Sun Wanting's Role in Gathering Intelligence

At daybreak, a sparse crowd had already gathered at the meeting point outside the North City Gate.

Lin Fan arrived first. With a bulging pack on his back, a sword at his waist, and the Evil-Breaking Jade Pendant Old Man Li had given him tucked against his chest, he stood silently in the morning mist and waited. He had barely slept the night before, but after circulating the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art for several cycles, his fatigue had vanished, leaving him unusually clearheaded.

Sun Wanting was the second to arrive.

She had changed into a dark gray combat uniform, with a light leather cuirass over it. Her long hair was tied in a neat ponytail, and a pair of blades hung at her waist. When she saw Lin Fan, she nodded without a word, then began checking her gear.

Chen Dahu came next. The bandages on his hands had been replaced with lighter yet sturdier beast-hide bracers. He carried a heavy shield the size of a door panel on his back, and the ground trembled slightly with each step. He grinned at Lin Fan, showing a mouthful of white teeth.

Bai Susu arrived right on time as well. She carried a specially made medical kit, a size larger than usual, clearly packed with all kinds of medicines and instruments. As a physician, she might not be as strong in combat as the others, but her importance in the wilderness was irreplaceable.

Shadow was the last.

He appeared beside them almost without a sound, startling Chen Dahu.

"Whoa! When did you..." Chen Dahu's eyes widened.

Shadow didn't answer. He simply gave Sun Wanting a slight nod to show he was there. He still wore the same gray outfit, but now several small tool pouches hung at his waist. He also held a long, narrow cloth bag whose contents were a mystery.

"Everyone's here." Sun Wanting glanced at the sky. "Before we set out, there's something we need to take care of."

She looked at Lin Fan. "Zhou Ming can't come, but he asked me to bring you some things. He said they're important."

Lin Fan was taken aback. "What things?"

Sun Wanting took an oil-paper packet and a rolled-up sheepskin map from inside her clothes. "He said you should look at them now."

Lin Fan took them and opened the packet first. Inside were several pages densely covered in writing. The handwriting was messy but legible, clearly done in a rush overnight. He read carefully in the growing daylight.

The first page contained the latest intelligence Zhou Ming had compiled on Cannibal Valley:

"Cannibal Valley, a perilous region on the southeastern side of the Shadowy Mountain Range. Compiled from currently available information:

1. Geographical features: Surrounded by mountains on three sides, with a narrow rift as its only entrance. Gray mist hangs over the valley year-round, making visibility poor.

2. Danger records: Of the seven documented expeditions over the past five years, only some members of two teams survived. All survivors suffered memory loss, mental disorientation, and similar symptoms.

3. Anomalous phenomena: Temperatures inside the valley are about ten degrees lower than outside, but there is no ice or snow. Tests show the mist contains trace amounts of neurotoxin; prolonged exposure may cause hallucinations. Unknown lights flicker at night, possibly due to energy fluctuations.

4. Recent activity: According to a black-market informant known as 'Rat,' people in black robes were active near the valley entrance last month. Their numbers and purpose are unknown.

5. Related clues: A military investigation record from fifty years ago, classified at a high level and only partially obtained, mentioned an 'altar,' 'crystals,' and a 'black-robed organization.' These details closely match the current situation."

Lin Fan was shaken.

Zhou Ming's intelligence not only confirmed what Old Man Li had said, but also provided more specific details. The part about people in black robes active near the valley entrance, in particular, made it almost certain that the Shadow Society was already there.

He continued reading.

The second page was an "Anomalous Event Spatiotemporal Distribution Map" drawn by Zhou Ming:

It was a detailed map of the area around Jiangnan City, with all the anomalies from the past three months marked in different colors. Red indicated unusual concentrations of Demonic Beasts, blue marked detected energy fluctuations, and green denoted sightings of people in black robes.

The three colors converged in a clear pattern—all pointing toward Cannibal Valley in the Shadowy Mountain Range.

What caught Lin Fan's attention even more were the dates. Three days before each anomalous event, an energy pulse had been detected in the direction of Cannibal Valley. The pulses were growing stronger each time. The latest one, seven days ago, had been three times as powerful as the first.

"The energy pulses are getting stronger..." Lin Fan murmured.

Sun Wanting leaned over to look, her expression grave. "If this trend continues, the next pulse could trigger a large-scale anomaly—or even bring the Beast Tide early."

Lin Fan nodded and turned to the third page.

This page contained Zhou Ming's analysis and deductions:

"Based on the intelligence currently available, the following conclusions can be drawn:

1. The Shadow Society has a base or an altar in Cannibal Valley and is performing some kind of ritual.

2. The ritual requires Demonic Beasts to gather, possibly as sacrifices or energy sources.

3. The ritual is connected to the lunar cycle; all the anomalies occurred around the full moon.

4. The ritual has been carried out in several rounds and is nearing completion. The strengthening energy pulses indicate that the accumulated energy is approaching a critical point.

5. The next full moon, three days from now, may be a key moment.

Recommendation: If possible, stop the ritual before the full moon. The consequences of its completion are unknown, but will certainly be severe."

The analysis was clear and methodical, its logic impeccable.

Lin Fan couldn't help admiring Zhou Ming's ability to analyze intelligence. If he had to collect all this information himself, it would take at least half a month. Zhou Ming had done it in a single night.

"What about the map?" He looked at the sheepskin scroll.

Sun Wanting helped him unroll it.

It was a hand-drawn, detailed map of the Shadowy Mountain Range, with accurate scale and clearly marked terrain. Mountains, rivers, canyons, known Demonic Beast lairs, areas prone to Spatial Rifts, dangerous plants... It had everything.

The area around Cannibal Valley had been enlarged in particular and meticulously outlined in red ink:

The rift at the valley entrance was about three li long, with the narrowest point wide enough for only two people to walk abreast. Cliffs a hundred zhang high rose on either side, making the entrance easy to defend and difficult to attack.

The valley floor was shaped like a bowl. A question mark marked the central area, an unknown region. Zhou Ming had written: "According to fragments of survivors' memories, the center contains a 'huge stone structure,' but their memories are confused and this cannot be confirmed."

Several possible routes through the valley were marked, with tiny notes on what to watch out for beside each one:

"Route A: Follow the western cliff wall. Highly concealed, but may encounter a nest of 'Shadow Bats'—a communal 3rd Tier Demonic Beast that fears light."

"Route B: Cross the central mist zone. The shortest route, but with the highest toxin concentration. Antidote pills must be taken throughout."

"Route C: Go around the eastern rocky area. The longest route, but relatively safe, with no known Demonic Beast lairs."

Each route had estimated travel times, risk levels, and recommended supplies marked beside it.

This was no simple map. It was a complete operational guide.

"Zhou Ming..." Lin Fan looked up. "He put all this together in one night?"

Sun Wanting nodded. "He barely slept. When I went to see him at three in the morning, he was still organizing the last of the data. His ribs hurt terribly, so he was writing propped up against the headboard. He said this was the most he could contribute."

Lin Fan gripped the map, warmth rising in his heart.

This intelligence peddler, who seemed slick and worldly and cared for nothing but money, had shown a moving sense of responsibility when it mattered most.

"Tell him thanks for me," Lin Fan said earnestly. "When we get back, I'll buy him a drink."

"He'll definitely say, 'You're paying for the booze,'" Sun Wanting replied with a rare smile. "But we should get going now. According to Zhou Ming's map, it'll take two days to reach the outskirts of the Shadowy Mountain Range. We have to enter Cannibal Valley before the full moon."

The team set out.

Shadow led the way, slipping soundlessly into the woods ahead. As the scout, he needed to reconnoiter, eliminate dangers, and leave markers to guide the rest of the team.

Chen Dahu and Bai Susu took the middle, while Sun Wanting and Lin Fan brought up the rear.

It was the standard formation for a long journey, balancing scouting, defense, and support.

Thirty li outside Jiangnan City, the wilderness began to look more primitive. The man-made road disappeared, replaced by narrow trails trampled by beasts. Ancient trees towered overhead, blotting out the sky, and the air was thick with the smell of rotting leaves and damp earth.

Demonic Beasts occasionally roared in the distance, but the team avoided them whenever possible and focused on making good time.

During a break, they gathered together again to study Zhou Ming's map and intelligence.

"According to Zhou Ming's analysis, the Shadow Society's ritual requires Demonic Beasts to gather." Sun Wanting pointed to Cannibal Valley on the map. "So there may already be a large number of Demonic Beasts gathered inside the valley or near its entrance. When we go in, the first thing we'll face may not be the Shadow Society, but a whole pack of beasts."

Chen Dahu scratched his head. "Then what do we do? Force our way through?"

"Forcing our way in would be the worst option," Bai Susu said softly. "I've been wondering how the Shadow Society is drawing the Demonic Beasts together. If they're attracting them with the energy fluctuations from that crystal, could we disrupt or block those fluctuations?"

Lin Fan's mind stirred.

The system's mission required him to "eliminate or report the threat." Elimination could mean destroying the source—or rendering it ineffective.

If they could find a way to interfere with the crystal's fluctuations, they might be able to stop the ritual, or at least buy some time.

"Zhou Ming's intelligence mentioned that the military tried to destroy the crystal fifty years ago, but failed," Lin Fan said. "That means the crystal has some kind of protection, or the Shadow Society has a way to defend it. Destroying it outright would be too difficult. Interference might be more feasible."

Sun Wanting thought for a moment. "Interference requires a specific method. I've studied arrays a little. If we can get close to the altar, I might be able to disrupt a key node in the array. But first, we'd need to know what kind of array it is."

"We'll see what we can do when we get there." Shadow had appeared beside them at some point, his voice calm. "There's no point thinking too much now. We won't know what we're dealing with until we arrive."

He had a point.

There were too many uncertainties in the wilderness. Plans could never keep pace with changes.

After a short rest, the team continued onward.

In the afternoon, they encountered their first real danger—a pack of Iron Tooth Wolves.

There were more than a dozen 2nd Tier Demonic Beasts, with gray-black fur, blood-red eyes, and sharp teeth that gleamed coldly. They had clearly taken the team for prey and were closing in from all sides.

"Prepare for battle!" Sun Wanting barked.

Chen Dahu immediately raised his heavy shield and stood in front of Bai Susu. Lin Fan and Sun Wanting took either side, forming a triangular defensive formation.

Shadow had already disappeared into the woods. Scouts usually hid during an encounter, waiting for a chance to ambush or disrupt the enemy.

The wolf pack growled, then launched its attack.

Three wolves pounced at Chen Dahu from the front and were sent flying by a fierce shield bash. Two more attacked Sun Wanting from the side, and she cut them into four pieces with a crossing slash of her twin blades. The rest focused their assault on Lin Fan.

Lin Fan didn't draw his sword.

He took a deep breath, circulated the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art, and channeled his essence energy into both fists.

Basic Fist Technique—but already at Mastery Level.

"Roar!"

An Iron Tooth Wolf leaped toward him, jaws gaping wide.

Lin Fan turned aside, dodging the lunge. At that instant, his right fist shot out like a cannonball.

There was no fancy technique, only pure strength and speed.

"Thud!"

His fist struck the wolf's head, and the sound of its skull cracking rang out clearly. The Iron Tooth Wolf didn't even have time to howl before it hit the ground. It twitched twice, then lay still.

[Killed Iron Tooth Wolf (2nd Tier, Lower Rank): Proficiency +30]

[Basic Fist Technique Proficiency +5]

[Combat Instinct Proficiency +3]

The system notifications flashed past.

Lin Fan didn't stop moving. He turned and punched another wolf that was leaping at him with his left fist.

"Thud! Thud! Thud!"

Three punches, three wolves dead.

The remaining Iron Tooth Wolves finally realized that this seemingly frail human was no easy prey and began to retreat. But by then, Shadow had appeared behind the pack like a ghost. His short blade flashed, and two wolves had their throats slit.

Caught between them, the pack broke and scattered in every direction.

The battle was over in less than three minutes.

"Clear the battlefield and move out quickly," Sun Wanting ordered. "The smell of blood will attract other predators."

They swiftly gathered anything of value—fangs, pelts, and Demonic Cores. Lin Fan checked the cores in particular and found that their energy fluctuations were normal. None had those bizarre gray patterns.

That meant the Iron Tooth Wolves hadn't been affected by anomalous energy. They'd simply been hunting as usual.

"It looks like the area of unusual activity hasn't spread this far yet," Lin Fan concluded.

"But it will soon." Sun Wanting gazed northwest. "According to Zhou Ming's map, we'll enter an area where anomalous events are frequent after another twenty li."

Sure enough, the environment began to change as they continued onward.

The branches of the trees had withered unnaturally, and the occasional remains of Demonic Beasts could be seen on the ground—not the aftermath of a fight, but dried corpses drained of their blood and essence, just as Zhou Ming had described.

A faint, sickly-sweet stench hung in the air. If they breathed it for too long, it made them dizzy.

"It's a toxin." Bai Susu took out several pills and handed one to each person. "Clear Mind Pills. Hold them under your tongue. They'll protect you from most neurotoxins."

Lin Fan took one. A cool sensation spread from his throat, and his dizziness eased at once.

Shadow returned from ahead, his expression more serious than usual.

"There's something two li ahead," he said. "A clearing. I found signs of a sacrifice."

The team followed Shadow and quietly approached the spot he had described.

It was a clearing in the woods, about the size of half a basketball court. In the center stood a crude altar built from black stones, about as tall as a person, covered in intricate runes.

More than a dozen Demonic Beast corpses lay scattered around it—or rather, dried corpses. They all shared the same features: their bodies were intact, but their flesh and blood had shriveled, as if every drop of moisture and essence had been drained from them.

The strangest thing was the fist-sized purple crystal atop the altar.

Light flowed inside it, brightening and dimming like a heartbeat. Each time it lit up, an invisible wave spread outward, warping the air around it.

"So this is it..." Lin Fan murmured.

The crystal carried the same energy fluctuation as the Rock Armored Boar's armor plates he'd encountered before, but it was a hundred times stronger.

Sun Wanting studied the altar closely. "This isn't a permanent structure. It was put up temporarily. Judging by the wear on the stones, it's been here for ten days at most."

"A temporary altar?" Bai Susu asked, puzzled. "What would it be for?"

"It may be a 'node.'" Lin Fan recalled Zhou Ming's intelligence. "The Shadow Society needs to channel energy from the main altar in Cannibal Valley to draw Demonic Beasts from farther away. These temporary altars are like relay stations, extending its range."

He stepped closer, and the system immediately displayed a prompt:

[Abnormal energy source detected]

[Item: Soul Power Crystal (fragment)]

[Quality: Earth Tier Low Grade]

[Status: Active; continuously releasing mental interference waves]

[Function: Attracts and influences Demonic Beasts within a five-li radius, drawing them toward the source of the waves]

[Warning: The crystal contains a faint aura of evil. Prolonged contact may cause mental contamination]

Soul Power Crystal... a fragment?

Lin Fan noticed that word. It meant there might be a larger, intact crystal at the main altar in Cannibal Valley.

"Can we destroy it?" Chen Dahu asked.

"Let's try."

Lin Fan drew his sword, channeled essence energy into the blade, and struck at the crystal.

"Clang!"

An invisible barrier blocked the sword three inches from the crystal, sending sparks flying. Densely packed runes appeared on the barrier—the same ones carved into the altar.

"There's a protective array." Sun Wanting walked over and crouched down to study the runes. "It's a variant of the Seven Star Spirit Protection Array, built around seven array eyes. To break it, we'd either need an attack powerful enough to overwhelm the array's limits, or we'd have to find and destroy all seven array eyes."

She pointed around the altar. "The array eyes should be buried underground, corresponding to seven different directions. Give me time, and I can find them."

"How long would it take?"

"At least an hour."

Lin Fan glanced at the sky. The sun was already sinking toward the west.

They didn't have that much time. Losing an hour here would delay their arrival at the Shadowy Mountain Range and could cause them to miss the crucial point before the full moon.

"What about breaking through by force?" he asked.

"We'd need a Martial Ancestor of at least the fifth rank to deliver a full-strength strike," Sun Wanting said, shaking her head. "We can't do that."

Just as they were at a loss, Shadow suddenly spoke.

"Someone's coming."

He pointed toward the woods on the left.

Everyone immediately took cover.

A moment later, three black-robed figures emerged from the woods and headed straight for the altar.

The same eye emblem was embroidered on their robes—the symbol of the Shadow Society.

The one in front was a gaunt old man. Deep wrinkles scored his face like ravines, and his cloudy eyes occasionally flashed with a sharp glint. Behind him were two figures, one tall and one short. Both wore hoods that obscured their faces.

"Node Thirty-Seven is operating normally." After inspecting the altar, the tall black-robed figure reported, "Energy transmission rate: 92%. It has attracted 83% of the Demonic Beasts in the surrounding area to the main altar."

The gaunt old man nodded in satisfaction. "Excellent. In two more days, the main altar's energy reserves will reach the critical point. Then the Venerable Lord can begin the final ritual."

The shorter black-robed figure asked, "Emissary, could Jiangnan City notice? Hunting parties have been active in the area recently."

"There's no need to worry." The gaunt old man—the Nether Emissary—sneered. "Even if those ants discover us, they can't change a thing. The Venerable Lord is personally stationed at the main altar. Even if every last soul in Jiangnan City came out, they'd only be marching to their deaths."

He paused. "Still, to be safe, go clear away any traces nearby. Especially that hunting party in the area. If they dare come close, deal with them."

"Yes, sir."

The two answered and began inspecting the area around the altar.

In their hiding place, the team members exchanged glances.

The Nether Emissary... Was he the one Old Man Li had encountered fifty years ago?

No, it probably wasn't the same person. If the Nether Emissary from back then were still alive after fifty years, his strength would be at least Martial Emperor peak. The aura of the old man in front of them was nowhere near that powerful—Lin Fan sensed he was around a fourth-grade Great Martial Master.

Perhaps someone new had inherited the title.

Regardless, they'd learned crucial information:

The main altar was in Cannibal Valley, under the guard of the "Venerable Lord."

In two days—on the night of the full moon—the energy would reach the critical point, and the final ritual would begin.

And their team had already been spotted.

Lin Fan's mind raced.

They had two options. First, take the three black-robed figures by surprise, kill them, and destroy this node altar. Second, slip away without alerting them and head straight for the main altar.

The first option would weaken the Shadow Society's preparations, but might alert them and prompt them to strengthen the main altar's defenses. The second would keep them concealed, but time was short. They'd have to reach the main altar and stop the ritual within two days.

Which should he choose?

He looked at Sun Wanting. Her brows were knitted tight; she was clearly weighing the options, too.

Then, the unexpected happened.

Chen Dahu had been crouching for so long that his injured left hand slipped and pressed down on a dead branch.

"Crack."

The sound was faint, but in the silent woods, it rang out clearly.

All three black-robed figures turned at once, their eyes darting toward the hiding place like bolts of lightning.

"Who's there?!" the Nether Emissary barked.

They'd been exposed.

Lin Fan made his decision in an instant. If they couldn't hide, they'd fight!

"Attack!"

He charged out first, his sword flashing straight toward the Nether Emissary.

Sun Wanting moved at nearly the same moment, her twin blades slashing toward the tall black-robed figure. Chen Dahu roared, raising his shield to protect Bai Susu as he blocked the shorter figure's first attack.

Shadow appeared beside the altar like a ghost, driving his short blade toward the Soul Power Crystal. He'd judged that it was the real key.

The battle erupted in an instant.

Faced with Lin Fan's sword, the Nether Emissary neither dodged nor retreated. He stretched out a withered hand and grabbed straight for the blade.

"You're asking for death!"

Lin Fan changed the flow of his attack and unleashed the Gale Sword Technique. Layers of sword shadows crashed forward like a storm.

But the Nether Emissary's palm seemed cast from iron. It clashed with the blade, ringing like metal striking metal. He had clearly cultivated some kind of evil art that strengthened the body; his skin had taken on a strange blue-gray hue.

"Not bad, boy, but your cultivation is too shallow." The Nether Emissary sneered and struck with one palm.

His palm wind was icy, carrying a bone-deep chill.

Lin Fan twisted aside. The palm wind grazed his left shoulder, and a layer of frost formed over his clothes in an instant.

What a bizarre technique!

Daring not to be careless, he circulated the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Art at full power, pouring his vital energy into his sword and rousing the first glimmer of sword intent.

A faint blue light shimmered along the blade, and its speed increased by another thirty percent.

Elsewhere, Sun Wanting was locked in a fierce fight with the tall black-robed figure. Her opponent wielded a pair of short halberds and fought viciously, every strike aimed at a vital point. Sun Wanting's twin blades danced like butterflies, forming an impenetrable defense. Whenever she counterattacked, her blades flashed with lethal force.

Chen Dahu was under the greatest pressure. The shorter black-robed figure wielded a heavy hammer, every blow carrying the force of a thousand jun. Chen Dahu's hands hadn't healed, and when he raised his shield to block, the wounds split open, staining his bracers red with blood. But he held his ground and refused to take a single step back, because Bai Susu was behind him.

Bai Susu didn't join the fight. Instead, she quickly set up a simple defensive formation and prepared healing potions so she could provide support at a moment's notice.

Shadow's actions were the key.

His short blade struck toward the Soul Power Crystal, but a protective barrier stopped it. He had come prepared, however. He pulled a talisman from inside his robes—the Space Stabilization Talisman Lin Fan had bought.

The talisman stuck to the barrier, blazing with light.

The Space Stabilization Talisman could disrupt the structure of space, while a protective formation fundamentally used spatial energy to build a barrier. The two forces clashed, and the barrier began to ripple violently.

"How dare you!" Seeing this, the Nether Emissary flew into a rage and tried to turn back, but Lin Fan kept him locked in combat.

Shadow seized his chance. He channeled all his vital energy into his short blade and stabbed toward the point where the barrier shook most violently.

"Crack!"

The barrier shattered like glass.

The short blade followed through, piercing the Soul Power Crystal.

"No—!" The Nether Emissary's eyes nearly bulged from their sockets.

The instant the blade struck the crystal, light flickered wildly inside it. Then—

"Boom!"

It exploded.

It wasn't a physical explosion, but a blast of mental energy.

An invisible ripple spread out from the crystal. Everyone caught in it felt a stabbing pain in their minds, as if countless needles were piercing them.

Lin Fan groaned and bit his tongue, using the pain to keep himself conscious.

The Nether Emissary and the two black-robed figures were clearly affected even more severely. Their prolonged contact with the crystal had tainted their Mental Power, and now that it had been destroyed, the backlash hit them hard.

"Ahhh!" The shorter black-robed figure clutched his head and screamed, blood pouring from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.

The taller figure faltered. Sun Wanting seized the opening and cut off his right arm with one slash.

The Nether Emissary was a fourth-grade cultivator, after all. He forcibly suppressed the backlash, but his face had gone paper-white, and his strength had plummeted.

"Retreat!" He acted without hesitation, taking out a black talisman and crushing it.

Black smoke billowed, enveloping all three of them.

"Trying to run?" Lin Fan slashed at the smoke.

His blade cut through it and sliced off a strip of cloth, but the three had already disappeared. It was a teleportation escape talisman.

The battle was over.

The team members panted as they checked their injuries.

The wounds on Chen Dahu's hands had all split open again, and Bai Susu was treating them urgently. A short halberd had left a shallow gash on Sun Wanting's left arm. Lin Fan's shoulder was frostbitten, but not badly. Shadow had used up too much energy and sat down to meditate.

The altar had been completely destroyed, and the Soul Power Crystal had crumbled to powder.

"We've been exposed." Sun Wanting finished bandaging her wound and spoke gravely. "That Nether Emissary escaped. He'll definitely report our presence. The main altar will certainly strengthen its defenses."

Lin Fan nodded. "But we've also learned something crucial—we have two days. We must reach Cannibal Valley before the full moon and stop the ritual."

He looked at Shadow. "Thanks for that. We couldn't have won without you destroying the crystal."

Shadow shook his head. "It was my duty. But..." He paused. "When the crystal exploded, I sensed... something else nearby. Not just us and the black-robed figures."

"Something else?"

"I can't explain it. It felt like... we were being watched." Shadow frowned. "It could've been a Demonic Beast, or something else. Whatever it was, we'll have to be even more careful from here on."

Lin Fan felt a chill run through him.

He remembered Old Man Li's words about the "living darkness," as well as the "unknown light source" mentioned in Zhou Ming's intel.

What exactly was hiding in Cannibal Valley?

"Let's leave first," Sun Wanting said. "The explosion was too loud. Demonic Beasts or other black-robed figures will be drawn here soon."

The group quickly erased their tracks, gathered anything useful—mainly a few items and documents they'd taken from the black-robed figures—and hurried away from the area.

The sky darkened, and night fell.

The team camped overnight in a relatively safe patch of stone forest.

The bonfire flickered, illuminating their weary but resolute faces.

Lin Fan took out a small booklet he'd found on one of the black-robed figures and read through it by firelight.

It recorded the operating data for this node altar and the number of Demonic Beasts it had attracted. Most of it was numbers and symbols he couldn't make sense of. But on the last page, one short line had been handwritten:

"The Venerable Lord's command: On the night of the full moon, sacrifice three thousand Demonic Beasts and ninety-nine human souls to awaken the 'Abyssal Eye.' Jiangnan City will be the first offering."

Three thousand Demonic Beasts sacrificed...

Ninety-nine human souls...

The Abyssal Eye...

Lin Fan closed the booklet, a chill creeping up his spine.

The Shadow Society's plans were even more insane than he'd imagined.

"What's wrong?" Sun Wanting noticed his expression.

Lin Fan handed her the booklet.

After reading it, Sun Wanting's face darkened, too. "What are they trying to summon...? The Abyssal Eye doesn't sound like anything good."

"We have to stop them." Lin Fan looked northwest, where the Shadowy Mountain Range loomed in the darkness like a crouching giant beast. "No matter the cost."

The bonfire crackled.

Somewhere in the distance, an unknown Demonic Beast howled, its cry long and mournful.

The night passed without incident.

At dawn, the team continued on their way.

According to Zhou Ming's map, they would reach the outskirts of the Shadowy Mountain Range by dusk. Tomorrow, they would enter the mountains and head for Cannibal Valley.

They had a day and a half left.

The night of the full moon was drawing closer.