng roared back. "Can a leaf be blown askew to block a sword or withstand Soul Skill? Shi Jian, wake up! They can't even protect themselves, what future can they offer you? Why not live a peaceful life instead of courting death?"

"Peace and stability?" Shi Jian's eyes reddened, his voice trembling. "Our Martial Soul are incomplete, mutated! In the eyes of those major sects, we're just trash to be eliminated! Hiding here farming and hunting, you call that peace and stability? That's just waiting to die!"

He turned and shouted to the crowd, "Brothers! We were born labeled 'useless'! Someone told us that this 'uselessness' might turn into a 'path'! The enemy has come from outside, but they will come sooner or later! Rather than kneeling and waiting to be beheaded, we should follow those who know, learn skills, and grow our fists! When that day comes, at least we'll be able to throw a punch!"

Several young Soul Master clenched their fists, their eyes burning with fervor. But many more shrank back, their faces pale.

The air between the two groups was taut like a fully drawn bow.

A burly man beside Wu Meng had gray-white rock patterns appearing on his arm. Behind Shi Jian, Soul Power began to surge.

It looked like it was about to explode.

"Stop it, everyone."

Lu Yuan's voice broke in, cold and hard as iron. He walked to the middle, looked at Shi Jian first, and shook his head. Shi Jian gritted his teeth, suppressed his Soul Power, and kept his fist clenched.

Lu Yuan looked at Wu Meng. "I understand your concerns. Nobody wants their peaceful life to be disrupted."

Wu Meng remained silent, his face cold.

"I'll say it one last time," Lu Yuan said slowly, "those who are willing to believe and find the way together are welcome. Those who think we're a nuisance and want us to leave—"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Wu Meng and the people behind him.

"We won't linger."

After saying that, he turned and left. "Lin Xiao, Mo Chen, Mr. Shen, Father, and Su Yan and Li Wangye, come over and discuss this."

He left decisively, leaving all the tension in the valley behind.

The team gathered in a corner of the camp. In the distance, two groups were still facing off, whispering and buzzing.

"The situation is worse than we thought," Lu Yuan said bluntly. "The search is intense, and the valley is at high risk of being exposed. We can't stay here any longer."

Lu Qinghe frowned. "Yuan'er, then we..."

"We definitely have to leave." Lu Yuan tapped his fingertips lightly on his knee, "But we can't just wander aimlessly. We're not fully recovered from our injuries, our supplies are insufficient, and we're unfamiliar with the depths of the mountains. A blind retreat would be tantamount to suicide."

Shen Moxin adjusted her glasses. "We need a plan. One that can temporarily evade pursuers, continue testing the theory, and even... recruit like-minded individuals."

Lu Yuan nodded and looked into the depths of the valley. Shi Jian was excitedly gesturing to several young men.

"Shi Jian and his team are good seeds. They are eager for change and have a solid foundation. But they need time, and they also need a more secluded 'soil' where we can build our framework."

Mo Chen's eyes lit up. "You mean... that abandoned ruin? Deep in the Black Stone Mountain Range, near the edge of the Star Dou Forest?"

"Yes," Lu Yuan confirmed. "The ancient Soul Tool ruins have complex terrain and many natural mazes. If there are residual energy interference fields, they can shield Soul Power detection."

Mo Chen became excited, then frowned. "The advantages are great, but the disadvantages are also great. Residual traps, mutated Soul Beast, unstable energy... If you don't have the strength, going in is just suicide."

"Therefore, we need greater strength and a more complete organization." Lu Yuan's gaze swept over everyone. "Before leaving, do two things."

He held up two fingers.

"First, help Shi Jian and his group, at least stabilize the situation internally and prevent immediate infighting. We need some people to volunteer as the first group to join us."

"Second," he paused, his gaze deepening, "Give Wu Meng and the others, those who vehemently oppose it, an 'option' they cannot refuse."

Lin Xiao raised an eyebrow. "What choice?"

Lu Yuan didn't answer immediately. He looked towards the valley entrance, where Wu Meng was discussing something with his men with a gloomy face. The morning light cut across the mountain ridge, illuminating his profile in half-light and half-shadow.

"A choice that makes them understand that neither holding out nor driving them away will solve the problem, and may even make it worse." Lu Yuan's voice was calm, tinged with a cold, calculating edge. "We need a 'trigger.' Or... create one."