Talking about Krune and his group, they made it further than others into the Soren Ruins' Core Region's deep parts. Why? That was mainly because of Krune's movement speed being far beyond the limits of the Mortal Realm. Any other cultivator or demon beast would have attracted way too many ghosts, making it impossible to continue forward. Not to mention that Feifei's calculations which helped in selecting the best routes.
Well, that's not considering all the cultivators that had been teleported to the weird planet. After all, they didn't go there by moving in that direction. Still, it was not as if the ghosts and the crystal demon beasts didn't notice Krune. The path behind them got more and more lively as the number of ghosts and crystal demon beast noticed their presence.
However, it didn't last forever. All of a sudden, Krune's group felt like they had passed through some kind of barrier. It was different from the one that almost killed them, though. Perhaps it was best to say that it was a division between fields.
Nevertheless, the moment they did that, all the Crystal Demon Beasts and Ghosts who tried to follow Krune's group stopped right in front of it. It was as if they were afraid of entering that territory.
After seeing that, Krune's movement skill immediately stopped as the Purple Lighting disappeared.
"Did you feel it when we entered this zone?"
Feifei and Lucio nodded.
"We did pass through something, and it's blocking those ghosts and beasts there."
"Is this the place where Heavin is located?"
Krune concentrated on their connection but shook his head.
"No. Heavin is still quite far."
The three of them looked around and only saw the same darker ruins as before. As always, they pulsed with a faint light, so they couldn't see anything different.
"Let's proceed with caution from now on. If even those ghosts and beasts don't dare to enter this place, it might be even more dangerous than fighting them."
Lucio and Feifei nodded as they began to fly ahead on their own.
However, it wasn't long before their path was blocked. It was not because it was a dead-end, but because something appeared there. It looked like a cultivator, but it was possible to see a ton of dark crystals on its body. They couldn't tell whether it was alive or not.
"Another Crystal Demon Beast?"
"No, it's something different."
"All the Crystal Demon Beasts were berserk, but this one isn't doing anything."
Suddenly, the three received a Divine Sense Message.
"What relation do you have with Zugen?"
Krune's group was taken aback. It was obviously that guy ahead of them who asked that. Still, they didn't know what he was talking about.
"Zugen? Who is Zugen?"
The man snorted after hearing that.
"Hehe. Do you think you can hide his Soul Manifestation Energy?"
Krune's group became even more puzzled.
"Soul Manifestation Energy? Just what are you talking about?"
The man narrowed his eyes.
Suddenly, his body flashed like a streak of black light as he attacked Krune.
Krune's group had been on high alert from the very start, so they reacted properly. Krune's Shields immediately appeared in front of him, blocking the man's punch.
*Boom!*
However, a powerful Mental Energy passed through the shield and assaulted Krune, Feifei, and Lucio's minds.
"Argh!"
They were shocked by what they just felt. It was Mental Energy!
"Hmph! If you didn't know Zugen, then how do you know how to use Soul Manifestation? You would be dead already if not for your Soul Cultivation level. Not only that, but the two of you can even use it to fuse the five elements. Still, you are way too naive if you think you can do something to me with just this much power."
However...
*Kabrum!*
Purple Tribulation Lightning spread around Krune's body, completely blocking all of the Mental Energy assault from the man in front of him. One must remember that Heavin had tested his Mental Energy against Luvile's Purple Tribulation Lightning in the past, but couldn't do anything against it. Krune's Purple Lightning also enveloped Feifei and Lucio, helping them resist the man's attack.
Lucio immediately contacted Krune.
'He can also use the Elements Regulation Technique. You better be careful.'
Krune nodded.
'Yes. The black energy in his body is definitely the fused five elements. However, Master, his fused elements seem to be far purer than yours.'
Lucio didn't try to deny it. He could tell that this man was even better at it than Lani as well.
"You! This Purple Lightning of yours... I feel like I saw it before. Just who are you?"
Krune felt helpless.
"We didn't want to fight to start with. It was you who attacked us out of nowhere. First of all, how come you can use Mental Energy? This was a technique invented by my friend. No, that's wrong. I'm already in the 5th Stage of the Soul Control Realm. Still, your Mental Energy just now was several times stronger than mine. There should have been no other realms above the Soul Control Realm yet. However, you are obviously above it."
The man was as confused as Krune.
"Mental Energy? What the hell are you talking about? This techniques' name is Soul Manifestation. And what the heck is Soul Control? You are obviously in the Consciousness Separation Realm. What the hell did that traitor Zugen teach you? I can't believe he was shameless enough to even change the names of my Soul Cultivation Technique's Realms."
Feifei took that chance to explain.
"Wait, Senior! There is obviously something wrong here. Can you at least hear our side?"
The man narrowed his eyes as he looked at Krune's group. He had to admit that this situation was incredibly weird at the moment.
"I'll give you one chance. Speak!"
Lucio and Krune then looked at Feifei so that she could resume everything.
In the end, she did just that. She made a full explanation and sent it through Divine Sense Message. The man then checked the explanation. The more he got, the more surprised he was.
"Divine Soul gaining sentience? Heavin created the Soul Cultivation Technique? You call it Mental Energy? Also, the fused elements you got were due to a technique your ancestors found in these ruins and not because of the Soul Cultivation Technique?"
Krune, Feifei, and Lucio nodded.
"We really, really don't know who Zugen is. This is the very first time we heard this name in our lives."
The man narrowed his eyes as he looked at Krune.
"I can still feel Zugen's energy in you, though. The same energy that he used to seal most of my Soul Manifestation... oh right, you call it Mental Energy. Whatever, I'll call it Mental Energy to make things easier. I can feel the same energy that sealed my Mental Energy Source in the past. Are you going to deny it?"
Krune had a puzzled expression as he asked.
"Seal your Mental Energy Source?"
It was then that Krune remembered something.
"Ah!"
Immediately, he took out the metal used to seal the Black Water back in the Kalame Sect.
"Senior, are you talking about this?"
The man's expression became darker when he saw that.
"Heaven Soul Metal, the only thing other than other gods' powers that could block Mental Energy."
Krune then explained how he got those metals.
"Kalame Sect? I've never heard about it. However, my Mental Energy Source was indeed sealed by it."
Krune then pondered for a bit before taking out a small bottle with a little bit of the Black Water. As soon as the man saw that, his eyes shone.
"You! Give it to me! It's my Mental Energy Source!"
Krune narrowed his eyes before saying.
"This thing was inside the chamber made with this metal. I took some of it with me while the rest was left in the Kalame Sect in the Godly Path Realm. However, can you prove that it was really yours?"
The man snorted.
"I don't need to prove it. You just need to look at it. Isn't the mental energy source inside these fused elements trying to come to me on its own?"
Krune, Feifei, and Lucio looked at the bottle, and sure enough, the water was attached to the glass, heading towards the man's direction.
"If I give it back to you, will you at least hear our side? If not, then we will fight with our lives on the line."
The man narrowed his eyes. But in the end, Black Energy began to leave his body as he said.
"Whether everything you said was true or not, it doesn't matter. Killing you and getting my Mental Energy Source back is the most foolproof method. As for the rest of my Energy Source's location, I can later drag it out of your soul."
All of a sudden, a powerful wave of mental energy came out of the man's body. It was several times stronger than when the man attacked the first time. Even Krune's Purple Tribulation Lightning was having a hard time blocking it.
Lucio, Feifei, and Krune immediately assumed a combat stance. Their domain spread out, and they were ready to go all out against this guy. However, it was at this moment that Luvile's voice came out.
"Enough, Soren! They have nothing to do with the guy you're looking for. Besides, do you think you can win with this borrowed body?"
The man was taken aback for a second before looking in Krune's direction.
"I knew I've seen your power before. If I'm not wrong, your name is Luvile, right? We met during the time we tried to escape the Four Realms."
A manifestation of Purple Lightning then took form in front of Krune.
"Indeed. I was also there when we tried to leave the Four Realms. However, we never interacted before that. Good thing you still remember that one-time event."