Li Ze didn't deny Yunxi's guess, because it was the truth. He also didn't want to keep talking with them. Another two sentences and these four would pry even more out of him.
So Li Ze said stiffly, "Everyone, it's not convenient for me to reveal more. I will escort you back to Wanyuan Residence now."
The four had no intention of making things hard for Li Ze. They rose and followed him out of Huo Wan's Caiyi Pavilion.
Huo Wan saw them off respectfully, then closed the shop and went to gather soul stones.
On the way back, Yunxi and Han Lian really did stop by a general store and spent one mid-grade soul stone on a map of the Ghost Realm. Only then did they stroll back to Wanyuan Residence.
Li Ze personally watched the four enter and activate an isolation formation. Only then did he turn and return to the street from before. But the men he had sent in advance hadn't caught the old ghost from "Qianbao Pavilion." Rong Le was missing as well.
"Captain, the old ghost and Rong Le are both gone. What do we do?"
"Search. We finally have a new lead. We can't give up, or our brothers died for nothing."
"Yes, Captain."
The patrol soldiers immediately dispersed to look for Rong Le, but it was as if he had vanished into thin air. He didn't appear again.
Back at Wanyuan Residence, the four sat together, sharing what they had learned.
Yunxi spoke first. "From the moment we left Wanyuan Residence, a little ghost has been tailing us."
Mockery sharpened Han Lian's handsome features. "Hmph. As if we wouldn't notice. We just wanted to see what they were planning."
"Amitabha. It seems our arrival has stirred the waters of the Ghost Realm," Yun Chen Fózǐ said.
"Naturally. Entering the Ghost Realm with human bodies and gaining the protection of the Judge Division, they'll all be speculating about who we are. But the evil cultivators have already made their move. That formation in Qianbao Pavilion is proof."
Yunxi rubbed her chin. "If that formation really had drained our soul power, what do you think would have happened?"
Xun Kun frowned. "Fortunately, you reacted quickly and didn't let it fully operate. If even a thread of soul power from any of us had been pulled in, the mastermind could have done plenty with that single strand.
Just like in the cultivation world, we never let our blood or hair fall into other cultivators' hands. In the Ghost Realm, soul power is like a person's blood. If it falls into someone else's grasp, they can use it to control us."
Yunxi had a flash of understanding. "I get it. Just like the DNA of people in Azure Star. Everyone's soul power is unique. If they steal it, they can calculate against us precisely."
"Yes."
Xun Kun nodded. Among the four, he had studied soul control techniques under his master Lin Lang, so he was the most qualified to speak.
"Amitabha. It seems the evil cultivators started arranging things the moment we entered the Ghost Realm. We must act with utmost caution from here on."
"Of course."
The other three agreed.
Han Lian raised a second question. "What about Huo Wan? Was she also sent by the evil cultivators to test us, or does she have another purpose?"
Xun Kun shook his head. "No. It should have been coincidence that she received us."
Yunxi asked curiously, "Then why did you agree to her terms?"
Xun Kun cleared his throat. "Her daughter and I share a teacher-disciple fate."
"Really?"
"Yes. I can sense it."
Xun Kun's answer was firm.
Yunxi propped her chin, tsking softly. "Once we return to Weiyu Realm, we'll probably ascend. You still have time to take a disciple? Or is this a disciple you'll accept after ascending to the Immortal Realm?"
Xun Kun shook his head. "She will be a disciple I accept in Weiyu Realm."
Yunxi reacted quickly. "You mean that when we return to Weiyu Realm, you won't be able to ascend for a while?"
Xun Kun's bright black eyes swept over the three of them. "Not just me. The same goes for all of you."
"Tch." Yunxi's teeth ached a little at that. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Without waiting for them to answer, Xun Kun continued, "While tribulating for the Out-of-Body stage, I vaguely saw some scenes. After meeting Huo Wan, the scenes became clearer. That's why I accepted her deal. It's a good beginning with my future disciple."
The three fell silent. One of the four had already received a hint from the Heavenly Dao. It looked like they would have to bide their time in Weiyu Realm a while longer.
Yunxi rubbed her temple. "The only thing that could keep us in Weiyu Realm is the evil cultivators. We've ruined their plans again and again. They're likely holding back a big move. We need to be careful."
They still didn't know the Shanhe Scroll had gone missing. In the near future, Long Ya would break its seal again and escape the scroll's confinement. For now, their worry was how to return to Weiyu Realm in one piece.
Han Lian scowled. "Even so, with our cultivation, we can't stay long in Weiyu Realm."
"That's simple. Either we fall back down to Divine Transformation, or we suppress our cultivation ourselves. Which would you choose?" Yunxi said.
Han Lian's eyelid twitched. "Ran Xi, don't say things that jinx us. If I have to choose, I'd rather suppress my realm and stay in Weiyu Realm. I don't want to drop a stage."
Yunxi nodded. "It wasn't easy to break through to Out-of-Body. Who wants to fall back? Before we return, let's study a method to suppress our cultivation."
She looked around. The other three nodded. No one wanted to be knocked back to Divine Transformation.
Xun Kun continued, "From what I saw, this trip in the Ghost Realm will be a war of attrition between us and the evil cultivators. You should be mentally prepared."
"I knew it. Those evil cultivators are like a plaster that won't come off, stuck to us nonstop." Han Lian slapped the armrest in anger.
"Amitabha. It is our duty as cultivators to eradicate evil and defend the Dao. Since we borrowed the way through the underworld, we must pay a price. Dealing with evil cultivators is already second nature to us.
Han Lian, stop complaining. Let's look for clues first. Instead of waiting for them to knock, we take the initiative. At least then the momentum is ours.
Since it's fated we can return to Weiyu Realm, there's no need to hold back. Let's give it everything."
It was rare for Yun Chen Fózǐ to speak at such length, but his meaning was clear. If they couldn't avoid it, they would meet it head-on and see who won in the end. From Xun Kun's tribulation vision, they would make it back to Weiyu Realm. Otherwise, how would he accept a disciple?
Han Lian nodded. "Yun Chen, I'm with you this time. Being tossed to Azure Star almost suffocated me. If not for being with Ran Xi, we really might have been trapped there. I still haven't vented that anger.
If they insist on running into my sword, then we'll take a bite out of them, tear up their arrangements in the Ghost Realm, and see if they dare plot against us again."