Battle Begins

Lin Hao's eyes snapped open, and golden-purple light burst from deep within his pupils.

"Something's changed." His voice was low, but every word rang like iron. "The passage is about to take shape. Five True Saints are guarding it. Ximen Wushang has been completely demonized, and his strength may surpass the peak of the True Saint realm. Besides... there's another aura lurking deep within the passage, one of extremely high standing. It's likely a Demon Venerable under the Demon Emperor."

Everyone's heart sank.

Eight against six had already been a stretch. Now the enemy ranks included a demonized Ximen Wushang who might surpass the peak of the True Saint realm, and a suspected Demon Venerable... How were they supposed to fight this battle?

"But the passage must be destroyed." Lin Hao's gaze swept over them, his words decisive. "The enemy is stronger than us, so our only chance is a surprise attack. I have a Secret Art called 'Shadow Annihilation' that can conceal our auras and forms, making us hard for a True Saint's divine sense to detect. We'll sneak to the bottom of the abyss and strike directly at the passage's core. First destroy the passage, then cut down the powerful enemies."

With that, he formed hand seals, purple-gold runes flowing over his fingertips. In an instant, a pale violet halo spread like rippling water, enveloping all eight of them. Wherever it passed, their forms and auras rapidly faded, until they vanished completely into the surrounding shadows, as though they had never existed.

"Go."

Eight invisible shadows slid down the cliff like ghosts, vanishing into the churning gray mist.

They descended. The deathly aura grew denser. Twisted, resentful spirits began to emerge in the fog, letting out soundless shrieks as they tried to burrow into everyone's Sea of Consciousness.