Back in the Soren Ruins, Krune's group finally left the mob behind. However, everywhere they went had more of those faint blue crystals.

"Don't touch them. We don't need more of these things awakening."

​​

Everyone nodded as they carefully made their way through these labyrinthine ruins. The only thing that allowed them to tell that they were heading to the Core Region was all thanks to the flow of Spiritual Energy. But even so, they often ended in some dead end and had to go back again.

"I wonder where Heavin and Liriu had gone..."

At the same time, somewhere around the borders of the Core Region, Heavin and Liriu had been traveling in the Soren Ruins for quite some time. Until now, the Dark Water in Heavin's hands hadn't shown any different reaction after he entered this place.

They had encountered groups of cultivators and demon beasts along the way. Some even offered to join their group. However, Heavin and Liriu preferred to be on their own. After all, if they really found some treasure, they would need to share it.

No one tried to attack them, though. The entire ruins were covered by those crystals, not to mention that the ghosts seemed to have increased their activity in this place. The last thing anyone wanted was more problems. Nevertheless, be it Heavin and Liriu or the other groups, they still fell into a few skirmishes every now and then.

The ghosts didn't always move in groups. Some of them wandered alone. At first, they avoided the crystals. However, when they found the cultivators and demon beast teams, they used some kind of signal that awakened all the Crystal Demon Beasts around. Because of that, everyone had to always be vigilant. If possible, they would use their best abilities to get rid of the ghost before they could call and awaken the demon beasts.

Unfortunately, the ghosts had become a lot more resilient ever since the ruins began to release faint blue light. That was why it was quite hard to achieve that.

Heavin had also noticed something different.

"The Crystal Demon Beasts have a strong defense against any kind of Spiritual Energy Skills. However, they die easily to attacks fused with Mental Energy. The ghosts are the opposite."

Liriu nodded.

"The ghosts are just like the Dark Water. When our Mental Energy touches them, it feels like the Mental Energy disappears inside their bodies. Only Spiritual Energy Skills are effective against them."

Heavin couldn't help but say.

"It's obvious that the Dark Water and the ghosts are related somehow. There is no doubt that the ghosts were made with the help of Mental Energy too."

Liriu then asked him.

"That means you were not the first one to create a Soul Cultivation Technique, right?"

"Correct, but I don't mind it. Seeing these ghosts, I am now certain that a higher realm of Soul Cultivation exists. I definitely can't create something like the Dark Water and the ghosts, so it must be something made by someone with a stronger Mental Energy."

"However, that's not all. Even though my Mental Energy disappears inside the Ghosts, it's not as effective as the Dark Water. Thanks to that, I can finally see a little bit of the composition of the ghosts. Perhaps, the Dark Water is made of the same thing, but just far purer and concentrated."

Liriu's curiosity was piqued after hearing that.

"So, what did you find out?"

"Elements! I can feel all the elements and their laws inside those ghosts. Other than that, there's a lot of Yin Energy as well. Think about it, we've definitely seen something very similar before Dalin Universe was closed down."

Liriu began to ponder about it for a moment before finally remembering what it was.

"Ah! Senior Lucio's Skills!"

Heavin nodded, satisfied.

"Exactly. It's that Elements Regulation Technique of his. He told us that he reached a culmination with that to fuse all of the elements and laws together. When he does that, it becomes that black energy that he uses in his attacks. These ghosts are very similar to it. It's just that they also have the Mental Energy swallowing trait that Lucio doesn't have."

Liriu finally understood, prompting him to say.

"I see. Senior Lucio said that although he fused the five elements and laws together, he can still select a specific element as the major force. For example, he can make that black energy act mostly like Lightning if he desired. In that case, his Lightning Skills become Black Lightning. If he uses Fire, it obviously transforms into Black Fire."

Heavin then added.

"That's most likely what gives these ghosts that Yin Energy feeling. They are prioritizing the element of Yin Energy above all the elements fused inside them. Of course, this is all a theory, but I'm pretty sure that the two are related somehow."

Liriu couldn't help but say.

"The ghosts were rich in Yin Energy while having all the elements fused into them. In that case, doesn't that make the Crystal Demon Beasts the opposite? Unless the ghosts find an enemy, they just wander around without doing anything. However, the Crystal Demon Beasts are very active even if they lose sight of us. All that activity does feel like what you would expect from a Yang Energy existence."

Heavin had to admit that Liriu was right.

"That's true. You are much better at Yang Energy and Fire Laws than I am. Next time we battle those Crystal Demon Beasts, pay attention to see if you can feel the Yang Energy in their bodies."

Liriu shrugged his shoulders as he replied.

"There are a lot of these crystals everywhere. I can just feel one now."

"But that might wake up the beasts again."

"It's fine. It's not like we can't deal with them. In the worst case, we can just dash away. Besides, it's better to test it out while they haven't transformed yet since it would give us more time to decide what to do."

Heavin pondered for a bit and nodded, responding.

"Alright, try it out."

Liriu then approached the first crystal big enough to transform into those beasts. He then used his perception and focused entirely on the Crystal Core inside. Sure enough, the Crystal Demon Beasts seemed to feel something and began to transform. It immediately shot many crystal spikes as its body changed. Nevertheless, that was enough for Liriu.

"I was right. I didn't notice it before because I was only paying attention to the movements of these things with my Divine Sense. However, I'm definitely certain. The Crystal Core inside is a huge aggregation of Yang Energy."

Liriu then began to retreat with Heavin. They wouldn't stay there and wait for the other Crystal Demon Beasts to wake up either. As they did that, Heavin also commented.

"Indeed. It's basically the same as the ghosts. The Core of these things is full of that black energy, while the major forces are Yang Elements like Fire and Lightning. The Ghosts and the Crystal Demon Beasts are really the opposite in every possible way. Yin and Yang, Body and Soul, Strong and Weak against Mental Energy or Spiritual Energy."

Heavin's eyes lit up.

"I can't shake this feeling that I'm getting close to finding the answer. We need to find the source of all of this. But even if we don't, this trip here was already worth it."

Liriu grinned.

"Alright, alright. Let's speed it up. I don't want to catch the attention of others."

Heavin nodded as the two disappeared in the distance. By the time the first Crystal Demon Beasts finished transforming, Liriu and Heavin were practically outside its perception range.

*Roar!*

Still, since it noticed them, it began its pursuit. The other crystal demon beasts that had been awakened by this one also joined the hunt straight away.

However, just as the two were about to finish their escape, Heavin noticed something with his Mental Energy.

"Hmm?"

He looked above him and saw a building floating in space, just like many others in the Soren Ruins.

Liriu noticed Heavin's change in expression.

"What is it? Something wrong?"

Heavin nodded.

"There's something inside that building over there. My Mental Energy is reacting to it."

Liriu then used his Mental Energy to check it out as well. The strength and range of his Mental Energy was several times worse than Heavin, but it was still possible to use.

"Hmm... I can't feel anything at all. My mental energy is passing right through it as it does with everything else."

Heavin narrowed his eyes. Behind them, many Crystal Demon Beasts were approaching them. However, this was the first clue Heavin found other than the creatures in this place.

"Change of plans, let's go inside."

Heavin then accessed his Spatial Collar before another puppet similar to his current one appeared. Right after, he took out a Concealment Formation Runestone and activated it. This formation was incredibly high level to the point that even Divinity Realm enemies would have difficulty seeing through if they didn't pay attention.

Following that, the new puppet's wings lit up, and it shot out of the formation in the distance.

This puppet wasn't strong in any case. At Heavin's Puppetry level, he could make quite a few of it as long as he had the materials. But Heavin had designed it for one purpose, speed! He kept it in reserve just in case he had to flee. Because he is also a puppet, the enemies won't feel any difference between him and the puppet unless the enemy saw the moment he changed.

Sure enough, the puppet got the Crystal Demon Beasts' attention, and they immediately changed target. As for Heavin and Liriu, they simply looked as the Crystal Demon Beasts passed by.

"Alright, they're gone. Let's go."