After experiencing the life-and-death struggle, Ling Yun felt as if something within his mind had shattered, and his telekinetic power surged dramatically. In an instant, he completely suppressed the shadow's resistance. At this moment, the world before his eyes had transformed into something entirely different.
He saw his once-invisible telekinetic force—now a web of intertwining silver threads emanating from every part of his body, stretching far into the distance. These countless silver strands wove together into a radiant net of light, merging again into a brilliant, tangible sphere that struck the shadow with relentless force. With each passing moment, the mist that made up the entity's form dissipated under the entanglement of his psychic field.
Ling Yun finally discerned the shadow's true nature. Under the keen perception of his psychic field, the world became crystal clear. The shifting, amorphous cloud that composed the shadow's body was entirely formed from that eerie, frigid energy. He noticed that with every moment, the same chilling aura continuously poured in from the crypt's entrance, replenishing the shadow's exterior.
However, the rate at which his psychic field consumed this energy far outpaced its replenishment. The shadow darted left and right, hissing in futile defiance, desperately trying to evade the psychic force's relentless assault. But it was in vain. As long as Ling Yun's gaze reached it, the field's influence extended there as well. Escape was an impossibility.
At the core of the shadow, a dark figure lurked—a manifestation of extreme condensation of the frigid energy. It bore a vaguely human, grotesque form, constantly drawing in cold energy from the surrounding mist to fortify itself. In Ling Yun's heightened perception, this eerie energy glowed with faint blue threads of light.
Within this energy construct, there was a weak yet rhythmic psychic fluctuation—perhaps the very consciousness of the shadow itself. Ling Yun attempted to communicate with it through his psychic field, hoping to establish a connection with its faint consciousness, though he had no way of knowing if it possessed any true intellect.
Yet, the entity reacted immediately—shrinking away from his mental reach as if in fear, refusing to engage. After several failed attempts, Ling Yun abandoned the effort. A creature capable of abducting young women from the city to drain their vitality was clearly malevolent. Now that he could finally harm it, he might as well eradicate it entirely, ensuring it could never return to threaten humanity again.
The shadow continued its desperate struggle, but under Ling Yun's newfound telekinetic strength, its resistance was utterly feeble. It could not comprehend why its adversary—once seemingly weaker—had, in a mere instant, become so overwhelmingly powerful.
Ling Yun himself was unaware that, in that moment between life and death, his latent potential had erupted, bringing his psychic field to an entirely new level. Though he had always trained diligently in his own way, without the crucible of battle, his progress had been slow. Only today, through true confrontation, had he finally experienced a significant breakthrough.
Moments later, the outer mist of the shadow had been entirely dissipated by the psychic field, revealing the grotesque black figure within. Deprived of its frigid aura and ensnared by Ling Yun's power, its once-solid form began to unravel.
As it teetered on the brink of destruction beneath Ling Yun's relentless assault, its psychic fluctuation suddenly surged, boiling like a tempest. Then, without warning, the entire dark entity collapsed, shattering into countless fragments. These spectral remnants, like moths drawn to flame, surged toward the glowing sphere of Ling Yun's psychic field, vanishing upon contact—devoured in an instant.
Ling Yun's eyes widened in shock. He had remained vigilant, never once lowering his guard against the shadow's tricks, yet he had not anticipated this bizarre final gambit. Was it attempting to self-destruct, hoping to take him down in mutual destruction?
Yet, he quickly dismissed the idea. Though the explosion of cold energy momentarily stalled his psychic field's advance, it posed no real threat to him. The shadow's suicidal final act was not an attack—it was a distraction.
The next instant, Ling Yun's expression darkened. He now understood the entity's true objective. By dispersing all of its frigid energy at once, it had momentarily obstructed his psychic field. And in that brief opening, a sliver of black mist, carrying a faint psychic resonance, shot through the gap in his telekinetic force like a bolt of lightning.
Before he could react, the wisp of darkness had reached the five unconscious girls lying in the corner. Without hesitation, it plunged into Li Lingling's ear canal.
By the time Ling Yun realized what had happened, the black mist had already vanished inside her body, leaving no trace behind.
The psychic force field dispersed the scattered remnants of the shadow's chilling energy, and with that, the entity vanished completely. Ling Yun hurried to Li Lingling's side, his hand anxiously pressing against her forehead. He channeled his telekinetic power into her body without reservation. At this moment, his abilities had undergone a profound transformation—his vision now laid bare every aspect of Li Lingling's physical condition, revealing even the most minute details within her.
He understood that the black mist was the shadow's final vestige of consciousness, and he immediately attempted to expel it with his telekinetic force. However, as soon as the mist entered Li Lingling's body, it surged forward at an alarming speed, swiftly reaching her lower abdomen. Before he could intercept it, the mist suddenly scattered, dissolving into countless imperceptible particles that merged seamlessly with her flesh and vanished without a trace.
Ling Yun's telekinetic force followed in pursuit, but the black mist had already disappeared beyond detection. He searched for a long time, yet found nothing, and was ultimately left with no choice but to withdraw. His expression darkened—though he had successfully eradicated the monstrous shadow and saved the lives of five young women, this unexpected development unsettled him deeply. He had no way of knowing what consequences the shadow's presence inside Li Lingling might bring.
Dejected, he slumped beside her, his mind churning with unease. In a single night, he had been thrust into an ordeal beyond comprehension. His thoughts were a chaotic tangle, and he found himself at a loss.
Suddenly, a faint moan broke through his reverie. He turned his head sharply to see Li Lingling's delicate eyelids fluttering open, her pale face still clouded with confusion. Unbeknownst to him, while his telekinetic search had failed to locate the black mist, it had inadvertently roused her from unconsciousness.
"Li Lingling, you're awake!" Ling Yun exclaimed, his heart swelling with relief as he momentarily set aside the bizarre events that plagued his mind. He gently placed a hand on her forehead once more, his telekinetic energy coursing through her body again. Only after confirming that she was unharmed did he finally allow himself to relax.
Li Lingling blinked, her consciousness slowly settling. She felt an overwhelming frailty in her limbs. The tomb chamber was pitch-black, leaving her unable to see anything clearly. Fear crept over her as she struggled to grasp her surroundings. Then, a familiar voice reached her ears, and in the dim starlight, she caught sight of a face she had longed for. A surge of emotion welled up within her, granting her an unexpected burst of strength. Without hesitation, she sat up and threw herself into Ling Yun's embrace, sobbing uncontrollably.
Ling Yun stiffened as the faint fragrance of her body drifted into his senses. He hadn't anticipated such an intense reaction from her, and for a moment, he felt slightly awkward. But even if he were a thousand times more oblivious, he knew this was not the time to push her away. Instead, he gently patted her trembling back, his voice low and soothing. "It's alright. I'm here."
Through her tears, Li Lingling murmured, "Ling Yun, I missed you so much… I thought I would never see you again. Please don't leave me."
"How could I?" he reassured her softly. "See? We're here together, safe and sound. I came to save you."
At his words, joy blossomed across her tear-streaked face. "I'm not dreaming, am I? Ling Yun, you're my hero, riding on clouds of rainbow light, coming just to rescue me." Her fear momentarily forgotten, she tightened her arms around him, overcome with happiness.
Ling Yun, still holding her, suddenly found it harder to breathe. The tension of battling the shadow hadn't made him this nervous. He cleared his throat and said in a hushed voice, "Li Lingling, now isn't the time for this. We need to leave here quickly."
"Oh…" she responded with a hint of disappointment, reluctant to let go. In her vulnerable state, Ling Yun was her sole refuge, and she couldn't bear to be apart from him for even a moment.
With no alternative, Ling Yun helped her to her feet, though she remained nestled against his chest, her body soft and weightless. He assumed her weakness stemmed from the shadow draining her energy, leaving her unable to stand on her own. He allowed her to lean on him, his arms steady around her.
In the darkness, a sweet smile graced Li Lingling's lips. She had always dreamed of a moment like this—being held in the arms of the man she adored. She had thought such fantasies could only exist within her dreams, yet here they were, unfolding in reality amid the night's shadows.
"Where are we, Ling Yun?" she finally asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Uh… in a tomb," he replied evasively.
"A… a tomb?" She gasped and clung to him even tighter. "Why are we in a tomb? Ling Yun, I'm scared!"
"It's… a long story. Let's just get out of here first," he answered vaguely, unwilling to explain yet.
As if suddenly recalling something, Li Lingling's eyes widened. "Wait, Ling Yun, do you know how I ended up here? Listen, you mustn't be afraid—I can hardly believe it myself! I never imagined something like this could happen in the real world." Her voice trembled as she recounted her terrifying encounter with the shadow, her lingering fear evident in every word.
Ling Yun cut her off gently. "We'll talk about it once we're out of here. Li Lingling, you're not the only one—we have to rescue the other girls, too." As he spoke, he wrapped an arm securely around her waist.
"There are other girls?" she asked, startled. But before she could question further, she felt Ling Yun's grip tighten.
Having learned his lesson, he chose to ignore her inquiries, instead using his telekinetic power to lift the unconscious girls and guide them toward the exit. Though their bodies were light, their combined weight, including Li Lingling, totaled several hundred pounds. Had his abilities not evolved, he would never have been able to move them all at once.
"Ling Yun, am I seeing things? Are they… floating?" Li Lingling's eyes widened in astonishment as she watched the girls levitate effortlessly.
Ling Yun sighed inwardly. After this night, there was no longer any way to keep his abilities a secret from her. Leaning close, he whispered against her ear, "Li Lingling, this is my secret. I'll explain everything once we're safe. But you must promise me—don't tell anyone."
Her breath hitched as a wave of excitement washed over her. Nodding fervently, she whispered, "I promise. I won't tell a soul." A thrill ran through her—he was sharing his secret with her. Did that mean she was the one he trusted most? The thought filled her heart with warmth.
Moments later, Ling Yun had guided the four unconscious girls to the upper edge of the cave. Holding Li Lingling securely, he leaped upward, landing lightly beside them. She let out a gasp, feeling as if she had been carried through the clouds. Her admiration for Ling Yun deepened further.
As they emerged from the tomb, Ling Yun noticed something had changed—the thin mist that had once enshrouded the burial ground had dissipated. The chilling aura that had permeated the air had weakened significantly. Though the night remained dark, he could now see the distant cliffside beyond the cemetery. It was clear that destroying the ancient lantern had severed the sinister energy's hold over the land.
Li Lingling, however, was paying no attention to the fading darkness. The sight of the countless graves around her sent a shudder down her spine. With a sharp cry, she buried her face into Ling Yun's shoulder, refusing to lift her gaze.
Ling Yun, balancing his telekinetic hold on the unconscious girls while supporting Li Lingling, began the arduous journey back. Though he had no fear of losing his way—the path was seared into his memory—traveling with five others considerably slowed his pace.
As dawn's first light crept over the horizon, their weary group finally approached the outskirts of the city.