His movements were elusive, easily bypassing several weak energy nodes—the basic restrictions surrounding the Old Book Tower were dilapidated and ineffective.
A side door was slightly ajar. Xiao Han moved slightly and slipped into the building.
A heavy, dusty smell, mixed with a lingering chill, hit me.
The building was dimly lit, with only moonlight filtering through the high windows, illuminating the dust particles floating in the air.
The wooden floorboards creaked underfoot, the sound particularly clear in the deathly silence.
Xiao Han didn't look around much and headed straight for the underground area.
The stairs leading underground were narrow and steep, covered in thick dust and cobwebs.
The deeper you go, the more intense the cold and dampness becomes. An indescribable energy fluctuation permeates the air—ancient, decaying, and deathly still, yet harboring a strange "vitality."
The Eternal Night King Martial Soul within his body trembled slightly, showing no rejection but rather an affinity and excitement.
The energy here seems to share the same origin as it, or rather, it is very compatible with it.
Xiao Han's heart skipped a beat; it seemed there was something truly valuable hidden beneath this Old Book Tower.
Three underground floors.
It was darker and more oppressive here than upstairs. The air was bone-chillingly cold, and even its movement seemed stagnant.
The bookshelves around were haphazardly arranged, piled high with dusty ancient books and tattered scrolls, exuding a musty smell.
Deep inside, a wall caught Xiao Han's attention.
The walls were an eerie dark gray, with an uneven surface. Upon closer inspection, they were made up of countless distorted, pained human faces stacked together!
The stone walls exuded a chilling aura that sent shivers down one's spine, and countless eyes silently watched from the darkness.
"The Ghost Face Wall..." Xiao Han confirmed; this was the place the system task referred to.
He steadied himself and prepared to begin that incredibly embarrassing task.
Despite my inner complaints, for the sake of [Academy Grand Competition Champion’s Blessing], I had to get this "small matter" sorted out...
However, just as he adjusted his breathing, gathered his emotions, and prepared to sing—
"Swish! Swish swish!"
Several extremely faint whooshing sounds rang out!
Several subtle yet powerful auras suddenly emerged from the dark passage on the other side!
Xiao Han's pupils contracted sharply, and all the muscles in his body tensed instantly, the power of the Eternal Night King Martial Soul flowing secretly within him.
Five figures slowly emerged from the darkness.
They were also dressed in stealth-friendly night clothes, their figures were agile, and their movements showed well-trained coordination.
The leader was tall and imposing. Although he had deliberately concealed his aura, the subtle fluctuations indicated that he was a high-level Martial Master Realm, and might even have reached the edge of Great Martial Master!
The remaining four are all experts at the mid-stage of the Martial Master Realm.
This is definitely not an ordinary student or instructor at the academy!
The five people's attention instantly focused on Xiao Han, with scrutiny and vigilance.
The air froze instantly. Neither side spoke, yet an invisible killing intent clashed fiercely in the darkness.
Are they also after these three underground levels? What's their goal?
Xiao Han's mind raced.
In this situation, if they were to speak out as planned, it would be tantamount to exposing themselves.
The opponent's origins are unknown, and their strength is formidable; a direct confrontation is not a good option.
We must strike first, create chaos, seize the opportunity to complete the mission, and then slip away!
The thought flashed through my mind in the blink of an eye.
"Buzz--"
Without warning! The power of the Eternal Night King Martial Soul suddenly erupted!
Centered on Xiao Han, extreme darkness instantly spread, like a giant black cloth, completely engulfing the entire third underground level!
Sight and perception were all forcibly suppressed by this sudden dark domain.
Who goes there?!
"Careful!"
The other party was clearly not expected Xiao Han to act so decisively and ruthlessly, and their exclamation revealed their panic.
In this absolute darkness where one couldn't see their own hand in front of their face, Xiao Han's figure vanished without a trace, like a drop of water merging into the ocean.
"A Step to the Ends of the Earth So Far!" Accompanied by the shadowy leaps of the Eternal Night Monarch, he moves silently through the darkness.
The next moment, a fist-shaped energy containing terrifying and Destruction Intent tore through the darkness and struck the enemy's flank with perfect accuracy at a Martial Master was a little slow to react!
Annihilation Divine Fist!
"Puff!"
The Martial Master only had time to let out a muffled groan before his protective Gang Qi shattered. He flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing into a bookshelf in the distance and falling silent.
Chaos erupted!
"Enemy attack! Form ranks!" the leader shouted sharply, unleashing a powerful aura in an attempt to stabilize the formation and dispel the eerie darkness.
But Xiao Han's attacks didn't stop at all.
A cyan light flowed from his fingertips, carrying purification and vitality. One after another, condensed cyan sword energies were generated out of thin air, like nimble fish, weaving through the darkness, striking at the vital points of the others with tricky angles.
The first move of the Green Lotus Sword Song – Lotus in Motion!
Although it is an incomplete piece, the concealment and lethality of the Green Lotus Sword Qi are greatly enhanced under the blessing of the Dark Domain of the Eternal Night Monarch.
"Jingle bells!"
Clashing weapons, exploding energy, and muffled groans echoed through the darkness.
The opponent was indeed strong, especially the leader, who wielded a battle sword with a fierce light that could cleave through the darkness and protect the two people beside him.
But Xiao Han's attack was too unpredictable!
He is omnipresent, sometimes unleashing Annihilation punches with overwhelming force; sometimes attacking with nimble and cunning sword energy; and sometimes quietly absorbing the power of Shadow Devour, absorbing the dissipated energy and the life force of his opponents.
He is a top hunter lurking in the shadows, every move precise and deadly.
The five opponents were instantly scattered, two of them were seriously injured and fell to the ground, and the remaining three stood back to back, desperately guarding the area, both shocked and furious, but they couldn't even pinpoint Xiao Han's exact location.
Amidst the chaos, Xiao Han seized an opening and flashed past the Ghost Face Wall.
There wasn't time to deliver a full minute-long speech, but the minimum requirement is...
"Listen up, everyone inside! I'm the junk collector from next door! I'm bringing out all my old cultivation techniques, secret manuals, and magical treasures to exchange for money!"
A sound, not loud but loud enough for the system to detect, was shouted out quickly amidst the fighting and energy explosions, only to be drowned out by a larger wave of chaotic noise.
[Ding! Host detected sending critical voice information in the target area, interrupted by unforeseen circumstances. Mission minimum requirements have been met! Reward [Academy Grand Competition Champion’s Blessing] has been issued. There is a very small chance that the acquisition of the "Weakness Prediction" fragment will fail.]
A system notification sounded in my mind.
Done!
Xiao Han no longer wished to continue the fight.
These people are troublesome, especially the leader. If they get bogged down, or if they attract the attention of the academy's powerful figures, things will get complicated.
Slip!
His figure suddenly sank into deeper shadows, and the power of the Eternal Night Monarch was activated to an unprecedented degree.
With a flash of spatial fluctuation, "A Step to the Ends of the Earth" vanished from its original spot, directly breaking away from the battle and rushing back to the passage it had come from.
"Trying to run? Stay here!"
The leader reacted extremely quickly, realizing that Xiao Han was about to slip away, and shouted loudly.
A fierce and unparalleled blade of light flashed, tearing through the dense darkness and slashing straight at the direction where Xiao Han had disappeared.
Unfortunately, it was too late.
The blade's edge missed its target, leaving only a gruesome slash mark on the solid wall.
Xiao Han's presence had completely vanished.